Press Releases from Phuket Ocean Villas Co. Ltd. (55 total)
Thailand aims to double tourism by 2014
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled ambitious plans to double tourist arrivals to the Kingdom over the next two years.
Armed with a budget of 500 million baht (US$16.4 million) and a new campaign slogan, “The miracle years of amazing Thailand”, TAT will attempt to double arrivals to thirty million per year, whilst also increasing income from tourism to 2 trillion baht (US$65.5 billion) per annum.
TAT has already earmarked…
Phuket property: The Village, Coconut Island may face legal action
Phuket, Thailand: According to a report in the Phuket Gazette, Phuket property development The Village, Coconut Island could be facing legal action for infringing Thai environmental and licensing laws.
A complaint filed by local residents at Phuket Provincial Hall last week stated that The Village was releasing untreated waste water into the sea.
The matter was followed up personally by Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak who visited the island last week with…
Phuket Boat Lagoon crosses water to add moorings in Krabi, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: As Phuket Boat Lagoon continues to be almost always full to capacity, its owners have been looking across the water to Krabi to increase the number of yacht berths that they can offer.
And it seems that their plans are well advanced, as they have just announced that phase one of their Krabi Boat Lagoon is due to be completed in November this year.
The new marina is located in…
Thai massage hits new heights in Phuket - Bangkok to see climax
Phuket, Thailand: More than five hundred Thai massage therapists descended on Kata Beach in Phuket, Thailand today for an un-official attempt at setting a new world record for simultaneous massage.
Although the official figure is yet to be confirmed, it is thought a total of five hundred and eighty four pairs took part. The current official Guinness World Record is two hundred and thirty two, set on 30TH March 2010,…
Private yachts set for smooth passage at Chalong Marina in Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: The much trumpeted online check-in system for yachts arriving at Chalong Marina in Phuket, Thailand will finally go live on 1st September 2011.
The announcement was made by officials from the Phuket division of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) during a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall.
“We have finished developing the system and it is now in a trial period that also provides training to business operators and government…
Phuket light railway plan gathers speed
Phuket, Thailand: After more than a decade of waiting, proposals for the Phuket light railway transit system finally seem to be gathering some momentum.
The Phuket Provincial Office finalised its list of potential bidders for the project on June 16th 2011.
Phuket Vice Governor, Niwit, confirmed that there were ten potential investors, including Thai and foreign firms.
Sung-Ming Lee, the President of Dohwa Engineering, was in Phuket this week to assess the scheme’s…
New Srisoonthorn Bridge finally opens in Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: The new Srisoonthorn Bridge which links Phuket Island to Phang Nga Province and mainland Thailand has finally opened to traffic.
The bridge was scheduled to open at the beginning of June this year but was delayed due to “last-minute changes in the work plan."
To mark the opening Phuket Provincial Highways Office Chief, Arun Sanae, made the first trip across the 300 million (US$10 million) Baht structure.
But, although the bridge…
Phuket mega-project sent for approval
Phuket, Thailand: Engineering consultants presented their feasibility study for the controversial Kathu to Patong tunnel project during a meeting held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town earlier this week.
The six billion baht (US$201 million) proposal includes two one-way tunnels, each 1600 metres long, which will cut through the Nakkerd Hills. At the Patong end, the suggested route will start in Phang Muang Sai Kor Road. This…
Is 3G war about to break-out in Phuket, Thailand?
Phuket, Thailand: Phuket is gearing up for a battle between 3rd generation (3G) network providers.
Thai telecoms company Advanced Information Systems (AIS) has announced it will start rolling out its new 3G wireless service at the end of July.
The AIS 3G packages will be available to all One-to-Call pay-as-you-go subscribers and AIS prepaid contract holders. However, exact details of the new service and its pricing are yet to be…
HD TV comes to Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: TrueVisions, the main satellite and cable TV operator in Thailand, has announced it will finally be rolling out its high definition (HD) TV service in Phuket.
In 2007 TrueVisions first revealed it was testing HD TV. The initial test run included; Barclay's Premier League HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Channel HD, History Channel HD, and some HD programs on True Series. However, since then progress has been slow.
Finally, in…
Thai introduce direct flights from Copenhagen, Denmark to Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Thai Airways International, the national flag carrier and largest airline in Thailand, has announced plans to introduce direct flights from Copenhagen in Denmark to Phuket, Thailand. The new service is due to start on 11th November 2011.
