>

Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News

TOURISM NEWS

Phuket Farewells Four Young Swedes on Their Final Flight Home

Aussie, Dutch Couple Die as Debate Sparks About Risk-Taking in SE Asia

New ME Direct Flight; Phuket's Taiwan Drive; Honeymoon Blues for Maldives; Last WWI Survivor Dies; Phuket Events

Phuket Vendors Fight For Turf in Beach Battle at Karon: Two Seriously Injured

Phuket's Moral Reform Campaign Begins With Internet Cafes, Bars, Karaoke Clubs

PROPERTY NEWS

Beyond Resort North of Phuket Appoints a GM

Phuket Movenpick Resort's Sale Price Set for a High Five

JOBS NEWS

Phuket Has 1000 Resort Jobs Going: Floods Students Wanted, Too

facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS
The Immigration colonel, in the black shirt, ''arrests'' welcomers
The Immigration colonel, in the black shirt, ''arrests'' welcomers

Immigration Chief 'Arrests' Phuket Welcomers

By Chutima Sidasathian and Paweena Petyoi

Monday, November 23, 2009
Updating Report

THE NEW Immigration chief at Phuket International Airport ''arrested'' members of the media and Tourism Authority of Thailand staff as they prepared to welcome a new flight yesterday.

Colonel Pongtorn Patchimsawat, who was not in uniform, called on about 10 Immigration officers to arrest the media and TAT group.

The incident came as dancers and drummers in traditional costume and the TAT and media awaited the arrival of the inaugural V Australia flight from Brisbane, with 361 passengers on board, including Australian media and tourism officials.

Puzzled passengers walked past the greeting scene, wondering what had gone wrong with the planned traditional welcome and the usual smiling greetings.

Whenever these ''first flights'' arrive on Phuket, local media and welcoming performers and officials go beyond the Immigration desk to greet the new arrivals as they come through the door from the aircraft.

Airport security guards yesterday afternoon escorted the group to that point, as they usually do.

Colonel Pongtorn, new in the role, saw what was happening and asked the group on whose authority they had breached security at the Immigration counter.

When he did not receive a satisfactory answer, he ordered that the group be surrounded by uniformed officers.

Among the welcoming group ''under arrest'' were the new director of the TAT on Phuket, Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, Methee Tanmanatragul, President of the Southern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, and the AoT airport director, Prathuang Somkhom.

Only after talking to Khun Bangornrat and the the airport's director for several minutes in his office did Colonel Pongtorn allow the group to go.

Khun Bangornrat and Khun Prathuang both gave a ''No comment'' about the incident today to Phuketwan.

About 15 members of the media took the matter further, meeting at Provincial Hall with Phuket's Governor, Wichai Praisa-ngob, today.

A Phuketwan reader commented that while the arrival of the new regular service between Phuket and Brisbane is a boost for tourism, it appears that people on Phuket are not permitted to book flights to Brisbane and back.
V Runs from Brisbane Plus Visa Runs to Hong Kong
Latest Flights boom as the Phuket high season approaches. New direct links from Hong Kong and Brisbane are an indication that more tourists will come if it's easy to fly here.
V Runs from Brisbane Plus Visa Runs to Hong Kong

Indian Marriage Made in Heaven for Banyan Tree
Photo Album A wealthy Indian family has booked the entire five-star Banyan Tree Phuket for three days for a wedding. The rest of the tourism industry is hoping a little love comes their way, too.
Indian Marriage Made in Heaven for Banyan Tree

Phuket Jet-Ski 'Regatta' to Watch Governor Ride
Photo Album Phuket's governor is calling it D Day. November 26 marks the occasion when all jet skis on the island should be insured, and the governor plans to choose one to ride.
Phuket Jet-Ski 'Regatta' to Watch Governor Ride

Bangkok Horror at YouTube 'Threat to Tourism'
Latest Members of an important Senate tourism committee express horror at the impression tourists are givent by lack of skills and training among jet ski operators and others on Phuket.
Bangkok Horror at YouTube 'Threat to Tourism'

Phuket Scam Purge: Police Impound 'Black' Jet-Ski
Latest Phuket police and an important tourism committee from Bangkok go into action as the first 'black' jet ski operator is arrested. His confiscated vehicle may mark a fresh, clean start for tourism.
Phuket Scam Purge: Police Impound 'Black' Jet-Ski

MediaWATCH: 'Phuket Hub' Airline Chases India
Latest Air Asia opens up India; divorce tours; New TAT governor; Google's operating system; EU answer for Kissinger; Ecstasy bust in Cambodia; Singapore's HIV secret.
MediaWATCH: 'Phuket Hub' Airline Chases India

Comments

Add your comment using the form below.

