Anything & Everything about Thailand (Part 2)

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Business Times (Malaysia) dated Friday 25 January 2008 :-

AirAsia to fly JB-Bangkok route from Feb 25, 2008

BANGKOK : AirAsia is expected to ply the Bangkok-Johor Baru route beginning February 25, 2008 with four flights a week.

The once-daily flight will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

An airline official said Bangkok will be the first destination in Thailand from Johor Baru, targeting Johoreans, Singaporeans and also those flying into the city from Sabah and Sarawak.

Besides Bangkok, AirAsia will also fly to Medan and Surabaya from Johor Baru soon, he said.

AirAsia and its Thai subsidiary, Thai AirAsia, now operate seven flights daily from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, as well as serving Krabi, Phuket and Chiang Mai, on top of the Penang-Bangkok route.

The Bangkok-Langkawi and Bangkok-Kota Kinabalu services were discontinued last year due to low passenger load.

It's learnt that Thai AirAsia was not keen to operate the Johor Baru-Bangkok route as it wanted to concentrate on strengthening its existing destinations while looking into the possibility of entering the Bangkok-Jakarta route and expanding its China base
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 28 January 2008 :-

Bookazine founder sets up online store to sell foreign titles

The former owner of Bookazine, a local retail chain for foreign magazines and books, has set up an online bookshop, which claims to be the first of its kind in Thailand to specialise in English-language titles.

Richard Murray, a Canadian, founded Bookazine in the early 1990s and sold the chain to Asia Books in 2001. He said his new venture, Megabooksthailand.com, would sell foreign novels and magazines, the products he had specialised in when he ran the physical bookshop.

A company representative said the website would offer prices cheaper than those at bricks-and-mortar bookshops to attract customers. The strong baht is one factor that has made imported titles cheaper.

Mr Murray, the chairman of RAM Holdings, which runs the website, said that as the local currency strengthens, readers should benefit. But that was not the case in the magazine business where prices have remained unchanged despite the continued baht appreciation.

The site will provide convenience to shoppers by offering a delivery service. It targets the foreign community in Thailand, including long-stay visitors as well as the growing number of Thais who buy English-language magazines and books.

Though there are many stores in Thailand selling foreign-language books and magazines, it is still difficult for readers outside major cities to find bookshops selling English-language material. The online bookshop will be the answer for them, Mr Murray said.

In addition to its online store, Megabooks has two physical shops in Bangkok and Hua Hin, Thailand's fastest-growing retirement destination for foreigners.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 28 January 2008 :-

Foreign carriers shun Chiang Mai as tourist demand declines

Chiang Mai International Airport is becoming less frequented by international carriers, frustrating its ambitious bid to become an air hub in northern Thailand and the Mekong region.

The airport suffered a setback recently when Hong Kong Express Airways terminated its scheduled services to the city while Tiger Airways has significantly slashed its flights numbers.

Hong Kong Express used to operate two flights a week between Hong Kong and Chiang Mai, using Boeing 737 jetliners.

Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways has cut its frequencies on the Singapore-Chiang Mai route, also using Boeing 737s, to two from six flights a week.

The two carriers shifted the capacity to other busier routes as travel demand to the northern city from their originating ports has dropped off after the New Year holiday season, according to industry sources.

Chiang Mai has not been able to attract direct overseas passenger traffic as hoped as efforts to especially promote the region's tourism have yet to bear fruit, said Prateep Wichitto, the airport's general manager.

The pull-out of Hong Kong Express means that there are only eight international carriers operating scheduled flights through Chiang Mai.

There is another foreign carrier that operates through Chiang Mai, Sky Star of South Korea, but on a charter basis, with a total of 40 flights scheduled between Dec 2007 and April 2008.

The only newcomer was Korean Air, which began to fly four flights from Incheon to Chiang Mai in October last year.

The number of international carriers serving Chiang Mai appeared to be stagnant over the past few years, representing only 10% of all 75 daily flights through the airport.

Chiang Mai is now served by six Thailand-based carriers: Thai Airways International, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Airlines, Orient Thai Airlines, One-Two-Go Airlines and the commuter carrier SGA Airlines.

Chiang Mai is heavily under-utilised, handling about three million passengers a year, mostly domestic passengers, compared to its design capacity of eight million a year.

It raised questions about the economic return from the two-billion-baht investment Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has spent in the past few years in expanding the airport, very much geared toward handling more international traffic.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 30 January 2008 :-

Suvarnabhumi Airport getting higher scores from air passengers

More passengers are now satisfied with the quality of services at Suvarnabhumi Airport than when it first opened to harsh criticisms in Sept 2006, according to an internal Airports of Thailand survey. On a scale of 1 to 5, the airport scored 4.01 in a passenger satisfaction poll conducted in the last quarter of last year, up from 3.82 in the preceding quarter.

