Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather: 35C
Sunny
Euro:US 1.3082
Euro:Baht 39.03
US:Baht 29.83
SET Index: 1561

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather: 35C
Sunny
Euro:US 1.3082
Euro:Baht 39.03
US:Baht 29.83
SET Index: 1561

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Government accepts it will lose on rice debacle. Grandma Moi wins compensation. Lessons learned after Bkk Governor election. Don Mueang to reopen terminal 2.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Chavezโ€™s last words: “Please don’t let me die.” North Korea vows to “strike” US if sanctions tighten. Berlusconi sentenced to year in jail, will appeal.

OTHER NEWS:

– DON MUEANG AIRPORT BKK: Airports of Thailand expect 27.5 million passengers to use Don Mueang Airport by 2016 after it reopens Terminal 2 which is to refurbished.

Don Mueang uses Terminal 1 for its present operation for low-cost airlines for domestic and international routes.

Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, and One-Two-Go Orient Thai are among the no-frills airlines using Don Mueang after moving their operations from Suvarnabhumi.

It handled 6 million passengers in the first 5 months of its fiscal year starting October 2012 and AoT is confident that 10 million more will be added over the next 9 months.

The role of Don Mueang was relegated to a secondary airport for the capital after the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport in 2006.

The combination of the 2 airports will enable Thailand to handle 87.5 million air travelers a year in 2016.

– PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: The internationally- and critically-acclaimed masterpiece, will be staged in Bangkok at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre. As the longest running musical on Broadway, โ€œThe Phantomโ€ recently celebrated its 25th year and has won more than 50 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys.

The musical tells the story of a disfigured genius known only as โ€œThe Phantomโ€ who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of a young soprano, Christine, The Phantom lures her as his protege and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christineโ€™s love for Raoul, The Phantomโ€™s obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealously, madness, and passions collide.

Andrew Lloyd Webberโ€™s musical is based upon the novel Le Fantome De Lโ€™Opera by Gaston Leroux. The original London show was produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Presented in Thailand by BEC-Tero Scenario from May 7 to June 9 (except Mondays).

– AIRASIA PHUKET: AirAsia is increasing the number of flights it operates between Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Phuket, to 10 flights a day.

To celebrate the new additional flight, promotional all-inclusive fares are being offered as one way bookable until March 17 for May-November flights this year.

Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, said, โ€œFrom April 30, 2013, AirAsia will be offering up to 10 direct flights a day from Bangkok to Phuket, the airlineโ€™s southern flight hub and Thailandโ€™s number one domestic and international tourist destination. The island is busy year round and as a commercial center, traveler numbers are constantly increasing. AirAsia is confident that its additional flights will prove popular.โ€

– SOUTH AFRICAN COP QUITS: Hilton Botha, the detective who bungled investigations into the case against Paralympian star sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, has quit the force, South African police say.

– SABAH INVASION: Malaysia has rejected a call for a ceasefire by a Philippine Muslim clan who launched an incursion into a village in Sabah last month, saying the land belongs to them. PM Najib Razak said they want the group โ€œto unconditionally surrender.โ€

– BHUTAN: Most people’s fears about flying are unfounded: it’s a remarkably safe form of travel, especially on large, commercial airlines.

But for anyone headed to Bhutan, a little fear of air travel is totally justified. The small country’s only international airport is called Paro, and like the rest of the mostly Buddhist nation, it is nestled among the Himalayan Mountains.

The neighboring 18,000-foot mountains and unusually short runway make for some of the world’s most difficult takeoffs and landings. In fact, only 8 pilots are qualified to land there.

But for those who can handle the danger, a trip to Paro also offers breathtaking views of the mountains.

– CHIANG MAI HEIST: Police investigating the disappearance of 9.2 million baht in cash from a Krungthai Bank armored truck in Chiang Mai say the story of one of the 3 guards forgetting his wallet and returning to the van to fetch it is suspicious.

– THAI HIGH: Consumer confidence last month reached its highest level in 19 months, driven mainly by economic expansion, fiscal stimulus, and higher purchasing power, according to the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather: 33C
Sunny, warm
Euro:US 1.3060
Euro:Baht 38.87
US:Baht 29.77
SET Index: 1549

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather: 33C
Sunny, warm
Euro:US 1.3060
Euro:Baht 38.87
US:Baht 29.77
SET Index: 1549

BANGKOK BRIEF:

EGAT says power will flow. The reduction in gas supply from Myanmar would cause a problem of low pressure in the electricity supply system in some areas of Bangkok and nearby provinces, but that would not affect people. Bus-stop driverโ€™s rage sentence reduced. School teacher caning student goes viral.

WORLD SUMMARY:

North Korea threatens to cancel 1953 cease-fire. Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has died, Vice President announced. Chavez’s death ends 14 years of tumultuous rule that made the socialist leader a hero for the poor but a hated figure to his opponents. China’s old guard leaders bow out today.

OTHER NEWS:

– TG AND AIRASIA IN CODE SHARE TALKS: Sorajak Kasemsuvan, President of the country’s flag carrier, personally made the overture during a recent meeting in Bangkok with Tony Fernandes, the Chief Executive of Asia’s largest and fastest-growing budget carrier group.

It was the first meeting of any kind between the leaders of the two feuding carriers, which over the past decade have publicly made known their intention of trumping each other in the fiercely-competitive airline industry.

THAI has lost considerable domestic and regional market share to AirAsia, whose aggressive expansion is seen as a major threat to several legacy airlines including the state-controlled carrier.

Mr. Sorajak spoke about several cooperation possibilities between the 53-year-old airline and the 20-year-old, no-frills carrier including becoming codeshare partners, a proposal that is raising the eyebrows of industry executives.

Two other ideas he suggested were THAI, AirAsia, and the privately-owned Bangkok Airways joining hands to develop a pilot training pool, and allowing AirAsia to use THAI’s aircraft maintenance services.

THAI managed to establish THAI Smile as anM LCC airline but only through a full ownership structure to get around the opposition.

This recently proposed codeshare agreement, with the airlines sharing the same flight, would be between two very different animals – a full-service airline and an LCC – and is seen as very odd.

The launch of Thai Smile looks to take a left-turn with plans now being revealed to shelve the low-cost model. The airline is now into Plan B mode and looking at creating a separate operating entity for the airline.

– MURDEROUS RAGE DRIVER: The Appeals Court has reduced the prison sentence handed down to the son of a former Miss Thailand, who rammed his car into a crowded bus stop 6 years ago, killing one woman and injuring several other people.

Kanpitak Pachimsawat, 24, better known by his nickname “Mu Ham,” was charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, and physical assault in connection with the July 4, 2007 incident.

He drove his Mercedes Benz sedan into a crowd waiting at a bus stop in Bangkok’s Watthana district on July 4, 2007, killing one woman and grieviously injuring two other people, following a quarrel with the driver of a bus.

Kanpitak’s 10-year sentence was reduced as he suffers from mental illness, his lawyers claimed.

– DJ RECORD HIGH: The Dow Jones Industrial Average powered to an all-time record high overnight exactly 4 years after hitting bottom in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

– CHINA: China’s moment of change has come. After a decade in power, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao are stepping aside. Xi Jinping and a new generation are taking over.

– FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund became the first teams through to the Champions League quarter-finals with contrasting wins over Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Manchester United lost after holding the advantage with a 2-1 lead on aggregate and was turned on its head by a decision by the Turkish referee that was just plain wrong. Just shy of the hour he sent off Nani for a high boot on Alvaro Arbeloa that might have merited a yellow card and United’s 10 men never recovered. Even Jose Mourinho conceded: “The best team lost.”

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather: 31C
Cloudy showers
Euro:US 1.3028
Euro:Baht 38.77
US:Baht 29.76
SET Index: 1540

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather: 31C
Cloudy showers
Euro:US 1.3028
Euro:Baht 38.77
US:Baht 29.76
SET Index: 1540

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra “congratulated” MR Sukhumbhand Patibatra who won the Bangkok election for Governor. Anti-Red Shirt voters fooled the pollsters. Abac Poll to keep future data secret.

WORLD SUMMARY:

With hundreds dead, Syrian rebels seize police academy. Sixteen die in Bangladesh riots over death sentence to Islamist. Chad kills Algeria Islamist kidnapper. Scientists appeared a step closer to conquering the AIDS virus after US doctors confirmed they had cured an infant born with HIV through a course of antiretroviral drugs, the first time this has ever been recorded.

OTHER NEWS:

– BANGKOK GOVERNOR ELECTION: Bangkok voters Sunday re-elected Democrat candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra as the city’s Governor. Political observers consider the result an attempt by the capital’s residents to counter the Pheu Thai Party’s grasp on power on the national stage. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Democrat Party in the city race.

According to the unofficial result from the Election Commission, MR Sukhumbhand received 1,256,231 votes, the largest ever haul in the gubernatorial election. His rival, Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen, was close behind with 1,077,899 votes.

Sunday’s poll marked the first time the winning candidate and runner-up amassed more than 1 million votes each. It also marked the largest voter turnout at 63.98 percent. A total of 2,715,640 out of 4,244,465 eligible voters cast their ballots.

In the last leg of the election campaign, the Democrat Party urged city residents to re-elect MR Sukhumbhand to avoid giving the ruling Pheu Thai Party a monopoly on political power.

“The voters were possibly concerned that if Pol Gen Pongsapat won, the government could do anything it wanted to, like amending the charter or issuing an amnesty,” observers said.

Abac Poll has vowed not to disclose the results of its surveys about elections in the future, after its predictions for the Bangkok poll picked the wrong winner. Abac’s pre-election poll, conducted between Thursday and Saturday, had Pheu Thai Party candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen leading the race with support of 45.9%, an 11% lead over Sukhumbhand Paribatra of the Democrats.

But in the actual election yesterday, MR Sukhumbhand emerged victorious. He defeated Pol Gen Pongsapat by about 200,000 votes.

Abac Poll Director Noppadon Kannikar accepted the survey results were flawed. He attributed the discrepancy to respondents later changing their minds, switching from independent candidates to those of the two major parties.

– SKAL PATTAYA RELAUNCHED: Skal International President Mok Singh sent a message of congratulations to Tony Malhotra, the new President of Skal International Pattaya and East Thailand, following a spectacular re-launch party held at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya last week to an invited audience of travel and tourism professionals.

“Congratulations to both Andrew and Tony on this auspicious re-launch,” Mr. Mok said.

The new Club President, Tony Malhotra, Deputy Managing Director of
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co. Ltd,, presided at the inaugural event.

Said Andrew Wood, Skal International Thailand’s National President, “It has been a long time since we were able to talk Skal to Pattaya’s travel and tourism leaders, and I am delighted to announce that we are re-starting the Pattaya Club.”

Asked why it is important to have a Skal Club in Pattaya, new President Tony Malhotra said, “Pattaya is expanding rapidly, and there are many new tourism projects planned. It is important to support our membersโ€™ efforts to promote Pattaya to all our friends around the world.

“A destination with a Skal Club sends out a message to all stakeholders and suppliers that we are serious about the business of tourism, and we have a strong and committed work ethic to promote and support our city. I will do my best to mirror those principles.”

– PHUKET: Governor Maitree Inthusut is scheduled to fly out today to lead the Phuket delegation to ITB Berlin (March 6-8), the travel fair that should establish the number of European tourists that Phuket can expect in the future.

– AIR ACCIDENTS 1 IN 5 MILLION: Final figures compiled by the International Air Transport Association showed 2012 had the lowest accident rates in the 98-year history of aviation. The accident rate involving Western-built jets was 0.2, the equivalent of one accident every 5 million flights.

– IVORY BAN: Thailand’s Prime Minister promised to end her nation’s trade in ivory, delighting conservationists who have long urged Thailand to tackle the rampant smuggling of tusks through its territory.

– OBSCENE FOOTBALL: Arsenal football club may be bought out by a Middle East group for $2.3 billion, the sport’s biggest takeover, the UK Telegraph reported, citing an unidentified person in the group.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C
Hot sunny
Euro:US 1.3369
Euro:Baht 39.80
US:Baht 29.77
SET Index: 1421

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C
Hot sunny
Euro:US 1.3369
Euro:Baht 39.80
US:Baht 29.77
SET Index: 1421

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Japan PM Abe promises cooperation on high-speed trains, water management. Thai Islamic group speaks out, calls for Rohingya compassion. The Criminal Court sentenced Yossawaris Chuklom, aka Jeng Dokchik, a Red Shirt leader, to 2 years in jail without suspension for lese majeste.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Torrential rains in Jakarta, thousands evacuate. French fight intensifies against Mali Islamists. Foreign hostages of Algeria al-Qaeda escape or killed.

OTHER NEWS:

– NOK AIR IPO: Nok Air, a subsidiary of Thai Airways, asked its financial adviser, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), to prepare a listing application for submission to Thailandโ€™s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in March. The move is part of the expansion strategy of the airline which wants to raise money to fund its growth, according to Nok Air Chief Executive Patee Sarasin.

Details of the planned IPO have yet to be finalized, though Mr. Sarasin declared that up to a 30 percent stake in the company would be offered with existing shareholders’ holdings reduced pro rata. Nok Air posted an unaudited net profit of 480-500 million baht, a major turnaround from 2011 when its operation was hit by the great flood in October and November.

Nok Air also plans to resume international services this year after they nearly pushed the airline into bankruptcy five years ago. It suspended loss-making international flights to Vietnam and India as part of a turn-around program implemented four years ago.

Private regional carrier Bangkok Airways is also looking into an IPO launch in either April or May this year, according to its management. Both Nok Air and Bangkok will then follow Thai AirAsia, which was the first to make its trading on Bangkokโ€™s stock exchange in May 2012.

– DREAMLINER: US officials and Boeing are investigating whether defective batteries from the same batch caused failures in two 787 Dreamliners that triggered the planeโ€™s worldwide grounding.

If proven true, flaws may be confined to a small number of 787s, rather than indicating a systemic fault with the planeโ€™s design and manufacturing, and could speed resumption of flights on the jet.

– THAILAND TOP: More than half the foreign tourists polled recently agreed that Thailand is their favorite destination in the Asean region, Bangkok Poll of Bangkok University reported on Thursday.

The pollsters interviewed 686 foreign tourists visiting Thailand, seeking their views on Thailandโ€™s readiness for the debut of the Asean Economic Community in December 2015, from January 11-13.

Bangkok Poll said 58% of the respondents voted for Thailand as the most attractive tourist destination in Asean, followed by Vietnam (34.1%), Cambodia (30.6%), Laos (30.3%), and Singapore (26.1%).

Asked whether Thailand was ready for the AEC, 83% of the polled foreigners said yes, but 16.1% of them disagreed.

Regarding the most interesting things in Thailand, 28.1% of the respondents pointed to ancient ruins, 20.4% said Thai culture and traditions, and 14.3% said beautiful sea and beaches.

Asked if they had confidence in the security provided by Thai authorities, 97.6% said they have strong confidence and only 2.4% responded negatively.

Asked about factors that could damage tourism in Thailand, 37.2% of them said traffic congestion, 23.2% pointed to unfair fares charged by taxi and tuk tuk drivers, and 20.7% said unreasonably high prices of products.

As many as 85% the respondents said they would visit Thailand again, 14% of them were unsure, and only 1% said they would not.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C
Hot sunny
Euro:US 1.3291
Euro:Baht 39.77
US:Baht 29.93
SET Index: 1426

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C
Hot sunny
Euro:US 1.3291
Euro:Baht 39.77
US:Baht 29.93
SET Index: 1426

BANGKOK BRIEF:

PM orders navy to halt Rohingya “surge,” and consult with UNHCR. Pongsapat asked about “radio theft in US.” Carabao riot videos online. Seven men to contest for Bangkok governor. Mobile phone minutes “last forever.”

WORLD SUMMARY:

Pakistan court orders arrest of “corrupt” PM. France steps up Mali intervention attacks and airstrikes. Sudan rebels kidnap Chinese railroad workers.

OTHER NEWS:

-DREAMLINER GROUNDED: All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, the worldโ€™s largest users of Boeing 787 jets, grounded their entire fleet of Dreamliners today in the biggest blow yet to the troubled passenger jetโ€™s image.

An All Nippon 787 made an emergency landing in Japan today because of smoke coming from the aircraft, prompting the decision to ground its entire fleet for the first time, said Ryosei Nomura, a spokesman for Tokyo-based All Nippon. Japan Air will also idle its fleet today. The carriers didnโ€™t say for how long the planes will be grounded.

The emergency landing, which the carrier said it will probe, comes a week after the lithium-ion battery in a Japan Airlines 787 caught fire on January 7 in Boston. That incident prompted a review by US regulators of the design and manufacturing of the Dreamliner, Boeingโ€™s most technologically-advanced jet, and the first to use lithium-ion batteries and to have a composite-plastic body.

โ€œThis is not good,โ€ said Andrew Orchard, a Hong Kong-based analyst at CIMB Securities HK Ltd.

A strange odor was detected on the cockpit, forcing the pilot to evacuate the passengers through a chute after the emergency landing, All Nippon Vice President Osamu Shinobe said at a press conference in Tokyo. One passenger was taken to a hospital because of wrist pain.

The Japanese transport ministry said the pilots and air-traffic controllers saw smoke.

All Nippon was the first customer for the plane, which entered service in late 2011. The 787 has been plagued by incidents since then, including fuel leaks and faulty parts, most of which have been typical for a new modelโ€™s first year or two and none of which have caused injuries.

Last weekโ€™s fire in Boston was the most serious of the incidents. It was followed by a couple of fuel leaks, a software problem with the electric brakes – new to the Dreamliner – and a cracked windshield, all reported by the two Japanese carriers last week.

Boeing last week stood by its new plane, testifying to its safety and that the issues are introductory pains that will be overcome. The 787โ€™s entry into service hasnโ€™t been any worse than that of the 777, one of Boeingโ€™s most popular models.

The planemaker has delivered about 50 (out of orders for 800 worldwide) of the $207 million jets to eight customers: All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, Chileโ€™s LAN Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, United Continental Holdings Inc., and Qatar Airways.

-ATF 2013: The Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Host Committee of the 32nd ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), will extend a warm welcome next week to all ASEAN and Dialogue Partners, Tourism Ministers, Heads of NTOs, Travel Association Delegates, buyers, sellers, and the international media.

ATF will be held in Vientiane, the capital of Lao PDR, from January 17 to 24. Situated on the Mekong River, Vientiane is the economic centre of Laos. It is celebrated for its ecotourism, Buddhist culture, and food.

The accompanying ATF TRAVEX show will take place from January 22 to 24 at the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre (Lao ITECC). ATF TRAVEX 2013, the 3-day travel trade mart component of the ASEAN Tourism Forum, is a showcase for the largest contingent of ASEAN destination products and services. TRAVEX has recorded strong interest and is now sold out.

The ASEAN Tourism Conference (ATC) โ€“ the educational component of ATF โ€“ will feature sessions by industry veterans, which will engage the audience through presentations and panel discussions on the major trends, and issues affecting ASEAN tourism today.

Laos is proud to host ATF in Vientiane for the second time.

-SKAL WORLD CONGRESS 2013: New York Cityโ€™s official marketing, tourism, and partnership organization, is pleased to announce that Skal International, the worldโ€™s largest professional association of senior travel and tourism executives, will bring its 74th World Congress to New York City this fall. The prestigious gathering will begin on September 27, 2013, before embarking from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on a first-ever meeting at sea aboard the Carnival Cruise ship Glory. The group consisting of 1,200 travel industry delegates – who hail from all around the globe – will conclude their annual event back in New York City on October 5, offering attendees an opportunity for post-Congress meetings with NYC-based travel partners as well as tours of the destination.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Hot sunny
Euro:US 1.3399
Euro:Baht 40.58
US:Baht 30.29
SET Index: 1412

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Hot sunny
Euro:US 1.3399
Euro:Baht 40.58
US:Baht 30.29
SET Index: 1412

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Battle for Bangkok Governor – Pheu Thai executive committee unanimously decided to field Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen as candidate in the election. Mekong River Commission – what is it good for? Temple rally fizzles.

WORLD SUMMARY:

French warplanes attack in Mali. Huge Paris protest against gay marriage. US influenza epidemic widens. Egypt court orders Mubarak retrial.

OTHER NEWS:

-DREAMLINER SAFETY: The US Federal Aviation Administration will undertake a comprehensive review of the 787โ€™s critical systems, โ€œincluding the design, manufacture, and assembly,โ€ the Department of Transportation said in a statement. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President Ray Conner will address the issues in a press conference today. The review is in addition to a US National Transportation Safety Board probe of the January 7 fire that the agency said caused severe damage to the battery pack area of the 787 after passengers disembarked in Boston following a flight from Tokyo. A couple of jets were grounded last month by a power fault which Boeing said this week it had traced to flaws in power panels.

The 787โ€™s use of lithium-ion batteries sets it apart from other models. Boeing got regulatorsโ€™ permission to use the batteries in the jet in 2007, 3 years after passenger planes were barred from carrying non-rechargeable types as cargo. Only those batteries can provide a high-energy start and be recharged quickly to meet the jetโ€™s needs, Mike Sinnett, the Chief Engineer for the Dreamliner, said this week. The battery has โ€œrobust protectionโ€ against charging and discharging too quickly, since both are dangerous, he said.

All new jets have introductory pains the first year or two, Sinnett said. The 787โ€™s performance since entering service in 2011 hasnโ€™t been any worse than that of the 777, which made its commercial debut in 1995 and is one of Boeingโ€™s most popular models, and has been better than other wide-body jets, he said.

-M23 EVENT SPACE OPENS IN BKK: The newly-opened M23 event space at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld is designed as an intimate setting for business meetings and receptions, seminars, and golf.

Covering more than 1,000 square meters, the space is divided into four natural day-lit boardrooms offering dramatic views of the city skyline, and with a class/board room capacity from 18 to 50.

Along with its meetings facilities, M23, on the 23rd floor of the hotel, has its own reception area; open show kitchen and bar that caters for coffee breaks, luncheons, and social events; and a 50-meter-long, open-air patio with a putting green.

โ€œWith M23 we really have a new and exciting style of meeting space in Bangkok,โ€ said Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Centara Hotels & Resorts, โ€œThis is perfect for smaller events, where there is a high degree of social involvement, and along with the tailor-made catering arrangements and the opportunity to practice your golf swing, the views of Bangkok from the 23rd floor are magnificent.โ€

-TAT’S AMAZING I-SAN FAIR 2013: Long overlooked by the international tourism industry, Thailandโ€™s northeastern region, called โ€œIsanโ€ by Thais, is being given a major boost with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) collaborating with travel trade partners to promote the destination by organizing Amazing I-San Fair 2013. The fair will be held during January 24-27, 2013, at Plenary Hall, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

There are more than 60 operators participating in the fair including travel agents, airlines, accommodations, and producers of local handicrafts. The travel fair is aimed at increasing tourist traffic from Bangkok and other provinces to Isan.
For decades, Isan was perceived as a remote, underdeveloped area that held little tourism appeal. Things began to change as the regionโ€™s transportation network expanded in the 1980s and a number of historical sites and nature reserves opened up to the public. In recent years, the Northeast has seen an influx of domestic and foreign travelers going for its unspoiled nature and chic resorts. It is also the main gateway to the many wonders of the neighboring countries of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

In 2011, there were more than 26 million visitors to the Northeast (+15.86% over 2010), more than 95 percent of whom were Thai tourists. In 2013, TAT expects the number of domestic trips will increase to 115.36 million trips and generate 537,800 million baht.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 36C
Hot sunny
Euro:US 1.3187
Euro:Baht 40.40
US:Baht 30.61

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 36C
Hot sunny
Euro:US 1.3187
Euro:Baht 40.40
US:Baht 30.61

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Yingluck rejects Chalerm’s comments but doubts she can get referendum turnout. Extremists in South hunt Buddhists, burn TAO building. Total Access Communication (DTAC) earmarks 25 billion baht for installation of its third-generation (3G) mobile network over the next three year, hopes to cover 80% of the population.

WORLD SUMMARY:

World fails to end, China arrests Doomsday cult of 1,000 members. Assange vows “million documents in 2013” for Wikipedia. Internet eagle video is a hoax. The three students who made the video, apparently showing a golden eagle snatching a toddler in Montreal, did so in a production simulation workshop at their university.

OTHER NEWS:

– MY THAILAND: An American photographer is reaching for gold after nabbing first place in National Geographicโ€™s photo competition, โ€œMy Thailand, My Story.โ€ The prestigious international magazine awarded Harvey Abernatheyโ€™s photo โ€œHaroldโ€™s Treeโ€ earlier this year. He was one of seven first-place winners who went on an all-expense-paid, weeklong photography excursion in Thailand, and was accompanied by National Geographic travel photographer Alison Wright.
Abernathey explored the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket and created an online photo album, telling the story of his experience. Only one of the seven will be awarded National Geographicโ€™s top honor โ€“ a photographic exhibition in New York City at a venue determined by Tourism Thailand. The online album that receives the highest number of valid online votes will win the prize, valued at $20,000.

Abernathey attributes his foray into impressionistic photography through training by photographer Jimmy Katz and his โ€œJoy to Abstractโ€ workshops at the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Two days after returning from Thailand, Abernathey created an online photo album to showcase the best 15 shots from the trip. He said the hardest challenge was selecting from over 18,000 photos of temples, festivals, and Thai people within 48 hours.

โ€œWith the shooting schedule we had, I didnโ€™t get to see my work until I got home,โ€ Abernathey said, โ€œBut the purpose of the trip was to tell a story, so I was selecting photos that would do that.โ€

โ€œOne morning we set out for a balloon ride over Chiang Mai at 6:00 am, landed, drove to the mountains, and went on an elephant ride, all before breakfast,โ€ Abernathey said.

The highlight of the trip was the Loi Krathong lantern festival in Chiang Mai. โ€œItโ€™s an all-night celebration with fireworks and thousands of lanterns are floated in the sky,โ€ Abernathey said, โ€œThere were beautiful flower floats, and we went to the flower market and watched people making them, later floating them on the river following their blessing.โ€

โ€œI was struck by the reverence the people have for their monarchy and their spirituality,โ€ Abernathey said.

โ€œThe Thai people were so enjoyable to be around,โ€ Abernathey said, โ€œThey would socialize with us even though we couldnโ€™t speak the language.โ€

Abernathey called his trip โ€œthe experience of a lifetime,โ€ which allowed him to meet lifelong friends in his photographer competitors.

โ€œIt was an amazing opportunity to experience the culture,โ€ Abernathey said, โ€œThis is something Iโ€™ll remember for the rest of my life.โ€

Public voting opened to the public on December 10 and will close January 10. To vote visit nationalgeographic.com/mythailand .

-REFERENDUM: Thai PM Yingluck brushed aside comments by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who voiced opposition to a referendum. Ms. Yingluck said the government’s task is to encourage the public to participate in the charter amendment process to find a peaceful solution to political conflict, while the duty to amend the constitution rests with parliament.

The proposed referendum question is “Do you like the proposal to rewrite the constitution in its entirety or not?”

Former charter writer, Seri Suwanpanont, said the question is confusing and the term “approve” should be used instead.

Mr. Chalerm has opposed the government’s move to hold a referendum. He said the number of eligible voters is expected to rise to around 49 million next year, and roughly 25 million would have to take part in the referendum.

If the voter turnout fails to reach the required total, the referendum would automatically become invalid.

Even if a sufficient number of voters take part, the government would still need more than half of the votes to win in the referendum, he said.

Mr. Chalerm said yesterday that voting in a referendum is different from voting in an election. In a referendum, those who do not show up do not have their voting rights disenfranchised, he said, adding that many people still think constitutional amendments have little relevance to their daily lives.

Charter amendments do not motivate people to come out and vote, he said. His proposal will not push for the establishment of a charter drafting assembly and will not call for a referendum. Under his proposal, sections on the monarchy and independent agencies would be left untouched, he said.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Hot sunny and hazy
Euro:US 1.3243
Euro:Baht 40.50
US:Baht 30.58

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Hot sunny and hazy
Euro:US 1.3243
Euro:Baht 40.50
US:Baht 30.58

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Abhisit, Suthep may face hundreds of murder, assault charges. Thailand begins AFF Cup final tonight. Auto tax to be emissions-based.

WORLD SUMMARY:

China arrests 100 for spreading doomsday rumors. Iraq President suffers stroke. Taliban kill five polio vaccinators. Pakistan car bomb kills 17.

OTHER NEWS:

– SANTA THAI WISH LIST: Wish lists identified Smartphones ahead of travel as the most wanted gift during Christmas and New Year, according to Kasikorn Research Centre survey.

The bankโ€™s latest survey focused on what gifts Thais wanted the most at New Year by interviewing 400 people nationwide, from November 23 to December 2.

Smartphones led the field with 11.8% of respondents, followed by 11.4% who said they would like a tour package as a gift. A tablet (iPad) came in at 10%; accessories (9.1%); and computer equipment such as a PC, notebook, or ultrabook (8.2%).

– ANGRY PHOTO USERS: Facebook’s photo-sharing site Instagram has updated its privacy policy giving it the right to sell users’ photos to advertisers without notification. Unless users delete their Instagram accounts by a deadline of January 16, they cannot opt out.

Facebook has infuriated users by changing its terms of service to allow it to sell uploaded photos or related data.

– THE END IS NIGH: Members of a fringe Christian group in China have been rounded up for spreading rumors of an impending apocalypse, pegged to the Mayan calendar. Known as the ”Almighty God” cult, the group latched on to the Mayan doomsday scenario to predict the sun will not shine and electricity will not work for three days beginning on December 21.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 36C
Hot sunny and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.3158
Euro:Baht 40.28
US:Baht 30.61
SET Index 1359

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 36C
Hot sunny and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.3158
Euro:Baht 40.28
US:Baht 30.61
SET Index 1359

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Yingluck – 40 businessmen fly to Myanmar for Dawei project talks. Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged voters to join the Democrat Party to say NO in a public referendum on charter amendment. Sudarat supporters bitter over pullout for Bangkok Governor. Former veteran politician Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan has confirmed she will not run for the Bangkok governor’s seat early next year but plans to return to politics later when she is ready.

WORLD SUMMARY:

New Japan PM Abe vows tough China line. Calls for US gun control – but not by Obama. Violence in Egypt over Islamist constitution.

OTHER NEWS:

– SO CHRISTMAS BKK: Sofitel So Bangkok, the city’s first truly urban design hotel that draws inspiration from the traditional five elements: earth, wood, water, metal, and fire, is in its own element when it comes to celebrating the festive season.

Offering a full program of dining and partying from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day, with events designed to suite all styles of celebration, the hotel promises a So joyous time as it welcomes one and all to join in the festive spirit. It is also the occasion when Sofitel So Bangkok marks its first calendar year of operations, which has seen the hotel win many honors.

– PATA: The Pacific Asia Travel Association has stepped forward to voice its strong opposition to Britain’s air passenger duty, which has increased by 140 percent for economy class and 325 percent for business class since 2007. However, observers say there appears to be no-one listening.

– ASIAN SHARES 13-DAY WINNING STREAK: Asian stocks headed for the longest winning streak since 1988 as Japanese shares rose and the yen fell to its weakest level since April 2011 after elections returned the Liberal Democratic Party to power amid calls for more monetary easing.

– US SHOOTING CONNECTICUT: Education officials say they have found no link between the gunman’s mother and the school, contrary to earlier reports that said she was a teacher there. Investigators said they believe Adam Lanza, 20, attended Sandy Hook School many years ago.

– MALDIVES: The Malaysian government had sent its foreign minister to Maldives to save the Male airport contract held by a consortium in which Malaysia Airports Berhad was a partner. The project was terminated earlier this month by a new government.

– THAI MIGRANT WORKERS: The International Labor Organization has expressed ”concern” over Thailand’s decision to deport millions of illegal migrants and called for the government to develop a coherent labor migration policy.

– UK’S WONDERFUL YEAR OF SPORT: Cyclist Bradley Wiggins has capped his remarkable sporting year by winning the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. As Wiggins received his latest trophy from the Duchess of Cambridge, he did so not only as the Tour de France champion and Olympic time trial gold medalist, but also as a symbol of Britain’s sporting annus mirabilis.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 35C
Hot sunny and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.3077
Euro:Baht 40.07
US:Baht 30.64
SET Index 1354

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 35C
Hot sunny and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.3077
Euro:Baht 40.07
US:Baht 30.64
SET Index 1354

BANGKOK BRIEF:

PM greeted with terrorist leaflet threats to kill more teachers in South. Democrat deputy leader Thaworn Senneam: Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban denied murder charges at the Department of Special Investigation. Elton in Bkk.Thailand to play Singapore Wednesday in Suzuki Football Cup final.

WORLD SUMMARY:

China fights UN attempt to add to North Korea sanctions. Chief backer Russia says Assad losing Syria civil war. UK, Europe pay “victims” of CIA rendition.

OTHER NEWS:

-UNLUCKY DAY IN THAILAND: Computer software glitches frustrated many couples trying to register their marriages Wednesday on the auspicious date of 12/12/12.

Couples who hoped to have the special date printed on their marriage certificates faced hours of delays at district offices after computers slowed to a crawl. The process stopped altogether at times, as the software of the ministry’s the Bureau of Registration Administration hit snags.

Bureau officials and the computer supplier were trying to pinpoint the cause of the problem, and they expected the glitches to be sorted out in a few days.

Delays in marriage registration were also experienced at the Bang Rak district office, which is a popular place to register marriages, given its name in Thai which means the district of love.

Bang Rak district chief Suachana Sudcharoen said about 100 couples applied for marriage certificates at the office yesterday.

-ARRESTED FOR HONESTY: A taxi driver has been arrested in Bangkok for an armed robbery he committed 18 years ago, after he attempted to pay a fine on a traffic ticket.

Wichai Thampaisal, 56, was apprehended at Choke Chai police station in Lat Phrao district on a charge of armed robbery, committed in 1995.

Mr. Wichai and four accomplices allegedly robbed and beat the owner of an animal feed factory at gunpoint in Chachoengsao province and made away with nearly 160,000 baht. Mr. Wichai received his share of 60,000 baht and fled to a relative’s house in the eastern part of the country.

He returned to his native Chachoengsao about 5 years ago and learned that all of his accomplices had already been caught. He also thought that police were no longer looking for him and decided to live a law-abiding life, police said.

Mr. Wichai became a taxi driver about a year ago.

On December 6, he made an illegal U-turn and was given a ticket and told to pay the fine at Choke Chai police station. When he went to pay, he was arrested. The statute of limitations for his crime would have expired in 2 more years.

-QANTAS: Qantas’s link-up with Emirates means that passengers will, from next April, pass through United Arab Emirates rather than Bangkok on their way to Europe.

-SIMPLIFIED UK VISA FOR CHINA: Home Secretary Theresa May is to simplify the visa application process to make it easier for Chinese visitors to holiday in the UK.

In a recent speech, which was flagged last month by sports and Tourism Minister Hugh Robertson, May signaled the introduction of a less demanding regime for Chinese tourists and students.

This includes a shortened online application form, with translated forms available from April 2013, dedicated Embassy staff to help business travelers with their applications, and the option for applicants to keep their passports while visas are processed.

Tourism body VisitBritain welcomed the announcement, saying it would attract more Chinese visitors. Its recent research found that 61% of Chinese people who chose not to come to Britain were put off by the visa process. The application forms are currently in English, rather than Mandarin.

“The introduction of shorter and translated application forms, as well as reduce documentary requirements is extremely welcome as these were identified by VisitBritain as areas where the UK could improve its visa service to out compete those of the Schengen member states, as well as Australia and the USA. In addition, we are pleased to support UKBA’s efforts by adding a visa module to our BritAgent program, which provides training to tour operators and travel agents in China.

“China is a key growth market for international tourism and a market in which Britain needs to compete effectively to ensure that we continue to be in the top 10 of tourism destinations. Improvements in the visa process will support our ambition to attract 40 million visitors a year by 2020, and we have been working closely with UKBA to inform their thinking.”

Britain attracted around 149,000 visits from China last year, up 35% on 2010, but it was outperformed by European rivals such as France and Germany.

VisitBritain is looking to increase this to 382,000 visits by 2020. As Chinese visitors spend around 3 times as much as other visitors, it said that anything that could be done to attract more Chinese tourists would be a welcome boost for the economy.

-PATTAYA MURDER: A 66-year-old German man has been found dead inside a 28th floor condo unit on Jomtien beach in Pattaya with a deep slash on his neck, and police suspect foul play, he was drinking with 6 Thai women inside the condo. Police suspect robbery.

-AIRLINE DRINKS: The Skytender Trolley dispenses hot and cold drink options without the cabin crew having to pour and open traditional drink containers for passengers. Flight attendants using the system are able to serve hot and cold drink items like juices, soft drinks, cocktails, and hot drinks in less time.

Airlines and passengers will like the more efficient operation, enabling cabin crew to serve more people, faster. Cabin crew can forget about making coffee or going back and forth to the aircraft galley for water refills as Skytender holds 30 liters of hot and cold water.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.3009
Euro:Baht 39.84
US:Baht 30.63
SET Index 1341

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.3009
Euro:Baht 39.84
US:Baht 30.63
SET Index 1341

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Yingluck backs referendum before constitution amendment; Thaksin says it’s “not for me.” Red Shirt lawyers have asked the Department of Special Investigation not to allow bail for ex-PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and his former Deputy Suthep Thaugsuban.

WORLD SUMMARY:

North Korea delays missile launch, rocket problems. Mandela has lung infection. Thousands rally in Egypt. US says HSBC “intentionally” laundered drug cash.

OTHER NEWS:

– THAI POLITICS: Boonlert admits audio clip of Thaksin โ€œinsulting monarchyโ€ was altered.

Former Pitak Siam leader Boonlert Kaewprasit Tuesday insisted that an audio clip played during the anti-government group’s November 24 rally was authentic, though confessed some parts of the recording had been removed.

Thaksin appeared on Channel 11 on Sunday night, saying that the clip had been manufactured to fuel allegations that he is an anti-monarchist.

Gen Boonlert, also known as Seh Ai, yesterday affirmed the audio clip was genuine, but said some parts of the recording had been removed.

He shrugged off speculation that Thaksin would sue him over the recording, adding that he was not intimidated by the ex-Premier’s clout.

Gen Boonlert said Thaksin’s appearance on Channel 11 indicated that the ex-premier was desperate to return home.

“He is dying to come back home, and he is selfishly using state-run TV,” the retired general said.

Gen Boonlert challenged Thaksin to turn himself in and serve his two-year jail term for abuse of power to show that he accepted Thai law. By doing so, he would be eligible to apply for a royal pardon.

“Or as a rich man he can hire people to stage a coup for him,” the retired general said.

– CX NO STRIKES BUT NO MEALS OR DRINKS: Agents can continue booking Cathay with ease after the airlineโ€™s cabin crew union confirmed it will not stage strikes during the Christmas and New Year period.

The airline and its 6,000-strong Flight Attendantโ€™s Union (FAU) have been in conflict over salary, with the union requesting a 5 percent salary increment for 2013 over the 2 percent Cathay has offered.

This week, crew voted against holiday strikes, a decision the airlineโ€™s Chief Executive John Slosar says is good news for passengers, its staff, and the Hong Kong traveling public.

Despite the agreement to keep the peace over Christmas, crew are said to be considering other forms of action including the introduction of a โ€œwork-to-ruleโ€ measure.

According the unionโ€™s General Secretary, Tsang Kwok-fung, its members will be selective in which services they provide, and passengers may find themselves denied certain beverages while flying, including alcohol.

Smiles are another service that may be withheld as well as meals.

“In a nutshell it means passengers will still be able to reach their destinations except they are paying a five-star price to get a three-star service,” Mr. Tsang said.

– PATA THAILAND/SKAL BANGKOK XMAS LUNCH: This year’s joint Christmas lunch will be held on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at the Rembrandt Hotel on Soi 18 from 12:00 noon. Cost is Baht 1,000 per person. Reservations at www.skalthailand.org

– OTA’S MOBILE: On-Line Travel Agencies are banking on consumer preferences for mobile bookings.

At its annual Expedia Partner Conference executives shared data and trends related to online booking behavior.

โ€œToday, most of our sites are seeing 20 percent or more of their transactions coming from mobile,โ€ said President and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, โ€œItโ€™s by far our fastest-growing channel.โ€

Right now Expedia has more than 130 mobile websites and its mobile apps are available in more than 200 countries.

While the company and its brands, including Hotels.com and Hotwire, are in various stages of introducing mobile sites and apps around the world, some overall trends are evident.

โ€œWhen you consider who is using mobile, you have to separate tablet use from phone use,โ€ said Nigel Pocklington, CMO of Hotels.com, โ€œPhone use is for people looking for a booking close in, while tablets on the other hand are used by customers with longer windows.

โ€œWe see customers are using mobile during commute hours, desktop computers at the lunch hour, and during work hours, and tablet bookings go up after 9:00 pm.โ€

Seventy-five percent of same-day bookings on Hotwire come from mobile, while the highest average daily rate is achieved through tablet bookings.

Same-day hotel bookings in March 2012; 16.6 percent of US Expedia users booked their hotel room within 24 hours of departure on a mobile device.

Eighty-one percent of people booking one-night stays via mobile are located within 10 miles of the hotel.

– HILTON THAILAND: The DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket โ€“ Surin Beach has appointed Simon McGrath as General Manager and Tane Picken as Director of Business Development.

Mr. McGrath holds a graduate certificate in Hotel Management from the University of South Australia and has completed the General Managers Program of the Australian Graduate School of Management.

To support Hilton Worldwideโ€™s rapid expansion in Thailand, the company has also appointed Tane Picken as Director of Business Development for the DoubleTree Resort.

Based in Bangkok, Mr. Picken is responsible for overall sales and marketing operations, in a role he also undertakes for the Hilton Hua Hin Resort and Spa.

Originally from South Africa, he has been with Hilton Worldwide since 2001, where he started as a Food and Beverage Supervisor with the Hilton Durban in South Africa.

– THAI MINISTER OPTIMISTIC: Tourism & Sports Minister HE Mr. Chumpol Silpa-Archa painted a rosy picture overall, saying international tourist arrivals to Thailand this year should reach 21.5 million with revenue of at least 800 billion baht. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) also believes that the country will welcome some 23 million foreign travelers in 2013.

The minister said more big sporting events were planned in southern Thailand in an effort to draw more tourists. The country will also host the World Deaf Futsal Championships in 2015 and the fourth Asian Beach Games in 2014.

– SAMUI POWER PLAN: Yutthachai Soonthronrattanavate, President of the Association of Domestic Travel, said local residents of Samui and Phangan were concerned about the risk of power outages and the economic consequences.

However, they did not generally welcome the idea of building a natural gas-fired power plant in their area.

“Authorities might consider building a wind or solar power plant here because even though they’re costly, it’s still necessary for creating confidence about energy supply, and it can be used as a selling point to tourists.”

He also expressed concern that power outages might occur on other islands where tourists visit, such as Koh Chang in Trat province. The government should study the recent blackout and ensure that it can prevent a similar incident from happening again, he said.

The environmental group, Greenpeace, said the blackout in Surat Thani showed that Thailand still lacked an efficient electrical system. Greenpeace said the government needed to consider using alternative energy sources such as wind or solar on Samui and Phangan, as they can generate about 90 megawatts of electricity per day. The PEA plans to start supplying electricity to the islands through a new underwater cable in March. It will provide up to 200 megawatts of electricity.

– DELTA BUYS VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Delta Air Lines has agreed a deal to buy Singapore Airlines’ 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic for $360 million. Virgin Group and Sir Richard Branson will retain their 51 percent shareholding, and the Virgin brand will remain in place, the new partners said in a joint statement.

– UK’S COLORED CAPITAL: White Britons no longer make up the majority of people in London for the first time, according to the latest census data which pointed to a cosmopolitan capital increasingly divergent from the national economy around it.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny hot
Euro:US 1.2925
Euro:Baht 39.66
US:Baht 30.68
SET Index 1335

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny hot
Euro:US 1.2925
Euro:Baht 39.66
US:Baht 30.68
SET Index 1335

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Thaksin attacks opponents live on state TV. Government steps up charter rewrite bid. Democrats say fake witnesses in murder case.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Ghana’s president wins re-election. Messi beats Muller’s 85-goal record. 3 dead, 3 children hurt in California shootings. Venezuela’s Chavez cancer returns.

