Recent Tourism News:

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: F& B show Phuket , Central Festival until Sunday 7 July

Our reporter tasted the atmosphere: "I’m now on the first floor of the Grand Hall Central Festival, attending the opening of the Phuket Food and Beverage Show 2007 Program, which will be held from the 5th to the 7th of July. The highlight of the show for today is the southern professional bartending competition. The Food and Beverage Show 2007 is a spectacle of live entertainment, food and beverage showcasing and tasting with competitions lasting until Sunday. Leading hotels and top food and beverage brands are represented providing a nice variety of products, both local and international. The first day of activities revolves around a professional bartending competition in which the contestants are from a number of leading hotels, restaurants, and bars in Phuket.

As for the weekend, there is still a lot more in store. The fun starts again today, Friday with the ‘Southern fruits and vegetables carving competition’ and ‘Southern food competition’ at the terrace next to the Phuja Nirvana restaurant. On Saturday the ‘Flower arrangement competition’ takes place at the Grand Hall in Central Festival Phuket, finishing Sunday, where you can work up a sweat cheering for the ‘Phuket Bartender Championship’ and cool off while enjoying the ‘Professional ice carving competition.’ All the events are scheduled to start at 1 pm going on into the evening, ending no later than 7 pm. Saksorn Sangsuk, the President of the Food and Beverage Managers Club, Phuket tells us about the flavors of the Food and Beverage Show 2007…. Eat, drink, and be merry, this is truly a gastronomic experience for attendees. An American tourist, who happened to be at the right place at the right time, became one of the judges of the southern bartending competition. He says it all, having tasted each contestant’s concoction…

The Food and Beverage Show 2007 will last until the 8th of July so if you have time, I recommend you stop by.

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MiniVDO: Finlandia Pure Bartending Competition 2007 will be held in Phuket with the final on July 10th

A Finlandia Pure Bartending Competition 2007 will be held with the final competition on July 10th at the Fountain ground of Jungceylon in Patong of Phuket. The event is co-organized by the Plair Bartender of Thailand and Brown – Forman Thailand LLC. hoping to spice up the region’s tourism mood during the low season and get the best professionals for international competition. Participants and professional bartenders from leading hotels, restaurants and entertainment places from around the country have confirmed their entry in which they will compete in the qualifier round for the top 15 finalists to compete eye–to-eye on July 10th. The winner from the event will take part in the international event of the Asia Pacific Cocktail 2007 in Singapore later this month.

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MiniVDO: Hotels and Resorts are invited to take part in 2007 Thailand Tourism Awards for The Most Outstanding Green Leaf Hotel & Resorts

The Most Outstanding Green Leaf Hotel/Resort Awards are designed to promote the conservation of the country’s precious natural and cultural resources and support sustainable tourism development in tandem with the quality development of the Thai tourism industry. Participating properties will need to demonstrate their commitment to environmental conservation through the implementation of a stringent in-house programme that fosters environmentally-friendly practices. To be eligible for the 2007 Thailand Tourism Awards Most Outstanding Green Leaf Hotel/Resort Award, applicants must be legally-registered properties with proper permits. Applicants must be keen advocates of nature and environmental conservation. The 2007 Thailand Tourism Awards is a special edition of the biennial tourism awards programme initiated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in 1996. The award presentation ceremony will be held in in December 2007. Participating hotels and resorts are evaluated on initiatives and activities undertaken by individual properties including policy and standards on environmental practice; waste management; the efficient use of energy and water; environmentally-friendly products purchase.

to see mini videos of above items go to http://www.thaisnews.com/show_eachnews.php...date=06-07-2007

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Special - Current tourism situation at Khao Lak

“This is an example of Khao Lak today now two years after the tsunami - they have rebuilt more than 50% of their hotels and although it is low season, have re-opened their doors.” Many institutions attribute to the reconstruction in tourism business of Khao Lak in Phang-Nga, one of the worst places devastated by the tsunami. Two and a half years after the phenomenon, today the local businesses are busy with preparations for the coming high season including training staff for efficient services, decorating the premises, marketing campaign plus the government full scale Tsunami warning and evacuation drills on July 25th 2007 to assure that the region is well prepared in any case of emergencies.. Boosting tourism in Khao Lak will not be an easy task. An increase in local and international advertising, marketing, and media attention are some of the things it will take. Also a cooperation with travel agents and networks of tourism partners need to be actively carried out.

