Tourism Minister & Tat Governor Comment On Tourism

[NBT TV Phuket]

Andaman News TV11 & FM90.5 Phuket 8.30am Thursday 18 August 2005

& http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=140097

The new Minister of Tourism and Sports met with the public and private sector in Phuket to discuss progress of the area's revival.

Pracha Maleenond, the Tourism and Sports Minister who took up his post last month, is now in Phuket to follow up the progress of tourism revival of the Andaman after the region was affected by the December 26th tsunami. At a meeting taking place at Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, local business owners voiced their ideas and needs leading to a tourism revival. Among the suggestions and needs of local businesses were the rapid development work of Patong and Kamala, extending opening time for entertainment places in Patong, and allocating more budget for local administration organisations. The Minister also suggested the idea to expand duty-free shops to Krabi and Phang Nga to stimulate tourism.

--------------

from http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=140098

The special domestic package launched by the TAT and private sector to attract tourists to the Andaman proved to work well.

Speaking about the special domestic package which the Tourism Authority of Thailand joined hands with the private sector and hotels in Phuket launched to attract more visitors to the Andaman, the TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan said it has proved to be popular among travelers. She also said the TAT is promoting more weekday travel incentives as well.

Touching on the area’s redevelopments, the TAT Governor said the TAT is working with the private sector to redevelop Kamala and Patong beaches in Phuket to welcome tourists for this upcoming high season.

-----------

Please note we have long interview with TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan and comments from Pracha Maleenond, the Tourism and Sports Minister, on Friday 19 August TV & radio program.

[NBT TV Phuket]

Within a few minutes of posting above, we were informed our program cannot air on Friday due to a national broadcast, but should be back on Monday morning with promised interviews.

[NBT TV Phuket]

1. A mini-video of our 10 minute interview with the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Juthamas Siriwan is on

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=140503

2. A Mini-video of Special - new Tourism and Sports Minister in Phuket is on

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=140501

text below:

Special report for Andaman News TV11 & FM90.5 Phuket 8.30am Monday 22 August 2005

This year 2005 the Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT still expects total arrivals in the country to reach 13.38 million up 11.50% on last year with revenue of 450 billion baht up 17.19%.

Next year the tourism industry is expected to generate revenue of 533 billion baht based on a new plan which envisages more aggressive marketing and promotion with the objective to turn Thailand into the tourism capital of Asia, with the TAT counting on 15.12 million tourists traveling to Thailand in 2006.

These figures may seem optimistic given the sharp decline in the number of tourist arrivals in provinces on the Andaman coast, in the wake of the tsunami last December, but new hope arrives with a new face on the scene:

During his trip down to Phuket to have a meeting with local authority and tourism businesses at Patong Graceland Resort and Spa, the new Tourism and Sports Minister Pracha Maleenont was still confident that the targets for the number of arrivals is still realistic:

Being presented with the latest redevelopment and relandscaping plan designs for Phuket’s two famous beaches which will be undertaken by the Tourism Authority of Thailand after 8 month since the Tsunami, the minister said he was quite pleased with the designs which include the re-regulations to tidy up the beaches but, he pointed out that they would not be finished properly until next year:

When asked to comment on the local issue of public transportation, the minister declined to comment much on the problems and disputes especially about taxis from the airport, saying that he was only briefed on the issue, and the local authority is now working on it.

During last week’s trip to the island, Minister Pracha also discussed and listened to local tourism operators needs, ideas and concerns for the Andaman tourism revival which primarily needs rapid redevelopment work in Patong and Kamala, but extending opening times for entertainment places in Patong were also included in requests.

-----

3. We also had the duty free story today:

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=140494

The Ministry of Finance eases duty free shopping restrictions to promote tourism in the Andaman region.

Domestic Thai travelers can now buy duty free goods when they visit the tourist provinces of Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi. Meanwhile for the first time in Thailand, foreign tourists will be able to take away duty free items when shopping outside Phuket & Krabi airports. The move is another effort to revive the tourism industry of the Tsunami hit region of the Andaman. Deputy Finance Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said the local shoppers/’ new incentive will be effective from 1st September and will go on until December 31st. He suggested that great varieties of products be available in order to expand the market as well.

Satit Limpongphan, Director General of the Customs Department said under the new eased regulations, Thai tourists will have to produce evidence that they do not reside in the three Andaman provinces and stay at least one night. They are entitled to purchase 2 items per person of unlimited value once per month. Other evidence includes hotel accommodation, certified ID card, and return air tickets.

(tomorrow, Tuesday, we have a special report on duty free with comments by Foreign Minister, Deputy Minister of Finance, Director General of Customs, & President of Tourism Council)

____________