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Pattaya businesses support construction of tourist police station in Trat
Suchada Tupchai
Local businesses, led by Shenanigans landlord Kim
Fletcher, Jack Levy and Ray Matti, recently donated 110,000 baht to Region 3
tourist police for the construction of a new station in Trat.
 Police
Captain Thanomsak Intharabut, deputy tourist police inspector for Rayong,
receives the donation from Kim Fletcher (left), Jack Levy (2nd right) and
Ray Matti (right).
The funds were received by Police Captain Thanomsak
Intharabut, deputy tourist police inspector unit 3 in Rayong, representing
the tourist police of the Eastern Seaboard.
The donation will go towards improving security for tourists and
facilitating visitors in the area and to the islands in the province.
Thai AirAsia to head for Penang
Thai AirAsia is planning to start a daily
Bangkok–Penang service in June, and will also start operations from
Bangkok to Macau the same month. The company will use its now familiar
Boeing 737-300 aircraft on both routes.
The Bangkok–Penang flight is targeted at the
short-break market, ethnic Chinese, first-time flyers and the expatriate
market doing visa-renewal runs. The fare has not been finalized but will
probably be the same as the Bangkok–Phuket service which is 900 baht
(US$22.50) one way.
The daily service to Macau will start on June 16, giving
the rapidly expanding low-fare carrier its third international destination
after Singapore and Malaysia. The fare will be from 999 baht one way.
A spokesman said the airline had carried over 200,000
guests since February, the bulk of them on Thailand’s domestic routes
where it operates to Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani,
Chiang Rai and Nakhon Ratchasima. It also flies to Johor Bahru and Kuala
Lumpur and will commence a daily service to Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) on June 1.
(TTG Asia)
Let Sri Lankan Airlines fly you on your honeymoon
Sri Lankan Airlines has exciting new promotions on offer,
including its special 5-day, 4-night honeymoon package.
Over 100 Pattaya travel agents and airline ticket vendors
attended a presentation at the Amari Orchid Resort on May 15.
Sitdichon
Phinijrthkhon (inset), acting country manager for Sri Lankan Airlines,
opened a seminar for local agents.
It was hosted by Sri Lankan Airlines and opened by acting
country manager, Sitdichon Phinijrthkhon.
The presentation provided up-to-date information on the
carrier’s latest packages and service developments, including the
honeymoon package as well as other special promotions.
Sri Lankan Airlines runs four flights per week out of
Bangkok on its A330 airbus and A340 fleet to Colombo on Monday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday. From Colombo they extend their flights to major
destinations, including London, Paris and Zurich, and additional flights to
the Maldives.
Special package tours for Thai nationals include well-known ancient
Buddhist temples on the island nation with a one month visa service as well.
Chiang Mai rushes to become regional tourist hub
The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning
(OTTPP) is racing to produce a transportation blueprint for this northern city
of Chiang Mai in order to accelerate its transformation into a regional
transportation hub by the year 2006.
Presiding over a seminar to hear public views on the plan
today, OTTPP Director-General Kamrobluk Suraswadi spoke of the need to develop
the city’s transportation system, not only in terms of transporting people,
but also through the transportation of goods. Noting that Thailand had often
neglected goods transportation, he said that as a result transportation costs
had soared.
The OTTPP has recently hired Chiang Mai University’s
Information Technology Service Institute to draw up 5-year, 10-year and 15-year
plans for the city’s transportation program.
The 5-year plan will particularly seek to address
transportation issues surrounding some of the city’s major tourist
attractions, including the night safari, the international convention, and
exhibition center, and the center for the development and distribution of SME
products. The plans will also focus on the transportation needs of the city when
it hosts a global crop festival in 2006, which is expected to attract 3 million
visitors over a space of six months.
The plans are expected to include the construction of a light
rail system linking government offices and tambon Mae Hia, the location of the
Night Safari to the city center and will cover not only local transportation,
but also transportation across the northern region and in the Mekong sub-region.
(TNA)
Qantas slaps fuel surcharge on tickets
Qantas Airways introduced a fuel surcharge on passenger
tickets sold after midnight on May 17, citing higher jet fuel prices as the
cause. The fuel surcharge will be A$6 a sector for Qantas Domestic, QantasLink,
Jetstar and domestic New Zealand services and AUD$15 a sector, on its
international flights for Qantas International services and Australian Airlines.
