Anything & Everything About Thailand

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BANGKOK, Feb 20 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-02-20 / 00:27:43 (GMT+7:00)

The instant noodle market value in Thailand is projected to grow 10 per cent to 11 bilion baht this year, from the current market value of 10 billion baht, since people have spent carefully and turned to consume the product with a moderate price, according the KASIKORN Research Center (KRC).

The leading think tank said people’s purchasing power had been affected by higher living costs upon the fuel price rise, leading to an increase in the consumption of the noodles.

As well, the demand of the noodles are expected to increase when there is the World Cub soccer tournament, which will be broadcast late at night during June-July this year.

KRC said sale revenue of instant noodles had increased to 105.32 tons from 93.99 tons.

The revenue was likely to edge up by 5.4 per cent to 111,000 tons last year and is projected to be around
117,000-118,000 tons this year.

The continued increase in the sale revenue stemmed from people’s turn to save costs by consuming instant noodles upon higher living costs due to rising oil prices and interest rates.

In addition, sale channels of the noodles in various communities have increased.

However, risk factors producers need to closely monitor include higher costs of production, packaging, transport, electricity and energy costs.

KRC said it is rather difficult for producers to raise selling prices to cover higher costs because competition in the business has intensified.

Currently, KRC said frozen instant foods had gained increased popularity on par with instant noodles because they are available at convenient stores and easy for cooking.

KRC suggested producers to accelerate exporting instant noodles since it has high growth potential.

Last year, the export of the product was expected to reach 21 billion baht in value.

This year, the export is likely to increase to 23 billion baht with main destinations including Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and countries in Indochina. (TNA) – E005

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268 words
20 February 2006
English

Bangkok Post:

-- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has decided to convene a special joint session of parliament to debate the ongoing political turmoil after his former mentor, Chamlong Srimuang, joined the mounting chorus for him to resign from office.

Maj-Gen Chamlong said a "serious chasm in society" had arisen as a result of the 73.3-billion-baht (1,832 million U.S. dollars) sale of Shin Corp shares to Singapore's Temasek Holdings and the rebuke of Privy Council chairman Prem Tinsulanonda by a talk show host and Thaksin supporter.

The Nation:

-- Opponents of Thaksin Shinawatra must be tempted to compare his rise to power to the tale of Dr Frankenstein. Chamlong Srimuang 's decision to boost the already massive alliance against his "Creature" with his formidable "Dharma Army" is one of the severest blows yet to be dealt to the embattled prime minister.

At a characteristically composed press conference, Cham-long unceremoniously disowned Thaksin and called on him to resign, citing the "unprecedented" social force bent on ousting him because of his "loss of legitimacy".

Sing Sian Yit Pao:

-- At least 10 people were missing and feared dead in a landslide Saturday night near a mining headquarters in the province of Zamboanga del Sur in southern Philippines. A report of the Armed Forces Southern Command said that the incident occurred at around 07:20 p.m. local time (1120 GMT) in Sitio Balabag, Barangay De pore in the town of Bag.

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1027 words
20 February 2006
Bangkok Post
English

NINA SUEBSUKCHAROEN

People have been doing it in Thailand since the Vietnam war but it's never too late to jump into the game of constructing an apartment building for rent to expats.

Some people have inherited attractive old houses on sizeable land plots, which could easily be turned into a small apartment building, but there are many hurdles that may trip us in such an undertaking.

Kittisak Aguru, an architect with the Bangkok-based firm Robert G. Boughey, cautions that that the new city regulations which some people predict will be implemented in the middle of this year are stricter than before, with the new zoning sometimes reducing the built up area from the current ratio of 1:10 to 1:8.

And although the building may be small it could have its own selling point and be very successful if it is in the prime area of the city such as Sukhumvit and is close to the skytrain. Even Phahon Yothin is seeing a lot of construction work right now.

Mr Kittisak advised that it is best to aim for the high-end rental market rather the cheaper end of the business if the apartment building is going to be small bearing in mind that there are international firms keen on renting units for as much as 200,000 baht a month for their executives.

It also important to remember that an apartment building beyond Soi Ekamai does not seem to work if it is the expatriate market one is aiming at.

