US Navy and Rotary once again join in “Operation Handclasp”

by Elfi

Many people in Pattaya are quite happy to learn that the US Navy will be arriving in town. This glee is not reserved for just the shops, bar owners and girls, who nonetheless definitely experience a boom in their businesses. The underprivileged, the needy and the sick, as well as the many children here in and around Pattaya, especially benefit from the benevolence of the US Navy. Pattaya Mail has reported many times on the great help the US Navy gives to our local charitable organizations, and we are proud to tell you even more.

Lunch in the officers’ mess aboard the USS Dubuque.

Also always very active, the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya is very much involved with the US Navy, taking good advantage of their helping hands. This past visit by US Navy ships in Pattaya showed once again the good relationship established between the two groups. "Operation Handclasp", a joint project between the US Navy and the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya, once again breathed new life, joining together on several occasions in the past week.

Firstly, the Pier in Pattaya was the meeting point for Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya, including President Elect Ms. Erika Keller, Past President Dennis Stark and his wife Noy, and the Director of Community Services Peter Thorand. They were accompanied by Khun Rabiebrat Pongpanit, President of the Red Cross Society in Khon Kaen and wife of the governor of Khon Kaen Province, Khun Panaya Puthahiri, Red Cross Khon Kaen and Khun Vitit Tansacha, one of the main sponsors for the Rotary Drug awareness program. All had gathered for a visit to the USS Dubuque.

(L to R) Noy, Dennis Stark, Erika Keller, Panaya Puthahiri, Captain John Miller, Rabiebrat Pongpanit, Peter Thorand and Lt. Maupin aboard the USS Dubuque.

After a ride on a speedboat to the 14,000-ton US Navy Assault Ship, the group was welcomed by Lt. Maupin, who conducted a VIP tour of the ship. Every one of the visitors were greatly impressed by the huge LCU, the hover-crafts, tanks, tractors and the four CH 46 helicopters on the ship. All the instruments at the bridge were carefully explained and a lot of questions were asked by the visitors before the 45 minute tour found an end when the Captain of the USS Dubuque arrived back on board.

Captain John Miller welcomed the special guests into his office, where the main reason of the visit reached fruition. First, Captain Miller presented an envelop to Rotarian Peter Thorand representing the many sacks of used clothing and shoes which the Rotary Club had received from the ship to be donated to the Red Cross Society of Khon Kaen. Peter Thorand in return handed a certificate of appreciation to Captain Miller to thank him and his crew in the name of the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya for their donation to the Handclasp project. Khun Rabriebrat Pongpanit then expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Captain and presented him with a certificate of appreciation from the Red Cross.

The street children truly benefit from the loving touch of the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya.

After the presentations, the Captain invited the group to join him for lunch in the officers’ mess. Captain Miller showed once again that US Navy Officers are not only perfect gentlemen and great hosts, but are also very concerned about the problems and needs of different nations and that all of them, including the crew, are always willing to help.

The second event took place at the Redemptorist Center for Street Children. Again members of the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya welcomed navy personnel, this time crewmembers of the USS Honolulu. These sailors from the US Navy couldn’t find anything better to do during their short leave than to paint the library and the sanitary rooms of the Redemptorist Home for the Street Children.

Lt. Commander Joseph Wiegand, 2nd Officer on the USS Honolulu, received on behalf of his crew a certificate of appreciation from John Richards, the President of the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya. This act was witnessed by Peter Thorand, director of community services and initiator of this "paint job", Erika Keller, incoming president elect, George Tomlinson and his wife Margaret, past president Kees Peperkamp, incoming president Khun Bancha, past president Nick Demet and Elfi Seitz, Director of Sales & Marketing of Pattaya Mail.

Lt. Commander Joseph Wiegand, 2nd Officer on the USS Honolulu, received on behalf of his crew a certificate of appreciation from John Richards, the President of the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya, for painting at the Redemptorist Center for Street Children.

More than 50 children in the home enjoyed the presence of the "Farangs" in their own way. Lots of coke and other soft drinks, ice cream and candies were given to the kids and besides all the work, the sailors still found time to play with the kids.

