Anything & Everything about Thailand (Part 2)

[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by norice

Katoylover,

Print something more useful to the readers! Can you please find me a one-bedroom condo or studio with approximately 20,000 - 25,000 B per month. I want to live in Rachada, Dingdang, Sukhumvit or Silom.

I need addresses and cell phone numbers. Since you have lots of time, maybe you could help us in relocating to Bangkok.

Thanks,

Norice

I need some time to do some research for you

BTW, do you pay any 'commission' ?

[Garage1]

Originally Posted by norice

Katoylover,

Print something more useful to the readers! Can you please find me a one-bedroom condo or studio with approximately 20,000 - 25,000 B per month. I want to live in Rachada, Dingdang, Sukhumvit or Silom.

I need addresses and cell phone numbers. Since you have lots of time, maybe you could help us in relocating to Bangkok.

Thanks,

Norice

I have stayed at various places in bangkok city itself, from bangkapi, rama 3 , ratchada, suk 19 and 24 ( current place )
will seriously advise u to stay ard suk area..
just my humble opinion

[vmtech]

Originally Posted by paulsun

Bro Kateoy69, any news on the Mah Boon Krong (MBK) fire yesterday? My teerak works there now cannot contact her very worried

aiyo only 1 shop caught fire, and no one got hurt.
your tirak might be just ignoring ur calls

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 24 April 2007 :-

More heat, more floods, more cold

Climate change could see the number of days with temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius or more triple, a scientist warned yesterday.

It was also likely to have a dramatic effect on the Chao Phya river and floods in Bangkok.

Dr Anon Sanitwong na Ayutthaya told a climate-change seminar yesterday the country's weather would become more extreme in coming decades.

Anon expected global warming to increase Chao Phya River levels by as much as 40 per cent in coming years. Higher tides would add to the flooding problems faced by the Central plains and greater-Bangkok.

Anon is the director of the Southeast Asian bureau of SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training, or START, based at Chulalongkorn University. He predicted the country would soon swelter in 33-degree-plus heat for as many as 60 days a year. The hottest place was likely to be Uthai Thani, which is located in a basin. Nakhon Sawan would be the next warmest. But Khon Kaen, Sakon Nakhon and Chai Nat would be least affected.

Anon cited a climate model predicting weather events from 30 years to 80 years hence.

Interestingly, cool days were also expected to increase. Thailand could expect between 30 to 40 days a year below 26C. Currently, about 20 to 30 days are below this mark.

The west coast would be coolest, thanks to increased rainfall. And provinces in mountain areas could suffer problems.

He said climate change would not affect Thailand as it had sub-Saharan Africa, where increased temperatures melted mountain snow and ice, which had flooded rivers and accelerated the breeding of malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

But, he warned the country to put in place policies to cope with climate change.

But, in Chiang Rai, rice crops would increase 15 per cent because it would receive more rain, he said.

Meanwhile, Meteorological Department chief Supareuk Tansriratanawong said this hot season would be more extreme in many areas, especially the North, Northeast and Central Thailand. Temperatures could hit 42 degrees in Nong Khai and Lampang. He said these temperatures would be common until mid-May.

Supareuk revised earlier department predictions the hottest period this year would be between April 25 and April 26. A cool front from China would bring rainstorms and hail to the North and Northeast, easing temperatures.

In the meantime, the heat has seen power usage in Bangkok soar.

Data shows last month the city gobbled up 7,522 megawatts of electricity, outpacing consumption at the same time last year by 2 per cent. By comparison, the city consumed 6,654 megawatts in January and 7,032 in February.

In the North, temperatures have exceeded 40C.

The department's northern office said Lampang's Muang district recorded temperatures of 42 degrees while other provinces reported between 37 and 41C.

Office spokesman Rakchai Srinuan said temperatures were between four degrees to six degrees warmer than last year.

Chiang Mai and Lamphun were at risk of more forest fires, which have cast a pall over the region since March and made thousands sick. Doi Inthanon National Park chief Anan Son-ngai said rangers were on a 24-hour alert.

Artificial rainmaking is planned to help ease the heat.

Dr Parithat Silpakit of Suan Prung Mental Hospital warned that the punishing heat could drive over-stressed residents to suicide.

