News
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Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
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Phuket wildlife officers warn of Bangla slow loris raids to come
PHUKET: The Environmental Conservation Unit of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) Phuket office will conduct more slow loris raids on Soi Bangla in Patong following the discovery of tourist touts still operating on the popular nightlife strip. The raids to come follow a similar nighttime raid on October 4 that netted five touts who were…
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Gambling “spectators’ to appeal to Phuket governor for clemency
PHUKET: A gambling raid on a residential home about 200 meters from Baan Kathu School yesterday netted 21 arrests, but most of the people taken into custody will appeal to the governor to have the charges dropped on the basis that they were “only watching”. Lt Col Serm Kwannimit of the Thung Thong Police told the Gazette that police raided…
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Phuket marine agency checks dead whale shark samples for heavy metal contamination
PHUKET: Staff from the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) were deployed to Koh Lanta Yai on Sunday after receiving a report from the Royal Thai Navy Maritime Security Center that an eight-ton whale shark had washed ashore at Klong Nin Beach. From his office at the PMBC, Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, who heads the Endangered Species Unit (ESU), told the Phuket…
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Phuket Investor: Insure your stock holdings
PHUKET: Some readers of the Phuket Gazette who have stock market investments may feel I ignore them, because of a personal bias against equity investments right now. For those of you who feel you have a knack for choosing good companies, or would like to participate in any upside in the broad markets, but would like to limit your exposure,…
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World News: EU imposes Syrian flight ban, arms embargo and asset freeze
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community European Union bans Syrian flights from its airports Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Passenger and cargo flights operated by Syrian airlines will no longer be allowed to land at airports in the European Union (EU) under new sanctions adopted Monday to further increase pressure on…
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Phuket student scores B1mn in lucky draw
PHUKET: A student at Phuket Rajabhat University is the sixth lucky person to have won a million baht in the Ichitan drinks company’s lucky draw.Ichitan Group President and Chief Executive Officer yesterday evening at Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town presented the lucky student, 21-year-old Suparat Rakklua, with four gold bars with a total value of one million baht.Ms Suparat…
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Phuket Business: Identifying island identity
PHUKET: The American Chamber of Commerce teamed up with the Phuket PR Network to present a fascinating and most entertaining culture-preservation lesson recently in Phuket Town. Held at the Blue Elephant restaurant in the heart of historic old-town, the evening was headlined by two heritage preservation experts, who gave captivating lectures about the importance of Phuket’s cultural past, present and…
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Phuket Business: Local petrol tax under scrutiny
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) last week refuted claims that they had introduced a “new” tax to be collected on the sale of all fuels in Phuket, including diesel, marine diesel, benzine and gasohol. The “maintenance tax”, levied as a 10% surcharge on the sale of all engine fuels, is the same tax previously collected by the Excise…
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Phuket national park investigators to stage “land probe lottery’
PHUKET: The 366 officials named to carry out the huge investigation into every plot of privately owned land along the border of Phuket’s Sirinath Marine National Park will draw lots to determine who will investigate which plots. “The officers have been divided into 36 teams, with each team comprising six officers,” Sirinath Park Chief Cheewapap Cheewatham explained to the Phuket…
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World News: Independence referendum for Scots, Obama leads – just; Gunmen murder 24
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Britain, Scotland sign deal for independence referendum Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: British Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday signed a historic agreement which will allow the Scottish government to hold a referendum to decide whether Scotland should break away…
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Phuket Police rebuke rape inaction claim
PHUKET: The Phuket police officer accused of inaction in the investigation of the alleged rape of a 9-year-old girl has rebuked the claim, saying that the mother of the child knew that the suspect had been charged and subsequently released on court bail. The mother even saw him personally last Friday before filing her complaint at the Damrongtham Center (Provincial…
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Rescued dolphin doesn’t make it
PHUKET: The young dolphin thought to be on the path to recovery early last week, after being rescued from Mai Khao Beach, died on Saturday. The one-year-old female Spinner dolphin was taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) Endangered Species Unit (ESU) on September 27. She received care 24 hours a day by PMBC staff, said Dr Patcharaporn Gaewmong,…
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Ironkids set for December 1
PHUKET: The third Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club (TSLC) IronKids Race will take place on December 1. Last year’s event was a great success with over 220 participants ranging from 6 to 15-years-old competing in age-appropriate distances to become Ironkids. The December 2012 event expects to see the number of participants grow to 300 children, with the age range extended…
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Mother alleges daughter, 9, raped by a village shop owner
PHUKET: A single mother lodged a complaint with the Phuket Damrongtham Center (Provincial Ombudsman’s Office) this morning, citing Tah Chat Chai Police inaction over the alleged rape of her 9-year-old daughter by a neighbor.The Damrongtham Center received the complaint against Lt Col Rassada Kluengwong of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, claiming dereliction of duty in the investigation of the alleged…
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Phuket Sports: Bangkok Angels do not give Islanders salvation; relegation looms
PHUKET: Thai Yamaha Division 1 survival is still within reach ahead of Phuket FC’s final two matches of the season, despite a 2-1 away-loss on Saturday night to promotion contenders Bangkok United. Held at Bangkok’s Thai-Japanese Stadium in the heart of the capital, the 32nd match of the 34-fixture season was both side’s third match inside of a week. The…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012 underway
