Andaman News Thursday 3 January 2008

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Thais mourn the death of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana

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HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died after six months in hospital battling cancer. The palace said in a statement yesterday that His Majesty the King declared a 100-day mourning period and the funeral of the 84-year-old princess would be performed at Bangkok's Grand Palace. Hundreds of Thais wearing black rushed to Bangkok's Siriraj hospital after television and radio stations reported that the princess had died before dawn. Princess Galyani Vadhana had been hospitalized at Siriraj Hospital since June last year, after doctors found she had abdominal cancer. A statement from the Royal Household Bureau said although the doctors tried their utmost to treat her, her condition was deteriorating gradually and she passed away at 2:54 a.m on Wednesday morning. The princess was noted for her interest in the arts, especially theater and classical music. She spoke five languages, and loved to travel, documenting many of her journeys in books. The princess also took up an intensive schedule of charity work. She was a patron of at least five health-related foundations.

MiniVDO: Thai government officials are in 15 days of mourning while Thai flags are flown at half mast.

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Following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Thai Prime Minister General Surayut Chulalond announced that State officials and employees and state enterprises will mourn the death of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana for 15 days. His office also ordered flags to be lowered to half-mast nationwide for 15 days starting Wednesday. The Thai cabinet yesterday appointed an organizing committee for HRH Princess Galayani’s funeral. The Prime Minister General Surayut Chulanond is the chairman of the committee. In Phuket, people from all walks of life joined the nation in mourning the death of HRH the Princess by wearing black. They also followed the news from television and radios.

MiniVDO: An exhibition on “Thailand: 9 Days in the Kingdom in honour of HM the King” is being held at Central Festival until 13 January.

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The exhibition features HM the King’s interest in photography with great photos shot by the King. Being exhibited on the second floor of Central Festival in Phuket. The event also showcases original photos of 55 photographers, both Thais and foreigners, whose photos were published in a special book of the same name ‘Thailand: 9 Days in the Kingdom’, launched in December 2007 to commemorate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 80th birthday. They include photos by John Everingham, a Phuket-based Australian photographer. With over 350 photos illustrating every imaginable aspect of Thailand today, including the economy, the regions, rural and city life, urban development, tourism, fashion, arts and crafts, and various other aspects, the book is a dramatic record of the change and development that have been achieved in Thailand during the reign of His Majesty. The publisher and sponsors of the project will jointly donate 9 million Baht to HM the King for charitable use.

MiniVDO: Marine animals were released and trees planted in Phang Nga.

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Officials from the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, Thai Environment Foundation along with local residents in Kuraburi district of Phang Nga released aqua animals and planted trees. The activity was carried out to launch the marine and coastal resources conservation program to raise public awareness. The community also signed a declaration to conserve natural resources. A seminar was also held on ‘How can local stakeholders help keep the diversity resources?’

MiniVDO: The Israeli ambassador is confident in Phuket’s safety measures and discussed the possibility of establishing a sister city tie with Phuket.

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Coming down to participate in the 3rd year tsunami commemorative ceremonies in Phang Nga on December 26th, the Israeli Ambassador Mrs. Yael Rubinstein paid a call on Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamitr to express thanks for assistance provided to Israeli victims and those injured both in the tsunami of December 26th and the plane crash of September 16th 2007 at Phuket Airport. After discussions, Mr Nirund explained to reporters that more than 100,000 Israeli tourists visited Thailand in 2007, with most of them traveling to Phuket. He also stated that the Israeli paid interest in trading and investment of tourism in Phuket. A sister city tie was also discussed he said.

MiniVDO: The 3 Andaman provinces summed up road accident casualties during the New Year holidays with Phuket province having the highest number of fatal cases.

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After the New year holiday period, the ad hoc centre for road safety set up particularly to minimize road accident cases in their respective areas, reported their figures: In Phuket, in the 7 day period during December 25 to January 2nd, a total of 66 accidents were reported to have occurred. The accidents resulted in 5 deaths, and 71 injuries. The accidents were mostly caused by motorcycles. In Phang Nga, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office reported a total of 2 fatal cases, one in Kura Buri, one in Thakua Thung district and 28 injuries. In Krabi, the centre reported that during the New Year there were 3 fatalities and 25 injuries.

