Phuket

“Mind Centre’ opens in Phuket

Published

11 years ago

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Legacy Phuket Gazette

Phuket NEWS Hound

– A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: The Phuket International Academy (PIA) is opening its internationally rated Mind Centre for balance and well being with world renowned mentor B. Alan Wallace at the helm. The PIA Mind Centre will be launched a week from today (Saturday, April 10) with a two-day weekend “Genuine Happiness Retreat”.

PIA deputy Chief Executive Officer Nick Seaver says, “The Genuine Happiness Retreat will be the first of many programs we will be running at this purpose-built facility, and our aim is to grow it into the premier facility of its type in Asia.”

Freelance journalist Nick Davies will be participating in the retreat for the Phuket Gazette. Look for his report in the newspaper’s April 24 issue.

The new Phuket International Academy is a US$45 million facility on 135 rai of land in the northeastern part of Phuket island, incorporating three integrated centres: the PIA Mind Centre, the PIA Day School, and the PIA Sports and Leisure Club.

More luxury launched in Phuket

Asia Travel Tips
The Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa opened this week off Mai Khao Beach at the north end of Phuket island. Located adjacent to Sirinath Marine National Park, Phuket’s latest lade of luxury features a 17 kilometer stretch of unspoiled sandy beach.

The resort offers 150 deluxe rooms, four one-bedroom suites, 25 one-bedroom villas with private pools, and one oceanfront three-bedroom villa. There are also six meeting rooms, totaling nearly 3,000 square feet.

To celebrate its opening, the Renaissance is offering an introductory package for 5,555 baht. It includes deluxe accommodations and a complimentary American breakfast for two adults. A villa package starts at 8,888 baht, including the breakfast and free internet. The offers are valid through May 31.

Phuket property: light in sight?

Thailand Property
Phuket’s Mandala Villas and Condominiums, a collection of 24 apartments and 8 villas with private pools in the Laguna area, says it has sold ten units since its condominium launch in December 2009. The success is held out as an example of how some property developers have adapted in Thailand’s post-recession real estate market.

According to Tom Travers, Managing Partner at Indigo Real Estate, agents for the development, the core fundamentals of building a successful development in Thailand remain unchanged, but today’s foreign buyers have become far more demanding since the September 2008 advent of the world financial crisis.

He added that Mandala is a prime example of how property developers need to adapt to attract foreign buyers in Phuket’s changing market place.

MRC meeting raises concerns

The Nation
Civic groups, academics and environmental activists yesterday called for the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to revise its 10-year hydropower development plan on the river and its tributaries, saying the current plans would adversely affect millions of lives living downstream.

Representatives from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma and China attended the MRC summit in Hua Hin yesterday.

Pianporn Deetes, from the ‘Save the Mekong Coalition’, said the Mekong drought and China’s upstream dam construction demonstrate the need for cooperation among all countries sharing the Mekong River. She urged all countries to share information and forge a cooperative response to work with riverside communities to minimise economic, social and environmental costs.

In accordance with the Mekong River Commission’s current hydropower development plan, China will build four more dams along its section of the river, while 11 more will be constructed on the Thai, Lao and Cambodian portions.

Cambodia claims military victory over Thailand

Bangkok Post
The Thai army has denied Cambodia’s claims that Cambodia has won a victory over Thailand in their border conflict, and that 88 Thai soldiers were killed in clashes along the disputed frontier during the past year.

Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman for the Thai army, says that only three Thai soldiers were killed, and a few more wounded. He was responding to claims made by Gen Chea Dara, the deputy head of Cambodia’s armed forces, who declared that Cambodia had won the war over ownership of the Phreah Vihear Temple, both militarily and diplomatically, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

He also said that more than 50 per cent of the Thai troops stationed along the disputed border had been withdrawn and redeployed to security duties in Bangkok arising out of the current protests and political turmoil there.

— Gazette Editors

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News Categories: Phuket

Tourism

Phuket’s July Sandbox no-quarantine model “needs a major revamp”

Published

2 days ago

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Tim Newton

Phuket’s July Sandbox no-quarantine model “needs a major revamp” | Thaiger

PHOTO: The monsoon waves are starting to hit Phuket's west coast

Thailand’s Sports and Tourism minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is acknowledging that Phuket’s ‘Sandbox’ model for a no-quarantine re-opening in July will need “a major revamp”. As the Songkran travel bubble bursts and the monsoon season waves start to roll onto the island’s west coast beaches, Phuket’s scheduled July re-boot suddenly seems a long way off.

Minister Phiphat says he plans to meet with “all related agencies” this week. Apart from the latest national re-surge in new infections, Phuket has been unable to get its hands on sufficient vaccines to meed its deadline of 70% of the island vaccinated by July 1. Thailand’s limited supplies of the vaccine – including some 930,000 doses designated for Phuket – are being rerouted to other provinces as the government prioritises the limited supply.

“We are all concerned about the reopening timeline,” he was quoted in Bangkok Post.

But the Minister did acknowledge that, if the 70% vaccination level couldn’t be met, they may consider opening some areas of the island. Exactly how that would work hasn’t been revealed at this stage.

