Looks Pretty Good Compared to Some Countries

Okay, from time to time, we all have complaints about airlines, airports and all things aviation. This is usually based on our own experiences, a bad in-flight meal, the galley running out of booze, having to climb over someone to get to the toilet or rude and indifferent staff.

But stop complaining. It could be worse. You could be relying on service from a national carrier operated by any of the following countries: North Korea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Cambodia or Rwanda. All of these airlines are banned from flying into the European Union because of doubts about their safety.

Then throw in carriers from Angola, Benin, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (a landlocked country in Central Asia), Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Swaziland and Zambia to name but a few. In fact, a total of 228 companies are banned. This makes for a pretty sorry picture. Maybe Thailand isn’t so bad after all.

Of course almost all of these countries are in Africa and none, apart from Siem Reap Airways International from Cambodia, fly into Thailand and then only into Bangkok and not Phuket. Also, of course, the European Union ban is a bit academic for most of the airlines affected since they don’t have routes into Europe anyway.

What the ban does underscore, however, is how important safety considerations are to the airline industry. This year, three new countries were added to the list of banned airlines – the African countries of Djibouti, the Republic of Congo and Sao Tome and Principe.

Thailand is not entirely without a history of such bans either. At one stage a couple of Thai airlines were grounded because of safety concerns. However, Asia, with the exception of Cambodia and some airlines in Indonesia, has been improving its record compared to Africa, the former Soviet states and some Middle Eastern countries.

At least the countries mentioned here have airports. Imagine living in a country where there is no airport! Well there are five of them. Leading the way is the Vatican City, which is plum in the centre of Rome. Then there’s Monaco, but it does, however, have a heliport for all those billionaires to drop by. Liechtenstein, likewise. Its nearest airport is Zurich in Switzerland. Andorra near Spain is the largest country not to have a facility. Its nearest airports are Girona in Barcelona and Toulouse in France. Finally there’s tiny San Marino in Italy, which also boasts only a heliport.

So it just goes to show that you can run a country successfully without an airport. Of course, Phuket’s tourist industry would be severely constrained without our airport and to be fair it’s a facility which is improving customer service and facilities virtually every month. We’re getting a VIP air terminal, a single-engine aircraft strip and, yes, you guessed it, we now have a helipad (not a heliport) about three to four kilometres south of the airport. Of course Phuket also has its own mobile helipads, those on the larger super yachts that moor off places like the Amanpuri Resort in Surin during the high season.

Finally, Phuket Airport is looking to welcome its sixth millionth visitor. It just missed out last year because of the airport closure and other political unrest in Thailand.

However, Phuket Airport has a long way to go before it matches the busiest airport in Asia, Beijing Capital International, with a throughput of almost 37 million people from January to July this year.
Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok was the busiest airport in the region, handling 22 million passengers over the same period. This, in fact represented a drop of 9.4% over the same period last year. This was the biggest drop ‘year-on-year’ for any international facility in Asia. Suvarnabhumi has certainly had more than it’s fair share of problems. Let’s hope that there are no more airport occupations, as any interruptions in service impact adversely on Phuket – the vast majority of visitors to the island still pass through Bangkok en route.

By Alastair Carthew, a Phuket based writer and communications advisor.
Tel: +66 (0)76 317929
Email: alastaircarthew@gmail.com

Posted under Lifestyle

The types of offshore bonds (sometimes referred to as professional portfolio bonds) are varied and offer different advantages to investors to match their individual requirements.

TAX FREE GROWTH OF FUNDS
The underlying investment funds linked to a bond are owned by the life insurance company. All income and capital gains which the funds generate are reinvested into units. Many such instruments are based in the Isle of Man or Guernsey (the world-leading jurisdictions for offshore insurance) and therefore don’t pay tax on income or capital gains.

TAX DEFERRAL
Because income and gains grow free of tax, the policyholder can defer any tax liability on their capital until the benefits are taken. In most countries, bonds are considered non-income producing.

