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Director of TAT comments on the fatal airplane crash at Phuket
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Chaiwat Charoensuk, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Region 3, commented on the accident at Phuket airport where the low cost
airline One-two-Go
Chaiwat Charoensuk,
director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Region 3
crashed on landing killing 89 people, saying,
“There would be minimal negative effects to tourism to Thailand, because
the accident occurred here, but on the whole travelers will understand
that this was purely an accident and that the incident would not
discourage them from traveling by air as it is still considered the
safest mode of travel.”
On whether air travelers would lose confidence in budget airlines he
said, “Low cost airlines must follow the same international rules an
regulations in regards to maintenance of their aircraft and safety of
the passengers, like any other airline and if they do so, then it should
not adversely affect their business.”
“The incident may have shaken air travelers’ confidence in air travel,
but I believe it will pass and everything will be back to normal again.”
Panida Ottesen: one of a new
breed of Thai tourism professionals
A rising star in the local hospitality industry, Panida Ottesen represents the
next wave of tourism and hospitality professionals.
 Panida
(Da) Ottesen: a bright, young star in the Thai hospitality sector.
Only 24 years of age, she has already had international experience in the hotel
industry, has a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management, winning the Dux award in
the Australian International College of Hotel Management, and speaks several
languages.
However, she has no over-inflated idea of her own self worth, saying, “It (the
award) shows you can study well, but it doesn’t show you can work hard. I am
going to prove it by my efforts.”
Part of her suitability in the international tourism and hospitality field comes
from her Thai-Danish heritage, and her family being involved in the hotel
industry.
“I grew up in hotels and I find hotels attractive, says Panida. “I know it is
hard work, but I enjoy the industry and the interaction with people.”
Her schooling was mainly in Thailand, but her finishing school was in Denmark,
giving her a fluent ability in languages, speaking Danish, English and Thai by
the time she finished; however, since then she has also studied Spanish and
Chinese.
Having decided that the hotel industry was her true métier, she enrolled in the
International College in Adelaide, Australia and worked at the Hilton chain in
Adelaide. She then added six months at the Singapore Sheraton to her resume and
spent 12 months in the US working at the 2,000-room Hyatt Regency.
Her experience up till now has been mainly front desk and housekeeping, but she
is looking forward to gaining experience in sales and marketing. “I want to do
different things, getting understanding of all the practical aspects. Eventually
I’d like to have my own hotel.”
With young professionals such as Panida Ottesen coming through the ranks,
Thailand’s hotel industry will be in good shape for many years to come.
Any prospective employers can contact her on 087 604 1622.
Setback for Chiang Mai
meetings sector
It is back to square one for the construction of Chiang Mai’s convention
centre because the Auditor General of Thailand (AGT) wants the project to be
put through a bidding process for the design and building contractors again,
using the government agency’s format this time for greater transparency.
Tourism minister, Dr Suvit Yodmani, said the AGT raised concerns over the
e-auction process for not being transparent enough, even though it is what
state enterprises practise.
The project is also facing a budget setback. Although an initial 400 million
baht (US$12 million) was approved last year for the first phase of the
construction, some 160 million was spent on a TAT stimulus tourism campaign
for this year’s low season. The entire project will cost 1.9 billion baht
and take around two years to build.
Dr Suvit, who in July announced that the construction would start by the end
of this year, said: “I can’t confirm now if the construction will start by
then. But I personally believe it will eventually be built given the fact
that the Chiang Mai travel trade has wanted it for more than 15 years.”
Meanwhile, the tourism minister said he hoped to be able to finalise the
location and private investment for the construction of the Phuket
convention centre when he visited Phuket, Phang-nga and Krabi from September
19-21. (TTG)
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