MiniVDO: Local Andaman establishments won in the 2007 Thailand Tourism Awards.

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The 2007 Thailand Tourism Awards were a special edition of the biennial tourism awards programme initiated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in 1996. These new awards were launched as a tribute in honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, of Thailand on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty’s 80th birthday anniversary in December 2007. The awards presentation ceremony was held in the same month. Winners of the the Most Outstanding Community-based Tourism Award included 3 from the Andaman: Ban Ko Klang Community, Krabi province; Ko Yao Noi Ecotourism Club, Phang-nga province and Ban Thung Nang Dam Community, Phang-nga province. The Winners of the the Most Outstanding Green Leaf Hotel/Resort Awards included 4 from the Andaman: The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, the Rising Sun Residence in Chalong, Phuket; and the Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort.

MiniVDO: Thailand was voted “The Best Destination for Leisure — Short Haul” by Chinese readers of TravelWeekly China Magazine.

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This is the most recent award won by Thailand last year in China. The “Best Destination” was judged in terms of superior product and excellent service, outstanding efforts and professionalism in catering to the needs of Chinese travelers, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Set up in 2001, Travel Weekly China is one of China’s top travel trade publications with a circulation of 85,000 travel professionals in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, as audited by BPA. Last year, Thailand won three other awards from the Chinese market: Top Destination for Hospitality for the 2007 World Traveller Awards by World Traveller Media (China) in December 2007; Promotion of the Travel Destination Award — Thailand 2007 by Travel Agent Magazine in December 2007; and Best Approved Destination Status — Thailand 2007 by National Geographic (Chinese language) in April 2007.

Special - HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana s visit to Coconut Island Ko Maprao, Phuket in 2004

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During her time, the Princess, following the Princess Mother and HM the King’s principles, tirelessly contributed to charity work for better quality of life for the Thai people with the health care being the moist notable one ; for example people in the remote island of Ko Maprao in Phuket also had a great opportunity to seek an audience with her in 2004. Let’s look back to that happy memory:

Ampaiphan Pawawatananusorn “Despite learning that the Princess had been suffering illness and as a health official I know that it is critical, but when the time comes I still feel very sad. Learning the news of her death at 2am on January 2nd, I can’t explain how I feel.” This is just one example of the feelings expressed by a member of the POR OR SOR WOR or Mobile Medical Unit in Phuket who used to serve HRH Princess Galayani Vadhana, after she learnt about the death of the princess yesterday. It was the same as other members of the medical unit who were all wearing black mourning their beloved princess who passed away in the early hours of January 2nd 2008. “She supervised the volunteer medical unit even though she just visited us once, it was a great opportunity for us, to be able to seek an audience with the Princess.” The Mobile Medical Units were set up in 1969 comprising volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, health workers and volunteers from both central and provincial levels. The units have been providing curative, preventive, and rehabilitative care to people in remote areas.

Most doctors and nurses in Phuket joined the mobile medical unit and had an opportunity to closely seek an audience with HRH Princess Galayani Vadhana, the honorary chair of the foundation on April 5th 2004 when she visited the volunteers and people at Koh Maphrao or Maprao Island in Koh Kaew district of Phuket. During that visit, the Princess graciously spent time with the members talking to them and listening to them, singing songs about Phuket. At present Phuket has a total of 531 volunteer members comprising doctors, dentists, and nurses. This fiscal year of 2008 the foundation plans to launch the mobile medical services into 14 remote villages which need medical or health care. Even though the dedicated honorary chairperson of the foundation has departed, her determination will be carried on by her members across the nation.

2nd part of interview - Dr. Suvit Yodmani, the Tourism and Sports Minister

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This is the 2nd part of our interview with Dr. Suvit Yodmani, the Tourism and Sports Minister, who attended the Light Up Phuket ceremony & candle lighting on Patong beach last week during the Tsunami memorial events. We had the opportunity to also ask him about the tourism environment, and his personal future as his government’s term comes to an end soon, as he told us more: ……. www.mots.go.th/tourism/index.php?lang=en

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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, Thursday 3 January 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th