TIME APPORTIONMENT RELIEF
This means that tax can be reduced proportionately for time spent as a non-resident and additional investments are always deemed to be made at the initial investment date, even if made when resident again. Regular investments are treated the same.

How it works:
The A/B Rule. A = Number of days spent in UK. B = Number of days policy has been established.

For example: Mr. Jones has a policy worth £200,000 and his gain is £100,000. He started this plan when he was offshore 10,000 days ago, and he returned to the UK 1,000 days ago.

Calculation: 1000/10,000 x 100 = 10%. Therefore, 90% of the policy can be encashed in the UK with no tax liability.

TAX EFFICIENT ACCESS TO CAPITAL VIA WITHDRAWALS
In the UK, an amount equal to five per cent of the premium paid can be taken each year, for a maximum of 20 years, without incurring an immediate income tax liability. With portfolio bonds, this avoids the necessity of selling units to obtain an income.

INVESTMENT CHOICE
A bond offers the ability to restructure and change investment policy within the bond, without changing the investment vehicle.

BETTER TERMS
As an institutional investor, life offices can generally obtain better discounts/terms from investment houses than an individual and these savings are passed on to the policyholders. For example, if an individual were to buy units in a fidelity fund, then he’d pay a 5% bid/offer spread, but this could be reduced to as little as 0.25%, if purchased via a bond.

INVESTOR PROTECTION/PEACE OF MIND
In the unlikely event that a company should go into liquidation, the Isle of Man Life Assurance (Compensation of Policyholders) Regulations Act 1991 covers up to 90% of an insurer’s liability to the policyholder. The same applies for moneys held in Guernsey, as all investments there have to be held by a secure third party custodian. There’s no upper limit to the amount of compensation that can be paid. This makes the Isle of Man and Guernsey two of the best regulated international finance centres in the world.

CGT FREE SWITCHES
By actively managing a portfolio of funds the investor can switch between funds without incurring any tax liability. Normally, if investments are held directly, any disposals incur a capital gains tax liability.

ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE
Regular valuations keep the investor informed about the progress of the bond via a comprehensive statement detailing all transactions and the value of funds held. Centralising assets based in different countries under a bond wrapper may be attractive, as on death this would only involve obtaining Manx or Guernsey Probate. A professional administration service performs all transactions, relieving the client of the burden of time-consuming paperwork.

TRUSTEE INVESTMENTS
Offshore bonds are ideal trustee investments as they’re non-income producing and offer true tax deferral and little administration burden to trustees. We’ve several trust solutions for our potential clients.

POLICY ASSIGNMENT
It’s also possible to change the policy ownership, by assignment. In general, the new policy owner can then surrender the policy, and any tax liability will fall on him. If the new owner is a non-tax paying spouse, she can offset her unused personal allowances against any gains and pay less tax. This is also very useful for university fees funding.

NON RESIDENCE RELIEF – UK EXPATS
Any periods of non-residence will be relieved of income tax on final encashment. Top-slicing relief may be used for any periods of UK residence if the tax payer is within the basic rate tax band. This may save 18% tax on any chargeable amounts.

CGT V INCOME TAX
Until recently, it has been a feature of UK tax law that individuals who made capital gains were not liable for CGT, if the gain was realised while they were ‘non-UK resident’ or ‘ordinarily non-resident’. Clause 127 of the Finance Act 1998 changed that position. Under the new rules, individuals who have been UK resident for at least four out of the previous seven tax years prior to the tax year of departure will continue to be liable for UK CGT, on disposals they make whilst non-resident, if they return to the UK within five years. The new rules apply to individuals who leave the UK after 17th March 1998 and apply to assets they held prior to their departure. If the individual is UK domiciled, the charge would be on worldwide assets.

An alternative, and potentially much safer approach, would be to contribute to investments which are not subject to CGT i.e. offshore regular and single premium life assurance policies. They’re fully portable, as the investor moves from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In most countries, no tax charge arises until the benefits are taken.