The next event was a BBQ party at the Pattaya Orphanage. The US Marines who took part in Cobra Gold, under the command of Colonel Paul Christiane and with the help of Chaplain Peter St. Georges and Chaplain Smith, organized their third BBQ party for the children at the Pattaya Orphanage.

Colonel Paul Christiane told Pattaya Mail that the weekly BBQ is actually only a side element. The main reason for the marines to come regularly to the orphanage is to play with the children and let them have some fun. And, indeed, it appeared as though the kids as well as the marines were having a lot of fun during their time together. Chaplain Peter St. Georges added that, after they leave Thailand, they are surely going to miss the children and that all the Marines are already looking forward to coming back next year.

Pattaya Mail would like to say a big thank you to the US Navy and US Marines for their generous help during their visits and we hope that they will come back to Pattaya again very soon. Thank you guys!

New ideas in the golfing fraternity

There is a new player on the golf scene in Pattaya. The Eastern Seaboard Golf Club on Soi Skaw Beach is open for business and aggressively pursuing customers. Any golfer who has driven to a local course in the past few weeks has probably found one of Eastern Seaboard’s flyers on the windshield of their car. The flyers advertise an offer to regrip a set of clubs for 500 baht. The offer is for real. They have a wide assortment of grips including full and half cords and they will get the job done in under an hour. This is not the old "bait and switch", where when you show up they either have run out of stock or they want the customer to buy something more expensive. When asked for how long this offer will be good, the reply was "as long as there are golfers in Pattaya." There are no strings attached. They do a good job and they do it with a smile.

Peter Rehn of the Eastern Seaboard Golf Club on Soi Skaw Beach.

Once you are inside the showroom of Eastern Seaboard Golf Club, you find an airy and attractive display of all sorts of golf paraphernalia. You may have walked through the door for the purpose of getting your clubs regripped, but you will be sorely tempted to spend some money on other things as well. They have a large selection of inexpensive golf bags, umbrellas, gloves, shoes, and of course clubs. Eastern Seaboard is able to draw on its association with the MacDonald Golf House in Bangkok to offer high volume, low priced fitted clubs in Pattaya.

"Fitted" means that components can be matched to make a set of clubs that is best suited for the customer. Different golfers have different requirements. Shaft length and flex, grip style and size, lie angle, and the type of head itself can all be "fitted" to your particular needs. They even have an indoor driving area where you can experiment with different clubs to actually hit golf balls and an indoor sand bunker to try out a variety of sand wedges. Try doing that in the aisle of your local department store.

O.K., we have a new pro shop in town. What’s the big deal? Well, there is more to Eastern Seaboard Golf Club than the merchandising of golf equipment. And that is where things start to get interesting.

The Chairman of the Eastern Seaboard Golf Club is Peter Rehn. Peter is a native of Sweden and is a man of many hats. He was a lawyer in Stockholm when he first came to Thailand as a tourist over twenty years ago. He is an avid photographer, has been involved in the travel business, and has done design work. His design work intersected with his love of golf and he began designing golf courses. He is no stranger to Pattaya. Peter designed the golf course at Pattaya Country Club. He is also a member of the Pattaya Sports Club. A long time resident of Bangkok, Peter is ready to leave the big city and he plans to make his home in Pattaya. In fact, Peter will be making his home on Soi Skaw Beach above the Eastern Seaboard Golf Club.

Peter sees the golf facilities in Thailand as a huge and largely untapped business opportunity. His vision is to work in association with the travel industry in Sweden and other northern European countries, to bring charter flights of golfers to Pattaya. Eastern Seaboard Golf Club will arrange the tee times, the transportation, and if necessary even the golf clubs. They already have a large number of clubs for rent in their shop on Soi Skaw Beach. They even have plans for some of the tours to be beginning golfers who will need instruction, which Eastern Seaboard will provide. They currently have a video system for taping and analyzing the golf swing at their indoor driving range.

It’s raining outside? No problem, you can still practice your swing at Eastern Seaboard’s indoor driving range, complete with an indoor bunker.

