NORTH-WEST FRONTIER

ON THE PLANE TO MANDALAY?

Thailand's rapidly strengthening links with Burma could include direct flights from Chiangmai to Mandalay, the Thai Foreign Minister announced early last month.

The move to improve tourism and trade came as the Prime Minister promised 20 million baht to help Thai authorities boost Burma's drug suppression efforts. Only 6 months after fatal shelling in both directions across the border at Mae Sai, work has started on a new Thai Immigration office close to the old bridge, which early next year will replace the current main office at the southern end of town. Work has also begun on an additional river bridge to allow heavy trucks better access to Tachilek, Burma, and a Customs inspection building as part of the drug suppression effort..

Plans are also moving ahead quickly for the Thai-Burma section of the massive Vietnam-Turkey east-west highway project which is expected to cross Thailand from Laos via Phitsanulok and enter Burma at Mae Sot.

FIRST HALF WAS FINE, BUT?

Thapae Gate, focal point of the city hosted last months One Village - One Product Fair... so popular as to be chaotic!

As everyone involved with tourism calculates what effect the US terrorist attacks will have on long haul holiday plans, upbeat arrival figures from the Tourism Authority of Thailand's for the first half of 2001 showed a 7.86% increase.

Just over 5 million overseas visitors came to Thailand with the Americas showing a growth of nearly 13%, Europe 8.58% and the Middle East over 22%.

Japanese accounted for 12.23% of arrivals and a healthy 53% of all nationalities were repeat visitors. The independent traveller category showed a remarkable 58.72% increase over the same period last year and there was an increase in over 6% of both children and people aged over 64. Student arrivals were up by 11% and the average stay increased a little to over 8 days.

THAI Airways said on September 14th that they would encourage Japanese now reluctant to go to the USA to come to Thailand instead, while TAT quickly diverted USA promotions to short-haul Asian markets. Their total target of 10.3 million arrivals in 2001 has been cut to 9.68 million.

Confidence in 2002

Thailand Travel Mart 2001 at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya, September 16-20th, showed confidence in 2002 while admitting a high level of cancellations right now, writes Chiangmai Travel Consultant Reinhard Hohler. "Travelling to the Mart as a press delegate on a Sunday from Chiangmai to Bangkok and Pattaya was not easy. All Thai International's flights were fullly booked, so Bangkok Airways asked for a hefty 2,200B fare. Being on the waiting list for TG 111 flight in the early afternoon, I finally had to travel business class for 2,700B. In Bangkok I took the bus to Pattaya for 90B to arrive at Flipper Lodge Hotel in Pattaya and a 630B room. Early Monday morning I mixed with some of the 221 registered seller companies such as hotels, tour operators, Mekong region representatives and entertainment establishments.

TTM's business agenda began with a welcome party for 159 buyers and the press. TAT Governor Pradech Phayakvichien declared the Mart a big success despite the shock at the horrendous events in America. The travel industry is facing a lot of cancellations, but all in all is showing confidence for a successful 2002.

When TAT will be upgraded to a Ministry of Tourism, nobody can say, but many organisations take the future responsibilities seriously and are throwing their support behind Thailand as a gateway to the Mekong countries of Yunnan, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The event included a well prepared beach party at Pattaya's newly developed promenade among romantic looking coconut trees and ended in an upbeat mood."

BIG BIKERS ARE COMING

All 5 enthusiast big bike clubs in Chiangmai, led by the North Comets, will stage 'Bike Week' from December 8-10th.

They are hoping that 400 to 500 bikes will assemble from all over Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. There will be touring rides, a display at Thapae Gate and a party at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel. Theme will be anti-drug, pro-tourism and pro-safety helmets. More from e-mail: davidfl@chmai.loxinfo.co.th

DRIVE FOR KICKS, PUTT FOR CASH

"I often look at beginners in wonder at how unsure they are about putting" says golf pro Scott Goldie, now in Chiangmai to offer tuition in both English and German.

"This is the part of the game that everyone can master. Everyone has the ability to learn a putting stroke that is as good as a professional's or even better." With optimism like that there's no reason to delay your call to the tall, friendly Scott from Scotland on 09 855 8747 or 224619 ext 308.

CHIANGMAI'S OWN OLYMPICS!

Over 200 mentally handicapped boys and girls aged 6 to 15, from Phitsanulok to Chiangrai, assembled at the 700 Year Stadium last month for the annual Special Olympics 2001.

Slightly fewer competitors were present this year due to flooding and financial restraints at the various government and private schools where most youngsters spend their lives, often forsaken by their relatives. For most of the kids, this was THE event of their year - a chance to prove themselves - and any visitor could see that they were very serious about it. Their discipline, order and good manners would make the Principal of any ordinary school green with envy!

Maybe the sleeping accommodation over the 3 day event was very basic, but the food and snacks were great, thanks to the many sponsors, and the transportation smoothly supplied by Budget car & truck rental. One of the objectives of the Thai Special Olympics Committee is to initiate contact between different Thai mentally handicapped centres and train coaches to help youngsters develop physical, mental and social skills, using sports as a medium. More information on this from legnell@hotmail.com

Bengt Legnell

Butch Colvin

The former US Navy officer who became the first man to run the length of Thailand 3 years ago is returning home to work for the Justice Department.

