Monday, June 26, 2006, Phuket Gazette

Phuket City to get new market

PHUKET CITY: Work will begin next January on a 260-million baht market complex to replace the squalid public market on Ranong Rd.

Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwannasuppana said the new municipal market would be a four-story building, with two floors of public parking above two floors of market stalls, as well as 27 shophouse units.

The new complex will bring improvements in terms of cleanliness, hygiene and the quality of meat and produce sold, she said.

Work will begin with the complete demolition of the current market, which opened 49 years ago.

While work is underway, vendors will be relocated to a temporary market opposite Suan Luang Park on Wirat Hongyok Rd.

The city will spend 215 million baht on the market, another 15 million baht for the temporary market, and a further 28.4 million baht in interest on loans to finance the project.

Monday, June 26, 2006 Phuket Gazette

Andaman Sea Rally revived

PHUKET: After a hiatus of more than two years years, the Andaman Sea Rally a race from Phuket to Port Blair in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and back has been revived, with the next race scheduled to take place between January 13 and 27 next year.

We are happy that 2007 will see the return of the Andaman Sea Rally, said organizer Gareth Twist of Yacht Solutions. We have continued discussions with the Andaman Islands throughout the [intervening] period and they are fully behind the 2007 rally.

Mr Twist said that there has been much interest in reviving the rally, with regular enquiries since the 2004 event. Interest in the rally remains strong. It is a unique event an offshore race for sailing yachts and an ocean cruise for power boats hence we expect a good turnout, he said.

The rally will come after the Phuket Kings Cup Regatta but before the Phang Nga Bay Regatta.

The rally is timed for best sailing conditions and slots in between current regattas. It will resume its place on the Asian sailing calendar, Mr Twist said.

He said that proceeds from the rally would be donated to charity. We are currently looking at a number of charities and have not yet finalized which one [will receive funds]. We want to give something back to both destinations [Phuket and Port Blair], which have been so good to the rally and to sailors in the region, he said.

The first Andaman Sea Rally, in 2003, drew just nine boats. The following year, the number increased to 15, and 21 entries were received for the 2005 event, which was canceled after the tsunami hit.

For more information email Mike Bein at info@andamansearally.com or visit www.andamansearally.com

Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Phuket Gazette

Top beach volley players heading for Phuket

Monday, June 19, 2006 Phuket Gazette

Swedish Royals give grants to tsunami kids

PHUKET: HM King Carl XVI Gustaf and HM Queen Silvia of Sweden this morning visited Satree Phuket School. Later in the day they were taken to the Tsunami Gallery at Bangkok Phuket Hospital.

Their majesties are staying in Phuket until tomorrow on a six-day unofficial visit after attending HM King Bhumibols Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Bangkok.

This morning at 11:30 am they arrived at Satree Phuket School to hand out grants to five students affected by the tsunami. They were also taken around the schools tsunami exhibition.

Anchalee Vanich-Thepbabutr, President of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, presented a gift of a shell painting and a pearl necklace to the King and Queen to mark their 30th wedding anniversary.

Following the presentation, the Director of Satree Phuket School, Kiatisak Pinlavas, took the King and Queen around the schools plant museum and afterwards they planted a teak tree in the grounds.

The visit of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden has made the school and everyone in Phuket very proud, K. Kiatisak added.

In the afternoon the royal couple were taken to the Tsunami Gallery on the second floor of Bangkok Phuket Hospital. They were also treated to a performance of Rong Ngeng, a traditional Sea Gypsy dance, by students from the Child Care Development Center at Kamala.

Another royal visitor, HRH Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, left the island yesterday evening after a three-day stay.

The Prince, a watersports enthusiast, spent his first day in Phuket sailing from the Royal Phuket Marina and then spent two days diving at Koh Maithon.

Ten deaf students from Phuket Special School turned out to see the Prince off at Phuket International Airport. The students had their photo taken with Prince Jigme and also taught him how to sign I love you.

Thursday, June 8, 2006 Phuket Gazette

Phuket to receive award for fastest recovery

PHUKET CITY: Phuket has won the Arabian Travel Market 2006 (ATM) New Frontiers Award for being the tourism destination that recovered fastest from a natural disaster, Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura announced yesterday.

The Arabian Travel Market has praised Phuket for its outstanding recovery and positive contribution to tourism development after the tsunami, Governor Udomsak said.

The island was chosen after organizers consulted professionals representing international charities, global travel and tourism associations and journalists from leading travel publications. The short-list included destinations such as Lebanon, Bali, Sri Lanka, Egypt and the Maldives, who also suffered from disasters.

He added that major factors in Phuket winning the award included then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flying to Phuket to supervise rescue and clean-up efforts, and emergency crews reopening Phuket International Airport within 24 hours.

The Governor will receive the award from Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Juthamas Siriwan at a ceremony at Loma Park in Patong, on June 27.

About 1,000 businesses and individuals, including hotels, clubs and rescue foundations, will receive certificates of thanks for their contributions to Phukets recovery, Gov Udomsak added.