|
Photos
from around Pattaya
Click to see more.......
Bangkok Film Festival
Thailand: The Bangkok International Film Festival promises to be better than ever, with features films, documentaries and short films from every corner of the globe highlighting Bangkok's role as one of the world's foremost places of entertainment.
Announcing the launch of the Bangkok Film Festival, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Jutamas Siriwan said that the film festival is scheduled to run from 22 January to 2 February 2004 and would showcase an enormous range of films, including 10-15 feature-length movies from the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) members including Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
In addition, visitors to the Bangkok Film Festival in Thailand would be able to watch ASEAN short films, together with documentaries and animations, she said. For those interested in Thai cinema, there would be both feature movies and documentaries on important events from Thailand's past.
Mrs. Jutamas said that the Bangkok Film Festival would be more spectacular than previous years' events, with grand opening and closing ceremonies at the Scala cinema, film competitions, prizes, seminars, golf contests for film stars, and concerts.
The movies would be shown at five leading cinemas in Bangkok: SF Cinema City Emporium, Major Cineplex Central World Plaza, Lido Siam, EGV Metropolis Big C Rajadamri, and Grand EGV Siam Discovery
Check Out Rooms For Rent in Pattaya
Click to see more......
New Thai PM Launches Charm Offensive
New Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva launched a charm offensive Thursday aimed at supporters of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, but still urged the exiled tycoon to return and face justice.
British-born Abhisit, who was voted in by parliament on Monday after the Thaksin-linked ruling party was dissolved by a court in early December, said he would visit the northeastern region of Isan to win over his foes.
The populous region is Thailand's poorest area and a stronghold of Thaksin, where Abhisit's Democrat Party has struggled to win support since the former premier was toppled in a military coup in 2006.
"When the appropriate time comes and I have a mission, I will travel there," Abhisit said in an interview on an army-run television station.
Abhisit's comments came a day after he vowed a "grand plan of reconciliation" to heal Thailand's rifts after months of protests against the previous pro-Thaksin government, led by the now defunct People Power Party.
The rallies culminated in the occupation of Bangkok's two airports late last month, a move which stranded hundreds of thousands of tourists, battered the economy and harmed Thailand's international reputation.
His Democrats managed to end eight years in opposition by wooing small parties away from the PPP after its dissolution, but Abhisit is now faced with a shaky coalition and major economic and political challenges.
The Oxford graduate is expected to unveil his cabinet on Friday after royal approval. He said he would hold his first cabinet meeting on Tuesday ahead of his presentation of a policy statement to parliament.
"Many people have a negative attitude towards me. In order to achieve my work I have to rely on everybody," Abhisit said.
Twice-elected Thaksin lives in self imposed exile to escape a jail term on corruption charges, but Thailand remains deeply divided between his supporters and detractors.
The urbane Abhisit, whose name means "privileged", failed to make a dent in Thaksin's support base in the north and northeast during the post-coup elections in December 2007 that brought the PPP to power.
Abhisit said he wants Thaksin to return to Thailand to face several corruption cases against him currently in the courts, a move which risks causing further divisions.
"I want him to return to fight his cases and he must show that he accepts that every Thai is equal," Abhisit said.
"I think that Thai society will be kind to him and give him forgiveness, but it all depends on how Thaksin accepts the judicial process."
Despite the PPP's convincing election win a year ago, courts have in 2008 removed two PPP prime ministers to pave the way for the Democrats' ascent to power.
This has angered pro-Thaksin and PPP supporters who feel they have been robbed of their democratic rights, and groups have vowed to protest outside parliament next week when Abhisit gives his policy statement.
Abhisit has also made shoring up Thailand's ailing economy a priority, and he told business leaders on Thursday "he would shock the economy with swift and strong measures but will not lose monetary discipline."
The 44-year-old has also promised to try to restore confidence in the tourism sector after the seizure of Bangkok's airports by the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
The group counts a Democrat Party lawmaker among its key leaders.
Speculation continued in local media on the possible identity of future ministers.
A hotly-tipped candidate for finance minister is Korn Chatikavanij, a former manager at investment bank JPMorgan Chase and the Democrats' deputy leader, who told AFP Wednesday he was "ready for the finance minister post" if asked.
The Democrat Party also planned to ask former army chief General Prawit Wongsuwon to be defence minister, party secretary general Suthep Tuagsuban said.
Play Golf in Pattaya
Click to see more......
Restoring Confidence and Reviving the Thai Economy: A Priority of the New Government
Restoring confidence and reviving the Thai economy have been cited as the first priority for the new government, led by Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Permanent Secretary for Finance Suparut Kawatkul believes that the present political situation will improve after the new government assumes office. The improved situation will be favorable for the solving of the country’s economic problems.
He also believes that a skillful economic team, to be formed soon, will help restore confidence in the Thai economy and win public support. The next step is that the new government should accelerate public spending to ease economic woes.
In the face of the present situation, he said that the government should play the lead in stimulating the economy, especially through the investment budget of state enterprises and the additional 100-billion-baht package to be derived from the central fund to cope with the unemployment problem.
The Permanent Secretary cited constraints due to the budget deficit and reduced income collection as difficulties facing the government. He said that problems concerning exports and tourism as a result of the global crisis must receive great attention from the new government. Measures to rehabilitate the situation, reduce impacts, and revitalize the economy must be worked out.
The Ministry of Commerce agreed to set the export target in 2009 to increase by only five percent, a decline from 10 percent set in October this year. In the initial stage, five major strategies will be implemented to boost Thai exports. In the first strategy, exports of food and agricultural commodities will be fully promoted. The second strategy seeks to promote Thai export markets, which have not been much affected by the global economic crisis. These markets include ASEAN, China, India, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa.
The third strategy calls for the promotion of the service business in order to increase exports. In the fourth strategy, efforts will be made to reduce production costs in the logistics trade. The fifth strategy seeks to encourage Thai business people to open businesses in foreign countries. These strategies involve 692 projects with financial support of 2.9 billion baht.
Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Juthaporn Rerngronasa said that tourism had been badly affected by the recent political situation in Thailand. The effects would be felt for about five months, from December 2008 to April 2009. A great number of Asian tourists, especially those from China, Japan, and South Korea cancelled their trips to Thailand.
TAT suggested reductions of airport tax and visa fees, as a way of attracting tourist arrivals. Emphasis would also be placed on domestic tourism promotion to encourage more Thais to travel in the Kingdom.
Welcome to
Pattaya Info Newspaper
Internet Edition
Good News from Pattaya, Thailand .
Read the latest news from Pattaya and Thailand.
Pattaya Info brings you excellent stories, photos, guides and
news about Pattaya Beach Resort, Thailand.
The Pattaya Info website features thousands of stories about Pattaya,
Photo Galleries of Pattaya Girls and Places,
guides to
Pattaya Hotel
Accommodations, Pattaya Golf, Entertainment, Dining and Attractions
You can even vote for Ms Pattaya, featuring the most
beautiful girls in Thailand.
|
