Sunday, May 9, 2010

PHUKET: A tsunami alert for Phuket and five other nearby Andaman provinces this afternoon was canceled less than a hour after it had been issued.
The National Disaster Warning Center issued the alert for Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Satun, Ranong and Trang at 1:18pm.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong’s order for a crackdown on riding as a passenger (pillion) on a motorbike without a helmet is laudable, but won’t be easy to enforce.

Under the plan, police will be responsible for ensuring compliance with an existing law that allows them to issue fines of up to 500 baht for anyone caught on a motorbike without a helmet, as well as 1,000 baht for anyone caught transporting a passenger without a helmet.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

– A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Phuketcafe editors for Phuket's international community

PHUKET: Marine scientists have been closely watching massive coral bleaching in the Andaman Sea around Phuket, believed to be the worst case in Thai waters for 20 years.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office in Phuket is inviting people to take part in an educational bike ride

around Phuket Old Town on May 23. The four-hour ride, which starts at 7am, will be a cultural tour of the town with stops at historically important sites and explanations about the local way of life. The event is open to all who wish to take part, both Thai and foreigners, except for children under seven years of age.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

– A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Phuketcafe editors for Phuket's international community

PHUKET: Around 700 service people in Phuket, comprising drivers of taxis, tuk tuks, motorbike taxis, and other vehicles for hire, along with their family members, were vaccinated against the A H1N1 virus earlier this week.

Friday, May 7, 2010

– A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Phuketcafe editors for Phuket's international community

PHUKET: Opodo Travel News Announced yesterday that Air Berlin will add an extra weekly flight into Phuket toward the end of this year. A new Airbus A330-200 aircraft will be stationed at Berlin-Tegel airport to fly the sector.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

MAI KHAO, PHUKET: While occupancy rates on the island continue to plummet, Airports of Thailand (AoT) has agreed to allow 60 more taxis and minivans to operate out of Phuket International Airport.

A two-hour meeting was held at the airport today to work out a compromise between two rival concessionaires offering door-to-door limousine and minivan services from concession booths inside the arrivals hall.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

PHUKET: Thunder and heavy rain across Phuket yesterday morning indicate that the monsoon season is settling in.
Sorot Sawatdiraksa, a meteorologist with the Southern Meteorological Center at Phuket Airport, said the rains were the first heavy morning rains this year.

"The rain is a sign of change. Before yesterday there were no morning rains, only hot-season evening rains related to thunderstorm activity. In the monsoon season,

Thursday, May 6, 2010

– A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Phuketcafe editors for Phuket's international community

PHUKET: A lead story on major travel site CNN Go this morning says that Phuket is set to receive some stiff competition as a number of other destinations are being touted by developers and local governments as the "next-generation" Asian tourist hotspots.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

PHUKET: There are 123 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Phuket, public health workers have confirmed.
Dr Narinrat Pitchayakamint of the Phuket Public Health Office said the number of cases is higher now than this time last year.

According to Ministry of Public Health statistics, Phuket currently ranks 11th out of Thailand’s 76 provinces in terms of incidence of infection, with about 30 cases per 100,000.