Posted under Property News

For many years tourist arrivals from Australia have been a key component of Phuket’s hotel industry, particularly as the antipodean winter coincides with the island’s low season. The problem is Bali!

The recent announcement by Jetstar, the Australian-based, long haul budget airline, that it will increase flights from Sydney to Phuket to five rotations per week during the high season, is welcome news. In terms of tourist arrivals, Phuket has always lagged behind Bali, its major regional competitor for the Australian market.

A 2009 Reader’s Choice Award in Conde Nast Traveler, the bible of the travel business, ranked the top islands in the Asia/Indian Ocean region as the Maldives, Bali and Phuket in that order. Research published in June this year showed that Australians continue to rate Phuket as their second choice, after Bali. A report by Bill Barnett, the Phuket based hotel and property consultant, said in May this year that Bali had profited from the recent Phuket airport closures. This when combined with the ongoing political turmoil in Bangkok, impacts on people’s decisions regarding their choice of holiday destination.

In 2008, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australians were returning to Bali in record numbers despite a travel advisory issued following the bombings that rocked the Indonesian tourism industry a few years ago. Many Australians died in the Bali bombings.

Comparisons between the two heavyweight destinations have been going on for years. In 2000, the travel magazine Hotel Asia Pacific reported that one reason for Bali’s lead at that time was the greater frequency of direct flights, compared to Phuket, and that Bali also had more top tier hotels.

However, Phuket was ahead in infrastructure development. Over the last eight years, until the airport closures, Phuket appeared to be closing the gap with Bali, which was still subject to suspicion because of the unstable political and security situation. The airport closure in Phuket showed just how vulnerable the island economy is to outbreaks of political unrest. Indonesia, as a result, is now perceived as a safer and more stable country than has been the case in the past. Australians also like Bali because of its closeness, its good surfing and overall facilities.

Phuket’s relative remoteness is offset by the increase in direct flights by the major regional airlines over the last few years, and the growth of budget carriers like Thai Air Asia and Tiger Airways. We’ve also seen the entry of new, smaller competitors like Firefly (Malaysia) and the Phuket-based Happy Air. All-in-all this adds up to a positive future for Phuket in its efforts to wean the Australian tourists from Bali.

What more can Phuket do to get ahead? More high-end accommodation is still needed, and there must be a concerted effort, to stop the tourist scams that blight tourist activities. However most importantly, Thailand needs to achieve political stability.

If these things don’t happen Phuket will continue to attract fewer tourists, particularly from Australia during their winter, which is the Phuket ‘summer’ (low) season.

By Alastair Carthew, a Phuket based writer and communications advisor.
Email: alastaircarthew@gmail.com
Tel: +66 (0)76 317929.

Posted under Lifestyle

People travelling by air these days sometimes find themselves without notification, on a flight with a different number, operated by a company other than that with which they’d booked … it’s called code sharing.

This can often cause confusion and even anger, if passengers find themselves on an airline that they consider to be inferior to the one they had chosen. Let’s explain how this circumstance can come about.

Code sharing originated in 1990 when Qantas Airways of Australia and American Airlines combined their services, between a number of US and Australian cities. This preceded the formation of airline alliances, which also use code sharing in a very comprehensive way.

The first alliance, Star Alliance was started in 1997. Thai Airways International was one of the five founding members, and the only one from Asia. This was followed by Oneworld which included Qantas and American Airways and Skyteam led by KLM-Air France.

Most airlines now also have code sharing agreements with other operators. The term ‘code’ is the identifier used in the flight schedule; generally the two character International Air Transport Association (IATA) airline designator code and a flight number.