OTHER NEWS:

– ARCADIA SUITES OPENS IN BKK: Compass Hospitality has opened its first all-suite serviced apartment in Bangkok, the Arcadia Suites.

Arcadia Suites, Bangkok, is located in Nai Lert, just a few minutesโ€™ walk from the BTS Phloenchit sky train station.

Close to shopping centers: Central Chidlom, Gaysorn Plaza, Amarin Plaza & Erawan Shine, Central World, and All Seasons Place.

Arcadia Suites offers 73 suites with LCD TVs, wireless Internet, en-suite bathrooms, and a fully-equipped kitchenette.

– ACCOR: Europe’s biggest hotel operator plans to locate half of its new Southeast Asia properties in Indonesia to take advantage of the country’s growing economy and expanding middle class. The Paris-based company plans to increase the number of its hotels in the region to more than 200 from 132, said Robert Murray, Chief Operating Officer for Accor’s northeast and southeast Asian operations.

– EXPEDIA: Several major hotel chains in Norway are cutting their ties with Internet giant Expedia and dropping out of Expedia’s hotel reservation service Hotels.com. Their executives cite “sky-high commissions” and Expedia’s alleged demands that the hotels can’t offer any lower rates themselves on their own websites than what Hotels.com offers.

“We can’t live with the commissions Expedia is demanding,” said Morten Thorvaldsen of Thon Hotels, claiming the commissions vary between 18 and 25 percent. “Nor can we live with Expedia’s demand that we can’t set our own room rates on our own websites.”

Expedia, the hotel operators fear, holds far too much market power to steer room rates in Norway if the hotels themselves can’t. International hotel organizations have also worried that the number of online booking services has been greatly reduced to a few players who how hold huge market power.

-SAMUI BLACKOUTS – EGAT DENIAL: The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) insists that it did not cause blackouts on Samui and Pha-ngan islands.

An electrician at EGAT’s station in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Khanom district said the station cut the power temporarily for maintenance on December 4 but after doing this it released electricity through a cable. Three minutes later, a problem occurred with the cable which caused the blackouts.

Once power was released past Egat’s system, it was the Provincial Electricity Authority’s responsibility.

Power returned to the islands on Friday after a 3-day blackout.

Meanwhile, more than 30 mobile generators are “on standby” in case residents and tourists have another power crisis during the holidays.

After using 35 mobile generators to produce electricity during the blackout period, the PEA said it was not sure if the islands will black out again as there will be high power usage during the festive season.

About 80-90 percent of hotel rooms have been reserved via the Internet, mostly by tourists from the UK, Germany, Russia, and China despite the 3-day blackout, said Panu Woramit, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Surat Thani Office.

There are 490 hotels outlets with 19,500 rooms on Samui Island and 300 sites providing 7,000 rooms on Pha-ngan Island.

– NEW ZEALAND WINE: A great pre-Christmas choice from Hawkes Bay with a deep ruby Trinity Hill Syrah 2011 and a peppery Trinity Tempranillo 2009 by John Hancock rounded off with a honey sweet dessert wine from Mission Estates NZ’s oldest vineyard.

– BILLION TOURISTS: A record one billion people will travel across an international border as a tourist in 2012, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. That means that one in 7 people on the planet will participate in world traveling this year.

– TEMPLE OF THE DIVINE MADMAN: Bhutan’s religious heritage is among the most fascinating in the world, with numerous sites open to tourists. One, the fantastically-named Temple Of The Divine Madman, was built in the 15th century and has been restored, dazzling with brilliant golds, blues, and reds. As you walk up a dirt path towards it, guides explain that the Divine Madman was so called because of his preference for conducting his teachings via womanizing, drinking, and generally “acting crazy.”

The temple is believed to have been built to mark the saint’s success in defeating a trio of devils who had been eating local people. Meanwhile the Madman’s legendary sex life gained him a lasting reputation for fertility which encourages childless couples from Bhutan and beyond to make pilgrimages here. Once inside they pray and receive blessings. Many choose a card from a special pack offered by the temple’s chief monk who then shows them the name โ€“ and, therefore, the sex โ€“ of their future child written on the back.

– PHUKET MURDER: A second Hungarian suspect surrendered to Samui Tourist Police, denying any involvement in the grisly murder of a countryman in a Phuket house. Lajos Gyorgy Kvalka, 48, is now in Tourist Police custody in Phuket.

– MANDELA ILL: Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, spent a second day at the Pretoria hospital where he is said to be undergoing tests. On Saturday he was flown from his rural home in the Eastern Cape to the capital Pretoria to receive medical attention.

Mandela’s admission to the hospital sparked screaming newspapers headlines and ripples of fear that the frail leader is fading further away. And as his African National Congress political party stands ready to pick its leader who probably will be the next president, some believe governing party politicians have abandoned Mandela’s integrity and magnanimity in a seemingly unending string of corruption scandals.

– STAR GAZER DIES: Tributes have been paid to the “irreplaceable” British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore who has died at age 89. The eccentric broadcaster passed away peacefully at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, after being struck down by an infection.

– FOOTBALL: Robin van Persie scored a stoppage-time winner as Manchester United clinched a dramatic 3-2 away victory over Manchester City to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 6 points. At the final whistle it felt like bedlam, with Carlos Tevez and Sir Alex Ferguson contemplating whether to prolong an old argument, Gareth Barry screaming at Roberto Mancini, Rio Ferdinand nursing a line of blood above his left eye, and Phil Jones, already booked for inciting the crowd, determined to milk the moment some more.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C
Sunny hot and morning haze
Euro:US 1.2960
Euro:Baht 39.74
SET Index 1340

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C
Sunny hot and morning haze
Euro:US 1.2960
Euro:Baht 39.74
SET Index 1340

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Democrats cry “foul politics” on Abhisit DSI murder charge. Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban will be charged with murder for the death of a taxi driver during the 2010 Red Shirt rallies. ”They allowed security forces to use weapons and live ammunition that led to the death of civilians,” said DSI Chief Tarit Pengdith. Koh Samui still without power today after Tuesday’s blackout. Buddhist teachers want to move from Narathiwat.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Philippines typhoon toll 380. Tanks deployed, army moves to disperse dueling Egypt protests. Israel, German leaders “agree to disagree” on settlements.

OTHER NEWS:

– SAMUI BLACKOUT: Following the latest power failure on Samui, tourism operators yesterday demanded the development of a resilient infrastructure framework that will maintain the resort island’s fame as a world-class visitor destination.

“It’s time the private and public sectors work together for its sustainable development,” said Piyamarn Techapaibul, President of the Tourism Council of Thailand.

The blackout struck at around 8:00 am on Tuesday when a short circuit crippled the main transmission line carrying electricity from the mainland to Samui.

Piyamarn said the power outage was a good lesson. Tourism development nationwide must go hand in hand with infrastructure development. Samui should be a model, but its development has proceeded without direction. Especially utilities, both water and electricity, are insufficient to serve population growth.

For example, 10,000 rooms were estimated a few years ago to serve tourism on the island, but today that figure has doubled, she said.

Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO of Centara Hotels and Resorts, also called for the problems to be fixed. His three hotels on Samui have faced shortages from water, too. Piyamarn said the immediate damage to tourism was slight.

Business was running as usual. The airport was still open and hotels have survived without facing serious trouble. Especially the small- and medium-sized inns and guesthouses which offered special services to make their guests relax.

Thirayuth said the impact on his business has not been significant, thanks to generators installed.

Authorities in Surat Thani yesterday declared as disaster zones the two districts that have been suffering from blackouts since Tuesday.

The decision enables the provincial authority to use its emergency budget of Bt50 million, which will be used to buy necessary supplies, particularly petrol, for affected people.

Panu Woramit, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s South office, said that due to the low season, 50 percent of Samui hotel rooms were occupied, and standard-level hotels have their own generators, so the incident has slightly affected the tourism industry on the island. According to Bangkok Airways Head Office release yesterday, Samui Airport remains open with normal operation from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Power is expected to be restored to the island today.

– CROWN PRINCE ARRESTED IN BKK: Former Nepalese Crown Prince Paras Shah has been arrested for smashing property at a luxury apartment in Bangkok, police said, just a week after news emerged he had been bailed on drug charges. Shah was flown to the Thai capital for questioning after being seized in the tourist island of Phuket, where he was earlier arrested for drug possession.

– TRANG ARRIVALS SURPASS 1 MILLION: Trang province in Southern Thailand welcomed its one millionth visitor of the year on November 29, signifying a major milestone in the growth of the local tourism industry.

The waters off Trang have also become a refuge of the threatened dugong. Koh Libong is one of the best places to spot these docile sea mammals which have become the unofficial symbol of Trang.

As the average number of daily visitors is 3,200, it was calculated that the millionth visitor of 2012 would arrive in November. The province is growing in stature and reputation, becoming as popular as Krabi and Phang-nga, receiving 910,000 domestic and foreign visitors through the first nine months of 2012. By the end of 2012, Trang is expected to record 1.15 million visitors, an increase of 14% over 2011. Official statistics show that 70% of total visitors are Thai and 30% are foreigners.

Most of the foreign visitors are European, especially from the Scandinavian countries who enjoy long-stay, leisure holidays at the beachfront bungalows, mostly between November- March. More recently, there has been strong growth in arrivals from neighboring Malaysia, where TAT and the Thai tourism private sector have done extensive promotions.

Major factors that have contributed to the tourism growth are the increased flights by Nok Air and Thai AirAsia, the absence of natural disasters, and a stable social and economic situation which was orchestrated by a combination of private and public sector policies which are designed to ensure a balance between the local cost of living and income levels of the local people.

– ASIA HOTELS PREFERRED: LaSalle Investment Management, a division of the worldโ€™s second-largest commercial real estate brokerage, said it favors Asian hotels because of high occupancy rates. Revenue per available room in luxury hotels in Tokyo climbed almost 38 percent in the first 6 months of 2012 from a year earlier, while Shanghaiโ€™s top-tier hotels had growth of 28 percent and Jakartaโ€™s upscale hotelsโ€™ revenue climbed 21 percent.

LaSalle Investment, which manages about US$7 billion in property in Asia, said that an increase in prices of higher-quality properties, driven by demand from pension and sovereign wealth funds, will attract other investors. International visitor arrivals to SE Asia grew 8 percent in May from a year earlier, while in northeast Asia and south Asia they rose 4 percent and 6 percent, respectively, the latest figures from PATA showed.

In Australia, tight vacancy rates in inner and urban areas of Sydney and early signs of a recovery in the nationโ€™s most populous city make apartments an attractive investment.

– UK AIR TAX INCREASE: A further increase in Air Passenger Duty confirmed by Britain’s Chancellor in his Autumn Statement has been labeled ”unsurprising and self-destructive” by the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK. Dale Keller, Chief Executive of BAR UK, which represents over 80 airlines, said even the pre-Budget levels of APD could not be justified. ”The latest increase takes us dangerously beyond the tipping point where the impact can only be negative to the economy,” he said.

– CRICKET: Alastair Cook led England against India to a dominant position with a record-breaking innings in the Third Test. He became the youngest player to score 7000 Test match runs and it was his 23rd Test hundred for England, overtaking the 22 scored by four other players, first reached 73 years ago. No batsman in history has made hundreds in his first 5 matches as captain as Cook now has.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C
Sunny hot and morning haze possible showers later
Euro:US 1.3101
Euro:Baht 40.187
SET Index 1330

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C
Sunny hot and morning haze possible showers later
Euro:US 1.3101
Euro:Baht 40.187
SET Index 1330

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Hundreds of thousands of people thronged the Royal Plaza to help celebrate HM’s 85th birthday; the King is the world’s longest-reigning monarch. His Majesty ended his birthday speech delivered to all well-wishers before returning to Siriraj Hospital. The King stressed good morals in his people. Several thousands of well-wishers chanted “Long Live the King” as his royal motorcade reached the hospital.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Protesters besieged Egyptโ€™s presidential palace; Morsi flees ahead of mob. Nato moves missiles to Turkey-Syria border.

OTHER NEWS:

– TUI: Organic growth boosted turnover by 2 percent at TUI Travel, but currency fluctuations turned this into a 2 percent decline for the year. However, price increases, and cost savings of ยฃ42m pounds helped to lift underlying profits by 4 percent to ยฃ490m pounds.

– DIVORCE BY SMS: An Indonesian official is facing calls for his resignation after it emerged he divorced a teenager by text message following four days of marriage. Aceng Fikri, 40, is married with 3 children and took the 17-year-old as his second wife in a Muslim ceremony.

– ROYAL THAI AUDIENCE: Thais across the country will experience a rare delight today – a grand public audience granted by their much-beloved King from a balcony – an event known as Seehabanchorn in Thai. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world’s longest-reigning monarch, but throughout his more than 6-decade reign, he has granted such a grand public audience only 5 times before.

– MACAU: Casino shares tumbled. Police in mainland China and Macau have detained people from at least 3 of the biggest junket operators. By acting as middlemen, junket operators help drive the VIP business that accounts for about two-thirds of casino revenue in the worldโ€™s largest gambling hub. Las Vegas Sands fell 2.8 percent to US$45.46. Wynn Resorts dropped 2.9 percent to US$110.12.

– OBAMA HOLDS GROUND ON INCOME TAXES: US President Obamaโ€™s administration rejected a Republican plan for tackling the fiscal cliff that omitted higher tax rates for top-earning Americans, leaving the issue unresolved with about four weeks left before more than US$600 billion in tax increases and federal spending cuts start taking effect. European stocks rose as finance ministers met to discuss moves to stem the debt crisis.

Obama said in a television interview that the Republican offer on resolving the fiscal cliff doesnโ€™t go far enough and wonโ€™t raise the revenue needed to shrink the deficit by US$4 trillion over the next decade. Obama, in his first television interview since winning re-election, said, โ€œWe have the potential of getting a deal done.โ€

The President said heโ€™s willing to make further cuts in entitlements and realizes he wonโ€™t get โ€œ100 percentโ€ of what he wants. Still, he insisted that Republicans accept higher tax rates for top earners if the US is to avoid automatic spending cuts and tax increases at the start of 2013.

โ€œWeโ€™re going to have to have higher rates for the wealthiest,โ€ Obama said, โ€œItโ€™s just a matter of math.โ€

– NEW AIRLINE FOR THAILAND: One of Japanโ€™s biggest travel agencies said Tuesday it would set up a charter airline based in the Thai capital Bangkok as demand for air travel in Asia soars.

Interest in Asian Airlines has risen, and companies like Thai AirAsia, Nok, and Bangkok Airways are all doing well; at this point we will see many new airlines, and the industry will consolidate by 2015.

H.I.S. said its Asia Pacific Airlines would begin operating flights in the summer, connecting Bangkok to locations across East Asia, including China, Japan, and South Korea, a company official said.

The carrier would initially operate two 767 mid-sized planes before expanding its fleet to 10 aircraft within several years, it said.

โ€œAs demand for international flights is expected to jump in Asia, we want to secure our own aircraft so that we can offer services to both our current and new customers flexibly,โ€ the official said.

The travel giant offered few other details about its new airline.

About 18 million people used H.I.S. last year, and it had 446 billion yen (HK$42 billion) in turnover, according to the companyโ€™s financial results.

Asia Pacific Airlines will be owned 49 percent by H.I.S., with 39 percent held by its Thai unit H.I.S. Tours Co., and the remaining 12 percent held by Thai hotel owner, Panlert Baiyoke, according to a statement.

– TRINITY HILLS WINE NEW ZEALAND: Homage a Hawkes Bay Syrah is only produced in those years where the vintage is deemed worthy. The previous vintages of this wine have become highly collectible, and Homage is already one of New Zealandโ€™s most iconic and internationally-recognized labels. 2007 produced a wine that is more refined, elegant, and fragrant than the great 2006 and will mature into a beautiful wine, with elements of black fruits such as plum, blackberry, cherry, and cassis. The wine shows great elegance, with concentration and weight.

A rich game dish such as venison is required to stand up to this wine. The structure is tight and tense, which will allow the wine to age gracefully for up to 10 years in good conditions.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny hot and haze
Euro:US 1.3014
Euro:Baht 39.97
SET Index 1324

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny hot and haze
Euro:US 1.3014
Euro:Baht 39.97
SET Index 1324

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Admin court to decide fate of 3G auction Tuesday. Parts of South on flood-disaster alert. Democrats “have evidence” of rice-buying graft. Holiday mood sets in with festive celebrations and two public holidays looming on December 5 and December 10.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Japan highway tunnel collapses, 5 dead. Taliban suicide bombers attack US base. Egypt protests, courts strike as Muslim brotherhood grabs power.

OTHER NEWS:

– BHUTAN: The tiny Himalayan kingdom is known by many names: Land of Thunder Drago, Land of Happiness, Kingdom of Druk Yul, and the Last Shangri-La. A mystical land brimming with monasteries, dzongs, smiling people, and bounteous beauty.

It is also a country with a capital that has a single main road, no traffic lights, and a skyscraper dotted with traditional architectural marvels.

A country surrounded by spectacular mountains, gurgling rivers, and fluttering prayer flags.

The capital, Thimphu, is a sleepy town populated with men and women clad in traditional attire.

– PHUKET/EMIRATES AIRLINE/SOUTH AFRICA: There was a shift in tourism away from western countries to emerging markets, in part due to better connectivity, said Gulf carrier Emirates Airlineโ€™s Regional Manager of Southern Africa Fouad Caunhye.

Announcing the addition of a daily flight from Dubai to popular holiday destination Phuket, Mr. Caunhye said most of the new routes added by Emirates this year were to emerging markets.
“Emerging markets have taken the lead in attracting tourism demand,” he said, adding that 2,000 South Africans had booked flights to Phuket over December.

This will be Emiratesโ€™ fifteenth new route of the year, as the fast-growing airline looks to capitalize on the growth in tourism demand to emerging markets, particularly to Southeast Asia.

“Southeast Asia is a rising star in the global market – led by its five fastest-growing economies: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam,” Mr. Caunhye said.

Thailandโ€™s Ambassador to South Africa, Nonsiri Buranasiri, said Phuket was “Thailandโ€™s most popular tourist destination.”
Thailand was expecting a total of 20+ million tourist arrivals this year, of which about 80,000 would be South African, Mr. Buranasiri said.

South Africans visiting Thailand generally stayed 8 or 9 days in the country, well above the stays of other nationalities, Mr. Buranasiri said.

The new Phuket route was expected to increase arrivals to Thailand. The popular holiday destination provides an alternative Thai-destination to Bangkok, which attracts a large amount of business travelers, while the new Phuket route is targeted primarily at family-type holidays.

Emiratesโ€™ growth of its route offerings comes amid a challenging period for the global airline industry, although Middle Eastern carriers have lead the pack in terms of passenger growth.

The recent liquidation of South Africaโ€™s low-cost airline 1time paints a picture of an industry battling with high fuel costs and a difficult economic environment in which to operate, although the age of 1timeโ€™s fleet has been recognized as a significant component of the airlineโ€™s failure.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global traffic results for October showed a “persistent softening” of passenger traffic growth and a significant deterioration in freight demand.

Passenger demand in October rose 2.8% compared to October 2011, but declined 0.5% compared to September.

“Slowing world trade and weak business confidence are affecting demand for air travel, while Hurricane Sandy delivered a concentrated punch to US domestic and North Atlantic travel, and its impact was felt globally,” said Tony Tyler, IATAโ€™s CEO, on Thursday.

However, Middle East carriers experienced the strongest traffic growth at 12.4% year on year.

– W.I.N.E. – Customer satisfaction starts with knowing your customerโ€™s Wants, Interests, Needs, and Expectations. Understand these, and you’re well on the way to being able to capture the attention of your customers over your competition. Exceed these, and youโ€™re on track for increasing customer spend, getting repeat business, and developing long-term loyalty.

Look at everything from the perspective of your customers. The more you know and understand, the easier it will be to meet their expectations, give them exactly what they want to win new business as well as create repeat and referral business.

There’s a difference between what people need and what they want. The best way to illustrate this is to think of what happens when you go shopping. What you might need is a pair of comfortable hard-wearing shoes that you can wear every day for work. However, what you want is something that is stylish. Ultimately, you end up buying something that is anything but the sensible shoes you set out to buy.

– PB VALLEY THAI WINES: Pirom Khao Yai Reserve Tempranillo 2010. One of the best vintages of Pirom Khao Yai Wine; this exceptional vintage Tempranillo is a result of a long and stable winter. Unusual temperature decreases during the season, resulted in better yield and quality. This is a top-grade smooth and silky full-bodied red with rounded tannin, suggesting plum, blackberries, black cherry, and distinctive hint of oak from being partly aged in French oak for 14 months. It goes well with duck, game, and most red meat dishes. This wine can be enjoyed now or can be kept in a cellar for another 3-7 years to reach the full benefits. A silver medal winner at AWC 2012.

The Austrian Wine Challenge (AWC) Vienna 2012 is the largest wine competition in the world and is officially recognized by the European Union.

11,514 wines from 1,760 producers out of 37 nations are blind tasted, a world record.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny warm and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.2975
Euro:Baht 39.84
SET Index 1310

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny warm and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.2975
Euro:Baht 39.84
SET Index 1310

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Thailand is upset with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) resolution that the kingdom has made little progress in addressing unrest in the deep south. Government to protest to OIC over criticism of “meager” progress. Court may rule today to revoke bail for red shirt leaders. Thaksin criticizes Pheu Thaiโ€™s “weak” response during censure debate. Weather man says rain will continue into winter due to southern fronts.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Syria cuts Internet as Obama mulls intervention. 2012 is 9th warmest in 160 years. Palestinians win UN statehood. UK government urges more media watchdogs.

OTHER NEWS:

– THAI 2012 TOURISM: Thailand will enjoy good business in the fourth quarter due mainly to December’s long holiday periods, predicts the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT). The tourism confidence index is expected to rise to 104 points from 88 points in the third quarter. The index, which is based on responses from 600 tourism operators nationwide, shoots up to 120 points on the long New Year weekend and 110 points on Constitution Day.

December has many holidays including Constitution Day, His Majesty the King’s birthday, and New Year’s Eve. The index of 88 points for the third quarter was lower than the expected 92 points due to high competition, economic uncertainty, and concern over higher operating costs.

Convenient travel, development of tourism sites, and effective promotion of destinations have boosted prospects for tourism in the fourth quarter. The growth of low-cost airlines in the country is also helping tourism, said 60% of respondents.

In the fourth quarter, the tourism index records 109 points for restaurants, 108 for spa and massage providers, and 104 for hotels. The transport sector, with 93 points, is slightly lower than normal.

The TCT’s recent survey of 300 domestic tourists found 53% plan to travel in the last quarter.

The most popular destinations are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, Krabi, Rayong, Hua Hin, and Cha-am.

Some 74% want tourism operators to improve security, followed by cleanliness (68%) and services (51%).

The TCT predicts the number of international arrivals in the final quarter will increase to 5.76 million.

Asean arrivals will grow by 11.3% year-on-year to 1.7 million, Europeans by 4.17% to 1.41 million and East Asians by 15.4% to 1.79 million.

Arrivals for the full year are expected to increase by 15.4% from last year to 21.7 million.

– DEADLY WEDDING PROPOSAL: Two men have been arrested for slitting the throat of a 15-year-old Afghan girl after her family refused a marriage proposal, police say. The girl was carrying water from a river to her village home in northern Kunduz province when she was murdered.

– TAT TURNS TO LINE TO HOOK MORE TOURISTS: The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched an account on NHN Japanโ€™s popular chat platform Line. Its goal is to create another channel by which it can update travelers about promotions and activities.

The Governor of the TAT, Suraphon Svetasreni, noted that this effort is part of its worldwide social media strategy. Line has risen rapidly to be counted alongside social networks like Facebook and Twitter as important channels through which to reach consumers.

Recently, Thai foodstuff and retail giant CP Foods joined Line and AIS mobile.
Line has a user base of approx 75 million with nearly half of those based in Japan and Line is also popular with users in Asia.

Line has been in the top 10 social networking apps for Thailand on iOS (currently sixth) and also on Google, ranked fifth overall for free apps in Thailand.

– LARRY’S CHRISTMAS CHEER: A tourist’s photo of a New York City police officer Larry DePrimo giving new boots to a barefoot homeless man in Times Square has created an online sensation.

– THAIS FLOCK TO CAMBODIA: Thai tourists are visiting Cambodia in increasing numbers – with visitors almost doubling in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year.

Almost 92,000 Thais visited the neighboring country from January to June, an increase from 48,000, or a 90 percent jump from the same period last year, according to a Cambodian Tourism Ministry report.

– PORKY PIES IN THE SKIES: Airbus and Boeing have clashed over the performance of their latest revamped models as the aerospace companies battle for market share by offering fuel savings to cash-starved airlines. In the latest exchange, Airbus ran an advertisement in Aviation Week accusing its rival of ”exaggerating the capabilities” of both the 737 and the latest 747 models.

– CHINESE SATIRE: People’s Daily Online deleted a story and 55-photo slide show that named Kim Jong-un, the young, chubby ruler of North Korea, the โ€œSexiest Man Alive of 2012.โ€ An editor at China’s People’s Daily Online said that the news organization had now realized the original story was satire and had pulled the feature.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C
Sunny warm and partly cloudy with heavy showers.
Euro:US 1.2938
Euro:Baht 39.70
SET Index 1297

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C
Sunny warm and partly cloudy with heavy showers.
Euro:US 1.2938
Euro:Baht 39.70
SET Index 1297

BANGKOK BRIEF:

The government came under heavy fire over alleged irregularities in the spending of its 120-billion-baht flood rehabilitation and prevention budget during the last day of the censure debate yesterday. Inmates at Bangkok Remand Prison danced to South Korean rap star Psy’s mega-hit “Gangnam Style” in the final round of a dance competition organized by the prison’s correctional program on Tuesday. A senior monk has called for help from the media, saying he won a total of 54 million baht in the lottery and has since been constantly harassed, blackmailed even, by lottery sellers demanding a share of the winnings, reports said on Tuesday. The army is proposing to have teachers in the violence-plagued far South board at schools to reduce the risk of being attacked by insurgents during their commutes. Prasit Chaisrisa, a Pheu Thai MP for Surin province, was accused of sexually harassing Democrat Party MP Rangsima Rodrassami during yesterday’s censure debate.

WORLD SUMMARY:

North Korea preparing new missile tests. Yasser Arafat body dug up for poison tests. New rally opposes Egypt president. Malaysia MPs ban sexist remarks.

OTHER NEWS:

– FORBES MAGAZINE: Medical tourism isnโ€™t a new concept, Switzerland has been a Mecca to foreigners for over 100 years by offering superior health care. Interestingly, a more recent trend of emerging, and even frontier, nations developing medical tourism industries has sprouted. Unlikely spots such as Thailand are getting in on the game. I visited Bangkok last week and was encouraged by a friend to get a full check up at the Bumrungrad Hospital. I generally donโ€™t like hospitals but I had a very positive experience at a fraction of the US cost and at 5x the speed.

I stayed at a suite in the St. Regis, a brand new luxury hotel, for less than US$200 a night. I received a full medical exam for less than US$1,000, including a last-minute MRI. A similar stay at the Four Seasons in Westlake, CA, with a state-of-the-art medical and longevity center probably would have been much more expensive and time consuming by a factor of three.

While at the hospital I met the Bumrungrad CEO Dennis Brown, an American from Virginia. He joked that a friend asked if he had a medical problem would be return to the US? Brown replied, โ€œIf I were in America and needed care I would begin trying to figure out how to get back to Thailand.โ€

– TRIPADVISOR: Cornell University in a recent white paper demonstrates that online guest satisfaction has a direct impact not only on occupancy but also on RevPar and rates.

The study is performed by The Center of Hospitality Research in partnership with ReviewPro, STR Global, and Travelocity; it is based on an analysis of more than 31,000 monthly observations over 2.5 years on midscale, upscale, and luxury hotels in 11 major markets in the North America and Europe.

The analysis finds the following:

– The percentage of online travel shoppers consulting reviews at TripAdvisor prior to booking a hotel room has steadily increased over time.

– If a hotel increases its review scores by 1 point on a 5-point scale, then the hotel can increase its price by 11.2 percent and still maintain the same occupancy or market share.

– A 1-percent increase in a hotel’s online reputation score leads up to a 0.89-percent increase in price as measured by the hotel’s average daily rate (ADR).

– This 1-percent increase in reputation also leads to an occupancy increase of up to 0.54 percent.

– Also this same 1-percent reputation improvement leads up to a 1.42-percent increase in revenue per available room (RevPar).

This report is so important because it is the first of its kind that provides facts rather than assumptions that social media and user generated contents impact hotels occupancy, rates and RevPar.

– QATAR: Qatar Airways took delivery of the first of 60 Dreamliners earlier this month with the second arriving over the weekend. Both aircraft are currently operating commercial flights on intra-Gulf routes to familiarize operating crew with the aeroplane before entering the long-haul market.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker said, โ€œWe have already received our second 787 with a further three to join our fleet by the end of the year. And we wonโ€™t stop there. With more 787s being inducted into the fleet next year, further route launches and our move to a brand new international airport in Doha during 2013, we continue to look forward to another year of exciting developments.โ€

One important feature of every seat throughout the aircraft is the touch screen Android system, where passengers are able to navigate through a truly interactive service offering more than 1,000 movies, TV programs, music, and gaming entertainment options in a user friendly way, just like the latest smart phones.
The touch-screen control unit has a unique dual screen interface allowing passengers to play games on their handheld device while enjoying a movie on their personal screen.

Passengers can also stay connected through Wi-Fi and GSM telephony, sending both text and MMS messages, with each seat equipped with USB, MP3 and other charger ports, including laptop power outlets.

Qatar Airways has 254 seats across its 787 Business and Economy Class cabins. Business Class is configured 1โ€“2โ€“1 with 22 seats, while Economy has 232 seats in a 3โ€“3โ€“3 layout.

– WORLD’S BEST AIRLINE: THAI was recently placed ninth in the World’s Best Airline of the Year, dropping from fifth place last year and from fourth in 2008, according to Skytrax’s annual worldwide passenger satisfaction survey.

– BAN ELTON: A Malaysian Muslim political party is demanding that Elton John be barred from performing in the country later this week because he is homosexual. Nasruding Hassan Tantawi, head of the youth wing of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic party, said the concert โ€œmust be cancelled.โ€

– YASAAR ARAFAT: Eight years after his death, Yasser Arafat’s body was exhumed as part of a French murder investigation into whether he was slowly killed by a radioactive poison, polonium-210 – the same substance used to murder the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 – after it was detected on his clothes earlier this year.

– BURMA: The state-controlled Airports of Thailand is in talks with Burma’s Airport Authority involving a broad range of possible cooperation including AoT becoming a joint venture partner and running airports in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw.

– DAMP PROTEST: Tourism executives breathed a sigh of relief after Pitak Siam leaders cancelled their protest in the Thai capital late Saturday.

Tourism Council of Thailand president, Piyaman Tejapaibul, said that the industry was hopeful that what could have been a disastrous outcome had been averted when the protest was called off after a day of confrontation with riot police.

Protest organizers had said earlier that they would end their efforts to overthrow the government if they could not get 500,000 supporters on the streets.

Instead, no more than 10,000 who showed up last Saturday to face police who at the first provocation responded with a volley of tear gas. Protesters faced off with police bused in from around the country and particularly northern provinces that are strongholds of โ€œred shirtโ€ politics.

The TCT president added: โ€œInternational tourists will understand the situation is similar to what occurs in other democratic countries where people can express their opinions, but according to the rule of law. Thanks to the protestors they kept their word and withdrew when it was evident there was not enough support,โ€ Ms. Piyaman said.

The country should attract more than 2 million tourists to reach a year-end total of 21.7 million and generate Bt900 billion in revenue, but the result would have been at risk if the protest had gained a foothold in and around the historical and government office district.

Association of Thai Travel Agents president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, said the rally was short so tourists will understand the situation.

โ€œSo far, there is no report of cancellations.โ€

Thai Travel Agents Association president, Suthiphong Pheunphiphop, said all tourism operators were monitoring the situation closely.

Thai Hotel Association president, Surapong Techaruvichit, said the Pitak Siam protest had not impacted on hotel bookings.

โ€œNormally, rallies and protests occur in any country. If the impact is contained and managed, it will not affect tourism,โ€ the THA president said.

British Airways manager for Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, Sriram Narayan, said he was not worried about the political demonstration as long as the airport remained โ€œfunctional.โ€

– PATTAYA: Pattaya City Mayor, Ithiphol Khunplume, said he intends to make the resort a second home for retirees and roll out the welcome mat for investors claiming that the city has undergone a major revamp and is well-equipped with recreational, healthcare and infrastructure to cater to the long-stay and seniors market.

– DEATHLY LAWSUIT: Delta and KLM have been threatened with a $6 million lawsuit from the husband of a clinically obese woman who died while on holiday in Hungary after she was refused a seat home for medical treatment. Vilma Soltez, who weighed over 30 stones and had only one leg and used a wheelchair, died from health complications nine days after she was kicked off the first of the three flights.

– THAI LESSONS: You’re still a visitor if you still think it is important to be punctual and get extremely irritated with Thais’ nonchalant attitude towards tardiness. Here is some sound advice when making an appointment. If you’ve got an appointment with a Thai at 5:00 pm, add another 15 minutes.

If the meeting is on Friday, you’d better add 30 minutes.

If the person you’re meeting is a Thai woman, you’d better add an hour.

– THAI WINE WINS: PB Valley Khao Yai Winery was the toast of the recent Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit fair with its white โ€œPirom Khao Yai Reserve, Chenin Blanc 2011โ€ being awarded a Silver Medal.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C
Sunny warm and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.2975
Euro:Baht 39.85
SET Index 1282

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C
Sunny warm and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.2975
Euro:Baht 39.85
SET Index 1282

BANGKOK BRIEF:

The opposition kicked off its censure debate Sunday by attacking Defense Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat for his role in the navy’s scheme to modernize combat systems on two frigates. The government will consider lifting the Internal Security Act (ISA) Monday, with the Pitak Siam group’s attempt to overthrow the administration now over. The new TOT board has given the state agency a 90-day deadline to implement the first phase of its third-generation (3G) service on a full-scale commercial basis.

WORLD SUMMARY:

The eurozone is very close to an agreement on Greek debt, said the French Finance Minister. The Rolling Stones rocked London on Sunday as they thrilled a 20,000 crowd in the first of 5 concerts to mark their 50th anniversary. Congress “fiscal cliff” talks resume on Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday; there were encouraging signs that Republican intransigence on tax could be easing. Nearly 200 nations gather in Doha for a new round of climate talks as a rush of reports warn extreme weather events like superstorm Sandy may become commonplace if mitigation efforts fail.

OTHER NEWS:

– ATF 2013: Over 1,000 exhibitors from across ASEAN have snapped up more than 460 booths at ATF Travex 2013.

This strong exhibitor line-up, which is 40% larger than the previous ATF Travex showcase, represents a wide range of diverse products and services from the 10 ASEAN countries.

The exhibition boasts 75 corporate booths, the highest number achieved by the event thus far. With new exhibitors comprising 35% this year, and strong booth take-up from returning exhibitors, ATF Travex consolidates its position as one of the leading travel trade events in the region.

The showโ€™s coveted hosted buyer program attracted close to 1,100 registrations, of which only some 380 quality buyers will be selected for hosting at the event. In addition, more than 50 buyers will attend as non-hosted buyers.

The 2013 Travex dates are from January 22-24, and the event will take place at the Laos International Trade Exhibition and Convention Center (Laos ITECC).

– THAI RALLY: The short-lived, anti-government rally on Saturday resulted in the injury of 82 people, authorities said, while the government is assessing whether to lift a special security law which helped curb the rally turnover. National Security Council Chief Paradorn Pattanthabutr said the Internal Security Act might be lifted by the government on either November 26 or November 27. Police put the number of protesters at about 10,000, but many of them left as police twice fired tear gas to disperse crowds. This was far short of retired Army General Boonlert Kaewprasit’s hope of one million.

Police have released without charge 137 out of the 138 protesters detained during clashes, People’s Alliance for Democracy lawyer, Puangthip Boonsanong, said. Only the driver of a six-wheeled lorry that broke through a police barrier at Makkhawan Rangsin bridge, wounding a number of officers, is still in custody.

– THAI: Thai Airways International’s new President, Sorajak Kasemsuvan, believes weaving “Thainess” into passenger-related areas can set the legacy airline apart from others and put it on the path to profitability.

“I don’t care what THAI’s ranking will be. During my term, I want it to be one of the most popular airlines, to be the airline that represents Thailand, and the airline that is the best ambassador for Thailand,” he said.

Some cabin crew are now trained to provide the “Thai smile,” but Thainess could also be reflected through menus, uniforms, and services. Many improvements are on the drawing board.

Taking office in September, he embraced the huge challenge to increase THAI’s profitability amid factors squeezing global airlines’ profit margins. He recalled the first meeting with all aviation-related state enterprises, when every one of them expected high profits except the national carrier.

The International Air Transport Association forecasts global airline profits in 2012 at US$4.1 billion (about Bt126 billion), less than half of US$8.4 billion last year.

In THAI’s forecast last month, margins were likely to be 0.6 percent this year, before rising to 1.1 percent next year. With 17 new aircraft to be delivered next year, THAI is expected to raise revenue to over Bt220 billion and earn Bt5-6 billion, against a net loss of Bt10 billion in 2011 and net profit of Bt15 billion in 2010.

Amid fierce competition, THAI has been cashing in on “Thainess” to “steal market share” from other airlines. He intends to strengthen the image.

Passengers must feel the quality when boarding a THAI plane. The ambience, greeting, food, and services must be of authentic quality.

Inspired by the popularity of Thai food and comments that food served on board tastes different from that in restaurants, the President plans a big change to the menus, particularly for first class.

A customer food board will be set up with big names like chef McDang (ML Sirichalerm Svasti), socialite Rapeepan Luangaramrat (Khun Reed), actor Chakrit Yamnam, who hosts a famous cooking show, and some winning chefs from the “Iron Chef Thailand” show.

They will be invited to give opinions to the 5 master chefs of THAI, including 4 foreigners. The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok will be courted to come up a monthly signature dish – main dish or sweets.

“Everybody knows that Thailand is the best in the world when it comes to food. Bringing famous Thais into the scene will help. This could create the best Thai restaurant in the sky,” he said.

Uniforms will be restyled, using unique local fabrics. A team would be dispatched to find suitable and durable fabrics “with a story to tell” – like where they are made, how, and what benefits the local weavers reap from supplying the fabrics to THAI. Then, internationally-acclaimed Thai designer Thakoon Panichgul would be contracted to turn the fabrics into charming uniforms.

Thainess can also echo the nature of society, where everyone is related. THAI’s service can be built on this. All passengers will be “treated like our relatives regardless of their nationalities.”

After spotting a shower in Emirates’ first class cabin plus a maid who always keeps it clean during an observation flight, Sorajak now plans to introduce Thai traditional massage to first-class passengers on Airbus A380 flights to main destinations like Paris, Frankfurt, and London.

The Commerce Ministry will be approached to award “Thai Select” certificates for the top 10 dishes, while some OTOP products will be shown on board and others in the shopping catalogue. Thailand Post would be asked to handle deliveries.

THAI Shops, which may feature quality corporate premiums, will be opened at all major airports in Thailand, while Puff & Pie, the bakery shop, could be rebranded into THAI restaurants.

“They could generate extra income, though small, but they would strengthen Thailand’s image,” he said.

All the work is plotted, though Sorajak has had numerous meetings to attend, at least 2 to 3 per day. He is working on ways to cut down on committees and meetings. He prefers to call executives for discussion in his office, rather than join a big meeting that could end up with no resolution even after 4 hours.

He does not see the need for wholesale changes in routing plans. More destinations in Japan would be introduced and frequencies increased, as Japanese, Korean, and Chinese operations are all above target. THAI Smile, the budget airline, would spread its wings to more Asean destinations and to southern China.

Daily flights to Los Angeles would be revived and probably also flights to New York City in the hope that increased penetration of the US would bring in more dollar income. Now, most revenue is in the euro and yen, while fuel bills are in dollars. THAI is also eyeing Eastern Europe, where a nouveau rich class is emerging despite the crisis in the eurozone.

Partnerships in the tourism industry, which generates Bt1.48 trillion of annual revenue, are being sought. The flight network could be adjusted according to data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, while Bangkok Airways could be drawn in to join some promotions.

“Rankings are insignificant. A higher ranking is welcomed, but it’s not the priority,” he added.

– PC AIR TRANSGENDER: Talks are in an advanced stage for a new investor to take over PC Air, the troubled Thai charter airline that left hundreds of passengers stranded in South Korea last month. The investor is described as a well-heeled Thai family keen to engage in the airline business.

– BANGKOK AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS: Bangkok Airways has created an instant business class in some of its aircraft configured only with economy seats to cash in on demand from passengers requiring premium offerings. The privately-owned carrier will leave unoccupied the middle of the 3 seats in the first 3 rows on both sides of its single-aisle Airbus 319 jets.

– HOTEL DATA IN ASIA IN OCTOBER: In year-on-year measurements, the Asia Pacific region’s occupancy ended the month virtually flat with a 0.2% decrease to 70.9%, its ADR fell 0.6% to US$135.51 and its RevPAR was down 0.8% to US$96.08.

According to data compiled by STR Global, hotels in the Asia Pacific region experienced slight decreases in all three key performance metrics for October 2012 when reported in US dollars.

“We are delighted that China is the second biggest country in our sample,” said Elizabeth Randall Winkle, Managing Director of STR Global. “After the UK, with 2,900 hotels, we assist 1,900 hotels in China with our benchmarking reports and market analysis. For the month of October, China reported 67% occupancy and US$111 ADR. Both key performance indicators were below the Asia Pacific average of 71% occupancy and US$136 ADR. Whilst supply growth has slowed across China to 3.5% for year to October, the room stock continued to increase at a higher rate than the regional 2.9%, which negatively impacted the country’s performance.”

Highlights from key market performers in local currency (year-on-year comparisons):

Bangkok, Thailand, reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 20.1% to 70.2%. Delhi, India, followed with a 12.1% occupancy increase to 68.5%.
Taipei, Taiwan, posted the largest occupancy decrease, falling 9.3% to 68.7%.

Four markets achieved double-digit ADR increases: Jakarta, Indonesia (+21.4% to IDR989,081.91); Tokyo, Japan (+20.9% to JPY16,599.58); Taipei (+14.4% to TWD5,978.13); and Bali, Indonesia (+11.7% to IDR1,344,455.67).

Auckland, New Zealand, reported the largest decreases in both ADR (-54.6% to NZD141.84) and RevPAR (-55.9% to NZD111.55) for the month.

Three markets experienced RevPAR increases of more than 20%: Bangkok (+28.7% to THB2,001.16); Tokyo (21.0% to JPY14,282.24); and Jakarta (+20.3% to IDR769,637.95).

Highlights from key market performers for October 2012 in US dollars (year-on-year comparisons):

Five markets experienced double-digit ADR increases: Taipei (+17.8% to US$204.22); Tokyo (+15.2% to US$208.41); Jakarta (+11.0% to US$102.57); Phuket, Thailand (+11.0% to US$93.73); and Manila, Philippines (+10.3% to US$130.51).

Three markets achieved RevPAR increases of more than 15%: Bangkok (+29.9% to US$65.03); Phuket (+15.3% to US$67.64); Tokyo (+15.2% to US$179.32).
Auckland reported the largest ADR decrease, falling 54.6% to US$116.42. The market also experienced the largest RevPAR decrease for the month, down 55.9% to US$91.55.

STR Global now tracks hotel performance from more than 1,900 hotels across all hotel classes in China and more than 4,500 hotels throughout Asia Pacific.

