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 Media Centre
Media Monitoring
Sources: Bangkok Post, MCOT, ThaisNews, The Nation 31 August 2005:
No. of Burmese migrant applications for employment cards plummeted According to an employment officer, only 10,000 Burmese migrants had registered for employment, compared with 22,000 in 2004. Reasons for the sharp decline are that many Burmese migrants were killed by last year's tsunami; others returned home after the disaster or moved to other areas; and many others were still in hiding. Such a trend was also found in other provinces hit by the tsunami. Moreover, a new wave of migrants which has arrived in Phang Nga has raised concerns over reproductive health care. 01 September 2005:
Tax incentives used to lure local tourists back to the Andaman coastThe cabinet had approved tax exemptions for products bought in duty-free shops by tourists staying overnight in Phuket, Krabi and Phang-nga between September 1 and December 31. The measure is believed to help increase the number of local tourists by 20 per cent. 01 September 2005:
PM visits tsunami victims in Phang Nga, launches asset-conversion schemesThe Thai Prime Minister is scheduled to chair a mobile Cabinet meeting and inspect progress on the reconstruction of Ban Bang Khaya, Phang Nga. As well as presiding over the opening of a completely reconstructed village for tsunami victims, he will view ceremonies organised by the Asset Capitalisation Bureau, a public organisation in charge of helping villagers gain access to capital. The ceremonies include an exhibition on asset-capitalisation schemes for Muslims and the presentation of asset title deeds that can be used as collateral for loans. 03 September 2005:
Tsunami hit students in Krabi will be given educational funds soonThe Office of Basic Education of Krabi will begin to hand out funds to 5,000 tsunami-stricken students before the end of this month. Students who have lost both parents will receive 25,000 baht, and others who have been affected to a lesser degree will receive 15,000 baht. 03 September 2005:
Tourism firms struggle to survive Many tourism businesses are struggling to survive amid delays in the loan granting process, tourism promotion and state assistance. However, they believe that tourism in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi still has the potential to boom again because of their numerous natural attractions, if basic infrastructure, restoration work and good town planning are in place. The tsunami lowered tourist arrivals by 10 to 15% immediately, but impacts from aftershocks were more serious as these brought tourist arrivals down to only 10%, affecting hotel staff members and their families and leading to the collapse of many tourism-related businesses. 03 September 2005:
Goddess to allay 'tsunami ghost fears' A statue of the Chinese goddess will be brought from China to Phuket during next month's Vegetarian Festival to try to allay Asian tourists' fears of the ghosts of those who died in the tsunami. The festival is viewed as an opportunity to lure back Asian tourists to the island. 03 September 2005:
Bt63 bn for Phuket service hubBt63 billion is planned to spend on developing Phuket into a regional hub for the service industry such as a conference centre, a trade exhibition centre, a food centre and hotel and apartment complexes. Moreover, if the cabinet approves, the National Disaster Warning Centre will receive Bt229 million for next year's costs while the Tsunami Regional Trust Fund set up by the UNESCAP will receive Bt400 million for building a tsunami-warning system covering the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. 05 September 2005:
Residents of Laem Pom community in Phang Nga proud of new homes After months of fighting with a private firm on land disputes, Laem Pom residents are now seeing their new community taking shape. A cluster of 24 one-storey houses and six two-storey houses have been designed and built the way the locals wanted which is clear proof of the community's strength and unity. Built by private donors and volunteer groups, the houses are expected to be completed at the end of the month. 05 September 2005:
Tsunami affected fishermen are still struggling to get their lives backAccording to the Save Andaman network, fishing families in Phangnga's Khura Buri district have average household debts of 30,000-40,000 baht. To make the matter worse, their creditors made them sell everything including their boats and donated items. Some victims are still in need of start-up funds to rebuild their lives, many are too terrified to live close to the coast and those who have moved in to the new houses built by the state have problems adapting to their new environment. Although state agencies introduced income-making activities for survivors, they did not do enough, according to the locals. The scheme ended the very day project officers left the village. 05 September 2005:
Govt to speed up installation of its tsunami alert system The government hopes to have a tsunami early warning system in operation by the end of the year. But buoys for the warning system in the Andaman Sea will not be in place before the middle of next year. Three towers for the early warning system have been set up on Patong beach. The provincial administration is also building more warning towers at 19 other spots on the resort island. The building progress is satisfied though there are minor problems in getting the system linked to the National Disaster Warning Centre as well as to hotels in the areas. There are 11 broadcast towers around Phuket Island and 26 more will be set up soon. |
© 2005 United Nations Thailand
