Thailand Live Wednesday 29 Dec 2010

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Cabinet Approves Joint Venture for Construction of MRT Blue Line

The Cabinet has approved a private joint venture for the construction of the MRT Blue Line's Hua Lamphong-Bang Kae and Taopoon-Tha Phra sections.

Yesterday, the Cabinet approved a private joint venture for the construction of the MRT Blue Line's Hua Lamphong-Bang Kae and Taopoon Tha Phra sections, in the form of a public private partnership, as recommended by the National Economics and Social Development Board under the Transport Ministry's guideline.

According to the agreement, the government will take on the total construction cost, while private contractors will be responsible for the installation of the electrical system, the procurement of trains, and maintenance.

The state will also be responsible for revenue collection and private contractors will be reimbursed in the form of salaries and maintenance fees.

The joint venture project will be overseen by the Mass Rapid Transit and the Transport Ministry.

The Cabinet also approved 448 million baht to retain service and security system consultants to ensure the security of the new line before opening for the public.

The budget will be allocated by the Finance Ministry and the Budget Bureau.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-29

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Samui-Pha Ngan Enjoys Higher Bookings during New Year Holidays

Hotels in Thailand’s southern resort towns are enjoying surprisingly good business this holiday.

The occupancy rate is now more than 80 percent, with an increase in local and Chinese visitors.

The former President of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, Senee Phuwasetthavorn, said business on both islands is usually good at this time of the year.

However, he conceded that this year’s business might not be as good as in the past, as arrivals from Europe, which is Thailand’s major tourist market, have decreased due to the debt crisis.

However, more Thai and Chinese tourists have arrived, which could be attributed to local tourism business operators’ revised strategies to attract domestic travelers to compensate for the deminishing European tourists.

The Surat Thani Tour Guides Association agreed that there has been a stronger interest from local and Chinese tourists in Thailand’s southern holiday destinations this year.

Hotel occupancy in the region is about 80 percent, on average.

The association said both Thai and foreign holiday-makers are price sensitive and not so interested in tour packages.

And while business operators are upset with the absence of high purchasing power European tourists, they are seeing an increase in the arrival of Russian holiday makers, who generally have less purchasing power.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-29

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Court hands down two-year imprisonment for ex-EC chair Vasana and 3 commissioners for increasing their own salaries; sentences suspended /MCOT

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Deputy PM Suthep opens Accident Reduction Center

BANGKOK, 29 December 2010 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has officially launched the Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center ahead of the New Year festival.

Accompanied by Interior Minister Chavarat Charnveerakul, Mr. Suthep presided over the opening ceremony of the Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center with an aim to curb road accidents during the holiday season.

With the Deputy Prime Minister as its chairman and director, the center is conducting its operation from today until next Tuesday, hoping to reduce road accidents by 50% compared to the same period last year. Data will be collected for further analysis and development of a more effective traffic policy.

According to Mr. Suthep, traffic police will set up checkpoints and will take serious legal actions against those who break the law. People have been warned against riding motorcycles without wearing helmets, overcrowding their vehicles, exceeding the speed limit and driving under the influence.

-- NNT 2010-12-29

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US online payment service Paypal agrees to help set up international e-commerce hub in southwestern China /MCOT

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PM on the van accident (re: the prominent last name). "no one has a privilege and no one is above the law. /via@jeerapong_nna /via@veen_NT

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Over 6,000 rooms in Mae Hong Song fully booked for New Year holidays

Mae Hong Song - The chief tourism official in this northern popular destination urged tourists to check before travelling to the province, saying all 6,000 rooms have been fully booked.

Wisanu Aroonbamrungwong, the director of Mae Hong Song Tourism Authority Office, said all the 6,000 accommodations have been fully booked from December 31 and January 3.

-- The Nation 2010-12-29

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Thai Police Deny Paedophile Case Dropped Against Russian Pianist

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AFP: Police: Car bomb injures seven in Thai south

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Democrat MP Panich held in Cambodia

Cambodian Authorities Detain Thai Democrat MP, 6 Others Inspecting Border Area

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FM Kasit confirms Cambodia's detention of MP Panit and 5 other Thais while they were checking on disputed territory; PM hurries help /TAN_Network

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Caltex hikes benzene 91 price by 50 satang/lr; gasohol 91 and 95 and diesel by 30 satang/lr /TAN_Network

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Cabinet Endorses CAT Telecom's Withdrawal from Hutch Takeover

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AFP: Cambodia detains Thai MP in disputed area: police

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FC Phuket take on Buriram in Bt1m playoff final tonight

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Air conditioning technician falls 9 floors to his death at Pattaya condominium

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10 Houses Destroyed in Charoen Krung Fire

Ten homes were ravaged by a blaze in a slum on Charoen Krung Road early.

Two people were injured while trying to escape the fire.

A fire broke out at 5.30 AM this morning on Soi Charoen Krung 57, near King Bhumibol’s 80th Birthday Anniversary public park.

The fire rapidly spread across houses in the slum area, as most of them were made of wood.

Approximately 20 fire trucks were deployed, but the raging fire required firefighters 50 minutes to put out the fire.

According to officers from Yannawa Police Station, the fire destroyed ten houses.

Two people were reportedly injured while escaping the blaze.

Investigators from the Scientific Crime Detection Division are looking into the cause of the accident.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-29

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SET index closed at 1034.59, up 6.26; Bt/USD30.03; GBP46.14; AUD30.27; EUR39.32; CAD29.97; HKD3.85; SGD23.02; JPY36.33

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Woman stabbed to death by husband during drunken fight in East Pattaya

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Thai centre to prevent New Year holidays road accidents officially opens

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Cambodia confirms 7 Thais, including MP, arrested after illegally crossing border into Cambodia; PM Hun Sen says they will appear in court Thursday: AP via MCOT

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Thailand’s MCOT launches broadband TV

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AFP: Cambodia to charge Thai MP in border incident: PM

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TAT will receive 6 billion baht budget in 2012 to improve Thai tourism

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Pattaya Master Plan Excites Investors

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Attempted Kidnapping Tests Pattaya's Safety

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Thailand Live Thursday Dec 30

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