– PHUKET FILM: Shot mainly in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, over the best part of two years, โ€œThe Impossibleโ€ premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September and opened to Spanish audiences on October 11, where it continues to be the top-ranking movie. โ€œThe Impossibleโ€ (2004 Tsunami Phuket) opens in cinemas on Thursday.

– PATTAYA: Consultants planning the construction of subterranean bypass tunnels in north and central Pattaya will spend another 3 months studying traffic and environmental issues before presenting their final designs to the city.

– F1: Sebastian Vettel became the youngest triple champion in Formula One history when he finished sixth behind the victorious Jenson Button in a tumultuous Brazilian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old German, who was involved in an opening lap collision, made light of the damage to his Red Bull car as he fought through the field in a dramatic race run in treacherous rain-swept conditions.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny with early mist and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.2882
Euro:Baht 39.56
SET Index 1280

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Sunny with early mist and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.2882
Euro:Baht 39.56
SET Index 1280

BANGKOK BRIEF:

PM invokes Internal Security Act, says some may be planning Saturday violence. Kittiratt admits rice purchase will lose, “but not 300 billion baht.” The Constitution Court rejects petition for it to order the cancellation of the Pitak Siam group’s rally on Saturday.

WORLD SUMMARY:

On the first day, the Gaza truce holds. US UN ambassador defends false comments. US details bin Laden’s burial at sea. Royal Opera chief is new BBC director.

OTHER NEWS:

– THAI PROTEST: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asked the public to stay away from the Royal Plaza and Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit’s Pitak Siam rally on Saturday, fearing violence “to subvert democracy.” She explained on national television why she invoked the Internal Security Act that could allow the use of troops.

“Public gatherings and protests, especially those arising from public grievances, is provided for and protected by the Constitution,” she said, ”But such public gatherings must be peaceful, without the use of weapons, and within the boundaries of the law.”

One political insider said the government has made a mistake by invoking the Internal Security Act, which blocks protesters from the provinces from joining tomorrow’s protest at the Royal Plaza. The source said some critics saw the mobilization of 50,000 security officers, both from Bangkok and from nearby provinces as a sign that the rally has unnerved the government.

– ANURA WINES SOUTH AFRICA: Held an extremely successful South African wine dinner at the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa recently.

Anura owner, Mr.Tymen Bouma’s, superb range of Anura and Joy wines were featured to accompany dinner providing a unique dining experience.

Organized by Pasit Foobunma, Board member & webmaster SA/Thai Chamber of Commerce; Tymen Bouma, wine maker and owner of the Anura wine estate; Allan Riddell, Director SA/Thai Chamber of Commerce; Dylan Counsel, Director of Operations – Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa; and Ross Edward Marks, Head of the Wine Division Central World Thailand.

Tymen Bouma has developed the family farm from the original 2 blocks of vineyards into 150 hectares of vines, with a production potential of 700 tons, over 10 years. Anura creates handcrafted wines for those looking for a unique experience when drinking wine. Its passion is to produce wines of individual character, which combine the robust fruit of the new world with the elegance, and complexity of the old world in order to better achieve the ideal style of wine.

Wines from the Joy range include sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet/Merlot.

The Anura range include Chardonnay, Rose, and Pinotage/Syrah, and Anura Shiraz.

– THAILAND’S TOURISM TO SURPASS 21M: TMB Bankโ€™s think-tank unit, TMB Analytics, estimates international tourist arrivals to Thailand will reach 21 million by year-end, which would generate Bt 920 billion in tourism revenue. The government expects tourism to earn Bt 2 trillion within three years from both domestic and international visits.

But the bankโ€™s research unit warned that its optimistic projection depended on the country remaining โ€œnormal.โ€ It was probably a reference to the call for a military coup by certain pressure groups that are unhappy with the Yingluck administration.
TMB Analytics said its forecast Bt 920 billion revenue would breakdown into Bt 280 million for accommodation costs followed by the souvenirs business at Bt 220 billion, food and beverage at Bt 170 billion, and other business at Bt 250 billion.

It added that provinces gaining the most benefit would be Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Songkhla.

Tourist arrivals for January to October, this year, reached 17.7 million, an increase of 9.7% compared to the same period last year, according to Department of Tourism data.

For the first 10 months, 10 million East Asia and ASEAN travelers topped the supplier list up 11.3% and accounting for a 56.4% market share.

Meanwhile, 4.3 million European tourists visited the country accounting for 24.1% of all arrivals and an increase of 9.5% year-on-year mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. The Eurozone crisis has hit arrivals from Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Italy.

Travel agencies that traditionally focused on Europe are facing tough times, but those who diversified to include India and Russia have made good the shortfalls.

Some companies were slow to make the shift to the Asia Pacific market believing the spending power of Europeans would compensate for any drop in numbers. But the Eurozone crisis is affecting both spending and visits. Travelers are shopping for bargains, reducing their spend on food and beverage, and scaling down to lower hotel categories.

Other markers were: South Asia (1.1 million; +1.7%); the Americas (853,690; +9.9%); Oceania (844,012; +8.7%); Middle East (523,963; -1.4%); and Africa (122,456; +10.1%).

TMB Analytics said that tourist arrivals should grow 7% next year and it was possible the country could reach 22.5 million visits.

The unit also suggested that the government needed to strengthen and consolidate strategies and measures to support of tourism to boost travelersโ€™ spending.

It urged tourism operators particularly in the accommodation sector to be aware of fierce competition and the challenge of an increased investment flow from ASEAN once liberalization policies kick in at the end of 2015. They will allow foreigners to invest up to 70% in tourism and services business giving them a legal majority stake for the first time.

Some travel agencies reported shortages in vehicles for land transfers in Thailand during the busy November-January high season, a further indicator of a strengthening sector.

– PHUKET’S FULL MONTY: On December 8, 2012, Skal International Phuket is organizing an annual charity dinner. And for the first time (and possibly the last…) the committee will do the Full Monty. All for a good cause. All monies raised during that dinner will go towards 2 charities that Skal International Phuket is supporting, the Phuket Has Been Good to Us foundation, and Skal’s charity fund helping children in Khao Lak and Rawai districts.

– LOY KRATHONG: Spending during the Loy Krathong festival next Wednesday will reach an estimated 10.3 billion baht, the highest in seven years, as sentiment recovers in the absence of massive flooding this year.

According to a survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), Loy Krathong will be bustling this year, with spending up by 24% from last year.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently disclosed it has set aside 20 million baht to support eight major events during the last week of November in honour of Loy Krathong.

In Bangkok, the Delightful Color of Stream will highlight Chao Phraya River attractions like Asiatique, Krungthep Bridge, and Krung Thon Bridge.

An illuminated float procession and light show will take place from November 26-28 along the river.

At Sukhothai Historical Park from November 24-28 will be the Dawn of Happiness procession, where visitors can enjoy floating lanterns, a fireworks display, and a Miss Noppamas beauty contest.

– EUROZONE GREEK DEBT TALKS FAIL: Greece’s international lenders failed for the second week running to agree how to get the country’s debt down to a sustainable level and will have a third go at resolving their most intractable problem in six days’ time.

After nearly 12 hours of talks through the night during which myriad options were discussed, eurozone finance ministers, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Central Bank failed to reach a consensus, without which emergency aid cannot be disbursed to Athens.

“We are close to an agreement but technical verifications have to be undertaken, financial calculations have to be made, and it’s really for technical reasons that at this hour of the day it was not possible to do it in a proper way and so we are interrupting the meeting and reconvening next Monday,” Eurogroup Chairman Jean-Claude Juncker said.

– SKAL BANGKOK: Skal International Bangkok, part of the travel and tourism industry networking organization which has 19,000 members worldwide, met at the Dusit Thani hotel in Bangkok on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 to discuss aviation issues in Thailand.

Guest speakers were two Bangkok-based airline industry experts: Sharuka Wickrama-Adittaya, GM of Sri Lankan Airlines, and Joe Rajadurai , GM at Qatar Airways. Skal International Bangkok President Dale Lawrence moderated the panel discussion.

– DUBAI SEX: A British woman and an Irish man accused of engaging in sexual activities in a Dubai taxi have been sentenced to three months in prison and then deportation. The case is the latest in which Westerners have fallen foul of the United Arab Emirates’ decency laws.

In related news December will usher in the start of direct flights from Dubai to Phuket by top airline carrier Emirates. Daily service will commence on December 10.

– THAI AIRASIA: Thai AirAsia posted a profit of 199 million baht (US$6.5 million) in the third quarter while the Indonesian venture had net income of 74.5 billion rupiah (US$7.7 million) the company reported.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Cloudy with early mist and rain
Euro:US 1.2812
Euro:Baht 39.30
SET Index 1276

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Cloudy with early mist and rain
Euro:US 1.2812
Euro:Baht 39.30
SET Index 1276

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Obama urges calm over Sea disputes without criticizing China. PM Wen in Bangkok today. 5,000 police for Saturday, Democrats say security faulty.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Hillary heads to Mideast as Israel, Hamas declare Gaza truce. Obama meets Wen, Noda in Phnom Penh. Bribery charges against 2 UK Murdoch phone hackers.

OTHER NEWS:

– USA IN MYANMAR: Barack Obama was riding in his motorcade, the first US president to visit long-isolated Myanmar, when he suddenly ordered an unscheduled detour Monday.

The Secret Service scrambled. Police raced ahead to clear crowded roads. Tourists were chased away.

Soon Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton were barefoot in the muggy afternoon. They hiked up a long set of marble stairs and took in the 325-foot-tall Shwedagon Pagoda, which is covered with gilt leaf and topped by a jewel-encrusted spire. It is the oldest Buddhist pagoda in the world and the most revered site in this overwhelmingly Buddhist nation.

After consulting a guide, Obama walked over to a statue for those born on Fridays, which he was. Tradition calls for pouring a cup of water over the Buddha’s shoulder once for each year of age, plus one, to douse the “human flames” of emotion that cause suffering. Obama is 51. “I’m going to do it 11 times,” he announced. No one complained.

So went a whirlwind day for a president who showed himself willing to set aside the bloodshed in the Middle East, the “fiscal cliff” back home, and other crises to mix tourism with diplomacy for a few hours in a nation struggling to emerge from decades of oppressive military rule.

He met with President Thein Sein, once viewed as a roadblock to democratic reform, who vowed to follow Obama’s campaign slogan: “Forward!” He visited Aung San Suu Kyi, the dissident-turned-politician and a fellow Nobel Laureate, at the lovely lakeside home that was her prison for 15 years, a scene almost unimaginable not long ago. He met with civil society activists and opposition party leaders. He spoke at a university. All in six hours.

– MEKONG MEETING CMAI: Thailand will host the International Conference on Sustainable Development in the GMS. Foreign ministers from the other five countries in the region, namely China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, will be attending the meeting, deputy government spokesman Pakdiharn Himathongkham said. The event will be held in Chiang Mai on January 13 and 14, he added.

Foreign Ministry permanent secretaries from the participating countries will meet mid-next month to prepare for the meeting.

The Mekong River, which is called Lancang in China, has been at the core of development in Southeast Asia for decades now. There are several cooperation schemes in the region such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), which involves all six countries in terms of infrastructure development and the Mekong River Commission (MRC) that includes four countries in the lower part of the Mekong River.

However, there is still a lack of organized means to handle the many challenges such as natural disasters and security concerns faced by the Mekong region.

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said recently that this conference was necessary to help handle new challenges arising in the Mekong basin, notably natural disasters that have been inflicting great damage to development in the region.

The Foreign Ministry’s proposal to host the conference was approved by the Cabinet yesterday. This meeting will also discuss and explore cooperation on agriculture, fishery, tourism, and security.

Separately, the Cabinet has also approved a proposal from the Foreign Ministry to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in 2022. Thailand hosted its first Apec forum in 2003 under Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration.

– CHINA-THAI: The Thai Ambassador, HE Mr.Wiboon Khusakul, Ambassador to Beijing, was asked to comment about Premier Wen’s visit to Thailand: “During Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s visit to China in April, Thailand and China agreed to elevate their relations from a โ€˜strategic cooperation partnershipโ€™ to a โ€˜comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership,โ€™ which reflects the deepening trust and confidence between our two countries. Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Thailand in November 2012, the first for a Chinese Premier in over 10 years, is yet another milestone in our bilateral relations and comes as Premier Wen is set to step down from office and make way for a new generation of leaders. Despite the change in leadership, I’m very optimistic about the future of Thailand-China relations, which will continue to grow stronger.

โ€œThailand and China can continue to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade, investment and tourism. The volume of trade and investment between our two countries has significantly increased over the years. However, the global economic crisis has affected our two-way trade, resulting in only a 4.4 percent increase in terms of trade volume in the first three quarters of 2012 compared to a 22.3 percent increase in 2011. During the Prime Minister’s official visit to China in April 2012, both sides set ambitious targets in terms of expanding trade, investment, and tourism. In this regard, both sides wish to increase the volume of bilateral trade to $100,000 billion by 2015 or an increase of 15 percent per year, increase the rate of investment by 10 percent per year, and increase the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand at a rate of 20 percent per year.

โ€œIn 2011, 1.7 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand and we expect to reach our target of 2 million visitors this year. The large number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand reflects not only China’s strong economy but also the confidence and trust the Chinese people have in Thailand.

โ€œChinese tourists visit Thailand for the same reason that other people visit the country, and that is to experience all that we have to offer: Thai food, beautiful temples, natural wonders like our sandy beaches and green mountains, great shopping centers, our world-renowned hospitality, and our unique traditions and culture that constantly charm our guests, just to name a few. In other words, we have a little bit of everything for everybody.

โ€œWe’re also determined to improve our tourism sector with new forms of tourist attractions to fit the changing demands of the Chinese people. In addition, the Thai government has pledged to increase the safety and security of tourists in Thailand.โ€

– BOI: The Board of Investment expects this year’s applications for investment privileges to exceed Bt1 trillion, as many foreign companies relocate their manufacturing bases to Asean out of concern over the worsening European economic situation and the fragile US economy.

Next year will see the BOI’s investment promotion plan focusing on future and creative industries, while encouraging more Thai businesses to invest overseas, Secretary-General Udom Wongviwat-chai said yesterday.

Foreign investors still have confidence in Thailand despite last year’s devastating floods, he said.

– PHUKET AIRPORT TAXI MOU: At Phuket Airport, local officials yesterday approved requests made by local taxi operators to boost their airport fleets.

Also as part of the agreement, metered taxi drivers will no longer levy a โ€œsurchargeโ€ for picking up passengers at the airport.

They must now charge 100 baht for the first kilometer.

Under the terms of the agreement, any taxi drivers who refuse to serve passengers, or who do not use the meter to determine fares, would be subject to immediate police action.

The MOU also clearly stipulates that any future increases in the number of taxis serving the airport, and any increases in the fares charged by taxi operators, must be approved by the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) Committee.

In turn, representatives of the taxi operators who are party to the MOU promised โ€œnot to damage Phuketโ€™s tourism image.โ€

Any drivers found to have breached the terms of the agreement face possible action by the PLTO, including cancellation of the vehicleโ€™s commercial registration.

– FOOTBALL: Both English teams lost their Champions League matches. Juventus delivered a comprehensive 3-0 lesson to defending champions Chelsea while Galatasary held on for a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

In related news, just after acquiring a whopping 660 percent increase in their contract for Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia where the rights have risen from UKP ยฃ30M to UKP ยฃ200M, the Premier League have announced another contract for Indonesia, New Zealand, and 15 Pacific islands.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Hot, bright and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.2835
Euro:Baht 39.51
SET Index: 1307

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C
Hot, bright and partly cloudy
Euro:US 1.2835
Euro:Baht 39.51
SET Index: 1307

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Pitak Siam will have a million marchers or cancel rally, said Seh Ai. Thaksin set for Myanmar visit, assassination plot rumors begin again.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Party expels Bo Xilai. Obama-Romney in last-minute campaign frenzy. Power, petrol still out in New York. 10 hurt in grenade attack on Kenya church.

OTHER NEWS:

– THAI BOTOX TOURISM BOOMS: Medical tourism is a rising star as Thailand seeks to boost tourism revenue to 2 trillion baht by 2015, with attractive pricing, cutting-edge technology, and skilled doctors drawing foreign patients.

Tourists love to have their laser treatment and Botox injections here, said Ms. Vilaiwan Twichasri, the Tourism Authority of Thailandโ€™s (TATโ€™s) Deputy Governor for tourism products and business. The pressure to hit the 2-trillion-baht target has caused all parties to look for potential channels, and medical tourism is a serious focus of TAT.

“Plastic surgery, stem-cell treatment, spas, and traditional and alternative medicine are intriguing to many markets,” said Ms. Vilaiwan.

TAT organized the World Spa and Well-being Convention 2012 in September, bringing together more than 100 sellers and 88 buyers from around the world.

They met under the “Speed Dating” concept in which buyers and sellers had one minute to introduce themselves.

RNCOS, a US research firm, said revenue from the Asian medical industry will grow at a compound annual rate exceeding 20 percent from 2010-13.

Thailand, India, and Singapore dominate medical tourism in the region, with a combined market share of almost 90 percent in 2010.

By TAT’s estimate, average spending on plastic surgery in Thailand is 130,000 baht during a stay of 7 days.

“Tourists from markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong love to have their treatment here,” said Mrs Vilaiwan.

She said a key market for medical tourism now is customers from the Middle East and also emerging markets such as China and Russia.

In fact, plastic surgery is popular among Chinese tourists, who prefer Thailand to Taiwan due to the shorter distance and lower prices.

“With the quality of doctors, technology, and affordable prices, Thailand will increase its market share,” said Mrs. Vilaiwan.

Russians like Eastern medicine, so Thailand can capitalize by offering both Western and Eastern treatments.

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam also hold potential as the Asean Economic Community (AEC) edges towards fruition in 2015.

Regional competition is becoming intense.

Singapore has identified itself as a complex disease center, while South Korea promotes itself as a plastic surgery destination.

Malaysia is highlighting its status as an Islamic medical tourism hub.

“But we have an advantage over those countries thanks to Thainess and Thai hospitality,” said Mrs. Vilaiwan, “Thai operators are ready to welcome this market with world-class standards.”

Thailand has 18 hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International compared with 14 in Singapore.

– THAI REAL ESTATE: Thailand’s property market is expected to remain stable, with the housing sector in Greater Bangkok starting to show signs of saturation, said the SCB Economic Intelligence Center.

– APPLE: The iPad mini in most stores was sold out in less than 3 hours after it launched on Friday in Singapore, the first city in Southeast Asia to see the launch of the product. Some customers had queued overnight.

– HOW TO WOO JAPANESE TOURISTS: Asean tourism authorities and private sectors are yet to be more proactive, if they want to draw more affluent visitors from Japan. Each year, more than 10 million Japanese travel abroad. In the first half of this year, despite the sluggish economic growth, 8.96 million Japanese made overseas trips, according to the Japan Tourism Marketing Co.

Bali is more famous than all of Indonesia. Likewise, when tourists think of Cambodia, it is Angkor Wat that comes to mind. Having a lot to offer, Thailand is known for its food, culture, and natural beauty.

Among Asean nations, Thailand is the most popular destination for Japanese tourists, followed by Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Still, the number of Japanese visitors to Thailand so far this year is far below 1 million, compared to 1.4 million going to the US and 1.3 million to France.

These were some of the facts shared at a recent five-day training on tourism in Thailand, hosted by Japan’s Asean Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment, and Tourism (Asean-Japan Centre or AJC).

More than 50 representatives of national tourism organizations (NTOs), including those from Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand participated in the event. They were advised to build tourism identities and revise strategies to better position themselves in tourists’ mind in the long term, and all enthusiastically listened and unveiled plans to draw more tourists.

Khin Than Win, Director for Tourism Promotion of Myanmar – the country that has opened its doors after 5 decades of isolation – said his government expects to complete its national tourism master plan this year or early next year. Under the master plan, infrastructure and hotel development will be key.

It is expected to have 5 more hotels with 1,450 rooms next year in addition to the existing 25,000 nationwide, of which 8,000 rooms are located in Yangon. More commercial complexes are also under construction, to facilitate the tourism industry. From January-September this year, 724,000 visitors traveled to Myanmar, increasing by 24 percent from 582,000 during the same period last year.

Sieng Ngak, tourism representative of Cambodia, urged Japan to develop a special Japan-Mekong route in order to boost Japanese arrivals to Cambodia and Laos.

Tran Quang Hao, Deputy Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s personnel department, said it is preparing to set up a tourism office in Japan, aiming to woo more Japanese visitors. Cambodia aims for 6 million to 6.5 million visitors this year, up from 6 million in 2011.

Early this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Vietnam’s National Administration of Tourism, and Laos’ National Tourism Administration organized travel fairs in Tokyo targeting repeat tourists.

The AJC wants Cambodia, Indonesia, and Laos to immediately build their brand, while Myanmar needs to add more hotel rooms and improve air-travel access.

Importantly, only Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore have opened tourism offices in Japan. The AJC sees it as a must for all Asean countries to set up offices and appoint marketing teams in Japan, or at least have travel fairs in big cities, if they want to draw more Japanese visitors.

– PATTAYA: A 21-year-old transgender beauty from the Philippines – Kevin Balot – was crowned Miss International Queen 2012 in Pattaya. Balot will receive US$10,000, a crown from a well-known gems store, and other gifts.

– USA PRESIDENTIAL: Opinion polls showed a race for the US Presidency so close that only a statistically insignificant point or 2 separated the 2 rivals. Soundings in the 9 battleground states tightened after Obama’s poor performance in the first presidential debat, on October , and stayed that way.

In related news, more New Yorkers were able to switch on their lights for the first time since superstorm Sandy brought widespread devastation along the US Eastern Seaboard but many are still without power and upset over what they say is a fractured response.

– HILDENBRAND WINES OF SOUTH ARICA: Bonnie & Claire: Chenin Blanc and Semillon varietals. Big feet and big hearts, and so is the blend Bonnie and Claire, the Bouvier dog twins, have inspired Reni Hildenbrand to create this wonderful blend. A 51% Chenin Blanc is Bonnie, a 49% Semillon is Claire blend. What thunder and lightning means to the savannah, so do Chenin Blanc and Semillon to the wine lands. The coming-together of these two South African cultivars were quite natural, and it has created perfect harmony.

Quality is of essence for Reni, including her time. Wine is not only about its taste, but about its place of birth.

– DEADLY CAT: A ferocious leopard may have killed 15 people in Nepal in a 15-month span, its latest victim a 4-year-old boy that the creature dragged away into the jungle to eat, CNN reported.

– GANGNAM STYLE: A catchy little video of a rapper singing a song, mostly in Korean, while performing a dance that resembles a horse gallop was uploaded to YouTube in July. It has been viewed on YouTube nearly 600 million times since then.

That video is Gangnam Style and to say it’s gone viral is an understatement. Gangnam Style is a phenomenon.

– NIGERIAN EXECUTIONS: Fear is gripping Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri with many men fleeing after the alleged execution style killings of around 40 young men, mostly teenagers, who residents say were rounded up and shot. The city is the stronghold of an insurgency by Boko Haram Islamists.

– F1: Sebastian Vettel, who leads Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso by just 13 points heading into Sunday Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was sensationally excluded from qualifying and sent to last starting place after his car was found to have ”insufficient fuel for sampling.โ€

– FUTSAL: Tournament dark horses Russia got their Group F campaign at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Bangkok off to the perfect start with a 16-0 hammering of Solomon Islands. Guatemala 5-2 Colombia; Russia 16-0 Solomon Islands; Czech Republic 3-2 Kuwait; Egypt 1-3 Serbia.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C; Hot, bright and partly cloudy; Euro:US 1.2943, Euro:Baht 39.75; SET Index: 1298

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C; Hot, bright and partly cloudy; Euro:US 1.2943, Euro:Baht 39.75; SET Index: 1298

BANGKOK BRIEF:

King tells cabinet to be honest. Charupong, New Pheu Thai Party leader and Interior Minister, to press ahead with controversial reconciliation and charter amendment bills, renewing fears of new round of political unrest. Thai women and men in sex-slavery ring, busted in Geneva.

WORLD SUMMARY:

UN demands Myanmar halt anti-Rohingya fighting, discrimination. Thousands protest in Bahrain against opposition leader jailed for insulting emir.

OTHER NEWS:

– THAILAND TO HOLD ROYAL BARGE PROCESSION ON NOVEMBER 9: World travelers seeking to add another masterpiece event to their list of lifetime experiences should pencil November 8, 2012 into their calendars and be in Bangkok to watch the majestic Royal Barge Procession along the Chao Phraya river, The River of Kings.

One of the grandest spectacles in Thailand and indeed, the world, the Royal Barge Procession is an ancient tradition that was revived by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1959. This breathtaking water-borne procession is reserved for nationally-auspicious occasions and has been held only 16 times during His Majestyโ€™s reign. The main procession will be held between 1500 hours and 1600 hours on November 9, but full dress rehearsals by the Royal Thai Navy will also be held on November 2 and November 6 at 1500 hours. Tickets are available via the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for those wishing to watch the procession in comfort from the Royal Thai Navy pavilion. Alternately, the procession can be viewed from various public spots along the river.

King Bhumibol, the ninth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, founded in 1782, is the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history, and has since 1989 been the worldโ€™s longest-reigning incumbent monarch.

The Procession, which this year will commemorate the auspicious occasion of HM the Kingโ€™s 85th birthday on December 5, 2012, involves barges carrying the deeply-revered Buddha image (Phra Buddha Sihing) and members of the royal family to present offerings of saffron kathin robes, food, and other necessities to the monks at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).

Truly a sight to behold, the procession consists of a flotilla of 52 traditional-style barges arranged in five columns, based on a battle formation from ancient times. This is made up of four major royal barges โ€” Suphannahongse, Narai Song Suban H.M. King Rama IX, Anantanagaraj, and Anekchatbhuchongse – ten barges with animal figureheads, and 38 smaller vessels. The five-column flotilla stretches 1,280 meters in length and 110 meters across. A total of 2,200 sailors from various units within the Royal Thai Navy will serve as oarsmen.

The procession takes approximately 55 minutes to make the 4.5-kilometer journey down the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun, covering the section from Thonburi Bridge to Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge. The official ceremony is expected to end at approximately 1730 hours.

The royal barges of Thailand are the last of their kind in the world. The last time that a royal barge procession was organized was on June 12, 2006 for the diamond jubilee celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of HM King Bhumibolโ€™s accession to the throne.

This year, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the Royal Barge Procession and Royal Kathin ceremony at Wat Arun on behalf of His Majesty the King.

Date of Dress Rehearsals: November 2 and 6, 2012.

Date of the Royal Kathin Ceremony and Royal Barge Procession: November 9, 2012.
Place: Tassana Pirom Yard, Naval Assembly, Royal Thai Navy, Bangkok.

Information and tickets and program can be found on the website of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

– ECO-GREEN FAIR: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to organize the first official eco-tourism consumer fair in the third quarter next year to cash in on a growing trend.
Vilaiwan Twichasri, TAT’s Deputy Governor for tourism products and business, said the fair would feature ecological and green tourism products, soft adventure, and One Tambon One Product items, focusing on domestic tourists.

Eco-tourism shows a concern for the environment, culture, tradition, and sustainable interest of the planet.

“Ecological and green tourism is the global trend,” said Ms. Vilaiwan, “This segment is tourism’s future and could provide sustainable development for Thailand’s tourism industry.”

Generation X and Generation Y tourists favor eco-tourism and soft adventure activities such as the children’s boat (The Bonanza Resort, Khao Yai), horse riding (Chokchai Farm), and high ropes (Springfield Village Golf & Spa).

In previous years, the private sector has pioneered eco-tourism activities. TAT is studying the segment’s marketing value, business direction, marketing trends, and demand to upgrade the standard of operators.

– AMITA THAI COOKING CLASS: We alight at a small jetty where we are met by Piyawadi Jantrupon or Tam, as she’s affectionately known.

She’s a qualified lawyer who, along with her husband, worked for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, giving her the opportunity to cook at engagements around the world.

But four years ago, Tam returned here to Bangkok to her childhood home. In this compound, she watched her grandmother and aunts prepare meals for the family and she continues the tradition, passing on old methods and the importance of fresh ingredients in her cooking school.

She greets each of us humbly, palms together, eyes flashing, head bowed forward, and then she’s off. With lightning speed, we are each doled out a bright white apron and, after a refreshing lemongrass drink and an appetizer of fried Ixora leaves and blue butterfly pea flowers, Tam leads us to the garden on a scavenger hunt for ingredients.

There are echoes of the past among the leaves, herbs, and bulbs. Nearby, a stone rice grinder is being put to work as it has been for 130 years, since the days of Tam’s great-grandmother.
And Tam is still surrounded by family who help her run the cooking school. She’s also followed through the garden by a pet rooster called Soy Sauce and as we pick ingredients she describes the medicinal uses for hairy basil and bird’s-eye chili and thick finger length turmeric bulbs.

“Thai people take this for flu,” she says of one small postage stamp of a leaf. “This one has cancer-fighting properties,” she says pointing deep into the undergrowth, “and this one can make you beautiful but you have to turn it into a paste.”

Perhaps there’s something to be said for this naturopathy. Tam’s great- grandmother died only last year at the age of 105. She picks each ingredient, adding ginger to galangal, cloves, holy basil, and chili. By the river bank she picks the vivid pink stamen of Malay rose apples. And then she leads us to her open-air kitchen where she mixes and crushes, blends, and fries up three delicious courses from these herbs, to which she has added chicken, prawn, and shrimp flakes.

Half-day cooking classes run from 0930-1330 hours and include boat and car transfer, the preparation of four courses, and then the chance to eat them. The school is open every day except Wednesday. For more information, visit www.amitathaicooking.com

– WORLD EXPO & TCEB: Thailand may lose its chance to host the World Expo in 2020 unless it shows strong commitment to meet the key criteria requested by the Bureau of International Expositions.

The problem is that Thailand cannot promise to the BIE’s bid committee that it would clarify visa regulations and cut customs duties for participants entering the country, and also to provide free support to participating underdeveloped nations.

Thongchai Sridama, the TCEB’s Acting President, said those barriers were out of the agency’s control. It cannot make any specific commitments on those issues to the committee. In fact, solutions must be made by the Cabinet.

From November 21-22, Tourism Minister Chumphol Silapa-archa will spearhead the bid team when they present the Thailand bid in Paris.

At the presentation in Paris, the TCEB will try to make the case that Thailand is a qualified contender by showing the flood-prevention measures at the venue and also infrastructure to connect conveniently between the old city of Ayutthaya and other places, especially downtown Bangkok.

Venue facilitation is a key factor in the competition, so the government should move ahead even faster to construct the extension of the mass transit line to the venue, from the line that will terminate at Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus.

Yesterday, TCEB also outlined its plan to strengthen Thailand as an exhibition center ahead of the implementation of the Asean Economic Community in 2015. The bureau will promote a strong network of exhibition-business operators across the region, thanks to the strategic geographical location of the nation.

The bureau hopes the move will help boost the Thai exhibition business by 30 percent to Bt30 billion in 2015 and attract 300,000 visitors to the nation.

– iPHONE 5 ARRIVES IN THAILAND: All-new design. At 7.6 millimeters and 112 grams, iPhone 5 has a remarkably thin and light design. Itโ€™s made from anodized aluminum beveled edges that are diamond cut, 3 options in white and silver or black and slate are available, 16 GB, 32GB, and 64GB; brilliant 4-inch Retina display, in vivid, lifelike detail. And users say that even though the display is bigger, itโ€™s the same width as an iPhone 4, so itโ€™s just as easy to use with one hand.

A powerful A6 chip, and CPU performance and graphics performance are up to twice as fast as on the A5 chip, and the iPhone 5 gives you a longer battery life and ultra-fast wireless. With support for the latest wireless technologies, iPhone 5 connects to more networks all over the world with Wi-Fi capability that is faster.

– ASEAN FRONTIER DEMAND: Charoen Pokphand Foods, Bumrungrad Hospital, and Airports of Thailand could benefit the most from rising demand in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV), Credit Suisse said.

These countries were already significant for the Thai economy, but the broader stock market significance of CLMV remains limited.

Bumrungrad Hospital has seen a surge in medical tourists from CLMV, with growth for CLMV patients last year at 43 percent against 12 percent for the hospital as a whole and 18 percent for foreign patients.

– UK COMEDIAN ARRESTED: British police arrested comedian Freddie Starr as part of an investigation triggered by allegations that the late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile sexually abused hundreds of children. Savile’s 4.3 million pound estate has been frozen in response to the allegations.

– US ELECTION: In a surprise announcement, New York’s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, says Superstorm Sandy has reshaped his thinking about the presidential campaign and he is endorsing Barack Obama.

– FUTSAL: Brazil has begun the defense of their Futsal World Cup crown in convincing fashion, thumping Japan 4-1 on the opening day of the tournament in Thailand.

Thailand opened their Futsal World Cup campaign in highly impressive fashion with a 3-1 victory over Costa Rica to set the early pace in Group A. They next face Ukraine on Sunday.

– CELEB WEDDING: Aerosmith’s lead singer Steven Tyler proposed in December last year and said that their wedding planning was going swimmingly: ”I thought either Hawaii or Phuket. I’m all about writing ‘I love you’ on a beach and surprising somebody,” he said.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C; Hot, bright and partly cloudy; Euro:US 1.2937, Euro:Baht 39.72; SET Index: 1282

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C; Hot, bright and partly cloudy; Euro:US 1.2937, Euro:Baht 39.72; SET Index: 1282

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Pitak Siam to hold another rally next month, Democrats appoint Suthep to attack government. Chinese flooring fails to arrive for Futsal Arena.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Killer storm Sandy near New York, disrupts US election campaign. Gary Glitter held again for sex with children. Small Hawaii tsunami, no damage after 7.7 quake.

OTHER NEWS:

– BANGKOK’S ROYAL PALACES: Fascinating palaces in Bangkok which were formerly homes to the royal family continue to draw large numbers of tourists. The Grand Palace of Bangkok, Ananta Samakhom Hall, Vinamnek Mansion, and the Dusit Parliament House are just some of the living treasures found in the capital city.

The magnificent Grand Palace is definitely the most famous. At night, the Grand Palace looks dazzling and spectacular especially even at night. Built in 1782, the Palace takes pride for its stunning architecture and intricate designs, all of which show the creativity and draftsmanship of the Thai people.

The Ananta Samakhom Hall was where many of Thailand’s significant political events took place. This landmark was established in 1933, and it became the first chamber of the parliament until 1947. The hall was mainly made up of Renaissance style marble and was designed by Italian architects in 1915.

After the leadership of King Rama V, Vimanmek Masion was rarely used until Queen Sirikit decided to have it renovated in 1981 as part of Bangkok’s bicentennial celebrations. Inside the Vinamnek Mansion is an exhibit of valuable and priceless items made up of ceramics, crystals, ivory, and silverwares.

Built in 1900 under King Rama V, Dusit Parliament House on the other hand was known to be largest teakwood mansion in the world. It officially became a tourist spot in 1985 with more than 700,000 tourists last year.

– THAI-VIETNAM: The second joint Cabinet meeting between Thailand and Vietnam in Hanoi yesterday agreed to achieve total bilateral trade worth US$18 billion (Bt540 billion) in 2015, an increase of 20 percent annually over the next 3 years.

The governments also signed 3 cooperation documents – a joint statement between the Thai and Vietnamese foreign ministers, the Thailand-Vietnam Security Outlook (2012-2016), and a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Thai-Vietnamese Business Council.

In 2011, bilateral trade between the 2 nations was worth $9.08 billion (Bt277 billion). Exports from Thailand were valued at $7.05 billion, while imports from Vietnam amounted to $2.03 billion.

– THAI TOURIST SITES UPGRADE: A total of 29 tourism sites have been selected for a first phase of upgrades as part of a larger plan to generate more tourism revenue.

As well, funding for megaprojects such as theme parks will be proposed in a bid to achieve the government’s goal of 2 trillion baht in tourism and related revenue by 2015.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry’s Tourism Department reckons improvements to the 29 spots could cost 1 billion baht. Plus the mega projects could run to 1.5 billion baht apiece.

Arnupap Gaesornsuwan, the department’s Acting Deputy Director-General, said 29 sites have been selected out of 100 screened by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Each one has been popular with local and foreign tourists for a long time, but improvements are deemed necessary.

The sites include Koh Phi Phi in Krabi, Patong Beach in Phuket, Koh Samet in Rayong, Jomthien beach in Pattaya, Koh Tao and Koh Samui in Surat Thani ,and Yaowarat Road in Bangkok.

A development plan for the 29 destinations will be completed within 6 months after receiving approval.

This will be the first phase of the project, with the second phase covering the other 71 sites.

Mr. Arnupap said the department envisages 8 tourism clusters.
These will include a Lanna civilization and the upper North cluster and a Mekong River cluster.

The department is also looking into new megaprojects, as it believes improvements to existing tourism sites alone is not enough to attract large numbers of tourists.

“Singapore is a case study in showing the achievements of megaprojects,” said Mr. Arnupap.

Four will be proposed for government consideration.

They include a Movie World theme park located in Hua Hin or Cha-am.

The Transport Ministry is planning new transportation routes between the Eastern Seaboard and the South to link popular tourism destinations such as Pattaya with Cha-am and Hua Hin.

Boonserm Khunkaew, Acting Director of the Tourism Department’s general affairs division, said these 3 locations could also serve as stops for cruise ships plying the Gulf of Thailand.

Other megaprojects include a City from the Past theme park in the Northeast.

Mr. Boonserm said building a theme park there would give a big boost to tourism in that region, as its few attractions has failed to attract many tourists to date.

Mr. Arnupap said the department will focus more on joint projects with the Transport and Commerce ministries.

However, at present, each ministry has different policies and practices, making it difficult to work in the same direction, he said.

-T ERRORISM: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is calling on Muslims to kidnap Westerners, citing the success in the abduction of American aid worker Warren Weinstein in Pakistan.

– BANGED UP: Gary Glitter, the former pop star convicted of child sex offenses, was arrested this morning by police investigating sexual allegations against Jimmy Savile.

– PATTAYA: Police arrested three teens for the knifepoint robbery of a Russian tourist in Jomtien. She was repeatedly slashed in her arm while resisting an attempt to yank a gold necklace from her neck. The thieves stole her handbag and escaped. All three suspects were recently released from jail.

– AEC2015: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed all concerned agencies to work with the private sector in preparing the country for the Asean Economic Community in 2015, while the government has outlined 8 key strategies to ensure the country’s readiness.

– BURMA: Escalating violence in Rakhine state deserves the urgent attention of Asean and the international community, said Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan. ”The conflict has been presented as an Islamic issue when it is not,” Mr. Surin said, ”It is a political, democratic, human rights, and constitutional issue, and has direct implications on political reform and national reconciliation processes in Myanmar.”

– MALAYSIAN VISITORS to THAI DEEP SOUTH: Thailand hosts more than 2 million Malaysians a year, many of them satisfied, repeat visitors. The vast majority of Malaysian tourists cross the land border in the Thai South. Few venture more than 50 kilometers from the border, the distance to Hat Yai city in Songkhla province. And they don’t visit Thailand for the Buddhist culture or the Thai food.

To most Thais, destinations like Sadao, Betong, and Sungai Kolok bring up images of recent history, the Muslim South, and shopping. To those Malaysian men targeted by a recent travel warning, the mention of these Thailand destinations brings up entirely different images. Most of the potential Malaysian visitors to the Thai border region think of liquor, discos, and especially women.

-G OOD POLICE WORK: Thai authorities have arrested a lorry driver after 16 tiger cubs were discovered in the back of his vehicle. The man was stopped near the border with Laos after avoiding a police checkpoint. The driver told police he had been paid 15,000 baht to transport the cubs, the BBC reported.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C; Hot, bright, and partly cloudy; Euro:US 1.2937, Euro:Baht 39.70; SET Index: 1297

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C; Hot, bright, and partly cloudy; Euro:US 1.2937, Euro:Baht 39.70; SET Index: 1297

BANGKOK BRIEF:

PM confirms major cabinet shakeup, 14 new faces including ex-Thai Rak Thai. Business: Net experts urge government to oppose new UN Internet plan.

WORLD SUMMARY:

56 dead in Myanmar Muslim-Buddhist clashes. Pakistan arrests 9 in Malala shooting, mastermind still free. Obama votes early in tight election race.

OTHER NEWS:

– JAPAN/CHINA CONFLICT GOOD FOR THAI TOURISM: Japanese tourism in China took a sharp fall in September with the decline likely to persist as relations between the two countries remain strained, the Japan Association of Travel Agents said.

The association on October 24 said the number of Japanese tourists who joined package tours to China declined 44.5 percent in September compared with a year earlier. The findings are based on figures provided by 7 leading travel agencies, including JTB Corp. and Kinki Nippon Tourist Co.

The recent flare-up in the territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands, in the East China Sea, has been taking a toll on Japanese tourism in China, the association said, and the fallout looks likely to continue in coming months.

The figures showed Japanese group tour bookings to China in October down 72.5 percent on LY, November bookings down 75.8 percent, and December bookings down 71.5 percent.

Group tours to Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macao are seeing a similar decline, and the association also found that fewer Japanese are traveling to South Korea, possibly due to the recent diplomatic standoff between the two nations over the Takeshima islets, in the Sea of Japan.

According to the association, there were 16.1 percent fewer Japanese visitors to South Korea on package tours in September compared with last year.

Reservations for October fell by nearly 50 percent, and they fell by more than 60 percent for November and December.

Instead, other destinations such as the United States, Canada, Guam, Saipan, and Thailand are seeing a significant increase in the number of vacationers booking travel packages in December, according to the association.

The number of package tours booked to the United States or Canada doubled, while those for Guam or Saipan increased by about 3.5 times.

There were 1.8 times more Japanese reserving group tours to Thailand year on year.

– SEX WORKERS: New Zealand and Australia’s New South Wales province are models of how decriminalization of prostitution boosted condom use and slowed the spread of HIV, resulting in “extremely low or nonexistent” transmission of sexual diseases among prostitutes, said a recent UN report.

Thailand is also a relatively safe place to be a prostitute. Although prostitution is illegal, authorities usually ignore the sex trade, enabling many up-market Thai sex workers to enjoy higher wages, cleaner environments, and less hassle compared with elsewhere in Asia, said Chantawipa Apisuk, who directs Empower, a Thai foundation led by prostitutes.

“In Thailand, although it’s illegal, it’s still open, and a lot of people, my friends, are working,” she added.

Sex workers should enjoy the same labor conditions as factory workers or entertainers, said Ms. Chantawipa, who wore a T-shirt emblazoned with her favorite slogan: “Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go everywhere.”

– EXPENSIVE BRAZILIAN: A Brazilian student is set to sell her virginity for a staggering US$780,000 after she put it up for auction online. A man called Natsu, from Japan, fended off strong competition from American bidders Jack Miller and Jack Right, and Indian big-spender Rudra Chatterjee, to secure a date with 20-year-old Catarina Migliorini.

– LANGUAGE TRAINING: Ministry of Laborโ€™s Department of Skill Development said additional foreign language training centers will be set up for Thai students and workers to prepare them for the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
The ministry permanent secretary, Somkiart Chayasriwong, said the DSD is cooperating with educational institutes under the Ministry of Education to set up 27 language training centers at skill development institutes and centers nationwide.

โ€œThe Department Acting General Director, Nakorn Silpa-archa, was assigned to set up additional language centers to cover every province this year,โ€ he said.
The existing centers provide courses for several languages including English, Chinese, Korean, and Burmese.

About 2,500 people attended language courses from July to September.

In addition, the Tourist Police responsible for tourist safety have been told to upgrade their language skills. In recent years, they have relied heavily on volunteers, mainly foreigners, who assist officers to communicate with tourists who require assistance.

– CABINET RESHUFFLE: If the names mentioned in speculation ahead of the Cabinet reshuffle are an indication, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra seems to have had a considerable say in the make-up of her new Cabinet.

Among new faces in the Yingluck 3 Cabinet will be core members of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party – members of the so-called House Address 111 – who have just completed their 5-year ban from politics.

