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- Phuket News
Phuket rates high at world travel show
PHUKET: A big roadshow to London and Paris last week did not have to persuade travel agents that Phuket was a safe destination, it was announced today. Feedback was “fantastic” and another roadshow is being planned, this time to Japan, returning officials told the Gazette. Dr Prasit Koeysiripong, President of the Phuket Provincial Administratrion Organization (OrBorJor), said, “The president of…
- Phuket News
OrBorJor launches website
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) has launched its own website, in Thai and English, at https://www.phuketcity.org Apart from general information about Phuket and the surrounding islands, the website also features information about the OrBorJor’s current and future projects, details about budget allocation, and links to other government websites. The website also provides visitors with an email address and…
- Phuket News
Chalermsak gets Patong mandate
PATONG: The newly-elected Mayor of Patong, Chalermsak Maneesri, began work today after winning Saturday’s poll easily, scoring 4,236 votes against 2,514 for his nearest rival, Pian Keesin. K. Chalermsak is the brother of former mayor Surasak Maneesri, who was ordered to stand aside as mayor and not permitted to run in the election because of allegations of impropriety. K. Surasak…
- Phuket News
King&’s Cup Regatta fast approaching
PHUKET: The 16th Phuket King’s Regatta begins two weeks from today, returning to Phi Phi for the first couple of days’ racing, before moving to the west coast of Phuket. This year’s fleet, at 70 boats registered by this morning (November 16) and with more expected to tumble in at the last minute, will be bigger than last year’s, offering…
- Phuket News
Dane wins Tour of Thailand
BANGKOK: Peterson Solen from Denmark won the Tour of Thailand 2002 in Bangkok yesterday and his team, Giant Asian Racing, took the first four places. Solen was followed home by fellow team riders Iratov Damir from Uzbekistan and Sergey Derevyanov of Kazakstan. Another Uzbeki rider, Kahramon Mominov, crossed the line second on the day, but placed fourth overall in the…
- Phuket News
Phuket Prison to be closed
PHUKET TOWN: Manit Suthaporn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, has announced that the 100-year-old Phuket Provincial Prison will be closed, with inmates being relocated either to Bangkok or to a new jail in Thalang, on which construction has just begun. Speaking after an inspection of Phuket’s antiquated and overcrowded prison yesterday, K. Manit said, “It’s very crowded, especially…
- Phuket News
Phuket must diversify – Governor
PHUKET: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi yesterday reiterated his view that Phuket must develop industries apart from tourism. “Tourism is vulnerable. It’s like a crystal. We should create real-sector businesses, or businesses related to the service sector,” he said. Speaking at a meeting of the International Business Association of Phuket (IBAP) on the theme of “Phuket Tomorrow”, he said that such…
- Phuket News
Smoking ban law in force from midnight
PHUKET: The Chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) today issued a reminder that the new law clamping down on smoking in a wide range of public places comes into effect at midnight tonight. However, Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong told the Gazette that his inspectors will probably not start making checks on compliance until tomorrow morning, since most places affected…
- Phuket News
Deadline for local businesses
PHUKET: Businesses wishing to appear in the 2003 Gazette Guide, Phuket’s ‘yellow pages’, have until 5:30 pm this Thursday, 31 October, to enter (or update) their listings. Any entries made after the deadline will not appear in the hard-copy book until January 2004. Standard listings are free of charge, but they are limited to genuine businesses in Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi…
- Phuket News
Plea for game fish to be protected
PHUKET: Swift action must be taken to control the number of sailfish being caught by commercial fishermen in Phuket waters, a game fishing advocate has told the Gazette. If action is not taken, a sport that brings millions of baht a year to Phuket will be at risk, said the game fishing advocate, who asked that his name be withheld.…
- Phuket News
Police pounce on bag snatchers
PATONG: Three bag snatchers were caught in Patong over the weekend soon after they ran off with gear belonging to a Russian couple on vacation in Phuket. The bag snatchers chose the wrong time to strike because police security was tight on Saturday as Pol Col Chalit Thintanee, Superintendent of Kathu police station, made the rounds of Patong’s beachfront with…
- Phuket News
Missing teacher found dead
PHANG NGA: The body of a teacher who went missing while on a fishing trip was found in a canal near the Sarasin Bridge on Friday. Sophol Paenklai, 48, who taught at a school in Tai Muang district, “went out to catch fish and fell into the water by accident,” said Apidaj Chuaykua, Pol Capt of Kok Kloy Police Station…
- Phuket News
Southern economy looks good: central bank
PHUKET TOWN: A review of the main industries in southern Thailand indicates a healthy outlook for the local economy, said Boonlert Luengnakthongdee, Director of Operations, Bank of Thailand, Southern Region, on Thursday. Speaking at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, at a meeting with business leaders and provincial officers from Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, K. Boonlert said, “We are quite…
- Phuket News
Bali’s loss is Phuket’s gain
PHUKET: Bali’s loss has been Phuket’s gain, it seems, with hotel bookings on the island soaring as holidaymakers and conference organizers switch following the Kuta bombing. A prime indicator is the Phuket.Com hotel booking website, which has seen a huge surge in bookings over the past few days. Neil Cumming, the company’s CEO, told the Gazette, “The big change for…
- Phuket News
Project Raindrop drips to a close
PHUKET: They came, they seeded, and the rain fell. And now the great Phuket rainmaking project is drawing to a close. But has it worked? Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi was pleased enough with the results to host a dinner last night at the Royal Paradise Hotel, Patong, for the team of 34 rainmakers, who return to Bangkok in a…
- Phuket News
