Phuket Gazette - Phuket Business

Phuket business: Google bridges the gap

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:07:29 GMT

PHUKET: Amid the fast paced �age of online� a bulk of local businesses have fallen behind a rapidly evolving consumer base, and companies need to catch up, says Ariya Banomyong, head of Google Thailand

The country�s first manager for the iconic IT giant was in Phuket last week and the Gazette had the privilege to pick his brain for an hour.

�According to recent marketing research conducted by Nielsen in Thailand, the average consumer spends 11 hours per week in front of the TV, but 17 hours on the computer,� said Mr Ariya, who was born and raised in France and speaks four languages.

�Prime time is peak time.

Bangkok Hospital Phuket celebrates 17 years

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:30:15 GMT

PHUKET: Bangkok Hospital Phuket today launched a two-week health fair to mark the facility�s 17th anniversary.

During the fair, which runs until June 3, the hospital is offering special discounts on a range of patient services, including checkups and cancer checks, said Hospital Director Dr Narongrit Havarungsi.

�We are also offering special prices on physio-therapy equipment and other recovery items, such as wheelchairs,� he added.

New Etihad Phuket airlink opens gateway to Europe

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:22:14 GMT

PHUKET: The new weekly direct flights between Phuket and Abu Dhabi, and on to Germany, launched last month by United Arab Emirates (UAE) national carrier Etihad Airways have transformed the UAE into a portal for European tourists traveling to and from Phuket and the rest of Asia.

The new service was launched on April 15 after Etihad inked a cooperation agreement with Air Berlin earlier this year.

�This route is more popular among European tourist traveling from Europe than Middle Eastern tourists,� said Ekarat Jenkijjaroenchai, head of Etihad�s press relations in Airway Thailand.

Phuket business: What does the UK budget mean for British expats?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:23:00 GMT

It's that time again when George Osborne tries to tighten the purse strings for the UK economy and cut down the huge debt levels the youth of today have inherited from poor decision making and fiscal policies of the past.

Inconsequential it may well be to certain socio-economic brackets with Mr Osborne�s large outstretched arm unable to ruffle their financial feathers. But if we take a closer look at what has been proposed, this may have more affect on us than we think.

PHUKET BUSINESS: Artificial reefs key to mass tourism dive industry

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:55:33 GMT

PHUKET: In the tourism game creating memories is everything, explains the Head of Development at Reef Worlds, Dave Taylor.

�If you can create a tourism memory then you have won your game. You have won everything, because that�s a memory that never leaves a potential client, and they always come back to it,� Taylor told the Phuket Gazette in an exclusive interview.

Phuket Business: Transit proposals keep coming

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:37:00 GMT

PHUKET: Two more parties have engaged the Phuket provincial government about the prospect of developing the island�s multi-billion baht light rail and tunnel mega projects.

A multinational delegation from the Chinese construction giant China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) visited with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha recently.

�We are the biggest company in China and the 80th largest company of the top 220 big construction companies in the world,� said Mr Zhu Dongru, CGGC Southeast Asia Branch General Manager.

Phuket Business: ThaiVisa penetrates neighboring markets

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:13:00 GMT

PHUKET: ThaiVisa.com, the leading English-language social networking website about Thailand, is expanding its operations to Myanmar and Cambodia.

�We have carefully studied internet traffic trends and we see a sharp rise in search traffic and interest about our neighbor Myanmar,� said Barry Main, marketing director of Bangkok-based ThaiVisa Expat Group Co Ltd.

Phuket's Courtyard by Marriott in Kamala to reopen as Swissotel

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:08:31 GMT

PHUKET: Global chain Swissotel will reportedly take over management of the former Courtyard Marriott Kamala Beach effective April 1, reports Phuket Gazette Property Watch columnist Bill Barnett.

The 180-key, all-suite hotel, which is owned by Destination Properties, is part of a Phuket portfolio that includes former Courtyards in Surin Beach and Patong.

The news follows Marriott and Destination Properties

Community Enterprise Phuket street market under way

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:07:23 GMT

PHUKET: A three-day street market featuring items produced under the Ministry of Agriculture�s �Small and Micro Community Enterprise� (SMCE) program will taking place in Phuket Town started at 2:30pm today.

Kanda Pantong of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Phuket Office (DOAE-Phuket) in Phuket Town told the Phuket Gazette yesterday that the street market would start with an address by Phuket Deputy Governor Chaiwat Thepee at 2:30pm.

Over 60 producers in 30 tents will line the east end of Narisorn Road, in front on the

Phuket AMCHAM/PR Network to hold Sports Destination Tourism Seminar

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:33:00 GMT

PHUKET: A panel of leading experts will conduct a session on the high velocity potential of Sports Tourism and its impact on Brand Phuket at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club�s (TSLC) �The View� on May 24.

Among those giving presentations will be Debbie Dionysius, Assistant Vice President of Destination Marketing at Laguna Phuket, who will discuss how the success of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, Marathon and Ironman 70.3 have helped to market Phuket.

Phuket Business: Learning from the master investor

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:24:00 GMT

PHUKET: Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is arguably the greatest investor of our time. Most of us can never hope to achieve the kind of success he has had, but we would all probably do well to follow some of his very common-sense advice.

I have gathered a few quotes attributed to him for this week�s article.

Phuket fractional ownership ventures into new waters

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:39:13 GMT

PHUKET: Among the many luxury yachts to go on display at the 2012 Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) at Royal Phuket Marina. on Thursday will be the event�s first fractional ownership boat for sale.

Shared ownership pioneer

Suzuki Swift on a roll in Phuket

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:40:00 GMT

PHUKET: The Suzuki car dealership in Phuket Town is reporting brisk sales of the �all new� Suzuki Swift eco-car and expects to sell 200 units by the end of the month from its recently renovated showroom in Phuket Town.

The showroom, on Surin Road near the Shell service station, is well-known to scores of Suzuki SJ413 �Caribian� drivers on the the island, who rely on it for maintenance and repairs.

Phuket's Kata Group opens 'Beyond Resort' in Khao Lak

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:10:01 GMT

PHUKET: The Kata Group, one of Phuket�s best-known resort chains, celebrated the latest addition to its portfolio of luxury resorts on Friday.

Located in Phuket's neighboring province of Phang Nga, the new property in Khao Lak, branded as the 'Beyond Resort Khao Lak', is the group�s first foray out of Phuket since the opening of its Kandaburi Resort and Spa on Koh Samui.

On Friday, Admiral ML Asanee Pramoj, a member of the Privy Council, presided over the official opening of the resort in its restaurant.

Phuket Business: The European tourist market is dormant, but not done

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:25:00 GMT

PHUKET: Local officials and tourism industry representatives are optimistic about the revival of the European tourist market in the near future, following the recent success of a Phuket tourism promotion roadshow in Germany.

The Internationale Tourismus � Borse 2012 (ITB 2012), one of the largest tourism trade shows in the world, was held in Berlin, Germany.

Representing Phuket at the event were 28 tourism operators who were accompanied by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Somboon Jirayus, PTA vice-chairman Phurit Maswongsa and a number of other officials.