They include Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, who is set to become the energy minister in place of Arak Chonlatanon, an outsider in the Yingluck 2 Cabinet under the Pheu Thai quota.

Pongthep Thepkanchana, another former Thai Rak Thai executive, is set for the post of Deputy Prime Minister along with the position of Education Minister, replacing Suchart Tadathamrongvej, who has had conflicts with Pheu Thai MPs.

The rest of the reshuffled posts are widely seen as changes for the sake of political harmony. For example, Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, who is tipped to be next Pheu Thai leader, is expected to become the Interior Minister, replacing former Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit.

The much-speculated list contains no changes to key economic ministries. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong will almost certainly keep his positions despite rumors that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been disappointed with his performance. It is said that Thaksin ordered his sister to remove Kittiratt, who is very close to Yingluck, from the Cabinet, or at least take away one of his posts.

Yingluck, however, refused to comply. This seems to indicate that Yingluck has gained in confidence as a leader and is willing to defy her brother’s wishes and make decisions on her own.

Yingluck yesterday confirmed she had sent her new Cabinet list for Royal sanction and boasted that her brother had nothing to do with the reshuffle.

Boonsong Teriyapirom will likely retain his position as Commerce Minister. Boonsong’s continuing presence in the Cabinet would indicate that Yingluck is not worried that the rice-pledging scheme will become a critical weak point during the no-confidence showdown with the opposition. On the contrary, it would indicate that the government is ready to go ahead with the scheme.

More evidence that Yingluck now has a considerable say in big decisions is that Red-Shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan will be left out of the new Cabinet. It has been reported that Yingluck resisted an order from her brother to appoint Jatuporn to the Cabinet for fear that his presence would affect the government’s image. Yingluck decided to defy Red-Shirt opinion and exclude Jatuporn. The news was confirmed by Jatuporn on Wednesday night, during an appearance on his TV show.

– THAI: Thai Airways International, the national carrier, is working against time to strengthen its financial performance over the rest of the year by focusing more on existing money-spinning destinations in Asia, as it battles to recover from last year’s loss of Bt10.2 billion.

This effort includes maximizing the key markets of South Korea, China, and Japan via a core strategy of increasing the number of flights and capacity.

THAI will also introduce new destinations, in cooperation with THAI Smile, the airline’s sub-brand, while more pricing flexibility from season to season will be in focus with a view to increasing yields and filling capacity.

Pandit Chanapai, THAI’s Executive Vice President Commercial, yesterday said key Asian markets offered great potential to provide healthy sales at a time when the European market is stagnant due the euro zone’s financial troubles.

Furthermore, the outlook for next year is clear, in that Asia will outgrow Europe, he said. Most importantly, flying in Asia can save on operating costs, especially for fuel, which makes up 40 percent of the total.

At present, the intercontinental market accounts for 54 percent of THAI’s seating, followed by 41-42 percent from the regional market and the rest from domestic operations. However, the regional market contributes more than 50 percent of the carrier’s overall sales, said the executive.

The Bangkok-Sapporo route is a good example of the company’s plan. On Wednesday, THAI announced its first flight to the Japanese destination, which will take place on October 30.

Using an Airbus A330-300, there will initially be 3 flights per week. The number of flights will increase to four per week from December 30.

THAI will be the first non-Japanese airline to fly directly to Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, and the development is expected to bolster trade and tourism between Japan and Thailand. The carrier claims to have 95 percent advanced booking on the new route.

THAI also has 21 weekly flights from Bangkok to Narita, 17 to Osaka, 10 to Nagoya, and 7 each to Haneda and Fukuoka.

The company’s total number of weekly flights to Japan, including Bangkok-Sapporo, will be 65. This is expected to increase to 70 by the middle of next year after the launch of another new destination.

THAI President Sorajak Kasemsuwan said that if demand rose further, the carrier would increase the number of flights to Japan and also use bigger aircraft.

It is also looking for new destinations such as Hiroshima, Sendai, and Nagasaki to add to its network, he said.

“It is time to find ways to strengthen our financial performance before the year ends. This has been my first priority since taking office almost 20 days ago,” he added.

The airline’s average passenger-load factor for the year to date is slightly over 70 percent, but this is expected to rise to 75 percent for the whole year, said Sorajak.

– SKAL AT WTM: There will not be the usual lunch as it was found to be increasingly difficult for Skal members to get away from their stand, instead there will be a cocktail networking opportunity from 5:30 to 8:30 pm on Monday, November 5 at the Aloft hotel next to Excel the venue once again for World Travel Market 2012, London.

Avoid the queues for the tube and relax and/or network with other Skalleagues from around the world; to book: http://www.skallondon.co.uk .

– UK: RUDE MOVIES AND STEALING THE TOILETRIES: From the mini designer toiletries to the array of TV channels, UK guests staying in hotels are quick to lap up the luxuries on offer.

Male hotel guests watch adult TV channels as soon as they arrive in their room while women check out the shampoo and conditioner on offer, according to new research.

And while 19 percent of men are quick to flick on porn shows, the nation’s females weren’t totally squeaky clean, with 15 percent also admitting they like to find out what adult TV channels are on offer.

Unsurprisingly, only ten percent of men admitted they found the toiletries interesting.

– BOUTIQUE LUXURY: Boutique and lifestyle hotels don’t have to be luxurious to be a part of a jet setters fashionable life; they simply need to provide a unique environment in a comfortable setting that appeals to multiple layers of consumers.

Boutique and lifestyle hotels are all about an experience, with some design quirkiness that speaks to guests.

There’s a paradigm shift with younger consumers who prefer a comfortable, unique environment rather than going to an uber-cool upscale hotel that’s short on providing a welcoming atmosphere.

“It’s safe to say it’s no longer about stars and diamonds, but unique and fun,” observers said.

Staff at mid-priced lifestyle hotels can have tattoos, facial hair, and other forms of individual expression, as long as they are well trained in their job functions. The success of Whole Foods in the supermarket sector provides a good lesson to hoteliers in the mid-price boutique hotel business.

– THAI SAFETY ZONES FOR TOURISTS: More help for tourists is on the way as police prepare to roll out measures, including the creation of “safety zones,” to mark the advent of the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

Increased confidence will mean more travelers will come to Thailand which will help the government reach its target of boosting tourist revenue to 2 trillion baht.

After studying crime-prone locations nationwide with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, police created a list of “safety zone” areas under the jurisdictions of 353 police stations in 56 provinces.

Police will scrupulously protect tourists and work on wiping out crimes in these safety zones, said Pol. Gen. Wuthi.

In Bangkok, safety zones will include Khao San Road, Royal City Avenue, Ratchadaphisek Road, and Patpong Road.

In other provinces, tourist hotspots Samui, Pattaya and Hat Yai are expected to be named safety zones.

– KOH SAMUI: Following the Thai government’s cabinet meeting on Koh Samui, this week the government is now promoting tourist spots in the country’s central and southern regions and along the shores of the Gulf of Thailand to further invigorate its already flourishing tourism industry.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra left for Koh Samui island and nearby coastal areas on the weekend, beginning with Saturday’s flight from Bangkok to the world- renowned island resort. After landing at Koh Samui International Airport, the Prime Minister took a boat to the islands of Koh Phan gan and Koh Tao.

On Sunday, she visited Nakhon Si Thammarat, the mainland province just across the sea from Koh Samui. She will then return to Koh Samui where she will preside over a “roving” Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Yingluck earlier visited Krabi and Puket, both world-renowned tourist destinations on the shores of the Andaman Sea, where she had already approved plans to further develop and improve the area. In Nakhon Si Thammarat, Yingluck and her Cabinet visited Wat Pra Mahathat Wora Mahaviharn temple as the government intends to promote it as a World Heritage site.

In Surat Thani, the Prime Minister has been briefed on a project to build an international airport at Don Sak, where tourists usually ride on ferry boats to and from Koh Samui.

– ESPRESSO ELEPHANT: The Black Ivory blend, made from coffee beans digested and excreted by Thai elephants, is billed as producing a particularly smooth cup. But it is not cheap, with Anantara Hotels said the ”naturally refined” coffee costs US$1100 per kilogram – making it one of the most expensive blends in the world.

– FUTSAL: Thailand was beaten 7-5 by Panama in their final game of the All Stars Futsal Festival.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C; Hot, bright and partly cloudy; Euro:US 1.3019, Euro:Baht 39.96, SET Index 1308

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 34C; Hot, bright and partly cloudy; Euro:US 1.3019, Euro:Baht 39.96, SET Index 1308

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Tak Bai massacre anniversary warning. 3G auction a sham claims TDRI. PM faces industry protests in the south. Thaksin cronies line up.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Russia kills 49 militants. Sydney zoo elephant crushes keeper. MGM China to build US$2.5b casino in Macau. Newsweek goes digital only.

OTHER NEWS:

– SAMUI AIRSTRIP: The Tourism Council of Thailand has urged the government to construct a state-owned airport on Samui. Thanongsak Somwong, a member of the council’s committee on the Gulf of Thailand and President of Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, called on the government to develop a state-owned airport. The island currently has a private airport that has drawn complaints of a monopoly.

– TABLET WARS: Microsoft has pulled out all the stops to convince the world that Surface is the small tablet to beat, with a no-expenses-spared New York event last week. Apple, a notoriously secretive company, prefers a bafflingly minimal PR strategy for the iPad Mini that will launch tomorrow that would utterly fail for any other organization.

– TRAVEL STRESS: Lost luggage and no Internet are the highest factors causing stress among business travelers, according to a new study.

Research conducted by Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) on MICE travelers found that the majority cited lost luggage and poor Internet connections as key issues likely to stress them out while traveling, followed by flying economy on a long-haul flight.

Flight delays also topped the list while language barriers caused greater stress for North American business travelers than those from other parts of the world.

– ELTON IN BKK: Music icon, singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer, Elton John, returns to Thailand this winter to celebrate 40 years since his top hit Rocket Man was launched. Elton John will grace the stage at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, with his one-night-only gig, โ€œSingha Corporation Presents Elton John and His Band Live in Bangkok 2012 โ€“ 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man,โ€ on December 13, 2012.

– VEGETARIAN: Every year, the people of Thailand celebrate a vegetarian festival. This Thailand festival is an annual celebration that occurs during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The ninth lunar month can occur during the months of September or October in any given year. Many Thai people observe this vegetarian festival, even if they do not eat Thai vegetarian food throughout the rest of the year. The festival is popular throughout Thailand, and especially in areas with large populations of Chinese immigrants, such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.

One unique aspect of the vegetarian festival, often seen in Phuket, is the actions of the mah song. A mah song is a man (or very rarely, a woman) possessed by a god during the vegetarian festival. Mah songs parade through the streets, walking across hot coals or exploding fireworks and bathing in hot oil. They pierce their mouths, cheeks, ears, and arms with fish hooks, knives, razor blades, and bamboo poles. The deity residing within the mah song protects their body from pain and injury. This is confirmed to onlookers by the fact that that very little blood or scarring occurs.

Religious devotees slash themselves with swords, pierce their cheeks with sharp objects and commit other painful acts to purify themselves.

– MYANMAR: It has the beaches and temples and culture to easily rival those of popular tourist destinations Thailand and Malaysia.

At night, the politically and culturally iconic Schwedagon Pagoda glimmers 325 feet high over a darkened Yangon. The ancient city of Bagan boasts a spectacular plain of more than 2,000 temples โ€“ some more than a millennium old โ€“ a short drive from Mandalay city is the old capital of Amarapura home to the U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge and site of hazy lakeside sunsets.

International tourists to the country will tell you that Myanmar (Burma) has some breathtakingly beautiful places to visit. But here’s the problem: tourists are hard to come by.

Earlier this week, local media reported that in the first 9 months of the year, 357,159 tourists entered Myanmar. It will take another year or 2 for Myanmar to top the 1 million tourists per year mark, says U Naung Naung Han, the General Secretary of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association.

Although Myanmarโ€™s tourist numbers are still low, investor visits are on the rise, highlighting poor infrastructure and raising the question of whether Myanmar is actually ready for an influx of visitors.

Already-scarce hotel rooms costing US$200 are being booked up by business delegations and almost-daily investment conferences taking up what is widely-touted as one of the world’s last oil and gas โ€œfrontier markets.โ€

– ASIA CRUISE: Singapore’s Minister for trade and industry, said the government had invested 500 million Singapore dollars (Bt12.5 billion) in Marina Bay Cruise Centre, expected to open officially soon.

Under this project, Singapore aims to see more cruise-ship travelers, who are considered big spenders. The government expects to see their numbers hit 1.5 million in 3 to 5 years from almost a million last year.

– MONDAY FOOD: Thai vegetarian restaurants identify themselves with yellow flags, yellow signs, and a Chinese symbol for vegetarianism. Most restaurants in Thailand can prepare Thai vegetarian food if requested by replacing meat with soy protein such as tofu and eliminating the fish sauce and oyster sauce. Other savory ingredients commonly found in Thai vegetarian cooking include soy sauce, soy bean paste, chili and chili powder, lemon grass, coconut milk, galangal root, ginger, coriander, kaffir lime leaves, and sweet Thai basil.

– AFFORDABLE LUXURY: Horst Schulze, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capella Hotels Group, a leading global luxury-hotel operator, speaking at ITB Asia, Singapore said that in the next couple of years there would be a huge influx of tourists in the region from emerging countries. This could create more sophisticated demand, particularly for luxury experiences, because middle-class tourists are expected to be the mainstream of tourism in the near future.

Schulze, a former president of the Ritz Carton luxury-hotel chain, said: “Now luxury service needs to be redefined from traditional luxury into two markets – ultra-luxury and affordable luxury.”

He suggested that service was now the key point to retain existing customers, not merely good hardware or ambience.

Ultra-luxury should offer exclusivity and individualized services, while affordable luxury would cater to younger customers.

Normally, upscale customers account for 10 percent of tourism spending. But with the increased number of middle-class people in Asia, travel operators who want to lure sophisticated customers should understand what affordable luxury is, he said.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot and bright, with widespread low cloud cover, rain later; Euro:US 1.3099, Euro:Baht 40.15; SET Index: 1288

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot and bright, with widespread low cloud cover, rain later; Euro:US 1.3099, Euro:Baht 40.15; SET Index: 1288

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Critics, academics blast “worst auction ever” and low 3G prices. Anti-government senators to drag rice-buying program back to court.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Obama-Romney debate today for tight US election. Hillary takes blame for Libya terrorism. Malala recovery likely. Iran rejects EU pressure for nuke talks.

OTHER NEWS:

– ITB ASIA: Held from October 17-19 at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Already Asia’s most important travel and tourism event, bringing together leaders in tourism from 120 countries.

– KUWAIT-THAI: Thailandโ€™s bilateral trade relations with Kuwait have improved, with a 185% growth in trade and other domains over the last five years, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday. โ€œThis forum will reinforce bilateral cooperation between Thailand and Kuwait,โ€ Yingluck said in a speech before the โ€œStrengthening Kuwait-Thailand Business Partnershipsโ€ forum. This event is part of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) two-day summit due to begin today.

Thailand is a very attractive country, as its economy continues to grow despite the global economic crisis, and that is due to strong financial institutions that stimulated domestic consumption as the main factor for growth, the Thai premier noted. โ€œAmong our economic policy is a plan to invest US$70 billion in vital projects like infrastructure and railways, as well as developing our international airport in order for Thailand to become of Asiaโ€™s economic centers,โ€ she pointed out.

In this connection, Yingluck said that potential areas of Thai interest in Kuwait include the agro-food industry, energy, jewelry, construction, tourism โ€“ with emphasis on medical tourism – as well as finance, banking, and the capital fund sector. Thailand and Kuwait have long enjoyed close and cordial relations. HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Thailand in 2006 to celebrate the occasion of His Majesty the Kingโ€™s 60th anniversary of accession to the throne. In addition, there has been exchange of visits between the two countries on a continuous basis.

Yingluck referred to the fact that during the first half of 2012, approximately 40,000 Kuwaiti tourists visited Thailand, an increase of 20 percent over the same period in 2011, whereby visits were either family-oriented, for honeymooning, or for medical tourism.

The ACD is to officially kick off on the leadersโ€™ level today at Bayan Palace. Preparatory meetings on the levels of senior officials and foreign ministers of the 32 member countries already took place and resulted in adopting the ACD final communique (Kuwait Declaration), which is to be forwarded for the leadersโ€™ summit for ratification. Acclaimed for being the initiator of the ACD concept in 2001, Thailand, a founding member of the gathering, will host the second ACD Summit in 2015. Its Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul is ACDโ€™s General Coordinator.

– THAI ARRIVALS: It’s official! We’ve been saying this for many months… Thailand is likely to achieve over its official target, attracting 20+ million international tourists this year, the Tourism and Sports Ministry said. Permanent Secretary Suwat Sidthilaw said the number of international tourist arrivals in Thailand this year had reached 15.96 million as of September 2012, an 8.69 percent year-on-year increase.

– MEDICAL TOURISM: A cardiac treatment in India or Thailand could save an American patient roughly 80 percent of what it would cost at home. Increasingly, insurers (especially self-insured firms) are providing medical tourism options in their plans as a way to cut their own costs, at least where permitted to do so by existing law.

The word โ€œtourismโ€ is surprisingly apt.

โ€œOne of the big hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand, looks more like a four-star conference hotel instead of a hospital.โ€

Researchers are often shocked by the large amounts of money involved in medical tourism and how many people in the field are โ€œout to make a quick buck.โ€

At medical tourism conferences, researchers are surprised at how many people are in marketing. It seems like an industry much more dominated by business and marketing people rather than health care people.

– PAN PACIFIC BKK: Pan Pacific Hotels Group is set to rebuild its profile in Thailand in five years including with a new format, Parkroyal.

“We are actively working on it in Thailand, particularly in Bangkok as the hub, also key tourism cities like Phuket, Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai,” Patrick Imbardelli, President and Chief Executive Officer, said.

The international hotel chain is now only operating the 148-key Pan Pacific Services Suites Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi 55 after its management contract with Ramaland Development for the 241-room Pan Pacific Bangkok ended two years ago. This hotel was renamed the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park.

Imbardelli said that in the long term, Thailand was attractive with a strong economy, diversified business platforms, and the largest consumption market in Southeast Asia.

– VINTAGE CAR RALLY HUA HIN: Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin (a member of the Leading in cooperation with Hua Hin Municipality and with the support of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, and leading five-star hotels in Hua Hin, is organizing the Hua Hin Automobile Concours 2012, which will take place December 14-16, 2012.

The event this year is dedicated to Thailandโ€™s 3 auspicious occasions, the 85th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol, the 80th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, and the 60th birthday of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, all of which fall in 2012.

The aim of this year’s event is also to assist in creating destination awareness, throughout Thailand and abroad, as well as displaying the charming classic and vintage cars.

Among the many vintage cars that will take part will be Police General Niyom Karnjanawat’s Hub Mobile 1914, the only one in Asia. Sawad Hohrungrueng will present his Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1955, Pot Vijittanont his Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gull-wing 1955, and Witthawat Sawad-Chutoh his Ferrari Dino 246 GTS 1974.

Fifty classic and vintage cars will take part in the parade which will also feature period costumes and a car contest. There will also be a jazz concert on the beach on Saturday, December 15.

– PATTAYA DEATH: South African tourist Jonathan Osborn Koch, 43, fatally shot himself at a Pattaya Beach Road shooting range with a 9 mm pistol. A similar suicide happened with another tourist last year at the shooting range.

– OZO PATTAYA: Thailand-based Onyx Hospitality Group has announced plans to bring its Ozo budget brand to the resort town of Pattaya. The 170-room Ozo Pattaya will be located in the centre of the eastern Thai destination and will feature a rooftop swimming pool and restaurant, fitness facility, and snack bar.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 31C; Hot, mainly cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2908, Euro:Baht 39.55, SET Index: 1290

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 31C; Hot, mainly cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2908, Euro:Baht 39.55, SET Index: 1290

BANGKOK BRIEF:

National Security Chief: time for a full counter-insurgency army division for South. Police tracked accused Japan killer – with iPhone app.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Turkey deploys tanks, missiles at Syria border. Shot Pakistani girl stable. Nigeria attack on mosque kills 20. Skydiver sets 128,000-foot world record.

OTHER NEWS:

– CAMBODIA: Cambodia’s former King Norodom Sihanouk, a revered figure in his country, has died aged 89, Cambodian officials say. He died of a heart attack in China’s capital, Beijing.

– NEW UK ENVOY: New UK Ambassador Mark Kent doesn’t look like your usual reserved diplomat. He carries a black backpack almost everywhere, and it’s heavy. So what’s in there?

“Lots of books, actually too many. My iPad, and some bits and pieces. I’m a little bit messy. I should take some out and also to balance my shoulder,” he said.

One of the many books he’s reading now is the Thai version of the biography of Sir John Bowring, the British envoy to Thailand who sponsored the Bowring Treaty between the two countries 157 years ago.

He also carries around notebooks to practice writing Thai in his car or sometimes on the Skytrain.

Born in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, Kent has been in office for two months, but he has spent more than a year studying Thai at Khon Kaen University, Chiang Mai University, and in Bangkok.

Thai is his sixth foreign language, after Vietnamese, Spanish, Dutch, French, and Portuguese. And despite his busy schedule, he still finds time for Thai lessons twice a week. “A language is like an onion, as the more layers you peel off, the more layers you still need to peel off,” Kent said in an interview with Nation Channel about the challenges in learning the local lingo. It was his first time to talk on TV in Thai.

“My teacher says I speak like a book, very official. I need to learn the spoken language, and I’m working on it.”

He listens to Thai news on the radio while jogging in Lumpini Park, watches news and the Premier League football matches in Thai on TV, and even tweets in Thai on his iPad. He is using twitter @KentBKK to converse with Thai Arsenal fans. He says followers have to get used to some of his misspellings, but he’s trying to get better.

Kent attended a political science course at Chulalongkorn University for a month before he was appointed, which helps him understand how history and politics are taught here.

He also has a better comprehension of this country’s foreign policy. His four-year term will focus on trade and investment and tourism, making sure that 850,000 British travelers to Thailand each year are looked after properly.

“Trade and investment are a traditional element of the Thai-UK relationship, and this year marks 400 years of official contact between the two countries and the first contact at that time was based on trade. My job is to ensure that people are aware of the opportunities available in Thailand,” Kent said.

Thailand remains an attractive investment destination despite all the troubles in recent years. But with the Asean Economic Community fast approaching, Thailand has to strategically plan how to take the economy forward, how much of the workforce needs to speak fluent English and how to secure enough energy to ensure the upward development part.

“But you cannot be complacent. Nobody in this globalized economy can be complacent.”

So next time you’re riding the Skytrain or going somewhere in Bangkok and see a man with a black rucksack, it could be Kent. Go and say “Sawasdee Krub” to him, and you’ll be amazed with his Thai!

– LUXURY FOOD IN HOTELS: There are a cluster of hotels that are known for the Chef who reigns over their Michelin-star restaurant in the establishment and is happy to cook up a signature meal for you. Alain Ducasse, Paul Bocuse, Ferran Adria, Marco Pierre White, Heston Blumenthal, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Gordon Ramsay, Ken Hom – all culinary greats with a star power normally reserved for film actors and with a waiting list of guests that runs sometimes into months and years – they make hotels housing their restaurants a definite port of call on a luxury traveler’s itinerary with the promise of the delight that they bring with their willingness to paint their culinary art on the canvas of your palate. Some hotels go a step further, like The Hotel Crillon le Brave in Provence, which offers truffle hunting expeditions with an expert truffier followed by a cookery demonstration by the chef and special truffle-rich dinner.

– PB PIROM KHAOYAI RESERVE TEMPRANILLO 2010: One of the best vintages of Pirom Khao Yai Wine. This exceptional vintage Tempranillo is a result of a long and stable winter. Unusual temperature decreases during the season, resulted in better yield and quality. This is a top-grade smooth and silky full-bodied red with rounded tannin, suggesting plum, blackberries, black cherry, and distinctive hint of oak from being partly aged in French oak for 14 months. It goes well with duck, game, and most red meat dishes. This Thai wine can be enjoyed now or can be kept in a cellar for another 3-7 years to reach the full benefits. Recommended serving temperature at 15-18 C.

– SPACE SKYDIVER: Austrian Felix Baumgartner has become the first skydiver to go faster than the speed of sound, reaching a top speed of 1,342 kilometers/hour. The 43-year-old has also broken the record for the highest ever freefall by jumping out of a balloon 128,100 feet (39kilometers) – the edge of space – above New Mexico.

– WHY DO HOTELS CHARGE FOR WI-FI AND INTERNET? One of the most common questions asked in a hotel or discussed in a review or blog is, why do hotels and other accommodation venues still charge for the Internet? Especially when the world has advanced so rapidly in recent years on the mobile front. And it’s not just in your room, there is nothing more annoying than attending a conference or congress that doesn’t provide its delegates with the ability to stay connected without charge.

Internet service in your hotel room is not yet the same necessity as bottled water, TV, minibar, clean linen,or fresh towels, however is it the way of the future; will complimentary Internet become one of those included necessities in every hotel? Many of us these days want to check emails on the go; check-in on apps; update our latest status; and share with friends, family, and colleagues from anywhere in the world.

Knowing that hotels often provide Internet services through a third-party provider and may have a profit-share contract it, therefore, may not be possible to always provide free services.

Some hotels now offer complimentary Internet to loyalty club members, also complimentary Wi-Fi in certain areas such as the lobby or leisure areas, and some brands offer property-wide, while some continue to charge full price for the service. Charges can vary considerably from hotel to hotel, brand to brand, independent to independent, however, those that do charge, offer plans from 15-minutes, 1 to 24-hour sessions, or even long-stay rates.

So how can you get that free Internet in a hotel?

– Consider what their loyalty program offers, some status tiers on loyalty programs include complimentary Internet.

– Seek accommodation packages that include Internet in the rate.

– Seek accommodation that offers complimentary Internet, however, letโ€™s face it – you are still paying for it as it’s included in their rate.

– Consider negotiating a better Internet and roaming rate with your mobile device provider; it may prove a cheaper option than seeking a hotel that offers complimentary Internet.

– PENANG GAI: I am a great fan of Indian food, which is probably why Penang curry is one of my favorite Thai dishes. Penang is a dry curry, probably originally “imported” from Malaysia. It can be prepared with any meat and fish. This variety uses chicken.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 to 3 tablespoons Penang Curry paste
2 tablespoons fish sauce
sugar to taste
3 kaffir lime leaves shredded
10-15 Thai basil leaves, finely shredded

METHOD:

Place a wok over medium-high heat, and warm the coconut milk, but don’t let it boil. Add the curry paste, and stir it until the oil begins to separate out and form a thin film, to bring out the maximum flavor. Add the remaining ingredients except the lime leaves and basil leaves, and simmer until the sauce is absorbed and thickened. Add the lime leaves and basil leaves and stir fry briefly before serving.

– F1: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso lost his lead in the Formula One championship but still found positives to take away from a Korean Grand Prix dominated by Red Bull rival Sebastian Vettel.

– TENNIS: Novak Djokovic exacted revenge on Andy Murray for his US Open final defeat by saving 5 match points to outlast the Briton 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters title.

– HK IRONMAN DIES: A 27-year-old expatriate man collapsed and died meters from the finish line during an ironman triathlon race held on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

– TROPICAL GARDENS: Heliconias are tropical plants related to bananas, cannas, and gingers. There are about 100 different individual species, and most species then have a large number of hybrids and cultivars, with flower styles varying significantly from the original.

The actual heliconia flower is fairly insignificant. What most people would call the โ€œflowerโ€ is actually a group of colorful specialized leaves, called bracts (some resembling parrot beaks). The true flowers are hidden inside these bracts.
Heliconia leaves look more or less like banana leaves. They are generally green, but some are tinged slightly with color (particularly when young) and sometimes the leaves and stems are colored or patterned slightly.

Heliconias grow from an underground system of rhizomes. Rhizomes are a type of root (the ginger that you buy in the supermarket is a piece of rhizome from the common edible ginger plant).

Heliconias are found throughout Asia and enjoy warm, humid climates.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C; Sunny, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2940, Euro:Baht 39.73, SET Index: 1295

BANGKOK BRIEF

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C; Sunny, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2940, Euro:Baht 39.73, SET Index: 1295

BANGKOK BRIEF

Admin Court to consider anti-3G petitions today; could delay auction again. Government claims big rice sales, says details are secret.

WORLD SUMMARY

Biden-Ryan debate at 8:00 am. Turkey forces down Syria-bound plane with “illegal ammunition.” Malaysia court bans transsexuals from dressing as women.

OTHER NEW:

– PBTA PATTAYA: Besides more CCTVs on Walking Street, Pattaya should pave more roads and clean up the city to attract more tourists, said participants at a meeting of the Pattaya Businessmen and Tourism Association. They expect Pattaya tourism to increase from 5 to 10 million visitors within 10 years.

The monthly board meeting of the Pattaya Businessmen and Tourism Association was held at the Green Park Resort Hotel. PBTA President Mr. Wiwat Pattanasin welcomed members and representatives of agencies from government and private organizations.

Participants agreed on four areas of immediate priority that should be addressed. The four priorities are: paving over any dirt roads, as well as continual repaving and maintenance of existing roads; keeping the environment clean, which includes proper sanitation and trash elimination; carrying out the governmentโ€™s policy of 15 years of free education; and effective management of water resources to address both the water supply and the problems of flooding.

– THAILAND’S BRIGHT FUTURE: Bert Hofman, the World Bankโ€™s Chief Economist for East Asia and the Pacific, forecast a cut in growth for the Pacific-Rim earlier this week, prompting a sell-off in the regionโ€™s equities.

Prognosticating that the slowdown in China could get worse and last longer, he cut his 2012 growth outlook for the countryโ€™s gross domestic product (GDP) to 7.7 percent from 8.2 percent.

The World Bank has also downgraded its forecast for India, slashing predicted GDP growth for 2012 from 6.9 percent to 6 percent, due to infrastructure bottlenecks and the still slow (but improving) pace of economic reform. The organization also said that it expected inflation in the country to pop up to 8 percent by early next year. The International Monetary Fund is even less bullish on India, forecasting 2012 GDP growth of just 4.9 percent.

However, one small Southeast Asian country has largely escaped the negative assessments of supranational financial bodies: Thailand.

It has maintained its expectation that Thai GDP growth would come in at around 6.1 percent for the year.

Thailand has been lucky. It doesnโ€™t have much in the way of direct financial ties to Europe, unlike countries such as Malaysia or even Australia. Europe also is a major destination for Thai exports, which are relatively few to begin with, since the nationโ€™s economy depends primarily on its services sector for growth.

Tourism, the primary source of income in the country, has remained robust, with arrivals up 8.7 percent this year.

Domestic consumption has also shown resilience; auto sales have shot up by 49 percent so far this year while bank lending is up by 8 percent.

Foreign direct investment in the country has also remained extremely robust, jumping 120 percent in August to THB592 billion. Much of that investment has been focused on the countryโ€™s automotive industry, which not only feeds domestic demand but does a booming business in part exports.

The Thai government has committed to an ambitious infrastructure development program thatโ€™s slated to reach THB2.3 trillion over the next decade including flood control.

A global shortage of computer chips occurred last year after massive floods hit Thailandโ€™s central region. Interestingly, none of those manufacturers chose to relocate in the wake of that disaster, thanks to Thailandโ€™s relatively low wages, educated workforce, and extremely favorable corporate tax scheme.

– MATIV MOSCOW: The Tourism Authority of Thailandโ€™s pavilion was a big hit at the Moscow Autumn Travel Industry Week, or MATIW-Leisure 2012, one of the worldโ€™s biggest leisure trade fairs. The TAT pavilion occupied 274 square meters, at a cost of Bt10 million plus decoration, to show off various tourism products and services from the Land of Smiles.

The highlights of the event were spa/massage and medical services. The exhibitors in traditional Thai dress were busy welcoming guests for a trial massage. Umbrella painting was also on show to add color to the Thai atmosphere.

Throughout the day, Thai-boxing shows were held to demonstrate Thai martial arts as a magnet for visitors. Without a doubt, the Thai pavilion was one of the most interesting ones at the mart, proved by the long line of people wanting tourism information and to try out the spa and massage service.

โ€œLook at the event: our nation differentiates itself from other nations selling cultural and natural products. We have spa and medical services as todayโ€™s popular trend,โ€ said Tanes Petsuwan, TATโ€™s Director for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

This was the scene at MATIW, held from September 19-22. Interestingly, the Thai pavilion was surrounded by those of Asean rivals such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Participation in their events made it clear that the Russian market is very promising, with more and more travelers paving the way for business opportunities as Asean countries strive to get a slice of this lucrative cake.

– PHUKET: A Quebec coroner is challenging the autopsy findings of Thai officials that ruled two Canadian sisters found dead in their Phi Phi hotel room in June were accidentally poisoned. Coroner Renee Roussel told Radio-Canada the concentration of the chemical DEET in the sisters’ systems wasn’t enough to be fatal.

– BANGKOK SLOWS: Average speeds in Bangkok dropped from 19 kilometers per hour (kph) last year to 18 kph this year during morning rush hour and from 24 kph to 23 kph during evening rush hour, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning said

– ASIA PACIFIC HOTEL INVESTORS: The hotel industryโ€™s gigantic growth in Asia has been tempered somewhat in recent months, but industry leaders participating in the opening session during the 23rd annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific in Hong Kong are no less bullish about the region than they have been during the past five years.

Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, called the Asia/Pacific region the no. 1 hotel growth market and said his company isnโ€™t changing its strategy for the region because of a slowing global economy.

โ€œThere are going to be circumstances around the region that from time to time will have a little more supply and we will feel the effects of that โ€ฆ This region of the world will have a very tough time keeping up with the demand. Thereโ€™s massive economic growth thatโ€™s going to drive demand for travel and tourism,โ€ he said.

Richard Solomons, CEO for InterContinental Hotels Group, said that global hotel companies such as his London-based business, are in it for the long haul.

โ€œThis is a long-term business. You donโ€™t build a hotel for tomorrow, you build it for 20, 30, 40 years from now,โ€ he said, adding there will be winners and losers in terms of cities and hotel brands, but the key is the expected continued growth in consumer demand for hotel rooms, especially among Asia’s booming middle class.”

Jim Abrahamson, CEO of Interstate Hotels & Resorts, agreed but said there are some notable changes taking place through the region.

โ€œThis clearly has been a 5-star market, but longer-term demand demographics are going to be shifting toward 4 stars,โ€ he said to the 800 conference attendees, โ€œItโ€™s going to follow the pattern of the rest of the mature markets.”

– KENYA AIRWAYS BKK: Agent interline fam trips for Kenya Safari (6 days, 3 nights) and Tanzania Safari (7 days, 4 nights) are being offered in November, commencing from Bangkok. In Kenya, the fam trip includes the worldโ€famous Masai Mara National Reserve and optional balloon rides with spectacular views of the Game Reserve.

In Tanzania, the safari fam trip includes the Lake Manyara National Park and an overnight at the Serengeti Sopa Lodge followed by a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater.

– AUSTRALIA: To develop a more profitable tourism industry, Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive Kym Cheatham pushed for more focus on high-value visitors instead of just increasing the number of tourists: ”It is time to reinvent Australian tourism.”

– SKAL THAILAND CALENDAR: Thailand’s five Skal clubs outline their next meetings:

CHIANG MAI
Thursday, October 25
Dinner 1830 hours
Tamarind Village

BANGKOK
Wednesday, November 21
Lunch & Aviation Panel
1200 noon
Dusit Thani Bkk

SAMUI
Tuesday, November 6
Dinner 1830 hours
Renaissance Resort & Spa

HUA HIN
Thursday, October 25
Dinner 1800 hours
Amari

PHUKET
Thursday, October 18
Dinner 1900 hours
Andara Resort & Villas

PHUKET
Thursday, November 15
Dinner 1900 hours
Panwa Beach Resort by Marco Polo

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 31C; cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2873, Euro:Baht 39.53, SET Index: 1293

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 31C; cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2873, Euro:Baht 39.53, SET Index: 1293

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Governmentt officials may be sued just for implementing rice scheme. 3G auction almost set, only court can stop it. South terror attacks increase.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Philippines high court blocks cybercrime bill. Romney now leading Obama in polls for November 6 election. Athens protests austerity as Merkel visits.

OTHER NEWS:

– FUTSAL WORLD CUP: The Senate committee on sports has urged the Thai government to look after the organizing of next month’s trouble-plagued Futsal World Cup.

Speaking at yesterday’s Senate session, Committee Chairwoman Naruemol Siriwat said the country’s reputation had been tainted by the fact that the Bangkok Futsal Arena in Nong Chok district will not be complete in time for the opening stages of the November 1-18 tournament.

– THAI 3G: Thailand’s three major mobile-phone operators qualified Tuesday to bid in next Tuesday’s third generation (3G) spectrum auction.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday announced the three qualified applicants who will bid in the 3G auction: Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), a subsidiary of the country’s largest mobile operator; Advanced Info Service (AIS); DTAC Network, a subsidiary of DTAC; and Real Future, a subsidiary of True Corporation.

The NBTC will auction off 9 5-MHz blocks, totaling 45 MHz of bandwidth, on the 2.1-GHz spectrum. The auction will be an ascending-bid type, with each participant allowed to purchase up to 15 MHz, or 3 blocks. The winners are due to be announced on October 22.

– GANGNAM STYLE: A whopping record 418 million hits on YouTube for this new horse riding dance phenomena by South Korean rapper Psy, is impacting entertainment at all levels and continues to take the world by storm.

– SKAL SDIT AWARD: Congratulations Bangkok Skalleague Soren Wettendorf and his company Asian Oasis winning the Skal “Diversey Special Recognition” Award at the 2012 SKAL World Congress.

The awards were announced by the Vice President of Skal International, Karine Coulanges, and President of Skal Thailand, Andrew J. Wood, during the 73rd Skal World Congress in Korea.

The Diversey Special Recognition Award shares its aim with the “Sustainable Development in Tourism Awards” (SDIT), presented by Skal International. They are designed to acknowledge projects which are innovative and designed to transform the conventional understanding of sustainability to one in which business and the environment, along with safety, risk management, and corporate responsibility are efficiently and cooperatively managed to the benefit of all.

The award, presented during the Opening Ceremony of the 73rd Skal World Congress in Incheon, Korea, on October 3, was given to Lisu Lodge in Chiang Mai and Lanjia Lodge in Chiang Rai for their efforts to promote sustainable tourism in Thailand. Both properties have taken great strides in efforts to protect and nurture local cultures while also preserving the environment.

Lisu Lodge is situated in a small Lisu tribal village 50 kilometers from Chiang Mai City, Thailand. Built in traditional Lisu style with an eye for western comforts, the lodge serves as a base-camp for a magical blend of adventure, relaxation, and insight. Lisu Lodge was created to provide meaningful experiences for visitors while staying firmly focused on community development and the protection of the environment.

– REGENT OPENS: Regent Hotels & Resorts has announced that its new Phuket resort will open on December 1. Located at Cape Panwa, next to its own private beach, Regent Phuket Cape Panwa will feature 105 rooms: 35 Pool Villas, 48 Suites, and 22 Pavilions. The Pool Villas come with their own private outdoor pool and sundeck area overlooking the ocean, plus 24-hour butler service

– WORLDWIDE HOTEL PRICES UP: Based upon average hotel rates aggregated from dozens of top travel websites throughout June, July, and August, the majority of US, MENA, and Southeast Asia destinations experienced a significant spike in price when compared with the 2011 season.

Where Southeast Asia was concerned, major Thailand tourism centers Phuket and Chiang Mai saw the highest increases in the region, up 37% and 33%, respectively. Pattaya followed at 27% along with Koh Samui at 25%. In fact, the only major Thai destination to experience any price decrease was Koh Phangan at a meager 3%. The countryโ€™s hotel spikes are likely attributed to a large increase in hotel development over the past year. Also posting noteworthy gains were Singapore (+32%); Malaysia destinations Pangkor Island (+33%), and Langkawi (+26%); Philippine hot spots Boracay (+25%) and Tagaytay; (+20%) and Hong Kong (+20%).

Middle East and North African (MENA) destinations rivaled Asia for rate growth with Dubai experiencing one of the highest increases in the world at an impressive 57% from an average nightly fee of AED 601.17 in 2011 to AED 941.10 in 2012. This was followed by Islamic pilgrimage hot spot Medina with an increase of 44% and Sousse with an increase of 43%. Dubaiโ€™s fellow Gulf city of Abu Dhabi experienced a more humble rate increase of 12%.

The US was a success story as well with an average hotel rate surge of 17%. Anaheim โ€“ home to Disneyland – snagged the highest price increase in America with a 42% rise in the average nightly hotel rate of US$109 in 2011 to US$155.25 in 2012.

Lastly, 4 Eastern European cities topped the list of the highest rate increases in the world: Gdansk (+58%), Kiev (+56%), Bansko +36%, and Warsaw +26%. With the exception of Montenegro, Eastern Europe appears to be blooming and enjoyed the prosperity that several key Western European cities severely lacked. The German cities of Dusseldorf (-19%), Leipzig (-16%), and Binz (-16%) all experienced declines while Athens hotel rates went down a significant – 18% during the 2012 summer likely as an after-effect of the tensions the city faced due to the current European financial crisis.

– MOBBED IN PHUKET: Staff of the Movenpick Hotel and Spa Karon Beach in Phuket, Thailand, surprised guests with a flash mob dance sequence to the popular song ”Gangnam Style.” Almost all of the dancers were members of the hotel staff, although the crowd did include a few professional dancers who were disguised as tourists and hotel employees.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2930, Euro:Baht 39.97, SET Index: 1287

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2930, Euro:Baht 39.97, SET Index: 1287

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Thaksin – no charter change for foreseeable future. Fallout of red-yellow clash – little reconciliation. Red Bull family pays victim family.

WORLD SUMMARY:

World – Tough Obama UN speech opposes Iran nukes, says diplomacy has time limit. China launches first aircraft carrier. Taiwan ships home in on disputed islands.

OTHER NEWS:

-QANTAS CROC SHOCK: A crocodile was found roaming free in the cargo hold of a Qantas plane recently, the airline has confirmed.

The reptile was being transferred from Brisbane to Melbourne, but managed to escape from its container during the two-hour journey.

It was discovered by baggage handlers who were unloading passengersโ€™ luggage after the plane landed in Melbourne.

-CHIANG MAI MICE: TCEB Board member and Acting President, Thongchai Sridama, said recently that proposals for Chiang Mai have gained approval from the Cabinet for a year-long campaign.

The main emphasis will be supporting the cityโ€™s brand new convention center, due to soft open next month for a trial period to bring facilities and services up to scratch.

Apart from declaring 2013 year of MICE, the city has done little to firm up events or promote the convention centre overseas, possibly because of numerous construction delays that beset the project from the beginning.

But an effort to kick-start the campaign is now under way as TCEB and the Tourism Authority of Thailand join hands with tourism and business associations to organize a brainstorming โ€œMICE summitโ€ this November.

The summit will look at ways to promote the provinceโ€™s MICE industry in the lead-up to the official opening of the Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (cMICE-c) possibly in April 2013.

-73RD SKAL WORLD CONGRESS: Seoul will be serving up the very best of traditional Korean and international cuisine as part of the regular Skal โ€œDine Aroundโ€ event during next monthโ€™s 73rd Skal World Congress. This yearโ€™s Dine Around, designed as a night out on the town, will give visiting delegates the options to try a royal Korean banquet, Buddhist temple cuisine, signature Italian favorites, and more in the cityโ€™s popular Insa-dong cultural district.

The annual congress, set for October 2-7, will bring to Seoul several hundred top travel industry professionals from across the globe, including hotel managers, CEOs of travel agencies, and tourism and convention bureau heads, among others. The event will take place at two of Seoulโ€™s major hotels, the Grand Hyatt and the Hilton.

-IBIS MAKEOVER: A Sweet Bed, new uniforms, and new signage are included in the makeover of Accor’s economy hotel brand, Ibis.

Down the track, new lobby and restaurant designs will be part of the radical overhaul.