In Kalasin, which saw 38C heat yesterday, farmers were advised to install cooling fans in pig enclosures to avoid stock suffering heatstroke and diarrhoea.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 25 April 2007 :-

Airline loses customers after moving airports

Thai Airways International's decision to move a large part of its domestic services to the old Don Muang airport has resulted in a loss of tens of thousands of passengers who require connecting flights.

The flag carrier could have lost as many as 70,000 foreign travellers, who were transferring from international flights to domestic destinations or travelling from domestic routes to overseas, since THAI started operating through the 93-year-old airport on March 25, according to insiders.

These travellers have turned to other carriers due to the hassle and long wait in connecting with international flights - all of which run through Suvarnabhumi Airport, a time-consuming 27 km away.

Many of these passengers who may travel on THAI flights from abroad have instead used the domestic services of Bangkok Airways and the budget carrier Thai AirAsia, which have continued to operate all flights through Suvarnabhumi.

THAI operates 31 domestic flights a day through Don Muang, offering more than 8,000 seats a day, while retaining 11 flights a day at the new airport.

THAI is one of the three local airlines that opted to offer domestic flights through the old airport after the government earlier this year decided, following several policy flip-flops, to reopen the old airport for non-connecting domestic services to reduce congestion at Suvarnabhumi.

The other two players at Don Muang are THAI's budget subsidiary Nok Airlines and the local no-frills airline One-Two-Go, both of which did not experience similar problems to THAI.The response from connecting passengers has caught the national carrier's management off-guard as they believed that domestic flights allocated at Suvarnabhumi should deal with the connection issue for foreign travellers.

The THAI domestic flights retained at Suvarnabhumi, which the airline anticipated to require connections to international destinations, are those from popular tourist spots such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Krabi.

The business loss prompted THAI's board to discuss the issue at its Monday meeting. No easy solution is seen though some executives said the airline may be compelled to cut some flights at Don Muang and return them to Suvarnabhumi.

THAI may be reluctant revert to Suvarnabhumi because it spearheaded the campaign to reopen the old airport.

THAI has spent about 20 million baht to re-establish its presence over at Don Muang.

Industry analysts said THAI's loss of connecting passengers reflects a major flaw in operating dual airports within close proximity.

The use of two airports has increased the flight transfer time in Bangkok from between two and three hours to between five and seven hours.

Critics said THAI may have underestimated the impact of passenger connectivity to its business as statistics show that there are always passengers on every THAI domestic flight who need to transfer to international flights.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 6 May 2007 :-

Man injured in bomb blast near Ratchawithi phone booth

A bomb went off near a public phone booth on Ratchawithi road last night, slightly injuring one man, police said. The explosion took place at 9.40pm at Soi Ratchawithi 24, near the home of Khunying Praneetsilp Vatcharapol, wife of the late founder of Thai Rath newspaper. Police said the bomb was planted near an electric pole.

Prapat Muangsongchan, 23, sustained cuts to his hands and face. He said he got off a bus and walked straight to the phone booth.

He left the booth seconds before the explosion. He saw a flash, then heard a bang.

Police found an AA-sized battery about 15 metres from where the blast took place.

The road from Upai intersection to Ratchawithi intersection was closed to traffic following the explosion. Senior police officers including acting national police chief Pol Gen Seripisuth Temiyavej rushed to the scene.

Assistant army chief and deputy secretary-general of the Council for National Security Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr had warned of possible terrorist attacks in Bangkok.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 6 May 2007 :-

Bangkok security tightens after bomb

Security in the Thai capital is tighter Sunday after a bomb exploded late Saturday night, officials said.

First Army Region commander Lt-Gen. Prayuth Chanocha, who is responsible for security for Bangkok and surrounding provinces in the Central region, said the military has been ordered to work closely with police in finding the bomber while more soldiers have been stationed at Bangkok locations as part of the heightened security measures.

Acting national police chief Seripisuth Temiyavej said the explosive was not powerful and that it was in a box with batteries attached.

But then he said it was similar to bombs which exploded in and around Bangkok on New Year's Eve, which were powerful enough to kill three persons and wound 42, nine of them foreigners.

Police and officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had been ordered to tighten security at public places, government offices and department stores. BMA officials will join police in nighttime patrols while more street lighting will be installed, especially in isolated lanes and alleys.

