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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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A Decade Ago: Development zoning takes center stage
PHUKET: Though the page one story of the 2005 November 19-25 issue is without a doubt the sexiest story of the week, it is the editorial that strikes to the heart of an issue that remains unresolved even now, ten years later: land zoning. Just 15 years ago it was apparently easy enough for corrupt officials in the Land Office…
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Opinion: Celebrating Loy Krathong responsibly
Uhai Pattanapichai, 53, is the chief of the Phuket Cultural Office. Originally from Bangkok, she has been living in Phang Nga since 1992, taking up her position in Phuket last month. She graduated from Suan Dusit Rajabhat University with a Master’s Degree in business administration. Here, she looks beyond the celebrations of Loy Krathong to the meaning of tradition, emphasizing…
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Two-year-old drowns after wandering away from home
KRABI: A two-year-old boy drowned in Krabi on Monday after falling from his home in a mangrove forest. The body of Kritsada Kaykina was found under the roots of mangrove trees, about 500 meters away from the family’s home, in Baan Bangkhanoon fishing village, confirmed Anurak Parinyasathiragul, Krabi Marine Police chief. Officials believe that the boy wandered off after his…
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Two busted for smuggling 2.6kg of cocaine into Krabi
KRABI: Officers arrested two women on Sunday for their alleged role in smuggling more than 10 million baht worth of cocaine into the country via Krabi International Airport. Siriwan Yodtheerak, 32, arrived in Krabi on a flight from Manila on Saturday. However, she came to claim luggage on Sunday at about 7:30am, explained Vichak Apirugnunchai, director of Thailand Customs Department’s…
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Educator dreams up hydropower plant
BANGKOK: Vocational teachers and students have joined forces with local people to construct a hydropower plant at the foot of Doi Luang Chiang Dao Mountain in Chiang Mai. Manus Daomanee, president of the Toyota Automotive Technological College, is credited with starting the innovative project in the remote location. Mr Manus hopes his charity-funded project will provide free electricity for a…
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Border patrols to closely monitor infectious diseases
RANONG: The Public Health Ministry has ordered that three contagious diseases be closely monitored along the border region in Ranong province as the establishment of the Asean Community will encourage movement of more people. Dr Sopon Mekthon, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said the ministry has asked hospitals and clinics in the Thai-Myanmar border area at Ranong to…
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Taxis, tuk-tuks continue to concern UK Ambassador
PHUKET: Tuk-tuks and taxis continue to undermine the progress being made in Phuket’s tourism industry, the British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. The ambassador’s concerns remain despite the National Council for Peace and Order’s cleanup of illegal taxi and tuk-tuk operators in July last year (story here). “Some of the behavior and prices we’ve seen…
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Region 8 Police seize more than 100 guns in crackdown
PHUKET: Region 8 Police sized more than 100 firearms, including one weapon of war, in a week-long crackdown ahead of tomorrow’s Loy Krathong festivities (story here). “Region 8 Police and local officers in Surat Thani, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Chumphon, Ranong, Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket conducted massive raids to get guns and drugs off the streets this week,” said Chalermkiat…
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Flight bookings to Paris down over a quarter after attacks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Flight bookings to Paris down over a quarter after attacks Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: New flight bookings to Paris, one of the world’s most visited cities, have fallen by over a quarter in the week following attacks there that killed 130 people. Bookings to Paris…
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![Phuket divers lift 400kg of rubbish from Karon waters [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1_20151124111625867_vFExjvWTSTYHgIYZUIiUvVkLydPBDiNWuTfiTklp_jpeg.jpeg)
Phuket divers lift 400kg of rubbish from Karon waters [video]
PHUKET: More than 400 kilograms of trash were swept out of a catchment area between Kata and Karon Bay by divers yesterday. The about 25 meter by seven meter patch of rubbish contained numerous plastic products, metal cans, organic material and even underwear and a plastic gun, explained a diver who had scouted out the area prior to the cleanup.…
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Jet-skis threaten Phuket tourism industry, says Ambassador
PHUKET: Jet-ski safety issues were again pushed to the front line during a meeting today, as they remain a serious concern on the island, explained the Netheralands’ ambassador to Thailand. “There are number of issues that are important to us, such as beach safety, beach management accommodations, competitive pricing for taxis and tuk-tuks, and jet-skis,” said Karel Hartogh, the Netherlands’…
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Phuket Governor hosts five ambassadors for roundtable talk
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada sat down with ambassadors from five countries today to review a number of issues affecting citizens from their nations. The ambassadors in attendance were from Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Some of the major issues raised included marine and road safety, prison conditions, drug use and visa overstays. “After discussing a…
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Phi Phi management plan tackles anchors on corals, feeding fish
PHUKET: The first step in saving the marine ecosystem within Phi Phi National Park is to put an end to boats dropping anchor on corals and tour operators allowing clients to feed fish (story here), an expert study announced last week. Damage done by the tourism industry was seen at 12 of the 14 marine areas within Hat Noppharat Thara…
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Phi Phi requests more patrol boats, buoys and staff
PHUKET: An expert adviser from Bangkok submitted a proposal for more boats, buoys and staff to man Phi Phi national park. The proposal was submitted to the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) this month. “The national park covers more than 200,000 rai. However, they only have four officers and two small boats, which is just unbelievable,”…