The scores were based on standard questionnaires produced by the Airports Council International (ACI), the Geneva-based global body representing more than 1,647 airports around the world.

In the survey, conducted personally with 1,000 passengers at the airport in five language groups, Suvarnabhumi received the highest score of 4.25 in the cleanliness of passenger terminals, including toilets, which were much criticised in the past.

The passengers - who spoke English (570 respondents), Thai (180), Chinese (50), Japanese (100) and Korean (100) - were asked to rate quality in six areas: ease of travelling in and out of the airport; ticket check-in; getting around the terminal; passenger facilities, including helpfulness of airport staff; safety and immigration screening; and overall environment, including cleanliness.

However, passengers who were interviewed continued to complain about issues such as the long walk to the boarding gates, the stiff and cold seats in the waiting areas and the lack of snack and beverage vending machines and entertainment.

Serirat Prasutanond, the general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said yesterday that the latest survey would be used by management to make further improvements to the airport's overall passenger service quality.

''Even though the results gave us some encouragement and led the way to the areas where improvements are needed, we still have a lot of deficiencies that need to be corrected,'' he said.

AoT aims to crack the top 10 in the ACI's annual airport ratings by 2009. Suvarnabhumi was now ranked 40th.

Late last year, a readers' poll by an independent online travel magazine voted Suvarnabhumi the world's fourth best airport.

The top three in the 2007 Smart Travel Asia poll were Hong Kong International Airport, Singapore Changi and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

AoT will conduct its next quarterly passenger poll in April 2008
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[sassina2]

All,

I am holding one Jetstar ticket (one way) Bangkok to Singapore for 6th Feb 3K512 departing Bangkok 0915 am arriving Singapore at 1230pm in time for your reunion dinner.

Will sell ticket at cost 2825 plus your transfer fee of 1000 bahts.

Contact me by Private Message here with your contact number in Thailand or Singapore.

Deadline on 3rd Feb 2007.

I have to reroute elsewhere.

Have fun meantime!

S.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 26 February 2008 :-

Cab fares set to rise under AoT

Taking a cab from the airport could cost more after Airports of Thailand (AoT) takes over running the taxi queues at Suvarnabhumi from March 1, 2008.

AoT president Chana U-sathaporn said yesterday the agency plans to charge cabbies 10 baht per trip and raise the airport taxi surcharge from 50 baht to 75 baht.

He would discuss the planned increases with the Land Transport Department before submitting the proposal to Transport Minister Santi Prompat for approval.

AM Chana said it was agreed the AoT would take over the taxi queues at a meeting with cab operators on Feb 21. Some operators opposed the proposed 10-baht charge, which he said would help pay the monthly bills for water and electricity and finance the building of facilities such as toilets and rest areas.

He said it currently costs the airport 1.7 million baht a month to hire a private company to manage the taxi queues. Some queue operators were found to have overcharged tourists.

By taking over queue management the AoT could end overcharging and reduce its costs.

AM Chana said at the Feb 21 meeting he had proposed the AoT would not collect the 10-baht charge two days a month, so the money could go toward paying drivers' welfare benefits. There would also be monthly meetings with taxi operators to discuss any problems.

The AoT had not initially intended to manage the queues and had asked taxi operators to appoint representatives to do the job, but they were unable to agree amongst themselves.

Suvarnabhumi airport director Serirat Prasutanont said the AoT would draft details of the agreement, which was expected to take effect this Saturday.

Queues would remain at the same locations, but would be better regulated.

Land Transport Department chief Silpachai Jarukasemratana said consultations were needed before the surcharge could be raised to 75 baht. The existing rate had been in place for a long time.

Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri said he would look into the details before making a decision.

Taxi driver Narong Meepol said representatives of 29 groups of taxi drivers agreed with the proposed 10-baht charge. Others disagreed and would petition the Administrative Court.

He said there were 8,000-10,000 taxi trips a day from the new airport, which meant the AoT would collect 80,000-100,000 baht a day from drivers.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 27 February 2008 :-

Taxis face new fare meter rule

Taxis servicing Suvarnabhumi airport and its vicinity will soon all be required to use their fare meters to protect the interests of passengers. Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri said yesterday he agreed with the proposal presented by Airports of Thailand (AoT).

There were many communities in the vicinity of the airport, and the residents needed a regulated taxi service.

Bangkok taxis are now required by transport regulations to use fare meters within a 37-kilometre radius of Victory Monument.