Lalvani raps lack of govt support
BANGKOK: Mega-investor Gulu Lalvani has again criticized the Thai government’s failure to wholeheartedly support the development of recreational boating in Thailand, arguing that it is giving neighboring countries an edge. Referring to Malaysia’s aggressive promotion of Langkawi as a destination for this kind of top-end tourism, Kuala Lumpur’s imaginative legislative approach and the huge investment that has poured in as…
- Phuket News
Surasak back in the race; Chairat joins
PATONG: Patong’s mayoral race hotted up today with announcements that Surasak Maneesri is back in the race, and that a fourth contender, Safari Pub owner Chairat Sukbal, has announced his candidacy. K. Surasak explained that he has already lodged an appeal, with the Administration Court in Songkhla, against an order by former Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon instructing him to quit…
- Phuket News
Foreign teachers learn Thai ways
PHUKET TOWN: A group of 18 foreigners about to start teaching non-Thai languages in Phuket schools today began a five-day training program in Thai culture, society, language and laws. The 30-hour course at the Provincial Primary School Office is designed to help the teachers adapt to local customs and be good role models for their students. Once the course is…
- Phuket News
Taxi boss fails to get cabs into airport
PHUKET: A metered taxi company has been denied space to operate at Phuket International Airport despite repeated applications and high-level discussions. Today the Phuket Land Transportation Office Committee held a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall with involved parties including Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi; Lt Cdr Boonchart Prompoon, Director of Phuket International Airport (PIA); Weera Kruepanich, representative of Phuket Limousine &…
- Phuket News
Classy thief robs government officers
PHUKET TOWN: A well-dressed thief who allegedly specialized in daring walk-in robberies of government offices is being questioned by police. Prayoon Kruekaew, 26, of Phuket, was arrested at his home on Patipat Rd this afternoon after what appeared to be his latest stunt. He confessed to pulling eight robberies in Phuket and five in Haad Yai. His method was to…
- Phuket News
Web domain hunter clarifies position
PHUKET TOWN: A bid to “return Thai names to Thais” was not aimed at taking control of dotcom businesses that had been created by foreign investment, says a leading player in the Internet domain name debate. Samroeng Chaisorn, vice president of the Phuket OrBorJor, denied this week that he would try to use the law to take control of dotcom…
- Phuket News
Seafront plans win support
PHUKET TOWN: The powerful Department of Town and Country Planning has backed a scheme to develop Saphan Hin as a sophisticated waterfront area, the first major step towards making Phuket Town an “international city.” A firm that specializes in constructing bayfront regions is now undertaking a feasibility study but feedback from residents will be sought before any proposal is formally…
- Phuket News
Gov lobbies for lower import duty on yachts
PHUKET TOWN: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi yesterday urged a panel of central government financial experts to reduce the import duty on yachts. “Import taxes on yachts are too high. If charges and taxes were lower, more investors would import boats legally,” he said. The governor made his comments at a meeting to discuss provincial financial relations with the central government…
- Phuket News
Anti-foreigner sentiment runs high at local chamber meeting
PHUKET: Just when foreigners in Phuket were beginning to regain confidence in Thailand as a place in which to invest, a Member of Parliament has once again clouded the skies by suggesting a massive rise in the fees for an initial work permit, from the current 300 baht to as much as 300,000 baht. The astonishing announcement was made today…
- Phuket News
Spectacle launches Pian&’s election campaign
PATONG: Former mayor Pian Keesin launched the Palang Patong Party’s (Patong Power – PPP) municipal election campaign at the weekend with a spectacular fair and a stage show that drew an audience of 500 people. PPP supporters who gathered outside the candidate’s house on Phra Baramee Rd enjoyed a free buffet, drinks and the show, plus a big-screen presentation of…
- Phuket News
B10m log cargo floats free
PHANG NGA: Heavy monsoon seas unleashed a 10-million-baht cargo of Indonesian logs and scattered them across waters off Phang Nga at the weekend. Now the company that owns the cargo is offering a 500-baht reward for each of 532 logs and has asked police to prevent Thai villagers “salvaging” them. On Friday evening, the logs were being towed on a…
- Phuket News
Two held for mobile phone scam
PHUKET TOWN: Police have arrested a Briton and his Burmese partner and accused them of an international mobile telephone scam that was netting them thousands of baht each day. Police named the men as Gaser Jaba, 35, and Lux Chuman, 18. The pair were arrested at a house in Moo Baan Jom Thong on Kwang Rd yesterday afternoon. Police confiscated…
- Phuket News
Road rage over Thepkrasattri name change
PHUKET: In response to public backlash, the Phuket Provincial Highways Office (PPHO) has removed its signs along the northern section of Thepkrasattri Rd indicating the road’s original and official name, Sathienthapanakij Rd. The new signs were posted as part of a Highways Office national program to have all highways marked clearly with their proper names. PPHO Chief Visute Maiwattana today…
- Phuket News
Ban on lofty buildings extended
PHUKET: The ban on building construction at heights of 80 meters above sea level or higher will continue for at least another year, it was announced today. Prasong Iam-anun, head of the National Environment Board committee evaluating construction laws in Phuket, made the announcement this morning at The Metropole hotel, where 400 people gathered for a public hearing of proposed…
- Phuket News
THAI discounts internal fights
PHUKET: Thai Airways is offering special discounts on domestic flights from now until December 31 to Thais and, in some cases, foreign residents. The discounts are as follows: – Young people aged 12-24 years old who are traveling on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (except for public holidays or days in lieu of public holidays) receive a 25% discount. – Other…