Saturday's blast occurred on a road opposite Chitralada Palace, residence of His Majesty the King, and wounded a young man. The explosion shattered glass and damaged a nearby telephone booth.

Bomb experts on Sunday morning inspected the explosion site, initially finding a green plastic bag, several pieces of newsprint, a piece of metal and a brass coil. Police and other technical experts were meeting with senior police officials through the day Sunday to consider possible motives of Saturday night's bombing and materials found at the scene.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 7 May 2007 :-

Statue design altered to be less provocative

Chiang Rai - The design of a statue of King Naresuan the Great to be erected at Ban Payangpataek in Mae Sai district has been changed to make it ''less provocative to Burma''. The modification of the statue design received consent from Watanachai Chaimuanwong, an adviser to the prime minister and chairman of the foundation overseeing the statue's construction.

The general, a former Third Army Region commander, came up with the idea of erecting the statue in 2001 after a border clash with Burma ended.

King Naresuan, who declared independence from Burma after a great war in 1592, is highly revered by the military.

However, the statue project has not run as smoothly as hoped, as the initial design had the king brandishing a sword on horseback. The construction site - a 100-rai plot of land on Doi Pha Hom Pok of the Forestry Department and about four kilometres from Kuteng Nayong, a border area claimed by both Thailand and Burma - directly faces a statue in the Burmese town of Tachilek of Burma's highly revered King Bayinnaung, who conquered Siam in 1569.

The Fine Arts Department and the Foreign Affairs Ministry raised concerns about the statue's provocative design, considering its location.

With Gen Watanachai's consent the new design will see the king holding a lance that points to the sky rather than a sword, which could be construed as a symbol of aggression.

Gen Watanachai said the statue and a gold-coated pagoda, called ''Victory Pagoda,'' will help boost tourism and the local economy when construction is completed, probably next year.

''Thais can pay gratitude to King Naresuan who brought victory to Ayutthaya,'' he said.

''We continue to receive donations from people who have faith in King Naresuan,'' he said, adding donations have been the main source of funding for the statue.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 11 May 2007 :-

MBK pays B25.31bn to renew lease - Chula estimates 13% gain for its tenant

MBK Plc has agreed to pay 25.31 billion baht for a new 20-year lease for its MBK Center Building with Chulalongkorn University (CU), with annual rates approaching the total value of its original 30-year deal signed in 1983. MBK president Suvait Theeravachirakul said the first payment of 2.45 billion baht would be made within 18 months after signing the contract. Shareholders' approval will be sought on June 14 and the deal is expected to be finalised in October.

The remaining 22.86 billion baht would be divided into 20 annual installments. The rate was estimated from the appraised price and MBK's income and expenses, he said.

The extension will be financed by operating cash flow and warrants worth three billion baht to be issued to financial institutions and individual investors in July.

''Though the rate is high, we'll be better off extending it,'' he said yesterday.

He added that the company generated about one billion baht a year from its MBK Shopping Center and Office Tower and 200 million baht from the adjacent Pathumwan Princess Hotel.

MBK has leased MBK Center Building from CU since 1983 and the first contract will expire in April 2013. The total value of the 30-year leasing contract would be between 1.5 billion and 1.8 billion baht.

Meanwhile, the total spending on the construction and renovation of MBK Shopping Center, MBK Office Tower and the Pathumwan Princess Hotel was six billion baht, said Mr Suvait.

Now that the rate has changed, MBK will calculate new rates for its current and new tenants. Currently, the rates range between 300 and 4,000 baht per square metre per month, and average 1,200 baht.

According to CB Richard Ellis, the monthly rental rate of central business district retail space ranges between 1,800 and 3,000 baht per sq m on ground floors and 1,500 to 2,800 baht on upper floors.

MBK would also spend another 1.2 billion baht on renovating the buildings including the shopping centre, office tower, hotel and car park, totalling about 270,800 square metres, to be completed in 2018.

Under the new contract, MBK will lease both the plot and the assets, which would be owned by CU. MBK would also share revenue with the university at the rate of 5% if it earns more than what CU estimated.

Mr Suvait said CU had projected that MBK would enjoy a yearly return of 13% under the new contract.

