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Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
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AirAsia’s “Phuket Air Hub’ ready for takeoff
PATONG, PHUKET: Thai AirAsia has geared up for the establishment of Phuket as a new regional air hub next month with its “AirAsia Loves Phuket Fair”, which ends at Jungceylon today.Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijileveld visited the fair yesterday, presenting a model AirAsia aircraft to Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop as part of the festivities.November 15 has been designated as the official…
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Floodlights for Phuket’s Chalong Circle
PHUKET CITY: The latest plan to improve traffic conditions at Phuket’s Chalong Circle is to illuminate the thoroughfare with strong, white floodlights set atop of a 15-meter iron pole. Phuket Highways Department official Sathaporn Sornchana said the extra lighting, comprising eight lamps in all, would help reduce accidents at the busy junction. The pole would not obscure views of oncoming traffic as it would…
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New reef project for Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Local divers will welcome the news that three old ships are scheduled to be sunk off Racha Yai Island to create a new artificial reef. The project, organized by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMRC) regional office in Phuket and a host of other local government agencies, is scheduled to start next month. The initiative enjoys…
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Phuket police celebrate at new HQ
PHUKET CITY: Police combined the official opening of the new Phuket Provincial Police headquarters with National Police Day celebrations yesterday.Police from every station in Phuket attended the ceremony, which started at 9.30am.Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop and Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong gave speeches to the assembled officers outside the new station on Yaowarat Road.As part of an annual tradition,…
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Fixtures announced for Phuket Kata Group Cup
PHUKET CITY: Organizers of the Phuket Kata Group Cup have announced the opening fixtures for the four-team tournament, which kicks off on October 27 at Surakul Stadium. In the semifinal matches, the Thailand XI, coached by new boss and former England star Bryan Robson, will face 2009 Myanmar National League Cup winners Yadanabon FC, while Thai Premier League champions Muang…
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Villagers protest Phuket Panason City Project
WICHIT, PHUKET: For the fifth time in three months, villagers living in Ketkaew Village near Phuket’s Panason City Project took to the streets in protest yesterday. This time they claimed the housing complex, off Chao Fa East Road, was causing flooding in their village and polluting their water supply. Using a large tent, the protesters blocked access to the 78-rai…
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Phuket jet-ski operators agree to insurance plan
PHUKET CITY: It’s official. Following a deal signed at Phuket Provincial Hall today, Phuket jet-ski operators will now be required to get mandatory insurance for their machines. Phuket Jet-ski Association President Anusorn Sahreh signed the deal with Saiwalee Sakornjit of Ayudhya Insurance Public Company Limited just before noon. The event was witnessed by around 15 jet-ski operators. Phuket Governor Wichai…
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Phuket power cuts announced
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket office of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced the following scheduled power cuts to carry out maintenance on high voltage wires, starting with parts of Chalong on Thursday.October 15 (9am to 4pm): ChalongAffected areas include parts of Patak Rd, left hand side, from Chalong Circle to the Phuket Shooting Range. Patak Villa is among the…
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Why did Phuket police officers cross the road?
BECAUSE: Phuket Provincial Police have now moved into their new HQ, just across the road from the 40-year-old former headquarters on Yaowarat Road in Phuket City.Although construction work on the new 21-million-baht police station was mostly completed in 2008, officers finally moved in over the weekend, after landscaping work was eventually finished.The new Phuket Provincial Police HQ will be officially opened with a…
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Hearing held for two Phuket road megaprojects
PHUKET CITY: If Friday’s public hearing is any indication, there appears to be little grassroots opposition to two major road projects being considered for Phuket.The event at Royal Phuket City Hotel combined two public hearings into one.By coincidence, the two hearings were scheduled to take place at the same time in the same hotel, causing a great deal of confusion…
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October blood donation drive in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Chapter of the Thai Red Cross Society has arranged for its mobile unit to accept blood donations at the following places and times in Phuket in October.October 15 (noon to 7pm): Tesco Lotus Phuket, RassadaOctober 16 (noon – 6pm): HomeWorks Phuket, WichitOctober 29 (10am – 7pm): Tesco Lotus Phuket, RassadaOctober 30 (noon – 6pm): Phuket Airport,…
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‘Exciting opportunities’ at Phuket AOCAP event
PHUKET: Phuket property and tourism professionals are taking advantage of networking opportunities and learning more about the boom in fractional ownership at the Alternative Ownership Conference–Asia Pacific, which got underway this morning at the Millenium Resort Patong. Key speakers in the property and tourism industries have flown into Phuket from around the world for the region’s first two-day AOCAP conference.…
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Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket gets a facelift
KOH KAEW, PHUKET: Traffic jams on Thepkrasattri Road in Koh Kaew will be a familiar sight for up to four months while resurfacing work is carried out at the bypass road junction. Heavy traffic and other factors had caused the road to deteriorate on both sides of the 250-meter stretch now under reconstruction. Starting on the northbound side, all four…
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Phuket triathlon champs to defend titles in December
LAGUNA, PHUKET: Defending champions Richie Cunningham and Belinda Granger of Australia will return to Phuket in December to defend their Laguna crowns, following maiden victories in 2008.For both Cunningham and Granger, victory last year came as a great relief. Neither had ever managed to top the Laguna podium despite competing in the ‘Race of Legends’ five and six times respectively.This…
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Phuket Piracy: Who controls the gold?
