IN BRIEF : S Korean flights to Krabi mulled

IN BRIEF : S Korean flights to Krabi mulled.

With South Korean travel to Krabi booming, the Seoul office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand conducted a feasibility tour last month to explore the possibility of operating an Inchon-Krabi charter flight this year.

Sasi-apha Sukontarat, director of the Seoul office, led representatives from Asiana Airlines and the top-three South Korean travel agents on an inspection trip to Krabi Airport.

The deputy governor of Krabi hosted a meeting, during which representatives from Krabi provincial offices and the private sector met with South Korean guests to discuss Krabi's potential and explore the possibility of operating charter flights serving Inchon and Krabi.

Sasi-apha reported positive feedback from the South Korean delegation. If the introduction of Inchon-Krabi charter flights proves viable, operations are expected to commence in April, with two flights per week.

To achieve this goal, the South Korean travel agents have asked the Krabi Hotel Association to play a strong and active role in supporting them through joint promotions, the assignment of room quotas and special discounts. - The Nation.

Diamond trade

A committee from the Kimberley Process (KP) will visit Thailand this month to conduct a review visit on Thai export data and certify the export of rough diamonds from the Kingdom.

KP is an international certification scheme that regulates the trade in rough diamonds. It is an international joint-government diamond-industry and civil-society initiative, whose aim is to prevent the trade in "conflict" diamonds - or "blood diamonds".

The export of rough diamonds from member countries must be certified under the Kimberly Process Certificate Scheme. Thai companies now need a KP certificate to facilitate the export of diamond products.

Foreign Trade Department director-general Apiradi Tantraporn yesterday said diamond-importing countries now faced additional restrictions. In particular, rough diamonds brought into the Kingdom must be certified that they did not originate from Angola, where the proceeds from sales are extensively used for the purchase of weapons used in that country's civil war. The United Nations has banned Angolan diamond exports. - The Nation.

Investment survey

Most Malaysian CEOs see Thailand and Singapore as the country's top two competitors for foreign direct investment, reports an Ernst & Young survey.

"Malaysia and Thailand are more similar in the sense that both are manufacturing hubs and offer comparable tax-incentive packages to global manufacturers," Ernst & Young said in its Annual Tax Survey 2006.

For Singapore, it has already established itself as a financial centre, high-technology and regional services hub, Bernama News Agency on Tuesday quoted the survey as saying.

Malaysian CEOs believe it is important for the country to continue building its niche areas and achieve differentiation from its competitors.

The Nation
Thursday January 11, 2007