A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective. Reports from national and international media, with translations into English from Thai.

asiatraveltips.com Hotels in the Asia Pacific region experienced double-digit decreases when reported in US dollars for all three key performance metrics for June 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. Occupancy rates in the Asia Pacific region dropped 10.8 percent to 56.2 percent; the ADR declined 16.3 percent to $111.85 and RevPAR fell 25.3 percent to $62.88. Bali and Jakarta were the only two markets to report RevPAR increases in the month of June and for the year-to-date in local currency, but the terror attacks are likely to affect future figures. Four markets reported occupancy decreases of more than 20 percent Bangkok (-31.6% to 46.3%); Hong Kong (-24.8% to 59.7%); Phuket (-24.8% to 36.4%); and Osaka (-21.5% to 58.5%). Two markets experienced ADR decreases of more than 30%: Mumbai, India (-33.8% to US$173.57) and New Delhi, India (-31.9% to US$155.16). Four markets experienced RevPAR decreases of more than 35%: New Delhi (-41.5% to US$80.31); Bangkok (-41.3% to US$41.64); Mumbai (-39.3% to US$95.12); and Hong Kong (-36.2% to US$88.91).

smh.com.au A message posted on the internet and purporting to be from the fugitive terrorist Noordin Mohammed Top has claimed responsibility for the twin hotel bombings in Jakarta, justifying the mass murders as an attack on American interests and labelling the Manchester United football team that was due to book into one of the hotels as ''Crusaders''. The posting, which has not been independently verified, is nonetheless ''plausibly'' from South-East Asia's most-wanted man, said the International Crisis Group's Jakarta-based terrorism analyst, Sidney Jones.

CNN An international search is under way for a 29-year-old American veterinary student who vanished under what appears to be unusual circumstances in Thailand. Michael Griffin Harrie, 29, disappeared earlier this month during a vacation in Thailand, Auburn University says. ''We just don't know what happened to him,'' Paul Harrie told CNN about his missing son.


atimes.com Larry Jagan writes: The trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has ended amid heightened security around the area near the court in Burma, with hundreds of trucks full of armed soldiers stationed around Insein prison where the proceedings took place. A verdict is anticipated on Friday. The junta's plan to hold democratic elections next year - the first since Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy overwhelmingly won May 1990 polls that were annulled by the military - has been put on hold pending the trial's result. People familiar with the situation say that junta leader Senior General Than Shwe will announce in the wake of the verdict the formation of a civilian-led interim government that will hold administrative power until elections are held next year. It's a move, analysts say, designed to deflect growing international criticism.

usnews.com Malaria parasites in western Cambodia have become resistant to artemisinin-based drugs, a development that could put millions of lives at risk, researchers say. Artemisinin-based drugs are the first-line treatment for malaria, which kills more than a million people a year, mainly children and pregnant women. Artemisinin causes fewer side effects than other anti-malaria drugs and, until recently, malaria parasites had no resistance against it. On average, patients in Thailand were clear of malaria parasites within 48 hours, compared to 84 hours for the Cambodian patients.

comparecarrentals.co.uk Spain is bracing itself for a 10 percent fall in its foreign tourist numbers this year. This big drop in numbers is being blamed on the global downturn, according to Industry and Tourism Minister Miguel Sebastian. Spain saw its number of international tourists fall by 11.4 percent during the first half of 2009 over the same time last year. The drop brought their tourist numbers down to 23.6 million. The slump can mainly be attributed to the collapse in the number of visitors from Britain, Spain's largest inbound market.

property-report.com European hotelier Accor says its hotel business in Thailand remains depressed and continues to be affected by the slowdown in tourist arrivals Consolidated revenues for the first half of 2009 totaled 164.4 billion baht, down 8.1 percent compared with the first half of last year, while occupancies of Accor hotels in Thailand dropped 16.1 percent year-on-year during the first half of 2009. Accor has 41 hotels in Thailand and plans more.

zdnet.com Microsoft and Yahoo made it official on Wednesday. The two companies announced a 10-year pact where Microsoft will power Yahoo search. Yahoo also becomes the sales force for Microsoft's premium properties. The companies said the search deal will accelerate innovation and bring more value to advertisers and Web users.

