News from TV11 in Thailand

On this site a sample of news during November 2005 is shown.

Click here if you want to see other news. Then change date in site adress and press ENTER

A Swedish airline inaugurated charter flight to Phuket while Korean air also restarted its Seoul – Phuket route

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Wednesday 2nd November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com 408 Swedish tourists arrived at Phuket International Airport on October 28th by Swedish airline MT Travel on inaugural charter flight after it suspended the service since the tsunami struck last year. Upon arrival, the group were welcomed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 4 office Director Suwalai Pinpradab with Thai classical music and garlands to impress the European visitors. Meanwhile the Korean Tourism Promotion Board joined hands with Korean air to organize Korean night 2005 at the Royal Phuket City hotel in Phuket to introduce direct flights between Korea & Phuket. Offering 2 flights per week to start with, the airline began its direct flight service every Wednesday and Sunday on September 28th.. Bangkok Director of the Korean Tourism Promotion Board said during January to August this year over 400,000 Korean tourists visited Thailand with over 70,000 Thais visiting Korea.

The construction of Rajaprachanukroh Schools to replace the tsunami damaged buildings are now 80% in progress

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Friday 4 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com Speaking about the progress of Rajaprachanukroh School under His Majesty the King’s patronage, Mr Winai Patanrat, the Foundation Board member said the overall construction in all 6 tsunami stricken provinces is 80% in progress. The school in Phang Nga which can take up 600 students is 50% in progress while the facility in Krabi and Ranong are almost completed. Mr Winai on Wednesday inspected the school construction site in Phuket’s Kamala village with 57% in progress. After the Andaman coastal provinces got hit by the tsunami, the Royal Foundation stepped in to build new school facilities to replace the destroyed ones in Ranong, Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket. The school also looks after tsunami orphans by providing boarding facilities.

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Wednesday 9th November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com

A Swedish national Knut Angstrom escorted by Phuket Education Area Deputy Director Auayporn Sakulton and Rawai Sub-district President Arun Soros met with Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura to discuss the organizing of a Thai traditional festival of Loy Krathong. The group plans to raise funds for the construction of a school building and set up a foundation for Wat Sawang Arom school, a local school in Rawai on the south end of the island. The German national earlier donated 1.5 million baht and now the group aims to raise at least 2.5 million baht to meet a target of 4 million baht cost for the construction. The project is expected to begin next year.

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Thursday 10 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is scheduled to visit Phuket and Phang-Nga province again during November 12 – 14 to preside over several functions. During a meeting with related officials in preparation for the Royal visit Phuket Vice Governor Pongsak Praivate said the princess will visit the island with a Mahidol award committee. On Saturday afternoon, the princess will visit Wachira Hospital in Phuket before going on to Bangkok Phuket Hospital to view its tsunami exhibition. On Sunday, the Princess will visit fishermen of Koh Yao district and present boats and baby crams to them for farming. She is also scheduled to view local students' performances, before returning to Phuket to visit the Aquarium at Cape Panwa. On Monday the princess will visit the Prince of Songkhla University in Phuket.

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Thursday 10 November 2005& www.Thaisnews.com

Officials from Thalang district office and the local administrative body led by the District Chief Paisarn Boonlome, removed stalls and small restaurants by machines on Surin Beach in the north of Phuket. The operation is in response to the Phuket authorities to tidy up and re-regulate public land utilization. There are over 37 food stores built on the beach with beach umbrellas and deck chairs which are apparently blocking the ocean view.
The local authority earlier discussed with all businesses to get some shops removed while the authority offered to rebuild them 50 metres away from the beach front.
Most operators seemed to have agreed with the authority, but demanded that they are all treated equally and fairly with no one left on the beach.

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Thursday 10 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com

A stone laying ceremony for a new classroom building at Ban Hin Laad School in Phang Nga was performed by Phang Nga Governor Winai Buapradit. The project is funded by the Schneider-Electric Foundation through World Vision at 12 million baht. The new 3 storey facility will house 18 classrooms. The foundation also provides education material and sports equipment.
Ban Hin Laad School has to accommodate a large number of students whose schools were damaged by the tsunami, resulting in insufficient facilities. The new building is scheduled to be completed in March next year.

EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection was pleased with shrimp farming standards in Phuket

To see mini-video, click here Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Monday 14 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com The European Union or EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr. Markos Kyprianou, and his delegation were escorted by the Thai Permanent Secretary of Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, Bunpote Hongthong, to visit a tiger prawn or shrimp farm in Phuket’s Thalang district on Saturday. The EU delegates paid a lot of interest and enquired about farming procedures and techniques, disease treatment and environmental care. They also toured around the farm which is certified by the Thai Department of Fisheries. Mr. Banpote told reporters that the EU Commissioner was satisfied with the farming standards which will benefit Thailand’s shrimp exports to EU countries. Last year Thailand’s shrimps were removed from Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) resulting in a decline in its shrimp exports to 100,000 tons. He expects this year’s shrimp and agricultural products to expand by around 30 – 40 % or about 400,000 tons.

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket (& possibly Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket), 8.30am Friday 18 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com

The handover ceremony was presided over by the Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister, Rongphol Charoenphan. After the tsunami, the association organized a charity function called "Building Bridge of Hope San Francisco" to raise funds to help tsunami victims and affected people. The group donated the cash through the Office of the PM's tsunami recovery fund, which established the Children's Centre at Ban Bangkhaya in KukKak sub-district. There are currently 16 children under its care with 2 orphans.

Mini-video: The 'House of Khun Poom' to be built at Vachira Phuket hospital is to get started by the end of this month

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Thursday 24 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com Speaking about the progress of ’House of Khun Poom’ project to be built at Vachira hospital in Phuket, Dr. Jessada Jungpaiboonpatana said the plan design is ready while the construction work can start by the end of this month. The new facility, to be built under Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s initiative, will be in commemoration of the son of Princess Ubonratana, Khun Poom Jensen, who passed away during the tsunami. The centre will provide pediatric treatment for children, look after autistic children, be a children development centre for the south and for orphans. This project costs about 355 million baht to build and is expected to be completed in 2008.

Mini-video: Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsavali presided over a reception at Laguna Phuket to announce ’Phuket is Back’ campaign

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Tuesday 29 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com Yesterday evening Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsavali graciously presided over a ’Phuket is Back’ reception held at Dusit Laguna Resort in Phuket. Hosted by the Laguna Resort and Hotels group, the function was well attended by senior officials including the Phuket Governor, ambassadors, celebrities, travel industry executives and media. The evening marked the official launch of Laguna’s ’Phuket is Back’ campaign and celebrated the 18th anniversary of the founding of Laguna Phuket. Reporting to Princess Soamsavali, the Laguna Resorts and Hotels Managing Director James Batt recognized the local authorities and everybody’s hard work in contributing to Phuket’s quick revival after the tsunami. Following the disaster, he said the Laguna group raised over 25 million baht fund for recovery work. Some of those involved were presented to the Princess and received symbolic ’Phuket is back’ wristbands. After officially opening the party, a video presentation for Phuket was shown as well as a fashion show. Supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the provincial governor, the ’Phuket is Back’ campaign branding will be reinforced through a series of events including the annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon next Sunday, all with the objective of bringing positive attention to the destination. (By the way, we will have an interview with James Batt, Laguna Resorts and Hotels Managing Director, in tomorrow’s program)

The Red Cross Society organized First Aid training courses for people in the Andaman.

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Tuesday 29 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com More than 50 people comprising lifeguards and personnel from tourist centres in Phuket underwent first aid and treatment training. Co-organised by the Thai Red Cross and Swedish, Norwegian, French and Finnish officers, the sessions aimed to enhance skills of people in the tsunami prone provinces to keep them prepared and to handle the situation well at international standards. Two curriculums were made available: first aid and training for trainers.. Sessions on first aid were also demonstrated with simulation drill to take place on December the 2nd.

Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Wednesday 30 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com

83 fishing boats with engines were handed over to tsunami affected fishermen at Saphan Hin tip in Phuket city on Monday afternoon. The boats were donated by the Red Crescent and Kuwati Red cross which is committed to build 300 wooden long tail boats for the fishermen in the 6 tsunami hit provinces in Thailand. Under this Phuket will receive 100, another 100 boats go to Phang-Nga and Krabi while the rest of one hundred are made for fishermen in Trang, Ranong and Satun.

Interview - James Batt, the Managing Director of Laguna Phuket Resorts & Hotels, 'Phuket is Back'

Interview for Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket & Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Wednesday 30 November 2005 & www.Thaisnews.com Our interview is with James Batt, the Managing Director of Laguna Phuket Resorts & Hotels, just before they celebrated the 18th anniversary of Dusit Laguna which was the first hotel set up the Laguna compound, and their full recovery after the tsunami, by launching a ’Phuket is Back’ campaign, on Monday evening, presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsavali. We asked James first what have been some of the successes in the past 18 years since Laguna started: