Thawatchai Arunyik, deputy governor for domestic marketing, said the
first measure, intra-regional travel, is set to start this week and run
until the end of January. People will be encouraged to visit nearby
attractions rather than go across regions. That would continue to
augment business in communities.
The authority will not focus on already crowded destinations such as Pattaya, Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi.
Four plans are set for next year, as the flooding will have completely
disappeared by then. It will begin with cross-region travel by
encouraging people from all parts of the country to visit the Central
region and Bangkok.
วันจันทร์ที่ 14 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2554
Energy Ministry says no long-term plan to deal with flood
Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan has set up a committee to look at
immediate issues, such as distributing necessities and boats to flood
victims, as well as EM balls to treat filthy water.
Pichai has assigned senior officials to deal only with the flood's impact. For example, the Energy Business Department is looking at the gas station situation, as several of them have closed down.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has been asked to provide adequate power during the flood disaster, while PTT is ensuring supplies of oil, natural gas and cooking gas.
Pichai has not yet asked officials to evaluate the impact of the floods on the energy industry or to prepare necessary measures for preventing flood damage to the industry in the future, the source said.
"The devastating flood is expected to reduce demand for oil, natural gas and electricity, as economic growth will be slower," the source said.
The ministry has not yet made an assessment of the cost of the damage to the industry, he said.
Pichai has assigned senior officials to deal only with the flood's impact. For example, the Energy Business Department is looking at the gas station situation, as several of them have closed down.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has been asked to provide adequate power during the flood disaster, while PTT is ensuring supplies of oil, natural gas and cooking gas.
Pichai has not yet asked officials to evaluate the impact of the floods on the energy industry or to prepare necessary measures for preventing flood damage to the industry in the future, the source said.
"The devastating flood is expected to reduce demand for oil, natural gas and electricity, as economic growth will be slower," the source said.
The ministry has not yet made an assessment of the cost of the damage to the industry, he said.
Poor showing for movie industry
Since the flooding hit many provinces, the company has witnessed a
30-to-40-per-cent drop in ticket sales, especially after the temporary
closing of 12 branches last week," Jim Patterson, general manager of
Paragon Cineplex and IMAX, told The Nation yesterday.
However, the Paragon cineplex, which has not yet been affected by the flood, gained 30 per cent in ticket sales last month over the same month last year. Last week the performance of this branch was also pretty good, he said.
The rise was partly due to the low base in October of last year, when this branch stopped operating because of the political unrest during the red-shirt protest.
At least five movies have postponed their openings from this month. Two are local films - "ATM" and "Meung Ga Gu" (Friends Never Die), deferred indefinitely - while the other three are foreign movies - "Tintin 3D", rescheduled to December 29, and "Immortals" and "Real Steel" to December 1.
The postponements also caused event marketing and promotions to be put off, but business should bounce back in December or early next year, Patterson said.
DBS Vickers Securities reported last week that the temporary closure of Major Cineplex's 12 branches so far because of the floods is affecting 103 of its 373 screens. With this disruption, the company's earnings are expected to be soft through next quarter.
However, Major enjoyed strong traffic at branches outside flooded areas. Box-office receipts for Thai films "30 Kam Lung Jaew" and "Top Secret" have reached Bt60 million and Bt40 million. Attendance upcountry remains strong.
Major's earnings should start recovering in the second quarter of next year, driven by attractive film releases pushed back from the current quarter to the first quarter of next year. However, Major sees a glimmer of hope as the inundation in the Pinklao area receded last week, so it reopened two cineplexes there - the 12-screen standalone branch on Sunday and the 13-screen branch at CentralPlaza Pinklao yesterday.
SF Cinema City has also had temporarily to close four branches with 35 screens at The Square in Nonthaburi's Bang Yai district, Central Ramindra, Central Ladprao and The Mall Bangkae. A source at SF Cinemas said two movies were postponed from this month - "Tower Heist" and "Mid Mile Racing Love".