For example, Flight XX123 operated by the airline XX, might also be sold by airline YY as YY456, and by airline ZZ as ZZ789. Airlines may participate in a code sharing arrangement for several reasons:

1. Connecting flights. This provides clearer routing for the customer allowing a customer to book travel from point A to C through point B under one carrier’s code instead of a booking from point A to B under one code and from point B to C under another.
2. Flights from two airlines that fly the same route. This gives an apparent increase in the frequency of service on the route for both airlines.
3. Perceived service to unserved markets. This allows carriers who do not operate their own aircraft on a given route to gain exposure in the market through display of their flight numbers. Under a code sharing agreement, the airline that actually operates the flight (the one providing the ’plane, the crew and ground handling services) is called the operating carrier and the airlines that sell tickets for that flight but do not actually operate it are called marketing carriers.

Most passengers and travel agents prefer flights which provide a direct connection and code sharing gives this impression. It can, however, be annoying for passengers as the Global Distribution Systems (Sabre, Amadeus, Galileo and Worldspan) often do not differentiate between direct flights and code sharing flights.

By Alastair Carthew, a Phuket based writer and communications advisor. Email: alastaircarthew@gmail.com

Posted under Lifestyle

Following on from last month, I’d like to tell you more about the benefits of unit cost averaging.

According to Forbes magazine, Warren Buffet, the CEO of giant American investment fund Berkshire Hathaway, is the world’s second richest man. He’s made a fortune for himself and his fellow shareholders by investing in the world’s stock markets over many decades. The great stock market crash of 2008 began in September. Many people cringed when Buffet went back into the markets aggressively the following month, well before the markets bottomed in February this year. The point I’m trying to make is that if the world’s most successful investor of all time doesn’t know when the markets have bottomed, then what chance for the rest of us? It’s well-nigh impossible to second guess share price movements, and this is why I’m a keen advocate of unit cost averaging. The so-called drip-feeding approach, investing a little at a time, can be very beneficial whatever the markets are doing. It can make a big difference to the performance of a portfolio, whether it’s a lump sum investment or a regular savings plan generating a pot for retirement, school fees etc. This is how you can benefit from volatility and price fluctuations.

Volatility is inherent in equity investing. It’s important for you to realise that market fluctuations are normal and you should therefore be aware of the risks. Fluctuating share prices obviously mean that the unit prices of funds will also fluctuate, thereby impacting on the value of your portfolio. This is where a strategy of regular investing or drip-feeding really pays off.
The following example demonstrates what can happen when investing in periods of high volatility.


Key points

• The effect of the fluctuating unit price has meant that Example B has ended up with a higher fund value than in a steadily increasing market. Even though the unit price is actually lower at the end of the example than it is at the start.
• To reap benefits from stock markets an investor need not necessarily have a large lump sum to invest.
• Unit cost averaging holds obvious benefits for investors making regular savings/premiums.
• It is important to consider the risks associated with all types of investment, particularly those associated with equity markets.

With the above in mind I think it appropriate to show again how the markets have performed over the recent past. As you can see there have been periods of high volatility. Unit cost averaging has worked during this time to great effect, and no doubt will do so again in the future.

The bigger picture
The case for investing in equities
Taking into account the effects of any short term volatility, the case for investing in equities remains as strong today as it has ever been for those investors with a long-term investment horizon. Over the last 25 years, an investment in the S&P 500 would have grown to almost 20 times its original value.

Posted under Property News

The oldest club of any kind on Phuket, Phuket Yacht Club, turns 40 this year – and is gearing up to celebrate in style at Royal Phuket Marina.

Phuket Yacht Club is located in one of the safest and most idyllic bays on the island, Ao Yon on Cape Panwa. The club is reminiscent of days long gone, when expats would laze away a Sunday afternoon over cold beers and varied conversation, undisturbed by jet-skis, mass tourism or… well, anything for that matter.

Of course, if lazing isn’t your thing, there is the sailing…The aim of the club – essentially a small boat/dinghy sailing club – is to introduce people to the sport of sailing and encourage others to participate in sailing, club racing and other water activities.

