WRD/PTC.37/INF. 1, p. 3
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION FOR PARTICIPANTS ONLY
AND
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION WRD/PTC.37/INF. 1
FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (24.XI 2009)
______
WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones
Thirty-seventh session
Phuket, Thailand
15 to 19 February 2010 ENGLISH ONLY
INFORMATION NOTE FOR PARTICIPANTS
1. VENUE AND DATE OF THE MEETING
The thirty-seventh session of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones will be held at Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa Hotel in Phuket, Thailand from 15 to 19 February 2010.
Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa Hotel
190 Thaweewong Road, Patong District
Amphur Kathu, Phuket, Thailand
Tel:(+6676) 370 500
Fax: (:(+6676) 370 550
www.phuketgraceland.com
2. REGISTRATION AND IDENTIFICATION BADGES
Participants are required to register and obtain Identification Badges prior to the opening of the meeting. Registration for participants will take place at the Dalah Room 1, Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa Hotel on 15 February 2009 from 8.30 to 9.30 a.m.
3. OPENING OF THE SESSION
The PTC-37th’s Opening Ceremony will be held on Monday, 15 February 2010 from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. at the Dalah Room 1 of Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa Hotel.
4. VISAS
Entry visas have to be obtained by participants at the nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their respective country. For more information please visit website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Kingdom of Thailand at: www.mfa.go.th.
5. SOCIAL EVENT
Thai Meteorological Department will host a welcome reception in the evening of 15 February 2009 at Phuket FantaSea. Transportation will be arranged to pick up all participants at Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa Hotel at 19.00 pm and return to the Hotel (Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa Hotel) around 23.00 pm.
6. COFFEE BREAKS AND LUNCHES
Morning and afternoon coffee/tea as well as lunches during five days meeting will be supported by Thai Meteorological Department.
7. TRANSPORTATION
Transportation to and from the airport will be provided for all participants. Participants will be met on arrival at Phuket International Airport. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) will hold a piece of paper with the name of the meeting on it (37th Session of PTC). Your flight details including date and time of arrival in Phuket and the name of the hotels must be sent to the LOC as soon as possible but not later than one week before arrival. In case that you are not met the LOC, it is suggested that you should make a phone call to the LOC at cell phone number 086-840-8068.
LOC will not provide transportation to and from your accommodation and the meeting venue during the meeting period.
8. CURRENCY
Thai currency is Baht (THB). Information on the day-to-day exchange rates can be found at http://www.bot.or.th. Foreign currency can be exchanged at the Phuket International Airport upon arrival and in other banks located in Phuket. Business hours are 08.30 – 16.30 hours, Monday to Friday. Several banks also open on Saturday and Sunday.
Large shopping centres accept major credit cards (e.g. Visa, Master), while smaller shops and the public transportation expect you to pay in cash. Foreign currency is not usually accepted.
9. HOTEL RESERVATION
Participants are requested to make their own reservation for their hotel accommodation through the hotel. As the period of the meeting is in the peak season and to prevent unavailability of hotel accommodation in Phuket, participants are kindly requested to urgently make their hotel reservations and inform the LOC the name of the hotel where they will stay for arrangement of airport – hotel transportation.
Below is the information on hotels that are close to the meeting venue.
1. Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa Hotel **** (meeting venue)
Address:
190 Thaweewong Road, Patong District,
Amphur Kathu, Phuket, Thailand
Tel:(+6676) 370 500
Fax: (:(+6676) 370 550
www.phuketgraceland.com
e-mail:
Deluxe Room 4,000.- Baht net/ + ABF
Deluxe pool view Room 4,500.- Baht net/ + ABF
Family Room 6,500.- Baht net/ + ABF
Graceland Suite 8,500.- Baht net/ + ABF
Extra person 1,000.- Baht net/ + ABF
Check in time: 14.00 pm.
Check out time: 12.00 pm.
Policy breakfast for children: age 0-5 years free of charge, age 6 – 12 years Extra charge THB 255/child/day. (share bed with parent)
IMPORTANT: Hotel bookings should preferably be arranged before 15 December 2009. However, in case that you make reservation after 15 December 2009, this special rate will be available for you only if the room is available.
Please identify in your email that you will be attending the 37th Session of the Panel on Tropical Cyclone so that this special rate is available for you.
2. Patong Paragon Resort & Spa Hotel **** (10 minutes walk to the meeting venue)
Address:
Patong Paragon Resort & Spa
280 Prabaramee Rd. Patong, Krathu,
Phuket 83150 THAILAND
Tel : (66-76) 290 555
Fax : (66-76) 290 530
www.patongparagon.com
e-mail:
Deluxe Room (single) 3,000.- Baht net/ + ABF
Deluxe Room (Twin) 3,700.- Baht net/ + ABF
Extra Bed 1,500 net
Check in time: 14.00 pm.
Check out time: 12.00 pm.
IMPORTANT: Hotel bookings should preferably be arranged before 12 January 2010.
Please identify in your email that you will be attending the 37th Session of the Panel on Tropical Cyclone so that this special rate is available for you.
3. Hotel Ibis Phuket Patong *** (10 minutes walk to the meeting venue)
Address:
10 Chalermphrakiat Road, Kathu District, Patong - 83150 - PHUKET - THAILAND
Tel : (+66)2 659 2888
Fax : (+66)2 659 2889
www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-6538-ibis-
phuket-patong/index.shtml
The Ibis Phuket Patong is located on Patong Beach. It takes about 10 minutes walk to the meeting venue. No special room rates are offered for PTC-37th participants. Information about room rates and reservation can be contacted directly to the hotel by interested participants.
4. Phuket Seven Seas Hotel *** (15 minutes walk to the meeting venue)
Address:
3 Soi Phrabaramee 4, Patong Beach,
Phuket 83150 Thailand
Tel: +66 076 342193, +66 076 340492 or
www.phuketsevenseas.com
Seven Seas is a small and budget hotel located on the quiet area north end of Patong beach. It takes about 15 minutes walk to the meeting venue. No special room rates are offered for PTC-37th participants. Information about room rates and reservation can be contacted directly to the hotel by interested participants.
8. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PHUKET
Geography
Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea of southern Thailand. Phuket is known as the Pearl of the Andaman with several beautiful white sand beaches. It derived much of its former glory and its enormous wealth from tin production, which in Phuket dates back over 500 year. Today, Phuket is the major tourist attraction of Thailand with hotels of all price ranges.
One of the most popular tourist areas in Phuket is Patong Beach on the central western coast, perhaps owing to the easy access to its wide and long beach. Most of the Phuket's nightlife and cheap shopping are located in Patong, and the area has become increasingly developed. Patong means "the forest filled with banana leaves" in Thai. Other popular beaches are located south of Patong. In a counterclockwise direction these include Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and around the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Beach and Rawai. To the north of Patong are Kamala Beach, Surin Beach and Bang Tao Beach. These areas are generally much less developed than Patong, and sought out by individuals, families and other groups with a preference for more relaxed and less crowded environs than Patong. There are many islands to the southeast, including Bon Island, just a short boat trip away. There are several coral islands to the south of Phuket, the Similan Islands lie to the north west, and Phi Phi Islands to the south east. Islanders engage in a lively tourist trade, catering to snorkellers and scuba divers.
Economy
Since the early 1980's the tourist business has been Phuket's chief source of income. Hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and souvenir shops are much in evidence on the west coast. However, while once all-importance tin mining has ceased, tourism is by no means the island's only activity. Agriculture remains important to a large number of people, and covers by far the most part of the island. Principal crops are rubber, coconuts, cashews, and pineapples.
Prawn farming has largely taken over the east and south coasts. Pearl farming is also important. Phuket's fishing port is at all time filled, and processing of marine products, mainly fish, makes a significant contribution to the economy. With so many healthy industries supplying income, construction has become a major factor in employment. This range from massive public works projects, large office buildings and hotels, and housing estates with hundreds of units, down to single family homes, apartments and additions.
9. CLIMATE
The climatological data in Phuket for February is below:
Maximum Temperature 33-35 °C
Minimum Temperature 23-25 °C
Mean Temperature 28-30 °C
Humidity (mean) 65-75 %
Pressure (mean) 1010 hPa
Rainfall (mean) 20-30 mm
Number of rainy days 2-4 days
Number of Days with Thunderstorm 2-4 days
Prevailing Wind Direction/Speed E / 2-4 kt
9. LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Contact person:
Mrs. Chongkolnee Yusabye,
Director of Meteorological Development Bureau
Chairperson of Local Organizing Committee
Tel and Fax: +662 398 9875
E-mail:
Address: Thai Meteorological Department
Meteorological Development Bureau
4353 Sukhumvit Road, Bang-Na,
Bangkok 10260 THAILAND
10. PHUKET MAP
11. PATONG LOCAL MAP