Ibis will become a triple-tier brand adding Ibis Budget (from the current Formule 1 brand) and Ibis Styles (from the former All Seasons brand) to the existing Ibis hotel network.

Following the re-brand of the hotels, Ibis will grow to more than 70 hotels in Australia and 1600 worldwide, making it the largest global economy hotel.

All existing and new Ibis hotels will get new signage by the end of the year, while Ibis Hotels and Ibis Budget will introduce the Sweet Bed over the next 6 months.

The Sweet Bed being introduced into Ibis Hotels features a 7cm topper, which in the past would normally be associated with a luxury brand.

Changes to the brand followed a recent survey that showed that some 70 percent of guests ranked comfortable beds as “the single most important factor when they choose an economy hotel.”

-BLACKBERRY: Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) plans to release its new BlackBerry 10 (BB10) smartphone lineup on 6 continents in the first quarter, seeking to capitalize on the companyโ€™s lingering strength in overseas markets.

RIM is counting on overseas customers to offset shrinking demand in North America where the BlackBerry has lost ground to Apple iPhone and Google’s Android operating system. Even with analyst’s forecasting a 45 percent decline in RIMโ€™s sales this fiscal year, the company says its installed base of customers continues to grow. The BlackBerry now has 80 million subscribers.

RIM’s shares climbed 4.6 percent to US$6.60 at 1:26 pm in NY. The stock, down 57 percent this year through yesterday, rose as much as 5.5 percent earlier in the day.

RIMโ€™s share of the global smartphone market, which it once dominated, tumbled to 4.8 percent in the second quarter from 12 percent a year earlier, according to research firm IDC. RIM, based in Waterloo, Ontario, reports its latest quarterly results in 2 days.

Analysts say that their biggest concern is that BB10 doesnโ€™t have the support of developers who build the news, games and music applications that have helped drive the success of the iPhone and Android.

-GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION: Thailand has stamped itself as the tourism hub for the GMS. In the first quarter of this year, there were 463,468 visitors from the four GMS countries of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar, up 18.48 percent compared with the first quarter of last year. Thailand now leads in promoting cross-border tourism and raising the GMS as a single tourist destination, as evidenced by roughly 350 delegates from the six GMS member countries coming to Thailand to attend the Mekong Tourism Forum in June.

The area is geopolitically important. It is in the middle of the region stretching from Northeast Asia to South Asia and links to the Indian Ocean, inner China and the East China Sea. It offers a land-corridor alternative to the sea lane through the Strait of Malacca, providing China with direct access to the Indian Ocean.

Although poverty still looms, the region has high development potential, with a total population of about 314 million. Furthering the hope of progress, an integrated strategy of development – the formation of the Asean Economic Community – is anticipated by 2015. In preparation, a strategic framework is being created involving infrastructure developments and the development of economic trade zones in the region.

Thus the technical and financial aid from Thailand has contributed significantly to the growth of the GMS, which helps the positioning of Thailand at a time when global investors are paying more attention to the growth potential of the Mekong region.

-FORMULA 1 BKK: It would not be easy to host a Formula One race in Bangkok and it may need a public hearing, officials said yesterday.

Sports Authority of Thailand governor Kanokphand Chulakasem met Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone during the Singapore Grand Prix at the weekend.

According to Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, Ecclestone has agreed for Thailand to host a race in 2014. He said it would be a night race and that Ecclestone wanted it to take place in Bangkok.

The government would shoulder 60 percent of the total cost and the rest would be paid by private companies such as Red Bull and Singha, he said. However, further talks are needed to finalize details, officials said.

-NO KIDS: Hoping to target honeymooners and romance vacationers, the tourism industry in Asia is implementing more adults-only features.

The Akyra Chura Samui hotel will ban children under the age of 12 from November 1 due to increasing demand by vacationers for more private, couples-oriented holidays. The hotel is the second resort in Thailand to accept bookings only for adults.

Meanwhile, another hotel in Asia is also implementing an adults-only feature in its property. French resort chain Club Med, which recently unveiled a series of renovations to its Malaysian property, Cherating Beach Resort, will have a โ€œZen Spaceโ€ with a quiet pool that is strictly off-limits to children.

In July this year, Malaysia Airlines also issued an advisory to travel agents restricting children from the upper deck of its super-jumbo aircraft flying between Kuala Lumpur and London as well as Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, citing the reason that the upstairs economy seats were only available to business travelers.

Adults-only resorts are increasingly popular in other parts of the world, in particular the Caribbean islands, according to ABC News in July, the decision to impose a ban on kids brought about a surge in hotel occupancy rates.

-THAI CHINESE WEDDINGS: Cha-am, Phetchaburi: A total of 160 couples from China are to tie the knot in the first such joint mass ceremony to be held in the Thai beach resort of Cha-am on October 10.

The couples are the first batch of 999 couples who have signed up for 5-day, 4-night packages to get married and enjoy a memorable honeymoon in Thailand. All the ceremonies will be held between now and 2013.

Chinese visitors to Thailand totaled 1,721,247 in 2011, up 53.38 percent over 2010. China is now the largest visitor source-market for Thailand. In Januaryโ€“August 2012 Chinese visitors totaled 1,685,896, up by 35.38 percent over the same period of 2011.

-FREE TOURIST WI-FI – UPDATE: Both local and foreign tourists in Thailand will soon be able to access free WiFi at more than 1,600 hotspots in tourist destinations nationwide.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology of Thailand (ICT) signed a MOU last week to allow TOT and CAT Telecom to install hi-speed Internet at 1,615 hotspots in major tourist attractions across the country.

The project is a part of Smart Thailand campaign, and aligns with the governmentโ€™s strategy to promote the economy via tourism.

โ€œThis move is to support the governmentโ€™s policy on tourism that targets two trillion (US$64.6 billion) in annual tourism revenue by 2015,โ€ said ICT Minister Gp Capt. Anudith Nakornthap.

Of the 1,615 hotspots, there will be 253 routers for Bangkok, 446 in the Central region, 201 in the Eastern region, 323 in the Southern region, 325 in the Northern region, and another 67 in the Northeastern region.

The free WiFi is not only to drive the economy but also to achieve the ICTโ€™s goal of providing hi-speed Internet to 80 percent of Thai households by 2015, the ICT Minister said.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2968, Euro:Baht 39.96, SET Index: 1286

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2968, Euro:Baht 39.96, SET Index: 1286

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Relatives plead, don’t give Dr. Death bail. Banpu faces further lawsuits over Laos deception. Yongyuth likely to stay as interior minister.

WORLD SUMMARY:

China cancels event marking Japan ties. Pakistan government minister offers 30 million baht to kill video maker and denounces US government. Libya to dissolve militias.

OTHER NEWS

-ORGANIC HYATT MENUS FOR KIDS: Childrenโ€™s menus have come a long way since the Happy Meal. The latest in refined dining for little ones: a new all-organic, prix fixe menu designed by Alice Waters and prepared at Hyatt hotels across North America.

The three-course menu starts with a cruditรฉ-style romaine salad with vinaigrette for dipping. Pesto chicken with roast potatoes precedes a dessert of orange and strawberry slices served in a hollowed-out orange rind.
-PATTAYA BOOMS: More than a year of peaceful politics in Thailand is translating into a big resurgence in tourism to Pattaya, with arrivals during the low season up 63 percent over a year ago.

Total numbers for 2011 also show visitors are coming back to the Land of Smiles. Total arrivals in Pattaya jumped 14.3 percent in 2011, with more than 8 million tourists staying in the city, compared with about 7 million the year before. The record numbers brought about 80 billion baht in tourist revenue to Pattaya.TAT are hoping for 9 million tourists by year-end.

-VIETNAM MARKETING: In the past, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) asked to apply a mechanism under which one dollar collected from every traveler to Vietnam would be spent on tourism promotion activities in Vietnam and overseas.

If so, with 6 million foreign travelers received in 2011, the tourism sector would have six million dollars, or 120 billion dong to carry out promotion campaigns this year.

VNAT is reported saying that due to the lack of money, it is very difficult to implement the programs to advertise Vietnamโ€™s tourism and its destinations.

In 2011, VNAT budgeted 35 billion dong to the activities of marketing the destination. Meanwhile, the budget has been cut down to 30 billion dong for this year.

-PHILIPPINES AVIATION: CAB (the Civil Aeronautics Board) said, “Just like other countries where we had air talks, Thailand is a growing market. So we wish to support the growth of the aviation industry and tourism of both countries, and we will hold talks in November in Bangkok.”

The two countries last negotiated in July 2008 in Bangkok, a check with CABโ€™s planning division showed.

Currently, the Philippines has a total of 16,210 seat entitlements per week for Thailand, with the bulk of it allocated to local airlines namely, Philippine Airlines (3,578 seats), Cebu Pacific (2,542), Zest Airways (1,354), SouthEast Asian Airlines (1,260), Airphil Express (3,734), and AirAsia Philippines (1,092), CAB records showed.

-DR. DEATH: A police doctor suspected of killing at least four people and burying their bodies on his property in Phetchaburi will be fired and his request for early retirement suspended. Supat Laohawattana was due to be promoted to Major general on September 30 and take early retirement on October 1.

-SA BOXER DEATH: South Africa’s former world heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders died of wounds sustained in a shooting at a Pretoria restaurant where he was celebrating his nephew’s 21st birthday, police reported.

It was reported that three men burst into the restaurant. They were planning to commit an armed robbery. They opened fire shooting randomly. Corrie was shot in the hand and also the stomach.

They fled with a digital camera and also a handbag of one of the people who was in the restaurant.

Sanders was rushed to Kalafong hospital but died โ€œin the early hours of the morning,โ€ Brigadier Ngubane said.

-AIR ASIA: Thai AirAsia is adding Xi’an and its terracotta warriors to an expanding Thailand-China service with a daily flight commencing on November 16. It’s the budget airline’s fifth Thailand-China route as the carrier taps growing air travel by the Chinese.

-CHIANG RAI WINNER: Le Mรฉridien Chiang Rai Resort is awarded the Best Reputation Management for its prompt and active engagement with guestโ€™s feedback.

“Le Mรฉridien Chiang Rai Resort instated a policy requiring its general manager to reply to all TripAdvisor comments personally and use TripAdvisor as a platform for receiving feedback with a strict response time of 48 hours for every comment, positive or negative. Their commitment to bringing their clientsโ€™ voices into their daily management meetings is stronger than most,โ€ commented Judges.

“It is an absolute honor to be recognized with the Best Reputation Management award,” said Justin Malcolm, General Manager, โ€œLe Mรฉridien Chiang Rai Resort places great emphasis on guestsโ€™ satisfaction. We have been actively engaging with guests through TripAdvisor and other social media platforms, replying to all comments posted and review all feedback from guests. The award is not just about responding to comments online but also a testament to our commitment and enthusiasm in truly understanding our guests and delivering against our promises every day,โ€ added Mr. Malcolm.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 30C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2534, Euro:Baht 39.39, SET Index: 1251

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 30C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2534, Euro:Baht 39.39, SET Index: 1251

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Chalerm blames Vietnam, Myanmar for drug problems. Thai fencer wins 3rd gold in Paralympics. Minor flooding in Rangsit. Government’s drainage test scheduled for the eastern part of Bangkok today has been called off, following days of continuous heavy rain.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Girl survives in French Alp massacre. Obama makes โ€œa better placeโ€ promise. Aleppo war rages on. Russia warns against attacking Iran.

OTHER NEWS:

-TAT MIRACLE CARD: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is encouraging visitors to Thailand to make a point of asking their travel agents and tour operators for a โ€œMiracle Thailand Cardโ€ to help them take advantage of discounted shopping during their stay.

TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said the TAT is supporting this initiative, launched by one of Thailandโ€™s leading banks, the Krung Thai Bank (KTB), in partnership with the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), to help visitors get better value for money from their shopping experience.

The Miracle Thailand card can also be of great use to convention and exhibition delegates visiting Thailand during the period of validity.

There are also discounts for shopping, life insurance, and loss-of-sight coverage up to 1 million Baht, and travel accident medical expense coverage of up to 500,000 Baht.

The Miracle Thailand Card is available from Krung Thai Bank branches, KTB currency exchange booths throughout Thailand, members of ATTA and TAT offices. The card is valid until the December 31, 2012.

-REMBRANDT TOP RESTAURANT: Bangkok’s most celebrated Indian restaurant takes top spot in Bangkok’s Top Tables Guide 2012, a listing of the best restaurants in Bangkok by BK Magazine.

Rang Mahal, located on the top floor of the popular Rembrandt Hotel, received consistently favorable reviews from in-house food and travel writers, as well as foodies, restaurateurs, and suppliers in terms of quality, service, atmosphere, and good food to provide an eating experience to rival the best Bangkok has to offer.

-WELCOME TO YORKSHIRE: Visit England has defended itself against criticism from the Yorkshire tourist board that Yorkshire was โ€œsnubbedโ€ in the latest funding rounds.

Welcome to Yorkshire has complained to the government after Visit England refused to give it any of the money set aside to help boost tourism, because it claimed Yorkshire was not a โ€œdestination.โ€

Visit England has allocated ยฃ500,000 each to York and Leeds to help promote both Yorkshire cities, but Welcome to Yorkshire said its requests for funding to promote the county as a whole had been rejected.

-PENINSULA HK: The Peninsula Hotels has launched “Peninsula Moments” a new multi-million-dollar global brand campaign, the new PenCities online travel journal, and a HK$450 million revitalization of its flagship hotel, The Peninsula Hong Kong, featuring advanced in-room technology including complimentary long-distance VOIP phone calls from guest rooms and from the hotel’s Rolls-Royce fleet.

-MYANMAR MASTERCARD: MasterCard Worldwide has issued a license to a Myanmar bank, paving the way for branded cards to be issued and accepted in the country for the first time.

The license agreement with Myanmarโ€™s Co-Operative Bank Limited, a well established commercial bank in Myanmar with the largest ATM network in the country, will see the issuing of MasterCard branded cards and the acceptance of MasterCard/Maestro/Cirrus cards by ATMs within the country.

In related news, the requirement for foreign companies to spend a minimum of $5 million is under review, especially for the tourism industry, where jobs can be created quickly. Myanmar attracted 816,369 tourists last year, compared with about 19 million in neighboring Thailand, according to government statistics.

Research by the Economist Intelligence Unit earlier this year forecast that Myanmarโ€™s economy would expand by 5.2% in 2012-13. International air arrivals alone jumped by 63% between 2009 and 2010, and a further 32% between 2010 and 2011, more than doubling from 100,439 in 2009 to 216,861 in 2011.

President Barack Obama in July authorized US companies to invest in Myanmar for the first time in about 15 years. Thein Sein met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a July 13 business forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, that included representatives from Google, Goldman Sachs, Boeing, and General Motors.

-GOOGLE TRAVEL: The search-engine has big plans for the travel industry as it looks ahead, according to Google spokeswoman Sandra Heikkinen.

โ€œSearches for travel-related information are among the highest-volume queries we receive at Google. We are innovating in a number of ways to make it easier for users to search for travel information and to deliver more useful results to them,โ€ Heikkinen said, โ€œThe online travel industry is competitive, with a range of companies that provide different solutions for users. Weโ€™ll work to continue to have productive partnerships with as many online travel companies and industry players as possible.โ€

โ€œOur goal is to help people turn their intents into actions quickly, and we can help make this happen by delivering the most relevant results at the moment of interest,โ€ said Heikkinen.

-ALOFT: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide said it’s Aloft brand will pursue growth via the conversion route.

Aloft currently has 60 properties globally.

“We see two types of opportunities as ideal candidates for an Aloft conversion: older hotels in need of a major renovation or unique, independent boutique hotels seeking a stronger brand point of view and the ability to utilize Starwood systems,โ€ Simon Turner, Starwood’s President of Global Development, said.

-iPHONE 5: Though Apple never reveals details of forthcoming products, rumors from multiple sources have provided a picture of what the new iPhone is likely to include. The new handset is likely to be significantly redesigned, with a thinner, metal case and a taller, but not wider, screen.

Part of the reason the phone is expected to be thinner is a new screen design that integrates the touch layer of the phone with the display itself.

In a move that is likely to exasperate those with a lot of docks, chargers, and other accessories, Apple is also thought to be ditching the familiar dock connector from this handset, in favor of a smaller version.

The iPhone 5 will also be one of a new generation of phones, including the Nokia Lumia 820 and 920 announced yesterday, that will use a new, 40 percent smaller nano sim. The sim card will require existing users to change their current sim when they upgrade. As with the process for changing to the current micro sim, consumers will be able to swap their existing sims over the counter in mobile networks shops and in phone retailers.

The micro-sim is 15x12x0.76 mm, compared to the nano-simโ€™s 12.3×8.8×0.67 mm.
The new smaller sim card allows for thinner designs and gives more space for improved cameras and battery, and is in keeping with Apple to promote the wireless Airplay technology rather than to use the existing dock connector for speakers and other accessories.

-OTA REVENUE: In a recent global review, OTAs generated 12.8 percent of hotel demand, direct bookings 24.3 percent, and GDS global distribution systems 20.2 percent.

Finding the optimal channel distribution mix for hotels has proved to be an ever-moving target for hoteliers.

Expedia collected $3.5 billion from the hotel industry on a trailing 12-month basis.

Nick Graham, Senior Director of Market Management at Expedia, said the mobile space is growing quickly and it is an area into which Expedia has invested. โ€œMobile is now driving a substantial portion of our (global) business,โ€ he said.

He added, โ€œThe international customer is doing a lot on mobile. China, theyโ€™re not using the desktop. Two-thirds of mobile bookings are done same day.โ€

-CHA AM: New Novotel Hua Hin Cha Am Beach Resort and Spa has started welcoming guests at its 243 rooms.

Fronting the beach between Hua Hin and Cha Am, the resort is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Bangkok and 10-15 minutes away from the Hua Hin Airport. Each guestroom is guaranteed a view of the Gulf of Thailand, and free Wi-Fi access is offered throughout the property.

-QANTAS: The airline inked a new global agreement with Emirates and cancelled it’s agreement with BA, which will terminate its Singapore stopover on the long-established โ€œKangaroo Routeโ€ commencing April 2013. Besides codesharing, Qantas will be moving its base for European flights to Dubai as part of the 10-year deal, marking the beginning of a major restructuring of flights within the airlineโ€™s network.

-AEC2015: “The tourism industry should see ASEAN integration as an opportunity, not a threat. It is an opportunity to export your tourism services and qualities. For example, Singaporeans should export their policy and procedure training. Thais should export their service ethic. Opportunities far outweigh the threats.

“Our good looking, charming, and thoughtful ASEAN student (aka the tourism industry) has the world at her feet. With strategic and technical skills training and a commitment to embrace the new, professionalize and standardize training, her potential is huge,” said Willem Niemeijer, CEO, Khiri Travel Group.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2564, Euro:Baht 39.20, SET Index: 1236

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2564, Euro:Baht 39.20, SET Index: 1236

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Heavy rain predicted throughout country, as government set to test Bangkok canals. Amlo says southern school misused charity to fund bombings.

WORLD SUMMARY:

China warns visiting Hillary not to get involved in China Sea spats. China-India war games to resume. Rebels bomb Syria army headquarters, 100,000 flee.

OTHER NEWS:

– APPLE: In New York, the S&P 500 rebounded as Apple extended gains, with the worldโ€™s most-valuable company closing the session up 1.5 percent at US$674.97. The company sent out invitations to a September 12 product event in San Francisco, where it is expected to introduce a redesigned iPhone. The invitations โ€œ12โ€ casts a shadow… 15 (iPhone5?).

US stocks trimmed loses as speculation grew that European leaders will take new steps to tame the debt crisis. Spanish and Italian notes jumped on bets the European Central Bank will buy the debt.

US markets were closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

– PHUKET: The new Director of the TATโ€™s Phuket Office, Chanchai Doungjit, said flights coming to Phuket are full this year, even in the โ€œgreenโ€ season.
Last year, more than half of the 4 million international tourists who came to Phuket were stamped in by Phuket Immigration directly, an indicator that Phuket itself (as opposed to Thailand) is an increasingly popular destination.

โ€œThe rate of growth is very positive, rising 28 percent from last year,โ€ said Mr. Chanchai. โ€œThough the number of European tourists has fallen between 3 and 5 percent this year due to the impact of the Euro crisis, the Asian market is going up, replacing the missing European tourists.โ€

Their numbers have been far outstripped by the new markets. In the first half, 142,582 tourists arrived from China and 140,297 from Russia. In third place was Australia with 121,916, followed by South Korea with 102,021, and Sweden in fifth place with 80,427.

According to TATโ€™s statistics, the biggest growth markets were China and Russia, which both more than doubled. China increased 107 percent and Russia 105 percent, followed by South Korea (30), Malaysia (25), and Sweden (25).

– UK VAT INCLUDED: Several prominent hotel chains in the United Kingdom are scrambling to resolve an alleged breach of regulations for not including VAT in initial prices shown for some properties online.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) code states that VAT, or the value-added tax, must be displayed if purchasers are required to pay it.

A subsequent survey by โ€œWhich? Travelโ€ magazine found that the following 11 hotel chains in the UK did not include VAT in the total price until the payment page in the booking process: Crowne Plaza, Doubletree by Hilton, Guoman, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Malmaison, Marriott, Mercure, Radisson Blu, Sofitel, and Thistle.

The Committee on Advertising Practice, which is administered by the ASA and is responsible for the codes of practice, has started a compliance action, which goes into effect September 17 to force the entire UK hotel industry to adhere to the code.

– MYANMAR E&O: Orient-Express Hotels, owners or part-owners and managers of 45 hotel, cruise, and luxury rail businesses in 22 countries, is to launch a new river cruiser in Myanmar in July 2013.

Currently under construction in Yangon, the 50-guest ship will complement Orient-Expressโ€™ two other businesses in Myanmar, namely The Governorโ€™s Residence, which is a 48-key colonial-style hotel in Yangon, and the Road to Mandalay river cruiser, which has been cruising the Ayeyarwady River for 17 years.

The river cruiser will be named โ€œOrcaellaโ€ after the dolphins known to inhabit the Ayeyarwady River.

– HK RATES SET TO ROCKET: From September 21, non-permanent residents in 6 Chinese cities โ€“ Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen โ€“ will be allowed to apply for visas to Hong Kong under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) from their residing cities instead of their hometowns.

With the eased regulations, some 14 million people will qualify for visa applications, while an additional 4 million non-local residents from neighboring Shenzhen will be eligible for multiple-entry visas to Hong Kong.

DMCs say, โ€œHong Kong is benefiting from China but at the expense of other markets. Hotel rates in Hong Kong are currently unbelievably expensive, and we foresee rates will become even higher in the future.โ€

– GREEN MILE DEAD: Michael Clarke Duncan, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in “The Green Mile,” an adaptation of a Stephen King work, died Monday at age 54. Born in Chicago on December 10, 1957, Duncan moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. The imposing actor, who was 6′ 5″ (1.96 meters), worked as a bodyguard for Will Smith and Jamie Foxx while securing smaller roles.

His breakthrough performance came when he was cast as convict John Coffey in “The Green Mile,” a man wrongly accused of child murder and rape, who has supernatural powers. Tom Hanks co-starred as a prison guard.

– HOTEL BOOKINGS ONLINE: Some 85% of travelers prefer to book last-minute hotel stays via mobile apps and the Internet, according to a Trivago survey of 4,142 people.

In the United Kingdom, 93% of travelers booked via apps and the Internet, the highest of the 8 countries studied. The survey was done during the 2-week period from August 13-27.

– RED BULL: Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 27, known as Boss, was arrested yesterday morning after a black Ferrari ran into a motorcycle at about 5:30 am on Sukhumvit Soi 47.

The son of Chalerm Yoovidhya, a top executive of the world-famous Red Bull empire, has confessed to a hit-and-run charge, following a road accident that killed a police officer on Sukhumvit Road early yesterday, police say.

The motorcycle’s rider, Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Wichian Klanprasert, 48, of Thong Lor police station, was killed. His body was dragged by the 32 million baht Ferrari 200 meters down the road. He reportedly suffered a broken neck and multiple broken bones.

Vorayuth admitted hitting the policeman, but told investigators that the officer had come out of nowhere and cut in front of him, making it impossible for him to take evasive action, police said.

Vorayuth is the third son of Mr. Chalerm who is the son of the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, the founder of the world-renowned energy drink Red Bull, or Krating Daeng in Thai, and was one of the nation’s richest men.

– AUSTRALIAN tourism has suffered a setback following the rise in the overseas departure tax, while growth in international travel by Australians has also slowed.
The number of international visitors fell by more than 1 percent compared to the same month last year, according to latest Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The growth in international travel by Australians also slowed to under 1 percent, compared to an annual rate of more than 7 percent.

The passenger movement charge rose from US$47 to US$55 in July after changes announced by the government in the May budget.

Arrivals from Australia’s biggest source market, New Zealand, fell by more than 4 percent.

Tourists from Thailand fell nearly 20 percent, Korea dropped almost 13 percent, and Malaysia was down more than 3 percent.

– SWISS COSTLY TURNAROUND: A fight between 2 Chinese passengers forced a Swiss plane carrying 200 people from Zurich to Beijing to turn-around after more than 6 hours in the air.

“The two passengers were handed over to the police in Zurich after the Airbus A340 landed Sunday evening,” said a spokesman for the airline.

The plane was just east of Moscow when the pilot decided to turn it around. The pilot had opted to head back to Zurich instead of making an emergency landing in Moscow to avoid administrative difficulties.

Swiss put up the plane’s 200 passengers at a Zurich hotel, before placing them on Beijing flights with other companies, since its own flight to the Chinese capital Monday was already fully booked.

– HAPPY SONGS: In a recent survey of MICE professionals, participants were asked to reveal what they thought was the most optimistic and uplifting song of all time. Their top 6 most uplifting songs (unprompted) were Louis Armstrongโ€™s โ€œWhat a Wonderful Worldโ€ in the top slot; followed by โ€œBeautiful Dayโ€ by U2; 3 was โ€œDon’t Worry Be Happyโ€ by Bobby McFerrin; 4 โ€“ โ€œAmazing Graceโ€ by John Newton; 5 โ€“ โ€œDon’t Stop Believingโ€ by Journey; with โ€œOver the Rainbowโ€ by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole coming at 6.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 31C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2563, Euro:Baht 39.37, SET Index: 1228

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 31C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2563, Euro:Baht 39.37, SET Index: 1228

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Nakhon Sawan villagers want dam, conservationists oppose them. Tablet computer batteries failing after three hours, students complain.

WORLD SUMMARY:

China begins leadership shuffle. NATO halts training Afghan police for fear of being killed. Korean Unification Church Moonie founder Rev Moon dies.

OTHER NEWS:

– AEC2015: The Commerce Ministry said serious attention should be given to four service sectors – tourism, information technology, construction, and logistics – as they are priorities for liberalization this year.

Thailand last year committed to allowing other Asean member states to hold a majority share of 51 percent in businesses in these four segments. However, the cap remains 49 percent because of technical problems in the liberalization process.

Ajva Taulananda, Honorary President of the Board of Trade and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said private Thai service enterprises should urgently bring their operations up to an international standard, while focusing on foreign-language education for their personnel. Enterprises should study the culture of each country in Asean to increase business opportunities on trading and investing in the region.

– TOP 10 RICH THAI: The top 10 richest in Thailand are:

1) Dhanin Chearavanont; US$9 billion

2) Chirathivat family; US$6.9 billion

3) Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi; US$6.2 billion

4) Yoovidya family; US$5.4 billion

5) Krit Ratanarak; US$3.1 billion

6) Chamnong Bhirombhakdi & family; US$2.4 billion

7) Vichai Maleenont & family; US$1.8 billion

8) Aloke Lohia; US$1.6 billion

9) Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth; US$1.2 billion

10) Vanich Chaiyawan; US$1.16 billion

– TOP 101 HOTEL RESTAURANTS: Hereโ€™s one for the foodies among you – The Daily Meal has compiled its first-ever list of the โ€œ101 Best Hotel Restaurants Around the World.โ€

It used to be that a hotel was the last place any serious eater would venture to dine. That started changing about two decades ago when hotels began recognizing that their in-house restaurants could be an asset, crafted into destinations in their own right. And it’s not just a matter of adding to the hotel’s draw for travelers. While guests may come and go with the seasons, hotels that have invested in their restaurants have seen they can keep their tables booked year-round with locals or folks like us who might actually even visit a hotel specifically for the food.

The list was carefully curated by consulting the Michelin Guide and other trusted sources and through recommendations from The Daily Mealโ€™s editors, who have traveled and dined extensively around the world.

With hundreds of innovative restaurants to choose from, it was a culinary challenge to whittle the list down to a select 101. To be in contention, a hotel had to have at least 15 rooms (so quaint auberges, family-run bed and breakfasts, and famed restaurants that happen to have a few rooms for the convenience of guests were immediately eliminated). Likewise, notable restaurants that lie just steps from hotels, even if they are under the same ownership, were also excluded.

101 Best Hotel Restaurants Around the World

– Acquapazza at the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita (Mauritius)
– Adour at The St. Regis Hotel (New York City)
– Al Mahara at Burj Al Arab (Dubai)
– Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athรฉnรฉe at Plaza Athรฉnรฉe Hotel (Paris)
– Altitude at Shangri-La Hotel (Sydney)
– Anne-Sophie Pic at Beau-Rivage Palace (Lausanne, Switzerland)
– Baraabaru at Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa (North Malรฉ Atoll, Maldives)
– The Bazaar by Josรฉ Andrรฉs at SLS Hotel (Los Angeles)
– Bei at The Opposite House (Beijing)
– Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands)
– Blue Duck Tavern at Park Hyatt (Washington, D.C.)
– Caesar’s Restaurant at Hotel Caesar’s (Tijuana, Mexico)
– Cafรฉ Boulud at The Brazilian Court Hotel & Beach Club (Palm Beach, Fla.)
– Camรตes Portuguese Restaurant at Legendale Hotel (Beijing)
– Capitol Grille at The Hermitage Hotel (Nashville, Tenn.)
– Celadon at The Sukhothai (Bangkok)
– CityZen at Mandarin Oriental (Washington, D.C.)
– Clio at Elliott Hotel (Boston)
dine by Peter Gordon at SkyCity Hotel (Auckland)
– Duhau Restaurante & Vinoteca at Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt (Buenos Aires)
– รฉ by Josรฉ Andrรฉs at The Cosmopolitan (Las Vegas)
– El Motel Restaurant at Hotel Empordร  (Figueres, Spain)
– Emiliano Restaurant at Emiliano (Sรฃo Paolo)
– Epicure at Le Bristol (Paris)
– Felix at The Peninsula Hotel (Hong Kong)
– Fontaine at Hayma Island Resort (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)
– Garden Court Restaurant at Sofitel Hotel Sydney Wentworth (Sydney)
– gaZette at Le Westin (Montrรฉal)
– GB Roof Garden Restaurant & Bar at Hotel Grande Bretagne (Athens)
– The Great House at Nisbet Plantation Beach Club (Nevis, West Indies)
– Hakkasan at Fontainebleau Miami Beach (Miami Beach, Fla.)
– Hawksworth Restaurant at Rosewood Hotel Georgia (Vancouver)
– Huang Ting at The Peninsula Hotel (Beijing)
– Inverlochy Restaurant at Inverlochy Castle Hotel (Torlundy, Scotland)
– Jaan at Swissรดtel The Stamford (Singapore)
– Jade Cuisine at Jade Mountain (Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia)
– Jade on 36 at Pudong Shangri-La Hotel (Shanghai)
– Jean Georges at Trump International Hotel & Tower (New York City)
– Joรซl Robuchon Restaurant at MGM Grand (Las Vegas)
– La Marea Restaurant at Viceroy Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)
– La Marocain at La Mamounia (Marrakech, Morocco)
– La Pergola at Rome Cavalieri (Rome)
– Le Beaulieu at Sofitel Metropole Hotel (Hanoi)
– Le Cinq at the Four Seasons Hotel George V (Paris)
– Le Comptoir at Hรดtel Relais Saint Germain (Paris)
– Le Louis XV at Hรดtel de Paris (Monte Carlo)
– Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Restaurant at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (Great Milton, U.K.)
– Restaurant Le Meurice at Le Meurice Hotel (Paris)
– Le Rรฉservรฉ at La Samanna (St. Martin, West Indies)
– Le Verger at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa (Franschhoek, South Africa)
– Level 3 at Aleenta Resort & Spa (Phuket, Thailand)
– Lichfield Cafรฉ, Restaurant & Bar at Augustine Hotel (Prague) – — Livingstone Room at Victoria Falls Hotel (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe)
– Li Yen at The Ritz-Carlton (Kuala Lumpur)
– Loggia Restaurant at Villa San Michele (Florence, Italy)
– Lung King Heen at the Four Seasons (Hong Kong)
– Maialino at Gramercy Park Hotel (New York City)
– Man Wah at Mandarin Oriental (Hong Kong)
– MASAโ€™s at Executive Hotel Vintage Court (San Francisco)
– Matsalen at Grand Hรดtel (Stockholm)
– Mesh Restaurant at Crown Promenade Hotel (Melbourne, Australia)
– MICHAEL MINA at Bellagio (Las Vegas)
– The Mohgul Room at Mena House Oberoi (Giza, Egypt)
– Moo Restaurant at Hotel Omm (Barcelona)
– Morio J-Cuisine at Hotel G (Beijing)
– Morjana at Mazagan Beach Resort (Casablanca, Morocco)
– Mount Burgess Dining Room at Emerald Lake Lodge (British Columbia)
– NoMad at The NoMad (New York City)
– NoMI at Park Hyatt (Chicago)
– Norman’s at The Ritz-Carlton (Orlando)
– The Northall at The Corinthia (London)
– Noso at W Santiago (Santiago, Chile)
number one at The Balmoral Hotel (Edinburgh, Scotland)
– ONE Restaurant at The Hazelton Hotel (Toronto)
– Orient Express at Taj Palace Hotel (New Delhi)
– Panorama at Gellรฉrt Hotel (Budapest)
– Pavillon at Baur au Lac (Zurich)
– Restaurant at Ponta Dos Ganchos (Governador Celso Ramos, Santa Catarina, Brazil)
– Proof on Main at 21C Museum Hotel (Louisville, Ky.)
– Relish at The Westin Grand (Berlin)
– Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesar’s Palace (Las Vegas)
– Restaurant Le Gaรฏac at Hรดtel Le Toiny (St. Barts)
– Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud at Merrion Hotel (Dublin)
– Restaurant Terrazza Danieli at Hotel Danieli (Venice, Italy)
– Restaurante Zafferano at Mantra Resort Spa & Casino (Punta del Este, Uruguay)
– The Rib Room at Jumeirah Emirates Towers (Dubai)
– Sabaya at Cairo Semiramis (Cairo)
– Saffron at Banyan Tree (Seychelles)
– Santceloni at Hotel Hesperia (Madrid)
– Scala at The David Citadel Hotel (Jerusalem)
– Signal Restaurant at Cape Grace (Cape Town, South Africa)
– Signature at Mandarin Oriental (Tokyo)
– Sir Ellyโ€™s Restaurant, Bar, and Terrace at The Peninsula (Shanghai)
– Square One at Park Hyatt Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
– Stella at The Leela Kempinski (Mumbai)
– The Tamarind Tree at Curtin Bluff (Antigua, West Indies)
– Tatu Restaurant at The Fairmont Norfolk (Nairobi, Kenya)
– Terrace at Parrot Cay by COMO (Turks and Caicos)
– Tiara at Queen’s Landing (Ontario)
– Tradewinds at Peter Island Resort & Spa (British Virgin Islands)
– The Vineyard Restaurant at Stockcross (West Berkshire, U.K.)

– AUSSIES FUME: The Australian travel industry is bracing for airport delays for inbound tourists and residents after new limits on the number of duty-free cigarettes that can be imported took force over the weekend.

Travelers can now bring in just 50 cigarettes or 50 grams of tobacco. Previously, they could bring in a carton of cigarettes (250 cigarettes) or 250 grams of tobacco.

– PATTAYA SCAMS: City officials have announced new rules aimed at controlling Pattaya jet-ski operators who rip off tourists. Under the new rules, penalties for violations can range from arrests and fines to termination of the rental operation. Several foreign embassies now warn their countrymen not to rent jet-skis in Pattaya.

– THAI-INDIA: “There is scope for business cooperation with India and Thailand in the areas of seafood products, machine parts, chemicals, gems and jewelry, education, tourism, food and edible items, and logistics,” said Nitipoom Navaratna, Vice President of the Thailand-India Parliamentarians Friendship Group.

“India and Thailand have enjoyed a close and mutually enriching relationship for over a millennium, and the friendship is growing even today.”

“A total of 250,000 Indians live in Thailand contributing to the growth of the Thai economy. It is heartening to learn that India and Thailand would work together to double the bilateral trade to around $14 billion by 2014,” he added.

– PHUKET NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL: Work has finally started on the new airport terminal at a cost of Bt 5.7 billion baht by Sino-Thai Engineering.

The new international terminal will be built first, which should take one year, after which the building housing the Phuket airport’s administration will go up, followed by a car park for 1,500 vehicles.

The completed airport in February 2015 will be capable of handling 5 million international arrivals and departures plus 7.5 million domestic arrivals and departures.

Phuket is rapidly growing busier with an average of 75 flights per day in 2012 compared to 54 per day a year ago. In 2011, Phuket airport averaged 506 flights per week and handled 8.4 million passengers coming and going.

That increase of 11 percent is likely to continue this year, with officials expecting Phuket to handle a total of 9.32 million passengers.

– KEN HOM: At 64, Ken Hom, OBE, who resides in France and in Thailand, travels tirelessly all over the world, appearing regularly as a celebrity chef, launching new books and keeping a high profile in the industry with his involvement with restaurants around the globe. Widely regarded as one the world’s greatest authorities on oriental cuisine, he was awarded an honorary OBE for services to the culinary arts. Ken was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University for his outstanding success within the international food world and to recognize him as one of the world’s most notable chefs with a highly successful career in the media, as an entrepreneur, and as a supporter of charity and education. In addition, he is involved in developing a number of food and drink concepts in Thailand with the Bandara Hotel Group. His first restaurant, Maison Chin in Bangkok’s Bandara Hotel, opened only 4 years ago, has already been called the best new modern Asian cuisine and has been awarded by Thailand Tatler as one of Thailand’s Best Restaurants.

– SONGWRITER: US songwriter, Hal David, who wrote dozens of hits with collaborator Burt Bacharach, has died at the age of 91. The pairs’ hits included “They Long to Be – Close to You,” “Say a Little Prayer,” “Walk On By,” “What’s New Pussycat?” and “Magic Moments.”

– PRINCESS: Diana, Princess of Wales, has been remembered on the 15th anniversary of her death as a woman “with two hearts” – one for her and one for the people. Scores of tributes, flowers, posters, and cards were attached to the gates of Kensington Palace, all remembering Diana who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

– TAT STRATEGY: “For the past three years, Thailand has had problems; even though such disasters occurred, the number of tourist arrivals did not decrease. This is because most of our customers are repeat guests; 60 percent of our tourists last year were repeat visitors, so our guests know Thailand very well,โ€ said Deputy Governor for International Marketing for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Juthaporn Rerngronasa, in a recent interview.

“Such results have been achieved by highlighting and promoting four specialized elements including weddings and honeymoon, medical and wellness, golfing, and eco-tourism. This niche strategy has been communicated to business and consumer public alike under the heading โ€˜customise your experience.โ€™ Through these four areas, high-end travelers are specifically targeted and encouraged to visit Thailand, to enjoy a holiday that suits their requirements.”

“Between January and April, 2012, 1.8 million visitors have already taken advantage of Thailand’s excellent medical facilities and hospitals.

“Thailand is already a very well-known destination for its beaches and culture, and the TAT strategy was developed in order to go beyond the surface to highlight other key selling points of the destination such as cooking, relaxations, and sports.”

– PHI PHI DEATHS POINT TO INSECTICIDE: Canadian sisters Noemi and Audrey Belanger body’s contained insecticide, which was identified by Radio-Canada as DEET.

DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) is used as an ingredient to add extra kick to a euphoria-inducing cocktail known locally as 4×100, which contains cough syrup, cola, ground-up kratom leaves, and ice. It is thought that an overdose of DEET was accidentally mixed into the young women’s drinks. Large plastic buckets filled with different drink ingredients are popular with Phi Phi partiers.

– COOL HOTEL APPS: QDelegate – Hereโ€™s an app for hoteliers looking to gain a competitive advantage when booking meetings at their properties. QDelegate is a tool that allows hoteliers to communicate more efficiently with meeting attendees/delegates. Hoteliers can do so by uploading and providing content to the app such as schedules, presentations, speaker profiles, attendee lists, maps, and logistics. Once uploaded, all event-related info will be at attendeesโ€™ fingertips and updated by the hotel or event organizer as needed. The app even allows for attendee-to-attendee messaging, which could come in handy if attendees need to step out for a second and donโ€™t want to miss pertinent information.

Available in: App Store
Cost: Free

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2511, Euro:Baht 39.26, SET Index: 1215

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2511, Euro:Baht 39.26, SET Index: 1215

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Government to test canal network drainage capacity in parts of Bangkok. Suspected killer of MP’s son arrested. PTTEP pleads guilty over oil spill.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Romney โ€œto restore promise of America.โ€ 270 miners in S. Africa get murder charge. UN denounces Iran for Holocaust denial. Thousands flee weakened Isaac.

OTHER NEWS:

– GOING GREEN: A forum on green economy and low carbon life was hosted recently by the government agency, Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism Administrative (DASTA), at Bangkokโ€™s newest Sofitel Hotel located on Sukhumvit Road Soi 15.

The forum was a joint effort between DASTA and Earthcheck, with support from the PATA Thailand Chapter, International Labor Organization, and SKAL International Thailand with Young SKAL.

– 10 STEPS TO MARKETING A HOTEL: Where to start when implementing a plan? How to promote a hotel with the Internet moving so rapidly with new developments every day, week, and month โ€ฆ Here is a 10-step plan on how to market a hotel.

1 – A Story Worth Telling

Your hotel needs to have something unique, refreshing, or innovative. Your hotel needs to have a story to it which people like, and think worthwhile to share with their friends. Good service is the basic. Being remarkable helps you stand out. It’s not difficult. How about handing out an ice cream at check-in? Or a unique/local breakfast item?

2 – Regional and National Press

PR has and will always be important to reach your domestic market.

3 – GDS + Consortia

Apollo, Galileo, Worldspan are seen by many as a dying breed. But these Global Distribution Systems are reinventing themselves, and are still an important source of business and leisure travel for many destinations. Moreover, mega agencies like Amex, ABC Corporates Services, TQ3 Travel Solutions, World Travel BTI, and Carlson Wagonlit are very effective distribution channels to reach corporate travelers of large corporations.

4 โ€“ OTA

The poster boards of the hotel and travel industry in the online age, are among the most important distribution channels. Their commissions and models vary; analyze them well to make sure they add value to your overall strategy. Be certain they arenโ€™t just shifting direct business away from your direct sales efforts, but really generate incremental bookings.

5 โ€“ DMC

Local Destination Marketing Companies work hard to attract groups and events. You should approach them and work together with them to attract corporate and leisure groups during low- and medium-demand periods. It will help you to diversify your hotelsโ€™ market mix.

6 – Tourist Office + Convention Bureau

Talk to your local tourism office and find out how they can help you to promote your hotel. Make sure you have a representative listing on their website and that you are well promoted in their office.

7 – Sales Team

Have a sales representative put your hotel on the local map with local businesses nearby. Visit prospective and current clients regularly.

8 – Website + SEO

You will need an optimized website for your hotel. If you want to generate direct sales through your website, think keyword searches and consumer segments before burying yourself in the design aspect. Your store can be pretty, but you need people passing by and stepping in to have a chance at a sale. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is very often heavily neglected.

9 – Social Media + Review Website

FaceBook, Twitter, FourSquare, Gowalla, YouTube page and profile. We have to manage our presence on these social media sites actively and create fresh new content every week and month. A blog is great tool for this. Next, manage your online reputation. Encourage your guests to leave reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor. Incentivize if needed to get guest pics and videos. Your profile on the hotel and travel review websites needs to be active and dynamic. Oh, donโ€™t forget to respond! You have to be involved.