The new route will be Thai Airways’ first direct flight from a European city direct to the holiday Island of Phuket. The airline plans to run three scheduled flights per week, on…
New Centara property opens in Krabi, Thailand
Thailand’s largest hotel chain, Centara Hotels and Resorts, has just announced the opening of a new resort and spa in Krabi, Thailand.
The four-star Centara Anda Dhevi Resort and Spa is located in Ao Nang, one hundred metres from Nopparat Thara Beach.
Ao Nang, also known as Princess Bay, is also one of the main points of travel to the Phi Phi Islands and a forty minute drive from Krabi Airport.
The one…
Phuket clamps down on timeshare property touts
Phuket, Thailand: Officials in Phuket have unveiled a new ‘task force’ whose purpose is to investigate timeshare property companies operating on the Island.
The new multi-agency team is made up of officials from the Tourist Police, Royal Thai Police, Provincial Police, Public Prosecutors Office, Provincial Office and Patong Municipally. They will focus on busy tourist areas, such as Patong, where timeshare touts are most prolific.
“It’s a big problem. Tourists book…
New bridge from Phuket to Phang Nga, Thailand postponed
Phuket, Thailand: According to highway officials in Phuket, the opening of the new Srisoonthorn Bridge has been postponed until later in the year.
The new bridge, which will link Phuket to mainland Thailand, was scheduled to open this week.
“Some last-minute changes in the work plan meant that the new span would probably open to off-Island traffic around mid-June,” commented Arun Sa-nae, the director of the Provincial Highways Office in Phuket.
Once Srisoonthorn…
New bridge linking Phuket to mainland Thailand opens this week
Phuket, Thailand: The Phuket Provincial Highways Office has announced that the new bridge linking Phuket to the Thai mainland will open this week as planned.
Approved on October 28th 2009 with a budget of 378 million baht (US$12.5 million), the 655 metre structure was dubbed ‘Sarasin Bridge 2’ during its construction phase. It has since been officially named Srisoonthorn Bridge.
The new bridge will be used by traffic heading north from…
Flights to Phuket, Thailand unaffected by volcanic ash cloud
Phuket, Thailand: Just thirteen months after Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted, spewing thousands of tons of ash into the stratosphere and grounding 100,000 flights worldwide; volcano Grimsvötn has been threatening to do the same.
The eruption of Grimsvötn on May 21st created a twelve kilometre plume of ash. By the next day the cloud had reached Greenland, Scotland and Norway.
On May 24th airports in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen were closed until further…
Movenpick open second property in Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Swiss hotel operator Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of their second property in Phuket, Thailand; Mövenpick Residences Bangtao Beach Phuket.
The resort was formerly known as The Palm Beach Club and is located on Bang Tao Beach on the West Coast of Phuket.
According to a Mövenpick spokesperson, the company will take over management of the Palm Beach Club and rebrand it as Mövenpick…
Phuket property a better investment than property in Bali, experts say
Phuket, Thailand: At a meeting organised by the Phuket Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) on the 29th April, property experts convened to discuss current market trends and what the future holds for some of Asia’s key property markets; Phuket, Bali, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Hua Hin.
The event was held at Laguna Phuket and attended by over one hundred and forty companies from across Thailand and the region.…
Phuket tourist arrivals up 25% in Q1
Phuket, Thailand: 2011 is already looking like being a record year for Phuket tourism as international arrivals at Phuket Airport reached 654,009 during the first three months of the year. This marks an increase of twenty five per cent over the same period last year.
The announcement of the official figures from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) follows the end of a ‘familiarisation trip’ which was organised for the Bangkok…
Phuket, Thailand: New terminal at Phuket International Airport starts in Novembe …
Phuket, Thailand: Following a series of delays over the last two years, construction of the new International terminal at Phuket International Airport is now scheduled to get underway at the beginning of November.
The 5.9 billion baht (US$197 million) project was first presented to shareholders back in 2009 by Phuket International Airport’s acting director, Wing Commander Passakorn Surapipit.
However, the departure of the Airports of Thailand PLC (AOT) president Serirat Prasutanand on…
Ker-Ching: Phuket rakes in US$26 million over Thailand New Year
Phuket, Thailand: In the aftermath of a busy Songkran (new year in Thailand), tourism chiefs in Phuket have been doing their sums to assess just how successful the festive season actually was.