Architectural design and the size of the units have to match one's location and target market. If the land plot is in central business district then smaller units suitable for younger working people would suffice but if it is located further off say in Ekamai then the units should be larger. However, even smaller units have to be of a decent size with minimum space for one-bedroom apartment being 60 square metres, two-bedroom 90 square metres and three-bedroom 120 square metres.

Mr Kittisak explained that his company usually avoided stylish designs for apartment buildings with the reason being that such structures are meant to last a long time, sometimes up to 50 years, and a more basic and long-lasting look is deemed to be suitable.

Some people might think that an elevator is something that can be dispensed with since the building is only going to be a small one, but the architect pointed out that somehow people in Bangkok do not like to walk a lot and for this reason installing a lift is necessary.

"It is not so expensive actually. We put them in houses now, if we build a four-storey house in Bangkok we put a lift in. It's 1.5 million baht but you can get one cheaper than that," he said.

One item that is an absolute must is a swimming pool. Space limitations might lead to opting to put the pool on the roof but Mr Kittisak noted that this can be expensive. There are several ways to ensure that tenants living directly beneath the swimming pool are not disturbed by noise with one being to have a double floor and pool equipment installed between the two floors. The units directly beneath could have windows fitted with insulated glass which is the standard in hotels but rather expensive. Another option is to have laminated glass or one could combine both insulated and laminated glass leaving an air gap between the two panes.

It would be a bad idea to copy the concept of putting a swimming pool in the basement as is common in cold countries here in Thailand because people want to enjoy the sunshine outdoors. If the option is to either to put the pool in the basement or the rooftop, the latter would be better.

Another space-saving feature is to build an underground car park but to save cost one could go down just half a floor with the other half being above ground, Mr Kittisak said.

One would have to ensure that the structure is easy to repair and renovate each time a tenant moves out and Mr Kittisak advises that it would be best to simply paint the walls and put parquet on the floor. Some apartment buildings have installed marble on the floor of their residential units but this is actually a very cold material more suitable for the foyer. Other materials good to use in the foyer are granite and Travertine, the latter is a local material that is similar to marble and is very nice and cheap. Travertine is the material used at the Bank of America building on Wireless Road.

One should ensure that the ceiling is high enough and Robert G. Boughey always pushes the ceiling as high as possible, ideally reaching 3.2 to 3.5 metres which lead to the drop ceiling heights of 2.6 to 2.7 metres.

"Most buildings are lower, some condominiums it's even three metres. ... This is quite low even for Thais," he said.

Mr Kittisak noted that Thais always had a yen for high ceilings to go by old Thai houses that usually have lofty ceilings and airy feeling. Windows are uncomplicated with the aluminium-frame glass variety being the best option both in terms of maintenance and price.

A final key point before one decides to invest millions of baht in an apartment building of one's dreams is to study the environment. It is ill-advised to build a building on a plot that is close to the expressway and the railway line. Mr Kittisak noted that one reason that apartment buildings on Phetchaburi Road do not seem to work could be because of the railway line running nearby.

Also on the cost, today the construction cost for a basic building is 15,000 baht a square metre and the underground floor about 20,000 baht a square metre. "You can get different figures if you talk to different people but this is the standard," he said.

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111 words
20 February 2006
10:22
Associated Press Newswires
English

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's beleaguered Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he will dissolve parliament if the nation's political situation deteriorates further, but rejected escalating calls for his resignation, the government spokesman said Monday.

The remarks came a day after Thaksin's influential political mentor, Chamlong Srimuang, called for his resignation and announced he will join a mass anti-Thaksin protest Sunday.

Thaksin called an emergency Cabinet meeting Sunday night after Chamlong's announcement, and told his ministers "he will not resign, but if the situation deteriorates, he will dissolve the parliament," said government spokesman Suraphong Suebwonglee.

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Last Update : 2006-02-20 / 12:41:20 (GMT+7:00)

BANGKOK, Feb 20 (TNA) – Many small brokerage houses are likely to close business should there be financial trade liberalization under the free trade area (FTA) between Thailand and the United States, according to an industry executive.

Rapee Sucharitkul, President and CEO of Kasikornthai Securities Co, suggested the government attempt to increase the number of institutional investors by 2-3 times from existing ones, which had made investment of around 300 billion baht out of 1.25 trillion baht of total portfolios, prior to the adoption of the FTA on financial and service sectors with the US.