In addition to the charter flights, Eastern Seaboard Golf has already started a program called "The Golf Bus". They are not content to wait for the golfers to come to them; they will go to the golfers. Or at least to their hotel. Two air-conditioned mini vans are now making regularly scheduled stops at different hotels to pick up golfers and take them to the courses. Eastern Seaboard charges a set fee that includes transportation, green fees and caddie fees. The fee varies depending on what course is played. Hotels are paid a commission for each customer that is steered to "The Golf Bus".

To make the golf even more affordable, Eastern Seaboard Golf Club is now issuing membership cards, complete with photo ID, that entitle members to discounts at fifteen golf courses in the Pattaya area. These membership cards cost 300 Baht for one year or 1000 Baht for a five-year card. They are also good for a ten percent discount on all merchandise purchased from the pro shop at Eastern Seaboard Golf Club. In a stroke of good marketing sense, members of the Pattaya Sports Club are issued cards free of charge. Although they have no immediate plans to hold competitions, the Eastern Seaboard Golf Club card will also allow the members to obtain and maintain a U.S.G.A. handicap. This will all be done in house at Soi Skaw Beach.

Peter Rehn declares that Pattaya is the best place in the world to play golf. "The courses are first rate and the fees are unbelievably cheap." By heavily promoting the golf in this area, perhaps Pattaya can lose its tawdrier image and become known as the Myrtle Beach of the East.

Many participate in the Wien Thien Ceremony during Wisakhabucha Holy Day

by Kittisak Khamthong

The Wisakhabucha Holy Day, the day of the full moon of the sixth month of the Thai calendar, is a very important Holy Day in the Buddhist religion.

The Holy Day does not fall on the same date each year, but is calculated according to the stars. It usually occurs in the latter part of the international month of May (a portion of the month of May falls within the sixth month of the Thai calendar).

Wisakhabucha Holy Day worships three events simultaneously: the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.

Buddhists participating in the Wien Thien ceremony on Wisakhabucha Day at Phothisamphan Temple located on the Pattaya to Naklua Road, on the evening of May 29th.

The birth of Buddha was 81 years prior to Buddhist Year 1 (the present year is 2542 B.E.) Buddha attained enlightenment 46 years before the year 1 B.E. Buddha departed this world one year prior to the year 1 B.E. All this makes the Wisakhabucha Holy Day a miraculous day.

This year the Wisakhabucha Holy Day fell on the 29th of May. As a way to make merit and observe the Holy Day, many Buddhists went to the temples in the morning to bring prepared food dishes to the monks residing there.

Other believers in the Buddhist religion may or may not go to the temples. Some adhere to the eight precepts or commandments during the 24 hour period more-so than the normal five precepts. The sixth precept involves not eating any food following the noon hour. The seventh precept involves not partaking in any outside entertainment such as listening to music or watching television and so on. The eighth precept involves not applying any scented items on ones person.

In the evening, young monks and senior monks perform ritual prayers, reciting the 227 precepts for Buddhist monks. During this time, Buddhist believers who have the time and inclination prepare themselves with incense, flowers, and candles and go to the temple to participate in the Wien Thien part of the ceremony.

This involves walking in a clock-wise direction around the temple area, completing three circles. A monk initiates the Wien Thien ceremony with prayers. The first circle completed is for worshiping the Enlightened One. The second circle is for worshiping the Buddha’s teachings, or what is called the Dharma. The last circle walked is to worship the monks. The devotional offering of incense, flowers, and candles ends the ceremony for Buddhists who reside outside of the temple.

Commentary: At present, the Buddhist Assembly in Thailand is at odds with various persons’ interpretation of the precepts of the Buddhist religion. This difference is causing beliefs to change both among monks and people outside the temple. They say the basic ideas behind the Buddhist religion are being lost or misinterpreted by many who only see the outer skin and not the essence of the religion. Those persons are unable to free themselves from the idea of "Me, Mine, Love, Luck, Anger, Desire". The Buddha’s teachings state that the total cessation of these ideas and feelings or desires are the only path available to achieve Nirvana, or the release from the constant cycle of dying and being reborn again, going through birth, suffering, aging, and death.