AFP Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is making a sensational return to Formula One, Ferrari announced overnight. The German motor racing legend, who retired in 2006, will replace injured Felipe Massa in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23, and possibly for the remainder of the season.

etravelblackboardasia.com 55 Fine Dining & Grill at Centara Grand at CentralWorld has been named Best Restaurant in Thailand by the readers of Lifestyle + Travel magazine. The award has been presented as part of the publication's Readers' Choice Awards 2008, following a survey that was conducted over four months and with thousands of respondents from across the Asia Pacific region. 55 Fine Dining & Grill is on the 55th floor of Centara Grand at CentralWorld, with French-Mediterranean cuisine.

etravelblackboard.com Starwood's Westin brand will see its first ever property built in Phuket come 2010. Westin has already set up a pre-opening office and will be accepting group inquiries at this time for dates beyond March 1, 2010. Westin Siray Bay Resort will include 258 rooms and suites, ''its own private beach'' and a location which is eight minutes drive from Phuket City. In the next 12 months, Westin will launch five other Asia Pacific properties including hotels in Shenzhen, China and Hyderabad, India.

independent.co.uk Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has added space travel to his diverse portfolio of businesses by buying 32 percent of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. The $280 million deal, which values the company at $900 million, comes despite the fact that the ''space tourism'' venture has yet to start operations. Aabar has plans to build spaceport facilities in Abu Dhabi.

Reuters Tanning beds have been ranked alongside cigarettes, arsenic and asbestos as posing the greatest threat of cancer to humans by an international cancer research group. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has moved ultra-violet emitting tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category and labeled them as ''carcinogenic to humans'' after ruling they are more dangerous than previously suggested.


Central Festival Joins Phuket Conventions Hunt
Latest Another player on Phuket is now searching in quest of conventions: Phuket Central Festival. The shopping mall entered the market with a two-floor offering and key supporters.
Central Festival Joins Phuket Conventions Hunt

Green Ban Halts Fast Patong-Chalong Road
Latest A new road between Patong and Chalong that would cut the time and distance to one quarter has been blocked, much to the Governor's displeasure.
Green Ban Halts Fast Patong-Chalong Road

How to Stop Beach Drownings on Phuket
Latest The arrival of lifeguards and improved rescue equipment need to be supplemented by proper warnings for those who swim on Phuket during 'Summer'.
How to Stop Beach Drownings on Phuket

Phuket Golfing Legend's Big Birthday Drive
Latest Phuket online business pioneer Blair Speers is a golf addict who plans a personal best for his 40th birthday with 100 golfing buddies . . . in Hua Hin.
Phuket Golfing Legend's Big Birthday Drive

One Dead, Two Hurt in Phuket Expat Car Crash
Updating Report One person is dead and two are injured as a car driven by an expat crosses a well made stretch of Phuket road and crashes into an almost stationary vehicle.
One Dead, Two Hurt in Phuket Expat Car Crash

Second H1N1 Death on Phuket, But No Alarm
Latest Phuket Public Health officials report a second death from H1N1 on the island. They say there is no cause for alarm as few people require hospital treatment in the pandemic.
Second H1N1 Death on Phuket, But No Alarm

Fewer Scam Problems on Phuket, says Airport GM
Latest Bangkok's airport scam crackdown was due to start today while Phuket airport's GM says that the island does not have the same scale of rip offs.
Fewer Scam Problems on Phuket, says Airport GM


MediaWATCH: Jail Almost Certain for Suu Kyi
News Digest Aung San Suu Kyi will be sentenced on Friday; PM cancels trip to Burma; Heroin Brit in Laos to go home; New limits on karaoke, internet cafes; Asean Pass from MAS.
MediaWATCH: Jail Almost Certain for Suu Kyi

MediaWATCH: Thailand Worst for Crime, say Brits
News Digest A survey of Britons reveals Thailand is tops for crime; Michael Jackson's doctor accused; H1N1 virus vaccine in short supply; China investing in Thailand; Next it's Thaksin TV.
MediaWATCH: Thailand Worst for Crime, say Brits

MediaWATCH: Jakarta Bombs Link to Thailand
News Digest Bombs 'financier' hints at Thailand travel; Malaysia tightens trafficking; Thaksin v Abhisit; Britons held abroad; Hillary's 'public blunders'; Asia's best hotels.
MediaWATCH: Jakarta Bombs Link to Thailand