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~

Leo Beer

No more visa runs

No more visa runs

FOREIGNERS WHO do regular visa runs in order to extend their stay in Thailand have less than a month before a crackdown by the authorities to enforce immigration laws more strictly.

From August 13, people will not be able to re-enter the country, regardless of their choice of transport.

The Immigration Bureau has already instructed officials to deny entry to foreigners doing visa runs as a measure to stop the exploitation of tourist visas and visa exemptions to live or work here.

Visa runs have been common among foreigners in Thailand recently, given that a simple search on the Net turns up several companies offering "visa trips" for expatriates staying or working here.

Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay. By exploiting 60-day tourist visas and 30-day visa exemptions, many foreigners can work illegally in language schools, or restaurants and other businesses. It is easier for some to get jobs this way, as some employers do not want to go through the complicated process of seeking work permits and like to avoid the expense if they can.

"I have done visa runs several times before, because my employers would not agree to seek a work permit until I passed their probation period. So, when you stop allowing visa runs, the lives of many foreigners in Thailand will be affected," a 46-year-old American said.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau website says: "Leniency will be granted until August 12, but only for passengers arriving by air. Foreigners who come to Thailand must seek a proper visa in line with the purpose of their intended stay here."

Now, those on a visa run who are allowed back in will find an "O-I" (Out-In) mark next to their latest stamp marking entry. From August 13, nobody with an O-I sign on their passport will be allowed to re-enter Thailand if they cannot produce a proper visa.

The Immigration Bureau has instructed checkpoints on shared borders to stop visa runners from entering the Kingdom effective immediately.

Immigration Division 6 chief Pol Maj-General Tatchai Pitaneelabut, who oversees immigration affairs in the South, said visa runners come from several countries, including Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.

"They come here to work as tour guides, waiters, waitresses, etc," he said, pointing out that these visa-runners are often based in tourist centres such as Phuket and Songkhla.

However, he said the presence of the so-called "out-in" migrants in the South had been significantly reduced because immigration officials were already enforcing stricter laws.

Pol Lt-Colonel Weerawat Nilwat, an inspector at the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province, disclosed that immigration officials at his workplace had already barred more than 100 visa-runners from re-entering the Kingdom.

"We have to be strict because we have to uphold laws and properly control immigrants. Efficiency on this front will also reduce crime," he said.

Pol Colonel Thirachai Dedkhad, the superintendent at the Sa Kaew checkpoint, said officials under his supervision were not stopping visa runners from re-entering yet. "But we have been warning them to acquire a proper visa before they come to Thailand the next time."

He said immigration officials had also warned people departing that they must obtain a proper visa if they want to come back.

"We have made it clear that if they want to work in Thailand, they must seek a work permit and get the right type of visa," Thirachai said.

~News courtesy of The Nation~

新时代航空开通桂林-甲米航班

新时代航空开通桂林-甲米航班

7月15日，泰国新时代航空开通了桂林直飞泰国甲米府国际航班。甲米成为了继曼谷之后，桂林机场开通的第二个泰国直飞航点。

位于泰国南部的甲米是著名旅游胜地，与普吉岛隔海相望。它拥有30多个离岛，是安达曼海岸边最美丽的地方，也被誉为泰国的「小桂林」。

此次新开的桂林-甲米航线由泰国新时代航空公司使用波音737机型执飞，航班号为E38615/6，每5天飞行一班往返。北京时间12点30分从泰国甲米府起飞，16点30分抵达桂林；之后17点30分从桂林起飞，19点40分抵达泰国甲米。

自去年年底泰国政局陷入持续动荡以来，当地旅游业遭遇严重冲击，导致同期赴泰的中国游客数量大幅下降。目前，随着泰国政局趋于稳定，赴泰游开始回暖。当地也在致力于整顿旅游市场，刺激游客前往泰国。

据桂林机场消息，自8月1日起，中国南方航空将新增桂林-南宁-曼谷每周3、5、7航班，由原来的每周4班增至7班，达到每天一班的频率。此外，泰国新时代航空也将开通桂林-曼谷新航线，加密桂林至曼谷航班。

目前，桂林机场已开通往返马来西亚吉隆坡、韩国首尔、中国香港、澳门、台北、高雄等多条地区及国际航线，2013年出入境航班达3246架次，旅客逾35.4万人次。随着7月28日起桂林口岸正式对51个国家公民实施72小时过境免签，将开启桂林培育国际航空港的引擎。桂林近期将开通桂林-南宁-新加坡、桂林-韩国济州、釜山、青州航线，今年桂林的直达国际航线将达10条；并正筹划开通桂林-越南胡志明市、桂林-印尼雅加达、桂林至其他国际友城等近10条航线。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～

Growth of Udon Thani brings thrills, new style

Growth of Udon Thani brings thrills, new style



The two rubber ducks at the famous Prachak Pond in Udon Thani carry the national flags of Germany and Argentina, who met in the 2014 World Cup final.