Needy children were the true winners of the “Follow your Rotary Dream” golf tournament

The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya and the Thai-Finnish Chamber of Commerce arranged the "Follow your Rotary Dream" golf tournament on May 14, 15 & 16 in Pattaya.

All net proceeds went to the Rotary projects, such as the "Beautiful Smile" and the "Eye Glass" projects. Prizes for the tournament were given generously by various well-known companies.

The players and their families had a very nice time in this unusual, 3-day tournament - even the weather was on their side.

HE Mr. Tauno Kaaria, Ambassador of Finland to Thailand, participated in the tournament as a player and a winner rewarded.

Mr. Pekka Laine, promoter of the event, said, "I am very pleased helping children in need in Thailand."

The format for the tournament had golfers competing on three quite different types of courses. The first day (Friday, May 14th) was a regular tournament at the 18 hole Plutaluang Golf Course in Sattahip. Competition on the second day (Saturday, May 15th) took place at the par 3 Asia Pattaya golf course over Pratumnak Hill. Finally, the competition wound up at the Fairplay Minigolf course.

The format was a team of 3 players, combining the best 2 net scores on each of the three days of the tournament to decide the winner.

There were tons of prizes for both team and individual winners, runners up, and placers in three different divisions, both daily and overall, plus daily lucky draw prizes and technical prizes.

The following sponsors all gave generously to the tournament: Embassy of Finland, Finnair, Thai-Finnish Chamber of Commerce, Tecnomen, Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Euro Professional Co., Ltd., Lohr-Trade & Consulting Co., Ltd., La Bella Casa Restaurant, Min Sen Machinery Co., Ltd., Nokia (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Valmet Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Nordic-Thai Venture Co., Ltd., Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd., Pine Wood Condo Hotel, Finpro-Finland Trade Center, Nopon Thai Co., Ltd., Thai Garden Resort, Mapco Co., Ltd., Texxan Co., Ltd., MSAS Global Logistics (Thailand) Ltd., Sako Trading Co., Ltd.

Final Results:

Overall:
Team winner: Pakchong Ball Hunters.
Runners-up: SD-Team.
Individual winner: Chakint Thiratai.
Runner-up: Pekka Ala-Prinkkilla.
3rd place: Ossi Vilianen.

Plutaluang (May 14):
Team winner: Pakchong Ball Hunters.
Runners-up: SD-Team.
Individual winner: Ossi Vilianen.
Runner-up: Chakint Thiratai.
3rd place: Pekka Ala-Prinkkilla.
Nearest the pin (4 times) - Chakint Thiratai.
Longest drive: (280 yards) Pekka Ala-Prinkkilla.

Asia Pattaya (May 15)
Team winner: Pakchong Ball Hunters.
Runners-up: SD-Team.
Individual winner: Chakint Thiratai.
Runner-up: Pekka Ala-Prinkkilla.
3rd place: Seppo Vanninen.

Fairplay Minigolf (May 16)
Team winner: SD-Team.
Runners-up: Pakchong Ball Hunters.
Individual winner: Chakint Thiratai.
Runner-up: Ossi Vilianen.
3rd place: H.E. Tauno Kaaria.

BMW stakes its claim on the Eastern Seaboard

International automotive giant BMW marked a historic day on the Eastern Seaboard last week. This was the laying of the foundation stone for the new BMW car assembly complex at the Amata City Industrial Estate in Rayong.

In front of many distinguished guests, the President of BMW Thailand, Jesus Cordoba made mention of the commitment of BMW to the motor car industry in this country. The site at Amata City covers a large area of land, making it one of the major automotive assembly plants on the Eastern Seaboard.

The parent BMW organization also considered this to be a big step forward for the world wide BMW marketing spectrum, with the attendance of three of their top directors, who also made official addresses confirming the importance placed upon Thailand in their international marketing plans.

The government of Thailand was also cognizant of the significance of this overseas investment in this country, with the Secretary General of the BOI, Khun Staporn Kavitanon welcoming the German company and introducing the Minister for Industry, H.E. Suwat Liptapanlop who presided over the official stone laying ceremony.