The move was necessary if the government wanted to stabilize the money and capital markets in preparation for competition under the FTA agreement.

He said local securities companies should accelerating improving services prior to the industry liberalization, which would see an entry of a large number US rivals in the country.

Currently, competition in the brokerage business has already intensified because only 100,000 out of 300,000 securities accounts are active.

Under the circumstance, he said, small brokerage houses needed to amalgamate business to enhance its size, potential and efficiency for the competition.

Unless there was business merger, the small brokerage houses would close their business because they are not in a position to compete.

Mr. Rapee also suggested the government hold negotiations for the FTA in commercial bank, securities company, and insurance company fields simultaneously. (TNA) – E005

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398 words
20 February 2006
English

BANGKOK POST:

- The planned public offering of TOT Plc shares in the stock market is likely to be suspended indefinitely, complicated by a court case with its concessionaire and the recent takeover of Shin Corporation by Temasek Holdings of Singapore.

- As well as encouraging growth in consumer loans, new risk standards from the Bank of Thailand could drive lenders to set aside additional reserves for loan losses, according to local bankers.

- Advanced Info Service is strongly determined to broaden its 3G technology profile this year, positioning third-generation wireless service as another flagship business.

- A draft of the new financial institutions law will be forwarded by the government for parliamentary consideration by the third quarter, according to a senior Finance Ministry official.

- TSEC Securities, a newly established securities broker, is looking for a strategic partner to enhance its business strength, according to chief executive Chanchai Kulthavarakorn.

- Krung Thai Bank has set a target to extend 3.3 billion baht worth of retail loans to civil servants and state enterprise employees this year, according to president Apisak Tantivorawong.

- Sumitomo Corp, one of the largest trading companies in Japan, remains bullish about the Thai automobile industry.

- TOA Paints (Thailand) expects its sales revenue to grow by at least 10 per cent this year against 5 per cent projected for the overall market, boosted by market penetration and rebranding strategies.

- Precious Shipping Plc (PSL), a dry-bulk cargo-ship owner and operator, projects healthy growth this year due mainly to solid market demand and supply.

THE NATION:

- Local business leaders are relatively confident about Thailand's economic strength despite the boiling political conflicts, but they admit that prolonged uncertainty could dent long-term economic confidence and discourage investors from pumping money into the economy.

- Del Monte, the US-based canned-food manufacturing giant, has picked Thailand as its production base for accessing the Asian market thanks to the country's abundance of fruit and vegetables throughout the year.

- Few areas in Bangkok are destined for a cleaner and more peaceful future than Don Muang, which currently houses the international airport.

- Established more than 20 years ago, Siam Kubota Industry Co Ltd is encouraging local farmers to upgrade their production techniques and boost their profits by using hi-tech buffaloes rather than the traditional farm beasts.

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398 words
20 February 2006
English

BANGKOK POST:

- The planned public offering of TOT Plc shares in the stock market is likely to be suspended indefinitely, complicated by a court case with its concessionaire and the recent takeover of Shin Corporation by Temasek Holdings of Singapore.

- As well as encouraging growth in consumer loans, new risk standards from the Bank of Thailand could drive lenders to set aside additional reserves for loan losses, according to local bankers.

- Advanced Info Service is strongly determined to broaden its 3G technology profile this year, positioning third-generation wireless service as another flagship business.

- A draft of the new financial institutions law will be forwarded by the government for parliamentary consideration by the third quarter, according to a senior Finance Ministry official.

- TSEC Securities, a newly established securities broker, is looking for a strategic partner to enhance its business strength, according to chief executive Chanchai Kulthavarakorn.

- Krung Thai Bank has set a target to extend 3.3 billion baht worth of retail loans to civil servants and state enterprise employees this year, according to president Apisak Tantivorawong.

- Sumitomo Corp, one of the largest trading companies in Japan, remains bullish about the Thai automobile industry.

- TOA Paints (Thailand) expects its sales revenue to grow by at least 10 per cent this year against 5 per cent projected for the overall market, boosted by market penetration and rebranding strategies.

- Precious Shipping Plc (PSL), a dry-bulk cargo-ship owner and operator, projects healthy growth this year due mainly to solid market demand and supply.