The club offers recreational sailing, club racing, boat rental and family day barbeques – as well as racing lessons to children. In co-operation with Topper Sail, a whole range of sail training is also available for children as well as adults. Those ‘in the know’ when it comes to sailing say that people who start out in dinghies make absolutely the best sailors.

The club’s community contributions include links with Sunshine Home in Koh Sirey; the club invites the Sunshine children to learn about sailing and participate in free lessons, racing and family days at the club. It is the club’s aim that these children have the opportunity to participate in Optimist racing events around Thailand – and possibly even further afield.

The club’s history goes back 40 years and it’s recognised as the oldest yacht club in Thailand. It has always been based in Ao Yon and has always concentrated on teaching sailing and water sports to as many as possible from all walks of life.

This year is the club’s 40th birthday and, on Saturday, November 21st from 5.30 pm, Skippers in Royal Phuket Marina will be hosting a celebration of four decades of promoting sailing – a celebration that should appeal to all ages. Children’s entertainment, a buffet dinner, silent auctions, happy hour bar, music and raffle prizes from some of Phuket’s most prominent hotels and businesses – not to mention revelers from every walk of life and every part of the island – should make for a party worthy of the occasion.

Apart from the celebratory nature of the party, the objective is to raise funds to promote junior and youth sailing on Phuket and to continue the work providing sailing opportunities to underprivileged children.

Tickets are at 600 baht for adults and 150 baht for kids. Tickets are available on the day. Just show up and enjoy!

If you’re interested in joining the Phuket Yacht Club, please contact call Katy Gooch on 085 2159185 or email phuketyachtclub@gmail.com

www.phuketyachtclub.info

Posted under Lifestyle

Phuket, and its surrounding areas, has become one of Thailand’s best-established markets for hotel, villa, condominium and resort-related businesses. Although demand has slowed over the last 18 months, new developments continue to proliferate across the island. In geographical terms, development zones in Phuket can be broadly divided into five areas – north, west, south, east and inland.

With high concentrations of villa development and a resulting shortage of developable sites in the west, the most recent construction has been concentrated in the north, east and southern areas. The east of the Island provides opportunities for marine-related developments and tourism. Some villa developments there, such as The Cape and The Bay have been effectively marketed internationally. It’s anticipated that this area will begin to see more varied development in the next few years in response to the demand from both clients and investors.

Generally, In terms of unit types in all resort locations, two-bedroom configurations comprise the largest proportion, already constructed or currently being built. This design is well-suited to meet the demand for holiday accommodation. Increasingly, such properties are also being purchased on a ‘buy-to-rent’ basis.

The beauty of the beaches in Thailand and the price of land, which internationally is still perceived as reasonably good value for money, continue to be strong attractions for buyers wishing to invest in a holiday residence or second home.

Tourism related opportunities will, of course, continue to be the mainstay of Phuket’s real estate market, for many years to come. The island is now established as a major international holiday destination.

With a growing number of repeat and new tourist arrivals year-on-year, opportunities will continue to exist for all segments of the hotel industry. In the low-end sector, there will always be student and backpacker tourism, as Phuket is recognised as a base for Andaman Sea island hopping. The midrange market segment will see renewed growth once homeland job security is restored. The top end of the market will continue to experience strong demand attributable to the diversification and greater financial stability of the clientele. There continues to be a need for good branding and service delivery in all sectors. The marina tourism segment in particular will see renewed growth when the global economy stabilises.

According to Thai law, foreigners can purchase up to 49% of the saleable area in any freehold condominium project. Eligible foreigners include:

• those with residence permits
• those granted permission to enter the Kingdom under the Investment Promotion Act as investors in a limited company more than 49% owned by aliens.
• foreign juristic persons with Investment Promotion Certificates
• foreign individuals or juristic persons remitting foreign currency into the Kingdom for the purchase of a condominium unit.

The remaining 51% of the condominium area must be sold either to Thai nationals or Thai corporations. In some cases, foreigners who are shareholders in legally defined Thai companies are able to acquire the Thai ownership quota in condominium projects. To avoid complications with this issue, many projects in Phuket offer condominiums on a long-term lease basis for a period of 30 years, which can thereafter be extended for two additional 30-year lease periods. This amounts to a 90-year lease.

