- Property
Pavilions Hotels & Resorts announce two important acquisitions
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts has made two important appointments as it continues to expand its portfolio and strengthen its management team. Scot Toon takes on a new role as the company’s Managing Director, Asia while Tim Sargeant becomes the Director of Marketing for The Pavilions Phuket. Both are highly skilled and experienced hospitality professionals who join The Pavilions Hotels…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Mu Pa team pay tribute to Saman Kunan
The Mu Pa Football players trapped in the Tham Luang Caves for almost three weeks paid tribute to the Navy SEAL who lost his life during the rescue operation. Wiping away tears, the boys wrote messages of thanks on a portrait of the former Navy SEAL Saman Kunan, who died July 6 during an operation to deliver oxygen tanks to…
- Phuket News
Multihull Solutions Regatta wraps up with ‘Fugazi’ claiming top honours
The 10th annual Multihull Solutions Regatta wrapped up today with another good day of sailing. Principal Race Officer Simon James ran two races today, a three-lap windward-leeward and then a triangle course for all classes except Cruising, which did a loop around nearby Koh Lon. Dan Fidock’s trimaran Fugazi claimed the Racing Multihull division winning six of the eight races…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Rai: “I thought it would be a recovery rather than a rescue”
PHOTO: Perth vet and craig diver Craig Challen An Australian diver from Perth, Craig Challen, has spoken exclusively about the Tham Luang cave rescue and why he had fears that some or all of them mightn’t get out of the caves alive. Here are some of the main points from The Sunday Times interview: • When Craig arrived in Thailand he thought…
- Pattaya News
“Tourists will come flooding back to the world class resort”
PHOTOS: ข่าวพัทยา Pattayanews An enthusiastic Pattaya News is reporting that, in relation to the restoration of the beach in Pattaya, it was only a matter of time before the tourists came flooding back to the sands. The report is from a meeting where it was declared that 400 metres of the restoration work was done meaning that 100 metres was…
- Phuket News
Thrills and spills – Day Two of Multihull Solutions Regatta
Nineteen knots of wind in Ao Chalong greeted competitors as they sailed out to compete in day two of the Multihull Solutions Regatta. Armchair pundits were hedging their bets as to which boats would be damaged by heavy winds. Some thought the Corsair Pulses, who have been a touch fragile in heavy weather, might be in trouble, but the Pulses…
- Phuket News
Phuket marine chief removed, Phoenix ‘owner’ questioned by police
Thai PBS is reporting that the Marine Department is ordering an immediate transfer of the chief officer of Phuket Marine Office. They’ve also set up a panel to consider disciplinary action against him for alleged dereliction of duty that led to the sinking of the ‘Phoenix’ dive boat south-west of Phuket on July 5, resulting in the deaths of 47…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai: Governor visits 74 year old rape victim
PHOTO: Chiang Mai City Life Chiang Mai’s Governor, Supachai Iamsuwan, visited the elderly sexual assault victim from earlier this week. Read the story HERE. The new governor, along with officials from the Office in Social Development and Human Security, visited 74 year old Sudjai Sukhamton at her home. Social Development and Human Security say they will be following the Governor’s…
- World News
Busan, South Korea – Best Destination in Asia, according to Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet have announced their Top Ten Asian destinations for 2018. Only one entry for Thailand – Chiang Mai. The South Korean portside city of Busan has won the top gong as the best destination in Asia 2018 by the influential travel blog. Busan is described as a “confluence of scenery, culture and cuisine.” It’s long been domestically lauded as…
- Phuket News
Injured Phuket monkey captured after swimming around Ao Po marina
A monkey which was found injured in Ao Po, on the north-east coast of Phuket, is now recovering and getting veterinary attention. It was found at the Ao Po Grand Marina. The Wildlife Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand was notified last week about the monkey which some of the staff at the Ao Po marina believed had swam back from Koh…
- Thailand News
Fresh winds and high seas – TMD issues weather warning
The Meteorological Department (TMD) is warning that people across the country should brace for intense rains, with heavy rains in some parts of the northern, northeastern, central, eastern and southern regions which may result in flash floods, from today until July 19. Until Jul 19, waves in the Andaman Sea are expected to be 2-3 metres high due to strong…
- Phuket News
Authorities battle to contain the fallout of ‘Phoenix’ disaster
“…hotel bookings in Phuket by Chinese tourists in the next two months had shrunk by up to 70 percent.” Chinese tourists are cancelling Phuket hotel bookings, unnerving Thai authorities and tourism-related business who are scrambling to raise the image of the island’s battered safety reputation. The cancellations are coming mostly from the tour company businesses based in China whilst the FIT…
- Thailand News
Koh Phangan: Woman arrested as she gets off ferry with 320,000 baht of ‘ice’
Police in Koh Phangan have arrested a Thai woman after a tip off, as she was getting off the Don Sak ferry when it arrived at Koh Phangan. She was found with two condoms full of crystal methamphetamine stuffed into her vagina. The drugs weighed 104 grams and had an estimated street value around 320,000 baht. According to Sanook, she told…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai: Don’t feed the pigeons
Chiang Mai City Life is reporting that the Public Health Office is warning travellers and locals not to feed the pigeons at Tha Pae Gate. This isn’t the first time tourists have been warned. As the number of pigeons at Tha Pae Gate increases officials are concerned about health and hygiene issues. A report has been released again in an…
- Thailand News
Bangkok: Appeals Court upholds death sentence on Spaniard
The Appeals Court has upheld the death sentence handed down on a Spanish man for murdering a fellow Spaniard and dumping his dismembered body in the Chao Phraya River back in 2016. From El Pais, April 21, 2017 – A Spanish national was on Friday given the death sentence after being found guilty by a Thai court of murdering fellow…