This extends only to the second kilometre marker on the Bang Na-Bang Pakong highway. Suvarnabhumi is at least another 10 kilometres up the road.

Outside the fare-meter radius, taxi drivers can either continue to use their meters or demand a charter fare. This can lead to disputes with passengers.

The proposed solution is for the ministry to define Suvarnabhumi airport as another centre of a 37km radius.

Mr Songsak said he backed the proposal.

Silpachai Jarukasemratana, the director-general of the Land Transport Department, said if the ministry approved the proposal, his department could immediately issue the approriate new regulation.

However, he would like to discuss the issue with taxi operators in the greater Bangkok area first and obtain their agreement.

AoT also sought approval to raise the airport surcharge at Suvarnabhumi from 50 to 75 baht. Mr Songsak said this would have a wide impact and he would have to examine it carefully before making a decision.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[snowwolf79]

Originally Posted by Norikasan55

I am confused actually.

Alot of time I take cabby in BKK from Airport, I know there is a 50baht surcharge.
But I am not sure if the 50baht will appear on the meter when the taxi stop or its on top of what the meter is showing when it stop.
I usually round up the fare to hundred giving whatever as tip.

imo, if you want to save the 50 baht, go and take a taxi in the departure hall and ask them to on the meter. best part is to look for taxis who just have passengers getting off them. as they do not want to have an empty cab back to town, you can ask them to switch on the meter instead of bargaining the price.

[<<<SUCHINDA>>>]

KTL69, your KNN no reports on the great Thaksin home coming???

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by <<<SUCHINDA>>>

KTL69, your KNN no reports on the great Thaksin home coming???

For a moment, I thought you scold him "knn, why no..." hehehe Your beloved VIP's grand entrance this morning...

Bangkok Post: Thaksin homecoming

Bangkok Post: Thaksin homecoming

[ProfessorOokami]

Originally Posted by yinyang

For a moment, I thought you scold him "knn, why no..." hehehe Your beloved VIP's grand entrance this morning...

Bangkok Post: Thaksin homecoming

Bangkok Post: Thaksin homecoming

Walaueh, now YYN takes over KNN

[<<<SUCHINDA>>>]

Originally Posted by yinyang

For a moment, I thought you scold him "knn, why no..." hehehe Your beloved VIP's grand entrance this morning...

Bangkok Post: Thaksin homecoming

Bangkok Post: Thaksin homecoming

No la.....i no curse & swear for time being coz going to LOS for monk's apprenticeship next month.....been eating vegetarian meals for a month liao......peace sadhu sadhu sadhu

p.s thanks for the links......maybe i can catch my idol in person on thai soil next month

[Cupnoodle]

From TODAY on 05 March 2008
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday promised to build the kingdom's first casinos, which he said would bring tourist dollars into a country where gambling is currently illegal. Mr Samak said he planned to build five casinos open to both foreign holiday-makers and Thai citizens in tourist hotspots Phuket, Pattaya, Khon Kaen, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai. "Thais who want to gamble can gamble and police can do other jobs instead of cracking down on illegal gambling dens," he said. Since gambling is illegal in pre-dominantly-Buddhist Thailand, Thais flock to neighbouring Cambodia and Myanmar where casinos dot the border.

Interested Bros may refer to More News

Quote a part from the News : "They say Thailand has no prostitutes but there are lots of brothels. Thailand has no casinos but gambling is rife."

[<<<SUCHINDA>>>]

Originally Posted by Cupnoodle

From TODAY on 05 March 2008
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday promised to build the kingdom's first casinos, which he said would bring tourist dollars into a country where gambling is currently illegal. Mr Samak said he planned to build five casinos open to both foreign holiday-makers and Thai citizens in tourist hotspots Phuket, Pattaya, Khon Kaen, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai. "Thais who want to gamble can gamble and police can do other jobs instead of cracking down on illegal gambling dens," he said. Since gambling is illegal in pre-dominantly-Buddhist Thailand, Thais flock to neighbouring Cambodia and Myanmar where casinos dot the border.

Interested Bros may refer to More News

Quote a part from the News : "They say Thailand has no prostitutes but there are lots of brothels. Thailand has no casinos but gambling is rife."

Great news can give our IRs a run for their money.......most casinos along the thai borders are thai owned anyway......theo most famous thai casino owner is Sombun Charoensukkraisri

[yinyang]

Saw this interesting BBC analysis on what's next for thaksin (upon his getting bail for MCity trip).. bro suchinda, yoo hoo. Puts his situation in right perspective, unlike the usual tripe from local media
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | What next for Thaksin Shinawatra?