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Hopes fade for 100 miners missing after landslide near Myanmar jade mine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hopes fade for 100 miners missing after landslide near Myanmar jade mine Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: * Hopes faded on Monday that any of 100 people still missing would be found alive two days after a landslide near a jade mine in northern Myanmar smashed…
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Security beef-up ordered for Loy Krathong, festive season
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered security agencies and related ministries to beef up security during the Loy Krathong and New Year festivals. Government spokesman Maj General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said PM Prayut had instructed security agencies and the ministries of Tourism and Sport, Transport and Culture to be extra vigilant. The prime minister has instructed the Department of…
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World champion returns to win Laguna Phuket Triathlon
PHUKET: More than 1,300 athletes representing 44 nationalities crowded Laguna Phuket this weekend to participate in the 22nd Laguna Phuket Triathlon. Germany’s two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion Michael Raelert made an impressive comeback to take the top position on the podium with a time of 2:30:14 (swim 23:55, bike 1:20:06, run 43:44), followed by Switzerland’s Ruedi Wild (2:32:57) and Stuart…
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Phuket locals victorious in battle to save Nai Harn trees
PHUKET: The plan to construct the controversial Nai Harn Movie Museum was dashed at a public meeting last night, confirmed Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. “We of course listened to what the community had to say,” Mr Aroon told the Phuket Gazette. Mr Aroon explained that after the public hearing, it was clear that a new location would need to be…
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Indonesia may offer island to process refugees to Australia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia may offer island to process refugees to Australia Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Indonesia is considering offering a small island to process refugees captured en route toAustralia, its security ministry said on Friday, in what would make it the third country this year to offer…
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Push for 24-hour tourist help centers on Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Plans are underfoot to establish 24-hour tourist service centers at more than a dozen popular Phuket beaches, Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul announced on Friday. “We all know that millions of tourists visit our island every year. It is our responsibility to come together and ensure their safety and security while on holiday here,” said V/Gov Prajiad. “We can…
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More than half of Amazon tree species seen at risk of extinction
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More than half of Amazon tree species seen at risk of extinction Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: South America’s vast Amazon region harbors one of the world’s most diverse collection oftree species, but more than half may be at risk for extinction due to ongoing deforestation…
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Business Buzz: Just Google it
PHUKET: All business people tend to have a lot of questions each day about how to do this, what is the best way to do that, where can I find this and so on. More often than not, these questions go unanswered and so the problems remain unresolved and our business is no better off. But what if we could…
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Phuket Dinghy Series wraps up
PHUKET: The Phuket Dinghy Series 2015 wrapped up off the coast of Cape Panwa recently, with Optimist and Laser sailors competing from Phuket and Songkla. A total of 53 young sailors joined the competition in stiff winds and manageable swells. Among the Optimists, male sailors from the Phuket Youth Sailing Club (PYSC) took the three top places, with Nattapong Yongram…
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Another police station riot suspect arrested for unrelated crimes
PHUKET: A second police station riot suspect was arrested for unrelated crimes, confirmed Thalang Police yesterday. Noppon Songkram, 31, was netted in possession of an illegal firearm during a police raid in Srisoonthon yesterday. The raid focused on suspected criminals involved with illegal firearms and drugs. “It wasn’t until we ran his name in our system that we realized he…
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Finance: Growth or value stocks, that is the question
PHUKET: Many investors do not understand the differences between growth stocks and value stocks, with the latter often being synonymous with Warren Buffett, the disciple of Benjamin Graham, who’s classic 1949 book The Intelligent Investor is considered the value stock investing bible. GROWTH STOCKS Growth stocks tend to be high-quality stocks of successful companies whose earnings are expected to continue…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Cooling off beverages
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: Time to mobilize Phuket speed traps
PHUKET: Efforts to crack down on speeding and other forms of reckless driving took a turn for the serious recently with the news that the Phuket Provincial Police Office is seeking assistance from the Royal Highway Police to set up radar-equipped ‘mobile units’ to help catch offenders (story here). Phuket has emerged as seventh in the nation for the most…
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Popular British International School access road temporarily closed
PHUKET: Popular British International School access road Soi Koh Kaew 33, behind the Isuzu showroom, will be closed from today until November 30. The road was originally closed in late July, after nearly half of its width had fallen into a parallel drainage ditch. The Koh Kaew Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) was then forced to build a new retaining wall…
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Video Report: Police fail to bust gibbon touts despite video evidence
PHUKET: Officers have yet to arrest a gibbon tout caught on video earlier this week while working on the walking streets of Phi Phi Don. The video, sent to the Phuket Gazette by a reader, clearly shows the culprit’s face and was forwarded to officials on Tuesday evening. As of today, no arrest has been made, confirmed Lt Col Danai…
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Thanyapura Junior Challenge returns
PHUKET: Junior athletes and sports enthusiasts throughout the region will face off against each other and optimize their potential at Thanyapura’s third Junior Challenge Triathlon. Following the success of last year’s event, the 2015 competition will be held on November 28 and will be staged alongside the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest, which attracts thousands of avid triathletes every year. This…
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