- Thailand News
National: VIP treatment for foreign rescuers
Rescuers, who have the time to stay in Thailand, are being given free tours and extra privileges in thanks for their dedication and persistence over the past two weeks in the Tham Luang cave search and rescue mission. For the ones that must return home now, they’ve been offered free tickets and five-year visa free travel. The government is offering them a free-of-charge…
- Thailand News
Bangkok: Police retrieve 300,000 baht left in taxi
Thai Rath have our ‘honest taxi driver’ story of the week. The quick actions of officers at the Sutthisan police station in Bangkok has enabled the return of ten million won (or 300,000 baht) that a university student left in the back of a cab. Theta driver has also been praised for his role. 23 year old Pinchaya “Am” Phromrat, a…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai: 30 year old admits to raping 74 year old
Sanook is reporting that a 30 year old Thai man has told police he raped and robbed a 74 year old Chiang Mai woman because his wife was pregnant and he couldn’t have sex with her. He also claimed that he was drunk. The rapist, who already has priors and previous jail time for assault and robbery, had been in charge…
- Northern Thailand News
Thai Navy SEAL video reveals rescue method
In the days leading up to the eventual evacuation of the Mu Pa team members from Tham Luang caves we were told that the teenagers were being taught to swim and dive in preparation for their arduous trek out of the cave, much of it underwater. This was reported by The Thaiger as well. Following the release of a Thai…
- Thailand News
Chiang Rai: 14 year old Adul played a crucial role in the rescue
The 13 members of Mu Pa Football Academy are now recovering in Chiang Rai hospital. According to attending medical officials, all are doing well. One of them was a crucial link in the recovery process, especially in the first encounter with the English divers when the team were discovered. Adul Sam-on is the only one of the boys who can…
- Northern Thailand News
From inside the cave – bringing out the team. Thai Navy SEAL video.
The Thai Navy SEAL Facebook page has released a video clip that shows for the first time how the 13 Mu Pa Academy football team members were evacuated from the Tham Luang cave. The 12 young footballers and their 25 year old assistant coach were trapped in the cave since June 23 after flash floods blocked their exit. They were…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai: Stray dog problem around dams overwhelming volunteers
PHOTO: Suphatrawee Yoophaet Sanook are reporting from Chiang Mai that more than 100 dogs have been abandoned by heartless owners. The dogs have been living around two reservoirs in Chiang Mai. The dogs have been starving and locals are now appealing for help to feed them. Sank reports that the pack has quickly grown in size after more owners keep…
- Northern Thailand News
Australian cave medic emerges to his own tragic news
In the wake of yesterday’s euphoria following the final five team members being successfully evacuated from the Tham Luang caves, a sad epilogue. An Australian doctor, Richard Harris, partly responsible for looking after the Thai football team during their cave ordeal, emerged last night, exhausted but relieved they job was over. Some sad news awaited him. He was told that…
- Bangkok News
Prawit apologises after insensitive comments about Chinese boat disaster
“They build their own ships, don’t follow our rules.” Thailand’s #2, deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan is again in hot water, this time for making comments about the Chinese that died in last Thursday’s boat disaster in Phuket, the second worst maritime disaster in Thailand (after the 2004 tsunami). He suggested that Chinese people are to be blamed for the tourist ferry…
- Northern Thailand News
Thirteen is a lucky number
All 12 young footballers and their assistant coach, who were trapped inside Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai for over two weeks, have been successfully and safely evacuated from the cave on day 3 of the mammoth rescue operation. According to the Thai Navy Seal’s Facebook page, the four divers, who accompanied the last members to be rescued from deep…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Final five OUT of the Tham Luang caves
The Mu Pa football team will have the full group back together again soon. Number Nine emerges from the Tham Luang caves just after 4pm, Tuesday, Thai time. Today’s rescues are well ahead of schedule. FOUR to go!!! Plus there will be three Thai Navy Seals and one doctor to evacuate as well – they were inside with the team…
- Phuket News
Phuket Hotels Association teams up with US Embassy to help eliminate single-use plastic
The Phuket Hotels Association has joined forces with the U.S. Embassy Science Fellowship (ESF) Program to tackle the critical issue of waste management in Phuket, with the aim of eliminating single-use plastics at the island’s hotels. Founded in 2001, the ESF Program promotes bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology. Since it was launched, nearly 300 scientists have…
- Chiang Mai News
Chiang Rai: Rescuers prepare to bring out the final five
PHOTO: VOA Following last evening’s successful rescue of a further four members of the Mu Pa football team, bringing the total number safely out at 8, Thai and international divers are preparing to rescue at least another four today. Mission control spokesperson Narongsak Osotthanakorn described the rescue operation, so far, as a success. Last night the first of the four emerged…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Day two’s rescues conclude with another four out of the cave
PHOTO: The Nation Four more of the teenage football team have emerged from the Tham Luang caves tonight, taken to a medivac tent for a quick examination then whisked away to the Chiang Rai hospital by helicopter. It’s been day two of the risky rescue mission that was forced on officials by looming rain and possibilities of rising flood waters…
- Northern Thailand News
Day Two evacuations underway
Evacuations are now well underway in day two of the process to extract the 13 players from inside the cave. Four were extracted from the cave last evening, according to an official announcement by former Governor of Chiang Rai Narongsak Osottanakorn. Yesterday divers and rescuers succeeded in recovering four of the 12 young players after divers headed into the cavern, prepared…