Officials from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported that hotel occupancy during the holiday period averaged seventy percent across the Island.
Resort hotels in popular beach areas such as Bang Tao, Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata reported occupancy…
Winning design announced for Phuket Exhibition & Convention Centre, Thailand
At a ceremony in Phuket Town on Saturday 26th March 2011, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha announced the winning design for the 2.6 billion baht (US$86 million) Phuket Exhibition and Convention Centre in Mai Khao.
Shortlisted from three finalists, the concept by KAED 103 is in the shape of a turtle shell. However, the plans will be modified to incorporate some Sino-Portuguese architecture, a feature which some locals said was important to…
Koh Samui, Thailand cut-off as storms rage
Koh Samui, Thailand: Thousands of tourists have been left stranded as high winds and rain pound Koh Samui, causing widespread flooding, power outages and severing the Island’s transport links.
“This flooding is the worst we have seen in a decade. Flash floods have come rushing down from Samui’s hills, with two days of continual, pouring rain. The most important thing for us now is to evacuate people to safety,” said…
Phuket Exhibition and Convention Centre ‘guaranteed’ to be built?
Phuket, Thailand: The Phuket Exhibition and Convention Centre proposed for Mai Khao Beach is ‘guaranteed’ to be built if the Thailand Democrat Party retains power in the upcoming elections, according to Finance Minister, Korn Chatikavanij.
At a meeting held in Phuket Town this week to review architects plans for the development, when questioned what would happen to the project if the Democratic Party fails to win the election, Chatikavanij…
MJETS plan private jet terminal in Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: MJETS, the leading private jet charter service in Thailand and South East Asia, has announced plans to build a private jet terminal at Phuket International Airport.
The announcement follows the success of MJETS’ first private jet terminal at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok.
The private terminal in Bangkok opened in March 2010 and has a 186 square metre executive lounge, shower facilities, a business centre, flight planning services and…
Liverpool Football Club legends shoot for Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Fans of Liverpool Football Club in Thailand are gearing up for a very important charity game in Phuket this June.
Liverpool Legends, a team made up of ex Liverpool Football Club players, are set to play two friendly games against The Legends of Thailand. The first match is scheduled for June 15th at Bangkok’s Yamaha stadium.
Players will then travel south to Phuket to play a second game at Surakul…
Hotel Indigo Phuket being built on Naithon Beach
Phuket, Thailand: Hotel Indigo, the boutique brand of Intercontinental Hotels Group, has announced the opening of its first hotel and resort in Phuket, Thailand.
The new luxury hotel, being built by Tiansin Property Development Co. Ltd., will be Hotel Indigo’s second in Thailand. Their first, The Hotel Indigo on Wireless Road, Bangkok, is scheduled to open by the end of 2012.
Conveniently situated fifteen minutes from Phuket International Airport, the new…
The Impossible brings Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts to Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Hollywood stars Ewan McGregor (Star Wars and Train Spotting) and Naomi Watts (King Kong and The International) touched down at Phuket International Airport recently for the filming of a new blockbuster movie called The Impossible.
The Impossible tells the story of a family caught up in the aftermath of the Tsunami which struck on the 26th December 2004. The disaster was triggered by an undersea earthquake…
Laguna Beach Resort Phuket sold to Singapore equity fund
Phuket, Thailand: Singapore based Laguna Hotels & Resorts PLC (LHR) has announced the sale of its Laguna Beach Resort in Phuket, to Real Estate Capital Asia Partners (RECAP).
The resort is currently jointly owned by Laguna Hotels & Resorts and RHI Group; both have agreed to sell their stakes in the luxury complex.
Located in LHR’s flagship Laguna Phuket complex in Thailand, Laguna Beach Resort is situated between a tropical lagoon…
First microbrewery opens in Patong, Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Beer drinking enthusiasts will to be pleased to learn that the first ever microbrewery has opened in Patong, Phuket.
The Full Moon Brewery serves traditional European Ales and is located next to the Jungceylon boat in Patong. There is also an upstairs lounge with a resident pianist and singer, where drinkers can relax whilst they sample the beers on offer.
Thirty-year-old founder and brew master, Sukij Thipatima, has been in…
Twinpalms Phuket to expand in Thailand and beyond
Phuket, Thailand: Twinpalms Phuket Resort, a privately owned five-star hotel in Phuket, Thailand, has announced ambitious expansion plans.
