News
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Sponsored Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
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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AIS rolls out 3G coverage for Phuket
PHUKET: AIS is currently rolling out Phuket’s first island-wide full 3G service with a target launch date slated for the end of the month, the Phuket Gazette has learned. The news follows a ground-breaking demonstration of the service by Paiboon Rinsakul, AIS Marketing and Sales Manager for Upper Southern Thailand, at the Woody Leonhard Computer Clinic held in Chalong on…
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Phuket Live Wire: 3G wars start heating up
PHUKET: BANGKOK’S two big English-language newspapers have different takes on the topic, but it’s clear at this point that the 1-2-Call mobile phone company Advanced Information Systems (AIS) and Thai telecommunications services and hardware giant Samart are both going to try to match up with TOT to deliver High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) “3G” service to Thailand, and possibly Phuket.…
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Temple shootout prompts Phuket security concerns
PHUKET: The gunfight at a temple in Surat Thani early this morning that claimed the lives of a local official and a five-year-old girl has sparked security concerns at temples in Phuket. Six men armed with pistols entered the Suwanpadit temple just after midnight last night and opened fire on local administrator Songwut Noppakhun, killing him. Mr Songwut was handing…
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Phuket hospitals join fight against breast, cervical cancer
PHUKET: Two of Phuket’s major international hospitals will be providing discount breast and cervical cancer screening packages throughout August. Urairat Atiset, president of the Phuket chapter of the Business and Professional Women’s Association (BPW) of Thailand, today announced that Bangkok Hospital Phuket (BHP) and Phuket International Hospital (PIH) will be offering the breast and cervical cancer examinations for 3,000 baht.…
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Clarke claims the British Open
PHUKET: Northern Ireland celebrated a second major golf victory of 2011 when Darren Clarke raised aloft the famous claret jug at Royal St. Georges as the 140th Open Champion. With Graeme McDowell winning the US Open in 2010 and 22 year-old Rory McIlroy taking the 2011 title, Clarke’s performance shows the small country to be the golf capital of the…
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Phuket Opinion: Despite the danger, reconciliation on the roads not likely for now
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette wishes Phuket’s Land Transport Chief Teerayout Prasertphol the best of luck in his efforts to end the illegal practice of using salaeng (motorcycles with sidecars) to transport passengers. But we think we’ll be seeing no reduction in the number if these cartoons on the roads – at least not during the current decade. It is difficult…
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For the love of dolphins: NGOs to launch heated campaign in Phuket
PHUKET: The heads of two non-government organizations were in Phuket this weekend to announce the start of a partnership campaign to halt plans to build a “dolphinarium” as part of a resort and tourism complex in Rawai. Mark Berman of the US-based Earth Island Institute and Edwin Wiek of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) stopped by the Phuket Gazette…
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Phuket downpours mark arrival of Khao Phansa
PHUKET: A deluge of scattered heavy showers ushered in Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa) in Phuket today, with the Thai Meteorological Department (MET) forecasting more rain on the way. Khao Phansa is also called the “rains retreat”, when young men traditionally enter Buddhist temples to serve as novice monks for three months. True to the nickname, in the 24 hours preceding…
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Phuket’s Tri-Asia to launch Dewa Karon Beach resort in November
PHUKET: Phuket-based hospitality management company Tri-Asia has signed a management agreement to launch and run a unique new property at Karon Beach. The resort will be operated as Dewa Karon Beach Phuket, reflecting its status as sister to the highly successful Dewa Nai Yang Beach hotel launched two years ago. The announcement was made by Lars Ydmark, founder and managing…
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Phuket’s Pariwat second at Junior World Golf Championships
PHUKET: Fourteen-year-old Pariwat Pinsawas claimed a share of second place at the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships held at Riverwalk Golf Club in California on Thursday. A two-under-par third round of 70 secured Pariwat a final score of 211 and joint-second place with two other players: Danny Hopoi from Hawaii and Corey Shaun from the US. The three young golf…
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Mayor protests Phuket Bus Terminal plans
PHUKET: The Mayor of Rassada Municipality is set to file a complaint with the Administrative Court if the Thepkrasattri Road median strip is broken to accommodate the yet un-opened Phuket Bus Terminal 2. Mayor Suratin Lianudom told the Phuket Gazette of his plans following an announcement made by Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Teerayout Prasertphol that the median strip…
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Phuket dive boat ‘did not capsize’
PHUKET: The dive boat that 27 people were safely recovered from yesterday evening is now back in Phuket, a source at the dive company who was on the boat told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “The boat did not capsize. The bilge pump failed, so the captain pulled the boat into calm waters behind an island,” he said. “We were…
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“Bagged’ American may have been murdered: Phuket Police
PHUKET: Phuket Police have not ruled out foul play in the investigation into the death of an American man whose body was found in his holiday apartment near Karon Beach earlier today. Chalong Police Duty Officer Attawat Suwannarat told the Phuket Gazette that a maid at the Mountain Seaview Apartment resort found the guest dead in his room just after…
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Phuket’s Bhuritt calls for return of Sonthaya as Tourism Minister
PHUKET: Leading Phuket tourism business analyst Bhuritt Maswongsa has voiced his approval for the Tourism and Sports Ministry portfolio to go to the newly-formed Palang Chon Party. Mr Maswongsa, who is the Phuket Tourist Association’s Vice President for Marketing, said the Palang Chon Party’s de facto leader Sonthaya Khunplome understands the developmental needs of tourism provinces because of his experiences…
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Phuket Live Wire: Get your browsers right
