Phuket

PM to attend evacuation drill in Patong

Published

14 years ago

April 28, 2005

PM to attend evacuation drill in Patong | The Thaiger

PHUKET CITY: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and ambassadors from some 40 nations are expected to be on hand to witness tomorrow’s evacuation drill in Patong.

At a meeting held yesterday morning at The Metropole hotel, Pongpow Ketthong, Deputy Director-General of the national Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD), said Patong’s evacuation plan was now 95% complete and that it would be fully complete after a review of the evacuation, which will be videotaped.

The drill, to begin at 10 am tomorrow morning (April 29), is intended to ensure that there will never be a repeat of the December 26 tsunami disaster, when hundreds of residents and tourists died needlessly in Patong because they were unaware of the impending danger.

The drill will cover two of Patong’s seven evacuation zones.

The first zone covers the southern end of Patong Beach, from the bridge crossing Klong Pakbang to Soi Kepsap.

Three evacuation routes have been designated for this zone:

– Over the bridge to safety on the headland near Coral Beach Hotel;

– Via Prachananukro Rd to higher ground near the three-way intersection with Nanai Rd;

– Along Soi Ruam Jai, past the Holiday Inn to the OTOP Shopping Arcade on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd.

The second zone covers the area from Soi Kebsup to Soi Bangla.

The two evacuation routes in this zone will already be familiar with after-hours revelers and massage buffs:

– Along Soi Bangla to Soi Saensabai.

– Along Soi Patong Tower, then turning right to the Christin Massage Parlor.

The focal point of the evacuation drill will be at the National Disaster Warning Center siren tower, on the beach in front of the Phuket Cabana Hotel.

An estimated 1,500 volunteers are expected to assist government officials and rescue personnel in conducting the drill, which will include a fly-in by helicopters of Navy rescue teams based in Chalong and at Phuket Airport.

All residents of the area are being asked to participate in the evacuation, though it was not reported what steps, if any, are being taken to ensure people do take part, or to prevent looting during the exercise, which is aimed at having the entire coast cleared in 30 minutes.

K. Pongpow said his agency had already held seminars with local leaders of other communities regarding evacuation plans and survival strategies in the event of another tsunami.

The Phuket Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation intends to organize similar evacuation drills and other safety training activities every three to six months, he said.

“Even if we have another tsunami, or even 10 more tsunamis, we will be able to prevent the deaths of residents and tourists if we have an efficient warning system and evacuation plan in place – and tourists will then be assured of their safety when visiting Phuket,” he said.

The evacuation plan was drawn up jointly by the DPMD and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), whose representative Dr Seree Suphatrid co-chaired the meeting with K. Pongpow.

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People

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2019

Nattha Thepbamrung

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | The Thaiger

On October 18, the ‘Always Smile Journey’ group and its partners will host an exhibition with plenty of fun activities at the Yak Yai Market, near Chalong Circle, in Phuket. This event was designed to raise funds to provide free English classes for underprivileged people on the island of Phuket on Saturdays and Sundays. The group does not accept donations but aims to raise money through the sales of the products available at the event.

From 2 pm to 8 pm, there will be a number of artists, musicians and performers who will keep the attendees entertained along the way. There will be a short film about His Majesty King Rama 9 as well as fun activities and games for kids and families, which are all free of charge.

The big bike crew is also a part of this event. They will ride a parade from Rawai Beach heading to the market and showcase their gorgeous two-wheel buddies.

One of the highlights of the Always Smile Journey exhibition is the ‘Happening’ artists group, who will draw and paint a picture of the His Majesty King Rama 9 under the name ‘Street Art King Bhumibol’ on a 4×10 meter sign live at the event so the guests will experience this large-scale art in action. The Happening will also offer portrait sketching for the participants.

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | News by The Thaiger

One of the works created by the Happening team; a painting of HM the King Rama 9 on a huge wall (Photo credit: Chawat Chumpasan)

There will also be some western menus available at the event which will be donated to underprivileged children.

This free English class project has over seven years of experience through its cooperation working with individuals and other charity organizations. Throughout the years, the group visited several areas such as Ban Laem Hoy School, Ban Bopud School and Ban Angthong School in Samui, Surat Thani province, Ban Bueng Ao Oun School and Ban Kakoh Rayong, in Surin province, Jalae Village of Lahu (Muser) in Chiang Rai province, as well as community education centers in Siem Reap, Cambodia and in Luang Prabang, in Laos.

This event is a cooperation between several groups, including Happening, Yak Yai Market and Arrow Media, Tattoo artist group, Thonburi Art School Alumni, International School of Tourism, Suratthani Rajabhat University, big bike group from Phuket, artists/performers/musicians from many provinces as well as several businesses across Phuket.

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Bangkok

The world’s fastest growing tourist destinations

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Hello Phuket – destined for huge tourist growth in the next six years – fodors.com

In 2018, international tourist arrival traffic grew by 6% to reach a total of 1.4 billion world tourists, according to research by UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. And there’s a lot more to come with international travel predicted to increase by a massive 35% over the next six years to 2025.

But where is all that extra traffic going to go? Which destinations are quiet now that might be swarming with tourists in the years to come? Two destinations in Thailand are set for a prosperous future, according to the data. Whilst almost all the growth is excepted to be to Asian destinations, an under-visited resource for world tourism so far.

Euromonitor data has been used to simulate tourist growth models and reveal the fastest growing projected visitor arrivals in major cities and destinations around the world for 2025, compared to arrival figures in 2018.

In Thailand, Phuket’s tourist traffic is poised to increase up to 85% in the next six years, from nearly 12 million arrivals in 2018 to over 22 million in 2025. Bangkok is predicted to see the 8th most prolific rise in tourist traffic, with arrivals in Bangkok set to swell an additional 68% during the same period. Doha, the capital of Qatar, is set to explode with 104% increase in traffic over the next six years.

The data also predicts that both Bangkok and Phuket will rebound big time in 2020, Phuket in particular with a growth of around 20% for the next year, accord to the data from TravelSupermarket.com.

By 2025 the data predicts that Bangkok will be the world’s #1 tourist destination, a position it’s held before in recent years. The Thai capital will be followed by Singapore, Dubai, Phuket and Kuala Lumpur, making South East Asia the world’s emerging tourism hotspot.

Some of the world’s favourites – New York, Paris, London – will continue to grow their tourist numbers but not at the rate of most Asian destinations.

You can read the full list HERE.

Stats compiled by travelsupermarket.com

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Phuket

Rawai beachfront water shut-off tomorrow for mains works

Published

3 days ago

October 14, 2019

The Thaiger

The Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority says Rawai’s mains water supply will be shut off tomorrow (Tuesday, October 15) as new water pipes are fitted in front of The Title Beach Front condo resort complex on the town’s beachfront.

The mains water supply will be shut off from 9am until 4:30pm along the beachfront strip.

The PWA says the areas affected will be along Wiset Road along the Rawai beachfront road, as well as Soi Yanui and Soi Ruafaed.

Residents and businesses are being urged to collect water for use during the day today, before tomorrow morning’s shut-off.

As usual, the PWA say…“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Contact the Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority on 076 319173 or 082 7901634 for more details.

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