Volume 17 Issue 18 News Desk - Tel: 076-273555 May 1 - 7, 2010 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht The Gazette is published in association with UK warns against INSIDE travel to Thailand Are we prepared? HILE local tourism a holiday here,” he said, adding officials continue to that the advisory would have its insist Phuket is safe, own impact. the UK Foreign and “I think it’s not surprising,” W he said. “I think governments are Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against all but essen- getting extremely concerned and tial travel to all parts of Thailand. I think they do what they feel is The FCO’s previous advice in the best interests of their focused on Bangkok, where “red- citizens.” shirt” protesters have occupied Mr Meusberger said parts of the city for six weeks. regardless of the situation in The FCO said its new advice Bangkok, many tourists would not “reflects our concern that violence want to risk coming to Phuket. The Gazette talks to a disaster could break out during the inc- “We can’t say ‘don’t worry, specialist about Phuket’s come to Phuket, Phuket is safe.’ preparedness for another reasingly volatile political crisis.” Tsunami. “The situation is changing Even if it is so, that’s not how the See page 5 on a daily basis, and we customer sees it. The customer recommend that British nationals watches the news and sees a NEWS: Phuket Town living in Thailand or traveling to different picture,” he said. killing prompts manhunt; the country check the travel “I think all of us who live Gov wants lower taxi fees; advice on the Embassy website here need to be worried because Lifeguards deployed. regularly for details of further this is quite extraordinary,” he developments,” the advisory said. concluded. Pages 2 - 3 The FCO move came after Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, in Phuket on April LIFESTYLE: The An- acts of civil disobedience and 28 for a meeting with local daman Players love perfor- disorder spread out of the capital leaders on shoring up tourism, mance; Fun Fly festival to parts of the North and Northeast said the red-shirt protests were to take off. over the past week. Page 8 Nevertheless, Bangornrat having a worse effect on the Shinaprayoon, director of the OUT IN FORCE: Armed soldiers march in the capital’s financial district industry than the closure of due to the ongoing red-shirt protest. AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN HISTORY: Anand Singh Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Bangkok’s airports last year. looks back at some secrets South Region 4 office in Phuket, other parts of the North and Inn in Patong, said his hotel was “This time more than 10 of ancient stones. insisted the province was safe. Northeast of Thailand.” already feeling the effects of the countries have made announce- Page 10 “We don’t have any political Ms Bangornrat said she protests in Bangkok. ments warning their people not to disturbances here,” she said. didn’t expect the advisory to have “I cannot imagine anyone come to Thailand,” he said. Phuket Tourist Police much effect on tourism. “Now is who can claim this situation does Mr Korn said the UK AROUND THE NATION 6; Superintendent Ekachai Prama- not the season for UK tourists to not affect their business. Forward announcement was significant as AROUND THE ISLAND 7; nakul agreed. “In Phuket there’s come to Phuket anyway,” she said. bookings are down, cancellations more than 10 million UK citizens LIFESTYLE 9; EXPAT GAL- no conflict about politics,” he But Wolfgang Meusberger, are up, people are not making visited Thailand every year. LERY 11; HAPPENINGS 12; said. “It’s only in Bangkok and general manager of the Holiday decisions at the moment to take – Gazette reporter LIFESTYLE 13; WHAT’S ON 15; BUSINESS & MONEY 16; TAKE A BREAK 17 & 18; Work on Bt2.6bn conference center to go ahead TSOWNDINGS, HOROSCOPES 19; EDITORIAL, LETTERS 20; INANCE Minister Korn The land is currently held by kheng (Strong Thailand) fiscal Mr Korn was in Phuket to FIRST PERSON 21; SPORT Chatikavanij has confirmed the Treasury Department’s State stimulus package. meet with local officials to dis- 22 & 23; PROPERTY WATCH Fthe government will move Property Management and Ser- A Cabinet meeting on April cuss the impact of the ongoing 24; PROPERTY 25; EARTH ahead with construction of a 2.6- vices Office. 27 agreed to disburse the funds red-shirt protests in Bangkok on MATTERS 26; PROPERTY billion-baht international conven- The project gained Cabinet near the end of the year to allow the local tourism industry. 