Currently, revenue from MBK Center Building accounts for 30% of MBK's total income while the hotel business - the Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort and Royal Princess Ranong Hotel - contributes 25% and 3-5% comes from the rice business.

About 5% of the revenue is from the property business that includes Loch Palm Golf Course in Phuket and housing units developed by subsidiary Plan Estate Co Ltd on the golf course. Another portion of its income is from investments such as Siam Piwat, the operator of Siam Center, Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon.

Mr Suvait said MBK planned to develop housing projects in 2009 in Pathum Thani where it had 800 rai of land. The company also has plans three more hotels in Pattaya, Surat Thani and Phuket.

He said daily traffic at MBK had dropped by almost 5% to 90,000 visitors from 95,000 and 20% of them were foreign tourists. However, tenants still make good income from the spending of foreign tourists, at 3,000 baht on average per visit.

Shares of MBK closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 54.50 baht, unchanged, in trade worth 4.3 million baht. MBK reported first-half profits of 531.8 million baht on revenues of 2.94 billion for the period ending Dec 31, 2006.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 19 May 2007 :-

Bangkok residents living on banks of Chao Phraya get flood warning

Bangkok residents on the banks of the Chao Phraya river are being warned to prepare for possible flooding as a result of sea water intrusion, days of persistent rainfall and run-off from the North over the next four days. Rear Adm Nakorn Tanuwong, deputy director-general of the Naval Hydrographic Department, said the Chao Phraya river rose significantly on Thursday, breaking its banks in a number of areas in the capital.

Rear Adm Nakorn said the rise in water levels was due to high tides combined with other factors including a southwesterly wind, water flowing down from heavy rains in the North and rainfall in central Thailand over the past three days.

The Chao Phraya on Thursday surged to 1.92 metres above sea level.

This year, the rainy season has started two to three weeks earlier than usual, Rear Adm Nakorn said.

''This is an unusual phenomenon. Such river conditions usually take place in September,'' Rear Adm Nakorn said.

''We now have to make forecasts about water levels on a day-by-day basis and therefore have to work closely with relevant agencies.''

He said high water levels in the Chao Phraya would persist over the next three to four days.

Residents living near to river banks should take precautions to prepare for possible flooding, he said.

Yesterday's water level in the Chao Phraya was expected to reach its peak at 1.92 metres above sea level at 9.40pm.

Today's level is predicted to rise to 1.90 metres above sea level at 10.44pm, and reach 1.87 metres above sea level at 11.41pm. tomorrow.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Vallop Suwandee warned residents in some 14 flood-prone riverside areas to be on alert for flooding. Some residents have been advised to move their belongings to higher ground.

From today until Sunday, people living outside Bangkok's flood walls, such as residents on the banks of Bangkok Noi canal, were forewarned to watch for rising water levels caused by the high tide.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday had about 400,000 sandbags put up along the Chao Phraya to protect flood-prone areas.

The Irrigation Department was also asked to regulate the retention and release of water at various watergates to control the influx of run-off from the North.

Those in need of flood relief assistance can call 02 248 5155.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 23 May 2007 :-

Go-ahead given for B13bn Bang Sue-Taling Chan city train line

The cabinet yesterday gave the green light for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to call tenders for the construction of the 13-billion-baht Bang Sue-Taling Chan electric train route, expected to be completed in three years. Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said the calling of bids for the 15km-long rail line would most likely take place at the end of next month or in early July.

If all goes according to plan, a contractor should be hired officially by next January.

The project's construction should start in February and be completed in August 2010, he said.

The Finance Ministry will issue and guarantee bonds so that money can be raised for the SRT to borrow and fund its construction.

The Bang Sue-Taling Chan railway is part of Bangkok's new Red Line, which also includes a much more expensive section, estimated at 52 billion baht, which will stretch for 26km all the way from Bang Sue to Rangsit.

According to insiders at the Transport and Finance ministries, the SRT will seek cabinet approval for the Bang Sue-Rangsit section later, as it has yet to find the sources of funding, increase the number of railway stations in the design, and review an environmental impact study.

Of the 52 billion baht, 50 billion baht will come from loans, 70% of which will be from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and the rest from domestic sources.

A bidding contest to find a contractor for the longer route is likely to be called in January, and the contractor should be known by August next year.

Its construction should be completed in August 2012.

