TAT Governor sees Pattaya as eastern region tourism hub

3 billion baht allocated for promoting tourism next year

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Pradech Phayakvichien describes Pattaya as the “hub of tourism in the eastern region”. Governor Pradech proved his point by gathering over 300 representatives from government offices and tourist related businesses in the eastern region for a regional tourism conference in Pattaya last Saturday at the Grand Sole Hotel.

TAT Governor Pradech Phayakvichien was in Pattaya last week to outline tourism plans for 2001.

Governor Pradech chose Pattaya to announce the TAT’s plans for tourism next year, which include allocating 3 billion baht to promote tourism. The TAT Governor called the conference to collect ideas on ways to combine efforts in developing TAT’s overall plan to promote tourism, not just in the eastern region, but throughout Thailand as well.

In the past, the 76 provinces in Thailand each developed their own internal plans for promoting tourism locally, resulting in an unclear overall objective. TAT plans to revise that strategy and try to bring everyone together to achieve the same goal.

Forums are underway to bring together tourist businesses, the private sector, the TAT offices in 15 locations around the world and 22 locations in Thailand to discuss future plans and direction.

Marketing plans are underway in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, England, France, Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, United States and throughout Thailand.

Adisai Bodharamik, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, has set a target of attracting up to 9.7 million foreign tourists to Thailand in 2001, bringing into the country up to 318 billion baht. The Minister’s plan also targets 57 million Thai tourists who would contribute over 268 billion baht to tourist related businesses.

Areas highlighted for tourism development include tourist safety, sanitation standards and tourist satisfaction.

Statistics recorded in 1999 list Pattaya as the leading tourist area in Thailand, with 2.41 million foreign tourists having visited during the year. Over 1.4 million tourists were registered from Jan - May 2000. Pattaya has a distinct advantage over other tourist areas in Thailand because of the 40,000 hotel rooms located here.

Phuket was Thailand’s second most popular tourist location, with 2.12 million tourists last year, followed by Chiang Mai Province, Pang Nga and Ayuthaya. Tourists from Thailand favored Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and Rayong.

Plans for Pattaya next year include emphasizing family tours, golf packages and seminars for various business and social groups.

The TAT’s 2001 plans also consist of developing tourist areas neglected in the past, improving standards of service and stressing security of personal property and physical safety.

Improvements in local administration organizations in Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat involving tourism development are follow-on ideas.

Fines for littering under consideration

Walking Street may become “test” area

The Chairman of the South Pattaya Walking Street Committee, Naris Pedcharat proposed to city hall that fines be enforced for people littering in the Walking Street area. He also proposed that the plan eventually be implemented throughout the city.

Deputy Mayor Nirand Watanasadsathorn said the plan to fine tourists, both Thai and foreigners, requires further consideration and consultation with city officials and Pattaya Municipal Police.

Plans are already underway to make warning signs in both Thai and English, with fines of up to 2,000 baht for littering. 1,000 baht could be awarded to people reporting littering.

TAT Region 3 (Pattaya) Director Manit Bunchim was in favor of the idea, but emphasized that the public and visiting tourists must be warned in advance before implementing the fines. He said information should be presented in hotels and posted in entertainment areas. He also stressed the importance of announcing the warnings on signs in English as well as Thai to avoid disputes.

Local police given 2 weeks to solve Schaper murder case

Investigation turns up blood stained t-shirt

The murder of Udo Carl Ernst Schaper, discovered on 21 August in a South Pattaya condo, has special police investigation units busily searching the gay community in Pattaya tracking down 11 suspects. Chonburi Provincial Police Commander Maj. Gen. Phanupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya put extra pressure on Pattaya’s police to solve the case by giving them 2 weeks to arrest the murderer or the investigation will be handed over to the provincial police.

Police found this blood stained T-shirt stuffed in the ceiling tiles at the scene of the crime.

Schaper’s body was found with multiple knife wounds to the chest and throat. Blood stains covered the walls and more blood was found in the bathroom. Amongst numerous fingerprints recovered in the room, other evidence included a number of photos of gay bar employees with Schaper.

The names of 11 Thai men were listed in the visitor’s register and all are considered suspects.

Two of the 11 suspects, Sombat Pathumma and Sorawut Srikharom, are in police custody already, but both men deny any involvement in the murder. However, both men admitted to taking part in paid sexual activities with the 71-year-old German.

Sombat Pathumma was identified from the guest register. He entered Schaper’s apartment on the alleged day of the murder. The other man, Sorawut, known as Jack, has been identified as leaving the apartment later in the evening on August 18th. Both men tested positive for methamhetamine usage. Both will remain in custody until forensic lab results are returned.