THE NATION:

- Local business leaders are relatively confident about Thailand's economic strength despite the boiling political conflicts, but they admit that prolonged uncertainty could dent long-term economic confidence and discourage investors from pumping money into the economy.

- Del Monte, the US-based canned-food manufacturing giant, has picked Thailand as its production base for accessing the Asian market thanks to the country's abundance of fruit and vegetables throughout the year.

- Few areas in Bangkok are destined for a cleaner and more peaceful future than Don Muang, which currently houses the international airport.

- Established more than 20 years ago, Siam Kubota Industry Co Ltd is encouraging local farmers to upgrade their production techniques and boost their profits by using hi-tech buffaloes rather than the traditional farm beasts.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 20 February 2006 :-

Del Monte uses Thai base to grow in Asia : River Kwai one of two local partners

Siam Del Monte, a new joint venture of Del Monte Asia and two local food processors, has completed a 400-million-baht factory in Thailand.

Located in Trat in the east of Thailand, the fruit and vegetable processing plant will use recyclable cartons to replace glass and metal containers.

The company has three partners: Del Monte Asia Ltd (Singapore), a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan's Kikkoman Corporation (75.1%); River Kwai International Food Industry Co (7.5%); and Samroiyod Corporation Ltd (17.4%).

The factory will be the production base for Del Monte Asia to export to Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and South Korea, according to Andrew Cushman, chief executive officer of Siam Del Monte Co.

He said the Trat factory would be Asia's first manufacturing base for Tetra Pak advanced packaging technology known as Tetra Recart.

The packaging will replace conventional metal cans previously used for sweet corn, pineapple and other fruits and vegetables. It will be the fifth Tetra Recart production line in the world after France, Italy, the United States and Mexico, he said.

Products for export from the new factory will include RWI of River Kwai, the Samroiyod and Del Monte brands, and products produced under OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) contracts.

Mr Cushman said it was the first Thai joint venture for Del Monte Asia. He said the different strengths of each company would promote production efficiency and encourage business synergy.

He said that while Del Monte was strong in technology and marketing, the other two partners had expertise in processing and exports. River Kwai would supply sweet corn and Samroiyod would supply pineapples and other tropical fruits.Del Monte Asia will oversee the Asia Pacific market, while River Kwai would target Europe and the Middle East.

Mr Cushman said that the exports of lower-priced products from the new factory would be the solution for Del Monte Asia, which had been facing counterfeiting problems in China, where more than 50% of Del Monte products are copied.

He is confident that the new packaging will be harder to copy.

Roj Burusratanabhand, president of River Kwai International Food Industry Co, said Siam Del Monte expected sales revenue of about 400 million baht in the first year of operation.

River Kwai has contracts with about 3,000 farming households to grow sweet corn on 10,000 rai in Sa Kaew, Prachin Buri, Chanthaburi and Trat. Samroiyod also has pineapple farms in Trat.

Mr Roj said River Kwai had produced and exported products such as sweet corn, kernels and cream soup to more than 50 countries in South America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.



Siam Del Monte's new plant in Trat is one of only five in the world equipped to use Tetra Recart packaging, a new technology from Tetra Pak. In addition to environmental benefits, the packaging is harder to counterfeit, which is expected to help the company recover sales in China
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/200206_bus06.jpg

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 20 February 2006 :-

Westerner man found hung on power pole


A man with westerner look was found hanging from a spike of a power pole in the heart of Bangkok Monday morning police said.

Pol Lt Kaweepong Saengruang of Lumpini police station said the man's body was found hanging with a rope around his neck and a plastic bag over his head at 6:30 am.

He said doctors believed the man who was about 180 centimetres tall and had white skin and brown hair.

He was found hanging from a pole on Duang Pithak Road along the Sukhumvit-Rama 4 expressway.

Police found Bt230 in cash on the man and found three bottles of drinking water, a roll of Sellotape and a 7-Eleven shopping bag.

Kaweepong said police suspected that the man bought the items from a 7-Eleven shop and waited there for a while before hanging himself.

His body was sent to the Police Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 20 February 2006 :-

Korean illegals upset tour guides in Phuket

Tour guides in Phuket are fighting back against an influx of illegal Korean tour guides whom they claim are stealing their jobs.