With Ford, Mazda, Nissan, General Motors and now BMW being represented on the Eastern Seaboard this region is truly the hub of motor car manufacturing in Thailand.

British Chamber “Gohs” for Four Winds at Delaney’s

The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) held a very influential "Pub Night" at Delaney’s the Irish Pub last weekend. These meetings have been promoted following a Think Tank evening last month where the popularity of these types of functions was expressed.

With sponsorship from Delaney’s and new player Four Winds International, represented by the lovely Miss Sharon Goh, the evening was a riotous success. Greg Watkins, the Executive Director of the BCCT and Graham Macdonald, the Chairman of the Eastern Seaboard Committee were both very enthusiastic about the networking possibilities from the Pub Night, whilst Miss Goh and the ever smiling Kim Fletcher from Delaney’s were happy about the excellent roll up.

Local mover and shaker in the Australian Thai Chamber, Hardy Papson was in evidence, along with other BCCT members such as Chris Soh from Oil-Tex Thailand, Inga Dohlon from Siemens and John Preston from Crown Worldwide Group.

With the importance of the Eastern Seaboard in the overall macroeconomics of Thailand, it is good to see the BCCT so active in this region. The next function will be announced in the Pattaya Mail in a few weeks.

Gem City dedicated to keeping Thailand’s sparkle

The Thais have always been a people who have cherished the finest things that life has to offer. And it is easy for them to do so, for Thailand’s rich resources offer everything one could desire.

One can receive benefits from all the four elements. The wind carries the sweet fragrance of exotic fruits. The sun’s fire nurtures a jungled land which provides endless varieties of food. The waters of the monsoons quench this land. And, from the earth of Thailand comes both a people and civilization worthy of all these gifts.

But there is one more gift the earth provides which has defined the lavishness of the Thai people since the time of the first Siamese Kings: precious gemstones and gold.

The Thais have always valued gold and rare gemstones. The abundance of these items in the region are so overwhelming that Thais would not hear of wearing anything less than gold that is 95% pure. In ancient times, the Thais adorned their temples and palaces with gold and precious stones in the same way Westerners would use paint. So flamboyant were these ancient Thais that with their riches that they provoked their neighbors to relieve them of their wealth on several occasions by attacking their cities.

Today, Thai cities are not adorned with untold riches. However, visitors can now find a wealth of precious stones and metals in one of Thailand’s newest cities: Gemopolis.

Gemopolis is an estate situated about one hour east of Bangkok specializing in the cutting of rough precious stones and the making of jewelry. What makes the estate so unique is that it has attracted world renowned jewelry houses such as MKS Jewelry International of Germany, Diakor of South Korea, Thai Seberu Pico of Japan, Paris Bijoux of France, Carat Creation of Singapore, Harlyn International of the US, and Perth Mint of Australia.

In all, about 20 production houses can be found on the 300 acre Gemopolis site. The success of these houses can be directly related to the fact that the Thai gems and jewelry export business has been steadily increasing by 10 percent yearly. Thailand has become a major center for polished diamonds and diamond jewelry, which is expected to account for 42 percent of all gem related exports. Other precious stones and pearls will account for 19 percent, while other kinds of jewelry will make up the remaining 35 percent.

Why have all these internationally accredited houses decided to operate in Gemopolis? "We strengthen the competitive edge of jewelry designers," said Vichai Assarasakorn, the managing director of IGS, the developer of Gemopolis. "Our one-stop-shop approach is appreciated by international buyers who come to the estate where they meet big manufacturers. At the same time, manufacturers in Gemopolis have enjoyed the benefits of securing raw materials, such as gemstones and gold, at lower costs through a supply procurement pool managed by IGS units."

Vichai went on to say that an abundance of cheap skilled labor and tax incentives - manufacturers do not pay corporate or dividend income tax, import duties for machinery and raw materials or VAT when trading within the estate - allow manufacturers to sell finished stones and jewelry at reduced prices. "We can basically pass all the savings on to the customer," said Vichai.