Twinpalms aims to open a resort in Koh Samui, Thailand within two years and has already acquired the land for this. They are also planning to establish operations in places such as Hainan in China, Bali in Indonesia, Philippines, India and Vietnam.
Twinpalms also has plans to expand its brand by entering the…
Wettest January on record in Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Figures released by the Phuket Meteorological Department, based at Phuket International Airport, have reported a record 77 millimeters of rainfall during January 2011.
January is usually one of the driest months of the year in Phuket, Thailand but this year’s numbers show that more than twice as much rain fell than the Island’s monthly average of 35.9 millimetres.
One researcher at the Phuket International Airport monitoring station attributed the…
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket to rebrand to Banyan Tree Angsana
Phuket, Thailand: The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket, one of Phuket’s longest established hotels, is set to change its management from Starwood Hotels to the Banyan Tree’s Angsana Hotels & Resorts brand.
Angsana Hotels & Resorts, a division of Singapore based Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, will take over operations of the hotel from 30th June this year.
The four hundred and nineteen-room hotel, located on Phuket’s Bang Tao Beach, will be…
The Bay Regatta kicks off in Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Registration for The Bay Regatta 2011 got underway today just off the East Coast of Phuket.
Organisers Ao Chalong Yacht Club said they had received entries from Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Russia and Thailand.
Yachts will compete for honours in the following classes of Racing; Cruising A, Cruising B, Bareboat Charter and Multihulls. As usual, races will take place…
Phuket, Thailand cashes in on Chinese Year of the Rabbit
Phuket is already reaping the rewards from the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, as tourists flock to the Island for the festivities.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is predicting that the revenue from tourism over the festive period will beat last year’s total of eight billion baht.
Over the last few days, hotels across Phuket have been reporting occupancy levels at around ninety percent.
The President of the Thai Hotels Association, Prakit…
More new property in Phuket for Amari Estates, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Amari Estates, one of Thailand’s largest hotel and resort groups, has announced the expansion of its Baan Krating residential property brand in Phuket and Khao Lak.
Family owned and operated, Amari Estates currently own and manage the Baan Krating Resort near Nai Harn Beach and the Baan Krating Khao Lak Resort in Phang Nga.
The company plans to develop eco-friendly bungalows, using land already owned by Amari, at Baan Krating,…
Castlewood Group building luxury hotel at Bang Tao Beach in Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Singapore based Castlewood Hotels and Resorts has announced the launch of a new two hundred key hotel project near Laguna Village and Bang Tao Beach in Phuket, Thailand.
Castlewood Group’s in house hospitality brand, 8over8, will manage the new hotel which will consist of two hundred luxury suites and a private rooftop penthouse for VIPs.
Cornerstone Management, one of Thailand’s leading project management firms, have been retained to ensure timely…
Phuket, Thailand celebrates Chinese New Year
Phuket, Thailand: The streets of Phuket, Thailand are decorated with Chinese lanterns, firecrackers are flashing everywhere and there are dragons in the street, which can only mean one thing - the start of Chinese New Year.
For the many people of Chinese descent who call Phuket home, this is the most important celebration of the year and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have gone to great lengths to ensure this year's…
Phuket Gay Pride Festival - Patong Beach, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Gay tourists are set to descend on Phuket, Thailand in large numbers next month as the tenth annual Gay Pride Festival returns to the Island on February 23rd 2011.
The first Phuket Gay Pride Festival was held in 1999 and it was an instant hit with locals and tourists alike.
The four day event is organised by the local lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community, with Patong Municipality and local…
Phuket, Thailand arrivals hit all time high
Phuket, Thailand: According to a recent report by C9 Hotelworks, 2010 was a record breaking year for tourist arrivals on the island of Phuket, Thailand.
The 2010 Phuket Hotel Market Report revealed that Phuket International Airport saw three and a half million arrivals last year; an increase of twenty-two percent over 2009.
Arrivals from Russia and China showed the strongest growth due to the introduction of new direct flights to Phuket.
To…
Phuket stages Thailand Five Southern Border Provinces Product Fair
Phuket, Thailand: Phuket Town has been chosen as this year's host for the annual Thailand Five Southern Border Provinces Product Fair which runs from January 31st to February 6th.
