Update: Phuket International Film Festival
– A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community
PHUKET: Scheduled for June 4-13, the Phuket International Film Festival is offering 10 days of award-winning movies, parties and networking events with international filmmakers, cultural activities and, of course, world-famous Thai hospitality.
The film festival is unique in that events will be held all over Phuket, allowing visitors to experience the spice of island life as activities take place in their backyards.
The Gala Opening will take place on June 5 at Royal Phuket Marina and promises to be an evening of meeting and shmoozing with international movie stars, politicos and VIPs from Phuket Island.
Tickets for all events are available at the main theatre screening location, the Coliseum Cineplex next to Robinsons in Phuket Town.
The Phuket International Film Festival is sponsored by the Phuket Gazette and PGTV.
For more information, call the Festival Hot Line on 081-722 4461 or click here.
On the move at Phuket Radisson
Asia Travel Tips
The Radisson Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach has promoted Siriwan Nipatchareon to Director of Sales and Marketing following a two year tenure as Director of Sales.
Siriwan played a critical role in managing the resort’s pre-opening sales activities. Her prior employment includes the luxurious Conrad hotel in Bangkok, Le Royal Méridien Bangkok, and the Hotel Sofitel Central Hua Hin.
Ms Thitaya Yenwattana has been appointed as the new Director of Sales. Her employment portfolio includes placements in the Sales Department at the Conrad Bangkok and as part of the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit’s pre-opening team.
Thitaya has fifteen years of dedicated experience and will be based at the Radisson Phuket resort’s Bangkok Sales Office.
Police force under fire
Opinion: The Nation
Former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, chairman of the Democrat Party’s advisory team, has suggested that the Thai national police force should be reformed, pointing to the agency’s ineffectiveness in the midst of the recent chaos in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand.
One cannot dismiss the argument that the police need a serious overhaul, starting with the recruitment process and the need for clarification over their mandate, responsibilities and duties.
The country needs to come up with ways that permit public participation in keeping the police in line, enabling the people to reclaim control over the agency that is supposed to protect and serve them.
Java gains from Thai turmoil
The Jakarta Post
According to Ling Herdiwan, head of the West Java Tourism and Culture Office, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in West Java has substantially risen, to an average of 1,000 per day, following the recent political conflicts in Thailand and the opening of direct flights from Malayaisa to Bandung.
Speaking at the Sate building in Bandung after kicking off the West Java Adventure-Off Road event, Ling said that at least 300 tourists who had initially planned to go to Thailand last week, for example, suddenly changed their destination to West Java.
“Travel agencies which had signed contracts with the tourists to go to Thailand, changed their itineraries to other destinations, including West Java,” Ling said.
Free tourist visas and insurance extended
TTRWeekly
The Thai government has extended its emergency insurance scheme for tourists stranded during a protest or riot. The government is also extending the waiver on tourist visa fees. Both extensions will expire March 31, 2011.
The insurance scheme is underwritten by a government budget that pays a premium of US$1 per day, per tourist.
The insurance covers tourists for injuries or a disruption of their travel program due to political disturbances; hospital costs, accommodation, food and transfer costs if a tourist’s departure is delayed; and repatriation if airline arrangements are deemed invalid.
The scheme also pays out a lump sum to the family of a tourist killed during a disturbance.
— Gazette Editors