These savings are anywhere between 30 to 40 percent of what would be charged for a similar piece inside or outside of Thailand. Aside from this, any item sold in Gemopolis is guaranteed with a full money back warranty. As Gemopolis is fully supported by the Royal Thai Government through the Board of Investment and the Customs Department, all one need do is take a complaint to any Thai embassy in the world to receive full reimbursement.

However, Vichai has no doubt that satisfaction will be guaranteed at Gemopolis. "You take the finest gemstones and precious metals from Thailand and around the world and provide them to the world’s leading jewelry houses at cut-rate prices at one location and you will only see perfection."

As well as a plethora of gems and jewelry, Gemopolis also sports its own customs house, post office, safe deposit boxes, freight forwarding system, banking and financing facilities, and high-tech security system. On site is also a gemological institute which shows the history of gems and jewelry and how they relate to Thai history.

During the Amazing Thailand 1998-1999 campaign the Tourism Authority of Thailand will organize transportation to and from the site, and tours of gem production facilities will also be available. And for the future, Gemopolis will add more gem and jewelry houses, deluxe condominiums for executives, and a hotel with a shopping center and recreational facilities.

The grandeur seen in bejeweled Thai cities is unfortunately a thing of the past; however, a small city dedicated to creating jewelry of sheer elegance can still be found in Amazing Thailand.

Sustainable tourism with our hands up

In order for countries to sustain themselves economically and socially in today’s globalization, the government has realized that they have to know how to maintain a balance between development and environmental conservation.

The development of Thai tourism, which is part of the service industry, has the highest goals. These goals include tourist appreciation, satisfaction, safety, repeat visitors and enabling populations to have a good quality of life - with a good income. Economic and social status will progress as in other industrialized countries if we look at the big picture. This is a target the TAT has assigned in the eighth tourism development plan to run through to the year 2001.

The tourism development plan is being used to create jobs, create income, to improve the economics of the country and to encourage more people to work in the tourism industry, as well as to promote domestic tourism. Also, it aims to establish Thailand as the tourism hub of Asia and Indochina.

According to the plan, TAT aims to distribute wealth among local people and preserve a positive Thai image while considering the environmental impact. In developing a master plan for sustainable tourism, TAT has researched and established major strategies. These include management of the master plan and improvement and conservation of Thai tourism destinations, setting up educational tours and promoting Thailand as a leader in tourism in Indochina and Southeast Asia. Also in the plan is the goal to establish the uniqueness of Thailand as a world class tourist destination, to promote repeat visitors and extend the average length of stay and to promote Thailand as a center of exhibitions, conventions and international shopping.

In order to develop sustainable tourism faster, one thing the TAT has done is work with the private sector to compete with each other on the management and quality of service and tourism resource conservation. At the same time, to boost morale and encourage co-operation among staff by presenting them with a Thai Tourism Award. The first Thai Tourism Awards were in 1996. Since then, interest has grown and a lot of tourism industry personnel have submitted projects for future contests.

In order to develop the industry to meet ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 international standards, TAT is urging the private sector and tourism industry personnel to understand the necessity of high standards and environmental quality. In 1997 the TAT co-operated with THA to set up a project called Green Leaf - Green Hotel, which is one part of sustainable Thai tourism.

The government, in a hurry to solve the country’s economic problems and create a positive image of the country is using the Thai tourism industry as its foundation. A big part of TAT’s Amazing Thailand campaign will be the celebration of the auspicious 6th cycle birthday of His Majesty the King, who will turn 72 on December 5, 1999.

TAT has also implemented tourism marketing promotions with the private sector. By choosing new ‘Amazing’ tourism activities, such as the Taste of Thailand, Amazing Thai Sports and Entertainment, TAT expects all these projects will boost visitor arrival numbers and upgrade Thailand’s reputation as a quality tourism destination.

The new strategies that were assigned in the tourism development plan include the Thailand Tourism Award project and the Amazing Thailand project. The TAT will co-operate with the private sector to create awareness and together solve the problems and promote tourism via enhanced respect for and preservation of the environment and Thai heritage. The TAT’s role is to impart knowledge and understanding to management levels and local people so they can participate in the development of their own tourism destination.

