TRAVEL & TOURISM
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Aquatech Asia 2005 - The largest water and waste water event in Southeast Asia

Thai Airways announces price hike for domestic flights from November

THAI imposes ticketing deadline

Gulf and Jet partner on loyalty programs

Phuket holiday resort revives closed circuit TV surveillance project

Phuket Bay casino may be taking a gamble

Aquatech Asia 2005 - The largest water and waste water event in Southeast Asia

HE Somchai Sunthornvat (center) deputy minister of interior, is shown cutting the ribbon during the opening ceremony of Aquatech Asia 2005. Also witnessing the opening ceremony are Ids Boersma (front row-left), international director of RAI Exhibition, Peerapong Oeusoothornwattana (front row - 2nd from left), director general of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Pichate Satirachaval (front row - 2nd from right), chairman of Provincial Waterworks Authority’s board of directors, and Dr Prasert Chuaphanich (front row - 2nd from right), governor of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA), along with concerned representatives from other organizations.

Amsterdam RAI, together with local and international organizations and Asia Congress Events recently held the largest water and wastewater event in Southeast Asia - Aquatech Asia 2005 at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Center (BITEC). The exhibition, which is organized every two years, drew in some 100 exhibitions from 20 countries. The international significance of the event was emphasized by pavilions from India, The Netherlands, Singapore and the United States.

Aquatech Asia 2005 was certified by US Commercial Services and supported by Thailand’s Provincial Waterworks Authority, Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Pollution Control Department, Wastewater Management Authority, TCEP, the Royal Dutch Embassy, Asian Institute of Technology, Thai - India Chamber of Commerce and Singapore Water Association.


Thai Airways announces price hike for domestic flights from November

Citing rising operational costs and fuel prices, Thai Airways International announced that it will increase fare prices for certain domestic routes by 200 - 400 baht, effective November 1, 2005.

Thai Airways Vice President Wasingh Kittikul said the airline will still suffer some losses despite the hike. He noted that THAI has not adjusted the price of domestic tickets since 2001.

The routes to be affected are flights to Chiang Mai, Haat Yai and Phuket, where passengers will have to pay 200 baht extra per flight. The Chiang Mai-Phuket route meanwhile will be up by 400 baht and tickets for Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son route will cost 1,000 baht instead of 765 baht. Tickets to Khon Kaen, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phitsanulok, Surat Thani, Trang, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani will cost 300 baht more.

Wasingh said THAI has already notified the Department of Civil Aviation concerning the fare increase and he expected no objection as the hike will put the price at an average of 4.19 baht per kilometer. The ceiling set by the Department is 6.82 baht per kilometer, with the exception of the Chiang Mai -Mae Hong Son route which is 8.33 baht per kilometer. (TNA)


THAI imposes ticketing deadline

Thai Airways International has introduced a ticketing deadline to prevent travel agents blocking seats and canceling at the last minute.

In an exclusive interview with TTGTravelHub.Net, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Commercial, Vasing Kittikul, said the move was designed to maximize seating during the peak-season months.

He said: “We want to utilize the seats as much as possible - we want 100 percent capacity during the high season. Agents who block seats will have a time limit to issue the ticket once they have confirmation of the seat, otherwise the airline will lose revenue.”

Vasing said if the deadline was not met, the seat would be cancelled and priority would be given to other customers. “This is how you maximize seats during the high season” he said.

The payment deadline would be different for each region as well as for the high and low seasons, he said.

Bangkok-based Asian Trails Group Managing Director, Luzi Matzig, applauded the move. “That’s good. There are too many agents fiddling with seats. If everyone reserves what they need and actually sell, it helps everybody.” (TTG Asia)


Gulf and Jet partner on loyalty programs

Gulf Air has signed an agreement with Jet Airways where members of both airlines’ frequent flyer programs will be able to earn and redeem miles, as well as other perks when traveling on each other’s airline.

As a promotion to launch the new partnership, Gulf Air frequent flyer members will earn double miles when flying with Jet Airways between now and November 15. (TTG Asia)


Phuket holiday resort revives closed circuit TV surveillance project

Thailand’s famous southern resort province of Phuket will revive an earlier project to install closed circuit television cameras at a number of sites island-wide to step up its provincial safety and security measures and provide better service to the tourist population, local businesses and the public at large, Governor Udomsak Assavarangkura said here Wednesday.

The governor said the so-called ‘Phuket Surveillance Camera’ project was initiated by the Phuket provincial police office three years ago. Under the plan, 120 cameras will be installed all over the island, he said, adding that the project was shelved because of budget constraints.

The project needed Bt 80 million (US$ 2 million) to operate. However, the governor said, funds have been located and provincial authorities will revive the plan to build confidence among both tourists and the public.

The project would be divided into two phases, a first phase focusing on important tourism spots, such as Patong beach, while the second phase would cover other areas that are seen as less necessary.

Udomsak said he believed that when the project is completed, it will ensure improved safety for both tourists, businesses and the public at large. (TNA)


Phuket Bay casino may be taking a gamble

A proposed Thai-Japan joint venture to build a massive convention, resort and casino-driven entertainment complex in Phuket Bay has been met with lukewarm travel-trade response.

According to project documents released on Tuesday, Phuket Bay International City is expected to be completed by 2015 at a cost of 135 billion baht (US$3.3 billion). Some 20 million visitors a year are expected to visit the complex, but travel industry figures say it is too early to start getting excited.

“If they do it, it’s great news, but it’s too early. Maybe it’s just a pipedream,” Asian Trails group managing director, Luzi Matzig, said. “The real intention may be just to do the casino - the rest is window dressing to get a casino license.”

Another prominent Thai-based travel industry figure, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “How can this project go ahead? Gambling is illegal in Thailand.” Umezawa & Thai Partners Architect Co. wants to develop the complex. It was one of 19 companies that signed a partnership agreement with Thai Longstay Management Corporation, a joint venture between the government and private sector to help support government plans to lure long-stay residents to Thailand. (TTG Asia)


 

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