Andaman News Wed. 20 Feb.

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been instructed to classify tourist attractions across the country.

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The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced that the instruction was given by new Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat. In classifying tourist sites, each group will be given a particular designation in order to present a clear picture of the tourism products. In the initial stage, guidebooks for the classified groups will be published, such as those for senior citizens, children, disabled persons, and adventurers. They will also include several kinds of tourism products, such as one-day city tours, eco-tourism, and spiritual tourism. Mr. Weerasak said that he had a policy to develop Thailand’s tourism in four main areas. The first area focuses on convenience; for instance, there must be signboards to show clear directions to tourist spots. The second area involves cleanliness at tourist destinations, with an emphasis on clean public toilets. A campaign will be launched for local communities to help maintain cleanliness and a budget allocated to develop and build more public toilets at various tourist destinations. The third area focuses on safety standards to protect the lives and property of travelers, with more closed-circuit television units at major tourist sites. The fourth area seeks to promote the uniqueness of Thailand’s tourist sites, so that people will feel that it is worth visiting them.

MiniVDO: A project to revive the environment for sustainable tourism will be carried out in Phuket.

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The Director of Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration, Worasit Rojanapanit, and Phuket Vice Governor, Worapote Ratasrima, discussed ways to carry out a project to revive Phuket island’s environment leading to sustainable tourism. The meeting was attended by related officials like the Provincial Chief of Natural Resources and Environment plus representatives from the local government. According to Mr. Worasit the plan covers garbage, waste water and town planning. The work will be conducted in the form of research and laying out master plans in order to seek a budget from the government for sustainable solutions and operations. A research team from Chulalongkorn University will be contracted to carry out the work around the end of this month. It is expected to be completed within 8 months time.

MiniVDO: Krabi is working on resolving the sub-standard modified motorcycles-to-tricycles for hire.

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The number of modified motorcycles, made into tricycles to take tourist passengers around, are increasing in Krabi. They are also seen in the tourist area of Ao Nang. The Krabi Governor Siwa Sirisaowaluck has ordered a set up of a working committee, chaired by Vice Governor Thanwakom Khemasiri, to look into the issue. This follows concerns that the modified vehicles are not secure and may result in harm for passengers. The vehicles, by law, are not allowed to be use for public transport. The working committee was asked to study the facts, related regulations, and make suggestions to lead to sustainable solutions in the long term.

MiniVDO: Another seminar on comprehensive waste management was held in Phuket.

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A seminar on comprehensive waste management which highlighted the best use of waste and turning waste to capital was organized by the Technology Energy Conserving Promotion Association (or ECPA) from Bangkok. The seminar was held just 5 days after the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment kicked off a glass recycling program in Phuket, aiming at encouraging people to reduce waste from source points which include households and businesses. The association’s president Prof. Dr. Sunthorn Bunyatikarn points out that the core element to waste reduction is waste separation from the sources and that instead of having garbage vans dumping waste at the disposal site, it should take waste to sell for income. Residents and tourists on Phuket Island are however urged to separate waste whenever they can to reduce the amount of waste going into the island’s only incinerator for disposal.

MiniVDO: The Ranong Governor call for residents to keep watch on the narcotic drugs and contribute towards natural resources conservation.

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Ranong Governor Kanjanapa Keeman told people in Kraburi’s Klong Jan Pattana village to keep close watch and act against narcotic-drugs as well as contribute to natural resources conservation. The governor talked to local residents during a provincial mobile public service she headed to the village. She asked the villagers to report direct to the governor if they see any narcotic drugs activities or deforestation. The smuggling of illegal foreign workers is another issue that the governor emphasizes. During the mobile public service, people receive free services from many public organizations including advice on careers, agriculture, barbers, medical or health care. The governor also took this opportunity to listen to people’s needs, concerns and suggestions.

MiniVDO: The 2008 Phuket International Rugby tournament entries are almost complete.

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Entries for this year’s Phuket International Rugby 10's from Friday 30th May to Sunday 1st June for the Clive Williamson Memorial Trophy are almost complete. The organizer informed Andaman News they have 1 space available in the main competition and the Veterans competition is now full. Defending Champions The Emirate Flying Muppet's unfortunately won’t be here this year so a new champion is guaranteed. The Philippine Volcano's will be defending their Veteran’s crown. The veterans will begin with all the group games being played on the Friday. The main competition will be played over the Saturday and all finals will be on Sunday. 25% of the entry fee will be going into the orphan scholarship fund run in conjunction with the Asia Center Foundation www.asiacenter.ac. They will again be raising more funds for this worthy cause during the tournament. They raised close to 1 million Baht at last years event. There will also be extensive social functions over the weekend. More on www.PhuketVagabondsRFC.com

MiniVDO: Phang Nga police and villagers of Thakuapa chased gunman in a rubber plantation.

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Thakuapa and Kuraburi police joined forces to search a forest on Bang-E hill in Kokkein of Thakuapa district to find four people who gunned down a man and a woman, and fled the scene. The shooting occurred on a roadside at Thung L-Ong village of Kuraburi district. After committing the crime, the gang fled on a blue pick up truck without a license plate en route to Thakuapa. The victim Watana Kammayee was shot dead while his older sister Winida limsomboon was seriously injured. Police then radioed Thakuapa police who managed to catch one gang member while the other three jumped off the vehicle and ran into the forest. Winida told police that after being shot, she phoned police for help and does not know the motive behind the killing. Police then joined forces, along with local villagers to search through the rubber plantations to find the wrong doers who are believed to have weapons with them.

MiniVDO: The Phang-Nga Governor ordered strict checks against any indecent activities including crime and narcotic drugs.

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The Phang-Nga Governor Wichai Praisa-Ngob ordered regular and strict checks on entertainment venues in all 8 districts in prevention of any social problems or disorder. The governor emphasized the main issues as narcotic drugs and minors going into entertainment venues. The officials also checked for licenses of entertainment businesses to ensure that they are legally operating. He admitted that the team found some entertainment places like bars have allowed minors to use services and that urine tests found some guests had narcotic drug substances in their body.

Interview - part 2 - Suwalai Pinpradab, the Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s region 4

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This is the 2nd part of our interview with Suwalai Pinpradab, the Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s region 4 overseeing 3 Andaman provinces of Phuket Phang-Nga and Krabi. She talks about the TAT, Patong Hotels & Jungceylon encouraging guests to borrow cloth bags instead of plastic bags. But first about new direct THAI flights to Phuket from Tokyo, Japan & from Seoul, South Korea, later this year: ……. Contact: Tel 076-212213 Fax 076-213582 [email protected] www.tourismthailand.org

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Wednesday 20 February 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th