TAT teaches hotel, tourist attraction executives marketing strategies

Pratchaya Kerdthong

About 100 hotel and tourist attraction executives learned the latest marketing strategies at a Tourism Authority of Thailand seminar in Pattaya.

TAT advisor Suwan Ritthirak presides over the marketing strategy workshop at the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel.

TAT advisor Suwan Ritthirak led the May 19 workshop at the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel where private sector and government staffers gained insight into customer-relations management, integrated marketing communications, brand-building and general tourism marketing strategies.

Suwan said TAT organized the traveling workshop because tourism marketing is changing very rapidly, due largely to the rise of social networking channels such as Twitter and Facebook.

He said that in order to stay competitive, hotels, tourist attractions and other companies need to clearly define their core product, differentiate it from competitors and design creative, unique marketing campaigns and offers.
TAT will next host its two-day seminar in Prachuap Kirikhan, Krabi and Chiang Rai.

PTT, Thailand’s largest oil firm, selects new CEO

Thailand’s largest oil firm, PTT, on Friday announced the selection of IRPC President Pailin Chuchottaworn as its new chief executive officer and president of the oil and gas conglomerate, replacing outgoing CEO Prasert Bunsumpun whose term expires in September.

Pailin Chuchottaworn.

Naris Chaiyasoot, PTT’s acting chairman, said the company’s board of directors agreed to appoint the IRPC president to the top job of the country’s largest oil firm.

IRPC is a producer of integrated petrochemical products. The current PTT CEO’s term will end Sept 9 and the appointment of the new president will take effect the following day, with a four-year term, according to Naris.

Naris also reaffirmed the transparency of the selection process under the regulations of selection process for senior executive position of the state enterprises.

The acting chairman said Pailin was chosen for his outstanding experience and far-sighted vision in the petroleum industry with its many fluctuations.

Pailin also has good knowledge of the engineering field and has good communication skills both within and outside the organisation, explained Naris.

Although he assumes the post in PTT Plc, Pailin will also remain acting chair of IRPC Plc.

IRPC or Integrate Refinery Petrochemical Complex, formerly Thai Petrochemical Industry, TPI, and its subsidiaries are currently the first fully integrated petrochemical complex in Southeast Asia. IRPC’s plants are located in an industrial area in Rayong Province with facilities to support the businesses such as deep sea port, tank farm and power plant.

Krairit Nilkuha, chairman of the new CEO’s selection committee, asserted there was no political interference in the selection.

Prasert, the current PTT president, welcomed the new CEO, saying he would relegate some work to Pailin so that the newcomer will have a chance to learn more about the company in the next three months prior to the end of his term.

PTT, formerly known as the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, was established in 1978 for its primary mission in expediting to procure adequate oil for domestic consumption. The company went private in 2001, with an initial registered capital of Bt20 billion and having the Ministry of Finance as the largest shareholder. (MCOT online news)

Finance minister instructs SEC, SET to probe hostile takeover bid for TTA

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij on Friday revealed he has instructed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to accelerate investigation into reports that a group of investors in which SEC chairman Vijit Supinit is involved is making an hostile takeover bid for Thoresen Thai Agencies (TTA), the country’s largest dry-bulk carrier.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.

The Bangkok Post reported in its Friday issue that management of TTA said it is preparing for every option proposed by a group of equity investors, including a takeover bid for the company.

However, the investors must show evidence to prove they can accumulate shareholders holding 30 percent of TTA as claimed, said the company, adding that the investor group included SEC chairman Vijit.

Asked to comment on the matter, Korn said, “We have to ask Mr. Vijit whether he behaved as accused. Personally, I don’t want to make any comment for now. But should he be involved in the deal, it would be considered inappropriate conduct. Such an action should be also deemed illegal.”

He said the SEC and SET had been instructed to investigate the case without delay because it is a serious matter that challenged the regulatory standard.

Should the investor group make a hostile takeover bid, he said, it might violate numerous sections of the Securities and Exchange Act, including acquiring stocks in a firm exceeding 25 percent without proper notification to the regulator and public as well as a failure to make a tender offer for remaining shares from minority investors.

Korn said if such an action was found violating the law, drastic action must be taken against those involved, particularly Vijit, who will be serving as the SEC chairman until July 13.

The SEC needs to look into the case seriously because it could affect its image and undermine confidence in the organization. It must make efforts to accelerate restoration of investor confidence, he said. (MCOT online news)

Sales of motorcycles up on higher demand as general election approaches

Sales of motorcycles in Thailand have risen sharply due to a higher demand by general election canvassers. Apparently they find it is more convenient to approach eligible voters, especially in rural areas, on motorcycles than in pick-up trucks widely used in previous elections, a senior industry ministry official said.

Suttinee Poopaka, director-general of the Industrial Economics Office, said election candidates have changed their strategies for the general election to be held on July 3, where many have decided to use motorcycles instead of pick-up trucks to approach eligible voters, causing sales to increase significantly.

As billions of baht changes hands with the election slightly more than one month away, Vallop Tiasiri, president of the Thailand Automotive Institute, said he believed canvassers would not be reluctant to buy new motorcycles to use while campaigning for votes.

Vallop projected that this year’s motorcycle production in Thailand would be around two million units, up from 1.8 million units last year.

Production of motorcycles during the first four months this year totaled about 140,000 units, up from 130,000 units from the corresponding period of 2010, whiles sales rose approximately 12 percent to 150,000 units. Exports during the same period stood at 87,000 units.

Car production this year is expected to be about 1.8 million units, up from more than 900,000 last year, despite the slowdown in auto parts production in Japan due to the massive quake and tsunami which hit that country on March 11. (MCOT online news)

Aspiring homeowners flock to Government Housing Bank for interest-free loans

Aspiring homeowners apply for loans from the Government Housing Bank in North Pattaya.

Pratchaya Kerdthong

About 300 aspiring homeowners flocked to the Government Housing Bank in North Pattaya to take advantage of a new program offering home loans with no interest payments for the first two years.

The 25 billion baht program, which runs through Dec. 30, is aimed at first-time homebuyers and offers 0 percent interest the first two years, a half-percent for the third through fifth years, and 1 percent afterward. Loans must be 3 million baht or less.

The no-interest loans created considerable excitement, with people lining up outside the GHB’s office about four hours before its 8:30 a.m. opening May 9. For people who never owned their own home, it was a dream come true.

Assistant branch manager Napat Krasaechon said the bank took 271 applications for 813 million baht in loans in the program’s first three days. About 80 percent of the applicants were military or government officers, but teachers and others also took advantage of the offer.

Applications are open in Pattaya until May 30. Those interested must submit a Thai identification card, residential registration, certification of salary, bank book, and documents related to the property to be purchased. For more information, contact 02-645-9000.