防敲诈游客 差庵严管海上项目

防敲诈游客 差庵严管海上项目

佛丕府差庵县【Cha-am】县长努甘昨天（29日）透露，差庵县政府与水上摩托艇业者联手，打击欺诈游客行为，维护游客合法权益，整顿旅游风气。

努甘指出，差庵海滩水上摩托艇俱乐部已经成立20多年，该俱乐部的主要职责是监督及管制水上活动项目服务，预防不良商家敲诈游客。该俱乐部明确规定各种海上活动的价格，包括香蕉船、水上摩托艇等，并且也明确了违法规定的处罚条例，包括辱骂游客、服务恶劣等，切实保护游客的合法权益，让游客信赖差庵旅游业。

国家旅游局差庵办事处主任昂拉逸表示，该办事处不定时前往差庵海岸视察，主要调查业者是否服务周到，是否顾及游客的人身安全，游客租用摩托艇是否给游客配备安全帽及救生衣等，主要是一些细节问题，因为发生意外往往就是因为疏忽了细节。

差庵海滩水上摩托艇俱乐部主席表示，目前差庵海滩共有125家水上摩托艇服务门店，业者主要是当地人。为维护差庵4公里长的海滩，该俱乐部将海滩分为6段，每一段都有专门的负责人，一旦发现问题首先追责负责人。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～

Laser Buddha - Chonburi

免签证费上路 5机场盛迎中国客

免签证费上路 5机场盛迎中国客 

中国驻泰大使馆、泰国旅游部、泰国旅游局、泰国旅游员警署以及泰中旅游同业商会五大部门，于本月16日在中国游客输送量较多的五大机场联合举办宣传推广「免签证费」的活动。五大国际机场分别是清迈、清莱、素汪那普、廊曼和普吉机场。此次活动由泰国机场（AOT）主办，泰中旅游同业商会积极配合，出人出力，安排细节。中国驻泰大使馆也积极​​回应，以期扩大影响力。

 当日，机场方面安排了一系列欢迎活动，期间正好迎来广西南宁至曼谷的南方航空CZ655航班。机场入口处，工作人员早已夹道而列，手持印有「泰国欢迎您」的宣传小扇子，准备迎接这批来自中国的游客。当第一位游客露出身影时，机场工作人员说时迟那时快地启动背景音乐。不远处还站有一排美丽的泰国姑娘，她们身穿泰式传统服饰，笑容可掬，在身着红色唐装的主持人介绍下，游客们纷纷上前与之合影留念。

据记者了解，这批游客大都来自广西南宁，团客与散客皆有，在泰游玩时长6-10天不等，主要目的地多为曼谷、芭提雅及清迈等地。游客们表示，对此次欢迎活动非常惊喜，也很开心。

 同时，他们对泰国局势并无太多担忧。这趟航班还载有几名在广西上大学的泰国留学生，他们同中国游客一样满脸喜悦，操着一口流利的普通话向记者问好。

 在机场入境口附近，设有一小型展台，上满放有各种宣传册和服务指南：（中国公民）海外安全常识，中国领事保护和协助指南，机场地图和机场公共服务汽车灯专供中国游客使用的中文版图册。在机场各层服务台处还有泰国旅游员警（泰国专门为游客设置的安全维护机构）的介绍手册，提醒游客各类注意事项，游客遭遇事故时可拨打1155寻求帮助。

~以上新闻转载自世界日报~

清迈动物园重建水底观赏隧道

清迈动物园重建水底观赏隧道 

清迈府动物园内的水族馆昨天（17日）起上万条鱼大搬迁，由于该水族馆将进行为期8个月的大规模改建，将安装一座新的水底玻璃隧道，让游客体验更令人兴奋的水下观光风景。水族馆大改建期间仍部分开放给游客参观。

 启用了6年的清迈动物园淡水鱼类大型水族馆，昨天迎来馆内鱼类大搬迁。工作人员把上万尾鱼从大展示池中捞出，暂时放养在该动物园的水塘内。一部分体型较大的渔类则被暂时寄养在湄州大学。

 清迈动物园水族馆主任乃洛指出，这座水族馆拥有多达2万尾各类鱼类，其中一部分是海生鱼类，大部分则是淡水鱼。水族馆内需要使用水量3000立方米来养这些鱼。从近日起，该动物园水族馆投入1000万铢，改建水下玻璃隧道，新建成的玻璃隧道将让游客能看到更多的鱼类，包括躲藏在某些角落内的罕见鱼类。

