Andaman News Wednesday 9 Jan 2008

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Books about HM the King and HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana selling well in Phuket.

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The respect and condolences for the passing of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana are leading to active sales of books in Phuket about HM the King and the Princess. The Managing Director of ‘The Book’ bookstore Visarn Aekvanit, one of the leading bookstores in Phuket, said the sales volume for books or publications about the King and his elder sister HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana gained a lot of interest from the general public.

MiniVDO: Prince of Songkhla University in Phuket offered alms to Buddhist monks in tribute to the passing of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215865

Yesterday morning teachers and students from Prince of Songkhla University Phuket campus led by its vice president Prof. Dr. Metee Sanpanit performed a religious ceremony and offered alms to Buddhist monks in tribute to the HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana. After that the Vice President led teachers and students to sign their condolences for the passing of the princess in front of her portrait. The Princess is highly recognized and respected for her life long dedication in education for the Thai people in many ways.

MiniVDO: The national Human Rights committee members followed up 3 major issues in Phuket.

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Mr. Wasan Panit, a member for National Human Rights committee, led his group to listen to reports from related officials about the proposal to license the construction of a marina at Yamu Cape in Paklok sub-district of Thalang in Phuket. The local villagers opposed the project citing concerns over marine environment, especially the sea grass and coral reef. Phuket Vice governor Worapote Ratasrima explained to the committee that the provincial authority has not yet approved the construction of the project as local people are still having different or conflicting ideas about the project. He also stated that the local authority wants the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to come up with a concise announcement or regulations on zoning for the licenses in off coast construction around Phuket island. He also points out the policy of development in Phuket must get along with local people’s agreement and environmental conservation. On the marine biologist side, Nalinee Thongtham stated the survey showed that 20-30% of sea grass and coral remain in Yamu cape and that local people are aware of marine resources conservation. On local fishermen’s side, two of them gave contradictory or different information so that the committee will gather all information and data collected to present to related officials.

MiniVDO: Phuket International Airport officially opened its new passenger terminal.

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The new terminal for arrivals at Phuket International Airport was officially opened to cater for the higher number of passengers this high season. The terminal includes 12 Check-In counters, 2 X-Ray machines. The new expansion enables the airport to handle 600 more passengers per hour equivalent to 2 Boeing 747 or 3 Airbus planes. This is in addition to the existing facility which is able to cope with 2,000 passengers per hour on international arrivals and 1,500 per hour for domestic arrivals. The second terminal area will be used for checkins for passengers of large charter flights such as Belair Airlines, Air Finland, Atlas Jet and Martin Air. They are mostly from Europe. The Phuket Airport director Pornchai EuAree stated that the management also has a 20 year master plan to develop the airport to best serve the fast growing tourism industry in the Andaman region. They include terminals, service area, immigration, parking, and gates for large aircrafts.

MiniVDO: Phuket Immigration arrested over 60 Burmese laborers and repatriated them to their home country

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Over 60 Burmese laborers comprising males, females and children were detained and brought in for questioning at Phuket Immigration Office yesterday after they were arrested at construction camp sites in all three district of Phuket where big hotels are being developed. The illegal workers were questioned and had their fingers printed as part of a repatriation process before they were sent back to their home country via the border province of Ranong. This followed police’s raid on construction sites when the group failed to show entry paper or work permits. The Phuket Immigration police, led by its superintendent Pol. Col. Chanatphol Yongbanjerd, impose strict checks and arrests for illegal workers each month.

MiniVDO: Radio Thailand Phuket plans activities for Children’s Day.

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Radio Thailand in Phuket is joining with various local agencies to arrange activities for children to celebrate Children’s day on Saturday January 12th at the radio station in soi Rajaphat University. The director Jirada Deechaiya said the station will also put up an exhibition on HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana and her life long dedicated work for younger generation to learn. A new reading contest plus an essay contest titled ‘My ideal Prime Minister’ will also be arranged with some educational funds for winners. Other activities include bead embroidery, drawings and safety issues.