Want an avatar for your comments? Register with Gravatar.


(not required, displayed if provided)

(required, not displayed)
(text-only, no links or tags, thanks)
gravatar

Oh dear, another PR disaster. What were the aussies thinking, coming through the airport?

Posted by william dale on November 23, 2009 16:02

gravatar

OMG! Wonder how long he will be in charge? Nice jeans, by the way.

Posted by VFaye on November 23, 2009 17:42

gravatar

Sure, it was a screw-up. Colonel Pongtorn didn't get the memo, was out of loop, etc. A PR stumble to be sure.

But given the facts as he had them at the time, Colonel Pongtorn chose to err on the security. I got no problem with that.

Posted by D on November 23, 2009 20:26

gravatar

I think the Col. did his job. The area is supposed to be "sterile" with only authorised screened people in the area. It's not his fault that he's professional and complied with both national and international air safety rules. The people that should be held responsible are TAT for not undergoing the security screening. Thailand's airports need more people like the Col. Job well done and I hope he isn't punished for doing his job.

Posted by Happy Visitor on November 23, 2009 21:03

gravatar

Your report is wrong in some parts: we were there as part of media. We did not see you there.

He did not 'arrest' anyone but did stop the media filming the Australians at Immigration counters.

Nothing went 'wrong with the planned traditional welcome and the usual smiling greetings' - it went ahead as usual, not 'through the door from the aircraft' but downstairs before they go through Immigration.

The group was not 'surrounded by uniformed officers' - a discussion took place and we continued with greeting, interview, and filming.

It does 'appear (on their website) that people on Phuket are not permitted to book flights to Brisbane and back', but the PR Manager of V Australia told us during our interview, that Thai based passengers can book through local travel agents including LTU.

Our interview & footage at airport will probably be shown on NBT VHF dial this Friday 27 November at 830-9am & later on our websites.

Editor: We look forward to next weekend and NBT's account of the unusually newsworthy arrival that occurred last weekend.

Posted by NBT TV Phuket on November 23, 2009 21:14

gravatar

Ummm, oops. Sounds like Colonel Pongtorn Patchimsawat will be back stamping passports again soon. I can see that traditional dancers and photographers would pose a serious security threat - all those smiles could be blinding.

Posted by John L on November 24, 2009 16:13

gravatar

Just been informed, our 27 November local weekly program 'Andaman News' will not be on air as there is a live nationwide program. May be shown next week 4 December.

Posted by NBT TV Phuket on November 25, 2009 09:22

gravatar

NBT, you sure your footage has not been shelved if there is any hint it could show Phuket in a bad light on You Tube or Andaman news?

Posted by william dale on November 25, 2009 22:28

gravatar

Raw footage of traditional welcome and our interview is now on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwCdlAsbjRA
You can judge yourself if it shows Phuket in good light, or not...

Posted by NBT TV Phuket on November 27, 2009 09:54

Thursday February 9, 2012
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter
MOST POPULAR
  1. Greater Phuket Horror Crash: Four Young Swedes, Thai Man Killed, Truck Driver Flees Collision Scene
  2. Tiger Abusers Caught Red-Handed in Bangkok Guesthouse
  3. 'Delightful' Young Swedes Took Killer Ride in an Illegal Phuket Taxi
  4. Wounded Aussies Aim to Hit Back at Phuket's 'Uncontrolled Patong Violence'
  5. Phuket Tourist Deaths: Truck Driver Confesses, 'I Killed Them'
MOST COMMENT
  1. Wild Phuket Brawl: Aussies Seriously Hurt
  2. Wounded Aussies Aim to Hit Back at Phuket's 'Uncontrolled Patong Violence'
  3. Phuket Tourist Trickery Scores 300,000 Baht, Enough to Make You Sick
  4. Phuket Needs Army to deal With Taxis, Tuk-Tuks, Meeting Told
  5. Greater Phuket Horror Crash: Four Young Swedes, Thai Man Killed, Truck Driver Flees Collision Scene
Phuket web development by PapayaSoft