These laws are all well known now and generally accepted in the marketplace. It’s always a good thing for developers to ensure that their sales and purchase agreements are very clear, and are understood by the buyers. The developer’s sales staff should therefore be well-versed in the application of this legislation.

A new breed of developers?

We’ve recently seen an increase in both foreign and domestic developers who have adopted a new strategy of selling to the domestic as well as the foreign market. This is already a feature in other resort destinations like Hua Hin and Pattaya. Projects with prices per square metre ranging from THB 70,000 to THB 85,000 are becoming more popular. They offer the same common facilities as developments that were previously built at a higher cost. If the project has good rental programs and is to be managed by a respected service provider, Thai investors will see it as a good choice. Phuket’s status as a mature tourist market seems assured.

For more information contact:
Jones Lang LaSalle
Website: www.joneslanglasalle.co.th.
Email: dexter.norville@ap.jll.com, jllphuket@ap.jll.com

Posted under Lifestyle

Often when people think about insulation they think of keeping in the heat, of cold countries and thick walls. However even in tropical climates insulation is an important part of construction and now there are new developments which mean that insulation can not only be more environmentally friendly but safer for people as well.

There are many benefits to having good insulation. It reduces heat gain in tropical climates such as Thailand. It also controls condensation which is important in a country where it rains heavily for part of the year and is humid all year round. Water stains or mould on interior lines are the most obvious sign of condensation and this means that the humid air has infiltrated the building structure.

Insulation also reduces noise levels and the strategic use of acoustic insulation is an essential part of any modern construction. For example, even the noise of rain through metal roofing can be significantly reduced by installing good insulation in the roof system.

Insulation should also help you save on energy costs. Because it reduces heat gain houses should be able to save between 30 to 50% on electricity bills.

Factors to take into account when choosing insulation include air temperature, levels of solar radiation, air movement and humidity. Tropical environments such as Thailand generate the most extreme and powerful examples of each of these factors.

Usually conventional polystyrene and polyurethane foam blends are used in insulation because of their excellent capacity to insulate, but they require petroleum for production, contain toxic chemicals and are non-biodegradable. However, more and more ‘green’ insulating products are coming onto the market.

Recycled paper insulation is currently popular in the UK and uses recycled newsprint. Over one million homes in Britain now have this type of insulation.

Hempflax insulation mostly uses hemp fibre with some added polyester fibre for reinforcing. Hemp is naturally resistant to moths and beetles so extra chemical applications are avoided.

Cotton fibres are also a popular option as they also contain no harmful chemicals. Glass fibre insulation uses up to 80% of recycled glass and has proven to be very effective.

The very latest idea is organic insulation which consists of water, flour, minerals and mushroom spores. Scientists are still testing this product but it is possible that this will be the way forward. It is cheap, easy to manufacture and completely safe for the environment and people.

Sustainable practices are the measures that satisfy the needs of people today while enhancing the quality of life for future generations. So make sure you choose insulation which is not only practical and effective, but environmentally friendly and uses up to 80% of recyclable materials in its production. After all, in Thailand everything is recycled, so it can’t be that hard.

This article is provided courtesy of Phuket Villas & Homes as part of the company’s corporate responsibility programme.

Posted under Lifestyle

The home can be a toxic waste dump and cleaning products are especially responsible for creating air that is often up to ten times less clean than the air outside your front door. Floor and furniture polish contain phenol, diethylene, glycoland and other toxic compounds. Glass cleaners have ammonia, metal cleaners have phosphoric and sulfuric acid and oven cleaners contain lye. Air fresheners also contain phenol, cresol and formaldehyde. The list goes on.

