普吉机场旅客破1100万大关

普吉机场旅客破1100万大关

普吉府尹迈迪昨天（7日）表示，2013财政年度期间，共有近1100万名游客使用普吉机场的服务，而在接下来的旅游旺季当中，该府各机构目前正在积极准备迎接不断增多的客流量，不管是机场还是医院方面，都将为游客提供贴心、周到的服务，给来普吉观光的游客留下深刻的印象。

迈迪指出，2013财年期间（2012年10月1日-2013年9月30日），通过普吉机场进入普吉观光的游客共达1097万5000人人次，比2012财年的916万人次增长了19.85%。据对当地酒店业者的调查发现，前往普吉的游客人数还将持续增加，截至目前当地沙滩周边的酒店客房最高预订率高达80-85%，市中心酒店的客房最高预定率达70-75% 。因此，普吉必须就各方面做好充足准备，包括为游客提供周到的服务，保障游客在普吉府的人身和财产安全。

在保障游客安全方面，当地相关安全机构已在全面执行和落实，包括出动警力维护社会秩序、完善从游客下飞机直到下榻酒店的交通便利以及各旅游景点便利服务等。但为了确保上述工作切实展开，迈迪指出，他将到各地进行视察，以芭东医院为起点，视察该医院的紧急医疗准备和医护人员的服务情况，之后再前往重要旅游地区警署与警署负责人会面，视察和了解警方的执行工作计画。

迈迪表示，此外，他还希望当地警方能加强预防犯罪，整顿载客摩托车和计程车市场秩序，相信只要这一方面工作做好了，普吉的旅游形象也将随之获得改善。

~世界日报~

叻达纳哥信岛观光单车 免费骑行

叻达纳哥信岛观光单车 免费骑行

曼谷市政府文化体育和观光办事处处长芭妮女士透露，由该办事处与民间业者联合推出的叻达纳哥信岛古城区环保自行车服务已重新开启使用，该项自行车服务采用免费借用的方式，为游客提供环保的骑行游玩服务，设有6个自行车服务站，包括帕那空区的4个站﹕皇家田广场、曼谷观光办事处（宾诰大桥下）、素眉鲁古炮台前以及市政府前的市民广场﹔至于吞武里地区设两个服务点﹕黎明寺以及一世皇桥下。

市政府提供这项免费借用自行车服务，共投入120辆自行车，每个站有20辆自行车供观光客借用，服务时间为周一至周五上午10时起至下午6时，周六至周日上午9时至晚上7时。民众可以使用身分证、护照或者任何有效证件作为抵押，免费借用自行车，而退还自行车时，可以在同一区域的其他车站退车，也就是说，如果在帕那空地区任何一站借车，则在该地区其他另三座车站或原车站退还。

有意了解更多有关借用自行车细节者，可拨电话询问﹕0 2225 7612-4。

~世界日报~

交长体验火车 促建双轨铁路

交长体验火车 促建双轨铁路

交通部长参察昨天（4日）在国家铁路局局长巴帕的陪同下搭乘曼谷到廊开府的「特快列车」，以到该府介绍2兆铢交通建设发展项目，结果亲自体验列车晚点两小时、厕所臭气冲天等问题。交长不得不表示将尽快推动建设双轨铁路计画，使「特快列车」提速从现在的40公里增至80-100公里。

交通部长参察与国家铁路局长巴帕与前天（3日）晚上8时45分乘坐第3级免费火车，从曼谷华喃峰中央火车站出发前往廊开府，并在昨天中午12时45分抵达目的地。参察昨天搭乘的列车抵达呵叻府时，当地铁道系统遇到雷击事故，造成列车晚点，加上列车行进速度本来就很慢，原订上午9时45分抵达目的地廊开府，结果拖到近中午才抵达。

参察从列车上下来后一脸囧相，表示他亲眼目睹和亲身感到了泰国列车服务的「烂透」，包括车上的厕所老旧而臭气冲天，乘客向他抱怨列车服务差。从曼谷到廊开府615公里路程，列车要使用7小时时间，时速仅有40公里。因此他表示政府将尽快推动建设双轨制铁路系统，实现列车全面提速，在建成后至少能提速至每小时80-100公里，如果未来能建成高速铁路，则车程将能从现在的7小时减剩3小时。

