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PCEC is more than just its regular Sunday meetings
PCEC Chairman and Board
Members meet the Governor of Chonburi Province (left to right) Panajut -
Owner of the Thai Resort Pattaya; Sermsakdi - Honorary Member; Governor
Wichit Chatpaisit; Pat Koester - Chairwoman; Judith Edmonds - Club
Treasurer, and Board members Roy Albiston and Richard Smith.
The Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) is much more than
just its regular Sunday meetings. The PCEC was started in March 2001 when
three Expat residents of Pattaya felt that there should be a way they and
other members of the Pattaya Expatriate community could meet to share advice
and information about the best way to live and enjoy life in Pattaya. Thus
it adopted as its motto “Expats helping Expats.” It prides itself in having
met every Sunday without fail.
The PCEC also offers its member’s opportunities to organize interest groups
which the PCEC helps facilitate. The groups are formed by one or more
individuals and meet weekly, monthly, or periodically outside the regular
Sunday meeting. The PCEC also helps facilitate day and overnight trips
throughout Thailand and sometimes to nearby countries organized by its
members. The PCEC is truly devoted to its motto, “Expats helping Expats.”
During this past month, there were several events of note involving the
Governing Board, special interest groups, and members.
Amari management and PCEC
Board members unveil the new plaque announcing that the Tavern by the Sea
restaurant is the weekly Sunday meeting place of the PCEC. Left to right
David Garmaise, Roy Albiston, Judith Edmonds, Amari General Manager Brendon
Daly, Richard Smith, PCEC Chair Pat Koester, Amari Operations Manager Dan
Jamme, Lawrie McLoughlin, Bob Sutterfield, and Jerry Dean.
On January 14, the PCEC Board Chair and several members
paid a courtesy call on Chonburi Governor Wichit Chatpaisit, Chonburi
Permanent Secretary Chawalit Saeng-Uthai (recently the Banglamung District
Chief), and other officials. The purpose of the visit was to re-acquaint the
Chonburi Officials with the PCEC, to discuss several programs in which the
PCEC is or has been participating, and to offer the PCEC’s continued
assistance in their programs. PCEC Honorary Member Sermsakdi, who made the
arrangements for the visit, was also in attendance.
PCEC Blue Water Sailing group
enjoys their time aboard the Rhumba, a 52 foot catamaran out of Ocean Marina
before visiting the beaches of Koh Sak and Koh Pei during their day sail
outing.
On January 20, there was an unveiling of a new plaque at
the entrance of the Amari Orchid Resort’s Tavern by the Sea Restaurant
(previously named Henry J. Beans) where the PCEC has held its weekly
meetings for more than nine years. In attendance were the Amari’s General
Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, PCEC Board Chair and several of the PCEC’s
Board members. Although unavailable for the brief ceremony, the PCEC had
special thanks for the Amari’s Resident Manager Richard Margo, who was of
great help in making the arrangement for the plaque.
PCEC members Richard and
Janet Smith and Gavin Waddell visit while enjoying their bottomless glasses
of wine and the Amari Orchid Resort chef’s creations during the Amari’s
monthly Wine Experience.
Another event was a meeting held on January 22 arranged
by members Richard Smith, Howard Posener, and Roy Albiston to get people
acquainted with the features of smart phones (iPhone, iPad, and Samsung
Galaxy). There were 29 people in attendance to learn more about how to use
their smart phones and various “apps” available for their use. Nathan Russo,
another member, enjoys sailing. He has formed the Blue Water Sailing group
and arranges for some sailing ventures they can enjoy. There were two
sailings in January on the 22nd and the 31st. They enjoyed snorkeling,
kayaking, and taking an inflatable dinghy to visit the isolated shores of
nearby islands.
On January 25, several PCEC members gathered as usual at the Amari Orchid
Resort’s monthly Wine Experience to enjoy the bottomless wine glass and
accompanying food along with each other’s company. The featured wines were
Cabernet Sauvignons; both red and white and a sparkling wine also was on
offer. You will usually find a good representation of PCEC members at each
of these monthly Wine Experiences as they enjoy good wine, food, and
socializing with their fellow members; PCEC members receive a 15% discount
from Amari on this event.
