Krabi News: New Cave; Airport Stats; Citizen Networks; Giant Crabs; Job Training

[NBT TV Phuket]

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item--4--- A Magnificent cave was discovered in Krabi and local government prepares to open for eco-tourism

A newly discovered cave, called ‘Wimarnmek’ is located in Huay Namkaew village in Khao Panom of Krabi. It houses about caverns of about 1,000 X 60 metres in size and can accommodate around 800 people. It significantly houses stalactites and stalagmites. Against the cave wall are shapes of rock formation like hearts, lions and elephants with amazing patterns on the bottom. The phenomenon amazed visitors. There are other smaller caves - Tham Petch and Tham Hanumarn which are located in the same mountain but are divided into two rooms. The new discovery follows the local government and villagers’ survey for an eco-tourism site as the village is located at the mountain side. The Nakhao sub-district Administration Organization President Mr. Manao said he plans to spend 2 million baht to beautify the location and open it as an eco-tourism site to generate revenue for residents.

item--5--- Phuket and Krabi airport’s latest statistics mostly show decreases compared to last year.

The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, which manages Phuket International Airport, have confirmed to Andaman News about their latest statistics for May 2009. They showed a total of 2,846 aircraft movements, down 9.39 % from May 2008. The total number of movements for January to May 2009 is 15,785 or down 15.79% from the same months in 2008. The total numbers of arriving, departing and transit passengers in the fifth month of the year, was 361,192 down 14.48% compared to the same month in 2008, while for the year so far there were 2,458,867 passengers down 13.90%. The total freight in May 2009 showed 1,264 tons in and out, actually a 4.90% increase, but the year so far is down 10.98%.

Meanwhile Krabi International Airport, under the Civil Aviation Department, reported its April 2009 figures, with a total of 395 aircraft movements or a 3.26% decrease over April 2008: yet the total numbers of passengers arriving and departing, with no transits, was 60,534 showing an actual increase of 15.08 % compared to the same month in 2008, probably due to bigger aircraft, especially charter planes.

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Krabi authority extends citizen networks to assist officials to watch their communities.

During this quieter season for tourism, Krabi authority and tourism sectors focus on improving standards of services and security measures, according to Krabi Governor Siwa Sirisaowalak. He recently held a meeting with related officials to discuss tourist safety as a main issue. The meeting highlighted provincial and district police to extend the surveillance networks having local residents playing roles in information-gathering and recommend that police introduce check points at needed locations following circumstances. Mr. Siva also stressed the facts to Andaman News concerning the recent tourists’ deaths in Krabi saying that they were mostly from illness not assaults or harassments. He however stated that he had called for all parties, government, private organizations or businesses plus citizen networks, to take care and watch the community to install confidence of visitors.

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item---5-- A large green crab was found in Krabi and the Coastal Fisheries Research and Development plan to carry out breeding to add fertility to ecological system.

This 2.4 kilograms or large female sea crab was caught by a local fisherman near a mangrove forest in Krabi. Its size and look attracted interest from villagers and tourists. The Director of Krabi Fisheries Research and Development office said the crab is of the ‘green’ crab type. He said it was caught and then put on sale at a local market but officials purchased the crab for breeding. The crab is estimated to be at least 5 years old and he believes that the mangrove area, where the crab lived, must be very fertile. He said fisheries officials will breed crabs and release them back to nature. This type of crab is rare he said, as it is only usually seen in Chantaburi, Ranong and Krabi. After that a villager from Lanta Island brought another 1.6 kilogram male green crab to give to the centre. The crab was found at Lanta Island and is quite fierce. They expect the centre to nurse and breed them before releasing back to sea.

Item -6--- Krabi open for applicants of training courses under the government’s job creation program.

At least three training courses are being offered in Krabi under the government’s job creation programs. They are web site development, hospitality businesses and computer fixing plus components. The Krabi Governor Siwa Sirisaowalak said the training courses are offered in support of people who are un-employed or those who are job seekers. He stressed that the Employment Office is opening for a new round during June 8-16 and courses offered are agriculture, product processing, production, tourism and hospitality, computing, transportation and construction. Participants who undergo training courses are entitled to receive allowance at 4,800 baht per month, transportation fees of 720 baht to be paid at 30 baht per day on the day people attend the course and a supporting fund of 4,800 baht per month for 3 months after they complete the courses and return to work in their home town.