Phuket News February 2009

Amazing Thailand Photo Contest Extended

Phuket Zoo, a good place for photoshooting

The contest which began in November last year has been extended through to April 30, 2009. It is open to all nationalities except Thais and foreign residents of Thailand.

Photographs sent in for judging must comply with either or all of the following categories: People, Nature/Landscape, Architecture and Culture/Lifestyle.

For more information please visit www.tourismthailand.org/photocontest

Dragonair and Nok Air’s Latest News on Phuket Route

Nokair Boeing 737-400

Dragonair plans to increase more flights from Hong Kong to Phuket. The airline, currently operating one daily flight, wants to increase the traffic from seven to nine flights a week starting around April 2009, a local source told Phuket.com.

Though there is no announcement from the Dragonair’s head office in Hong Kong, it is most likely that the plan will go through and the new summer schedule will be out very soon. The budget carrier Nok Air will resume its Phuket flights from 20 February 2009 onward.

The airline which is 39% owned by the national carrier Thai Airways International last operated the Bangkok – Phuket route in July 2008 before suspending it because of the then continued high fuel costs and sharp decline of demand.

The new schedule is as listed below. For more information please contact Tel: 02-676 2771-5 from Monday to Friday (09.00 – 17.30) or go to www.nokair.com

Don Mueang – Phuket				Phuket - Don Mueang
Date	Flight	Depart	Arrive	Date	Flight	Depart	Arrive
Daily	DD7502	8:20	9:40	Daily	DD7503	10:10	11:30
M, Th, F, Su	DD7514	18:50	20:10	M, Th, F, Su	DD7515	20:40	22:00

Paresa Resort Opening in March

Paresa Resort

A brand new resort, Paresa (or haven of all heavens in Sanskrit) is set to open in March 2009. Located in Kamala, on the west coast of Phuket, this luxurious resort has 49 guest rooms and villas; all with stunning views of the Andaman Ocean.

The resort is in contemporary Thai design with traditional southern-style Thai home inspiration. Facilities include swimming pools, spa, full equipped gym, salon, library, a cookery school as well as Paresa’s 'airport hosts' who will assist you with your airport transfer.

Paresa Resort is about 30 minutes from Phuket airport.

Hilton Phuket Gold Award

Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa

Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa has won the Gold Award for Best Hotel-Far East & Australasia 2008, awarded by the famous U.K. travel agency, Virgin Holidays. The award is based on customer satisfaction in a Virgin Holidays customer survey among more than 3,000 hotels around the world in 2008.

The award is an annual event. This year's ceremony was hosted by Virgin Holidays, at the Virgin Holidays Suppliers Gala Party during the World Travel Mart in London on Sunday 9th November.

The award was received by Mr. John Neutze, National Director of Sales Thailand, Hilton National Sales office who attended the event and Mr. John Kidd, General Manager of Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, announced the award to team members recently.

Phuket Film Festival Looks to Aid Thai Tourism

The 2nd edition of the Phuket Film Festival is set to take place June 4 – 11th, 2009 with an exciting line-up of international films and activities that organizers expect to cause an increase in tourism numbers on the island. Scott Rosenberg, managing director of AMW International Co. Ltd., the Thai organizers of the Phuket Film Festival, also announced that a special workshop/familiarisation tour would be held at the Festival.

"Unfortunately, because of recent negative activities having taken place in the Kingdom and continued negative press, Thailand is on the black list for mega film project location shoots," claimed Mr. Rosenberg. "We aim to show the international film industry executives that the situation here is not as bad as it has been made out to be – and there is no better way to do that than to have all the stakeholders create a dialogue to discuss the situation."

Several Oscar and other award-nominated films are projected to be shown at the festival. The full line-up of films will be announced in April. For more information contact filmfestival.phuket@gmail.com

Art Exhibition at Mom Tri’s Boathouse

Mom Tri's Boathouse exhibition

American artist Kathy Manthei is having her latest collection shown at Mom Tri’s Boathouse, Kata Beach from now until February 8, 2009. The collection, all produced in recent years, highlights peaceful natural surroundings as a metaphor for the inner landscapes of soul and mind.

Ms Manthei has had Phuket as her creative space since 1998. Her work is exhibited internationally, attracting private collectors throughout Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe and the United States.

Langham Hotels International to Manage a Phuket Resort

Kalim Bay

Langham Hotels International has signed a management contract for an all-villa boutique resort at Kalim Bay in Phuket. The latest addition to the growing Langham portfolio will be the first boutique resort managed by an international five-star brand in Phuket. It also puts the luxury hotel operator on track to operate at least five properties in Thailand within the next five years.

Scheduled to open in early 2010, Langham Place, Miora Resort & Spa will comprise 78 stunning villas including penthouses set on a hilltop location overlooking Kalim Bay. The resort’s design is masterminded by renowned Hawaiian-American architect, Clint Nagata of Blink, Bangkok, who has developed a number of major hotel and resort projects throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Dr KS Lo, Chairman of Langham Hotels International said: “We’re delighted to be partners with The Miora Development Company which further establishes our footprint in Thailand. Phuket is Asia’s preeminent resort destination, well serviced by international flights from around the world."

Daragh Connelly, Managing Director of The Miora Development Company said: “The Langham Place brand matches our exciting vision of a designer boutique hotel that seamlessly connects with our modern guests to deliver a fun and engaging experience. While we are located close to the tourist hub of Patong, we will still be above it all with a luxury boutique hotel.”

TAT Voted 'Best NTO'

Tourism Authority of Thailand has been unanimously voted 'The Best NTO' (National Tourism Organisation) by the readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG mice and TTG-BT mice China. This is the second consecutive year the award has been won by the TAT.

The award was presented during the 19th Annual TTG Travel Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner last October. Set up in Singapore in 1974, TTG Asia Media is the leading publisher and organiser of events in travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region.

TAT Governor Phornsiri Manoharn said “The Tourism Authority of Thailand is indeed honoured to have [won] twice in a row.” She added, “The tourism industry is becoming extremely competitive every year, and maintaining Thailand’s marketing profile has become a hugely challenging exercise.

by Rungtip Hongjakpet Izmen

Hotel Quick Finder

Location :
Hotel :
Check In :

for night(s)
Check Out :

Rooms : Adults : Children :

Hotel Quick Finder

Area
From

options

Home