Phuket tourism industry calls to end quarantine for Bangkok arrivals, pitches plan to revive tourism by October
Phuket tourism industry calls to end quarantine for Bangkok arrivals, pitches plan to revive tourism by October
PHUKET: Leading representatives from Phuket’s devastated tourism industry have called for the Phuket provincial government to end the mandatory 14-day quarantine for people arriving from specific districts in Bangkok in the hope of throwing local businesses a lifeline until international tourists return.
Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew recognised the need for urgent action. Photo: PR Phuket
The high-powered delegation also called for the Phuket provincial government to prepare to start receiving international tourists from October, ahead of what would normally be Phuket’s tourism high season, under a plan that would require all international arrivals to be vaccinated for COVID-19 before being allowed to enter Phuket.
Patong, Phuket Town join push for free COVID vaccinations for all residents
Patong, Phuket Town join push for free COVID vaccinations for all residents
PHUKET: The mayors of Patong and Phuket Town have both now confirmed that they have set aside their own budgets to vaccinate all registered residents – Thai and foreign – in their areas for COVID-19 without having to wait for the national government.
Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot
The move follows Chalong Mayor Samran Jindapon earlier this week confirming to
The Phuket News that foreigners living in Chalong will be freely vaccinated for COVID-19 once the national government has approved which vaccines may be used in Thailand.
High hopes for 5G to broaden Phuket’s economic base
High hopes for 5G to broaden Phuket’s economic base
PHUKET: 5G coverage across the island is already nearing 100% with only lesser populated areas remaining to be connected, as hopes run high that the new level of connectivity will help lure many different types of businesses not dependent on tourism to start up on the island.
AIS workers install a 5G signal station in Phuket. Photo: AIS
Full 100% coverage is expected to be completed by the middle of next year, explained Pracha Asawateera, Southern Area Manager of Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA, based in Phuket. As such, Mr Pracha is the DEPA Area Manager for all of Southern Thailand.
Phuket Chamber of Commerce facilitating small business soft loans
Phuket Chamber of Commerce facilitating small business soft loans
PHUKET: The Phuket Chamber of Commerce (PCC) is urging local business owners to apply for soft loans now made available through the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) to help businesses struggling amid the ongoing economic crisis.
Friday 18 December 2020, 03:59PM
Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet urged local business owners to take advantage of the soft loans being provided. Photo: PR Phuket
“This is to help people in need, especially entrepreneurs and people in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi who are in trouble now,” PCC President Thanusak Phungdet explained yesterday (Dec 17).
Phuket Opinion: Being taken for a ride
Phuket Opinion: Being taken for a ride
PHUKET: The whole nation has again seen what Phuket’s illustrious taxi drivers can do to deter potential tourists from coming to the island, despite all the rhetoric from officials that they are working on changing Thai tourists’ impression that Phuket is an expensive place to visit.
Sunday 13 December 2020, 09:00AM
The more common taxis at the airport are not metered taxis, but ’chartered taxis’ identified by the green or yellow licence plates. Photo: The Phuket News / file
The latest incident became public when a woman Thai tourist posted on social media this week that she was charged B200 per kilometre for her journey with two friends, altogether carrying three items of luggage. The post went viral and Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has ordered that the incident be investigated.