Welcome to Phuket International Seafood Festival 2002

Local authorities in Phuket Province will organize an international seafood festival later this year. Over 700 hotel booths will sell excellent seafood cuisine to visitors.
Thanate Triwut, director of the organizing committee of the Phuket International Seafood Festival 2002, said the event will be held at Patong Beach between November 1st and December 6th and aims to promote tourism in the province. Private organizations will join with the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization and related agencies in holding the 37-day event.
In addition, the Five Wonders of Phuket Seafood Festival will also be held at Saphan Hin in the resort island’s downtown area between December 3 and 6, with many special events.
The festival will include the world’s longest line (109 meters) of international seafood, 109 dishes, displayed on ice by 109 chefs from around the world; the world’s largest lobster ice sculpture from over 180 blocks of ice, weighing over 25,000 kilograms by the Gotel Artists Club; cooking demonstrations by famous chefs from around the world, including famous Thai chef Samak Sundaravej, incumbent Bangkok governor, and “Mued Daeng”.
There will be a gathering for an auspicious candle-lighting ceremony to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the King, which falls on December 5th. A bartender show and spectacular fireworks will form the closing ceremony.
Thanate said, “The 37-day event is expected to generate over 1.2 billion baht since we estimate over 60,000 tourists will visit the festival. Coupons, worth B10-100, will be sold and US$40-coupons will be used for specially offered dishes.” (TNA)

Air logistics combats threat of falling yields

Air logistics opened up an opportunity for airlines to offset the dramatic fall in yields by offering specialist products and services. That’s the view of David Pierce, Emirates Sky Cargo’s Cargo marketing and business development manager. “Logistics is the new tool on the block,” said Pierce, in an overview of the state of the air freight industry delivered to Emirates cargo managers at their recent conference on Dubai.
Emirates has pushed wide open the logistics management door with SkyChain, a network of integrated systems enabling the cargo customer to manage all aspects of the supply chain via the internet.
While 2001 ranks as one of the most disastrous years ever for air freight, Pierce sees signs of recovery with growth in tonnages of around 6% per year forecasted for 2003 to 2005.
However, while cargo volumes increase, yields have steadily fallen, creating a growth gap. In the period 1980 to 1999, real revenue, international tones and international FTKs increased; freight yields declined. In the period 1985 to 1999, freight yield tumbled by 2.2 % per year and they continue the downward spiral: 3% in 2000, -8% in 2001 and 5% in 2002.
Costs are the key. Distribution costs are the drivers behind changes occurring in the air logistics process. While the costs of air transportation account for only 20% of the total; 80% is attributed to distribution costs.
In today’s industry, general freight offers low growth and low yield; express freight is a maturing market offering high yield; but special service products such as live animals, valuable goods and supply chain management offer high growth and high yield.
Within the air freight industry, relationships between airline, forwarder and shipper are changing. In place of a vertical shipper -forwarder-airline structure, there is now round table communication with each party talking to both the others.
Customers now look for air logistics tools and tailor-made services. Forwarders are re-inventing themselves through mergers and consolidations, market control and global coverage.
Rising costs place pressure on freighter yields. Pierce predicts that passengers will still provide more than half (54%) of capacity with freighters coming in at 41% and 3% in combo.

“Great Offers” to Sydney from Qantas/British Airways

Qantas/British Airways are now offering a “Great Offers” promotional campaign to travelers from Thailand to visit Sydney, Australia until 27 December 2002.
Travelers purchasing return Economy Class air tickets from Qantas Airways or British Airways under the Great Offers promotion at 19,900 baht will have the opportunity to get FREE 3 nights accommodation at the Crest Hotel and daily breakfast.
The above price is based on sharing twin room and excludes departure tax and insurance charge. However, transfers and optional tours are also available at extra charge.
For more information or to book seats passengers can contact nearby travel agents or Qantas Holiday at telephone number 02 236 2800, 02 234 0031-4.

Cathay Pacific adds fourth weekly flight to Colombo

Cathay Pacific Airways has added a fourth weekly flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. This additional flight, which started 4 August 2002, offers more choices to both passengers and cargo customers, and makes more efficient use of Cathay Pacific aircraft.
Flight CX703, originating from Hong Kong, flies directly from Bangkok to Colombo Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
The return flight CX700 from Colombo returns to Hong Kong via Bangkok the following morning.
The airline operates this service using a Boeing 777-300 configured with 59 Business Class seats and an enlarged 323-seat Economy Class cabin. The aircraft also offers significant capacity in the belly hold to handle increased cargo traffic from Colombo.

Briton to make Guinness record on 700 kilometer journey in Thai parks

A Briton will take a three-month trip in the jungle of Thailand to raise funds for elephant foundations, and to attempt to set a world record for the Guinness Book of Records.
Ian Balchin’s 700-km elephant riding journey, covering national parks in northern Thailand down to its western province of Kanchanaburi, will be supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in an aim to promote eco-tourism in the kingdom.
During a visit to Thailand four years ago, Balchin conducted a survey of trekking trails in the tropical forest to prepare for the upcoming trip, starting from October 1.
Despite suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS), Ian, 37, is determined to beat the Guinness world record with a Thai elephant named Mae Bunta.
The trip will start at Ban Sobpong in Pangmapa district, located between the northern provinces of Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai. The trekking route will pass many national parks, including Indranon, Mae Ping, Taksinmaharat, Lan Sang, Maae Wong, Huay Kah Khaeng, Erawan, and will end at the Legacy River Kwai Resort in Kanchanaburi.
During the trip, reporters of the “Up All Night” program on BBC Radio 5, London, will accompany Ian for live interview reports to London every week. In addition, there will be producers of documentaries observing him and taping his excursion.
Funds raised from broadcasting his attempt to make the world record will be donated to an elephant hospital of the Friends of Asian Elephant Foundation in the northern province of Lampang and the MS Society Foundation in Britain. (TNA)