The minister also brought up the ongoing travel bubble negotiations and says he hadn’t heard back from some of the candidates with their reaction to the current outbreak.

Flights in and out of Phuket Airport’s international terminal have been extremely patchy and the flights from feeder tourist markets will need to co-operate with any re-opening plans.

Phuket, whilst suffering a rise in new infections, hasn’t been hit as hard as some of the other popular holiday provinces, like Chiang Mai, Chon Buri (Pattaya) and Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin).

This year’s Songkran was going to be a major stepping stone for the island’s recovery and many hotels, some who had opened especially to cater for Songkran holiday traffic, noted a lot of cancellations just prior to the break.

But some island hotels have still reported high occupancy rates over the past week. One Manager, who did not want his name published, said that their hotel was almost full with Thai patrons, most who had pre-paid for their flights and accommodation and decided to go ahead anyway.

Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, the president of the Phuket Tourist Association, says that they are opposed to any lockdown as it would cripple the island, with its tourist businesses already suffering greatly. He stated that 15% of people cancelled their Songkran bookings, while 30% had postponed their trips.

The Sports and Tourism Ministers is still in quarantine after having close contact with Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 2 weeks ago.

Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Phuket begs Kolour attendees to come for Covid-19 testing

Published

2 days ago

Friday, April 16, 2021

Neill Fronde

Phuket begs Kolour attendees to come for Covid-19 testing | Thaiger

FILE PHOTO: Kolour in the park was more pleasant in 2018 before Covid-19.

Health officials in Phuket put out a public statement this week compelling all foreigners who attended clubs and ‘Kolour’ events to report for Covid-19 testing. As many might expect, the response has been lacklustre at best. Spreading the message around the foreigner and expat community in Phuket, the message is aimed at the multitudes of people, mostly foreign who attended Kolour and related events that turned into a Covid-19 superspreader event. Many foreigners have not come forward, much to health officials chagrin.

Online and on social media, foreigners and Thais shed light on why this urgent public health request is going largely unheeded. Foreigners fear the repercussions of coming forward, especially since Thailand is not allowing staying home or elsewhere in isolation if someone tests positive for Covid-19. Quarantine is mandatory, and with infection numbers exploding across the country, many fear the less-than-posh comforts of being quarantined in an emergency field hospital.

Cost is the other factor that likely is preventing foreigners from turning themselves in to be tested for Covid-19. While Phuket health officials may test people for free, anyone found infected with Covid-19 will be financially responsible for all the costs of their treatment and quarantine. Foreigners with limited financial resources, especially after a year of holing up in Thailand to ride out the Coronavirus, may resist reporting to authorities when they cannot afford the mandatory quarantine and medical treatment.

Perhaps recognizing this hesitation, the message includes a plea for all attendees to self-quarantine and self-monitor for any symptoms over the next week, even if they fail to report or test negative. The note also reminds everyone to wear masks in public at all times. The statement to the public also instructed anyone who attended any of the Covid-19 spreading nightlife events to report to the Acute Respiratory Infection Clinic area of Vachira General Hospital to receive a Covid-19 swab test.

SOURCE: The Pattaya News

Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Pattaya, Phuket and Hua Hin brace for increased restrictions

Published

3 days ago

Friday, April 16, 2021

Tim Newton

Pattaya, Phuket and Hua Hin brace for increased restrictions | Thaiger

Three of Thailand’s biggest expat areas are seeing sharp rises in new infections, partly from pre-Songkran traffic. The Songkran holidays, now officially over (but will see many people taking today off and making a weekend Songkran extension), and the government says they are expecting to see a rise in the cases numbers reported in the popular holiday locations.

Chon Buri Public Health office says they now have a total of 910 infections since April 1. They have 103 new cases in the past 24 hours. Most new cases are in Bang Lamung district which includes Pattaya City with 47, Siracha with 12) & Chon buri City with 8.

Pattaya, Phuket and Hua Hin brace for increased restrictions | News by Thaiger

Meanwhile Phuket has a total of 142 infections recorded on the island with the Governor still insisting there will be no need for a lockdown. Here’s a breakdown of the areas and the numbers of recorded infections so far (below).

Governor Narong announced that the Phuket Infectious Disease Control Committee won’t be implementing an official lockdown, but will “strictly raise the intensity of public health measures to counter the spread of Covid-19″.

“Everyone should wear a face mask, maintain social distancing, wash their hands frequently and install the Mor Chana app (available for free from App Store and Google Play Store).”

A meeting of the CCSA, chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to upgrade restrictions in red zone areas around the country, which includes Phuket and Pattaya. Read more about the latest red and orange zones HERE.

Pattaya, Phuket and Hua Hin brace for increased restrictions | News by Thaiger

For Hua Hin expats, there’s been 100 new Covid-19 infections announced in Prachuap Khiri Khan in the past 24 hours, 75 cases from Hua Hin. This takes the total in the province since April 1 to 625. Hua Hin accounts for nearly 90% of the district’s total cases.