M Pictures Entertainment, a distributor of films to cinemas and producer of video discs, has suspended the launch of movies and DVDs to early next year because retail outlets in Bangkok and elsewhere in the Central region are affected by the floods while transport is disrupted.
Chief executive officer Padet Hongfa said this crisis might cost the company about 15 per cent in lost sales this quarter. This could force it to lower its revenue target to Bt1 billion from Bt1.1 billion.
The company said it had relocated its head office from Suzuki Avenue Ratchayothin to Charn Issara Tower II on New Phetchaburi Road because of the floods.
However, the Paragon cineplex, which has not yet been affected by the flood, gained 30 per cent in ticket sales last month over the same month last year. Last week the performance of this branch was also pretty good, he said.
The rise was partly due to the low base in October of last year, when this branch stopped operating because of the political unrest during the red-shirt protest.
At least five movies have postponed their openings from this month. Two are local films - "ATM" and "Meung Ga Gu" (Friends Never Die), deferred indefinitely - while the other three are foreign movies - "Tintin 3D", rescheduled to December 29, and "Immortals" and "Real Steel" to December 1.
The postponements also caused event marketing and promotions to be put off, but business should bounce back in December or early next year, Patterson said.
DBS Vickers Securities reported last week that the temporary closure of Major Cineplex's 12 branches so far because of the floods is affecting 103 of its 373 screens. With this disruption, the company's earnings are expected to be soft through next quarter.
However, Major enjoyed strong traffic at branches outside flooded areas. Box-office receipts for Thai films "30 Kam Lung Jaew" and "Top Secret" have reached Bt60 million and Bt40 million. Attendance upcountry remains strong.
Major's earnings should start recovering in the second quarter of next year, driven by attractive film releases pushed back from the current quarter to the first quarter of next year. However, Major sees a glimmer of hope as the inundation in the Pinklao area receded last week, so it reopened two cineplexes there - the 12-screen standalone branch on Sunday and the 13-screen branch at CentralPlaza Pinklao yesterday.
SF Cinema City has also had temporarily to close four branches with 35 screens at The Square in Nonthaburi's Bang Yai district, Central Ramindra, Central Ladprao and The Mall Bangkae. A source at SF Cinemas said two movies were postponed from this month - "Tower Heist" and "Mid Mile Racing Love".
M Pictures Entertainment, a distributor of films to cinemas and producer of video discs, has suspended the launch of movies and DVDs to early next year because retail outlets in Bangkok and elsewhere in the Central region are affected by the floods while transport is disrupted.
Chief executive officer Padet Hongfa said this crisis might cost the company about 15 per cent in lost sales this quarter. This could force it to lower its revenue target to Bt1 billion from Bt1.1 billion.
The company said it had relocated its head office from Suzuki Avenue Ratchayothin to Charn Issara Tower II on New Phetchaburi Road because of the floods.
TAT, groups hatch tourism rehab plan
The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), the Association of Thai Travel
Agents (ATTA) and some other key associations will be involved in
tomorrow's discussions of the plan, according to TCT vice president
Pornthi Hirunkate.
She said the private sector would propose that the authority organise road shows in all key markets including China, Japan, Korea, India, Germany and Australia.
"TAT and operators will go to all targeted countries as part of a Thailand Team to regain tourists' confidence," Pornthi said.
The team will likely kick off its first trip by January.
"Tourism has been dropping since the flooding reached Bangkok last month, and this could continue into the high season. Hotel business in Bangkok has already dropped by 20 per cent, but operators in Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai have gained as many tourists are flying directly into the southern region," Pornthip said.
Earlier, the TAT said flooding would only reduce international arrivals by 2 per cent.
The private-sector groups and the TAT will also review the overall tourism picture and may revise down the projections for this year.