Last year, the fair took place at the Marketing Organisation for Farmers in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok.
This year however, centre stage for the event will be Saphan Hin; Phuket Town’s largest municipal park.
The Thai Government first introduced the Fair to help…
Phuket, Thailand approve eight new property developments
Phuket, Thailand: In a recent meeting, held by the Phuket Provincial Committee, eight new residential property developments have been approved in Phuket.
Phuket Govenor Tri Augkaradacha chaired the meeting which was held at the Phuket Land Office in Phuket Town.
The eight property projects approved were; Jomthong Thalang, by Jomthong Property Co. Ltd., Promphun Paklok, by Baanpromphun Co Ltd, Chalongsuk, by Jarungklin Co. Ltd., Pruksa Ville 45, by Pruksa Real Estate Plc.,…
Land Rover races plane and wins at Phuket Andaman Air Show 2011
The Phuket Andaman Air Show was back in Phuket this week with a crowd of over four hundred onlookers enjoying the aerobatics.
The event, held at Phuket Airpark, marked a special celebration in honour of the extension of the Phuket Airpark runway, to a length of eight hundred metres.
There was plenty for everyone to see from heart-stopping aerobatics to a Miss Phuket Airpark competition featuring fourteen bikini-clad hopefuls.
In a scene more…
Trisara owners buy Mom Tri’s Boathouse Phuket, Thailand
Phuket, Thailand: Three Dolphins Group, which owns and operates the world famous Trisara resort in Phuket, has announced that it has purchased Mom Tri’s Boathouse on Kata Beach, Phuket.
Khun Narong Pattamasaevi, the Executive Chairman of Three Dolphins Co. Ltd., made the announcement last week, when he explained that the Group has acquired one hundred percent of the shares of The Boathouse Inn and Restaurant Company, including other related properties in…
Ambitious new project planned for Saphan Hin, Phuket
Phuket, Thailand: An ambitious project for Saphan Hin in Phuket has been proposed to Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha by Norwegian maritime engineering company, LMG Marin.
The project proposes the construction of an on and off shore development, covering a total area of 500,000 square metres and including a hotel, apartments, business centre, park, university and a research institute.
Saphan Hin is a large open area, bordering the ocean, at the south…
Phuket property sales predicted to rise
Phuket, Thailand: Thailand property developer, Seacon Development, are predicting that property sales in Phuket will increase by twenty five percent in 2011.
The developers of Seacon Square on Srinakarin Road in Bangkok may have a point, as foreign investment in Phuket property has continued to rise, year on year, since 2008.
In 2010, foreign investment in Phuket property totalled four billion baht (US$ 131 million). This represents an increase of twenty…
Phuket Thailand ranked 6th in China poll
Phuket, Thailand: A recent poll by members of popular Chinese travel website Ctrip has ranked Phuket as the sixth most popular holiday destination in the world.
The poll, which received a total of seven and a half million votes, ran from the 15th October to 15th November 2010.
Shanghai based Ctrip serve over one and a half million customers every year and account for three percent of all flights booked in China.…
The Yamu Phuket backed by Ong Beng Seng in Singapore
Phuket, Thailand: Luxury villa and hotel resort, The Yamu, has secured financial backing from Singaporean investment group Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) and from the Thai KS Group in Thailand.
The news comes after construction of the Yamu Hotel was stopped during the recent economic downturn.
The Yamu, located on the East Coast of Phuket, was designed by Philippe Starck and is currently owned by Campbell Kane.
Now that finances are in place,…
Thailand targets the Middle East
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced that, despite the economic downturn, Thailand is continuing to attract an increasing numbers of visitors from the Middle East.
In fact, figures show a sixty seven percent rise in September 2010 compared with September 2009.
Whilst the figures for the final quarter of 2010 are still to be confirmed, the Tourism Authority of Thailand expects the overall number of visitors from the Middle East…
Central Festival Phuket adds new floor
Central Festival Phuket is to receive a half billion Baht face lift by the Central Retail Corporation (CRC).
The renovations, the first since its opening in 2004, will open an additional fourth floor with completion expected early next year.
What’s more, its three hundred retail outlets will spend one hundred and fifty million Baht to renovate their own stores.
Thanapon Tangkananan, CRC vice president for business development, commented; "The country's retail industry anticipates…