Before the terrorist attacks, Butch was told that he had been appointed as an Executive Program Manager arranging training for cities to respond to attacks and large scale disasters of all kinds. "I can promise you I am fully motivated" he said on departure.

Jaran Manopetch

One of Thailand's top folk singers, Jaran Manopetch, died of a heart attack and was given a Royally sponsored cremation in his home city of Lamphun on September 8th.

A full Lanna funeral procession was held to the central Wat Haripunchai for a man who honoured Lamphun in many ways. His riverside 'son et lumiere' presentations at Songkran, featuring local amateur actors, were some of the most professional and attractive open air shows staged in Thailand.

MOBILE PHONE FACTS?

Use a mobile phone in Chiangmai? Happy with it? Contact 'Good Morning Chiangmai News' and tell us about your deal. We'd like to promote the best value available out of the hundreds of different deals on offer. Just e-mail your deal to gmorning@chiangmai-online.com and help us sort the whinge from the chat.

EXTRA FLOOD DAMAGE

Extra damage was done to Chiangmai's economy last month by badly exaggerated media reports. When one newspaper reported that Chanklan Road was under 2 metres of floodwater, potential visitors assumed that the Night Bazaar was inundated and cancelled their trips.

One of Chiangmai's longest streets, Chanklan runs south past The Park Hotel, then turns westwards and slopes downhill to run alongside the river. It was only there that flooding closed the road! Many hotels lost individual bookings and at least one came close to losing a top business conference.

Among 34 provinces said to be still at risk from flooding over the next 3 months are Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Lampang and Phitsanulok.

ATTACKING THE 30% TUK TUKS

A strongly worded open letter of complaint has been sent to the Governor of Chiangmai about tuk tuk and seelor drivers diverting passengers towards shops which pay the drivers up to 30% commission on sales.

"Some tuk-tuk and seelor drivers and staff of tour companies are cheating tourists and honest businesses in Chiangmai by taking customers only to shops and other establishments that give them big commissions - 30% is the norm" writes Henry Quick, Managing Director of the HQ paper-making group.

"They are destroying the reputation of Chiangmai as a tourism and shopping haven", he writes. "Two American tourists arrived at our showroom looking hot and tired and somewhat angry. They had picked up a tuk-tuk from central Chiangmai and asked to be taken to our premises. They had a map with the location clearly marked and showed this to the driver, who apparently understood. They were taken instead to another paper factory on the Sankamphaeng Road - 30 minutes away in the opposite direction. They protested that this was not the place they had wanted to visit, but were encouraged by the driver to go in and shop anyway. They looked around and then insisted that they be taken to our shop."

"The driver then told them that HQ PaperMaker had poor quality products and were too expensive! When these folk arrived at our shop they made a large purchase and praised us for having a far better range and lower prices than the establishment they had been 'hijacked' to. They were happy with their purchase, but infuriated by the dishonest behaviour they had suffered from." Mr Quick ends his letter by urging visitors to complain about such incidents to the Tourist Police.

NEWS OF THE FUTURE

· October 28th sees Chiangmai's next Terry Fox Run to raise funds for cancer research. In 1980, Fox was a 22 year old Canadian who, having lost a leg to cancer 4 years before, set out to run across Canada to raise a million dollars. When he had to abandon the run at two-thirds distance, 10 million dollars had been raised. Although Fox died in June 1981, world-wide hotelier Mr Isadore Sharp had pledged to continue the fight internationally, which is why the Regent Resort Chiangmai invites all-comers to run this month. More from (tel) 298181 or e-mail <kymberley.sproule@fourseasons.com>

· A musical prelude to the Run will be given on October 13th by award winning Australian soprano Joanna Cole. She will sing works by Mozart, Gounod, Puccini and Donizetti at the Gong Dee Studio, Nimmanhemin Road from 7.00pm and tickets are only 250B. More on 298181 or 225032.

· Most top hotels have special events to celebrate Loi Kratong and at the Amari Rincome on October 30th , non- residents can join in by laying kratongs in the small pool near La Gritta restaurant. Hot air balloons too and more info on 221123.

· Celebrating its unique location directly opposite the Town Hall's incredible free firework show, the River Deli bar & restaurant has festival buffets from October 30th to November 1st. The Thai and international buffet is only 150B per person from 6.00pm to 10.00pm each night. Advance bookings advised on 260404.

Loy Kratong

- A time for love, hope, fears and forgiveness.

Michael Psciuk

Schedule of Loy Kratong Festival 2001

Tragedy at the Pentagon

Rick Hudnall

Why massage? Why Thai?

Tassanee Boonsoom

Famillies go rallying

Hot Dog

Chiangmai and the North

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

The Drinks Page

Night Fowl

Ric Klein

Nong Khai, etc, etc

Riverbank Stone

Letters

Heart to Heart

Mountain People of Northern Thailand

THE PADUANG
(LONG NECK)

Big bikers are coming

All 5 enthusiat big bike clubs in Chiangmai, led by the North Comets, will stage 'Bike Week' from December 8-10th. (...).

MISS SENGSON. I am a 35 year old Thai woman, 49kgs weight, 152cms tall and single. My interests are travel, cooking, reading and more (...).

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