PHUKET: The Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012 began officially at midnight last night as lanterns were hung at the participating Chinese shrines on the island, marking that the Jade Emperor and nine Emperor Gods had descended from the heavens. Thousands of devotees and spectators gathered at shrines across the island yesterday at sunset for the raising of the huge go teng…
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African woman caught with 6kg of meth at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Customs officials at Phuket International Airport arrested a Mozambique woman attempting to smuggle six kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) into the country on Saturday night.Officials estimate the drugs had an estimated street value 21 million baht.Airport Customs Director Montira Cherchoo said that Mrs Hortencia Ferreira Novela, 37, was arrested after Customs officials found the drugs hidden in her…
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Phuket beach turf war heats up as officials look to remove restaurants
PHUKET: With Maitree Intusut landing on the island on Monday as the newly appointed Phuket Governor, officials in Cherng Talay are wasting no time in their attempt to make a fresh start in clearing encroaching restaurants from the sands of Surin Beach. While Governor Maitree and his wife, Mrs Palinee, were wading through throngs of well wishers welcoming the couple…
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Hunt continues for missing Phuket gold thief
PHUKET: Police are continuing their search for the remaining thief who robbed a Phuket gold shop on September 17, making off with millions of baht of gold jewelry. One of the two thieves, a Burmese national named by police only as “Mr Koson”, surrendered to police after seeing his wife arrested on national television. However, Phuket police are still searching…
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Phuket Hospital fends off expat injury claims of “botched surgeries’
PHUKET: Refuting allegations of any medical misconduct concerning the treatment of Liberty Jefferson, following a serious motorbike accident in March, Vachira Phuket Hospital on Friday issued a statement to explain where their responsibility for her care started and ended. Reported by KVAL news in Ms Jefferson’s home state of Oregon, USA, “Miss Jefferson says she sat in a hospital room…
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Man robs Phuket 7-Eleven with scythe
PHUKET: Phuket Police are searching for a man who, armed with a full-length scythe, robbed a 7-Eleven in Thalang last night.The 19-year-old cashier on duty at the time of the robbery told police that a man wearing a balaclava entered the store, located near the Phanason Village residential estate on Thepkasattri Road, at about 10:45pm.“Although she could not see his…
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Arson not suspected in Patong lifeguard tower fire
PHUKET: Police do not suspect arson caused a fire on Patong Beach last night that destroyed about 13,000 baht of sun loungers and beach umbrellas.Patong Police Duty Officer Pratueng Polmana told the Phuket Gazette that he received a report of a lifeguard tower on Patong beach being ablaze at about 12:05am.Patong Municipality firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the…
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Phuket marks Royal Thai Police Day
PHUKET: About 500 police officers gathered at Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters this morning to celebrate Royal Thai Police Day today.Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut, who presided over the ceremony, told the officers in attendance, “I would like all police at every level to give their utmost in the practical application of the government’s policy and strategy to suppress drugs and crime.”Governor…
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Phuket Police ordered to boost security, safety for Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavaviwat has ordered an island-wide boost in security for the upcoming Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which starts tonight. Maj Gen Choti told the Phuket Gazette that he was only too aware that the island attracted large numbers of tourists, both Thai and foreign during the festival, and their safety needed to be ensured. Gen Choti said…
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Phuket Opinion: Of MICE and mangroves
PHUKET: With more than 50 injured turtles and a dolphin recovering amid news of an “extinct” crab resurfacing in Phuket, one cannot help but reflect upon the state of our island’s current fight for ecological survival. The breathtaking increase in development’s toll on the island’s natural resources has been reported by the Phuket Gazette for well over a decade. The…
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Transport Minister eyes Phuket traffic black spots
PHUKET: Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan in Phuket last week admitted that despite efforts to resolve traffic jams in Phuket through billion-baht underpass projects, other traffic congestion “black spots” also needed addressing. Mr Jarupong identified the Heroines’ Monument in Thalang and Chalong Circle in the south of Phuket as two areas that specifically need attention. “Projects that improve public transportation in…
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Phuket Sports: Islanders prepared for Bangkok United match tonight
PHUKET: Despite overwhelming odds, Phuket FC’s Coach is confident that his side can share the points in tonight’s away match against Thai Division 1 top-side Bangkok United. Speaking on the phone from the Thai capital this morning, Coach Anuruck “June” Srikerd told the Phuket Gazette that his side’s defensive game is tight and wouldn’t concede goals very easily. “Even though…
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Phuket Town redecorated for Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: Ahead of tens of thousands of tourists arriving for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which begins tomorrow, shrine committees and local municipal workers have taken to the streets to post flags along major roads across the island and install huge decorations as part of the festivities. All main roads through Phuket Town, and especially those leading from local Chinese shrines…
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Phuket noise: Villagers’ complaints spark raid
PHUKET: Complaints from residents about noise from two entertainment venues in the Heroines Monument area prompted Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak to lead more than 30 officers to raid the venues last night. Vice Governor Somkiet and officers from the Damrongtham Center (provincial ombudsman’s office), the Muang District and Thalang District Offices, and the Thalang Police raided the Relax Live…
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Weird World News: Cashing in on big money, or not
PHUKET: This week’s Weird World News Roundup runs the gambit from a US$1 bank robbery, to a space diamond bigger than Earth, with a half-billion US dollars in between. One dollar, enough for Federal Prison? A “polite” US man was arrested after robbing his local bank for US$1 [30 baht] in an apparent attempt to be charged with a federal…
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