Andaman News Tuesday 20 November

[NBT TV Phuket]

Phang-Nga steps up measures for social order in preparation for the upcoming general election.

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Phang Nga Governor Wichai praisa-ngob led officials and Thakuapa police officers to inspect and check on entertainment venues plus snooker places in the district of Thakuapa. Being part of the attempt to prevent and ensure social order before the December 23rd general election, the officers ran random urine checks on staff and visitors of the entertainment or bars for any drug substances. Governor Wichai announced that the measures, which include checking on weapons, will be implemented in all eight districts of Phang Nga.

Krabi Labour Office encourages businesses to have their employees to go vote in the general election.

Encouraging work places and businesses to actively take part in the general election, the Krabi Provincial Labour Office has sent out letters seeking cooperation from employers to have their staff go to vote on December 23rd without counting it as a day of absence. According to the Provincial Labour Chief Niyada Sirichote any workplaces which have 80% of its employees to go vote would receive certificates for promoting democracy. Official records indicate that around 150,000 employees in Krabi are eligible voters.

A football tournament under the ‘To Be Number One’ program was arranged in Phuket during the weekend.

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The ‘To Be Number One’ Cup Five-a-side football tournament took place during November 16th – 18th at the Saphan Hin Stadium in Phuket City. Co-hosted by the Provincial Public Health Office, the Office of Phuket City and Wachira Hospital, the teams competed for Princess Ubonratana’s trophy. The ‘To Be Number One’ program, which is graciously chaired by the Princess, aims to promote sports, music and other constructive ideas to keep young people away from indecent activities including narcotic drugs. Spectacular shows by young people during the ceremony also impressed the spectators.

The TAT won the best National Tourist Office at TTG Travel Awards 2007.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand was unanimously voted by readers of the TTG group of travel trade publications as the Best National Tourism Organisation (or NTO) of 2007. The publications, which include TTG Asia, TTG China, TTGmice, and TTG-Btmice China, have a total of 61,782 readers. The group’s Singapore-based managing director Darren Ng said the award is bestowed each year upon excellent organizations of the travel trade within the Asia Pacific region that have shown strong commitment towards service excellence. This year, TAT has made some major adjustments in its marketing strategies, with one of the key changes being a return to the well-known Amazing Thailand tourism campaign slogan that proved so successful in 1998-99. The range of Thai tourism products and services have been analysed in the wake of new trends in consumer behaviour and re-classified into seven clear categories to be marketed in a clearly focussed and segmented manner, highlighting key “assets” such as traditional Thai hospitality, cuisine, heritage, health and wellness, etc. In January – June 2007, international visitor arrivals totalled 6.95 million, up 3.30% over the same period of 2006. This year, TAT is projecting 14.8 million international visitor arrivals, up from the 13.82 million arrivals in 2006.

Karon mountain bike races will be held on December 9th 2007.

The 3rd Karon Mountain bike races are scheduled to take place on Sunday December 9th 2007 to celebrate HM the King’s 80th birthday anniversary. The Karon municipality Mayor Tawee Thongchuem said the event is co-hosted by the Kata-Karon Hotel Business Association and Beach Boy mountain bike team, aiming to promote exercise and tourism alongside. The races will be categorized as 25 kilometres, 15 kilometres and 10 kilometres. Winners will receive trophies and cash prizes. Interested parties can contact the Karon Municipality Tel 076 330478 [email protected]

The Andaman Motor Show will be arranged in Phuket early next month.

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The Andaman Motorshow is scheduled to be held during December 3rd to 9th at the Grand Hall of Central Festival in Phuket. The organizer expects the event to circulate around 100 million baht this year. Last year the event received bookings worth 67 million baht. It will showcase the newest automobile technology and accessories from leading automobile companies. Organisers and participants of the event are invited to help plant trees in mangrove areas on Sunday 25th at Klong Mudong in Wichit sub-district of Phuket.

The Andaman Festival was held to mark the beginning of the high season for tourists in Krabi.

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The Krabi Berk Fa Andaman or Andaman Festival was marked opened by Krabi Governor Siwa Sirisaowalak on November 15th. Held at the Tara public park on the river bank in Krabi town the annual festival marks the beginning of the tourist season as well as reflects local readiness to welcome visitors. Cultural shows, local crafts and food were displayed and put on sale until November 17th for visitors to enjoy.

More trees were added to mangrove land in Phuket.

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Phuket Vice Governor Worapote Ratasrima led officials and management plus staff of Central Festival Phuket to plant 30,348 saplings of trees in mangrove areas at Ao Makham in Wichit sub-district of Phuket. The activity under the ‘Save Phuket Save our Planet’ was arranged as part of Central Festival Phuket’s celebrations and contributions to the community for its 3rd year anniversary. The mangrove forests play a vital role in preventing erosion, protect against wind and waves, as well as being a food chain source.

Interview - Patrick du Preez, Organiser of British International School or BIS International 7’s Football Tournament,

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Our interview is with Patrick du Preez, Organiser of British International School or BIS International 7’s Football Tournament, last Friday & Saturday 16 & 17 November, the 5th annual event with approx. 700 players, probably the biggest schools football tournament in SE Asia, with 17 international schools, including hosts BIS Phuket, plus 3 local Phuket clubs who competed in 9 categories; while the final coaches games took place, Patrick told us more: ……. Contact: www.bcis.ac.th Tel: 076 238711-20 Fax: 076 238750

Special - Self sufficiency economy of Koh Maphrao Island

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214895

Turning economic difficulties into new opportunities enable villagers at Koh Maphrao island village to live today in happiness under the principle of self sufficiency economy. The village of Koh Maphrao is located in the Andaman Sea, around eight kilometers off the east side of Phuket, accessible by long tail ferries at Laem Hin, just north of Phuket Town. At around 2,600 rai, the island houses about 800 residents with fishing and farming being main traditional careers. These include mussel, fish and lobster farming. The local community here learns to manage income as a group for better and secure futures, as Nuchom Prukmaidee, local community leader explained: “Our village follows the sufficiency economy principle. We do fishing and aqua animal farming.”

Showing strength in their community, the Koh Maphrao village is selected as one of Phuket’s pioneer villages to successfully practice self-sufficiency economies. Recently it received a budget of 200,000 baht to maintain and extend the career group within the community. This comprises home stay facilities and activities for housewives to earn extra income “We unite and cooperate well among the local community.” The Koh Maphrao Village is another good example of living in Thai lifestyle with self sufficiency economy as pioneered by His Majesty the King.

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, 20 November 2007 & www.news.prd.go.th

Our previous website Thaisnews.com has been down since 6 November, so we are uploading again on this temporary website news.prd.go.th since 18 November.