Stories submitted by Toony
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Thailand to Become a Centre for Natural Gas
Anon Sirisaengthaksin, Vice President of PTT's Corporate Strategy and Development said that Thailand currently produces natural gas equivalent to 500,000 barrels of oil per day, or one-third of all the energy consumed in the country. The company plans to develop the security and efficiency of Thailand's energy sector based on natural gas. The target is to become one of Asia's top three energy firms and earn a position as one of the top one hundred energy firms in the world. according to the article carried by MCOT
Posted by: Toony on 14 Aug 2007, 13:01 -
More All Seasons hotels in Bangkok and Phuket
According to Travel Daily News, Accor will have three more All Seasons branded hotels in Bangkok and Phuket in October 2007 as a result of rebranding. Furthermore, Accor will build its network from the current 30 hotels to over 50 by the end of 2009. Accor Asia Pacific Managing Director Michael Issenberg told reporters that Thailand's tourism has increased 20 percent from last year, leading to a strong demand for more international-standard accommodation.
Posted by: Toony on 14 Aug 2007, 09:41 -
Direct Flights between Phuket and Fukuoka
According to an article in Thais News, Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamit has announced that following the travel road show in Japan Bangkok Airways has agreed to launch direct flights between Fukuoka and Phuket around May next year.
Posted by: Toony on 11 Jul 2007, 16:31 -
Thai AirAsia Increasing Regional and Local Flights
Thai AirAsia chief executive officer, Tassapon Bijleveld announced that daily flights to Phnom Penh will be increased to two from one a day starting July 23, while flights to Hanoi will be increased from two to three times per day and those to Surat Thani, which is the gateway to the popular island of Koh Samui will be increased to two times a day starting Aug 1. Bernama has the story.
Posted by: Toony on 11 Jul 2007, 13:13 -
Thai Team Wins World RoboCup
A rescue robot built by a team from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology North Bangkok has won the World RoboCup for the second year. The team beat 16 others to claim the championship with a score of 607 points. Nearest rival Japan attained a score of 570 points. The Nation carries the story.
Posted by: Toony on 10 Jul 2007, 08:50 -
Bid to Boost Japanese Tourists to Thailand
The Nation carries a report on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Japanese road show from July 1-7 focused on the Japanese provinces of Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo. 500 Japanese travel operators and tour agencies attended the show which aimed to boost Japanese tourism to Thailand. The number of arrivals from Japan has fallen slightly after the New Year bombings in Bangkok.
Shojun Fukui, president and CEO of tour operator LongLive Corp said that he believes that bookings of trips to Thailand will rise over the next 12 months after the general election at the end of this year.
Posted by: Toony on 09 Jul 2007, 10:00 -
Thai Rice for Iraq
The Iraq government has purchased between 100,000 and 150,000 tonnes of Thai rice scheduled for shipment in July/August shipment, according to the Bangkok Post.
Posted by: Toony on 09 Jul 2007, 09:15 -
New International Routes from China Southern Airline
China Southern Airlines plans to open four new international services in July linking Guangzhou with Yangon, Vientiane, Phuket and Siem Reap. These will be the airlines first forays into Burma and Laos. China Hospitality News brought the details.
Posted by: Toony on 09 Jul 2007, 08:48 -
Southeast Asia's Biggest Aquarium to be built in Phuket
Ripley Entertainment plans to build an aquarium in Phuket within three years. This aquarium will cover an area greater than 10,000 square meters making it the largest in Southeast Asia. The Phuket Gazette][pg] carried the story from The Nation.
Posted by: Toony on 04 Jul 2007, 11:19 -
Hua Hin's New Tourism Website
With growing numbers of tourists visitng Hua Hin, Mr Somboon Chartkitjareaun, the Vice Mayor, has launched an initiative to provide comprehensive content and up-to-date information about Hua Hin over the internet. The new website for Hua Hin Municipality contains general information on hotels, restaurants and activities. Hua Hin Today News carries the story.
Posted by: Toony on 28 Jun 2007, 13:16 -
New Airbus of Bangkok Airways from Germany
Bangkok Airways has taken delivery of a brand-new Airbus 319 direct from the Airbus factory in Germany. Five more are to follow by 2009 according to Asia Travel Trips. The plane will initially be assigned to Bangkok-Phuket and Bangkok-Siem Reap routes.