February also promises to be a great month for PCEC members and guests. The
speaker for February 10 will be Michael Hancock, Consul at the British
Embassy in Bangkok talking about British Consular Services in Thailand.
Member David Meador has organized a morning trip to the Meyer Industries
Factory in Lam Chabang for February 12 where they make cookware.
Unfortunately, the Factory limits tours to groups of 40 and David advised at
last Sunday’s PCEC meeting that there were no more spaces available. Nathan
Russo will again be organizing a day sail on February 28 for his Blue Water
Sailing Group and because many that attended the smart phone meeting wanted
more, Richard Smith is in process of making arrangements for another session
in February.
For more information about the PCEC, its activities, and expat living in
Thailand, visit their website at:
www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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Awaken, Misty Blue win 12th Singha Showcase
Judges choice Misty Blue gives
their best performance.
Phasakorn Channgam
Five youth bands battled for professional and public acclaim as Central
Festival Pattaya Beach hosted the 12th Singha Showcase on Stage.
Sponsored by the beachfront mall, Singha Corp., Jukebox Radio Pattaya and the
Tourism Authority of Thailand, the musical contest featured performances from
Misty Blue, Wednesday Child, Phayak and California Night, and winner of the 2012
Pattaya Music Challenge, Awaken.
“Singha Showcase on Stage is a chance for youths, dreamers, hard workers, stage
performers, and amateur musicians who love music to get a break by competing for
the hearts of the judges and the public,” explained Singha’s Chokchai
Jiacharoen.
Two winners were selected, one by popular vote, the other by judges Pitti
Limcharoen, a music producer, and Kamolsak Sunthanont, a professional
songwriter.
Judges selected Misty Blue, while the audience chose Awaken as the winner. The
event closed with a concert from Blackhead.
Pitti Limcharoen and Kamolsak
Sunthanont carefully judge the contestants.
Audience favorite Awaken wows the
crowd.
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Disabled, sports enthusiasts loom
as next frontiers for Pattaya tourism market
Front row (L-R) Pratheep Singh Malhotra, MD of
Pattaya Mail Media Group; Borisut Prasopsup, director of the Tourism Authority
of Thailand’s eastern region; Police Maj. Gen. Sunchai Chaiamporn, Deputy
Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2 and Ronakit Ekasingha, deputy mayor
of Pattaya City. Back row (L-R) Suwanthep Malhotra, deputy MD of Pattaya Mail
Media Group; Sompat Jantawan, GM of Tsix5 Hotel; Kullatorn Mesommonta, president
of the East Coast Golf Courses Management Association; Komkrit Prasitnarit,
committee member of the PBTA; Attapol Wannakit, TAT director Pattaya office;
Bundarik Kusolvitya, president of the THA Eastern Chapter; Sanpech
Supabowornsthian, GM of Long Beach Garden Hotel & Spa; Panida Kanaesaen,
Secretary of Chonburi Attraction Club and Prayuth Thamdhum, GM of The Montien
Hotel Pattaya.
Phasakorn Channgam
Having already made strong inroads into the Russian and Chinese markets,
regional tourism associations are turning their gaze to the sports and disabled
tourism sectors for future growth.
At a Jan. 30 “Challenging Pattaya” seminar organized by the Thai Hotel
Association Eastern Chapter, Pattaya Business & Tourism Association, The East
Coast Golf Courses Management Association, and Chonburi Attraction Club, Borisut
Prasopsup, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s eastern region said
the disabled market, in particular, holds promise, as group tours dominate that
segment of the market.
The present state of Pattaya Beach where erosion has
practically left the beach with no sand at high tide.
“When the disabled travel, it’s usually not a solo trip, but in a group,”
Borisut said. “To attract these groups, Pattaya must prepare and install various
conveniences to help the disabled, including accessible hotel rooms.
“If Pattaya can perfect such plans, the city could become of the main options
for disabled tourists and increase its tourism numbers by 1 million a year,”
Borisut said.
With Pattaya now attracting record numbers of tourists, new markets, such as the
disabled sector, are becoming scarcer. The “Challenging Pattaya” seminar was
organized to offer tourism-related business owners a chance to brainstorm new
ideas and obtain the latest information on city and regional developments they
can use in their marketing efforts.
Pattaya City has begun placing sacks full of sand
near the Dusit Thani Hotel which has been the hit hardest by beach erosion.
TAT Pattaya Office Director Athapol Vannakit called 2012 a successful year, with
80,000 hotel rooms booked at any one time at the end of the year. Russians
comprised the largest group, with 2.2 million visiting the city, followed by the
Chinese, with 700,000 visitors. He predicted arrivals will increase 7.56 percent
in 2013.
Bundarik Kusolvitya, president of the THA Eastern Chapter, also called last
year’s numbers satisfactory, praising the Pattaya and Chonburi governments for
their tourism-promotion efforts. “We have received better response in various
markets after the political strife and natural disasters of 2010 and 2011.”
For future growth, tourism operators are looking to the disabled market, as well
as sports tourists.
A model of the new terminal building at
U-Tapao-Rayong Pattaya International Airport. This is a joint project of Pattaya
City and the Royal Thai Navy to develop it into a full-fledged commercial
airport.
Kullathorn Meesommont, president of the East Coast Golf Courses Management
Association, said its 20 member courses are working together to organize
tournaments throughout the year, using Pattaya as the hub for most activities.
Among the signature events this year will be the Honda LPGA Thailand tournament
at the Siam Country Club Feb. 21-24; and the Asia Golf Tourism Convention at the
Royal Cliff Hotel Group April 29-May 2, he said.
Despite feeling good about 2012’s numbers and 2013’s potential, tourism
operators said Pattaya still faces challenges, particularly in the areas of
public safety, traffic and infrastructure.
An artist’s impression of what Pattaya Beach Road
will look like after completion of the expansion and beautification project.
Bundarik called the traffic situation “critical,” warning that congestion,
particularly on Beach Road, frustrates and turns away tourists. She called on
the city and Beach Road businesses to agree to ban parking on the beachfront and
for city hall to clean up its beachfront festivals by banning tawdry-looking
booths selling cheap tours, junk and trinkets.
Attendees also raised concerns with illegal taxi cabs, unregulated street
vendors, scamming tour guides and other issues. Police Maj. Gen. Sunchai
Chaiamporn, Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2, also reassured
the audience about efforts to combat crime against tourists.
He said the Royal Thai Police’s much-touted four-week crackdown had reduced
crime by 60 percent from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7, although he intimated that wouldn’t
last once officers go home.
Bundarik Kusolvitya, president of THA Eastern
region, talks about solutions to the traffic problem in Pattaya, especially on
Beach Road.
“From the crimes that have occurred, it’s evident that the issues lie with an
insufficient number of officers to suppress crime,” Sunchai said. “There are
only 377 officers for almost 6 million residents and tourists, or an average of
one officer for each 15,000 people.”
He said the Royal Thai Police has suggested building another police station for
Pattaya, and staff it with officers sent from other jurisdictions.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh spoke of how the mayor and city officials were
working very hard to solve Pattaya’s teething problems and implement projects to
give the city a better public image. He said that public places and utilities
are being improved upon constantly. Ronakit spoke of the beach reclamation
project of which the plan is to create a 35 meter beach. He was confident that
once completed the beach will once again become the main selling point for
tourists to come to Pattaya.
Special areas on the beach will be reserved for the
physically challenged. Pattaya plans to be the top destination for handicapped
people.
To solve traffic problems, the deputy mayor reiterated city hall’s intention to
build another traffic lane on Beach Road.
He added that strict measure will be implemented very soon regarding jet-ski
rentals, traffic issues and the overall safety of tourists visiting Pattaya.
He also said that plans to develop U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International airport
is well underway and expects the new terminal building to be open for service
mid-2013.
Ramps have been built leading to the beach allowing
people with disabilities to be able to feel the sand and frolic in the sea.
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