Densely forested Sabah struggles with nature-based tourism

by Imtiaz Muqbil,
Executive Editor,
Travel Impact Newswire

Nearly half of Sabah is under dense forest cover. But Malaysia’s 13th state, located on the northern tip of Borneo Island, is facing the familiar problems of making its mark on the world tourism line-up. Still, it is trying.

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: It is located on the northernmost tip of Borneo, the world’s third largest island. Nearly half of it is under forest cover, of which 3.6% is allocated as untouchable national park area. But the main challenge facing Sabah, one of Malaysia’s 13 states, is how to ride the crest of its fabulous bio-diversity and get on the global tourist map as quickly as possible.

The predicament is faced by hundreds of other states, provinces and cities right across Asia as they seek to build their own unique tourism-promotion identities that complement the national tourism campaign but also distinguish their own localities as being somehow more worthy of a visit, preferably by high-spending personalities with valuable word-of-mouth connections.

Tourism, which contributes to only 0.7% of Sabah’s GDP, is a johnny-come-lately in the province’s economic development program. The state’s bedrock industries have been timber and forestry (in the days before cutting down forests became really bad news), mining and oil.

Similar to the Thai isle of Phuket after the decline of tin mining, tourism has been identified as one of the ‘sunrise’ industries to compensate for the declining influence of the ‘sunset’ industries. However, the state’s tourism authorities are struggling with the traditional chicken-vs.-egg obstacles: what they consider ‘inadequate’ airline seat capacity, small marketing budgets, to name just two.

In 1998, Sabah got a total of 423,284 visitors, up 16.35% over 363,810 visitors in 1997. However, that is still well below the 516,164 visitors recorded in 1995.

Of the 1998 total, 158,386 were domestic Malaysian travelers, followed by 91,188 visitors from Indonesia with which Sabah shares a border on Borneo. There is some concern about the way 1999 has started off, with a 10.83% decline in total visitors in January-February 1999 over the same period in 1998.

At a seminar last week, the state’s tourism minister fretted about the impact of events outside their control, such as the Asian economic crisis. Domestic travel has evidently been one result of that; the number of Malaysian visitors to Sabah in Jan-Feb 1999 declined 62% to 15,208 over the same period of 1998.

The haze had a lingering impact in 1998, compounded by the El Nino weather phenomena that led a prolonged drought in an area normally drenched with daily rainfall. The West Coast of Sabah especially experienced the worst smog condition due to burning bush and forest fires which also affected some nature tourism attractions.

No sooner had that ended when along came the political troubles over the Anwar Ibrahim case, the Coxsackie virus and Japanese encephalitis incidents, and the troubles in neighboring Indonesia. Airline connections also fell off, including a pullout by THAI Airways International which had only inaugurated the Bangkok-KK route a few years ago and could no longer afford the additional outlay to make it profitable.

The industry is now looking to put its troubles behind it, and come up with new ways of thinking, backed up by a sense of urgency over the implementation time frame.

In February 1999, the industry made a joint presentation to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed to press for more aviation access. Lo and behold, on May 1, the first charter flight arrived from Japan, and more are expected.

For 2000, a Visit Sabah Year has been declared under the positioning tagline, the New Millennium Nature Adventure Destination. To build upon that, a total of 242 travel agents, tour operators and travel writers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe were flown in for a week-long stay dubbed a "Mega-Familiarisation" trip.

The state is targeting revenues of about US$305 million in tourism earnings but needs to generate 512,000 visitors who should fill up at least 70% of the 4,000 four and five-star rooms are occupied. Its marketing budget this year is about US$690,000 with another US$527,000 to be spent on product research and development and tourism events.

The overall marketing efforts are to get a major boost from the private sector. Due to open in September is a 3,000-capacity, 11,700-sq meter conventions and exhibition center as part of the Sutera Harbor Complex, which also includes three hotels, a 27-hole golf course, an Olympic swimming pool and a yacht and cruise marina.

Developed by a Singaporean conglomerate, formal opening of the multi-million dollar project has been delayed by the economic crisis. The shell has been lying empty for some months pending payments to companies supplying the interiors. This is now said to have been resolved, clearing the marketing people to start putting in bids for global major conventions and exhibitions that will bring in a fair number of high-spending visitors.

