Phuket sails in China; Phuket air lift; Reliable police?

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

PHUKET: The Nation reports that ‘Team Phuket King’s Cup Regatta’ has entered the China Cup International Regatta, to take place in Daya Bay, Shenzhen, China from October 29 to November 1.

Team Phuket is made up of former national representatives and sailors with experience in the SEA Games. Skippered by King’s Cup Regatta President Kevin Whitcraft, the crew includes Biranubongse and Koravic Bhanubandh Na Ayudhaya; Nicky, Tom and Malee Whitcraft; Viroj and Kawin Nualkhair; and Dave Littlejohn.

The Phuket team sails regularly at regattas in Thailand and has had notable successes at the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.

Last year, they trained on the GP42 AA, and took ninth place in AA‘s first outing at the Phuket King’s Cup in December.

In their second competitive outing, AA took fifth in the IRC 1 class at the ‘Top of the Gulf’ Regatta.

The Nation, along with the Phuket Gazette and PGTV, are media sponsors of the annual Phuket King’s Cup Regattas.

E Global Travel News
AirAsia is offering flights from Australia to Kuala Lumpur from as low as A$149 one way; and 20% off fares to some of the hottest spots in Asia, including Phuket.

The airline’s ‘Red Spot Sale’ runs until September 13, with the travel period from Australia to Kuala Lumpur running from September 14 to November 15, 2010.

The travel period from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket is ‘open’.

One-way economy fares to Kuala Lumpur from the Gold Coast and from Perth start at just A$149. Fares from Melbourne start at A$199.

Red Spot fares from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket start at just A$41 (approx 1,140 baht).

For bookings or further information visit AirAsia.Com.

Bangkok Post
Thai AirAsia will make Chiangmai its third hub, after Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports, as the no-frills carrier creates an additional sub-network to complement its expanding coverage.

The Chiang Mai hub, through which the airline will operate direct links with other destinations in Thailand and overseas, is due to be up and running in January.

The airline, part of Asia’s largest low-cost carrier group, will inaugurate its northern hub with three routes, from Chiang Mai to Hat Yai, Bangkok and Singapore, all with daily frequencies.

Thai AirAsia chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld says the new services directly out of Chiangmai will help the carrier to build traffic, especially in the leisure sector.

“By offering non-stop flights between Chiang Mai and other destinations, we’ll encourage more people to fly more conveniently, with less time, cost and hassles [than those involving flight connections],” he says.

E Travel Blackboard
The Sheraton Grande Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort in Phuket, has been named in the “Top 25 Conference Hotels” in the 2010 Smart Travel Asia ‘Best in Travel Poll’ for the fourth consecutive year, and is the only Phuket resort to make the Top Ten in this annual list.

“It is an honour for Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket to be recognized as the top Phuket resort in the prestigious ‘Top 25 Conference Hotels’ travel poll, and an even greater accomplishment to have made the list for the fourth year running,” said Klaus Christandl, General Manager of the resort.

“This impressive accolade is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the resort team in positioning the Sheraton as one of the leading conference and incentive resorts in Phuket,” he added.

The Nation
The new national police chief, General Wichean Potephosree, issued a four-point policy statement yesterday in his inauguration ceremony at the Royal Thai Police compound.
“The monarchy shall be protected and honoured to the full, and not violated by anyone,” he said, adding that this policy took immediate effect.

The second policy, to be set in train over the next six months, was to boost police performance so the force was “fully reliable” to the public.

“Police officers will be friendly and polite to people seeking help,” he said. Interpersonal relationships between superiors and subordinates will be enhanced, with social activities held at police stations at least once a month.

The third policy, with a one-year implementation period, was suppressing crime to a level at which people’s lives would be little affected by crime, with public participation in crime-busting operations encouraged.

The fourth policy, that would take up to three years to achieve, was a major overhaul of the Royal Thai Police to “go forward in the right direction,” with police methods and budgeting included in new strategies and revised handbooks.

Housing, welfare and other benefits would also be improved, he said.

Other key issues to be tackled were nepotism, interference by outside factors, and narcotics, a problem he said was rampant.

Corrupt police would be the first to be arrested if found to be involved, he warned.

TTR Weekly
Following allegations of irregularities in a scheme to lease out Suvarnabhumi’s long term parking lot, the board of directors of Airports of Thailand yesterday ordered the removal of its president and airport director from an important revenue committee.

AOT President Serirat Prasutanond and Suvarnabhumi Airport Director Niran Thiranartsin were both removed from the revenue committee.

Mr Niran was also transferred to Don Mueang Airport as its director, effective 1 October, while Don Mueang Director Aniroot Thanomkulaboot will replace Niran at Suvarnabhumi.

The AOT board also ordered a halt to the revenue committee’s decision to lease the 62,380 sqm parking lot at Suvarnabhumi to Pangrum Retail, claiming the committee overstepped the authority given it by the board. The 15-year lease was to have started in December this year.

AOT Chairman Piyapan Champasut conceded that the problem may have arisen due to misinterpretation of the authority the board had given, but noted that the board had lost trust in the committee.

TTR Weekly
Nearly all the presentations at the Thai Hotels Association’s (THA’s) up-coming 12th Thailand Hospitality Industry Congress will be in Thai language without any translation service.

Ironically, the event, which takes place 15-16 September at Siam Paragon in Bangkok, is being promoted to both local and expatriate travel and hotel executives. But of the many presentations, only four, on 16 September, will be in English without

— Gazette Editors