Search Results for: Thailand
- Phuket News
Phuket may face draconian Internal Security Act
PHUKET: The Cabinet will today consider a proposal to apply Thailand’s Internal Security Act to Phuket during the upcoming Asean ministerial meeting which will be attended by the US Secretary of State. An informed source said this morning that the Act, if approved, would task the nation’s powerful Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), which is chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit…
- Phuket News
Phuket Impact: British couple fights Bangkok airport extortionists
BANGKOK / PHUKET: A British couple who were falsely accused of shoplifting at Bangkok’s Suvarnaphumi airport and were forced to pay £8,000 (approx 450,000 baht) in bribes to secure their release, are to take legal action for compensation. London’s Times Online reported today that the couple were the victims of an extortion racket that has ensnared other foreign travelers at…
- Phuket News
Phuket Airport staff sing for victory against swine flu
PHUKET CITY: Sing “Happy Birthday” to combat swine flu. Bizarre as it may sound, this was one of many pieces of advice given by public health officials during Phuket International Airport’s (PIA’s) “Big Clean Day” [sic] yesterday. But there is, in fact, method in the apparent madness. As one Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) officer explained to PIA staff, the…
- Phuket News
12 donate land for new Phuket Airport Road project
PHUKET CITY: A provincial plan to build a second airport road took a small step forward earlier this week, thanks to 12 private landowners who donated land for the project. The handover took place on Monday night at the Ban Prujumpha School in Tambon Thepkrasattri, where the landowners personally handed over land title deeds and related documents to Phuket Governor…
- Phuket News
Phuket may benefit, but free visas backfire on honorary consulates
PHUKET CITY: The future of honorary Thai consulates around the world is in doubt following the Thai government’s move to waive tourist visa fees until March 2010. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday announced that as of today all foreigners applying for single-entry tourist visas at Thai embassies, consulates and honorary consulates will be exempt from fees. Some…
- Phuket News
Free visa plan backfires on Thai honorary consulates
PHUKET CITY: The future of honorary Thai consulates around the world is in doubt following the Thai government’s move to waive tourist visa fees until March 2010.The Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday announced that as of today all foreigners applying for single-entry tourist visas at Thai embassies, consulates and honorary consulates will be exempt from fees.Yet some honorary Thai…
- Phuket News
Patong bars to close July 7, Asarnha Bucha Day
PATONG, PHUKET: All entertainment venues in Patong will close on July 7 to observe the Buddhist holiday of Asarnha Bucha. Sompetch Moosopon, president of the Patong Entertainment Business Association (PEBA), said the PEBA committee met at the Baan Sukhothai Hotel & Spa on Tuesday to discuss plans for Asarnha Bucha Day, which is a public holiday in Thailand. It was…
- Phuket News
Phuket second in new HIV/Aids cases
PHUKET CITY: Phuket has the second-highest per capita HIV infection rate in Thailand, the director of the Phuket Public Health Office said yesterday.Dr Pongsawas Ratanasang said Phuket’s infection rate was second only to Ranong during the two-year period from May 31, 2007 to May 31, 2009.In the longer term, the total number of reported HIV infection cases at public and private hospitals…
- Phuket News
Good news for Phuket: swine flu infection rate falling
PHUKET CITY: In a sign that Thailand might be winning the war against swine flu, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) today announced a lower number of daily new cases, 43, compared to earlier this week. Disease Control Department Director Dr Somchai Chakrabhand believes the falloff in new cases, by almost half, is a sign that preventive measures in schools…
- Phuket News
Phuket impact: Gov’t should waive duty on luxury goods
PHUKET: A major retailer’s suggestion yesterday – that import duties be removed on luxury products – could draw more tourists to Phuket and boost Thailand’s economy. The measure was part of proposals made by Thailand ‘s largest retail conglomerate, Central Retail Corporation (CRC), along with with major suppliers who are seeking government support for retail and related industries. The priority…
- Phuket News
Phuket braces for US invasion!
PHUKET CITY: Phuket’s tourism economy will get a much needed boost this week with the arrival of six US Navy ships with a complement of over 5,700 sailors and other military personnel. Already moored at the Phuket Deep Sea Port since June 17 is the USS Mitscher with its crew of 281. A group of USS Mitscher sailors yesterday took…
- Phuket News
Phuket Q1 tourism figures down
PHUKET CITY: Although Thailand has seen a significant drop in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2009, Phuket is faring better than many other parts of the country, the head of the local tourism development office has said. Statistics released by the Office of Tourism Development showed an overall drop in international arrival figures nationwide from 5.5 million in…
- Phuket News
Phuket placebos for cell phone ‘spamdemic’
PHUKET: Fed up with the annoying SMS messages and breathless phone calls imploring you to buy awesome ring tones? The Thai government wants to help you, but here in Phuket, at least, don’t expect much interim relief from your mobile phone service provider. “We plan to introduce something like a ‘Do-Not-Call Center’ in a bid to block unwanted SMS messages,”…
- Phuket News
Strong rains, heavy seas in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The Meteorological Department (MET) has issued an advisory of strong monsoon conditions in Phuket over the next few days resulting in unusually rough seas and scattered showers with the possibility of torrential rain at times. In its national weather advisory issued earlier today, the MET reported that a trough of low pressure lies across the North and upper…
- Phuket News
Phuket property worst hit at “high end”
PHUKET: More than 10 residential projects with a combined market value of nearly 10 billion baht remain “on hold” in Phuket, because demand from both domestic and foreign buyers – especially for luxury homes – has fallen to less than half of last year’s level. Wanwipa Horbut, deputy managing director of luxury property developer Surin Hill Development, said demand for…
- Phuket News
Laguna Phuket to host 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting
PHUKET CITY: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to be among diplomats attending the 42nd Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phuket next month. Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop yesterday chaired a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall to prepare for the meetings, which will be hosted at the Laguna Phuket resort complex in Cherng Talay from July 16 to 23. “This…
- Phuket News
Swine flu cases surpass 200 mark
PHUKET CITY / BANGKOK: Thailand yesterday reported 51 new cases of swine flu, bringing the total number to 201, Public Health Ministry spokesman Suphan Srikamma has announced. Education Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said that nine schools have suspended classes to prevent spreading of the flu, all in or around Bangkok. Among them are such prestigious schools as St Gabriel’s, St Francis…
- Phuket News
Free training at Phuket Meditation Center today
PHUKET CITY: A Middle Way meditation session will take place today at the Phuket Meditation Center next to Suan Luang Park, starting at 1:30 pm. The teaching monk is Phra Thada Jaranatharou. Fluent in English, Phra Thada graduated with honors with a bachelors’ degree industrial electrical technology from King Mongkut Institute of Technology, Thailand’s top engineering school. Phra Thada is…
- Phuket News
Phuket tourism industry braces for swine flu impact
PHUKET CITY: A vice-president of the Phuket Tourist Association has warned that travelers and the general public could be frightened by the heightened level of alert for swine flu, which the WHO raised from phase 5 to phase 6, the highest level, on Thursday. Phuket Tourism Association Vice-President for Marketing Bhuritt Maswongsa also noted that despite the phase 6 warning,…
- Phuket News
Phuket marine life to benefit from dugong conservation MoU
PHUKET: After two years of lobbying by the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), the government has finally agreed to sign an international memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at protecting the endangered dugong population in Thai waters, the Gazette has learned.Kanjana Adulyanukosol of the Phuket Marine Biological Center’s Endangered Species Unit said the government is now ready to sign the memorandum,…
- Phuket News
Swine Flu: Phuket facing further downturns in tourism
BANGKOK / PHUKET: A Bangkok school will today be partially closed for three days after an 11-year-old boy came down with type-A (H1N1) influenza in what is the second known case of local infection in Thailand. Thirteen of his classmates have also developed a fever. Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi said the Bangkok student, whose name was withheld, had…
- Phuket News
Sea debris killing Phuket sea life: marine expert
PHUKET CITY: A leading marine biologist has warned that the dumping of debris into the waters of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi is harming marine species in the region. Speaking at an event to mark the United Nation’s first-ever official World Oceans Day on Monday, researcher Kanjana Adulyanukosol of the Phuket Marine Biological Center’s Endangered Species Unit said that sea…
- Phuket News
Hong Kong man ill with swine flu after Phuket holiday
PHUKET CITY: A 33-year-old man from Hong Kong fell ill with human swine influenza following a stay on Phuket, the Gazette has learned. The Hong Kong Department of Health said the man visited Phuket with a friend from June 4 to 8. He reportedly developed a cough on June 7. The travelers returned to Hong Kong on Dragonair flight KA213…
- Phuket News
Phuket enchanted by MSU orchestra
PHUKET CITY: Music lovers in Phuket were granted a rare treat over the past weekend: two performances by the world-class musicians of the Montana State University (MSU) Symphony Orchestra. Under the direction of internationally renowned Japanese conductor Shuichi Komiyama, the 85-member orchestra kicked off with a rousing medley arrangement entitled Go West. Certainly not to be confused with the Pet…
- Phuket News
Phuket gets another toy library from the Phuket Community Foundation
Community Foundations (CFs) are a powerful force for doing good in society. They are also financial powerhouses. For example, Rotary has total worldwide assets – that is, investments from which Rotary clubs draw an income – of around US$700 million. In contrast, the Tulsa Community Foundation alone has assets of US$3.l7 billion, and the top 10 in the US have…
- Phuket News
Phuket says farewell to Steve Swan
PATONG, PHUKET: A cremation ceremony was held last week for US serviceman Steve Swan, who survived for three weeks following a motorcycle accident on April 30 but died from complications on May 22. The following obituary is provided by Lee Thayer, also a retired US Navy serviceman and, together with Steve, an owner of the Crow’s Nest Bar on Soi…
- Phuket News
Letter from Phuket to the World Boxing Council
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette‘s editorial this week comes in the form of an open letter to World Boxing Council (WBC) President Jose Sulaiman on the topic of race-based pricing at the world title fight held at the Bangla Boxing Stadium in Patong, Phuket on May 29. Dear Mr Sulaiman: As you are no doubt aware, WBC champion Oleydong Sithsamerchai recently…
- Phuket News
Phuket Lions club a roaring success
PHUKET: The Lions Club of Patong Beach celebrated their Charter Night on May 29. Almost 80 Lions from clubs throughout Thailand watched on as Charter President Lion Rohn-Napa Kanjanayothee and First President Claude de Crissey were officially presented with their club Charter by former district governor Somchai Chirayus.Lions Clubs International has more than 1.4 million members in over 44,500 clubs…
- Phuket News
Phuket porker: mutant or miracle?
SRISOONTHORN, PHUKET: The talk of the town in Thalang in recent weeks is the birth of a deformed piglet that locals feel bears a striking resemblance to Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu deity worshiped by many Thai Buddhists. The reason for their conviction is a large growth of tissue protruding from the piglet’s head that bears a striking resemblance to an…
- Phuket News
Phuket jungle walk marks World Environment Day 2009
PA KHLOK, PHUKET: More than 50 Phuket students on Monday morning completed an eight-kilometer jungle trek all the way from Bang Pae Waterfall to Ton Sai Waterfall, located inside Khao Phra Thaeo National Park. The event was organized jointly by PTT Exploration and Production Co (PTTEP), Radio Thailand, and the Phuket Public Relations Department. PTTEP External Relations Manager Sidhichai Jayant…