曾亲自乘坐曼谷公共车的交通部长参察表示，他体验搭乘列车后，认为列车服务可以打60分的勉强及格分，至于列车员服务，他个人打满分。

参察指出，第3级火车的不足之处至于，火车上厕所气味太浓，且供乘客使用的水也不足。他表示，此次前往廊开府是为了主持2020年国家未来道路建设项目，然而专门选择乘坐第3级火车则是为了更好的了解火车的服务和铁路情况，以为日后更好的修缮铁路做调查准备。

巴帕补充说，还有在车内喝酒，影响了其他乘客，很多乘客对在公共场所喝酒表示反感。他急令铁路局尽快解决此类问题。

~世界日报~

Threat from typhoon eases

Threat from typhoon eases



Heavy rain expected, cabinet gives green light to establishment of water ministry

WITH TYPHOON Wutip rapidly heading for a downgrade to a low-pressure ridge yesterday, some Thais heaved a sigh of relief but many remained on the lookout for another coming storm.

Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who chairs the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC), yesterday confirmed that Wutip's threat had diminished.

"The severity of Wutip is less than initially expected," he said.

But he added that Wutip would still cause heavy rain in some provinces.

Still at risk of possible natural disasters were Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Kalasin, Nong Khai, Beung Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Loei, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun.

Heavy inundation

Floodwaters in Chaiyaphum have reached between 50 and 70 centimetres since the arrival of Wutip.

"We are now facing the worst floods in half a century," Poj Piromkij said on behalf of more than 200 families in Tambon Talad Laeng in Chaiyaphum's Ban Khwao district.

All three main roads to the local villages had been under floodwater several metres deep for two weeks, he said.

"And now Wutip comes with more downpours," Poj said.

He said the torrents of floodwater were so strong that boats without engines could hardly move.

According to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, floods have now ravaged 25 provinces.

Flood-related deaths during the past few weeks have reached 23 and more than 2 million rai of farmland have been flooded.

One of the hardest-hit provinces is Prachin Buri, which was visited by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday.

Plodprasop said flooding in Prachin Buri should ease within one week, if no more rain arrived.

However, he said a monsoon trough was now hovering over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing more rain.

"If the wind is strong, it may affect Chanthaburi and Prachin Buri," Plodprasop said.

He remained confident that floods would not hit Bangkok, however.

~News courtesy of The Nation~

普吉大力发展旅游业 游客见长20%

普吉大力发展旅游业 游客见长20%

近年来，「泰国游」在中国的日益火爆也带动了普吉旅游的迅速腾飞，普吉府府尹迈迪表示，目前当地正在大力整顿旅游市场、完善基础设施建设并丰富旅游资源，以期为游客们带来更为多样化的旅游体验。  

迈迪表示，从去年10月至今年8月，普吉国际机场外国游客到港人数达到了1010万人次​​，较去年同期增长20%，其中中国市场的表现最为抢眼。去年共计65万人次中国游客到访普吉，今年这一数字预计将飙升至100万人次，中国已成为普吉最大的旅游客源国之一。  

迈迪透露，为了更好地接纳外国游客、尤其是越来越多的中国游客，普吉府正在对普吉国际机场进行扩建，新的国际航站楼预计将于2015年5月正式落成。届时，登机口将从现有的15个增加至25个，停车场车位也将从500个增至1500个，国际航站楼还将为包机乘客开设快速通道。  

作为普吉的支柱性产业，旅游业是当地经济发展的引擎和就业岗位的主要来源。自从去年10月上任以来，迈迪致力于以生态旅游的理念打造普吉的绿色城市形象，重点推介高尔夫、水疗等旅游项目。  

针对外国人在普吉旅游时遇到的种种问题，如遭遇诈骗、财物被盗、浮潜或游泳时溺水等，迈迪表示，普吉府正在大力整顿当地的旅游行业市场，建立严格的规范措施，查处取缔「黑车」「黑导游」，并在游客密集区域部署救生员和执法队伍等，以保障游客的合法权益和生命财产​​安全。  

除旅游外，普吉府近年来还不断拓展与中国有关方面在文化、教育、经贸等领域的合作。迈迪说，目前普吉已经与青岛、遂宁、烟台、海口和西安签署了合作备忘录并建立友好城市关系，与澳门和厦门达成了合作意向。他表示，泰中友好关系源远流长，由于历史上大量华人移居普吉，「泰中一家亲」的观念在当地尤为深入人心，普吉期待与中国有关方面在更多的领域开展合作。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～