Special police units continue to comb the many gay entertainment zones in Pattaya and Jomtien Beach looking for the other nine men known to have frequent liaisons with Schaper.

During the Commander’s visit to Pattaya’s police station the day following the discovery of the murder, another piece of evidence was made known. A blood stained T-shirt with an “ACAL 1997 All Stars” logo was found stashed above the ceiling tiles in Schaper’s room.

Police Chief Pol. Col. Pinit Satcharoen is offering a personal reward of 50,000 baht to anyone with information leading to the identification of the murderer.

German native found dead in hotel room

Suicide note describes gastro-intestinal disorder

The management of a 2nd Road hotel discovered the body of 48-year-old German Johann Theodor Robkopf in his hotel room on August 22nd. A bottle of unidentified sleeping pills were found at the head of his bed next to an empty bottle of whiskey, and a suicide note written in German was nearby.

In the note, Robkopf described his inability to cope with his stomach disorder. The note also asked that his sister in Germany be contacted, making it clear that he wanted to be buried in his homeland.

Robkopf was identified from his German passport found in the hotel room. No signs of struggle were identified during the initial investigation.

Robkopf’s body was transferred to the Police Forensic Lab for further examination. Police have initially recorded the death as a suicide.

Motorcycle theft gang arrested

Admitted to stealing 2 - 3 bikes per day

Pattaya police officers were patrolling an area near the end of Pattaya City limits on the afternoon of 19 August when they sighted a Thai man pushing a new motorcycle with no license plates in the direction of Sattahip.

Nine of the ten arrested motorcycle thieves line up outside Pattaya police station with their stolen merchandise.

The police officers stopped to investigate the man and found tools used in stealing motorcycles in the man’s possession. The man was taken into the station for questioning and soon admitted to stealing the motorcycle from the Nophakao Apartments in Soi Bua Khao. He confessed to being part of a gang located in Sattahip that steals motorbikes in and around the city.

Further investigation led to the arrest of nine other gang members located at an address in Bang Saree. When police arrived, the thieves were busily disassembling stolen motorbikes.

Police confiscated five Honda, one Yamaha and three Suzuki motorbikes along with a number of already disassembled parts. The gang members ranged from 15 to 30 years of age.

Subsequent interrogation revealed that the gang had been operating for some time. On average they stole 2-3 motorbikes per day, selling parts to various repair shops in Pattaya and Sattahip. Some bikes were sold intact for 5,000 to 6,000 baht.

Victims of stolen motorbikes are encouraged to contact the Pattaya Police Station to identify their stolen property.

Vendor arrested for selling CDs without permit

Police confiscate large cache of illegal merchandise

Twenty-four year old Krydsada Wongplabpon was arrested at 3.30 a.m. on August 21st for selling music and movie CDs and cassette tapes without a license. Krydsada had been set up in the South Pattaya market, and when police arrived to inspect his operation, he was unable to produce a permit.

Krydsada Wongplabpon was arrested and all his merchandise confiscated after he couldn’t produce a sales permit.

Police confiscated 117 music and movie CDs and 183 cassette tapes, along with Krydsada’s entertainment system.

After being charged, the Nong Prue resident told police he was unaware that permits were required, claiming he was merely trying to make a living. Krydsada will be tried later in court.

Sattahip officials want to develop land

Over 50 people assembled in front of the Sattahip District office on August 22nd calling for government assistance after being notified to vacate their homes in the area near Pak Khlong Na-Jomtien along the Sattahip coast.

After years of residing on public land for free, this fishing village is being dismantled by public officials to make way for development.

The government posted notices on June 27 stating the families’ homes had been built on public property. Notice number 59 stated land surveys had been conducted by provincial officials who identified an area of over 40 rai of land as being public property.

After the eviction notices were posted, district officials demanded the residents sign statements declaring their illegal status in residing on public property. The majority of people refused to sign, which upset the district officials, who left and returned with police officers.

The residents claim they moved onto the property years ago when it was vacant, and the community continued to grow.

In the past, the district officials, who informed the residents that they were living on public property, always turned down water and electricity requests. Now that the area has built up, the officials want to develop the land.

The residents in the fishing community are without any means to make the move and are requesting government assistance.

The TAT Region 3 (Pattaya), in conjunction with the Thai Environmental and Community Development Association, are organizing an underwater clean-up campaign scheduled for September 24.

The Thai Environmental and Community Development Association has been supporting the “Clean-up the World Program” since 1993, and has enlisted combined cooperation from the Ministry of Interior and various private organizations throughout the country.

All divers interested in assisting in the clean-up effort are encouraged to contact the Thai Environmental and Community Development Association at (02) 2301884, 2314257, fax: 2368984 or the TAT Region 3 (Pattaya) at (038) 428750, 427667, fax: 429113.