Business
Business: Local store wars intensify

PHUKET: Phuket Grocery Ltd Partnership opened its flagship store in Phuket Town on August 9 with the aim of penetrating the low-cost retail market currently dominated by the Phuket-based Super Cheap franchise.
Chairman of the new retail outlet, Pornchai Chanchuwanichkul, said he hoped reasonable prices, air-conditioned comfort and a range of customer services in a convenient location would also attract shoppers to the new store, which is situated on Nimit Circle in Phuket Town.
“Phuket Grocery offers local shoppers a larger variety than other stores of fresh and dried foods, as well as frozen products,” said Mr Pornchai.
Other services aimed at drawing new customers include a food court, a commercial shopping area with various other branded products, activity zones and a large parking area for customers.
In addition, the store has a customer service counter staffed by experts offering consultancy services for local entrepreneurs to help them establish small businesses.
Phuket Grocery was established with a 200-million-baht investment with the aim of attracting locals and foreigners with more variety than longer established outlets with satellite convenience stores such as Super Cheap – first opened in 1995, Big C and Tesco Lotus.
Phuket Grocery Ltd Vice Chairwoman Sai Chanchuwanichkul said marketing strategies to attract foreign customers include the availability of wine, beverages and fresh meats.
“Our food court brings in Chinese tourists, and we are closely working with a number of tour bus companies to increase the inflow of tourists,” she said.
In comparison, there are a total of seven Tesco Lotus stores in Phuket, seven Big C stores and over 50 Super Cheap stores.
“Phuket Grocery’s location in the center of Phuket Town is one of the store’s competitive strengths,” said Ms Sai.
“It means that locals will not have to face traffic like elsewhere to go out and purchase cheap items”.
— Sukawin Tanthavanich
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Business
Turbulence ahead for Thailand’s aviation industry | VIDEO

When the airlines, in particular, were asking the government to put their hands in their pockets for some relief funding in August last year, it was genuinely thought that international tourists would be coming back for the high season in December and January. At the very least local tourists and expats would head back to the skies over the traditional holiday break. And surely the Chinese would be back for Chinese New Year?
As we know now, none of that happened. A resurge in cases started just south of Bangkok on December 20 last year, just before Christmas, kicking off another round of restrictions, pretty much killing off any possibility of a high season ‘bump’ for the tourist industry. Airlines slashed flights from their schedule, and hotels, which had dusted off their reception desks for the surge of tourists, shut their doors again.
Domestically, the hotel business saw 6 million room nights in the government’s latest stimulus campaign fully redeemed. But the air ticket quota of 2 million seats still has over 1.3 million seats unused. Local tourists mostly skipped flights and opted for destinations within driving distance of their homes.
As for international tourism… well that still seems months or years away, even now.
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Business
Domestic air passenger numbers double those of January

Passenger numbers on domestic flights within Thailand have doubled within a month, rising from 4,000 in January to over 10,000 this month. Having nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, domestic travel plummeted once more when Covid-19 resurfaced late last year.
Apirat Chaiwongnoi from the Department of Airports says 15 of Thailand’s 29 airports are now operating domestic flights, with more expected to follow. He believes the aviation sector will continue to recover further in the coming 6 months, bolstered by the national vaccine rollout.
Around 120 domestic flights a day are now operating, which is twice the number that were operating at the lowest point in the crisis. Prior to the resurgence of the virus in December, domestic passenger numbers had recovered to 30,000 – 40,000 a day, around 80% of pre-pandemic numbers.
The DoA says airports must continue to adhere to the Covid-19 hygiene measures put in place by the Health Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Samut Sakhon’s shrimp market to remain closed until February 15

Samut Sakhon’s Central Shrimp Market, the epicentre of Thailand’s recent wave of Covid-19, will remain closed until February 15. The market can reopen once the overall hygiene situation at the market and surrounding area has improved, according to the province’s disease control committee.
Local officials say the shrimp market needs to remain closed until the market structure and nearby residential facilities are inspected. People who violate the order face up to a year in prison and a fine up to 100,000 baht.
More than 12,000 people in the province have tested positive for Covid-19. The increasing number of infections is a result from the active case finding to contain the spread of the virus.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World | Thairath Online
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