PHUKET: Thailand is now jumping into the intellectual property protection game in a big way. For decades prey to foreign-controlled bounty hunters who collect commissions by seizing pirate editions of copyrighted works, the nation is now moving to secure local copyrights and patents – and to marginalize foreign violators. Together with its regional partners, Thailand will create an ‘Asean Database…
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Phuket braces for vegetable frenzy
PHUKET: Residents in downtown Phuket are busy gearing up for the annual Vegetarian Festival. Celebrated by the Chinese community on an island best known for its beaches, stylish resorts, and laid-back attitude, the annual Vegetarian Festival showcases Phuket’s more ‘mystical’ side. A combination of vegetarian food, peaceful chants, non-stop ear-splitting firecrackers and often macabre processions, the festival is primarily for…
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Readers’ Poll: Does Phuket need Patong Tunnel?
PHUKET: The new Phuket Gazette Poll asks readers to give their views on proposals for a Patong Tunnel between tambons Kathu and Patong. Does Phuket really need this project? Would the money be better spent on improving the existing road? Click on the Gazette Poll icon at the top right corner of this page to register your vote. You can…
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Phuket culture center construction stalled
RASSADA, PHUKET: Development of a new cultural center in Phuket to educate visitors about Phuket’s sea gypsy traditions is on hold until more funding can be found to complete the project. Another two million baht is needed to complete the Urak Lawoi Culture Center, which is being built near the Laem Tukkae sea gypsy village on Koh Sireh in Phuket. Two million baht in government funding from…
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Beatles memorabilia up for auction at Beach Fun Fest
PHUKET: A guitar signed by members of the Beatles is just one of the unique items of entertainment and sporting memorabilia to be auctioned off for charity at next Saturday’s Beach Fun Fest at Surin Beach. Other autographed items on auction at the much-anticipated fundraising event organized by the Patong Rotary Club include a Pele 1960s Brazil shirt; a US…
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Morning Nai Harn jog turns into nightmare
RAWAI, PHUKET: An expat Phuket resident narrowly escaped an attempted rape in the Nai Harn area of Phuket when she was attacked by a Thai man wielding a screwdriver last Friday morning. The victim, 39, told the Gazette today that the attack came as she was out for a morning jog near Nai Harn Lake at about 8am. She was…
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“Now I’m a believer’: Phuket cop-cum-medium
PHUKET: A Phuket City policemen who claims he was possessed by gods over 30 years ago will once again shower himself in boiling oil during the upcoming Vegetarian Festival.Police Senior Sergeant Major Pisit Kunsong, 54, is one of many mah song (literally, “entranced horses”) spirit mediums who plan to be possessed by the spirits of Chinese warrior gods over the…
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Phuket car bangers busted
PHUKET: When Phuket police eventually arrested four men in connection with a spate of car break ins in Phuket City, they found the suspects in possession of stolen laptops, a camera, mobile phones, a diamond ring, guns, marijuana and tools for breaking into cars.Three of the men are suspected of breaking into more than 30 cars parked along Thalang, Yaowarat and…
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‘Bypass overpass’ unveiled in Phuket
WICHIT, PHUKET: Two hulking siblings, the Central Festival Phuket and HomeWorks shopping complexes, were finally linked by a long-awaited pedestrian overpass today.Phuket Vice Governor Tri Augkaradacha opened a 20-million-baht footbridge across the bypass road, allowing shoppers to enjoy the pleasures of both megamalls without getting in a car, on a bike – or soaking wet.Both centers are owned by the…
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Wet week predicted for Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Phuket residents will get little relief from heavy rains and dark skies over the next week, but the severity of storms should lessen, according to the Meteorological Department office in Phuket. Methawee Nuanla-or, an officer at the Meteorological Department’s South (West Coast) station near Phuket International Airport, said current rainy conditions are expected for the rest of the…
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Public seminar on Phuket’s green issues
PHUKET: Green issues in city planning for Phuket will be addressed by government and public authorities at Phuket’s first free seminar on the subject, to be held at the Phuket Merlin Hotel this Friday.The seminar, titled PA+S FORUM – Issue Green Attention, will be attended by key speakers from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planing, Phuket…
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Miss Poland contestants touch down in Phuket
PHUKET: Eyebrows and blood pressures were raised in Phuket this evening when 25 Miss Poland contestants touched down at Phuket international Airport.The Polish beauty pageant contestants are in Phuket courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and they’ll be visiting various venues around the island over the next few days, taking part in a series of photo shoots.TAT’s Frankfurt Office director Suwalai Pinpradab accompanied…
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Phuket drug cases up 161%
PHUKET: Crime statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police for September show that wet weather has not put a damper on recreational drug use, as narcotics-related cases were up 161%. There were 230 drug cases reported over the period, an increase of 161.4% year-on-year. Police arrested 250 people and confiscated a wide variety of narcotics, including 5,271 ya bah (methamphetamine)…
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Phuket’s Sleeping Giant: Shared ownership of property
PHUKET: Shared ownership sales of Phuket properties reached US$ 61.2 million for 2008, validating the sector’s stability despite the economic downturn, according to a comprehensive research study into the industry. The ‘Phuket Shared Ownership Market Report’, compiled by leading Phuket-based hospitality consulting firm C9 Hotelworks, is seen as a natural development in Phuket’s tourism industry, which is well on its…
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Bangla beggar’s raking it in: Phuket police
PATONG, PHUKET: On a night patrol in the early hours of Monday morning, Patong’s top cop showed a crowd of shocked tourists just how much money Phuket’s beggars can make. Kathu Police Superintendent Grissak Songmoonnark stopped a known beggar in front of the Pizza Company restaurant on the famous Soi Bangla entertainment strip. When the contents of the old man’s…
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Phuket prepares for qwacky ‘Race Day’
PHUKET: A host of ‘wacky races’ will take place during the Phuket Community Foundation’s ‘Race Day’ at Canal Village in Laguna Phuket next month. The aim of Race Day is to raise funds for grant-making at the end of the year and to raise awareness of the PCF and its activities. The day will feature kayak races, dragon boat racing,…
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