As with most eco-tourism and nature-destinations, Sabah is on a constant struggle to identify carrying capacity, that sensitive line of balance at which the tourism industry can become a victim of its own success. One area opening up is an opportunity to forge what the state tourism master plan calls ‘smart partnerships’ with the forestry and agriculture sector.

Some thoughts have been raised about developing the herbal and medicinal properties of the rich rainforests to create a new line of alternative therapies and attract the growing legions of stressed-out yuppies and elderly people.

Indeed, Sabah has about 3.6 million hectares under permanent forest estate, with more than 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees. Of those, 1,200 species are believed to contain medicinal properties. Tourism authorities are planning to do more detailed research about how these could be used to cater to the growing global market for health tourism.

The state is also looking to crank up the tourism and aviation components of the BIMP (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines) Growth Area, the East Asian equivalent of the Greater Mekong sub region development zone.

The Sabahans would like to see Kota Kinabalu positioned as the Malaysian gateway to the region. The international airport has a 3,000-metre runway capable of accommodating the new generation of Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A340 aircraft. Its annual passenger capacity is three million passengers, expected to rise to five million after a 92 million ringgit expansion project is completed.

Despite all these challenges, the newly-appointed state tourism minister Datuk Chong Kat Kiat says, "something very positive has nevertheless emerged" in recent months. "Never before have members of the private sector in the industry been working so closely with the government to address the particular issues and problems facing the industry."

As many Asian tourism destinations are discovering, different people pulling in different directions only sinks the ship. Sabah at least has learnt that lesson.

Keeping Abreast of the Situation!

by Mirin MacCarthy

Reminded that breast cancer is the commonest form of cancer of Western women with a 10% chance of developing it, can make women more than a little apprehensive. Oddly, Asian women have one-sixth the incidence of breast cancer than their Western sisters, but if they migrate to Western countries then their daughters have the same chances of getting it as Westerners. Perhaps pointing to diet and smoking as the incriminating elements.

The most critical factor in breast cancer is early detection. Most women are aware of the importance of routine breast self-examination every month to detect lumps, and mammograms done second yearly between forty and fifty and annually thereafter.

Here I am over forty and over here, and never had a mammogram. Apparently the trend doesn’t reverse itself here and relocating Western women still have the same 10% risk, so I decided it was time to have the big M.

Not usually enthusiastic about joining any painful activities, I was quite frankly scared. I had heard rumours that mammograms, although necessary, are really painful, where some sadist squeezes your breasts like hamburgers between two big plates. What happened was a relief; no big deal at all. On a Pain & Fear Scale of 1 - 10, I rate a dentist visit at 10, with a mammogram a mere 1 and an ultrasound a no pain, no fear zero.

I telephoned the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and found it was not necessary to make an appointment, but just to present myself at the Out Patients’ Department in the afternoon, as this is their quietest time. As I had no presenting symptoms, after seeing the doctor, an immediate appointment was made for me to go for a mammogram and ultrasound (if necessary).

I was told no perfume and no deodorant was to be worn. Once there, I was given a changing room to remove shirt, bra and necklace, and put on a short blue jacket. Then I was ready. The mammogram is done standing up. A Thai woman technician did indeed squeeze each breast in between the plastic plates of the mammogram machine. It feels uncomfortable and like a hard pinch that only lasts for three seconds. Twice each for each breast, and that is it folks, nothing to be afraid about at all.

After examination of the mammogram films, the doctor needed to check one small area a little further, so the Ultrasound was next. There, another female technician spread gel over my chest. With the lights turned down so the radiologist Dr. Veera Siriprasert could see the computer screen ultrasound pictures, the doctor put an ultrasound paddle on my chest. It took no longer than ten minutes, was totally painless and I didn’t feel a thing.

The final report from both procedures was an O.K. bill of health - much to my relief, and the price was a reasonable Baht 1,800 for the mammogram and Baht 400 for the Ultrasound. Small change for peace of mind.

For all you "farang" ladies, perhaps you, too, should be checking the calendar to see when you last had your check-up!

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.