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 Media Centre
Media Monitoring
Sources: Bangkok Post, MCOT and The Nation 04 October 2005:
Govt to 'sponsor' thousands of foreigners The government will pay for about 13,400 foreigners, including survivors and relatives of victims of last year's tsunami, to join the official memorial service. The commemoration would be held at Patong and Kamala beaches, Ban Neng and Ban Namkhem and Phi Phi island. Details of the commemorative activities had yet to be finalized but would include religious ceremonies, foundation-laying ceremony of the tsunami memorial, demonstration of the early warning system and many others arranged in bid to boost tourism in the areas. 06 October 2005:
Tsunami services may overwhelm hotelsPhuket hoteliers greeted with scepticism the government's plan to invite 10,000 foreign guests for the tsunami memorial service in December, saying the resort-island might not have enough rooms for all of them. 06 October 2005:
Tsunami early warning system needs more fundsVice Minister attached to the PM's Office Smith Dharmasarojana asked the Senate Tourism Commission to ask the government to speed its budget for 62 tsunami warning towers, to be completed by March 2006. Twenty-four towers are to be finished next month. According to Mr. Smith, more money is still needed since warning system technology and equipment costs US$ 1.25 million for each tower, and the National Disaster Warning Centre cannot afford it. 07 October 2005:
Tsunami warning system on par with international standards will improve confidence among touristsThe first 12 of 62 warning towers are expected to be completed in Nov while another 12 by the first anniversary of the disaster. The remaining 38 towers are expected to be fully installed by March 2006. The towers will be linked to 12 warning stations that will receive signals via satellite. Maps and signs showing tsunami escape trails will be available by Nov 15. 07 October 2005:
Airlines return to PhuketThe Pacific Asia Travel Association has welcomed the news that many international airlines will resume or increase direct services to Phuket by December. 08 October 2005:
Smith denies bemoaning lack of funds Smith Dharmasarojana charged with setting up tsunami advance warning towers in six Andaman coastal provinces, has denied ever complaining to the Senate tourism committee that he had no money to complete the job. Mr. Smith said the budget allocated for the project was adequate for procuring and installing the warning systems, scheduled for completion in 2007. Installation of wave recorders in the Indian Ocean as part of the tsunami alert system, however, could be slightly delayed because the tsunami advance warning centre has to rely on staff from six ministries for its operations. Mr. Smith said the 62 warning towers had already been purchased and would be installed by the Public Works Department while the Meteorological Department was responsible for procuring equipment for the warning system. 09 October 2005:
Drops in no. of passengers at Phuket airport and airport income It is reported that the period straight after the tsunami between January and September witnessed a 40-per-cent drop in passengers compared to the same period in 2004. In addition, the airport's income this year currently stood at Bt737.73 million, a 36-per-cent drop compared to last year's figure of Bt1.007 billion. 10 October 2005:
Help for locals fighting land grab Activists from tsunami-ravaged countries have pledged to help residents of Phang nga fight for their land, which influential people are trying to take away. Most residents affected by the tsunami were facing eviction by outsiders claiming to own the land. When residents tried to fight back, some received death threats to force their eviction. Such problems are found in Thung Wa, Thap Tawan, Laem Pom and Ban Nam Khem communities in Takua Pa district. |
© 2005 United Nations Thailand