The last time Qantas introduced a passenger fuel surcharge was in late 2000
after jet fuel prices spiked to more than US$43 a barrel in October 2000 because
of surging global demand. (TTG Asia
Public urged to protect freshwater fish
As designated days go, this one had a rather unwieldy name,
but the government hopes that by organizing a “Spawning Freshwater Fish
Protection Day”, the public will be encouraged to care for some of the
nation’s most precious natural resources.
Events to mark the day were held on 16 May, the first day of
the freshwater spawning season which lasts, according to Fisheries Department
reckoning, until 15 September.
Visitors to Huay Tha Phae Reservoir in Sukhothai Province
will be able to engage in a range of activities on that day, including the
release of freshwater fish, cooking competitions, and competitions for the best
traditional fishing equipment.
Announcing the program, Fisheries Department Director-General
Sithi Boonyaratphalin stressed that the protection of spawning fish was vital to
allow the breeding of subsequent generations.
But despite tough action from the government, a number of
people continued to engage in fishing during the spawning season. Sithi
expressed hope that the program would make the public aware of the importance of
protecting spawning fish, and would encourage the public to look after spawning
grounds.
The program is being supported by fisheries groups, local
leaders and conservationists. (TNA)
Amari Watergate Hotel celebrates 10th anniversary
H.S.H. Prince Mongkolchaleam Yugala and Khunying Uraiwan
Sirinupongse recently participated in the cake cutting to mark the 10th year
anniversary of the Amari Watergate Hotel.
The
management team celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Amari Watergate Hotel.
To celebrate, the Amari threw a grand ‘Thank You’ party,
themed “Golden Magic Night”, for clients and pres, at the Watergate Ballroom
in the Amari Watergate Hotel.
H.S.H.
Prince Mongkolchaleam Yugala and Khunying Uraiwan Sirinupongse cut the cake to
celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Amari Watergate hotel.
The event was also attended by many honorary guests and
celebrities including Wongsasuluck, Nissai Vejjajiva, Paul-Marisa Chew, Sophie
La, Wanpen Chermprapai, Avasada Pokmontri, Salinee Panyarachun, Apinan Pavanarit
and more.
 Nakwan
Raynanond was emcee for the evening.
The program featured popular entertainers including Teeanai Na Nongkai, Runya
Siyanond, a modern dance show and fashion show. The highlight of the party was
the “Amari Watergate Cake” created by Chef Thomas Reidlinger, executive
pasty chef, who created the cake in the shape of the hotel.
GM
Pierre-Andre Pelletier (left) celebrates the 10th Anniversary cake created by
Chef Thomas Reidlinger (right).
From left:
H.S.H. Prince Mongkolchaleam Yugala and Nichaya Chaivisuth receive
congratulatory flowers from Dr. Rachid Bouzennoun and Nisara Kumphong.
Saisom
and Preecha Wongsasuluck congratulate Pierre Andre Pelletier.
Middle East operators make Asian advances
Major Middle East tour operators, including
airline-affiliated Emirates Holidays and Gulf Air Holidays, are studying ways to
distribute their brochures in Asian markets such as China, India and South-east
Asia.
Emirates Holidays’ business development manager West Asia
& Pacific Rim, Jyrki Nilson said, “Our future goal is to expand in terms
of selling our holiday packages in Asia, beginning with India, then Pakistan,
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The next step will be South-east Asia. We are studying
now how we can distribute our brochures in the various markets, as each country
has different procedures.”
Gulf Air’s manager destination and leisure marketing, Mark
Senior, said Gulf Air Holidays would likely launch its Australian Experience,
Arabian Experience and “possibly European and golf products” in the Asian
markets early next year. (TTG Asia)
Myanmar opens doors to agents, travel media
The Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) is organizing a
series of heavily-subsidized fixed-date fam trips for travel agents, travel
writers, travel photographers and others involved in the promotion of travel to
the Far East.
There will be eight week-long trips between now and the end
of September, with departure dates every fortnight from June 15 to September 21.
The itinerary takes in Yangon, Mandalay, Pagan and other key destinations.
The trips are priced at 344 Euros per industry member and 418
Euros per companion. Prices include flights from Bangkok to Yangon with Myanmar
Airways International or Thai Airways International, seven nights accommodation
in Myanmar based on twin sharing basis; domestic flights within Myanmar;
sightseeing and ground handling with English-speaking guide; and entrance fees
to certain pagodas.
A letter stating proof of employment must be received on
company letter head accompanying the booking form. Self employed persons in the
industry must submit proof of work done in the tourism field. Visit
(www.myanmar-tourism.com). (TTG Asia)
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