Phanomphol Thammachartniyom, who heads the Phuket Association of Professional Tour Guides, said the Korean language-trained local staff were also desperately worried about the government’s policy to allow more foreign guides to work in Thailand.

Phanomphol said there were already a lot of foreign guides in Phuket and most were illegal. But they were taking jobs at tour companies from their countries.

“The biggest group of illegal guides is Korean. There are about 2,000 Korean guides in Phuket at present,” he said. Many had been arrested and deported but returned to Thailand with new names.

Phanomphol said the companies preferred Korean guides who had a better grasp of the Korean language than the Thai guides.

“There are 200 Thai guides who were trained last year for potential development in using the Korean language, but they do not have a chance to do their jobs. The tour agencies bring in Korean guides because they can control them,” Phanomphol said.

He said the tour guides association opposed a suggestion from the Tourism and Sports Ministry to import more foreign guides to service tourists in Thailand.

There are about 2,000 Thai guides speaking foreign languages registered in Phuket and another 1,000 people had come from other provinces to seek temporary jobs there, he said.

These Thai guides had faced a crisis in getting jobs after the tsunami hit the province, he added.

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219 words
21 February 2006
Bangkok Post
English

PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

A female customer yesterday lodged a complaint with the Consumer Protection Board against a well-known shampoo manufacturer, saying its product had caused her massive hair loss.

In her complaint, Ploy Sumpao, 48, said she suffered massive hair loss after using the shampoo Head and Shoulders for about two weeks.

Prapit Yodsuwan, director of the CPB, said the agency would invite both Mrs Ploy and the manufacturer to discuss the issue and look at the evidence and the quality of the products.

Mrs Ploy's case is the second involving the popular shampoo after Samran Sahaipromyat lodged a similar complaint with police in Samut Prakan calling for an inquiry into the product, which he claimed had caused him massive hair loss.

Mr Samran said he lost a lot of hair after using the same product for two months. His high-profile case prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and health authorities to inspect the company's warehouse and collect product samples for lab tests.

Meanwhile, Procter & Gamble (Thailand) yesterday issued a statement, assuring that its product was safe and of the highest quality.

Amardeep Khosla, Director of External Relations, Procter & Gamble (Thailand), said the company would give full cooperation to the authorities in its investigation.

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BANGKOK, Feb 21 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-02-21 / 09:31:47 (GMT+7:00)

A leading Thai Muslim lawyer, Somchai Neelapaijit, who has disappeared for almost two years, was named a "top human rights defender in Asia" by the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).

It was the AHRC's second award to human rights activists in the region since 2003.

Mr. Somchai was reportedly last seen in March 2004 when he was being forced into a car by a group of men in a Bangkok's suburban area.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra admitted last month that Mr. Somchai had died, but his body had not yet been found.

The prominent Muslim lawyer had assisted his poor Muslim clients in the deep South, including those accused to be members of Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional extremist group, who were acquitted last year. (TNA)--E002

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463 words
21 February 2006

BANGKOK POST:

- True Corporation has won an arbitration award that could exceed 10 billion baht from TOT Plc in a long-running dispute over network access charges.

- Thai Mobile, the stillborn joint venture of TOT Plc and CAT Telecom, has brighter prospects now that the Shinawatra family has left the communication business, says an official of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry.

- Thailand's exports are expected to expand by 17.5 per cent this year to US0.288 billion, helped by global growth and Japan's economic revival, according to senior Commerce Ministry officials.

- Thai shares yesterday slid 0.64 per cent yesterday on continued political tensions as the government confirmed that it would open a joint session of Parliament to allow Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to field questions about his family's sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings.

- Asian currencies will appreciate this year as a result of strong economic performances and changes in policymakers' strategies, according to the French bank Societe Generale.

- Bangkok Commercial Asset Management Co (BAM) plans to buy 100 billion baht worth of non-performing loans from the banking system this year.

- Thailand's petroleum demand, including oil and gas but excluding feedstocks for petrochemicals, rose by 2.1 per cent last year from the previous year, to the equivalent of 1.157 million barrels per day (b/d), according to PTT Plc.

