Nepalese aircraft dives into river
KATHMANDU, 17 May 2013: Twenty-one people were hurt, including eight Japanese tourists, when a small plane skidded off an airport runway in northwest Nepal on Thursday and plunged into a river, police said.
All 21 people aboard the Nepal Airlines Twin Otter aircraft were injured, five seriously, police spokesman Keshav Adhikari said.
The plane’s brakes failed and it crashed into the Kali Gandaki river in the Annapurna mountain range in Nepal’s northwest, Adhikari said.
Rookie pilot caused Lion crash
JAKARTA, 16 May 2013: Indonesian authorities blamed poor training for a crash in which a rookie pilot undershot the runway and landed in the sea off the resort island of Bali last month, according to a report seen Wednesday.
All 108 passengers and crew survived the spectacular 13 April crash, which split the new Boeing 737-800 in two and was a major blow to Lion Air, which has signed record plane orders but is trying to shake off its poor safety record.
The preliminary investigation by the National Transport Safety Committee found the 24-year-old Indian national at the plane’s helm was forced to hand control to the Indonesian captain since he could not see the runway upon descent.
LOT sets date for Dreamliner flights
WARSAW, 24 April 2013: Polish flagship carrier LOT said Tuesday it expects its two Boeing 787 Dreamliners to resume flights in early June, months after battery problems grounded the aircraft worldwide.
LOT will operate the planes on its transatlantic routes from Poland to Chicago, New York and Toronto, spokesman Marek Klucinski told AFP.
LOT was Europe’s first company to use the Dreamliner in November before battery issues prompted the worldwide grounding of the planes in January.
Boat accident batters image
April 24, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 24 April 2013: Ministry of Tourism and Sports says a speed boat accident last Sunday that injured 18 Korean tourists near one of Pattaya’s popular day trip islands caused enormous damage to the country’s tourism image.
Tourism Minister Somsak Phureesrisak said the accident has seriously shaken Thailand’s safety and security record.
“Initially, the ministry will compensate those injured up to US$10,000 per person and coordinate with the Pattaya Municipality, insurance companies, and hospitals to ensure they are treated properly,” he said.
Ministry backs holiday insurance
April 24, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 24 April 2013: Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports says it will seek Bt700 million to set up insurance to assist international travellers in distress to cover the peak season October 2013 to February 2014.
The ministry permanent secretary, Suwat Sidthilaw, said he was preparing a proposal for the Cabinet that will request a fund of Bt700 million to underwrite an insurance scheme for the peak season.
“The insurance fund will act as a guarantee for visitors that their safety is being taken seriously at government level.”
Boats collide off Laan island
April 22, 2013 by e-NewsWire
Filed under News, Thailand
CHONBURI, 22 April 2013: A speed boat accident Sunday injured 18 Korean tourists just off-shore from Pattaya’s popular Laan island. According to MCOT online news two of the Korean tourists were in critical condition.
A speed boat, named “Sea Dream”, was transporting 30 Korean tourists to Ko Laan Island when it collided with another speed boat “Khem Thong,” which was about 800 metres off the beach.
All tourists were rescued by boats that were in the vicinity. The drivers of the two speed boats however escaped.
Lion faces tough scrutiny
April 18, 2013 by AFP
Filed under Aviation, News, Southeast Asia
JAKARTA, 18 April 2013: The dramatic crash of a Lion Air plane into the sea off Bali has raised fears Indonesia’s fastest-growing carrier may be putting passenger safety at risk with its huge expansion plans, analysts said earlier this week.
Experts also warned Saturday’s crash, in which all 108 on board survived but the Boeing jet split in two, highlighted a “ticking time bomb” under the country’s aviation sector with a lack of experienced crew to meet fast-growing demand.
A little-known carrier launched 13 years ago with just one plane, Lion Air has struck two of the world’s largest aircraft orders in a staggering US$46 billion bet on Indonesia’s air transport boom.
Minister calls for stronger security
April 5, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under Government, News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 5 April 2013: Tourism and Sports Minister, Somsak Phurisrisak, has identified safety as a top priority task at the ministry to regain travel confidence.
The minister said safety is now the top concern for the government to ensure Thailand is perceived as a safe destination to visit.
In the past, the travel industry failed to recognise that safety was an integral part of delivering a quality tourism product. It focused on delivering quality hotels, land tours and airline travel and tended to sweep under the carpet failures to match these components with safe passage.
War threats fail to deter tourism
April 3, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, North Asia
BANGKOK, 3 April 2013: Ministry of Tourism and Sports says increased tension on the Korean peninsula following North Korea’s threat to declare a state of war, last Saturday, has not deterred Koreans from travelling.
MOTS spokesperson, Watchara Kannikar, said the ministry is monitoring the situation closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to evaluate the risk for travel and commerce between South Korea and Thailand.
“So far, there was no indication of trips being cancelled by South Koreans or Thais to that country,” he said.
Dry and wet Songkran
March 26, 2013 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under Festivals, News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 26 March 2013: Areas of the Thai capital will go alcohol-free during the popular Songkran festival 12 to 17 April according to Thai authorities.
Coconuts Bangkok and Thaivisa.com identified the alcohol dry spots as Khao San, Rama Nine and Silom roads. Parts of Pattaya and Phuket will also be designated alcohol-free.
