Tourism Awards, Andaman Festival, New Ferry To Lantal

[NBT TV Phuket]

item--2--- Many tourism products in the Andaman region won this year TAT’s tourism awards.

The 7th Thailand Tourism Awards were presented on the World Tourism Day on September 27th in Bangkok. The awards were arranged by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This year many tourism products from the Andaman region won awards. They included the Sukko Spa in Phuket which won the ‘Outstanding performance in Day Spas’ category under the awards for Health Tourism. Others included the Dusit Laguna Phuket who won the ‘Award of Excellence’ in tourist accommodation’ award, while Phuket Fantasea earned the award of ‘Outstanding performance in a recreation tourist site’ for national level. Koh Hong, Than Bok Khorani National Park in Krabi won the Award of Outstanding Performance for tourism attractions on natural tourist sites in southern Thailand. The Award Excellence for inbound tour program was presented for ‘White Water Rafting, Trekking, Eco Adventure by Phuket Sealand Co., Ltd. In Phang-Nga the Bor Saen Villa & Spa, Phang-nga won the award of Award of Outstanding Performance in a category of Pool Villas. “Travel in Krabi a Colourful Touch with Nature, Culture and Best local community” by N.S. Travel and Tours Co., Ltd also won a Domestic Tour award. Krabi Province Tourism Promotion by Krabi Provincial Administrative Organization also won a award for tourism development and promotional organizations.

item--3--- The Andaman Festival will be held in Krabi in late November, while Phuket delays its Patong Carnival to December.

The Andaman Festival which is an annual festival to mark the beginning of tourist season is planned to take place in Krabi during November 20 -26th, 2008 at the Tara Public Park on the river bank in town. The one week long festival will feature outstanding tourism products and culture plus local life style of southern Thailand. They are shadow plays, cultural shows like folk dances. Community products from all provinces of southern Thailand will also be on display. Meanwhile Phuket delays its Patong Carnival to 15-20 December instead of November as in previous years in the hope of better weather.

Item -4--- Seatran Discovery Company propose to operate a ferry linking Krabi’s mainland to Lanta Yai island.

A private company, Sea Tran Discovery is requesting the Krabi authority for permission to launch a ferry service between Ban Bor Muang in Klong Thom district to a pier at Lanta Yai island. According to the provincial Chief of Administration, Weerawat Chanpen, the local authority agrees with the proposal seeing the new service as providing alternatives for residents and tourists as well as to ease the problem of slow service of the car ferry from Ban Hua Hin (on Lanta Noi) – Klong Maak pier. It had also discussed with Sai Khao and Lanta Yai local governments which both agreed. The Krabi Marine office is assigned to support and oversee the project as the channel needs to be improved to be at least 5 metres in depth at a length of 1.8 metres to facilitate easy ferry access. If things go as planned, the ferry service is expected to commence by this month.

items from VDO on http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...php?news_id=745

or

Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Monday 6 October 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews.com Send comments to [email protected]

(program is off air for rest of this week)