THE NATION:

- Jittery trading conditions returned to the Thai stock market yesterday as investors again showed concern for the country's political situation, following Chamlong Srimuangs announcement that he will join the forces attempting to oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

- True Corp Plc vice chairman Athueck Asvanund has suggested that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) disregard Singapore's model when preparing the draft for the country's telecom competition code.

- Indonesia will this week import 4,000 tonnes of Thai sugar, to meet supply shortages.

- True Corp Plc and the Provincial Electricity Authority are planning to jointly offer broadband Internet access via power lines to homes around the country.

- The Finance Ministry's three-year Floating Rate Notes (FRNs) will carry an interest rate of seven basis points less than the London Interbank Offering Rate (Libor), the lowest ever for a Thai debt instrument, an official at the ministry said.

- The Government Housing Bank (GHB) plans to set up the country's first ever mortgage-insurance company to help people with limited savings own homes.

- The Commerce Ministry yesterday announced its official projection for the country's trade deficit at US$6 billion (Bt236 billion) to $7 billion this year, due mainly to investment expansion from key industries and state enterprises, and rising imports of capital goods.

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386 words
21 February 2006
09:33

TOP STORIES

- Among the limited options available, either House dissolution or resignation were the best -- and most likely -- way out for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the face of mounting pressure from society, academics and politicians agreed (THE NATION)

- Thaksin's proposal for a special joint session of parliament in a bid to defuse the political turmoil is too little and too late, opponents and critics of the government say (BANGKOK POST)

- Organisers of the Feb. 26 rally have welcomed the participation of Major-General Chamlong Srimuang as adding weight to the bid to oust Thaksin, but said they would not tolerate a contest for the leadership of the anti-Thaksin movement (BANGKOK POST)

- The campaign to remove Thaksin has spread to the southern provinces, reaching writers and university lecturers as the mass rally at Sanam Lunag on Sunday draws near (BANGKOK POST)

- University students in the North and Northeast rallied in support of the push to oust Thaksin, joining a growing political "reawakening" by students around the country over the past two weeks (THE NATION)

- A pocket book explaining the key legal and moral issues surrounding the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings of Singapore will be distributed to the public from Thursday as part of a campaign against the controversial mega-deal (THE NATION)

- The Press Council of Thailand and the Law Society will distribute 60,000 white papers on Friday, which explains why the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek was illegal (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Jittery trading conditions returned to the stock market as investors again showed concern about the political situation following Chamlong Srimuang's announcement that he will join the forces attempting to oust Thaksin (THE NATION)

- Thai Mobile, the stillborn joint venture of TOT Plc and CAT Telecom, has brighter prospects now the Shinawatra family has left the communication business, says an official of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry (BANGKOK POST)

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By ZOE WATSON
336 words
20 February 2006
Mirror
English

Ulster man escapes knife & gun ordeal

A MAN from Northern Ireland has escaped a horrific kidnap ordeal while holidaying in Thailand.

Chris Goward, 22, from Portadown, Co Armagh, had a knife held to his throat and a gun pointed at him after accepting a lift from a group of Thai bikers on Friday night.

Mr Goward and his friend, Jack Brown, 20, from Bristol, had been enjoying a night out at the coastal resort of Krabi, on the country's south west coast when they were approached by several men on motorbikes.

They accepted a lift to "a party" but soon became suspicious and told the gang they wanted to stop.

The bikers pulled out a gun and a knife but Jack managed to escape into a roadside restaurant.

However, Chris was forced to stay on the bikes by the gunmen.

His mother Angela said: "He couldn't get off, he was sandwiched between two of the men and they drove on for miles before stopping. Chris contacted us on Saturday and told us what had happened. He had been terrified.

"When they stopped, about three hours from the resort, they surrounded Chris and one held a knife to his throat. They told him they hated Westerners and kept threatening him.

"Luckily he spotted a taxi and escaped. He was very, very lucky."

Chris and Jack had spent the last year in Australia before travelling to Thailand after Christmas.

But Mrs Goward said the incident had not made her son want to come home.

She added: "He said the Thai people had been really nice and they had no reason to believe this group was any different, unfortunately this happened.

"The police there have been really helpful and Chris intends to enjoy the rest of his time there before flying home on March 7.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed that Thai police had been notified and they were investigating the incident.