Old 'GI City' now a major hub in Northeast

From being known as a "GI City" due to the US Airforce base that was once there, Udon Thani has transformed from a simple peaceful town into a leading hub in the Northeast, buzzing with businesses catering to investors, locals, and traders from neighbouring provinces and nearby Laos. As urbanised as any other major Thai city, Udon is flooded with brand-name goods and malls and people there, especially teenagers, have leisure choices equal to those of their peers in Bangkok.

A 17-year-old high school student, "Pop", said that rapid development had vastly improved Udon. "If I want to go eat, shop and do things it is very convenient," she said. "We can just hop on motorbikes and go to malls without asking to be driven there by our parents."

The pressure on the wallets of the youngsters, however, balances out this convenience.

"Now we have plenty of choices but we don't have enough money to buy them," complained Pop. "We have to spend carefully as the earnings of our parents and the money they give to us remains the same. Sometimes we just hang out in malls without buying anything."

Aum, a graduate from Udon Thani Rajabhat University, said that more people are spending their leisure time clubbing or watching football matches and drinking at pubs.

As he prefers shopping, he admitted that his personal expenses are high because he buys tempting, and often unnecessary, things. He claimed that crime has become more of an issue as people were robbing and stealing in order to get the things they want. Heavy traffic has also become a problem as more locals take to their vehicles to get places. The roads are also packed with visitors from nearby provinces and from Laos. Fortunately the jams only occur at certain periods of day and cannot be compared to the ones in Bangkok.

"Udon Thani used to be a peaceful place and people were not so selfish," said Aum. "The appearance of all these malls and condos have changed that. People feel pressure to dress more fashionably and spend more money at malls such as Central Plaza and UD Town, which are both beautifully decorated and offer brand-name goods."

Aum's fellow-student Thanyalak Woranoi, 24, said the city has become a real hub for entertainment. The two main malls often host events and there are many restaurants where she and her friends can go and split the bill. "Before our choices were limited to Nong Prachak and parks where we eat picnic-style or ride bicycles together," she said.

Although Udon Thani is now more urbanised, people are still kind and welcoming, hence many visitors from Laos liked to visit and make large purchases, she said.

A Laotian tourist, identified only as Noi, said she liked to shop at air-conditioned Udon Thani malls because of the large selection of products.

In addition to shopping, Udon Thani is a favourite destination for Laotians seeking medical treatment due to its profusion of trustworthy private hospitals.

Meanwhile, those with money to spare can also take advantage of the many services from Udon Thani International Airport, including flights to Phuket, Koh Samui or even South Korea.

~News courtesy of The Nation~

Banlaem - Maeklong Train Timetable

计程车吁上调起步价至50铢

计程车吁上调起步价至50铢 

陆军第一军卫队指挥官阿披叻少将昨天（19日）前往曼谷拉玛九尚泰购物商场，视察周边载客摩托车秩序及规范，清除载客摩托车背后的黑道势力。同时，陆军第11军团视察了廊曼机场，该机场计程车司机诉苦，表示希望维持稳定委员会能将计程车起步价上调至50铢。

 阿披叻少将、国家警察总署警总长助理乍提中将、陆路运输厅厅长安萨泰以及相关机构负责人，昨天共同视察位于曼谷叻差拉披色路的拉玛九尚泰购物中心，对周边载客摩托车司机许可证进行突击检查。

 阿披叻指出，整个曼谷有超过500个区块的载客摩托车团队没有进行注册登记，没有合法的载客许可证，这给社会上较有势力的黑色地下组织提供了谋取私利的机会。因此，相关机构必须尽快为这些载客摩托车司机进行登记，办理合法手续，并在乘客等候处悬挂公开的价格表，避免摩托车司机趁机叫价，确保将乘客安全地送抵目的地。

 他还说，与维稳委员会下令清扫计程车背后的黑色势力之政策一样，摩托车背后的不法势力也被清除。目前军警已经掌握了部分黑色势力的资料，现时正在商议如何展开接下来的工作，可能会传唤这些人向军方报到。希望民众可以积极提供线索，并向军方举报。而如果有政府官员在幕后操控以此谋利，将坚决依法处置，立即取消其公务员身分。

 此外，陆军第11军团指挥官尼兰东少将昨天视察了曼谷廊曼机场计程车服务情况，并与该机场计程车排班与安全管理公司负责人玛纳空军上将会面。双方同意共同监督和整顿机场计程车秩序，为全球游客及民众提供便利、安全且公平的服务，因为廊曼机场同样存在计程车司机不按计程表随意喊价的现象。

 而与素汪那普机场不同的是，廊曼机场拥有专门负责计程车秩序的公司，但管理起来依然存在困难，包括司机的赌博和刑事犯罪行为。同时，该机场计程车司机还希望能通过尼兰东少将，向维稳委员会提出诉求，将计程车的起步价统一调升至50铢，而现时的起步价为35铢。尼兰东指出，维稳委员会将会就此提议展开协商，但计程车的整顿问题刻不容缓。

~以上新闻转载自世界日报~