 乃洛指出，水族馆改建工程预计需要用8个月时间，明年4月将建成和开放参观，此期间清迈动物园水族馆则部分开放参观。

 ~以上新闻转载自世界日报~

Watch Thai TV3 Online

Watch Thai TV3 online

苏梅岛计程车启动 起跑100铢

苏梅岛计程车启动 起跑100铢

泰国旅游重镇苏梅岛12日启动岛上计程车服务，有600辆计程车上路提供服务，而起步价为100铢，不包括提供服务的路程计费。

素叻他尼府苏梅岛县县长派汶12日主持苏梅岛计程车上路服务启动仪式，宣布有600辆新计程车在苏梅岛上提供载客服务，而计程车的计程表从50铢起跳，乘客还要额外支付50铢的服务费，以及按照载运路程计收费用。

派汶指出，从当天起，苏梅岛上的TAXI全都启用计程表，按表计费以确保服务公道，避免的士司机向游客漫天要价。加入该项目的计程车有600辆，在车旁有贴纸，说明是真正的计程车。同时，该县与计程车业者开通1155热线，以接受乘客投诉计程车服务不良问题，或者拨电话至0-7741-4231 也可透过电子邮箱投诉计程车服务toc_samui@hotmail.com。

～以上新闻转载至世界日报～

Border crossing continues

Border crossing continues

IT is business as usual for southern Thai-bound tour bus and van operators as they are still allowed to ferry passengers beyond the Malaysia-Thai border here.

This was despite earlier reports that tour buses and vans from Malaysia and Singapore would be banned from crossing over to southern Thai, while tourists would be forced to board its local tour buses to continue their journey.

Checks at the Dannok-Bukit Kayu Hitam border recently showed the buses and vans were still allowed to transport passengers into the south of Thailand.

Long queue of buses and vans could be seen at the border gate as early as 6am.

One of the drivers, Mohd Jamil Bidin, 42, said he was not aware of the ruling which took effect on Aug 1.

Tour bus and van operators from Malaysia and Singapore are not allowed to cross into Thailand.

However, Jamil said until now, they were still allowed to transport passengers from Malaysia to the neighbouring countries without restriction as long as all persons on board had valid travel documents.

“I am not aware of this new ruling where tourists have to switch to Thai public transports.

“None of the authorities in Thailand have said anything about this and we are operating as usual for now,” he said when met at Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here.

Another driver, who only wished to be identified as Seng, said he was also unaware of such a ruling.

He expressed his concern that the drivers’ income would be affected if the Thai authorities decided to disallow Malaysian or Singaporean tour buses from entering the country.

“Our trip would be cut by almost half and most likely our income will be affected,” he said.

Seng also fears that such a ruling would lead to the drop in the number of Malaysian tourists travelling to Thailand by bus.

Meanwhile, a Penangite, who travels to Hat Yai for work every fortnight, said the ruling would be troublesome for tourists.

“Having to switch buses at the border will be such a hassle, especially for those travelling with young children or with lots of baggage,” she said.

It was reported that the ruling was a retaliation against the Malaysian authorities move to ban tour vans from Thailand to transport passengers beyond two kilometres of the border to protect local public transport operators.

Meanwhile, a source from the Malaysian consulate in Songkhla said the office had yet to receive any written notice on the new ruling from the Thai government.

According to him, if indeed such a ruling was passed the Thai government would have issued a notice to the consulate and given ample time for its implementation.

“This is news to me. We have not been informed on the new ruling nor have we received any written notice from the Thai authorities,” said the source.

“The enforcement would have not taken place without prior notice as it will have a negative effect on tourism in Thailand,” he added.


Local tour bus and van operators queuing at the Customs and Immigration point to drop off passengers in Hatyai.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Phuket pushes for new taxis, new fares, amid new harsh penalties

Phuket pushes for new taxis, new fares, amid new harsh penalties



The proposed new-look standard taxi for Phuket. Photo: PLTO

PHUKET: The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) has proposed a slew of changes to create a new fleet of “standard metered taxis” to serve tourists and residents throughout Phuket.

The proposed changes were handed to Col Somchai Ponatong of the Royal Thai Army’s 41st Military Circle, who will pass on the request to the PLTO headquarters and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) in Bangkok.