Posted by: Toony on 26 Jun 2007, 14:50 -
Private Businesses Encouraged to Make Beautiful Roads
According to Thais News, the Phuket Highway Office has invited local enterprises to help in the beautification of road No. 402 from Bang Ku to Darasamut junction. The road beautification project is expected to add colour to the island for the next high season.
Posted by: Toony on 26 Jun 2007, 12:59 -
Passenger Traffic on the Up in Phuket and Krabi
The latest figures from the Airports of Thailand show a 19.5% year-on-year increase in passengers using Phuket airport for May 2007. Meanwhile Department of Civil Aviation figures show a rise of 74% in passenger traffic at Krabi airport. Thaisnews has the report.
Posted by: Toony on 26 Jun 2007, 11:55 -
Plane Crash in Cambodia
Yahoo News is reporting that Him Sarun, Cabinet chief for the Secretariat of Civil Aviation in Cambodia, has said an AN-24 jet carrying 13 South Koreans, three Czechs and four crew was flying from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville when it disappeared from radar screens at 10.40 a.m.
Bun Ratha, Director of Siem Reap International airport told Reuters that they do not yet know the fate of the lost jet, and that helicopter search teams have been sent out. There is speculation the plane may have crashed into mountain, and fears are that all the passengers may have perished.
Posted by: Toony on 25 Jun 2007, 15:38 -
TT&T Internet TV Service
Supot Theirawut, managing director of TT&T Subscriber Services, told the Nation that TT&T Subscriber Services has soft-launched the MaxNet IPTV service for 1,000 randomly selected broadband Internet customers of Triple T Broadband in Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Ayutthaya, Phuket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phitsanulok, Songkhla, Nakhon Pathom and Pattaya. TT&T is seeking to diversify in the light of falling revenues from its fixed-line phone services and hopes that Television over the Internet may be a winner in the future. The Nation has the story.
Posted by: Toony on 25 Jun 2007, 09:18 -
New Holiday Programmes from Royal Orchid Holidays
THAI's inhouse boutique holiday division, Royal Orchid Holidays, has a new range of programmes including a 6 hour day sail on a luxury yacht in Phuket, a sunset cruise, and a half-day cycling tour in Bangkok's Chinatown. For a more laid-back experience there is the Phuket Great Escape at the luxurious Racha, Sheraton Grande Laguna or Trisara Resorts starting at just $386 per person for 2 nights including private car transfers and breakfast. E-travel Blackboard carries the story.
Posted by: Toony on 25 Jun 2007, 08:49 -
Bangkok's Watery Future
Bhichit Rattakul, director of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, told The Nation that simulation models developed by foreign experts to predict the impact of global warming show that almost 55 per cent of Bangkok will be flooded if mean sea levels rise by 50 centimetres, and 72 per cent will be flooded if levels rise by 1 metre. He is urging city planners and architects to take the realities of global warming into account as the do their jobs. Communities in Asia will likely be affected by rising sea levels to a greater extent than those in other parts of the world.
Posted by: Toony on 22 Jun 2007, 10:40 -
Reminder about Restrictions on Liquids in Carry-On Baggage
The Phuket Post has some a reminder about the recent restrictions introduced at Thai Airports regarding liquids in carry-on bagage. These restrictions, in place since June 1 2007, are in line with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) safety recommendations. Here are handy summaries of the regulations from Thai Airways and Air Asia.
Posted by: Toony on 22 Jun 2007, 08:45 -
Mekong Bridge Links Yunnan and Bangkok Via Laos
China, Thailand and Laos have agreed to build a bridge across the Mekong River between Chiang Khong in northern Thailand and Huay Xai in Laos. The bridge will make the final connection in the road between Yunnan and Bangkok. The project is scheuled for completion in 2011 and will be jointly financed by Beijing and Bangkok, according to The Nation's source.
Posted by: Toony on 21 Jun 2007, 14:51 -
Earthquakes Damage Ancient Temples
Following several recent earthquakes widening cracks have been found in the walls of the over 400-year-old assembly hall of Wat Saohinan in the northern province of Chiang Mai, according to the Bangkok Post. The abbot told reporters that the temple has requested funds from the Fine Arts Department to carry out restorations. There is further concern for structures predating the Chiang Saen kingdom in the province of Chiang Rai.
Posted by: Toony on 21 Jun 2007, 13:33