10 โ€“ Mobile

Finally, hotels are starting to move beyond their own website into mobile marketing. Donโ€™t think a mobile app is something every independent hotel needs. Letโ€™s start with a basic mobile website, which allows you to easily navigate an image gallery of the hotel and has a simple click to call button. From there you can work on integrating your booking engine and develop a more advanced mobile hotel website step by step.

A Few Warnings

Tour operators and wholesalers use them carefully. Their model is broken, and hotels can develop their own direct sales over time.

Last but not least, donโ€™t spend too much money on printing brochures, etc. We are in the electronic and digital age.

– SKAL THAI DIARY: SKAL events –

Samui: Dinner
Tuesday, September 4
La Cuisine restaurant
Baan Taling Ngam 1830 hours

Bangkok: Lunch
Tuesday, September 11
Eastin Grand Sathorn
1200 hours (noon)

Phuket: Dinner
Thursday, September 20
Le Meridien Phuket 1900 hours

Chiang Mai: Dinner
TBA
The River Market 1830 hours

Hua Hin: Lunch
Friday, August 31
Verandah Resort Cha Am
I Sea restaurant 1200 hours (noon)

For further details, costs, and advance reservations (essential), please go to:
www.skalthailand.org .

– CRYSTAL CRUISES: Luxury travelers can rejuvenate, reduce stress, improve balance, and get motivated in 2013 with Crystal Symphonyโ€™s first cruise of the new year, with a brand new โ€œExperiences of Discoveryโ€ itinerary through southern Australia. With a mind, body, and spirit focus, the luxury cruise to set sail on January 5 from Melbourne to Brisbane will feature health and wellness experts leading complimentary classes and seminars, appropriate for beginners making a new fitness resolution, or those looking to continue their regimen without missing a beat on vacation.

– PHUKET SEA SAFETY: After the recent sinking of a speedboat, which left 41 tourists struggling in the water after it sank in heavy seas on its way to Phi Phi Island, Phuket marine police confirmed that an alert was in place at the time that warned travelers to be aware of heavy seas, but the warning did not directly prohibit boats from sailing.

The sea disaster followed an after-hours fire on Phuket 10 days ago at the Tiger Disco in which 4 people died; 2 of them tourists.

Again, a critical finger has been pointed at Phuket police and officials suggesting they are not able to ensure safety measures on the island meet international standards.

– CHINA: Chinese travelers and shoppers are already going abroad by the millions, spending much more on luxury products and activities abroad than they do at home. Tourism promoters everywhere are all trying to figure out how to draw that money to their countries.

There will be more than 100 million tourists planning to travel overseas.
Language is a major stumbling block when dealing with Chinese tourists. At times, the Chinese traveler often feels he or she is not getting the same quality of service that others do. It is essential that the operators can ensure their customersโ€™ satisfaction with the best services and memorable experiences.

– TRIPADVISOR: Malaysian’s are the biggest whiners in a recent report.

British holidaymakers post more positive reviews on TripAdvisor than almost any other nationality, the travel review site revealed.

Britons also tend to write some of the most detailed reviews, coming second only to Canadians. On average they write 177 words per review, Canadians write 191 words, while Brazilians are the least specific, writing only 88 words.

South Africa tops the list of countries producing the most positive reviews, with an average score of 4.22 out of five, compared with just 3.8 for Malaysians, who gave the worst reviews.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2563, Euro:Baht 39.27, SET Index: 1233

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2563, Euro:Baht 39.27, SET Index: 1233

BANGKOK BRIEF:

“No evidence” of Thaksin corruption in CTX bomb detector purchase. Suthep turns on accusers, says DSI chief implicated in 2010 killings.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Colombia opens talks with terrorist group FARC. US hurricane nears New Orleans. Research: pot smoking lowers IQ. Arctic ice at record low.

OTHER NEWS:

– DTAC FINED: The move came in the wake of DTAC’s fifth telephone network collapse since late last year.

The latest failure occurred at 11:00 am Tuesday morning before normal service resumed in the afternoon. Some 130 million mobile users of all operators were affected by the service disruption.

– GRAND HYATT OPENS: Hyatt Hotels announced the opening of the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur the first in Malaysia.

This elegant, contemporary and luxurious hotel with 370 guestrooms and 42 suites offers business travelers, tourists, and local guests a sophisticated ambience. Situated in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre and right next to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the hotel is within walking distance of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, Suria, Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, as well as the Golden Triangle shopping and entertainment district. The Pavilion Shopping Centre is less than a ten-minute walk by the covered sky-bridge outside the hotel.

– RESCUE: An Australian family has told of their dramatic rescue from a sinking speedboat off the Thai holiday island of Phi Phi.
As the speedboat sank in a storm, Hakan Ergun, 38, from Sydney, cradled his two-year-old daughter in his arms and feared they were both going to die. His wife and another daughter were also on the boat.

โ€œI thought it was the end.โ€

โ€œThe lifejackets weren’t really life jackets at all. There were buckles missing, and it was a miracle everyone stayed afloat.โ€

Another 24 rescued passengers were brought back to Phuket by speedboat the following day. Most of them are thought to be Chinese, although there were a handful of European tourists among them.

– ADULT-ONLY HOTEL MOVIES: With the USA Republican National Convention now underway, the partyโ€™s platform is on full display. Among the policy items catching its share of the spotlight: a potential crackdown on pornography.

โ€œCurrent laws on all forms of pornography and obscenity need to be vigorously enforced.โ€

Republicans are planning a Tuesday vote on the document.

The move, which could pit social conservatives against hotel operators, is not unfamiliar. The presumptive Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, was criticized during his 2008 bid for having served on the Board of Directors of hotel operator Marriott International, which sold sexually explicit content in its hotel rooms. Marriott announced last year that it would gradually stop providing pay-per-view โ€œadultโ€ material.

– NAKED FACEBOOK: Military personnel have been showing their support for Prince Harry.

The Facebook group features users of the social network posing in various states of undress saluting.

The Facebook group entitled โ€œSupport Prince Harry with a naked salute!โ€ featuring people posing in various states of undress saluting the third-in-line to the throne, has won more than 12,000 members and is still growing.

The group sprang up after Harry, 27, was photographed naked after a game of โ€œstrip billiardsโ€ during a party in a VIP hotel suite in Las Vegas. The images, first published on a US website, rapidly went viral and caused a furor in Britain.

The response was a flood of images of people saluting while posing in various states of undress, often with strategically-placed props, including Union Jack flags, camouflage backpacks, and teddy bears.

The motive for Prince Harry’s infamous Vegas nude party to get out-of-control could now be known. Cocaine was reportedly used in the Royal’s high rollers VIP suite at the Encore Wynn Las Vegas hotel room.

– AEC2015: The Asean Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-15 is the foundation of the Asean Tourism Marketing Strategy (ATMS) 2012-15, adopted by tourism ministers in January 2012.

Asean destinations attracted 81.2 million visitors in 2011, an average increase of a million visitors each year for the last 2 decades. Three out of 4 visitors to Asean come from Asia; 46.5% from within Asean, and 27.6% from other Asian markets.

โ€œNiche and mass-market promotions will go hand in hand,โ€ said Sansern Ngaorungsi, who chairs the Asean Tourism Marketing Working Group and is also a Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

One niche sector, cruises, is being favored, because river and sea-cruise vessels usually visit more than one destination.
Southeast Asian NTOs will also be emphasizing the groupโ€™s marketing plan at the Asean Tourism Forum in Vientiane from January 17-24 next year. More than 1,600 delegates will include some 150 Asean tourism ministers and officials, 800 Asean exhibitors, 400 international buyers, 150 international and local media members, and 100 tourism trade visitors.

– DINER EN BLANC FURY: When Singapore was chosen to be the first Asian country to host the glamorous Diner en Blanc – a pop-up chic picnic that has thrilled diners everywhere from New York to Kigali โ€“ local food enthusiasts cheered and thousands rushed to score invites to the exclusive evening. The now-famous events include large groups of people, all dressed in white, who only learn the location of the picnic from the organizers and assigned โ€œgroup leadersโ€ just before it occurs.

But the atmosphere around the upcoming Singapore version of the dinner has soured in recent days, after a local food blogger was told to remove a blog post suggesting that diners bring local delicacies to the outdoor dinner.

Daniel Ang, who blogs at Daniel’s Food Diary, was told by the eventโ€™s organizers that the local foods โ€“ including the ubiquitous tau huay (soya bean pudding) and chicken rice โ€“ were not โ€œin line with the imageโ€ of Diner en Blanc. Many in Singaporeโ€™s boisterous blogosphere deemed that judgment an insult to local cuisine, a source of pride for many in the city-state.

– TOP MISTAKES IN PROMOTING TRAVEL USING SOCIAL MEDIA: Everyone seems to be caught up in the social-media game these days, and seemingly everyone is making the same old mistakes. Among them:

โ€ข assigning the task of social-media management to someone who has no training, experience, or social-media affinity;
โ€ข trying to sell with every post;
โ€ข posting as frequently as possible;
โ€ข talking only about your organization; and
โ€ข ignoring customer questions.

– SMART TRAVEL APP: Agencies in Asia will soon be able to avail of a new app that allows smartphone users to manage their own self-touring itineraries from start to finish.

Soft launched last week at Singaporeโ€™s NATAS travel fair, the Tourizz MobileTouring App utilizes GPS technology to function as a navigational device, and provides users with location tour narrations, as well as meal and hotel vouchers, dining suggestions, and notifications for pre-booked events.

– BANG SARAY: Until recently, Bang Saray in Eastern Thailand was a sleepy fishing village where the only activity was the coming and going of the small wooden fishing craft as they depart each day to make their catch.

Recently, due to the superb location, it has been โ€œslightlyโ€ developed by 1 or 2 high-end villa projects. However, it still maintains its โ€œold world charm.โ€ The gentle sloping beach and the calm turquoise waters are rarely busy and offer an excellent opportunity for relaxing and eating local barbecue and seafood dishes.

It is situated 160 kilometers to the southeast of Bangkok, less than 2 hours by road, and stretches along the eastern seaboard.
It shares the coast with traditional fishing villages, and other resorts such as Bang Saen, Pattaya, and Rayong.

– HURRICANE: Isaacโ€™s center was about 125 miles (201 kilometers) southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River with top winds of 70 miles per hour (mph). Thatโ€™s 4 mph less than hurricane strength. It is set to strike south of the city on the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which killed 1,800 people after levees surrounding New Orleans failed.

Supplies were dwindling at stores, and officials began to close roads and ask people to evacuate. Residents were weighing whether to leave the lives theyโ€™ve built behind or to remain, and ride out the stormโ€™s consequences.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2514, Euro:Baht 39.04, SET Index: 1237

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 32C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2514, Euro:Baht 39.04, SET Index: 1237

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Week of government self-congratulation begins with claim that capturing Thaksin not its job. Defense Minister to call Defense Council in Permanent Secretary row.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Super-typhoon nears Okinawa, Japan. Florida hurricane delays Romney nomination convention. Non-aligned โ€œsummitโ€ to open in Iran. New Syria massacre.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

The Foreign Ministry does not have the authority to pursue ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to get him to serve his jail sentence in Thailand, Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut lashed out at Mr. Surapong’s one-year performance, saying nothing the Foreign Ministry did had been for the benefit of the country.

He said Mr. Surapong’s work only served Thaksin. The ministry attempted to help Thaksin obtain a Japanese visa, secretly returned a passport to him, and allowed him to travel freely around the world, Mr. Chavanond said.

OTHER NEWS:

-AEC2015: Kasikorn Research Centre believes that AEC integration will present both opportunities and challenges to Thai retailers. They believe that one of the more noteworthy benefits of the AEC would be that it will help expand the Thai internal marketplace. This, coupled with likely increases in purchasing power, and even more international tourist arrivals, especially from ASEAN into Thailand, should help bolster the retail business. In 2011, ASEAN tourists spent over THB 37.5 billion here, up 32 percent YoY. In 2012, we expect that this figure will grow to at least THB 42 billion, up 12 percent YoY.

-THAI OUTBOUND TRAVEL: Intense competition in the travel industry has forced local tour operators to seek business partners to reduce operating costs and risks.

โ€œMany companies have formed consortia to divert risks and share benefits, as well as responsibilities,โ€ said Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn, Managing Director of Quality Express Co.

He said that the picture of business consortium will become clearer when the Asean Economic Community is implemented in 2015.

While collaborations do not give much profit to participants, he believes that the drop in operating costs increased business margins significantly.

Although the government has forecast high tourism revenue from inbound travelers in the coming years, outbound tourism has shown a rather weak performance.

This year, most Thai people still have no plans to take overseas trips, largely due last year’s massive floods dampening their mood, he said.

-APPLE: A California jury awarded Apple Inc. more than US$1.05 billion dollars on Friday in its patent infringement claim that Samsung Electronics Co. copied technology used in its iPad and iPhone.

-PRINCE HARRY: A week on, grainy photos taken of Prince Harry on a reveler’s mobile phone are still causing shock waves. Their emergence on the US show business gossip website, TMZ, led to Harry, 27, having to face the music at Clarence House and questions being asked about the conduct of his personal protection officers. โ€œYou have to think he is a bit of a dumb-ass for throwing all his clothes off and letting himself be photographed by a bunch of strangers.โ€

-THAI TOURISM: The Association of Domestic Travelโ€™s President, Yutthachai Soonthronrattanavate, said the government has implemented initiatives such as raising the daily minimum wage and launching the first-time car buyer scheme.

โ€œUnfortunately, no scheme has been designed to boost tourism, and it is needed urgently if we are to meet targets.โ€

The government has pinned its hopes on two state agencies โ€“ the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau โ€“ to promote tourism and tourism products.

-NASA: Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, has died. He was 82. Armstrong is best remembered for his famous words: โ€œThat’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,โ€ spoken as he stepped on to the lunar surface.

He died after undergoing heart surgery.

Former colleagues at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration hailed him as a โ€œtrue American hero.โ€ He commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, capping the most daring of the 20th century’s scientific expeditions. Neil Armstrong and Edwin โ€œBuzzโ€ Aldrin spent nearly three hours walking on the lunar surface, collecting samples, conducting experiments, and taking photographs.

-FACEBOOK: Facebook Inc. received approval from US authorities to take over the photo-sharing application Instagram Inc. in a bit of good news for the social-networking company, which has seen its stock lose half its value since its market debut.

-BAHRAIN-THAI PROSTITUTION: After her return to Thailand, Ms. Som was questioned by police. Ms. Som told police that she had been invited by a friend to work in Bahrain to promote Thai tourism. The friend told her the job was for 20 days and she would get paid 50,000 baht.

Ms. Som accepted the job, and stayed in the Bansuan resort for two days before going to Bahrain. But when she reached Bahrain, her passport was seized, and she was forced to be a prostitute.

The madame informed the victim that she now had to repay a debt of 80,000 baht, including her travel expenses. Ms. Som then tried to call her mother to find a way to get help. But she was unsuccessful, and was forced to work as a prostitute for more than 10 days before returning to Thailand.

-POLONNARUWA SRI LANKA: When you arrive at the Sri Lankan ancient town, Polonnaruwa, the sound of rushing water in a canal where local men and women bathe to escape the scorching heat, welcomes you to this region in the islandโ€™s northern-central part โ€“ infamous for its year-long hot climate. All canals have the same headwaters – an impressively large artificial lake – which together form a sophisticated water supply system from which the people of the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa get fresh water to sustain their lives.

The kingdom of Polonnaruwa was Sri Lankaโ€™s second most ancient kingdom, after Anuradhapura. However, it managed to establish itself as a highly-independent and respectable kingdom for most of its time โ€“ the artificial lake is undoubtedly a silent witness of its old glory. In the early 11th century, King Vijayabahu I reunited the country and declared Polonnaruwa the capital of the unified kingdom, which lasted until the late 13th century when the island was once again invaded by Indians.

At the heart of the ancient kingdom, lies what was once the royal palace complex, which consists of the palace itself, the council chamber, the vatadage (Sri Lankan vernacular architecture of a Buddhist shrine), and structures related to the daily life of the kings and his family. All of them are in the vicinity of the lake.

-RARE THAI ELEPHANT: Early in 2012, while most Thais were recovering from their traditional Songkran celebrations, a baby elephant was born in a wilderness reserve in central Thailand.

This was an important moment not just for Jarunee, a 15-year-old former tourist elephant from Surin, who had carried the baby inside her for 22 months.

Staff at the Sublangka Wildlife Sanctuary near Lop Buri, had been waiting for this day.

Sublangka valley is one of three sites in the Central, North, and Northeast regions – about 1.1 million rai of wilderness in total – used by the Elephant reintroduction Foundation, a Royal-initiated Thai non-profit organization that releases captive elephants back to the forest.

The baby’s birth was historic.

โ€œTo the best of our knowledge, it’s the first time a baby has been born to two formerly captive elephants who were reintroduced to the wild, and naturally mated,โ€ the foundation said.

โ€œWe had been waiting for two years for this to happen. Finally, we had a joyful ending and cause for optimism.โ€

The Reintroduction Foundation has been working towards this goal – healthy individuals rejuvenating their herd back in their natural habitat – for 10 years.

-FOOTBALL: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be out for around four weeks after suffering a deep wound on his thigh during the 3-2 Premier League win over Fulham, Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said.

-RUGBY: Daniel Carter ensured New Zealand converted their territorial domination into points as the All Blacks beat Australia 22-0 in their Rugby Championship clash at Eden Park. The world champions did not concede a kickable penalty until the 51st minute.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2663, Euro:Baht 40.22, SET Index: 1232

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

BKK Weather 33C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2663, Euro:Baht 40.22, SET Index: 1232

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Kittiratt says he “white lies” to help country. MP demands faster probe of son’s killing. Ex-warder, wife held for prison drug smuggling.

WORLD SUMMARY:

UN chief to attend Iran’s non-aligned meeting. Australia to admit more refugees. Syria shells rebels inside Damascus. Gadhafiโ€™s son to be tried in Libya.

OTHER NEWS

– TAT – FREE WIFI: Free wireless Internet access is expected to be made available at tourist destinations throughout the country, starting from the beginning of next month.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to provide free WiFi access via hotspot locations in tourist areas, with the pilot project set to commence at Khaosan Road in September.

The free WiFi scheme is one of the Yingluck Shinawatra administrationโ€™s priority projects, aimed at accommodating the need for global contacts of tourists.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Surapol Svetaseni said the agency is offering the service to make travel easier, by enabling international visitors to stay connected to their home or office and to receive additional tourist information online.

TAT is also set to launch new smartphone tourism applications and to install AR and QR codes at popular tourist spots.

– QANTAS: Qantas has scrapped an $8.5 billion order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners for its troubled international arm, after the group reported its first loss since it was privatized almost 2 decades ago.

– OTA: Douglas Quinby, Senior Research Director at PhoCusWright, said: “OTAs have taken advantage of the fragmented hotel supply in APAC, and their importance as a counter-cyclical channel rose during the global financial crisis.

โ€œWhile OTAs have grown as a popular medium to shop hotels online โ€“ complete with traveler reviews, photographs, and other location details โ€“ supplier websites, particularly chain hotels, have increased online bookings through loyalty programs.

โ€œOTA hotel gross bookings were $13.5 billion in 2011 versus $5.6 billion for supplier direct; the latter will outpace OTAs in 2012 and 2013, as increase in branded supply will allow chains to push online direct sales.

โ€œBrands are increasing their spend on online marketing, including ad placements on meta-search where referrals may come directly to suppliers. Also, they are luring customers through loyalty program benefits, and best rate guarantees (failing which they will reimburse the rate difference).

โ€œBut with a highly-fragmented hotel landscape and offline booking, OTAs and โ€“ yes โ€“ traditional travel agencies and wholesalers, will continue to play a meaningful role.โ€

– WINE – TRINITY HILLS: Hawkes Bay is a temperate, maritime region on the east coast of New Zealandโ€™s North Island, situated at latitude 40ยฐ south. It is a unique region with a large number of different soil types and micro-climates, yielding many and varied wine styles. The majority of Trinity Hillโ€™s grape harvest comes from the unique gravel soils and micro-climate of the Gimblett Gravels region, in the lee of Royโ€™s Hill. The soils are deep river gravels, left by the Ngaruroro River as it changed course over many thousands of years. These free-draining gravels can be more than 100 meters deep. Their low fertility, along with the ability to control vine vigor by controling soil moisture, give small crops with highly-concentrated flavors and aromas. This is New Zealandโ€™s premier red wine area.

– PHUKET: A 15-year-old Phuket boy killed his brutal drunken stepfather with a tomahawk while the man slept, Phuket police said today. Family life was brutal, Chalong police in southern Phuket were told. The stepfather would often drink heavily, then beat the mother. The boy said his stepfather was often drunk. Having seen his mother beaten time and time again, the boy took to his stepfather with the tomahawk.

– HOTEL GUESTSโ€™ FEEDBACK: GuestComment plans to change the entire landscape of hotel reviews by connecting hotel management and guests at a much earlier stage and not waiting to read a negative review online via a third party website such as TripAdvisor. By placing GuestComment’s iPad-powered kiosks in a prime location, a hotel could encourage and capture real-time feedback. Hotel guests could provide a review, rate various hotel revenue departments, and answer the golden question (How likely are you to recommend our hotel to others?) all while they’re still staying at the hotel.

Using the kiosk, technology would then send the hotel management an email or SMS alert. Immediate feedback would allow staff to resolve issues immediately.
The guest feels like they are heard, the hotel management receives the real time feedback it craves, and the tone of any subsequent Tripadvisor or Yelp review becomes less hostile.

– PHUKET PROSPECTS: C9 Hotelworks, a consulting firm specializxing in hotels, tourism, and property development in Asia Pacific, still sees bright prospects for tourism in Phuket despite the fire that ravaged Tiger Pub and killed four people last week.

C9 Hotelworks reported an 11% surge in airport arrivals in the first 6 months of this year for a total of 2.32 million passengers to Phuket.

The destination’s hospitality industry chalked up a healthy 75% occupancy rate.
An increase in direct international flights set the stage for a record forecast of 9.3 million passengers traveling through the airport this year, with the improved access reflected in rising hotel occupancy rates from January to June, as revenue per available room shot up by 8%.

Managing Director Bill Barnett said sustained direct access to the island is having a major impact on the hospitality sector.

New flights from China and Russia, along with regional low-cost carriers, are driving a new era of mass tourism to the island, benefiting the hotel sector.

The top growth markets are China, Eastern Europe, and Malaysia, increasing by 66%, 33%, and 17%, respectively, year-on-year in the first half. C9 predicts US$315 million in hotel transactions this year.

Hotel groups benefiting the most from the boom include Singapore’s Lum Chang Development, Thailand’s Minor Hotel Group, Malaysia’s TA Global Berhad, and Hawaii’s Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, all of which have acquired significant hotel properties this year.

Despite the upward trends, resort destinations in Southeast Asia continue to face a mounting infrastructure dilemma, said Mr. Barnett.

Between now and 2015, a total of 5,080 new rooms are under development, reported C9.

– PEKING DUCK: Peking Duck is a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the imperial era, and is now considered one of China’s national dishes.

The dish is prized for the thin, crisp skin, with authentic versions of the dish serving mostly the skin and little meat, sliced in front of the diners by the cook. Ducks bred specially for the dish are slaughtered after 65 days and seasoned before being roasted in a closed or hung oven. The skin is eaten with pancakes, scallion, and hoisin, or sweet bean sauce. Diners wishing to try this dish could not do better than try a delicious authentic duck at the Garden Court Restaurant of the Chaophya Park Hotel Bangkok, considered by many to be the best in the โ€œCity of Angels.โ€

– SYDNEY AIRPORT PARKING: Some frequent travelers say they are suffering bill shock after parking fees at Sydney Airport rose by as much as 100 percent, to cost more than a plane ticket.

– Photos of Prince Harry naked during a reported game of strip billiards – published on a US gossip website – have been defended as being merely “letting off steam.” The prince was just behaving like a typical young British man, said Kate Fox, who is a social anthropologist at the Social Issues Research Center.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

Weather 34C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2466, Euro:Baht 39.14, SET Index: 1230

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

Weather 34C; Hot, cloudy, rain; Euro:US 1.2466, Euro:Baht 39.14, SET Index: 1230

BANGKOK BRIEF:

Deep South militants launch coordinated attacks to mark Ramadan end. MP’s son killed “for politics or road rage.” Cigarettes, booze taxes up.

WORLD SUMMARY:

Arctic ice at record low. George Soros buys 8 percent of Man United. Taliban rockets hit US general’s plane. Ethiopia strongman PM dies, 2 decades in office.

HEALTHCARE:

The Yingluck Shinawatra government plans to issue health cards for both Thai and migrant children under the age of six for free basic health care, including vaccinations.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday the government has worked out policy guidelines to improve basic healthcare services for children and women, including children of migrant workers.

OTHER NEWS:

– MYANMAR BOOMS: Myanmarโ€™s Ministry of Hotels & Tourism registered 299,529 foreign visitors entering the country through Yangon and various border checkpoints during the first 7 months of the year, a 37.5 percent increase over the 217,837 tourists received during the same period in 2011.

From January-July, more than 60 percent of visitors to Myanmar were from Asian source markets, including 48,014 from Thailand, the single largest group by nationality, followed by Japan with 23,242, China with 22,283, and South Korea with 17,799.

Domestic airlines in Myanmar recently announced a hike in flight prices of nearly 10 percent for the coming high season, a rise of nearly 30 percent compared with the same time last year. Rangoon-Mandalay flights will cost US$128 one way, Rangoon-Heho/Nyaung Oo will cost US$120, and Rangoon-Myitkyina will cost US$200 from October 1.

The Ministry of Immigration officially announced the rollout of visas-on-arrival at Mandalay and Naypyidaw airports from October after resuming the service for business and transit passengers arriving in Rangoon from June 1.

A 24-hour transit visa currently costs US$20, a visa for meetings and conferences lasts 28 days at US$40 and business visas last 70 days for US$70.

International airlines as well as local travel and hospitality providers are ramping up operations in anticipation of an influx of foreign visitors to Burma during the winter peak tourist season.

New airlines are planning routes into Myanmarโ€™s big cities while existing carriers, including THAI, Bangkok Airways, AirAsia, Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Malaysia Airlines, SilkAir, and Jetstar Airway, are all increasing their services.

– BKK SURVEY: What annoys residents the most are the pot-holed sidewalks full of motorcycles and stalls (51 percent) followed by taxis who refuse to go to the destination (34 percent), and the lack of public transportation in some parts of the city (11 percent). Only 4 percent judge the lack of bicycle lanes a problem. But whatever the complaints, most of the residents and visitors will still agree that Bangkok is a fun place to be and to live.

– DENTAL CARE IN THAILAND: Expensive dental treatment overseas is creating a significant number of tourists to Thailand. Dental processes such as fillings, dentures, bridges, braces, caps, and teeth whitening, often unaffordable at home, causes a dilemma to the average American, European, Australian, and new Zealander. Fortunately, there is an answer. Consumers can fly to Thailand and get their own dental functions done by Thailand dental practitioners.

Why Do People Go to Thailand for Dental Care?

The reason that people visit Thailand for their dental treatments is to spend less. In the United States a fairly easy filling can cost as much as US$200. In Thailand, the same procedure is performed for $20 to $30. Thailand dentists charge a small fraction of the price. People who need substantial dental work may be charged tens of thousands of dollars in the US. In many cases, it is less expensive to travel to Thailand and have the work done by a Thai dentist, who are often trained in the US or UK and can converse in English.

– SKAL WORLD CONGRESS 2012: This year’s Congress will be held in Korea, October 2-7. Korean Airlines is offering AD75 airfares. There are only 2 months left for the 73rd SKAL World Congress to be held in the Korean cities of Seoul and Incheon, from October 2-7, 2012. The Korean organizers are working hard in preparing an enjoyable program, and all SKAL members are encouraged to attend. Full information is available on the special Congress website: www.skalkorea2012.org .

– HERITAGE HOTELS IN ASIA: Originally built in 1928, The Fullerton Hotel has been home to the General Post Office, Chamber of Commerce, and The Singapore Club. After an almost US$300 million renovation in 2001, it is now home to one of Singaporeโ€™s most loved luxury hotels.

Classic architecture like Dorick columns, monumental porte cocheres, and Palladian architectural detailing make it as stunning to look at as it is to stay in. Rooms are grand and spacious, featuring large beds, contemporary desks, and streamlined bathrooms. The suites are a historic way to spend a few days, with views of the city that contrast with a truly 1920s motif.

– MACAU FIREWORKS: The 24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, to be held at the sea area in front of the Macau Tower on September 8, 15, 22, 29, and October 1, is expected to be more spectacular than in previous years. The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) announced yesterday that it will raise the subsidy given to participating teams for fireworks materials by 25%, i.e. up to US$25,000, starting this year, while also increasing the correspondent support for delivery expenses.

The measure aims to โ€œgive all the teams the possibility of performing on the same level,โ€ revealed MGTO Director Joรฃo Manuel Costa Antunes during a press conference organized yesterday at the Macau Tower.

– PHUKET DISCO LATEST: The body of a British man, missing feared dead in a Phuket disco fire, has been identified, Phuket police sources said.

The revelation comes before a statement from pathologists in Bangkok, where the process of formally identifying four bodies badly burned in Friday morning’s after-hours blaze at Phuket’s Tiger Disco is continuing.

The identification of British tourist Michael Pio Tzouvanni, 24, is now “just a formality.” It is believed conclusive identification came with the comparison of dental records.

Mr. Tzouvanni’s brother, Joseph, 26, flew to Phuket and hoped to find his brother, who made a last-minute telephone call from the flaming disco, alive.

It is understood that Joseph is flying back to Britain immediately. Michael, a building surveyor, came from a family of 5 brothers and a sister.

One of his London-based brothers, who did not want to be named, said: “We are mourning his death, we are not assuming he is alive. We are 99 percent sure he is one of the bodies.

“His credit card stopped at 3:00 am, and his phone has not been used since. He was always in contact, we are a very close family. Obviously it was his time.

“He called his best friend from inside the club and said, ‘I am in the fire.’

“He said calmly, ‘There is no way out of here, I love you,’ and that was it.

“The night before he called home and said, ‘I don’t think I am going to make it out of this country. I don’t know why, I want you to tell my family that I love them,’ It was like he knew.”

– PATTAYA DEATH: A New Zealand man has been killed by a Swede in a bar fight over a dog in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya, almost a year to the day since another New Zealander was murdered there. Pattaya made headlines in New Zealand in August last year when World Croquet President Charles Jones was stabbed to death by a Syrian. (No Thais were involved in either murder.)

Robert E. Hollick, 43, died from his wounds after being stabbed 3 times in a drunken bar fight over a dog. Andreas Ringvall, 40, says he wielded the foot-long knife in self-defense.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

TODAY:

Weather 33C; Hot, cloudy, 60 percent chance rain; Euro:US 1.2333, Euro:Baht 38.86, SET Index: 1219

BANGKOK BRIEF:

TODAY:

Weather 33C; Hot, cloudy, 60 percent chance rain; Euro:US 1.2333, Euro:Baht 38.86, SET Index: 1219

BANGKOK BRIEF:

– Phuket Tiger Disco Fire: 2 Thai females, a British man, and a Frenchman are feared to have perished. In Bangkok, Pol. Lt. Gen. Charamporn Suramanee, Assistant National Police Chief, said yesterday that initial examinations showed that two of the victims were Asian females and the other two were Caucasian males.

– The opposition Democrat Party has launched a broadside against the Pheu Thai-led government, labeling its first year in office a failure on several fronts.

WORLD SUMMARY:

– WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, urged President Barack Obama to end the US “witch-hunt” against his whistle-blowing website, in a speech Sunday from the balcony of Ecuador’s London embassy.

-A music video by pop singer, Beyonce, helped inspire one billion messages for World Humanitarian Day on Sunday, which the United Nations said was a social media record.

– The eurozone crisis returns with a vengeance this week after a brief respite for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, kicking off an election campaign year she has said will be won or lost on the single currency. France and Germany have both been forecast to slip into recession in 2013, adding further to worries in the Eurozone.

OTHER NEWS:

– QANTAS: The embattled chief of Qantas Airways, Alan Joyce, said Monday he would forgo any bonus or pay raise, joining a growing list of high-profile top executives at Australian companies who are doing the same. Qantas is struggling with soaring fuel costs and worsening global conditions and has indicated it will this week post its first annual loss since privatization in 1995.

– SKAL LUNCH BKK: The Bangkok Club will hold its monthly luncheon on Tuesday, August 21 at 12 noon at the Landmark hotel on Sukhumvit Road, please contact: http://www.skalthailand.org/bangkok .

SKAL International Bangkok President Dale Lawrence looks forward to welcoming all members and their guests.

Popular SKAL member, Scott Smith, also celebrates his 45th birthday on the same day. The jovial Hawaiian-born educator is the Director of Young SKAL Thailand and International Councillor for Thailand. Scott led a seminar this weekend with his students and PATA Chapter Chairman Bert van Walbeck, Ben Montgomery, and SKAL International Thailand President, Andrew J. Wood as guest presenters.

Speaking to over 400 tourism students and professionals at Assumption University’s Hua Mak campus, students were told to wake up to the enormous job opportunities in Asia. To also be aware of AEC2015 and during a panel discussion of students and private sector speakers (including guests from TTR and Pullman hotels), students were told to study languages and to make every opportunity to network professionally. Students were reminded that attitude and team work were just as important as good grades for success in the hospitality industry.

– WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE HOTELS: In a survey of average room rates in 50 major cities, Moscow the perennially pricey Russian capital, came out on top, with a one-night hotel stay typically costing travelers slightly less than US$406.

Moscow has topped the annual study, carried out by UK’s Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), for 8 years running. This year, it was almost 20 percent more expensive than anywhere else considered in the analysis.

Lagos in Nigeria climbed to second place in the survey with average room rates standing at US$339 a night, thanks to a โ€œhigh volume of inbound business travel connected with the oil industry.โ€ The research added that travelers to Lagos were conscious of its โ€œwell-documentedโ€ security issues and, therefore, more inclined to choose 5-star accommodation.

Geneva, where hotel accommodation will typically cost around US$338, around US$19 less than last year, came third.

Average room rates also dipped in other European cities, including Barcelona (where they fell by nearly a quarter), Madrid, and Dublin.

Stewart Harvey, Group Commercial Director at HRG, said that economic โ€œuncertaintyโ€ was โ€œdriving down room rates across mainland Europe.โ€

The largest increases in hotel rates were seen in Latin America. In Rio de Janeiro, which is hosting both the 2016 Olympics and several matches โ€“ including the final โ€“ of the football World Cup in 2014, prices rose by 15 percent, and in Sao Paulo, they increased by more than a fifth. Mexico City, meanwhile, saw average rates soar by nearly a third.

London rates rose by 5 percent, to US$256 on average, putting it 21st in the study.

– EVENTS: DAVID BARRETT – The former executive of Diethelm Events based in Bangkok, today joins Amari Hotels as Executive Director Events.

– BHUTAN: After years of trying to promote Bhutan as a year-round tourist destination, it was only last year that tourist arrivals during the low season showed marked improvement.

Except for spring and autumn, when the majority of tourists visits the country, winter (December-February) and summer (June-August) tourist numbers drop, even though the daily minimum tariff is at the off-peak rate of US$200.

The least visited months last year (2011) were August, December, June, July, and January, which saw tourist numbers of 13,412; 14,950; 8,380; 8,887; and 4,723; respectively.

In 2010, August saw 6,762 tourist arrivals; while 7,798 visited in December; followed by 4,734 in June; 5,287 in July; and 2,928 in January.

Officials of the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) attributed the increase in arrivals to record arrivals from top Asian markets, like Japan, China, Thailand, and Singapore, whose visits usually spread throughout the year. โ€œThe 2011 figures show huge improvements during low season,” stated TCB.

To make Bhutan a year-round tourist destination, the TCB secretariat began supporting and introduced events, such as the Haa summer festival in 2010, followed by the nomadsโ€™ festival in Nasiphel, Bumthang in February, Takin festival in Gasa in February, Matsutake festival in Ura, and Bumthang in August.

โ€œMaking Bhutan a year-round destination would mean higher hotel occupancy, employment throughout the year for tour guides and hotel staff,โ€ TCB spokesperson, Damcho Rinzin, said.

Marketing initiatives by TCB, in partnership with other tourism stakeholders, such as Drukair, hotels and tour operators, include hosting media fam trips.

Bhutan Travel Bureauโ€™s Director, Chorten Namgay, said, compared to past years, tourist arrivals during the low season is improving, because of the promotion of local or village festivals.

– PATA STAR SHOCK DEPARTURE: PATA’s management ranks in Bangkok are set to dwindle further with the upcoming departure of Mrs. Ben (Benjakallayanee) Montgomery, Regional Director, Greater Mekong, at the end of September following the PATA Travel Mart in Manila.

Mrs. Montgomery, 38, will join Centara Hotels and Resorts as Director, Strategies Management as of October 1, 2012. Her move comes just 3 months after being appointed to this new post as part of a senior management reshuffle. Mrs. Ben Montgomery has in recent years become the friendly โ€œfaceโ€ of PATA with her happy demeanor and effervescent personality.

– PHUKET DISCO FIRE: The cause was initially put down to a lightning strike on a nearby electrical generator, but Phuket’s electricity authority ruled out claims that a transformer explosion during a storm was to blame for the Tiger Disco fire tragedy, which claimed 4 lives and left 11 people with serious burn injuries. Phuket police said they were still investigating whether the disco was operating beyond the 2:00 am closing time and if the disco, which is decorated with foam sculptures of tigers and snakes, had breached safety regulations because of modifications. The investigation comes after an Australian told of seeing “people running on fire” after the blaze broke out.

The fire ripped through the Tiger club, popular with foreign tourists, in Patong – Phuket’s west coast tourist hub – after a lightning strike.

“There are 4 confirmed dead. We believe they are foreign tourists, but it’s not yet confirmed,” Phuket Deputy Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada reported.

Australian tourist Mr. Kemp, 26, said on the night of the blaze, “It’s been a crazy night like all nights are in Thailand, but things went bad when lightning hit power lines and a transformer exploded five meters away from me causing sparks and blue flames shooting off it. People on fire running out of the club like you would see in a movie,” he said, “When I heard the reports of only 4 dead I couldn’t believe that. I’m safe just exhausted. Patong is my second home to Darwin, and I had to make sure all my friends were OK.”

Four French tourists were among those injured, 30-year-old Benjamin Tallanotte, with burns to 40 percent of his body.

The hospital listed the other Frenchmen treated for less serious burns as Nycolas Robyn, 25; Mathieu Lagrange, 40; and Yasmine Khelaef-Humber, 31; along with 7 Thais.

Survivor Kanyaporn Kantong, 25, who was one of several victims treated for burns at Patong Hospital, said, “Someone pushed me out the door. I owe them my life.”

Hundreds of people were in the disco at the time, she said, “We saw the smoke but I thought it was a disco special effect. Then I looked up at the disco ball and saw the flames. We knew then that it was serious. I didn’t know which way to go. Luckily, someone pushed me in the right direction.”

It took more than an hour for firemen to get the blaze under control.

“We received more than 20 people who sustained injuries from the Tiger pub fire. Most are suffering from suffocation,” a hospital worker said, “Two are in critical condition from severe burns. One of them is a French man who suffered burns on his torso. The 4 dead bodies were burnt beyond recognition. We cannot identify even their gender yet.”

The fire broke out at the late-night Tiger disco in the town of Patong, a magnet for foreign tourists on the southern island, almost 2 hours after all bars and other venues in Patong are meant to close.

The blaze ripped through the premises at the back of the Tiger complex, exposing beams along about 30 meters of the structure.

A large crowd of onlookers was held back as ambulances backed down the laneway to pick up the bodies in the club, which is on the corner with Soi Bangla.

The manager of the Tiger Discotheque, Tamrongsak Boonsak, said the fire broke out about 2:00 am.

“People was further down Soi Bangla,” he said, “We will do what we can to help those who have been injured and to help the families of those who have died.”

The fire is the worst in a Thailand nightclub since the fire at the Santika in Bangkok on New Year’s Eve 2009 that killed 62 people.

Tiger Disco owner, Piya Isaramalai, went to Patong police soon after the inferno destroyed the nightclub, killing 4 people, and was questioned for 12 hours. He said that efforts are being made to find alternatives for 1,000 Tiger staff and independent bar owners. Khun Piya said that the disco had been open for 13 years and that a contract had recently been signed for the lease to be extended for another 6 years.

Damage was estimated at 100 million baht, but insurance only covered 60 million baht, he said.

All relevant documents concerning the permission for the building had been handed over to the police, he said, including documents concerning the erection of the dance balcony.

He would cover the hospital costs of critically-burned Frenchman Benjamin Tallanotte and others injured and compensate the families of the dead.

In the disco when the fire broke out, Khun Piya said he instructed staff to train fire extinguishers on the flames. A short time later, he was among the last to flee the building.

He emphasized that it was only because of the heavy and prolonged rain storm that patrons were still in the disco.

Khun Piya was emotional during the interview, according to reports, and apologized profusely to neighboring Patong businesses, and to the tourism industry in general.

– BEER WARS: Heineken has agreed to buy Fraser and Neave’s controlling stake in the maker of Tiger beer in a deal worth US$4.5 billion. Heineken had raised its bid to 53 Singapore dollars per share, demolishing ThaiBev’s hopes to increase its share of the regional brewer.

– BANGKOK’S BEST CAESAR SALAD QUEST: It’s a kind of litmus test for good food… I’ve started the “Bangkok’s Best Caesar Salad Quest.” And the front-runner is an Irish Pub in Ekamai 63, Soi 2, Bkk called Durty Nelly’s. Unless you know different? Let me know… and I will check it out.

– FOOTBALL: Sir Alex Ferguson has planned his exit strategy from Manchester United and will quit in 2 years after building his last great team around Wayne Rooney and last week’s expensive capture from Arsenal, Robin van Persie.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: Myanmar will sign three memorandums of understanding today to reaffirm their economic cooperation, particularly on the development of Dawei deep-sea port and its strategic link with the

BANGKOK BRIEF: Myanmar will sign three memorandums of understanding today to reaffirm their economic cooperation, particularly on the development of Dawei deep-sea port and its strategic link with the Thai Eastern Seaboard. The initial investment in Dawei has been estimated at $US8.6 billion (272 billion baht). The Criminal Court will today review Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan’s bail after he was accused of breaching his bail condition. A sample of Enterovirus-71, or EV-71, is being tested for mutation after it was found in the body of a toddler suspected of being the first fatal case of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Thailand this year.

WORLD SUMMARY: Bradley Wiggins was crowned Britain’s first Tour de France champion on Sunday after helping Sky teammate, Mark Cavendish, to secure a fourth consecutive stage win on the world-famous Champs Elysees. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, the world’s top smartphone maker, has sold more than 10 million units of its newest Galaxy S III model since its launch about two months ago. Israel on Sunday said it was vigilant ahead of the Olympics in London but denied a report in Britain’s Sunday Times that it had sent a team to hunt down militants preparing an attack on its athletes. The death toll from the heaviest rain to hit Beijing in over 60 years has risen to 37, Chinese state media reported on Sunday.

TODAY: Weather 33C; Hot and partially cloudy; Euro:US 1.2123; Euro:Baht 38.38; SET Index: 1209

OTHER NEWS:

BURMESE VISIT: Myanmar’s reformist President on Sunday began a twice-postponed visit to neighboring Thailand expected to focus on economic ties.

President Thein Sein arrived for his first trip to Thailand since he became President in March last year and initiated political and economic reforms after almost five decades of repressive military rule. He will meet with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Crown Princess Sirindhorn before departing Tuesday.

Since Thein Sein assumed the presidency 16 months ago, he has overseen a wave of political and economic reforms including the release of political prisoners, the signing of cease-fires with armed rebel groups, the easing of restrictions on the press, and opening a dialogue with prisoner-turned-parliamentarian Suu Kyi.

Thein Sein had been scheduled to come to Thailand in late May to attend the World Economic Forum in Bangkok but cancelled those plans amid speculation that he feared being upstaged by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was also attending on her first trip abroad in more than two decades.

A rescheduled trip in June was also put off because of sectarian violence in western Myanmar that left at least 80 people dead and tens of thousands homeless. Thein Sein previously visited Thailand in 2008 when he was Prime Minister under the previous ruling junta.

Thailand’s proximity to Myanmar gives it an advantage in its efforts to benefit from its neighbor’s vast natural resources, including minerals as well as oil and gas, an under-exploited agricultural sector, and opportunities in real estate and tourism.

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS: TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, announced the results of its health and fitness on vacation survey of more than 1,400 US travelers, revealing that healthy eating and exercise play an integral role in many Americans’ vacations. Sixty-nine percent say healthy eating is important to them when traveling for leisure, while 53 percent always or often exercise when they’re on the road.

Among those that exercise on vacation, 31 percent say their primary motivation is to maintain their fitness regimen. A further 28 percent do so in order to avoid gaining weight, while the third most popular reason for exercising on holiday is to capitalize on having more free time to work out (14 percent).

Travelers confess that delicious cuisine and cocktails can be hard to resist: 65 percent are more likely to over-indulge on food on vacation than while at home, while 49 percent are more likely to over-indulge on alcohol.

MONDAY FOOD & WINE:

Monsoon Valley: Award-winning, quality New Latitude wines from Hua Hin Hills Vineyard in Thailand. Aromatic and enticing, Monsoon Valley wines come in three ranges to suit every dining and entertaining experience.

Monsoon Valley Cuvรฉe de Siam Rouge is made from the vineyards oldest and best vines; Monsoon Valley Cuvรฉe de Siam Rouge is a rich red wine blended from Shiraz and Sangiovese grapes and aged in French oak barrels and bottled unfiltered. A deep red wine with medium tannin levels and rich aromas of blackberry, Amarena cherry, coffee, pepper, and chocolate, Monsoon Valley Cuvรฉe de Siam Rouge resembles a great Northern Rhone Valley red and pairs well with meats, stews, grilled racks of lamb, or traditional Italian meat dishes like Bistecca Fiorentina and Osso Bucco.

โ€ข Gold Medal : AWC International Wine Challenge Vienna, Austria, 2010
โ€ข Trophy Winner Hong Kong, International Wine & Spirits Competition, 2010
โ€ข Silver Medal : Wine Style Asia Award, Singapore, October 2010
โ€ข Bronze Medal : FBAT Wine Challenge, Bangkok 2010
โ€ข Commended award Decanter World Wine, UK 2010
โ€ข Commended award IWC, UK 2010
โ€ข Seal of approval : Japan Wine Challenge, Japan 2010
โ€ข 84 points, Robert Parker, August 2010
โ€ข 80 points Mundus Vini, Germany, 2010

YOUNG WINSTON: Simon Ward, the actor best known for portraying Churchill in Richard Attenborough’s 1972 film, Young Winston, has died aged 70.

TOUR DE FRANCE: Bradley Wiggins, 32, became the first British cyclist ever to win the world’s grandest bike race, the Tour de France, cheered on by thousands of fans who had made the pilgrimage from the UK because they were determined to be able to say they were there for a moment of unbeatable theatre, to salute perhaps the greatest individual sporting feat by any British sportsman in history.

EURO ZONE: Greece retakes its position at the heart of the European debt crisis this week as its creditors assess how far off course the country is from bailout targets, raising again the specter of its exit from the euro.

Greeceโ€™s troika of international creditors – the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF – will arrive in Athens tomorrow amid doubts the country will meet its commitments and reluctance among euro-area states to put up more funds should it fail.

WEEKEND SPORT: Golf – South African Ernie Els won the British Open by one stroke from Adam Scott after the Australian suffered an extraordinary late collapse. Scott, chasing his first major championship, started the last round with a four-shot lead and seemed to be cruising to victory as he maintained that cushion with six holes to play.

Cricket – A triple century by Hashim Amla and four strikes by South Africa’s bowlers had England reeling on the fourth day of the first Test match at the Oval. England was 4-102 at the close, needing another 150 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

SHOOTING: US President Barack Obama has arrived in Colorado to honor victims of Friday’s gun attack at a Batman film screening that left 12 people dead.

ANOTHER TAT ACRONYM: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has divided its action plan into five implementation categories under the acronym, โ€œDISCO Plan.โ€ The five categories include: Digital marketing, Image-building, Sustainable development, Crystallization/crisis management, and Organization management.

THAI TOURISM: Phuket is at risk of sharing the same fate as another beach destination: Pattaya. Pattaya struggles to shake off a seedy reputation as Thailand’s ”Sin City” and with red-light entertainment, crime, and unchecked development, it is synonymous with sleaze and spoiled beaches.

Tourism’s contribution to GDP has barely increased since 2003 and now hovers at 6 percent. And with unspoiled destinations in neighboring TESBurma opening up, Thailand is under pressure to decide what type of tourism it wants. Headlines that are troubling include taxi driver mafias, transvestite thieves, pollution, tourist brawls, traffic accidents, and at airports – radar glitches, flight delays, and long immigration queues.

“The Tourism Authority of Thailand thinks numbers are going up, so people must like it here, but the problem is the quality of their visit has gone down,” said Larry Cunningham, Australia’s Honorary Consul to Phuket, an island described by travel guide Lonely Planet as “one of the world’s most famous dream destinations.” The government has vowed to tackle “mafias” in tourist areas, while in February, Cunningham appealed to Phuket’s government to stop jet-ski operators who hire thugs and demand compensation for equipment damage renters did not cause.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: The Department of Special Investigation will take legal action against the manufacturers and distributors of allegedly defective bomb detectors GT200.

BANGKOK BRIEF: The Department of Special Investigation will take legal action against the manufacturers and distributors of allegedly defective bomb detectors GT200. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will closely monitor implementation of the government’s multi-billion-baht flood prevention projects. Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has threatened to sue the defense minister for reviving allegations of draft-dodging against him. The Public Health Ministry insists there is no report of hand, foot, mouth disease (HFMD) spreading among adults but is warning the public about the possibility of infection.

WORLD SUMMARY: Microsoft posted its first ever loss $492 million. U-Boat sunk silver cargo UK find. Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor has appealed his conviction and 50-year jail sentence for war crimes. “Mad Men” dominated nominations for the primetime Emmy awards.

PM IN EUROPE: PM Yingluck, who is on an official visit to Germany as a guest of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, told the “Thailand team,” comprising embassy, trade, and tourism officials in Berlin that her government is preparing to set up the “data warehouse,” in which the Finance Ministry, the Bank of Thailand or BOT, and the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) will be the key offices in collecting updated information on the Thai economy and investment for international investors.

The PM is also scheduled to pay a three-day official visit to France, at the invitation of newly-elected French President Francois Hollande, immediately following her visit to Germany.

BIG BROTHER: Fugitive former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra said in an appearance in Jakarta that his sister Yingluck Shinawatra was doing a better job as prime minister than he did.

TODAY: Weather 33C; Hot Sunny; scattered showers; Euro:US 1.2279; Euro:Baht 38.86;
SET: Index 1213

OTHER NEWS

BEER WAR: Heineken NV, the worldโ€™s third-biggest brewer, offered US$5.1 billion (US$4.1 billion) to buy the rest of Asia Pacific Breweries it doesnโ€™t own from Fraser & Neave Ltd. to extend control of the Tiger beer brand amid a push to counter ThaiBev plans to increase its stake yesterday to 20 percent.

PHUKET: The hotel business in Phuket is booming as tourists flood the island, but sales of resort properties have failed to benefit, according to CBRE Research’s โ€œPhuket Property Report.โ€ โ€œDespite healthy increases in tourism arrivals, CB Richard Ellis is not, for now, seeing a proportional increase in sales in the resort property market. The rising tourism numbers are mainly from Asia, whose tourists have yet to become resort-property buyers,” David Simister, chairman of CBRE Thailand, said.

LOWEST $: The TAT identified that among Asian tourists, the lowest daily spend was by Laotians (US$101.99) and among Europeans, the lowest daily spend was by Germans (US$115.46).

HIGHEST $: TGIF because here’s the answer to your next question. According to the TAT, the highest daily spend by Asian tourists is India (US$161.78) and the top country for tourist’s daily spend is UAE (US$175.21)
AEC 2015: The three main private Thai tourism organizations, the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT), and the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), yesterday said the main weakness of Thailand’s tourism industry is a shortage of officials with sufficient knowledge and a devotion to the field.
To benefit from the AEC, Thailand must increase spending on research and development, create more intellectual property, and come up with new exotic travel destinations that can be linked to other Asean countries.
They say this will prepare the tourism industry for Asean economic integration in 2015.
The government has drawn up several plans to prepare for the AEC, but their execution remains weak, said Dr. Surin Pitsuwan of ASEAN.
However, he urged small- and medium-sized tourism enterprises to take proactive action in order to thrive under the AEC.
Former tourism and sports minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the private sector should study which products and services are in demand in Asean.
Businesses should think about expanding into other Asean countries to benefit from their cheaper raw materials and beneficial laws and regulations.
SINGLE VISA: The CLMV scheme is an initiative of four former and current communist countries – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Its single visa will be launched officially next month in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, and the next step is to allow foreign tourists to travel in their bloc.

The Thai private sector called on the Thai government to address this issue, as it has been clearly slow to respond. If it does not act right away, Thailand will lose its prominence in the travel industry in the region.

THAI REHAB: Troubled British rocker Pete Doherty was asked to cut short his one-month stay at high-end drug rehabilitation center, The Cabin near Chiang Mai, because he would not forswear his desire for drugs, an official said. Doherty has visited Thailand before, taking a beach holiday in Phuket during the 2006-2007 New Year’s holiday with his then-girlfriend, model Kate Moss.

GREENHOUSE GASES: Per capita carbon emissions in China increased by 9 percent in 2011 to reach 7.2 tons per person, only a fraction lower than the EU average of 7.5 tons. The figure for the US is still much higher at 17.3 tons.

WIKIPEDIA & TRAVEL: The folks behind the worldโ€™s fifth most popular web property, Wikipedia, are said to be pondering the creation of a Wikipedia-inspired travel guide, likely to compete with TripAdvisor and guidebook publishers across the globe.

The as-yet unnamed travel guide is likely to be free of advertisements – as opposed to supposed travel wiki leader, Wikitravel, whose ads and lack of development is said to have deterred contributors and travelers alike.

Given that Wikipedia is often found amongst the top offerings in search engine results, many are questioning the impact the travel guide will have on the current market.

According to observers, guidebook publishers are monitoring developments, but feel the best guidebooks arenโ€™t going anywhere.

Fellow user-generated site TripAdvisor is often attacked for questionable posts submitted by subjective parties.

Wikipediaโ€™s goal is at once simple and complicated: โ€œImagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. Thatโ€™s our commitment.โ€ How this will play in the world of travel is yet to be seen.

PAUL BOCUSE: Last month, the food Twitterverse exploded with rumors and a purported obituary that legendary chef Paul Bocuse passed away. Except he totally didnโ€™t. Seriously. Itโ€™s a hoax! (Nor did Joel Robuchon and Alain Passard hold a lookalike contest to find his replacement.)

After noticing that none of the major newspapers in France carried the story, which they would, since Bocuse is the Steve Jobs of French cuisine, food writer Elizabeth Auerbach, who was in France at the time, confirmed with his eponymous restaurant that Paul was not dead. โ€œTheyโ€™re very unhappy with the rumors on Twitter about his death,โ€ she reported. Paul Bocuse is 86 this year.

OLYMPICS: Up to 5,500 British immigration officials will strike next Thursday in a dispute about job cuts and pay, disrupting nearly 130,000 passengers as they arrive the day before the Olympic opening ceremony.

CAMBODIA VIRUS: Cambodia is closing all kindergarten and primary schools two weeks before a regular vacation to try to stop the spread of a virus that has killed almost 60 Cambodian children. For most children, the virus causes nothing more than a few days’ discomfort. Good hygiene prevents the virus from spreading, health experts say.

NOVOTEL FENIX PLOENCHIT: Ideally located at Sukhumvit road, the hotel is only steps away from Bangkok’s shopping paradise of Siam Paragon, Central World, MBK, Terminal 21 and Central Chidlom, all connected by BTS sky train right in front of the hotel. This contemporary 4-star hotel features 370 well-equipped guestrooms, premier floors and lounge, fitness and outdoor pool, meeting rooms, and indoor parking. Novotel Bangkok Fenix Ploenchit is a perfect choice for both business and leisure travelers in a great location.

HOTEL LIFTS FOR THE DISABLED: The continuing controversy over hotel pool wheelchair lifts today will escalate into a targeted boycott of hotels across the USA.

A national coalition of disability rights groups today will officially kick off a campaign against hotels.

They will call for supporters to boycott all hotels in the USA that lack a fixed wheelchair lift – the kind of lift that would allow wheelchair users to easily get into a hotel pool without assistance.

There are about 3.3 million people in the USA who use wheelchairs.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: Protesters opposed to the government’s decision to withdraw soldiers from disputed land near the Preah Vihear temple are planning a demonstration near the Thai-Cambodian border Wednesda

BANGKOK BRIEF: Protesters opposed to the government’s decision to withdraw soldiers from disputed land near the Preah Vihear temple are planning a demonstration near the Thai-Cambodian border Wednesday morning. More schools will be ordered to close temporarily as the Health Ministry battles to curb the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak.

WORLD SUMMARY: Libya’s liberal coalition beat Islamist parties in the first poll. US regulators approved the second new anti-obesity drug in 13 years, Qsymia, for use with exercise and a good diet. Yahoo! said Tuesday its profit in the past quarter fell modestly in results reflecting upheaval at the struggling Internet pioneer, which named a new top executive this week. Spanish authorities evacuated a town of 1,800 residents on the Canary Islands on Tuesday, after three days of firefighting.

COURT: The cabinet agreed to the Council of State’s request to wait for the full text of the Constitution Court’s ruling on the charter amendment bill for study.

VIRUS: Eighteen schools in Bangkok have been closed temporarily due to the outbreak of viral hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), with more than 12,500 HFMD cases reported nationwide since the beginning of this year, the provinces with the highest infection rates between January 1 to July 9 are Phayao, Phuket, Chiang Rai, Surat Thani, and Rayong.

EURO DEBT: In the worst case scenario, the impact of the euro zone debt crisis would trim Thailand’s economic growth by between 0.5 and 1.0 percent, Fiscal Policy Office Director General Somchai Sujjapongse said on Tuesday.

CONSTITUTION: Bravo to Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung for his sensible recommendation that the Pheu Thai Party should amend the constitution section by section, as suggested by the Constitution Court, rather than setting up a constitution drafting assembly to write a new charter.

TODAY: Weather 33C; HOT and Wet; Euro:US 1.2297; Euro:Baht 38.91; SET Index: 1224

OTHER NEWS

THAI NIGHT FLYING: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra discussed congestion problems at Suvarnabhumi with officials.

She said officials would try to decrease the number of day flights and increase night flights. At the moment, there are more flights in the daytime, when the airport is more vulnerable to congestion.

She ordered officials to speed up the 62-billion-baht second phase of the expansion of the airport’s passenger terminal and the construction of a 13-billion-baht third runway to increase its capacity.

She also ordered greater use of Bangkok’s second airport, Don Mueang, to help ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi.

THAI MERIDIEN: Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort introduces 13 new Premium Villas situated on four acres of stunning beachfront land, west of the main hotel. Embracing the boutique villa concept and designed in a contemporary style born from the traditional Thai culture, the Premium Villas are set in their own private area adjacent to the main hotel.

MARKETS: China the largest foreign US creditor, boosted its holdings of government securities in May to the most in six months as the American economy stalled and Europeโ€™s sovereign-debt crisis deepened.

Chinese holdings rose 0.4 percent to $1.1696 trillion, Treasury Department data released yesterday show. Those of Japan, the USโ€™s second-largest lender, rose 1.4 percent to an all-time high of $1.1052 trillion. Net foreign purchases of Treasuries increased $54.2 billion, or 1 percent, to a record $5.264 trillion in May, the data show.

โ€œSlowing US growth and increasing uncertainty about Greece is what caused more private and official demand,โ€ said Shyam Rajan, an interest-rate strategist in New York at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, one of the 21 primary dealers that trade with the Federal Reserve. โ€œUS data has actually gotten weaker since.โ€

Investors continued to seek a haven in US Treasuries in May as concern mounted regarding the potential need for Spain to seek a bailout and amid uncertainty whether a party seeking to cancel the terms of earlier bailouts would win elections in Greece. The balloting was seen as a referendum on whether the country would stand by its international-bailout commitments.

Yields on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes dropped to a record low of 1.44 percent on June 1 after US employers added the fewest workers in a year in May and as the Fed pledged to keep borrowing costs close to zero to sustain economic growth.

MOVENPICK: “Hotel owners want something different from the market,” said Markus Muller, the Vice President for Movenpick sales and marketing in Asia, ”In Phuket now are so many Thai and American hotel brands but none from Switzerland, which is considered to have the best hospitality academies.”

THAI BEER WARS: Heineken, the world’s third-largest brewer, warned it would act to protect its interests in Asia, after the founder of Thailand’s leading beer and spirits group bid for a stake worth $1.6 billion in its partner in the region. The Asia Pacific region is a fast-growing one for Heineken, where it brews Tiger Beer with Singaporean partner Fraser and Neave.

Thai Beverage pcl, controlled by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, confirmed on Wednesday that it was in talks to buy an 18.2 percent stake in Heineken’s Asian partner from Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) and its insurance unit.

If Charoen is successful, his entity will emerge as Fraser and Neave’s (F&N) biggest shareholder, followed by Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings Co. On Wednesday, Kirin declined to comment on ThaiBev’s action.

Charoen’s surprise move jolted Heineken, forcing it to express concern over what it called a sudden development. F&N and Heineken jointly control Asia Pacific Breweries whose flagship brand is Tiger Beer.

“It’s a pretty aggressive move from the Thai company,” a Singapore-based investment banker.
Charoen has also offered to buy a 7.9 percent holding in Asia Pacific Breweries, a $598 million stake that is also owned by OCBC and its insurance unit, Great Eastern Holdings. The two stakes were valued at $2.3 billion at Tuesday’s closing price.

Charoen is Thailand’s third-richest man, with a net worth of $4.8 billion, according to Forbes. He took ThaiBev, Thailand’s largest brewer and distiller, public in Singapore in 2006. He has bet heavily on real estate and his privately held TCC Land owns Bangkok tech mall Pantip Plaza. Charoen also owns hotel chains in Manhattan and Australia, and residential and commercial buildings in Singapore and Thailand.

HOLIDAY INN: Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts makes a foray into the Asian beach scene with the opening of Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach Resort to tap its established corporate traveler market along with upscale leisure tourists: โ€œThere are roughly 3,000 vacant hospitality jobs in Phuket and the Asean Economic Community will likely allocate these to skilled labor, as fluency in languages is needed to make foreigners feel at home.โ€

OLYMPICS: London’s Heathrow airport is grappling with a record passenger surge as competitors begin arriving for the Olympics amid mounting concern about travel and security arrangements for an event that starts next week.

HUMAN HARVEST: A multinational medical company in the US accused of manufacturing therapeutic goods from improperly harvested human corpses is distributing dental implants to Australian patients. Ukrainian investigators say the grisly trade has left behind what they describe as โ€œhuman sock puppetsโ€ – corpses stripped of their reusable parts.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: Nitirat demands Constitution Court be dissolved. Dubai lawyer jailed for cheating Thaksin out of 3 billion. Korkaew bail hearing today.

BANGKOK BRIEF: Nitirat demands Constitution Court be dissolved. Dubai lawyer jailed for cheating Thaksin out of 3 billion. Korkaew bail hearing today.

WORLD SUMMARY: Japan recalls China ambassador over islands spat. 22 die in Japan floods. Clinton in Egypt, reaches out to Islamist president. Syria rejects US charges.

RED SHIRT BAIL: Criminal Court judges reviewing a terrorism case against Pheu Thai Party list MP Korkaew Pikulthong will meet Monday to consider a petition to revoke the Red Shirt co-leader’s bail, Chief Justice Tawee Prachuaplarp said yesterday.

COOL POLITICS: Thailand’s political temperature has cooled somewhat after the country’s Constitutional Court declined to outlaw another yet surrogate political party for fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in a ruling that puts the ball back in the Thaksin-backed government’s court on reforming the country’s charter.

TODAY: Weather 33C; Hot, showers later; Euro:US 1.2241; Euro:Baht 38.76; SET Index: 1210

OTHER NEWS

MONDAY FOOD & WINE: ROMANร‰E CONTI: Great Wines of the World. Romanรฉe-Conti is an Appellation d’origine contrรดlรฉe (AOC) and Grand Cru vineyard for red wine in the Cรดte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, France, with Pinot Noir as the sole grape variety. It is situated within the commune of Vosne-Romanรฉe and is a monopole of the winery Sociรฉtรฉ Civile du Domaine de la Romanรฉe-Conti, which takes its name after this vineyard. Romanรฉe-Conti borders on La Romanรฉe in the west, Richebourg in the north, Romanรฉe-Saint-Vivant in the east and La Grande Rue in the south. The AOC was created in 1936.

Wine from the vineyard is among the most sought after, and expensive, in the world. In October 2010, 77 bottles sold for a total of US$750,609 at auction. A single bottle of the 1990 vintage was sold for US$10,953.

THAKSIN’S LAWYER JAILED: The lawyer who handled Thaksin Shinawatra’s sale of Manchester City has been sentenced to three years in prison for breach of trust after 3 billion baht of the transfer funds disappeared.

The court found him guilty of involvement in the disappearance of 60 million UK pounds (just over 3 billion baht at today’s exchange rates, or $95.3 million).
According to the court, he was Thaksin’s lawyer when the former Prime Minister sold the City in 2008 to Abu Dhabi.

The lawyer’s firm controlled an escrow account in which funds for the sale were held. He was accused last March of embezzling 60 million pounds of the 150 million in the account. Prosecutors charged that he has already used part of the money to buy a personal villa.

The apparent misuse of the money came to light after Thaksin asked the lawyer to help to transfer a quarter of the money to a bank account in Montenegro, where Thaksin is reportedly a citizen.

Instead, the records show, the lawyer convinced Thaksin to keep the money in the UAE legal firm’s account.

The Dubai court heard that the lawyer also tried to forge ownership papers on a Bombardier jet owned and used by Thaksin.

The defense reportedly attempted to claim that Thaksin had no legal standing in the case, because the law firm had acted on behalf of UK Sports, not the deposed premier. The Dubai judge also rejected defense demands that the court consider corruption charges pending against Thaksin.

Thaksin sold Manchester City in 2008, after just 16 months at the helm. He sold it to Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi for a reported 210 million pounds, about 10.3 billion baht. The UK media reported he made a profit of about 20 million pounds, or 983 million baht.

ANANTARA HOTELS FUTURE: “Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is expanding its portfolio across Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East to encompass up to 50 properties by 2015. Anantaraโ€™s parent company Minor International recently launched its first four-star brand avani in Sri Lanka and last year acquired a 100 percent stake in Oaks Hotels and Resorts in Australia and New Zealand. We are looking at expanding these two brands in our key focus markets as well,” said William Heinecke, CEO and Chairman, Minor Corp.

AUSSIE SHARKS: Western Australia’s reputation as the world’s deadliest place for shark attacks is hurting tourism and the federal government should consider lifting the ban on fishing of great whites, the state government says. With the search called off on Sunday afternoon for the great white believed to have killed 24-year-old Perth man Ben Linden, WA Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said he was ”very distressed” by the shark attack toll of 5 deaths in 10 months.

PATTAYA MARATHON: Kenyan runner Lawrence Kiptoo Saina, again outraced the pack to finish first in this year’s Pattaya Marathon 2012.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: It’s Friday the 13th at the Constitution Court. Korkaew criticized by foes and friends for anti-court threat.

BANGKOK BRIEF: It’s Friday the 13th at the Constitution Court. Korkaew criticized by foes and friends for anti-court threat.

WORLD SUMMARY: UK beefs up Olympics troops. US, China to work on China Sea spats. US tightens sanctions on Iran. Ex-ambassador urges Syrians to “turn guns on” Assad.

COURT POLICE: Hundreds of police are expected to surround Thailand’s Constitutional Court Friday as the country braces for a crunch ruling that threatens to rip open bitter political divisions. The court is set to rule on whether plans by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s party to amend the constitution, drawn up under the military junta that deposed her brother Thaksin , are legal or not.

COURT RULING: PM Yingluck calls on all parties to peacefully wait for the Constitution Court’s ruling on constitutionality of the charter amendment bill. Meanwhile Pheu Thai Party list-MP and United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD Red Shirt) co-leader Korkaew Pikulthong has come under fire for directing hostile remarks at judges in the Constitution Court ahead of today’s ruling.

TODAY: Weather – 32C; Wet, Hot, Humid; Euro:US 1.2191; Euro:Baht 38.77; SET Index: 1193

OTHER NEWS

SMART MARKETING – ORBITZ: In recent weeks, the online travel company, Orbitz, has been in the news for supposedly directing Mac users to more expensive hotels than PC users.

If Mac users have deeper pockets than PC users, is it really a discriminatory pricing โ€œscandalโ€ if they are targeted with advertisements of high-end hotels? Or is it in fact good business practice and something that travel companies should be making much more of?

So Orbitz is using predictive software to better target its customers. And by doing so it had discovered, for example, that Mac users are more likely to book 4- or 5-star hotels and that families traveling with children are likely to book different hotels than couples.

Such practices are certainly not new. Amazon has been using collaborative filtering for many years to personalize shopping recommendations, based not only on past purchase history, but also on similarities in purchasing behavior among groups of like-minded consumers. If Customer A likes Product 1 and Product 2, then Customer B, who likes Product 1, may also like Product 2, and so on.

Selling the right rooms to the right customer at the right time for the right price is the very definition of revenue management in hospitality. I do not see anything out of line in Orbitz targeting a customer segment that is perceived as more upscale with more upscale hotel properties. Is this new? Not really, for example high-end luxury travel suppliers and intermediaries advertise in the American Express magazine for platinum and gold card members.

There are very smart travel suppliers that are targeting the right customer at the right time for the right price. The same applies to some OTAs. Itโ€™s a very competitive market out there, and only the smartest digital marketers will survive.

Many more travel companies should and could be following in their footsteps.

With the proliferation of electronic distribution channels in travel and hospitality, there are a wealth of opportunities for travel marketers. In fact not why not target iPad users with a suite special versus a room special tomorrow?

RADISSON BLU: Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, the world’s 10th biggest hotel operator in terms of room ,will open a Radisson Blu hotel in Bangkok next year and one in Hua Hin in 2015, complementing the Radisson Blu Plaza Resort, Phuket.

SINGAPORE EXPORTS: Singaporeโ€™s economy shrank last quarter as manufacturing fell, adding to signs of a deepening slowdown in Asian expansion as Europe’s debt crisis curbs demand for the regionโ€™s goods.

Gross domestic product fell an annualized 1.1 percent in the 3 months through June from the previous quarter, when it climbed 9.4 percent.

IMF: The head of the International Monetary Fund has praised Thailand for its economic resilience and โ€œV-shapedโ€ recovery, while cautioning Asean not to rush into a single currency like Europe did. “We see a very positive outlook,” Christine Lagarde said.

THAI EDUCATION: The Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment said it had certified only 5,690 of the 7,985 basic educational institutes it assessed.

HILLARY: Addressing a regional forum in the Cambodian capital, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton studiously avoided using either Myanmar or Burma during a speech in which she lauded the reforms there that โ€œfew dared would come.โ€

YAHOO HACKED: Yahoo is investigating an apparent security breach which has led to more than 450,000 email addresses and passwords being leaked online. Users are advised to change their passwords today.

THE ROLLING STONES: Rock veterans, The Rolling Stones, spent the night together as they celebrated half a century since their first gig. The band, sporting a few more wrinkles than on their debut exactly 50 years ago, embraced and partied as they marked their milestone.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: 1,000 rubber planters block Highway 41 in Surat Thani’s Tha Chang district, demanding government to raise rubber price to B120/kg.

BANGKOK BRIEF: 1,000 rubber planters block Highway 41 in Surat Thani’s Tha Chang district, demanding government to raise rubber price to B120/kg. Red Shirt leaders have hinted at holding a mass rally if the Constitution Court delivers a verdict unfavorable to the government-sponsored charter amendment process.

WORLD SUMMARY: Egypt’s Constitutional Court froze a presidential decree reinstating the Islamist-led parliament. Hillary in Laos. Peter O’Toole (79) retires, Cameron and Hollande meet and smile. Tetra Pak heir, in UK murder inquiry. Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom wants deal.

USA: Hillary Clinton Wednesday became the first US Secretary of State to visit Laos for 57 years, on a trip focused on the damaging legacy of the Vietnam War and a controversial dam project.

RED ARSON: The arson at CentralWorld shopping mall in Bangkok in 2010 did not involve mysterious “men in black” says Tarit Pengdith, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation.

TODAY: Weather 33; Hot, Cloudy; Euro:US 1.2261; Euro:Baht 38.90; SET Index: 1207

OTHER NEWS

CHINA: Premier Wen Jiabao said promoting investment growth is the key to stabilizing China’s economic expansion, according to a statement posted on the governmentโ€™s website yesterday. The nationโ€™s economic growth may have slid to 7.7 percent in the second quarter, according to estimates, the least in three years.

HI SO HOTELS: A hotel unlike any other, the Sofitel So Bangkok, a 32-storey, urban-designed hotel, featuring works from Thailandโ€™s leading architects and designers is a WOW.

OBAโ€™s Smith Obayawat creates a hotel housing 238 rooms, whose interior decor is designed based on the 5 elements by 5 different designers; the 5 themes are: water (Pongthep Sagulku), earth (Vitoon Kunalungkarn), wood (Nithi Sthapitanonda), metal (Somchai Jongsaeng), and fire (Rujiraporn Wanglee), supported with French elegance by renowned designer Christian Lacroix.

Adjacent to Lumpini Park in the central business and entertainment districts, the hotel offers unique and superb restaurants with gorgeous views over the park. The hotel has easy access to Lumpini subway and Saladaeng skytrain station. The hotel is located 25 km from Suvarnabhumi airport, just a short hop into town.

All 238 rooms and suites feature Apple Mac minis with fully-integrated entertainment and guest services; enhanced with the latest iPad in all suites.
Bangkok joins its sister hotel, the Sofitel So Mauritius, a radiant oasis where Thai architect Lek Bunnag’s inimitable architecture is enhanced by exclusive designs from fashion designer Kenzo Takada. Lush vegetation, a turquoise lagoon, a quietly-flowing stream; this Mauritius hotel, located on the wild south coast of the island, brings you to one of nature’s finest settings on a wide open beach but surrounded by nature – soothing, elegant, and naturally sophisticated.

TAT 2013: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says it will focus on tapping new markets and boosting first-time visitors using specific niche markets, according to Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Europe, Juthaporn Rerngronasa.

โ€œNiches are very important. We will promote a tailored tourism experience, starting with luxury travel. We are planning to host our own luxury travel mart after participating in luxury marts held in Shanghai, China, and Cannes, France, for several years; we are ready to host one,โ€ said the Deputy Governor.

TAT is holding a marketing plan meeting to outline a business plan for next year; it will announce the results at a meeting on July 16, that will be attended by private sector tourism stakeholders.

The governmentโ€™s target for tourism revenue is Bt2.2 trillion in 2015.

Last year, Thailand welcomed 19.23 million international tourists, up 20.67 percent with a revenue of Bt780,000 million that increased 30.94 percent from 2010.

Regarding TAT’s Eastern region, Mr. Borisut Prasopzup said: “TAT is targeting big-money tourists; however, it needs to create emotional value for tourists. That comes from working with partners, forming networks, strengthening relationships, and coordinating with international tourism groups to convert crisis into opportunity by turning rivals into partners to increase marketing opportunities as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations prepares to unify the market in 2015.โ€

THAI TOURIST SAFETY: The Senate Committee on Tourism is urging the government to raise awareness about safety measures for tourists via media outlets in a bid to increase their confidence in Thai tourism.

Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Mrs. Thanyarat Atchariyachai, has raised the issue of tourist safety during her meeting with tourism officials which is in line with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatraโ€™s 9-point tourism policy.
Under the policy, Mrs. Thanyarat stressed that the safety of tourists should be promoted through all media channels to raise their confidence in Thailand, while all crimes against tourists, including theft and money extortion, must be eliminated.

NORTH KOREA: The lady pictured with Kim Jong-un at a series of recent events is a previously married singer who is in a relationship with the North Korean leader.

STOP SMOKING: Quitting smoking leads to an average weight gain of four to five kilograms in the first year, “significantly” more than previously thought, a study said.

Most of the pounds are piled on in the first three months, a team of medical researchers found, stressing that the health benefits of quitting far outweighed the risks of putting on weight.

Earlier research showed that nicotine is an appetite suppressant and may increase the metabolic rate.

Experts from Spain and Australia said modest weight gain was far less life-threatening than smoking.

“Tobacco is the main cause of premature death worldwide, being responsible for 5.1 million deaths each year. Obesity, together with overweight, causes 2.8 million deaths,” researchers said.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: Army says Cambodia “propaganda trick” only pretends pullout at temple. New committee will try to clear khlongs and reduce flood fears.

BANGKOK BRIEF: Army says Cambodia “propaganda trick” only pretends pullout at temple. New committee will try to clear khlongs and reduce flood fears.

WORLD SUMMARY: Annan claims useful talks with Syria leader. Egypt parliament defies army. Malaysia in huge party drug bust. Hillary: Mongolia is “model” for Asia democracy.

RESHUFFLE: PM Yingluck denies she will concurrently take defense post, saying that cabinet reshuffle is not yet on the cards.

RED SHIRTS: Nine Red Shirts were released from the Lak Si temporary prison on Monday morning after a request for their release on bail was approved by the Supreme Court.

MALAYSIA: Malaysian customs officers have made the country’s biggest drug bust so far this year, seizing nearly 3 million party drug pills worth $18.4 million, an official said. Five people have been arrested.

OLYMPICS: The country’s Olympics broadcast rights holder insists all viewers will be able to watch the games this month, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) said yesterday.

TODAY: Weather 34C; Hot, Showers; Euro:US 1.2305; Euro:Baht 39.04; SET Index: 1187

OTHER NEWS

ROGER FEDERER: Probably the greatest tennis player of all time. A record 17 Grand Slam Titles, 4 ahead of anyone else. A record 8 times Wimbledon finals. A record 32 Grand Slam semi-finals. A record 33 consecutive Grand Slam quarter finals. A record 7 Wimbledon titles, tying the record with William Renshaw and Pete Sampras. A record 238 weeks as World No.1 (this week tying that record with Pete Sampras, and next week he will break that record.)

He still holds the astonishing record of 237 consecutive weeks as World No.1 from February 2004 to August 2008. The only male tennis player ever to have reached at least 5 championship matches at each of the Grand Slams (Australia, Paris, Wimbledon, and USA). One of 7 male players to have achieved the career Grand Slam (winning at all 4 Grand Slam tournaments), and one of 3 players to win on three different surfaces: grass, clay, and hard.

Jimmy Connors said: “You’re either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist, or a hard court specialist… or you’re Roger Federer.โ€

MARKETS: Asian stocks rose, rebounding from the biggest drop in a month, after Alcoa Inc. reported results that beat estimates and before European Union finance ministers meet in Brussels. Oil declined.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index (MXAP) added 0.3 percent as of 9:34 am in Tokyo. Japanโ€™s Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 0.5 percent, while futures on the Standard & Poorโ€™s 500 Index dropped 0.1 percent. Oil fell 0.9 percent. The euro traded near from its lowest level in 2 years before reports forecast to show manufacturing in France and Italy is weakening.

THAI FLOOD PREVENTION: The Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC) has set up a new committee to oversee implementation of city planning laws in flood management to limit possible damage from heavy flooding.

The newly-appointed committee is chaired by Petipong Pungbun na Ayudhya, former permanent secretary for agriculture, and comprises 10 other members from related agencies.

A massive flood management program costing 300 billion baht has been earmarked by the government.

Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, the WFMC Chairman, said the committee has 4 months to complete 7 missions.

They are identifying flood-risk areas; allocating green areas for use as floodways; defining kaem ling (monkey cheeks) water retention areas; drawing up measures to limit city expansion in low-lying areas; revising land use management to reduce flood risk; drafting regulations to control construction of public facilities to make sure that they won’t obstruct water flow; and regulating land use along river banks and canals.

Earlier yesterday, interested domestic and foreign companies were at Government House to receive the terms of reference (TOR) for details of the government’s 300 billion baht flood management program.

They included Ch.Karnchang, Progress Technology Consultants Co., Survey Engineer Intertech Co. and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

TOM CRUISE: Katie Holmes’ lawyer has confirmed her highly-publicized divorce with Tom Cruise has been settled, as reports emerge she will have ”sole custody” of their 6-year-old daughter Suri.

FOOTBALL: Manchester City killed off Russian interest in Roberto Mancini by making him the highest-paid manager in Britain after agreeing a 37.5million pounds 5-year deal.

PATA: Last week, the Senior Director for Marketing and Membership Services, Stu Lloyd, left after what one staff member said was a “huge row” between him and Pata CEO Martin Craigs. His departure means that 2 key appointments made in 2011 to carry out a new “Building the Business” strategy did not even last a year.

HERITAGE – METROPOLE HOTEL HANOI: When Vietnam’s neo-classical Metropole first opened in August 1901, full board rates ranged from US$7 to US$125 per month.

In 1916, co-founder Andrรฉ Ducamp was granted permission to screen Hanoi’s first ever musical-accompanied movie at the hotel’s theater-cinema. In 1936, Charlie Chaplin spent part of his honeymoon at the Metropole with his leading lady Paulette Goddard.

The hotel has lived through a succession of French, Japanese, and Chinese occupations. A further indication of its tumultuous past is the air raid shelter built in the 1960s under the Bamboo Bar, only excavated last year, and opened to the public this year.

Famous guests of the Metropole include: Catherine Deneuve, Charlie Chaplin, Jane Fonda, Stephen Hawking, Oliver Stone, Mike Jagger, and Roger Moore.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: Cambodia to move troops out of temple today. Tourism operators, business worried about Myanmar competition, poor Suvarnabhumi maintenance.

BANGKOK BRIEF: Cambodia to move troops out of temple today. Tourism operators, business worried about Myanmar competition, poor Suvarnabhumi maintenance.

WORLD SUMMARY: World – $16 billion pledged for Afghan aid. Hillary says Assad’s days numbered. Anti-Islamists lead Libya polls. Federer beats Murray for 7th Wimbledon title.

POLITICS: Pheu Thai spokesman denies a report that there will be a cabinet reshuffle before August 1 because of pressure from former members of the so-called House No 111.

POLL: Suan Dusit Poll – Most people are not sure if the charter amendment bill is intended to abolish the country’s administration and constitutional monarchy.

USA: Former foreign minister Kasit Piromya urged the Foreign Ministry and the US to clarify a claim by many figures in the ruling Pheu Thai Party that ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra was given a visa to enter the US a few months ago. โ€œIf the claim is true, it means the US does not respect Thailand’s justice system but insults the country’s law and integrity,โ€ he said.

SUNDAY NEWS IN BRIEF

BANGKOK: Thousands line river to see the King. Pheu Thai promises to respect court’s decision. Tourist officials want runway construction at airport

WORLD NEWS: Syria shells rebels in Lebanon. Afghanistan made โ€œspecial US allyโ€ like Thailand. 140 dead in Russian floods. Aceh, Libya hold free assembly elections. US job growth weak, Fed action expected. Amazon said to be making smartphone. IMF chief, on way to Bangkok, says she will cut global growth forecasts.

TODAY: Weather 33C, Wet Hot Cloudy, Euro:US 1.2286, Euro:Baht 38.86, SET Index: 1191

OTHER NEWS

THAI TOURIST ARRIVALS UP: The global economy slowdown has had little impact on tourist arrivals to Thailand. The Kingdom had a total of 8,871,930 visitor arrivals for the period of January through May 2012, up 7.27 percent compared to the same period in 2011. China was the best performer with 943,161 visitors, up 26.13 percent, with the largest market share for an individual country of 10.62 percent.

The overall growth remains strong for Thai tourism with visitor arrivals to Thailand from all European countries of 2,690,783, a 10.9 percent increase for the period January through May 2012, according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. European countries, even with the Eurozone crisis, accounted for a market share of 30.33 percent, up from 29.33 percent for the same period in 2011.The numbers showed that in May, arrivals from Spain, one of the worst-hit European countries, totaled 6,472, up 39 percent over May 2011. Arrivals from all the top three performing European countries were up significantly in May 2012, with Russia at 64,212 (+52 percent); UK at 60,216 (+12 percent; and Germany at 41,032 (+35 percent). For 2012, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has set a target of 20.5 million total international visitors and foreign exchange earnings of 766 billion baht (US$25 billion).

THAI INFLATION: June consumer good prices increased slightly MoM, led by higher non-food and beverage prices, e.g., transport fares, medical expenses, and utility costs โ€“ for electricity, fuel, and water โ€“ that offset lower prices for fresh foods, freight/logistics, and communications that dropped in line with the 3.0-6.0 percent decreases in domestic oil prices during the month. Thus, Headline and Core Inflation for June 2012 remained barely unchanged at 2.56 percent and 1.92 percent (YoY), respectively, close to the 2.53 percent and 1.95 percent YoY in May.

BURMA: Myanmar’s tourism minister Mr. U Htay Aung told the Sasin Bangkok Forum yesterday that his country was ramping up its tourism infrastructure to cope with a sharp rise in the number of visitors.

He conceded that the Myanmar tourism industry was still in its infancy, but pointed to rapidly increasing visitor numbers.

Between January and June of this year, the number of foreigners flying in to Yangon and Mandalay airports was 50 percent higher than the same period in 2011, U Htay Aung said.

He said his country has drawn up a tourism master plan, which has received backing for its efforts from the Norwegian government.

Plans are afoot for a new international airport, 15 km from Yangon, to be constructed over the next few years.

With the rising number of tourists, businessmen, and international visitors, Myanmar now has a severe shortage of hotel rooms, he said.

The Shangri-La Group is constructing a 240-room hotel, while the Accor Group and India’s Oberoi are also interested in investing in Myanmar, U Htay Aung said.
There are about 25,000 hotels and guesthouses across Myanmar.

MARKETS: Asian stocks fell the most in 2 weeks and the yen rose after Japanese machinery orders sank the most in more than 5 years and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the nationโ€™s economy faces โ€œrelatively largeโ€ downward pressure. Bond risk climbed.

MONDAY FOOD: THAI CLASSIC DISH: Fish Cakes (Tord Mun Plaa – serves 6)

Ingredients:

1 pound of fish fillets, such as mullet, cod, monkfish, trout, or salmon, skinned
15 fresh kaffir lime leaves
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 cup of fresh commercial red curry paste
2 teaspoons of fish sauce
2 eggs, beaten
30 long beans cut into very thin rounds
vegetable oil for deep – frying
sweet chili sauce to dip

Directions:

Ground the fish fillets in the food processor. Add kaffir lime leaves (roll into a tight cylinder and cut into fine shreds); add to the food processor. Add sugar, red curry paste, fish sauce, egg, baking powder, and process until just blended.

Place in a large bowl and add the long beans. Stir for 2 minutes. Then cover and keep in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

To cook, in a wok or deep-fryer, heat 2 inches of oil to 325 degrees. Lightly moisten your fingertips to prevent sticking, and form a walnut-sized portion of fish paste into small patty about 1 inch in diameter and not too thick. Carefully add a few fish cakes to fry. When golden brown and well puffed (2-3 minutes), using a skimmer, transfer to paper towels to drain. Serve hot, accompanied with sweet chili sauce. Aroi mak mak! (Delicious!)