Jaturong Kaewkasi, the PLTO’s senior policy adviser, explained that the proposal for the new fares and the new look for the taxis is to encourage drivers to become metered-taxi drivers instead of fixed-rate “limousine” drivers preying on passengers at Phuket International Airport.

“Drivers can make more money carrying a fare back to the airport, rather than having to drive back empty, as is the case now,” he explained to the Phuket Gazette.

In presenting its case, the PLTO proposal pointed out that the fixed-rate fares currently listed as those to be charged by “green plate” limousines for one-way trips from Phuket Airport to destinations on the island were as follows:

Phuket City - 550 baht
Chalong - 650 baht
Patong - 800 baht
Karon - 1,000 baht
Laguna - 700 baht
Cape Panwa - 750 baht
Rawai - 1,000 baht

Under the proposed new taxi meter rates, the fares for the same one-way trips were estimated to be no more than:

Phuket City - 400 baht
Chalong - 470 baht
Patong - 500 baht
Karon - 600 baht
Laguna - 300 baht
Cape Panwa - 520 baht
Rawai - 620 baht

“The proposed meter rates are 50 baht for the first two kilometers, then 12 baht per kilometer for the next 15km, then 10 baht per kilometer thereafter,” Mr Jaturong explained.

“We have been trying to raise the standard meter rates for years. If this is approved, it would make it much easier for us to encourage drivers to operate metered taxis instead of becoming 'limousine' drivers.”

Comparatively, the current standard rates as set by the Land Transport Department are 50 baht per kilometer for the first two kilometers, seven baht per kilometer for the next 22km, then six baht per kilometer thereafter.

PLTO chief Terayout Prasertphol last year noted that the Land Transport Department had not increased the standard fares for Phuket drivers since 2003 (story here).

The proposal also included an explanation that from August 1 any drivers caught working illegally as taxi drivers faced the full weight of the law (story here).

According to Section 23 of the Land Transportation Act BE 2522, the penalty for working illegally as a taxi driver is a maximum fine of 100,000 baht, two years’ imprisonment, or both.

Accompanying the proposal were images of what Phuket’s new fleet of standard taxis would look like: white sedans with red-and-yellow stripes and stickers prominently showing the vehicle’s taxi registration number and the PLTO complaint hotline number, 1584.

However, while aiming to create a new fleet of standard taxis for Phuket, the PLTO is also aiming to keep the limousines in business, but as a higher quality taxi service, Mr Jaturong told the Gazette.

“We hope that many people want to make this happen, and that the NCPO agrees with us,” he said.

Mr Jaturong called for people to voice their support by posting comments online.

“At this stage, all we need is approval from the NCPO and support from the public,” he said. “If you want to support us, please post comments online, on news stories and on Facebook."

“If there is a lot of support, we will record it and send it to the NCPO to support our request.”

~News courtesy of Phuket Gazette~

Phuket airport bus to drive to Karon

Army protection from mafia gives Phuket airport bus owner confidence to drive to Karon



Buses, and sometimes vans, will start taking passengers to Kata-Karon this month. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: The Phuket Airport Express Bus is prepared to push through Patong as its owner looks to roll out a new final stop in Karon by mid-August.

Airport Express Bus owner Prakob Panyawai is working out the final details of the new route, which will terminate at Karon Municipality. The airport bus was initially planned to run to Kata-Karon, but fear of violent reprisals from local tuk-tuk and taxi drivers necessitated scaling back the route to terminate in Patong, Mr Prakob noted earlier this year (story here).

The news of the public transport breakthrough follows a meeting between Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) officers, Mr Prakob and Col Somchai Ponatong of the Army’s 41st Military Circle.

“Col Somchai promised that he would ensure the safety of our drivers and passengers. He made it clear that we didn’t have to worry about violent attacks from tuk-tuk cartels or the taxi mafia,” Mr Prakob told the Phuket Gazette.

“We are also determining, from our past statistics, when the demand for the service will be lower, so we know when we will be able to use vans instead of buses.

“At this stage, we cannot afford to send the big bus to Karon every time.”

The idea to use vans for the extended route to Karon was announced last month (story here) after an Army-bolstered campaign battled illegal “mafia-style” taxi groups on the island (story here).

Mr Prakob also mentioned that he is waiting to launch the service after receiving final approval from the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to open an Airport Express Bus counter on the first floor of Phuket International Airport.

~News courtesy of Phuket Gazette~