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Finance Minister pledges funds to develop Chiang Mai

Kantary Hills Hotel…a Modern Lanna concept with first- class facilities

Finance Minister pledges funds to develop Chiang Mai

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij pledged to allocate a government budget for tourism development projects in Chiang Mai during his trip to this northern province, a major political stronghold of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Korn visited Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, a famous temple compound on the mountain overlooking Chiang Mai.
The government will spend a budget of Bt84 million to fix the historic Doi Suthep temple, he said.
Prathat Doi Suthep is Chiang Mai’s most famous tourist site and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. The government pays attention to tourism development and will allocate the budget to the province’s development project as high as Bt18.6 billion, second to the capital city of Bangkok, he added.
Engineers from the Asian Institute of Technology and Chiang Mai University earlier found cracks on the pagoda, caused by the structural subsidence.
They said these cracks, in conjunction with heavy rain and a possible moderate earthquake in the area, can lead to more serious structural damage in the future.
A budget from the government will be spent on a number of projects related to flood prevention, tourism development, road construction and education, the finance minister said, adding that some of the budget will be allocated to improve the Chiang Mai Zoo.
During his visit to Chiang Mai, Korn was jeered by some Thaksin supporters, the ‘Red Shirt’ group of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
The finance minister said his trip to Chiang Mai was sincerely intended to note the progress of various government projects and instructed local officials to push for more progress to benefit local people, he said.
The schedule of his trip was kept confidential for his safety in the wake of anti-government protests.
Niyom Luangcharoen, a UDD key member was detained by the police after he had been found carrying a gun and ammunition in his van during a police search at Chiang Mai airport on Thursday.
The UDD leader’s arrest prompted about 200 UDD protesters to gather outside the police station. The crowd dispersed early Friday after the police used a water cannon to force them to leave.
Chiang Mai is Thaksin’s home town and is a political stronghold of politicians under the Puea Thai Party who are his staunch supporters. (TNA)

Kantary Hills Hotel…a Modern Lanna concept with first- class facilities

Phitsanu Thepthong
According to the hotel’s GM, Magrin Phromyothi , Kantary Hills, part of the Swiss Kantary Group of hotels, is the perfect venue for meetings, functions and events, and has a good reputation for overnight stays amongst foreigners and retirees from the US, Europe, Japan, and Korea. The original concept was to provide first-class accommodation in serviced apartments in a Modern Lanna setting, incorporating fine design and great customer service at affordable prices.

The smiling and successful Kantary Hills Hotel GM, Magrin Phromyothi, pictured here in the lobby lounge.

In spite of the dire economic crisis, the hotel is enjoying up to 80% occupancy rates, as it is popular on a regular basis with business people working in the Lamphun and Lampang Industrial estates, as well as with short-term visitors to the city.A comprehensive service is provided, and its central location just off Nimmanhaeminda Road with its restaurants, shops and galleries together with access to the Superhighway have made it the first choice for both business and retiree clients from Japan, Europe, the UK and America.
Room rates per night begin at 3,000 baht; the suites themselves are beautifully designed and equipped with everything a guest would require, including wireless internet access and the latest audio-visual equipment. The hotel’s dining experience is excellent, with the steaks fast becoming famous for their quality and size at a reasonable price! The conference and meeting facilities serve up to 250 guests in style; an underground car park can house up to 80 cars.
Chiang Mai University’s Arts Museum and conference centre are within walking distance, as is the famous Buddhist temple at Doi Suthep and the equally famous Wat Suan Dok, and the city’s international airport is a short drive away.
GM Magrin is justifiably proud of his hotel, saying that the most important task for any hotelier is to make sure that the hotel’s relationship with its guests.
creates genuine brand loyalty and satisfaction. Perhaps this is why the Kantary Hills Hotel is still doing good business when so many other Chiang Mai hotels are not!

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