Take this hotel, The Best Western Palm Galleria Resort, for example. The owners spent about 150 million baht, in which 70% of the property, then under construction was damaged by the tsunami. After the Tsunami the operators received funding support form the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion and others including Tsunami Fund Recovery program to reconstruct and that it was re-opened one year later. Located in a 17 rai plot of land, the The Best Western Palm Galleria Resort houses 74 guest rooms with 200 seated capacity meeting room. The hotel Deputy Managing Director Krivuthichai Treekrytapan told Andaman News that since it reopened near the end of 2005, the return rate of tourists is still at low levels. Things then started to look up at the beginning of this year with the clear increase in the number of tourists, giving a boost of confidence to business owners that work within the tourism industry of Khao Lak. The occupancy rate still stands at 50 – 55 % compared to before Tsunami period. The former President of Phang Nga Tourist Association , who also runs Royal Bangsak Beach Resort, Khun Prasert Chanpolngam, agreed with Krivuthichai saying:

On the government side the Thai cabinet on July 3rd just approved another lot of 239 million baht budget to boost tourism. This includes both international marketing and encouraging domestic travel which is being launched in a campaign called “Tiew Thai Hai Sanook…Term Kram Suk Hai Chee With”, an on-going campaign slogan to boost domestic travel that translates as “Travel within Thailand…Create more happiness in your life.” Together foreign and domestic tourists are expected to generate an income of 917,200 million baht collectively this year. And Khao Lak should be included among top destinations due to its natural diversity and peaceful disposition. This is Genevieve Irwin , Andaman News/ Channel 11 Phuket.

to see mini-video go to:

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214188

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Special - Kenan Institute Asia Workshop on ‘Sustainable Tourism for Entrepreneurs’ at Khao Lak

The Kenan Institute Asia is dedicated to re-educating all those interested in tourism, from university students to business men, giving them a consciousness along with the different types of tourism.

Those who attended the workshops organized by the Kenan Institute Asia, a “Thai non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the sustainable development and competitiveness of the region,” comprised of community leaders, academics, university students, and business leaders interested in sustainable tourism.

The 5 day workshop titled, “Train the Trainer Workshop Tourism for Entrepreneurs” is divided into two parts. Part one discussing the overall concept of sustainable tourism and part two, which last till July the 5th 2007, focuses on entrepreneurship for sustainable tourism.

In addition to the ‘standards of tourism’ that had to be internationally accredited, as discussed by Associate Prof. Thavivongse Sriburi, there was also an emphasis on how Phang Nga’s stakeholders in government, along with private and public NGO’s, would be able to implement sustainable tourism. This translates as the need to establish constant growth in the tourism sector, be it low season or high, to help sustain and envision different types of tourism, for example activities like trekking and climbing, in the area and eventually all of Thailand.

We caught up with Khun Prasert Chanpolngam - Former President of Phang Nga Tourist Association and he expressed his appreciation with the organization, praising the innovative ideas that have come out of the workshops.

The Kenan Institute Asia have always played a big role in lending a helping hand, establishing Tsunami Recovery programs after the December 26, 2004 tsunami hit Thailand with long term development plans run under the Tsunami Recovery Action Initiative or (TRAI).

With all the effort everyone seems to be putting in we can only hope that Khoa Lak is prepared for the next high season and many high seasons to come.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214177

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MiniVDO: Thailand targets over 100,000 million baht increase in tourism revenue this year.

In the first four months of this year or January – April the number of tourists visiting Thailand increased at 2.6% or to 3.4 million people compared to the same period on 2006. The figure was confirmed by the Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani during his live interview on Thai Television Channel 11 on Saturday. This he pointed out generates revenue of over 900,000 million baht from 800,000 million baht from last year. The minister stressed that the country focuses more on quality than quantity and environmental friendly. Minister Suvit also stated that during the country’s low season between June to September middle Eastern tourists still visit the country as they appreciate the rainy season. He suggested more marketing / PR and flights accessibilities for this group of tourists be considered.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214185

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MiniVDO: The Thai cabinet approved 239 million baht more to stimulate tourism marketing this year.

The cabinet on Tuesday approved 239 million baht budget to boost tourism for the 3rd and 4th quarters of this year by targeting the foreign market with a budget of 124 million baht and the domestic market with 115 million baht. The cabinet agreed to utilize the 160 million baht fund leftover from the international convention and exhibition center project in Chiangmai, as well as the 79 million baht leftover from the 2005 emergency fund. The strategy is to increase the demand for tourism both Thai and International tourists to travel in Thailand for the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2007 to maintain the income from tourism industry. The strategies to boost up foreign market focuses on Mass Marketing together with Target Marketing on 8 major targets including Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Australia and the Middle East while the domestic market promotion will use the campaign slogan “Tiew Thai Hai Sanook…Term Kram Suk Hai Chee Wit" or “Travel within Thailand …Creating more happiness in life".

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214184

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MiniVDO: Discount coupons are offered by TAT to boost traveling and the domestic economy.

Discount coupons are offered by over 500 tourist businesses operators nationwide through the Tourism Authority of Thailand for travelers to use for cash, according to TAT Director of Marketing and PR Wansadet Thavornsuk. The coupons which take effect from July 15 – 31 October are aimed at boosting traveling and promoting domestic circulation. More than 50 businesses in Phuket take part in the program. The coupons are available at TAT offices in Bangkok and its regional offices as well as participating firms, banks, petrol station and cinemas. For more information email: [email protected]

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214182

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All from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am & maybe later on Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 weekdays {Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied, but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket or contact [email protected]}