The health risks of using chemically-based products include allergies, cancer, migraines and nausea. Only 7% of the three thousand chemicals produced in amounts of one million pounds a year have been fully tested. Manufacturers of cleaning compounds do not have to disclose what is in them. This means you may want to turn to more environmentally safe cleaning alternatives.

There are natural ingredients that you probably have in your fridge and cupboards which clean just as well as store-bought chemically based cleaners, and are much friendlier to the environment, not to mention your children and pets.

Vinegar, lemon and baking soda are three ingredients which separately or combined will have your house cleaned in a jiffy, smelling wonderful, and are all non-toxic.

Vinegar

This is an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of one part vinegar to one part water to create a natural disinfectant and deodorizer. It is cheap and safe to use on most surfaces, however never use it on marble or on tiling as it eats away at the grout.

In the bathroom you can use it to clean the bathtub, toilet, sink and counter tops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. It will remove scum and hard water stains on fixtures as it is naturally acidic.

In the kitchen it can be used on stovetops, appliances, countertops and the floor and in the laundry it is a natural fabric softener. If you add half a cup to the rinse cycle, it has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively.

Lemon Juice

This will dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. It will also give a wonderful sheen to brass and copper. If you mix it with baking soda and vinegar it creates a general cleaning paste.

Mix one cup of olive oil with half a cup of lemon juice and you have a great furniture polish for hardwood furniture. A whole lemon peel in the garbage deposit freshens drains and kitchens.

Baking Soda

This is used to scrub surfaces in the same way as abrasive cleaners and is a natural deodorizer. A box placed in the fridge or freezer will absorb all odors.

In Thailand, there is a tendency to overuse chemically-based products in the home. These can not only affect the environment as a whole, with runoff into drainage systems and air pollution, but create health risks for you and your family. Natural alternatives clean just as well, are cheap, and create a much better living environment. Why not raid your cupboards and give them a try?

This article is provided courtesy of Phuket Villas & Homes as part of the company’s corporate responsibility programme.

Posted under Lifestyle

We all know the ‘three R’s’ – reduce, re-use and recycle. But how much recycling actually takes place in Thailand? Do you recycle, and if so how do you go about it? Countries such as America, Australia and Denmark have set new standards in recent years for recycling waste products, but Thailand has been slower to jump on the bandwagon and is only now putting some initiatives into place, both formally and informally.

In 2004, the Thai government decided to implement an environmentally friendly waste disposal policy and enhance the waste disposal capacity of local administrative authorities. It also promised to promote the private sector’s role in research and development for recycling of raw material and utilisation of clean technology. The aim is to reduce by 30% the amount of waste generated within 2009.

Of the recyclable materials that are collected, more than 70% is collected informally. The waste collectors or ‘sa leng’ are the most prominent and easily recognised recyclers, as they commonly use tricycles or rickshaws to collect the waste. Municipal garbage collectors sort and collect recyclables for sale on an informal basis, to supplement their income. There are also several thousand waste pickers or scavengers who collect waste from windfall and sell it as a livelihood.

Currently the materials that are regularly collected for recycling include plastic and glass bottles, food tins and cartons, paper and cardboard. Some of these items are sold to recycling factories and some are used directly to make new products.

Education is an important element in encouraging people to recycle. The Green Island Project on Koh Samui was established in June 2007 and aims to encourage more environmental awareness.

On Phuket, schools, hotels and other institutions are also taking the lead by sorting their own garbage and providing education to employees while doing so.

On a day-to-day basis what can you do to help recycle? Here are four simple ways to get started:

• Don’t accept plastic shopping bags when shopping – take your own re-usable bag.
• Use glass drinking water bottles and make sure they’re returned to the company to be used again.
• Separate foodstuffs and try composting with organic waste.
• In Phuket and Koh Samui there are waste sorting plants where you can take your household waste, which operate 24 hours a day. Contact your local town municipality office to find the plant nearest to you.

This article is provided courtesy of Phuket Villas & Homes as part of the company’s corporate responsibility programme.

Posted under Lifestyle