In addition, the Transport Ministry is preparing details of the Purple Line from Bang Sue to Bang Yai.

The project should reach the cabinet in July. The three railways will be elevated structures.

Yesterday, the cabinet also agreed to increase the budget for the construction of the second railway line to the Eastern Seaboard.

The SRT sought an increase in the budget from 5.23 billion baht to 5.85 billion baht for the 74km-long Chachoengsao-Si Racha-Laem Chabang line.

Acting SRT governor Bancha Khongnakhon said an increased budget was needed so that additional structures and fences could be erected along the route, which is expected to be completed in 2010.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 28 May 2007 :-

More European tourists, fewer Asians

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that international tourist arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport during the first four months of the year increased by 2.61 per cent compared to same period last year.

According to the authority, 3.4 million visitors arrived, up from 3.3 million in the first four months of last year.

However, the number of Asian visitors, which represents 49 per cent of the total number of arrivals,, fell 6.6 per cent to 1.5 million.

Japanese arrivals fell 4.7 per cent from 402,998 to 384,043, China's 250,998 visitors for the period reflects a 22.5-per-cent drop from 2006's 323,878, but the number of South Korean visitors grew 4.1 per cent from 283,140 to 294,751.

TAT governor Phornsiri Manoharn said European markets had been showing strong growth, especially Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Russia and Scandinavia. Arrivals from the overall European market climbed 12.94 per cent from 987,005 to 1,114,770 during the four-month period.

In order to attract international tourists to the country, the TAT plans to spend Bt20 million on TV ads overseas.

Phornsiri said the five-minute advertising slots would be shown this July to present "Amazing Thailand".

With a limited budget, the TAT will shift from events to advertising campaigns, which reach a larger market.

Phornsiri said TAT's Beijing office expected its TV adverts to reach 45 million viewers in key cities including Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenyang.

The office is also planning to attract more charter flights from China and will organise a South China road show in August.

In Japan, the TAT is in partnership with key telecom company NTT DoCoMo to promote Thailand though an SMS campaign potentially reaching 20 million mobile-phone users. Winners of an SMS Thailand quiz will get prizes including trips to the Kingdom.

TAT's +++yo office is planning to run TV adverts on five city trains from June to December, with an expected audience of 10 million.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 29 May 2007 :-

The Mall brings style to revamped The Mall Tha Phra

The Mall Group Co, the country's second largest department store chain, is bringing upmarket shopping to the west side of the Chao Phraya River where existing establishments cater to the mass market.

A European style similar to The Emporium, another Mall property, is part of the new look at The Mall Tha Phra , where young French designers helped with the renovation, said Chamnarn Mayprechakul, the company's senior chief marketing officer.

The Tha Phra branch will officially reopen on Thursday 31 May 2007 after being closed for four months for renovation.

The company spent 400 million baht to renovate the store to capture a wider range of customers from the growing communities in the area. About 8,000 new condominium and housing units are due to be completed this year in 2007 in Tha Phra, Rama II, Sathorn and nearby areas.

The Mall Tha Phra will also benefit from improved transport access including the BTS skytrain extension crossing the river.

Nattapong Kijnitchewa, operations manager of The Mall Group, said that in line with the changing makeup of its customer base, the company had expanded the retail space of The Mall Tha Phra by 60% to 40,000 square metres. New retail outlets include international brands such as Lowe, Etude, Quiksilver, Charriol and Daks.

New services such as a 2,500 square metre Fitness First and SF Cinema City with 10,000 sq m were added on the fourth floor, along with an educational centre.There are also plans for a 200-metre skywalk to link the centre to the new BTS Ratchaphruek station.

With the store facelift, The Mall Tha Phra will have a more fashionable, trendy and warm look, aiming to appeal top a more youthful market.

With the new product and service mixes, the company aims to increase shopper visits to around once a week from one or two times a month previously, said Vanchai Janvuttarunggul, group general manager for shopping complexes of The Mall Shopping Center Co.

Mr Vanchai added that shoppers normally spend three to four hours at The Mall Tha Phra and he expected they would stay longer in the near future.

''The Mall's Tha Phra branch will become the destination for shopping in Thon Buri,'' Mr Chamnarn said. ''After reopening our Tha Phra centre, we aim to stop people in Thon Buri from crossing [the river] to shop for some high-end items at retail outlets in Bangkok like in the past.''