泰国持续降雨 15处古迹被淹

泰国持续降雨 15处古迹被淹

艺术厅长阿涅昨天（25日）表示，据艺术办事处最新的报告显示，由于受到连续数日的降雨影响，该厅发现全国已有15处重要文化古迹被洪水侵蚀，其中包括大城府的文化古迹遗址。为了保护大城府古迹不再受到影响，该厅正在紧急准备5万个沙袋，以在古迹周边筑起沙袋墙，并安排20台抽水设备随时准备抽水。  

阿涅指出，针对全国被淹的文化古迹遗址，该厅已下令相关负责人尽快展开抽水，并紧急筑起沙袋墙，防止洪水入侵。虽然目前有15处遗址被淹，但相关报告指出还没有对古迹造成太大影响。无论如何，政府部门和民众都对未来2天的降雨天气将会导致途径大城府的湄南河水位上涨，进而给文化古迹带来威胁，而该厅已经采取了一系列保护措施。  

阿涅还表示，初步措施包括准备5万个沙袋、20台抽水机，并下令大城府第3艺术办事处安排负责人24小时密切关注气候变化和湄南河水势情况，并及时汇报。无论如何，负责人目前正在加紧制造沙袋，并将顺着湄南河边在古迹周围筑起沙袋，例如猜哇他纳兰佛寺、探玛兰佛寺等。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～

24 provinces under grip of floods

24 provinces under grip of floods



Northeast, East brace for tropical depression approaching from Vietnam

The Royal Irrigation Department is keeping a close eye on the impact of the upcoming tropical depression from Vietnam, which might affect several provinces in Thailand's Northeast and Eastern regions

Ubon Ratchatani, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Prachin Buri would likely be affected by the upcoming depression. These areas are already severely hit by floods, the department's deputy director-general Suthep Noipairoj said yesterday.

He expressed concerns about the flood situation in Prachin Buri as the Pasak Chonlasit Dam is now nearly full and needed to discharge some volume of water before the new tropical depression arrived.

To date, the volume of water in Pasak Chonlasit Dam was 785 million cubic metres while the full capacity of the dam was 960 million cubic metres.

"We have to discharge about 8.9 million cubic metres per day from the dam to prepare for the upcoming depression," he said.

Meanwhile, Chao Phraya River should drain water at 2,300 cubic metres per second, which exceeds its capacity of 2,195 cubic metres per second.

Suthep explained that the department would drain the excess amount of water into the fields on the western and eastern banks of Chao Phraya River.

However, he explained that most of the flood-affected areas were located along the river and waterway and that is why they were at risk from the adverse impact of the flooding.

Floods have already affected more than 2.1 million people this month and ravaged more than 1.14 million rai of farmland.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Chatchai Phromlert said yesterday that floodwater had also damaged 2,310 roads, 6,900 houses and 145 bridges. "Of the 29 flood-hit provinces, the situation in just five has returned to normal as of today," he said.

Still under water are Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Buri Ram, Amnat Charoen, Chaiyaphum, Yasothon, Mukdahan, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Chainat, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Ayutthaya, Angthong and Suphan Buri.

Many of these provinces are heavily flooded. The worst-hit spots in Chaiyaphum are about 2.8 metres under water.

In Buri Ram, floodwater levels have soared above three metres in Krasang district, marooning more than 200 families. Officials are making desperate efforts to get relief items to these victims.

Working alongside local administrative bodies, the department has mobilised thousands of volunteers to deliver assistance. More than 1,500 boats have been dispatched to reach the victims. Not all, however, are happy with the authorities' response.

Anong Thongsri, a 46-year-old resident in Prachin Buri's flooded Kabin Buri district, lamented that assistance efforts had failed to reach all those affected. "The floodwater level is also rising," she said.

Department of Religious Affairs chief Preecha Gunteeya said, meanwhile, that 295 temples in 12 provinces were flooded, affecting 2,014 monks.

The Government Housing Bank has offered a debt moratorium for flood-hit customers, whose loan repayments will be suspended for up to nine months depending on the severity of their situation. During that period, no interest will be charged on the loans.

Should flooding damage the whole house of a loan recipient, the bank will write off all outstanding debt on the house, leaving just the debt from the land purchase to pay.

Flood-hit loan recipients can contact the bank for help at (02) 645 9000.

~News courtesy of The Nation~