PHUKET: If you have a pirate copy of Windows XP and you’ve never updated your web browser, chances are you’re still running Internet Explorer 6 (IE 6), and – forgive me for saying – chances are also that your system’s been infected. If you have a pirate version of Windows, and you’re running IE 6, even if you’re using a…
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TrueVisions to expand HD services in Phuket
PHUKET: TrueVisions, Thailand’s leading subscription-based cable television operator, has announced an expansion of high definition (HD) services in a bid to broaden its subscriber base. Managing director Thiti Nantapastsri said yesterday that the company until now had operated three HD channels – Reality HD, HBO HD and True Sport HD – as a pilot project via its digital fiber-optic cable…
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National rugby finals beckon for Lomas
PHUKET: WHILE Phuket Lomas under 13 rugby team was proving itself on the international stage in England a depleted under 17 squad traveled to Krabi for the National 7’s regional play-offs recently. Played at Krabi’s home pitch in Ao Luk, the Lomas faced their regional rivals Krabi RFC and Surat Thani RFC to decide who would progress to the National…
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Phuket prepares for Kathu Cultural Street Festival
PHUKET: The third annual Kathu Culture Street Festival will take place this weekend, showcasing the cultural heritage of one of Phuket’s oldest and most vibrant communities. The fun will begin tomorrow with a parade at 5pm along Wichit Songkraam Rd, from the Ketho Child Development Center to the Kathu Public Health Center. Traffic will be prohibited between Kathu Municipality offices…
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Air traffic control unveil new systems at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: New technologies are set to be introduced at air traffic control centers in Phuket and throughout Thailand to help the country’s standards equal those of Europe and America. Somchai Thean-Anant, president of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI), said that work putting the new systems in place began at the beginning of the year. He expects the four billion…
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Five goal thriller puts FC Phuket through to last eight
PHUKET: A 93rd minute strike from Kone Adama sealed victory for FC Phuket in the return leg of their Toyota Cup last 16 round match against Thai Premier League side Sri Racha last night. After a 1-1 draw at Surakul Stadium on July 6, Phuket traveled to Chonburi knowing victory was their only option and that Sri Racha only needed…
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Canadian women aim for gold
PHUKET: “You have nothing to lose until you win the gold medal. When you have the gold, you may sit on it and play safe. When you don’t have it, you must do everything to target this prize.” Julie Sauvé, head coach of the Canadian synchronized swimming team, explains how being driven and innovative has placed the national team in…
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Hitman’s 11-year run ends in Phuket
PHUKET: After more than a decade in hiding, the gunman wanted for the shooting murder of Petchaburi journalist Sanan Wannapuk 11 years ago has been arrested in Phuket. Thanin “Dum” Kaewsakul, 46, was listed as the 18th most wanted gunman in Thailand before his arrest by a special operations unit dispatched by Police Region 7. The exact time of his…
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American pedophile arrested in Phuket gets 15 years
PHUKET: American pedophile Charles Todd Stokes, arrested in Phuket in 2006, was sentenced by a US federal court last week to 15 years in prison for molesting over 70 boys while living in Thailand. Stokes was a gym teacher in Miami, Florida from 1985 to 1998. Fired from his job for inappropriate contact with children, he moved to Thailand where…
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Phuket bars asked to abstain for Buddhist holiday
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Police have requested that all nightlife entertainment venues refrain from selling alcohol this weekend out of respect for Asarnha Bucha Day on Friday and the start of Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa) on Saturday. Capt Thapakorn Hanumard told the Phuket Gazette that such venues are not legally obliged to close, but are being asked not to sell…
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10,000 liters of smuggled gasoline seized in Phuket
PHUKET: Police made one arrest and seized 10,700 liters of smuggled gasoline in Phuket after following a tip-off yesterday. Col Surisak Wichaidist, Superintendent of the Regional Police Investigations Division, led a group of officers to investigate a speedboat repair facility in Rawai at 11am. They had received a tip-off that Nontasak Marine Co Ltd was hoarding and smuggling gasoline in…
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UK Home Secretary to decide on Aldhouse extradition to Thailand
PHUKET: The decision whether or not to extradite British national Lee Aldhouse from the UK to face murder charges in Thailand will be handed to Home Secretary Theresa May, the Birmingham Mail reports. The decision could take up to two months, the newspaper says. Aldhouse was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport on August 18 last year on an outstanding warrant…
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Phuket pushed to pilot 300 baht minimum wage
PHUKET: The Wage Tripartite Committee (WTC) yesterday proposed that the Pheu Thai Party’s promise of a nationwide minimum wage increase first be tested in Phuket and metropolitan Bangkok, then followed by proportionate increases in other provinces. Phuket was suggested as a pilot province for the increase as it already has the highest daily minimum wage in the country at 221…
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Phuket “warms up’ for Mother’s Day
PHUKET: Phuket International Hospital is holding a “Warm Family Photo Contest” as part of its celebrations to mark upcoming Mother’s Day, held in Thailand each year on the birthday of HM Queen Sirikit on August 12. Cash and other prizes to be won in the contest, open to Thais and foreigners but not to professional photographers, total 20,000 baht. Entries…
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Webber throws his toys
PHUKET: “Of course I ignored the team and I was battling to the end. I was trying to do my best with the amount of conversation on the radio.” Red Bull’s Mark Webber voicing what it means for him to be on a team and that communication from the pit is really just an annoyance. Webber caught up to his…
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Phuket’s Cherng Talay mayor lays out policies
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Mayor Suniran Rachatapruek this morning announced his primary policies at the first Cherng Talay council meeting since his re-election on June 4. Mr Suniran has served as Cherng Talay mayor since July 1999. The meeting at the Cherng Talay Municipality offices was presided over by municipal council president Suphat Athiudomphol, along with council vice president Charoon Thawichatanon.…
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