The company will spend 20 million baht on marketing to promote the new-look Tha Phra shopping centre from May 31 to July 25.

Mr Chamnarn said the company lost about one billion baht in sales opportunities during the four-month closing for building renovation, which also included repairs to cracks in a large support pillar connecting the ground floor and car park.

The company aims to gain sales of three billion baht from its Tha Phra branch by the end of this year, up 20% from the same period last year.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 4 June 2007 :-

Call for one-stop jewellery centre

The Gems and Jewellery Traders' Association is pushing hard for the creation of a "one-stop" jewellery trading centre clustered around Mahesak and Silom roads in Bangkok.

Association president Pornchai Chuenchomlada said yesterday that as one of the world's leading exporters of gems and jewellery, Thailand should have such a trading centre, and the Mahesak and Silom roads area already has about 5,000 companies ranging from small- to large-scale enterprises.

He said the Commerce Ministry and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had agreed with the proposal and the plan should be set in motion as quickly as possible so it can enhance trade and exports during the current economic slowdown.

"When it becomes the gems and jewellery trading centre, the number of manufacturers and exporters on the two roads is expected to increase to 10,000 companies within five years," he said, adding that the plan will also promote Thailand as a high-quality manufacturer of gems and jewellery and attract "higher quality" tourists.

Pornchai said other major gem and jewellery traders, such as the United States and Belgium, had set up trading centres as one-stop shopping venues.

The association has been promoting the plan over the past three or four years and many government agencies have backed it. However, the proposal has hitherto lacked the backing of an appropriate agency to take responsibility for it.

Pornchai said that changed when the association raised the idea recently with Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet and he agreed with it.

He said Mahesak and Silom roads were already the most important area in Bangkok for gem and jewellery trading. A total of about 5,000 companies on the two roads used to generate an average trading value of Bt1 billion per day. However, the value has dropped to hundreds of millions of baht since the interim government took power.

Mahesak Road is best known as a trading area for coloured stones, while Silom Road is recognised for its diamond and jewellery businesses.

Pornchai said government agencies, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, should join with private sector operators to design a promotion at Suvarnabhumi Airport to attract customers to the gems and jewellery trading centre.

He said that having a trading centre would reduce the sale of low-quality gems and problems of cheating customers because Thai traders will control each other.

Moreover, "Jewel Fest" has been set up as a subsidiary of the association to monitor and control gem and jewellery shops so that they provide high quality and guarantee satisfaction to consumers and tourists.

Buyers of gems and jewellery bearing a Jewel Fest sticker from any shop are able to claim their money back with a 10-per-cent deduction if for any reason they are unsatisfied with their purchase.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 6 June 2007 :-

No business like Suvarnabhumi business

Airports of Thailand will launch a four-month programme of Thai culture and tradition at the 125-billion-baht international airport in an effort to encourage passengers to part with more cash.

The seven-million-baht marketing scheme would make air travellers feel very impressed with Thai culture and tradition, said Narongchai Tanachangsaeng, the airport's deputy general manager. This will stimulate them to shop more at the airport, where sales have been sluggish.

Special activities under the theme "Suvarnabhumi: The Beauty Given and the Impression Received" would help increase the state-run company's revenue, which will likely miss projections this year as fewer passengers fly through Bangkok. The authority projects 45-46 million passengers will enter Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports in 2007.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has said tourist arrivals will likely fall 300,000 short of its 14.8-million target. Tourists, particularly from Asia, have serious concerns over safety problems in the deep South and Bangkok.

Besides showing off Thai culture, the special campaign will also celebrate the fact that airport staff have served almost 27 million people since Suvarnabhumi opened its doors last September.

The special activities under the banner "Suvarnabhumi Airport: The Gateway to Asia" will be held within five zones. They are the Departure Passenger Hall, East Pavilion, West Pavilion, Transit Passenger Hall and Arrival International Passenger Hall.

Each zone will have its own special activity. For example, the Departure Passenger Hall will feature something called "Lucky Passenger", a performance on a circular stage with a diameter of three metres that spins 360 degrees.

Lucky passengers can enjoy special Thai dances while they are checking in. When they are not spinning, the dancers will pose as wax dummies for photos.
---- KatoeyNewsNetwork