item--1--- Around 4 billion baht budget has been approved for Phuket under the government's second phase of stimulus package including 3.2 billion baht for an international convention centre.

Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu on Friday paid a visit to Phuket and made a trip to the location where a long-time delayed international convention centre is planned to be built. The fund for this mega project has been approved by the Thai cabinet under the government stimulus package (second edition) titled: 'Investing from strength to strength 2010'. The international exhibition & convention centre is to be built on a 150 rai plot of state land in Mai Khao near Tha Chartchai. The Department of Treasury is now carrying out plan design which comprises a convention and exhibition hall and VIP hall plus other facilities. The facility is designed to accommodate about four thousand people and is scheduled to be completed within 3 years. After a visit to the land plot, the Deputy Prime Minister held a meeting with the Phuket Governor and head officials plus business figures in Phuket to explain about the stimulus package and listened to private sector’s views and suggestions. In the first stimulus package, Phuket received 817 million baht budget to carry out 25 projects, mostly in roads and water management or supply and agriculture work. In the second phase the province is reportedly granted over 4 billion baht to stimulate the economy and tourism. Another project to receive funding is the 4,000 seats gymnasium at Saphan Hin in Phuket city. This requires 180 million baht to build and takes three years to complete. The new facility is expected to better handle national and international sports events.

item--2--- A 26 million baht budget for the construction of a road connecting Chalong and Nanai area of Patong has been approved.

Traveling or commuting between the populated Chalong on Phuket’s south east side and the tourist area of Patong will be easier in the near future as the project to build a road connecting the two locations has been approved by the cabinet. Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-Ngob confirmed that the 26 million baht fund is allocated through the Rural Road office to carry out construction of 1.6 kilometre long road. The governor said the work will be on the 5.1 kilometre existing dirt route. He said that another 14 million baht from the provincial budget will also be added up to complete the rest. He insists that the new road will help ease traffic congestion on the main road to Patong. The land utilization however needs to seek approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment while some under local government of Patong and Chalong. The governor affirms that after getting the green light, the construction work can promptly commence.

item--3--- Phang-Nga’s public and private joint committee agreed to focus on three major issues to stimulate the local economy.

Three major issues which a meeting of public and private sector joint committee in Phang-Nga agreed to tackle, in order to stimulate the local economy, comprised tourism and OTOP products development, agricultural produce such as palm and rubber prices and environmental issues. The agreement was reached during a meeting chaired by Phang-Nga Governor Yiumsuriya Palusuk this week. The meeting suggested that the OTOP – One Tambon One Product development and promotion in a group is not working well compared to a company type of business, while the agricultural products prices are still not stable with high production cost. They suggest that the rubber farmers should establish a group and set standards for labor fees to control production costs. A representative from local governments suggested that domestic markets should be focused on to fill the vacancies, especially during the low season.

item--4--- Phang-Nga authority ran a sea rescue operation drill at famous Similan Islands in preparation for the high season.

In preparing and ensuring safety measures for visitors to the popular Similan Islands off Phang-Nga province, a sea rescue operation exercise was carried out last week on location. The drill was a joint operation between the Royal Thai Navy and the local authority. It simulated a situation in which a tourist swimmer supposedly went unconscious and nearly drowned near shore. The Navy rescue team who patrol near shore then rushed out to assist and rescue the person to shore. A drill was also run for scuba diving accidents where the team took out rescue boats to assist and send to a nearby hospital. After the drill, head of the Royal Thai Navy Sea Rescue operation unit at Similan Islands Chupong Kam-Ngern insisted that his team is well trained and ready to look after visitors during this high season. Chief of Similan National Park Panumas Samsinium said after the park reopened on November 1st, it sees around 1,000 visitors per day especially on weekends This includes the Similan and Surin national parks of Phang-Nga. The authority also joins hands with the tourism sector to organize 'the Amazing Phang-Nga' festival this weekend, starting today to mark the beginning of the tourist season for the Andaman region.

item--5--- Krabi is organizing the ‘Andaman Festival’ during November 19-25 to mark the beginning of their tourists' high season.

To mark the beginning of the region’s high season Krabi authority in conjunction with local governments and businesses are organizing the ‘Andaman Festival’ during November 19-25 at Tara public park on the river bank in town. The Krabi Governor Prasit Ostanond said the festival will feature several events and activities including local folk performances from all eight districts, the walking street concept to enable convenient shopping and participation, model-rock climbing as it’s one of Krabi’s popular tourist activities and many more. Krabi currently has over 20,000 rooms in around 500 hotels. They are scattered around the beautiful beaches of Krabi.

item-6---- The scheduled visit to Phuket by the MV Doulos ship with a book fair was cancelled.

MV Doulos, the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship, was scheduled to visit Phuket, Thailand, from 19 – 26 November 2009. A small team from the ship was based in Phuket for the past 2 months undertaking the advance preparations for the visit, but they informed Andaman News just after our program last week that currently the ship is undergoing a planned time of maintenance and repairs in Singapore shipyard facilities. Due to some unexpected delays in the completion of parts of this work, the maintenance time has been extended. It is therefore with great regret that they announced the cancellation of the visit of MV Doulos to Phuket. They sincerely apologised for any inconveniences caused, and even later admitted that due to her old age, the ship was unlikely to be able to neither visit Phuket again nor travel as usual around the world.

item--7--- The British Council in Bangkok hold a football management contest for high school teams in Thailand with the prize of a trip to UK.

The British Council told Andaman News that 'The Pitch' is a competition that challenges talented student teams to manage a fictional British professional football club. Teams will face the challenges that football clubs would normally face in a season, as well as having to plan for the future development and success of the club. Coventry University, in partnership with Education UK and the British Council are looking for teams of students from across Thailand to participate. High School teams could even win a trip to the UK, including flights, accommodation and meals. Short-listed teams will then compete in Thailand in an exciting final where the overall winning team and school will be decided. You just need a team of four people with a good mix of interests and skills. All team members must be senior high school students and you will need a member of your school’s teaching staff to act as an advisor. More details are on www.britishcouncil.org/thailand-thepitch

item---- (not on video) The International Business Association of Phuket's monthly meeting tonight is about local schools.

The International Business Association of Phuket or IBAP informed Andaman News that this evening's program from 6.30pm at the Phuket Brewery is titled "Education outlook for Phuket, a panel presentation with questions & Answers or Q&A". IBAP has invited panelists from Phuket's leading foreign and Thai educational institutions, namely Phuket International Academy, British International School, Wittaya Sathid School and Quality Schools International or QSI. The IBAP President James Firth also would like to remind members and guests coming tonight to bring donations of books, pencils, games or even a small monetary donation towards the purchase of new equipment for the Ban Banthong School in Kathu. The project has gotten under way already with some assistance from the US Navy League. More information is available on the programs page of their website www.IBAP-Phuket.org.