27; CLASSIFIED ADS 28-40. tion and exhibition center on 150 approval under the second phase time to complete the project’s en- – Nation Group rai in Tah Chat Chai. of the government’s Thai Khem- vironmental impact assessment. For related story, see page 2 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS May 1 - 7, 2010 Finance Minister Korn hears Phuket’s woes Hotel bookings for June plummet to 12% INANCE Minister Korn Chatikavanij arrived in FPhuket on April 28 to hear how gravely Phuket’s tourism and the local economy had been af- fected by the ongoing Bangkok unrest, which has seen hotel Lifeguard Wichai Hemara, 23, at his post on Patong Beach. bookings for June plummet to 12 percent occupancy. Finance Minister Korn, ac- companied by Revenue Depart- Phuket Lifeguards ment Director-General Vinai Vittavasgarnvej, was also pre- pared to take on board any sug- back on the beaches gestions on how the impact on the economy could be alleviated. IGHTY-three lifeguards there are lifeguards on duty and Representing Phuket at the began manning 13 Phuket conditions are safe enough for meeting were Phuket Governor Ebeaches on April 26, after swimming. Wichai Phraisa-ngop, Phuket the Phuket Provincial Administra- Red flags indicate that it is Senator Phummisak Hongsyok, tion Organization (PPAO) signed unsafe to swim or that there are and heads of several local tour- a service contract with the Phuket no lifeguards on duty. ism and other industry associa- Lifeguard Club. The Phuket Lifeguard Club tions. All lifeguards will work from has done away with the green The meeting was hosted by Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij (left) at the meeting on April 28. 9am to 7pm daily for two weeks, flags that were used in the past the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort then enjoy one day off a week to indicate it is safe to swim. & Spa in Karon. June stood at 12 percent and that needed by SMEs to qualify for each after that. The deployment of the life- Methee Tanmanatrakul, the rate of bookings was expected loans. Jit Chairat, who mans the guards comes with the arrival of representing the Thai Hotels As- to continue to fall. Looking to the long-term, lifeguard station at Patong Beach the monsoon season, when surf sociation (Southern Chapter) sug- Pisarn Trangsombat of the Mr Pisarn called for the govern- in front of the Graceland Phuket conditions worsen and the fre- gested the government fund a Phuket Real Estate Club called ment to support a 30 percent re- resort, said “We work until late quency of drownings increases. campaign promoting tourism to on the government to provide fi- duction in all domestic air, train, every evening to make sure Although the arrival of the restore tourist confidence in Thai- nancial relief through tax breaks, and bus fares within two years there’s no one left in the sea.” monsoon season changes from land and the Andaman region in suggesting that business tax be to help boost Thai tourism within During work hours, all life- year to year and dangerous con- particular. cut from 3.3 percent to 0.11 per- the kingdom. guards must stay within 10 meters ditions can occur year round, it Mr Methee pointed out that cent. He also asked that steps be He added that he will take of the water and walk the shore- generally runs from May through since the red shirts demonstra- taken to stop construction mate- the suggestions presented at the line every hour making thorough October. This is also the period tions began in March, hotel book- rial prices from escalating. meeting back to Bangkok to see inspections. when the Similan and Surin Ma- ings have plunged. Normal occu- He called on banks to slash what progress could be made, Flagpoles at each lifeguard rine National Parks are closed to pancy rate of 50 percent for May interest rates on business loans especially with regard to business station advise swimmers of con- tourists. is currently only 19 percent, he by two percent and be less re- tax and bank loans. ditions. Yellow flags indicate that – Pimwara Choksakulpan said, adding that bookings for strictive in the requirements – Kitima Pornmongkhonwat Police launch firearm crackdown HUNG Thong Police are is near Patong but has lower liv- “We will disarm them as part hoping to cut violent crime ing costs. of our crime suppression effort, Tin their district by cracking In addition to searching as crime can easily happen when down on the illegal possession of people, Thung Thong police aim guns are around,” said Col firearms. to document all legally-held Kraithong. Thung Thong Police Super- weapons and wipe out gun crime “We have some information intendent Kraithong Chan- by getting illegal weapons off the about 10-20 people who illegally thongbai said there is a particu- streets. carry firearms, but we need evi- larly high concentration of unau- All people found to be hold- dence to press charges. These thorized people carrying weapons ing weapons illegally will be pros- people are not gunmen.