According to the CNNGo website, the International Flood Evacuation Centre at Bangna Commercial College on Sukhumvit 103 is posting invitations via Twitter, Facebook and various websites to alert foreigners living, studying or travelling in Thailand who need somewhere to stay because of the floods.
TAT also lists hotels offering flood-relief accommodation for both locals and tourists at lowered prices through its website.
She said the private sector would propose that the authority organise road shows in all key markets including China, Japan, Korea, India, Germany and Australia.
"TAT and operators will go to all targeted countries as part of a Thailand Team to regain tourists' confidence," Pornthi said.
The team will likely kick off its first trip by January.
"Tourism has been dropping since the flooding reached Bangkok last month, and this could continue into the high season. Hotel business in Bangkok has already dropped by 20 per cent, but operators in Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai have gained as many tourists are flying directly into the southern region," Pornthip said.
Earlier, the TAT said flooding would only reduce international arrivals by 2 per cent.
The private-sector groups and the TAT will also review the overall tourism picture and may revise down the projections for this year.
According to the CNNGo website, the International Flood Evacuation Centre at Bangna Commercial College on Sukhumvit 103 is posting invitations via Twitter, Facebook and various websites to alert foreigners living, studying or travelling in Thailand who need somewhere to stay because of the floods.
TAT also lists hotels offering flood-relief accommodation for both locals and tourists at lowered prices through its website.
NGV station at Rojana
This conventional station, which was closed on Oct 11, gets direct
supply from the pipeline. It can distribute 68 tonnes of natural gas a
day.
PTT President and CEO Pailin Chuchottaworn said that the company will re-open more stations as soon as possible. After water recedes, PTT will send in experts to inspect the stations. Some 66 stations can be re-opened within 1-2 days while the recovery of 29 stations should take 7 days.
PTT operates 461 NGV stations nationwide.
Together with the re-opening of this station, PTT distributed 500 relief bags to villagers living nearby. It also distributed octane-91 petrol, diesel and cooking gas by truck
PTT President and CEO Pailin Chuchottaworn said that the company will re-open more stations as soon as possible. After water recedes, PTT will send in experts to inspect the stations. Some 66 stations can be re-opened within 1-2 days while the recovery of 29 stations should take 7 days.
PTT operates 461 NGV stations nationwide.
Together with the re-opening of this station, PTT distributed 500 relief bags to villagers living nearby. It also distributed octane-91 petrol, diesel and cooking gas by truck
Fewer number of closed bank branches
A number of 33 bank branches in Pinklao, Phaholyothin, Lat Phrao and Chaeng Wattana resumed services as of Nov 14, but more branches are closed in Bang Bon, Bang Khunthien and Min Buri districts.According to Bank of Thailand, 551 bank branches in 8 provinces are temporarily closed on the day, down by 42 from Friday. Of total, 289 are located in Bangkok. On the day, 5,432 ATMs were unplugged, down 96 from Friday. Of total, 2,268 are in Bangkok.
As another sign of improvement, the central bank’s clearing office in Ayutthaya, which was closed on Oct 6, would resume service on Nov 15.วันจันทร์ที่ 31 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554
Government may take on flood risk protection
The government says it will consider assuming the flood risk of companies affected by the massive inundation after insurers showed reluctance to provide coverage to them."The strategy will help reassure foreign investors that they will have risk protection from natural disasters," Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said yesterday.Insurance companies could decline business from firms in severely swamped provinces - Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani in particular.The government wants to persuade foreign investors, particularly those from Japan, to stay in Thailand.Ensuring insurance coverage is part of the government's post-flood rehabilitation plan.Reinsurers overseas reportedly have refused to accept all risks of companies whose business |is located in such high-risk |zones.When investors are rejected by insurers, they will reconsider their plans to set up plants in Thailand. If they are convinced by the government's measure, they will feel more secure, Kittiratt said, adding that the policy would not require a large budget.The government will also invite water-management experts to draw up a long-term plan so that the country can avoid massive flooding.
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