CHINA: The Chinese Ministry of Health has lifted a 14-year-old ban on lesbians donating blood in effect as of July 1. The ban still applies to men who are sexually active with other men, but celibate homosexuals are permitted to give blood, according to the Ministry of Health’s website.

CAMBODIA DISPUTE: Cambodia is expected to announce the withdrawal of troops from a demilitarized zone near Preah Vihear temple today.

The gesture is timed to coincide with the official start of the 45th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phnom Penh, military sources said.

The Cambodian troop withdrawal would represent a positive move towards improved relations between the two governments, observers said.

The Preah Vihear temple dispute is the legacy of the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, and is the only thorny bilateral issue which the current government has had to address, the sources said.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: More hearings on constitution today. Myanmar arrests hundreds of Thais allegedly encroaching on rubber farms.

BANGKOK BRIEF: More hearings on constitution today. Myanmar arrests hundreds of Thais allegedly encroaching on rubber farms.

WORLD SUMMARY: Japan says nuke crisis โ€œman-madeโ€ – not just tsunami. UK arrests 6 terror suspects. Iran war games target US. “Pilot caused” 2009 Air France crash.

COURT: Thailand’s Constitutional Court will today hand down a verdict that could ultimately lead to the dissolution of the ruling Pheu Thai party. The court is set to rule on whether plans by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s party to amend the constitution are a threat to the deeply-revered monarchy.

PM DENIES: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is downplaying an audio clip, which the opposition says proves her elder brother is pulling the strings behind the charter change push.

RANONG : Hundreds of Thai villagers encroaching on Myanmar territory opposite Ranong’s Kra Buri district have been detained by Myanmar forces, the Fourth Army confirmed yesterday.

Recently, Maj. Gen. Manas Khongpaen, of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, had revealed that a number of Thais had encroached on more than 6,000 rai of land in Myanmar just opposite Ranong’s Kra Buri district and Chumphon’s Tha Sae district.

DOING A GOOD JOB? House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont said he managed to convince Thaksin Shinawatra to change his mind and not force through the controversial reconciliation bill, averting a potentially explosive political showdown, but the Democrats think otherwise and want him removed.

TODAY: Weather 33C, Hot Wet Cloudy, Euro:US 1381, Euro:Baht 39.11, SET Index 1204

IN OTHER NEWS

MARKETS: Asian stocks and oil retreated for a second day while the euro headed for its worst week this year after interest-rate cuts in Europe and China failed to assure investors the moves will be enough to boost economic growth. Bond risk in Asia rose before a monthly US jobs report.

According to Reuters, China, the euro zone, and Britain all loosened monetary policy in the space of less than an hour, signaling a growing level of alarm about the world economy.

TRAVEL STUDY: Egencia, an Expedia, Inc. company, unveiled its 2012 Global Corporate Travel Benchmarking Study and Travel Manager Research. The study evaluates the current business travel landscape and supply environment for air, hotel, and rail inventory. Focusing on top domestic and international business destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, Egencia analyzed industry trends, supplier data, and capacity implications in Q1 2012.

Additionally, Egencia surveyed over 300 travel buyers globally identifying current trends and challenges.

For air travel, Average Ticket Prices (ATPs) for intra-APAC destinations increased 3 percent YoY.

The hotel environment worldwide experienced an Average Daily Rates (ADRs) increase in the majority of destinations. ADRs increased an average of 3.3 percent in Europe, 6 percent in North America, and 5.7 percent in Asia-Pacific.
Asia-Pacific represents a mixed air pricing landscape, varying on a market-by-market basis. However, as a whole, APAC is averaging an increase in overall ATPs. Prices for intra-APAC destinations have increased by an average of three percent YoY. Increased ATPs can be attributed to increased fuel costs and increased demand into China. Decreased ATPs can be attributed to increased competition in the local markets and increased capacity on a majority of routes, as more and larger aircrafts enter the Asia Pacific region.

LONDON DEAL: Malaysia’s SP Setia and Sime Darby said they plan to develop $12 billion worth of homes, offices, and shops on the south bank of the River Thames after buying London’s Battersea Power Station site from liquidators for 400 million pounds.

PHUKET: Britons Jonathan Bennett, 28, and Roberta Norton, 31, according to the BBC, were headed for Phangan and a full moon party when a bus crashed in Surat Thani, killing 11 people and injuring them. Ms. Norton said: “Jonathan actually got up and walked up to the driver asking and gesturing at him to slow down. He was driving like a mad man. He did slow down for a while.

LCC BRANDING: Asia-Pacific budget airlines AirAsia and Qantas Airways’ Jetstar overtook full-service carriers in a brand-reputation survey as more passengers in the region turned to cheaper options amid a global economic slowdown.

IATA FORECAST 2012: Global airline profits are set to fall in 2012 by more than half to $3 billion from $7.9 billion last year, according to the International Air Transport Association, as recessions in the UK, Spain, and other European countries damp demand and erode gains from lower fuel prices.

SYRIA: Wikileaks began publishing 2.4 million emails it says involve the Syrian government and associated companies that โ€œreveal how the West and Western companies say one thing and do another.โ€

FIREFLY SAMUI: Firefly, with flights between Penang and Phuket four times a week, will commence two new services to South Thailand this August. On August 11 the airline will start services to Samui from Penang three times a week. From August 17, Subang Airport on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur will link to Had Yai four times a week.

APPLE: The surge in popularity of tablets and smartphones means that the same number of people could be using iOS as Windows with the year, new data suggests.

At its peak in 2004, 54 times as many PCs were sold as Macs, however, users are increasingly favoring new tablet and mobile devices, and that those tend to run Apple software.

The data does not mean that fewer Windows machines are necessarily going to be sold, as more users have a number of devices.

Since the 2004 peak, the number of PC sales relative to Mac has fallen sharply.

โ€œAlthough PC volumes continued to grow, they did so more slowly, and the Mac grew faster,โ€ a leading analyst observed, โ€œWhat coincided with this was the emergence of portable computing. The MacBook became easily differentiable as a โ€˜betterโ€™ laptop. It was not faster, did not have more storage or any key metrics being used to sell PCs. It was just better as an integrated product. The integration manifested itself through a sense of quality and robustness, as well as intangibles like aesthetics and โ€˜feel.โ€™โ€

WALDORF-ASTORIA: Did you ever take anything from New York City’s famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel sometime between its 1931 opening and 1960? The luxury hotel wants it back.

The Waldorf-Astoria launched an amnesty program for all its sly, sticky-fingered guests who in their old age are having a change of heart.

โ€œThe hotel has in the past launched a digital archives website waldorfarchive.org,โ€ said Meg Towner, the hotel’s social media manager.

โ€œRight now we mostly have old black-and-white photographs on there. We found that people use it as a research tool and are fascinated by the hotel’s history, so we want to build it up,โ€ she said.

โ€œBut our collection of physical items isn’t as vast as our collection of photos. We have a few items on display in our hotel lobby, some wineglasses, dinner plates, old room keys, things like that, but it’s not very much. We know there are treasures out there that belong to the Waldorf; we see them going up on eBay all the time. We’d like them back, and we’d like to know where they came from,โ€ she added.

WIMBLEDON: Marquee match-ups seldom come more enthralling than a face-off between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the Wimbledon green. The pair have had needling duels in New York and rumbustious encounters at Roland Garros but never, until Friday afternoon, have they confronted one another on the manicured lawns of the All England Club.

For Djokovic, the defending champion, the proposition is daunting as he seeks to unseat his nemesis on the surface where Federer feels as comfortable as Juliet, the cow that the Swiss was once given for winning an event in Gstaad.

Federer v. Djokovic has evolved into one of this sportโ€™s most compelling rivalries: a juxtaposition of elegance and defiance, of effortless technique and unbound aggression, of a player clutching at the last vestiges of his glory, and an adversary savoring the first flush of his own.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: After fire, Bangkok Governor believes refineries should move from Bangkok. House Speaker Somsak transcript reveals discussion with Thaksin.

BANGKOK BRIEF: After fire, Bangkok Governor believes refineries should move from Bangkok. House Speaker Somsak transcript reveals discussion with Thaksin.

WORLD SUMMARY: US apologizes, Pakistan to reopen Afghan border. Iran threatens US, Israel with missile attacks. “God particle” Higgs boson found, causes mass, weight.

MYANMAR DEEP SEA PORT: The main local partner in the Dawei port and industrial complex in Myanmar said yesterday he was pulling out of the project, adding to doubts about its viability.

THAI POLITICS: The Pheu Thai Party’s spokesman has confirmed that Parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranont said he had discussed with “a person far away” the charter amendment and reconciliation bills in a secretly-taped audio recording.

Mr. Somsak was heard in the recording, broadcast on Tuesday on satellite channel Blue Sky, addressing his supporters in Phetchabun at a private meeting.

In the audio clip, Mr. Somsak allegedly said he had talked the “person far away” into agreeing not to push for debate on the controversial reconciliation bill in parliament to avoid public opposition.

TODAY: Weather 33C, Hot Wet Cloudy, Euro:US 1.2528 Euro:Baht 39.46 SET Index: 1191

IN OTHER NEWS

TAT EUROPE: The EU crisis will depress some European tourist markets this year, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The financial woes will lead to growth in European tourist arrivals of only 5 percent to 5.12 million this year, half of last year’s 10 percent growth rate, said Juthaporn Rerngronasa, the Deputy Governor for international marketing in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.

She said if the debt crisis grows worse and spreads to more countries, then the 5 percent forecast may be rosy.

“We have instructed our European offices to keep a close watch on the problem and submit weekly reports to Bangkok,” said Ms. Juthaporn.

Key risk markets are Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain, although together they contributed only 7 percent of European tourist arrivals last year.

“The euro crisis has hit spending by middle- and low-income European tourists, so we must prepare to shift our focus to the high-end segment. Potential markets are Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Russia,” said Ms. Juthaporn.

Apart from the EU-debt crisis, the TAT is also concerned about the new air passenger duty imposed by the UK.

Passengers flying from that country to Thailand are levied an extra 82 (4,000 baht) in economy class and 164 in business class.

It is focusing on new markets for Generations X and Y to boost the number of first-time visitors.

Today 60 percent of European arrivals are repeat tourists, and the TAT will highlight the southern beach destinations of Krabi and Trang in order to maintain this market.

Joint-promotion charter flights will ply the route from Manchester, England, to Phuket and from new destinations in Eastern Europe and Siberia to Bangkok during the Northern Hemisphere winter.

More meetings and conferences from new markets such as Brazil will be organized here.

Yesterday, the TAT introduced Lifestyle Thailand, a new Smartphone app aimed at attracting the young generation with 8 unique tourism experiences.

Discounts of 20-50 percent are being offered by 300 hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions.

The TAT expects the app will be downloaded 50,000 times in the next 3 months.

BURMA-BKK RAIL LINK: Burma’s Railways Minister Aung Min has confirmed plans to begin construction later this year of a railway linking Rangoon and Bangkok along the route of the notorious ”Death Railway” – built by Japanese-held prisoners of war during the Second World War.

AIRPORT: Don Muang Airport, Bangkok’s second airport, will reopen for commercial aviation on August 1, not on October 1 as earlier planned, Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said.

MUGABE: Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe, has flown to Singapore for what his aides insist is a routine medical check-up. In April, speculation was rife that the 88-year-old was close to death when he reportedly went to Singapore for cancer treatment. A US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks last year claimed Mr. Mugabe had advanced prostate cancer.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: Constitution Court orders 415 supporters to write why they voted for amendments. New 80, 100 baht bills to be issued for royal birthdays.

BANGKOK BRIEF: Constitution Court orders 415 supporters to write why they voted for amendments. New 80, 100 baht bills to be issued for royal birthdays.

WORLD SUMMARY: Myanmar frees 20 political prisoners. Syria army attacks rebels. Pakistan to reopen Afghan supply lines. US beefs up Gulf force as Iran tests missiles.

EXPLOSION: An explosion rocked a refinery owned by Bangchak Petroleum Plc in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi 64. UPDATE: Fire fighters were able to put the blaze at the refinery in Soi 64 under control, reports said on Wednesday morning. A Bangkok Metropolitan Administration official said there was no need to evacuate people near the area. However, nearby schools are closed today.

ADVISOR TO PM: Pansak Winyarat, a former adviser to Thaksin, has been appointed Chief Policy Adviser to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

YELLOW SHIRTS: The prosecutors have deferred until August 23 orders whether to indict core members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy in four different cases.

POLITICS: Constitution Court spokesman Somrit Chaiwong said the court wants to hear statements to decide if Maj. Gen. Chamlong’s petition should be combined with five complaints that also question the legality of the charter amendment bid. Mr. Somrit said it is not known at this stage when a verdict will be issued after the court’s two-day inquiry tomorrow and Friday. Pheu Thai MP and legal expert, Pirapan Palusuk, yesterday decried the charter court for accepting the Yellow Shirt leader’s complaint. He said the move comes despite criticism that the court has no authority to accept such a petition directly. Mr. Pirapan said the court had set a new precedent that broadens its power and indicates a bid to infringe on the work of the legislature.

NOT NASA: The cabinet approves a 200 million baht fund for a Thailand led atmospheric study project as proposed by Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi.

TODAY: Weather 33C, Hot Cloudy Rain, Euro:US 1.2598, Euro:Baht 39.59, SET 1198

OTHER NEWS

ICTP: The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that SKร…L International has joined the alliance as a partner association.

ICTP Chairman, Juergen T. Steinmetz, said: โ€œSKร…L values sustainable development as the key to the industryโ€™s future success. It is a tourism organization which cares about the possible implications of its activities and recognizes its responsibility in developing and operating in such a manner as to contribute positively in the protection and preservation of natural, social, and cultural environments. I am pleased also to be able to work closely with President Enrique Quesada and Vice President Karine Coulanges of SKร…L International.โ€

INDIA: Kasikorn Research Centre, in its latest tourism forecast, estimated 1.07 million Indian tourists will visit Thailand this year representing a 20 percent increase on last year.

It added that revenue could reach Bt 37,000 million, increasing 21.9 percent on last yearโ€™s performance.

The research center said a recent survey indicated Thailand was now the top destination in Asia ahead of Singapore and Malaysia.

Positive factors cited by the center are:

โ€ข Short-haul flights time of around four hours;
โ€ข Wide options on airline services and low-cost fares that make Bangkok and Pattaya an excellent value;
โ€ข Recognition of Thailandโ€™s hospitality skills;
โ€ข A diversity of tourist attractions for families and shopping centers, particularly Bangkokโ€™s Pratunam market and Pantip market.

It said travel agencies should transfer some of their attention from a failing European market to concentrate on high-end Indian tourists and other niche markets such as MICE, wedding services, as well as tour packages for shoppers, golfers, and filmmakers – all areas with an average spending of around Bt30,000 per trip.

For the weddings and honeymoons market, the center advised the state and private sector to set up wedding venues besides Bangkok, possibly developing the market in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Samui, and Nakhon Ratchasima as each wedding event could generate income of around Bt10 to Bt20 million.

PLANNING A VACATION: CEO tips – Accept the entrepreneurial lifestyle. If you’re traveling to a different city for a wedding, bachelor party, birthday, funeral or other non-business reason, plan some business meetings while you’re there. Some people say you should never mix business and personal, however, busy entrepreneurs find their businesses are their lives. Using this scheduling strategy will save the time and expense of having to plan a completely separate trip to accomplish the same ends.

BARCLAYS BANK UK: When Robert Diamond took over Barclays’s shrinking securities unit in 1997, he vowed to turn the business into a leading global firm. Fifteen years later, his success in creating a top investment bank, whose profit reached $4.7 billion in 2011, may hasten its split from the lender after the London-based bank admitted to trying to rig global interest rates. Diamond quit as Barclaysโ€™s Chief Executive Officer yesterday, and hours later Chief Operating Officer Jerry del Missier followed. The departure of Diamond may presage a reorganization of Barclays after regulators in the UK and the US pointed to the need for change at the company.

Barclays was hit by a record $455 million fine last week for rigging the London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor), a benchmark for more than $360 trillion of securities. Diamond, as CEO of the investment bank from 1997 through 2010, oversaw the unit where Libor rates were submitted.

SUVARNABHUMI: Airports of Thailand said the eastern runway, one of Suvarnabhumi’s two runways undergoing overlays since June 11, will be fully operational on August 2, one week ahead of schedule.

BURMA: Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has brushed off orders from Myanmar’s government to stop calling the country ”Burma,” a name widely used by democracy campaigners to defy the former junta.

SHARK FIN SOUP: China is planning to ban shark fin soup from being served at official banquets in a sign the country may be losing its taste for the expensive delicacy. According to Chinese media, the ban could take up to three years to implement.

WIMBLEDON: Fourth and fifth seeds Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, indefatiguable Spaniard David Ferrer and Germans Florian Mayer and Philipp Kohlschreiber joined earlier arrivals Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Mikhail Youhzny in an all-European last Wimbledon eight.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

BANGKOK BRIEF: Pheu Thai faces possibility party may be dissolved again, Pheu Dhamma offers lifeline. Myanmar stages raids on Naw Kham drug bases.

BANGKOK BRIEF: Pheu Thai faces possibility party may be dissolved again, Pheu Dhamma offers lifeline. Myanmar stages raids on Naw Kham drug bases.

WORLD SUMMARY: Philippines asks US spy planes to help in Spratlys China dispute. Old Mexico party, PRI, wins presidency. Islamists destroy more Timbuktu Heritage Sites.

RATING: The Thai government receives an average score of 6.17 out of 10 for its performance during April-June, according to the results of Nida Poll revealed on Monday.

THAI POLITICS: Red Shirts won’t rally to pressure Constitution Court on July 5-6 but will gather at Imperial Lat Phrao to monitor the court proceedings.

ROYAL MOTORCADES: Restrictions will be eased on traffic flow during royal motorcades in response to His Majesty the King’s wish to help alleviate traffic congestion.

His Majesty the King last year instructed the Office of the Principal Private Secretary to work with state agencies on ways to help alleviate traffic problems caused by the royal motorcades.

While security for the royal motorcades will remain strict on official trips, traffic management rules will be eased for private journeys.

For example, on two-way roads, vehicles traveling in the opposite direction to the motorcades will be allowed to proceed.

At the moment, traffic on both sides is stopped well in advance.

CONSTITUTION COURT: Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said yesterday he believed the court would dismiss the petitions against the charter amendment bill.

Many senior judges, legal experts, and academics agreed the proposed amendment of Section 291 did not contravene Section 68 of the constitution, he said.

Mr. Chalerm said even if the court ruled that the bill was unconstitutional, it would not affect the government, since Prime Minister Yingluck is not a member of the Pheu Thai executives.

If the court ruled to dissolve Pheu Thai, she could set up a new party in 60 days and the existing government could continue to administer the country.

However, he said he was unsure what the situation would be like if the ruling went against public sentiment.

TODAY: Weather – 33C, Hot Wet Cloudy, Euro:Dollar 1.2596, Euro:Baht 39.74, SET Index: 1195

IN OTHER NEWS

MARKETS: Asian stocks rose a fifth day, with a regional index heading for its longest winning streak since March, on expectations that central banks in Europe and China will ease monetary policy to spur growth. Corn touched a three-month high and South Koreaโ€™s won rose against its major peers.

The US dollar declined against most of its major peers, before a report today forecast to show factory orders stagnating. Labor Department data on July 6 is forecast to show employers added fewer than 100,000 jobs for a third month, a further sign that the worldโ€™s largest economy is cooling.

PHUKET: Phuket’s provincial police commander has ordered all police stations across Phuket to boost patrols in key tourist areas from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am.

“I have to admit that we do not have enough police officers here to be able to monitor all areas closely,” the commander said.

The move comes in the wake of the killing of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith and injuries to one of her colleagues following a bungled bag snatch in Phuket.

The Governor of Phuket conceded last week that several negative incidents in Phuket have directly affected its reputation as a safe tourism destination.

UK TAX BAD NEWS: The tourism industry in Asia-Pacific is expected to be affected by an increase in the UK’s air passenger duty, as it will drag down the number of European tourists traveling to the region, said the Pacific Asia Travel Association. Chief Executive Martin Craigs said the increase of the air passenger duty would hurt sentiment and result in higher costs for outbound tourists to Asia-Pacific.

THAI SMILE AIR: Thai Smile, the new light premium regional sub-brand of THAI Airways International, has taken delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320, in Hamburg, Germany.

Thai Smile is intended as a tool to โ€œprotect and expandโ€ the THAI network when the Asean Economic Community is fully implemented in 2015. It will promote its provincial base outside Bangkok, such as routes from Chiang Mai to Phuket to connect to other international cities.

HOTEL IN A TAXI: A London cab driver has developed a plan to turn his Hackney carriage into a miniature hotel room during the 2012 London Olympics as a way to make up for lost revenues while trying to navigate the congested London roads.

London cabbie David Weekes has come to the conclusion that rather than let his money-making machine sit idle on his off days that it would be a brilliant idea to rent the space out as a cheap alternative for Olympic goers to rest their head at night.

“I’m really excited that the Olympics are coming to the city, but it’s going to be a nightmare for cab drivers,” he said.

“When I heard that I could rent out my taxi, I thought it was a no-brainer.”

It has been kitted with a “memory foam” mattress, pillow, and duvet – complete with official Olympic pillow case and bed spread – a bedside lamp, “curtains,” and a Paddington Bear teddy.

There is also a solar-powered fridge, a radio, and an iPad, while camping chairs and a portable table are available on request.

As far as the location of your hotel, Weekes says that is up to the guests. There is the option to be parked outside of the cab drivers North London home where renters have the ability to use the restroom should they feel the need, or they can choose from any other legal spot in the London area.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

WORLD SUMMARY: Huge protest against new Hong Kong leader. UN talks produce “transition plan” for Syria. US drone kills 8 in Pakistan. Japan restarts nuclear reactor.

WORLD SUMMARY: Huge protest against new Hong Kong leader. UN talks produce “transition plan” for Syria. US drone kills 8 in Pakistan. Japan restarts nuclear reactor.

BANGKOK BRIEF: Red Shirts vow “biggest rally ever” if Constitution Court rules against government Gripen Swedish Fighters, the star of RTAF 100th year air show today at Don Mueang.
(BkkPost)

FORTUNE-TELLER: A former monk has been arrested on charges of luring schoolgirls into having sex with him in exchange for performing superstitious rites that were supposed to enhance the girls’ beauty and charm.

THAI POLITICS: The ruling Pheu Thai Party and its Red Shirt allies stepped up pressure on the Constitution Court yesterday as judges prepare to hear testimony from opponents of the government’s charter amendment bid this week.

Udon Thani-based Red Shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana yesterday called on supporters to hold “the biggest rally ever” if the Constitution Court rules in favor of the charter amendment bill’s opponents.

The court will discuss on Thursday and Friday whether the charter amendment bill contravenes Section 68 of the constitution.

RECONCILIATION: Matubhum Party leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin has refused to withdraw his proposed reconciliation bill as suggested by House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont unless the public backs the move.

SUNDAY SUMMARY:

WORLD: New Egypt President vows to free jailed US terrorist. Islamists destroying Muslim world heritage sites in Timbuktu. Lance Armstrong charged with doping.

BANGKOK: Red Shirts agree to “delay” reconciliation bills in parliament. Business disagrees with optimistic PM on export markets.

TODAY: Weather 32C, Hot Cloudy Wet, Euro:Dollar 1.2633, Euro:Baht 39.89, SET 1172

OTHER NEWS

TOURIST SHOPPING: Shopping centers around the Ratchaprasong intersection are planning facelifts and new premises to cash in on increasing foreign tourists for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) starting in 2015.

Siam Piwat Co, the operator of Siam Center, plans to spend over 1 billion baht for its biggest store renovation in its 40-year history. Gaysorn will start building a second retail complex next door to the current store, while The Platinum Fashion Mall Co. will allocate 100 million baht for renovations and perhaps a new mall near Big C Ratchadamri over the next 2 years.

Siriphen Intuputi, an executive at Siam Piwat, said the company will close Siam Center for a 4-month renovation from July 16 to November 15, 2012, and is scheduled to re-open in early December.

Siam Center is going for a chic and trendy facelift, she said.

This year, foreign tourists to Siam Center have made up 50 percent of the total, with major contributions from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Laos. Outside Asia, Australia tallied the most visitors, followed by the UK and the US.

Before closing, Siam Piwat will spend 20 million baht for the Miracle of Siam sale June 28 to July 15, with 1.5 billion baht in sales expected.

Another 20 million baht will be spent on pop-up store sales at Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon during the makeover.

Chai Srivikorn, president of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, said it will join hands with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to launch more marketing activities to encourage foreign tourists to spend up to 4 to 5 days in Bangkok, up from 1.5 days currently.

MONDAY FOOD: Tom Yum Goong – 20 Minutes, 2 servings

3 chili peppers
5 sprigs cilantro
2 tablespoons fish sauce
3 Kaffir lime leaves
1 lemongrass stalk
1-2 limes
5 mushrooms
1 cup shrimp
4 cups water
1 tablespoon Nam Prig Pow, optional

Boil water. Peel and de-vein the shrimp and set them aside. Cut lemon grass into pieces, 5-6 inches long. Use the back of your knife to pound the lemon grass, just to bruise it to release the flavor. Tie the lemon grass into a knot to make it easier to manage. Drop the lemon grass in water and let boil for 5 minutes.

Divide the fish sauce and juice of 1 lime into the bottom of the bowls you will serve the soup in. Crush chili pepper and add to the bowls.

Remove the stems from the Kaffir lime leaves and add the leafy part to the pot. Clean and halve the mushrooms and add them to the pot. Let it boil. Add the shrimp and turn off the heat. Shrimp gets tough very quickly, and will cook even when it is just sitting in the warm broth. Scoop the shrimp and liquid into the serving bowls immediately. As soon as you add the liquid to the serving bowl, you will see that the broth becomes cloudy because of the lime juice. Add the nam prig pow. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve. Easy!

PHUKET: Days after the stabbing of an Australian travel agent, comes an announcement by TAT trumpeting the success of its latest promotional campaign slogan: “Discover the Other You.”

Itโ€™s all part of TATโ€™s larger “Creative Tourism” campaign, which it claims “generated 24 million visitors” from a recent online competition.

This is “Amazing” stuff, but just the latest in a long string of slogans generated by TAT during its “Miracle Year Of Amazing Thailand” campaign that will span all of 2012 โ€“ if we survive it.

The TAT release reads, “the top 3 Creative Tourism [sic] activities that potential tourists want to experience are Thai massage, Thai cooking, and Thai boxing” โ€“ presumably not all at the same time.

But one can never be sure, given TATโ€™s penchant to latch onto just about anything to keep tourism rolling with ever greater momentum. Letโ€™s not forget that rescue teams were still pulling bodies out of mangrove forests after the 2004 tsunami disaster when the TAT brainstormed its “Tsunami Trail” idea to lure visitors to the region. The Phuket Gazette doesnโ€™t remember anything becoming of it โ€“ maybe someone tipped them off with the message: “too soon, too soon.”

Following the equally inscrutable “Unseen Thailand” campaign, the “Discover the Other You” initiative is likely to generate more wisecracks abroad than backpacks at Suvarnabhumi arrival hall.

We understand that every government agency needs to be seen to be doing something. All we ask is that they find some other way to justify their bloated budgets than coming up with a never-ending series of surreal slogans and brain-bending marketing babble. We donโ€™t need it. โ€œThailand is Amazingโ€ is enough as it is.
(Phuket Gazette)

MARKETS: Asian stocks rose, set for the longest winning streak since March, as a survey showed large manufacturers in Japan became less pessimistic and European leaders agreed on measures to ease the regionโ€™s debt crisis. The yen gained and oil declined.

The yen rose against most of its major peers, rallying from losses late last week. Oil in New York fell 0.7 percent to $84.39 a barrel after surging the most in 3 years.

TRAVEL: A leading travel agent in Australia says he believes Phuket will quickly recover from the murder of Michelle Smith but that drownings will probably continue to be a major concern.

“The drowning deaths on the beaches have been a major concern for as long as I have been traveling to Phuket, now over 25 years,” said Jim McCoy, General Manager of Sydney-based Specialist Holidays, “It is almost impossible to resolve this one, as it really is the responsibility of the swimmer. We have the same issues here in Australia and our beaches are patrolled.

“The problem is that tourists from countries that do not have beaches are not aware of the treacherous nature of open water and the savage rips that sweep the Phuket beaches in the low season.

“I don’t think this is going to change greatly in the future. Maybe resorts should have a printed statement in many languages in every room about the dangers and need to stay out of the water at all beaches in low season.”

EURO 2012: When Italy lost the 1994 World Cup final, angry fans smashed up a car belonging to a Brazilian supporter on Norton Street in Leichhardt. This morning, there was no such retribution for the Azzurri’s 4-0 loss to Spain in the Euro 2012 final. There was pain, despair, and maybe a few tears, but an overwhelming acceptance that they were simply outclassed.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

WORLD SUMMARY: China’s new “combat ready” Spratly patrols. US House cites Attorney-General for contempt over gun running. Obama victory: US court upholds health care.

WORLD SUMMARY: China’s new “combat ready” Spratly patrols. US House cites Attorney-General for contempt over gun running. Obama victory: US court upholds health care.

BANGKOK BRIEF: Pheu Thai MPs cool to calls to delay reconciliation bills for public comment. Government unveils biggest infrastructure spending, 1.6 trillion.
(Bkk Post)

EURO 2012: Italy defeat Germany 2-1 on two Barotelli goals, will meet Spain in Euro 2012 final on Sunday.

AOT: Five small commercial airlines, which asked for the same incentives as 14 of their rivals to move to Don Mueang airport from congested Suvarnabhumi, have won their case.

HUGE GOVERNMENT SPENDING: The government has announced its plan to forward a bill to parliament requesting to borrow 1.6 trillion baht over the next 6 months for investment in infrastructure projects.

The Yingluck Shinawatra administration will also aim to push through the disbursement over the next 6 months of 350 billion baht, which it mobilized with an executive decree earlier this year.

Kittiratt Na-Ranong, a Deputy Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, said the infrastructure bill that the government plans to forward for deliberation by parliament will aim to boost the capacity of facilities like Laem Chabang deep sea port, Suvarnabhumi airport, and Greater Bangkok’s mass transit system.

THAI POLITICS: A proposal by House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont for the 4 reconciliation bills to be withdrawn when parliament reconvenes in August has been met with opposition by some members of the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

“In my opinion, whether the government will stay in power for long depends on the reconciliation bills. Let’s wait and see what happens on August 1,” said Mr. Somsak.

The House went into a recess on June 19 without deliberating the bills.

Mr. Somsak said when the House reconvenes on August 1, the reconciliation bills are first on the agenda.

However, he said, they should be withdrawn to allow all concerned to discuss reconciliation efforts further as proposed by King Prajadhipok’s Institute.

The Democrats and the Yellow Shirts have slammed the legislation as an attempt to whitewash the crimes of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The House went into a recess on June 19 without deliberating the bills.

WEATHER: Hot, 33C, Cloudy and Wet

TODAY: US-Euro 1.2583, Euro-Baht 40.14, SET 1178

OTHER NEWS

MYANMAR DEMOCRACY CHAMPION Aung San Suu Kyi said in Paris on Thursday that she is prepared to lead her country one day.

Suu Kyi, 67, flies back on Friday to Myanmar, ending the tour that has seen her cheered by large crowds and toasted by leaders in Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, Britain, and France. “I appreciate the warmth from all the people from everywhere, all over the world,” she said, “So many people from different parts of the world seem to be aware of what we have been struggling for in Burma.

EUROZONE: Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who heads the group of euro-area finance ministers, said euro leaders agreed on โ€œshort-term measuresโ€ to aid Spain and Italy.

โ€œWe will keep all options open to make the interventions that need to be done to calm the situation,โ€ Juncker told reporters in Brussels today after the first day of a European Union summit, โ€œWe will conclude this in definite tomorrow morning. We made significant progress.โ€

WIMBLEDON: Rafael Nadal’s quest for a 12th grand slam title is over, the Spanish second seed suffering his earliest grand slam loss in 7 years to unknown Czech journeyman, Lukas Rosol, seeded 100th.

PHI PHI: Bangkok’s Ramathibodhi Hospital Director said the autopsy results for the two Canadian sisters who were found mysteriously dead on Phi Phi Island should be released next week. Despite confirming that the tissue samples had already been tested and results submitted to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Police General Hospital, Dr.Surasak Leelaudomlipi refused to elaborate because this is an ongoing case, and the relatives of the deceased women wanted to keep the results confidential.

MEDIA: (Game-changing habits not just for the print media.) In the US, pioneering 24/7 news network CNN has just posted its lowest ratings in the past 21 years – that is, since the Gulf War, when it rose to sudden prominence as the global news source. Now it is averaging a pitiful 440,000 total viewers – in a population of 220 million adults, or a 0.2 percent rating.

UK HOUSE PRICES have fallen 1.5 percent in the year to June, the worst annual fall in nearly 3 years, according to Nationwide, with experts warning the housing market recovery is “weak” and prices are not expected to increase in the next 12 months. The worse-than-expected figures were blamed on the poor economic backdrop and the end of the stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers.

THE LARGEST PROJECT IN SINGAPORE TO DATE โ€“ Gardens by the Bay โ€“ opens to the public today in a development that immediately transforms Singapore into a beautiful garden city. Set to rival anything that the world has so far seen in terms of innovative modern gardens and occupying 101 hectares.

TOURISM: International arrivals into Asia Pacific destinations grew by 10 percent year-on-year during March 2012, according to preliminary data released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

All sub-regions reported solid gains with North America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific showing double-digit growth.

Besides the strong performance of intra-regional travel flows, arrivals from Germany and the UK showed outstanding gains of approximately 30 percent during March 2012 after several years of sluggish growth.
The easing of restrictions on solo travel from Mainland China to Chinese Taipei has significantly increased traffic to the latter destination, which saw 250,000 arrivals from the mainland in March 2012, an increase of 66 percent.

Foreign inbound into Korea ROK also saw a dramatic increase for the month (up 17 percent).

China reported growth of 1.4 percent for total inbound crossings.

However, the foreign arrivals count increased at the much stronger rate of 7.5 percent.

South Asia was the second fastest-growing market reporting 14 percent year-on-year growth during March this year although in terms of visitor volume, it was still far behind other Asia/Pacific sub-regions (860,000 arrivals for the month).

Nepal and Sri Lanka were very strong performers during March 2012, with gains of 37 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

Southeast Asia became the fastest-growing sub-region in Asia/Pacific during March 2012 with a 15 percent increase in international arrivals.

Thailand managed to post double-digit growth (up 12 percent) for the first time since September last year when the floods took a toll on international tourism.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

WORLD SUMMARY: Assad says Syria in “state of war” as NATO backs Turkey warning. Gunmen storm pro-Assad TV. Obama-Romney statistical tie. UK Queen, IRA man shake hands.
(Bkk Post)

WORLD SUMMARY: Assad says Syria in “state of war” as NATO backs Turkey warning. Gunmen storm pro-Assad TV. Obama-Romney statistical tie. UK Queen, IRA man shake hands.
(Bkk Post)

BANGKOK BRIEF: NASA cancels research mission. Exports already dropping as euro crisis effects spread.

EURO 2012: Spain won a penalty shoot-out, 4-2, over Portugal to advance to the final match. Tonight (Friday morning at 1:45am Thailand time) match: Germany vs. Italy.

Spain’s win over Portugal, to advance to the final, means that Spain now has the chance to become the first team to retain their European title and win three tournaments in succession, after Cesc Fabregas slotted the ball home to punish Bruno Alves’s penalty that struck the bar.

OTHER NEWS

APPLE WEDNESDAY launched its iTunes Store in 12 Asian markets, giving access to millions of songs and movies, including local favorites, but regional giants, China and India, were not on the list.

Customers will now be able to choose from more than 28 million songs, including from Asian stars, as well as a huge collection of movies.

More than 16 billion songs have been sold through the iTunes Store since it was launched in 2003, according to Apple figures.
In March, the firm announced that more than 25 billion apps had been downloaded from the App Store by the users of more than 315 million iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices.

LAX CORPORATE SECURITY allowed hackers to steal credit card and other personal information from more than 600,000 customers of Wyndham Worldwide hotels, resulting in at least $10.6 million in fraudulent charges.

The FTC lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Arizona, alleges numerous shortcomings in security practices by Wyndham and its subsidiaries, including the failure to erect firewalls, use appropriate passwords, or configure software to keep credit card information secure.

The Wyndham systems were so vulnerable that hackers were able to use a primitive โ€œbrute forceโ€ attack in which they essentially guessed the password to an administratorโ€™s account and used the resulting access to scour the system for personal data for months, the suit said. Much of the data ended up on an Internet domain registered in Russia, which experts say is a major hub of cybercrime.

PHUKET: Attention will now inevitably switch from the tragic murder of Michelle Smith to whether Phuket has suddenly become a lawless, dangerous place, best avoided for fear of a repeat. The answer to this question is a resounding no. Be angry at the cowardly perpetrators who stabbed a 60-year-old mother of three, and grieve for Michelle and her family. But don’t persecute Thailand and Phuket in the false belief it has suddenly descended from a holiday haven to a destination best avoided.

INDIA: The worst start to the monsoon season in India in three years is threatening crops from rice to sugar cane, stoking concern that the South Asian nation may limit exports to preserve supplies to meet local demand.

THE FOREIGN MINISTRY has agreed in principle to allow tourists from some countries to submit their visa applications online. The proposal by the Tourism Council of Thailand is being considered, as the ministry wants to help alleviate the crowds and long lines of tourists wanting a visa on arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport.

WIMBLEDON: Defending champion Novak Djokovic and six-time winner Roger Federer both booked their places in the third round at Wimbledon following straight sets victories. Djokovic won 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 against American Ryan Harrison, while third seed Federer beat Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

Roundup of Thailand news with AJW

WORLD SUMMARY: China pushes back Kachin refugees to Myanmar. Turkey on high alert against Syria. Egypt pres loser faces corruption charges.
(Bkk Post)

WORLD SUMMARY: China pushes back Kachin refugees to Myanmar. Turkey on high alert against Syria. Egypt pres loser faces corruption charges.
(Bkk Post)

BANGKOK BRIEF: Economic ministers meet today to prepare for “looming” euro crisis impact. Waiting for Nasa – likely to cancel U-tapao reseach project.

EURO 2012 SEMI-FINAL: Tonight (Thursday morning at 1.45am Thailand time) match: Portugal vs Spain (Channel 3).

FIVE SMALL COMMERCIAL AIRLINES have requested Airports of Thailand (AoT) to stop what they said was unfair treatment by not giving them incentives to return to Don Mueang airport. The airlines Tuesday selected Nok Air Chief Executive Officer Patee Sarasin as their representative to meet Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan to discuss the issue. The AoT has announced it will grant three-year discounts on airport fees to 14 budget and chartered airlines if they agree to relocate from the congested Suvarnabhumi airport to Don Mueang. However, the AoT stunned Orient Thai, Nok Air, its sister airline Nok Mini or Siam General Aviation, Solar Air, and M Jet, which offers chartered flights, by excluding them from the incentives. The AoT is offering 95 percent discounts, which cover take-off, landing and hangar fees, if the target airlines use Don Mueang from Aug 1 to Sept 30, when the 6-year-old Suvarnabhumi airport will be undergoing repairs.

THE CABINET YESTEREDAY VOTED TO FORWARD NASA’S REQUEST to use U-tapao naval airbase in Rayong for atmospheric studies to parliament for debate in August, which will likely result in the project being cancelled as it fails to meet Nasa’s dead-lines. Last week, Nasa made it clear the request for use of the airport for scientific studies in August and September would be withdrawn if approval was not forthcoming by yesterday.

THAILAND’S GOVERNMENT HAS CALLED A MEETING of 9 ministries related to the economy today to discuss measures to deal with the looming impact of the eurozone debt crisis on the Thai economy.

OTHER NEWS

PHUKET: Australian travel agent, Michelle Smith, died because her killer could not pay a 300 baht bill for dinner, investigators learned as police brought the alleged murderer back to Phuket. A tall Thai man ate out at a restaurant in Chalong, on Phuket’s east coast, with a friend on Wednesday night. After he finished the meal, he told the waiter he did not have the money to pay for it and would be back. According to Phuket police, the man then rode a motorcycle with his friend to Phuket’s holiday west coast, where he tried to snatch the bag of Mrs. Smith outside the Katathani Beach Resort in quiet Kata Noi, not far from Kata and Karon. Mrs. Smith, 60, would not let go, so the man stabbed her in the heart. He left her bleeding to death in the street, with her wounded companion, another Australian travel agent, Tammee Lee, 42. His dinner bill remained unpaid.

Police brought the alleged killer, Surasak “Boy” Suwannachot, 26, and and his getaway motorcycle rider, Surin Taptong, 37, back to Phuket with the case rated so important that Thailand’s top cop, Priewpan Damapong, traveled to Phuket. Investigating officers praised the man from the restaurant who gave police the vital piece of information that led to the arrests of the two men yesterday.

“He saw television reports and realized how important the case was, so he walked to Chalong Police Station and told them everything he knew,” an officer said, “Without him coming forward, we would still be hunting the men. He has no interest in the 300,000 baht reward, he just wants to help Phuket recover its safe image.”

The two accused Thai men admitted to the crime, saying they meant only to slash her pocketbook strap and did not mean to stab her. A crowd of 200 people shouted angrily at the handcuffed men during a reenactment on Phuket, accusing them of bringing bad publicity to an area that depends on tourism.

To boost security and confidence among locals and international visitors, the Phuket tourism sector has urged the local government to install 10,000 CCTVs, with a budget of 2 billion baht, throughout the southern resort island, on top of the existing 2250 CCTVs.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has promised a major overhaul in Phuket, Samui, and Pattaya to wipe out rip-offs, jet-ski scams, and overpriced taxis to make the destinations more appealing.

IN HIS FIRST OUTING AT WIMBLEDON 2012, Andy Murray showed himself to be a genuine contender for this title, trouncing Nikolay Davydenko in what was arguably his most complete performance on Centre Court. He lost only six games on his way to a 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 win that will send vibrations through the rest of the field.

ANGELA MERKEL has firmly rejected the use of eurobonds ahead of a crucial summit in Brussels this week, ruling out jointly guaranteed eurozone debt for “as long as I live.”

Several Eurozone leaders, including French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, have called for the 17-nation bloc to draw up plans to issue jointly-guaranteed debt in order to reduce borrowing costs for struggling eurozone nations.

Ms. Merkel this week played down expectations of a major shift in policy from Germany at the EU summit, which starts on Thursday, and repeated that eurozone bonds would be “economically wrong and counterproductive. When I think of the summit, I feel concerned that yet again we will have too much focus on all kinds of ways of sharing debt.”

A German government spokeswoman declined to comment on Merkel’s reported remarks. Mrs. Merkel is set to address Parliament in Berlin on Wednesday, a day before the summit of EU leaders in Brussels is set to debate new strategies to tackle the bloc’s debt crisis.

THE TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND’S creative tourism campaign is geared towards the growing trend of environmentally-concerned travelers and community tourism. Target groups are independent travelers, especially generation X and Y tourists from Singapore, Japan, Australia, the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, the US. and Canada.

HISTORICAL HOTELS: Reid’s Palace, Funchal, Portugal. Located on a cliff overlooking the south coast of Funchal and first opened in 1891, Reid’s Palace was the crowning achievement of Scotsman William Reed, an impoverished cabin boy who landed on the island of Madeira at age 14 and eventually made his fortune in the wine trade. Although he did not live to see the hotel’s completion, Reid’s Palace quickly became a major attraction, in large part due to the small flotilla of boats and vendors that greeted each new guest upon arrival. Distinguished guests included playwright George Bernard Shaw, Prime Minister Lloyd George, and the “traveling Empress,” Elizabeth of Austria, known for her extensive travels after the suicide of her only son Rudolf. Today, the feeling of nobility remains, and chief among the hotel’s attractions are the semi-tropical gardens that are unique to Reid’s Palace. Kept in full bloom throughout the year, the flowers and plants originate from all over the world, and are a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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