MiniVDO: An ex-husband of a convenient store employee, who killed his wife in Phuket, was arrested in Surat Thani.

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Following the killing of an employee at a convenient store or Seven Eleven at Koh Sirey as reported in Andaman News on Monday, police later on Monday arrested Noochan Mulmeema, aged 30 years old, to bring him into legal procedures. The man who is the victim’s husband was arrested at a train station at Thakham in Surat Thani after they learnt that Noochan prepared to flee to Bangkok. The man knifed down his ex-wife after many attempts to revive the relationship with her. The man was charged with murder.

MiniVDO: A Windsurf rally will be held in Phuket during January 16 -20th January

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The Tourism Authority of Thailand is supporting the Eastern Windsurf club and the Windsurf Association of Thailand to organize a Windsurf Rally during January 16-20 in Phuket. The press conference will be held today, January 9th at Nai Harn while the rally will be taking place around Phuket Island including Nai Yang, Surin, Patong, Kata, Karon and Nai Harn bays. The event is not only arranged in honour of HM the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary, but also promoting windsurfing among Thais, as well as boosting local tourism in Phuket. It hopes to attract several top foreign windsurfers to race each leg racing down the west coast each afternoon, close to the major beaches.

Special - More Cruise ships traveling to Phuket waters

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215858

During the past year of 2007, the increasing number of tourists arriving in the Andaman region came to around 5 million, including a significant number coming in by the large cruise ships to Phuket and the Andaman region. According to data in 2006, cruises, both small and large, which came to dock at the Phuket Deep Seaport brought in at least 142,000 tourists, not including the cruises that anchor at Patong Bay in the high season, probably adding about 200,000 to the number of tourists. The travelers by cruises are usually a high spending power group. Some argue that local hoteliers do not benefit from such groups, but related tourism and services businesses still benefit from the groups. These include golf courses, historical tours, spa, adventure tours, entertainment and car rent operators. This year, 2008, The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects regular visit sof leading cruise ships like Super Virgo which brings in over 2,000 passengers every Tuesday and Super Star Gemini which visits the island twice a month bringing in 400-500 passengers per trip.

According to the TAT Office Director in Phuket, Suwalai Pinpradap, from November last year which is the beginning of the Andaman region’s tourist season, over 10 cruise ships brought in high end tourists from Europe, America to explore varieties of tourism products in the Andaman. " They are mostly luxurious cruise. This time is very good time for tourism in Phuket as travelers come in by plane by boat or cruise ships. When they are ashore they normally go sight seeing, shopping as Phuket has many modern shopping complex now with world standard spas, entertainment like Phuket Fantasea and restaurants." She also points out that during this time of the year, leading cruises are interested to visit Phuket. They include Royal Caribbean Cruise, Carnival Cruise Line from America and P&O cruise liner from Europe. They are mostly medium luxurious cruise companies to serve high end markets. All these factors are expected to boost local tourism in Phuket and even Andaman as a whole.

Interview - Nick Anthony, the writer of children book Princess Sausage about happy Thai dog

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215857

In the run up to Children’s Day this Saturday, our Young Reporter, Charlotte, studying in Phuket, interviewed Nick Anthony, the writer of a new children’s book called ‘Princess Sausage’ about a happy Thai dog, he found on Surin beach. He wrote the illustrated book in English translated to Thai to also raise funds and awareness for 2 Phuket dog charities, Soi Dog and Phuket Animal Welfare Society, through his company Indigo Real estate: Let’s find out more by joining Charlotte and Nick now: ……. www.SoiDog.org www.Phuket-Animal-Welfare.com www.IndigoRE.com phone: 076 271 614 Fax: 076 271 615.

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from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am (+ KPP cable TV channel 1) + 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, Wednesday 9th January 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th (not on air Thursday, return Friday with vox pops from Children)