A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.

bbc.co.uk Air travel across Europe could be disrupted for days by the effects of a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland, aviation officials say. As the gritty formation slowly made its way south and east, countries from Britain to Russia closed their airspace in an unprecedented move. Officials warned of significant disruption into at least Saturday, with normal services taking days to recover. [Ten flights to and from Bangkok and on, for some, to Phuket have been cancelled.]

straitstimes.com As an estimated 17,000 flights in European airspace were cancelled on Friday in the biggest airspace shutdown since World War II, the impact of the vast cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland was felt by travellers and hotels in Singapore. At Changi Airport, stranded passengers have been provided with sleeping bags, phone cards to call home and free use of shower facilities. The chaos has led to some frayed tempers.

cnn.com Rail and ferry services across Europe have been swamped by thousands of frustrated passengers forced to seek alternate modes of transport as a volcanic ash cloud continues to disrupt European air travel.

abc.net.au Flights departing from Perth Airport are leaving as normal although airlines are urging passengers who are flying to Europe via Singapore to stay put. Singapore airport is overflowing with passengers and accommodation is fully booked.

Associated Press President Obama has given NASA the job of sending astronauts to an asteroid, a giant speeding rock, just 15 years from now. Space experts say such a voyage could take several months longer than a journey to the moon and entail far greater dangers. Going to an asteroid could provide vital training for an eventual mission to Mars.

theglobeandmail.com Security forces surrounded a hotel in what proved to be a comically ham-handed attempt to capture several key protest leaders, all of whom were able to slip away in full view of the cameras. As a result, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva has now tasked the country's army commander with sole authority to restore order. This is not a promising development.

nationmultimedia.com Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda called a meeting of Army commanders at the Army headquarters on Monday.

eturbonews.com Occupancy rates in hotels in Bangkok, scene of violent clashes, are at about one-thirds of expectations, a spokesman for Federation of Thai Tourism Associations said. ''We were expecting 80-90 percent room occupancy rate in Bangkok, but I don't think we can make it to 30 percent,'' spokesman Charoen Wangananont told local cable news network TNN.

nationmultimedia.com Prakit Piriyakiet, Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy governor for the marketing communications department, said the number of visitors to Phuket, Hat Yai, Samui and other major destination in the South during Songkran Thai New Year had increased by about 20 percent compared to the same period last year. The number of visitors to Bangkok dropped by 10-12 per cent from the same three days last year. More than 90 charter flights bringing nearly 15,000 visitors from China were cancelled due to last weekend's bloody clashes.

thaionline.com Thailand has protested to the Australian government about a documentary critical of the Thai royal family. It warned that the broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation could affect bilateral ties. A Thai Embassy representative met his Australian counterparts on Thursday to express his concerns. ''We consider this a matter of national security ... because the monarchy, in our Constitution, is above politics,'' Saksee Phromyothi, Minister-Counsellor at the Royal Thai Embassy, told AFP

foxbusiness.com Carlson, a privately-held, global hospitality and travel company, and publicly-held The Rezidor Hotel Group AB announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement with Formosa International Hotels Corporation under which FIHC will acquire the Regent luxury hotel business. Pipeline hotels include exceptional projects in Abu Dhabi, Bali, Bangkok, Doha, Dubrovnik, Gurgaon, Kuala Lumpur, Maldives, Phuket, and Puerto Rico.

btimes.com.my YTL Hotels & Properties Sdn Bhd has acquired Niseko Village, a prime winter and summer destination in Hokkaido, Japan, for six billion yen. In addition to the Hilton Niseko, it has embarked on a number of international developments over the last year such as the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China, the MUSE Hotel De Luxe in Saint-Tropez, France, and The Chedi on Phuket.

saigon-gpdaily.com.vn The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism launched an urgent dispatch calling on local travel companies not to book trips for Vietnamese visitors to Thailand in the midst of the current volatile political situation in Bangkok. VNAT asked city and provincial departments of culture, sports and tourism throughout the country to issue the directive to all travel companies that offer tours to Thailand. They have been advised to instead arrange tours to other destinations including Pattaya and Phuket rather than Bangkok.

opodo.co.uk British travellers showed high demand for trips to Thailand during the Easter period, according to new figures relating to currency sales. Of the top currencies exchanged by Sainsbury's Travel Money, the Thai baht was among the most popular with a 107 percent increase in orders in the seven days before Easter compared to a typical week at that time of year.

straitstimes.com Travelling by train between north-east Singapore and the Central Business District gets easier from today. Eleven stations on Singapore's newest train line, the Circle Line, will be open to commuters from 5.37am.

channelnewsasia.com US chocolate maker Hershey Company is expanding in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It is setting up its first store in Singapore through an exclusive franchise, and plans to branch into other areas in the region such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The first outlet will be based in Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa integrated resort.

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media release Hua Hin is experiencing anything but a decline in tourism. ''So far numbers have been fine,'' says Boyd Barker, general manager of the Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa. ''In fact, we still expect to run a much higher occupancy percentage than last year. I think people are drawn to the safety of this destination.''



On April 30 Lions Club Of Phuket Pearl is holding a jazz concert and dance night, performed by children from the Phuket Academy of Dance, at the Royal Phuket Marina. The evening will assist children with scholarships. Tickets at 500 baht include a photo exhibition of old Phuket and a drink and food. More information: Adrienne, 081 477 0342.

Until April 15 Songkran Festival in Old Phuket Town
Until April 18 Phuket Cricket Sixes, Karon Sports Stadium.
April 22 Phuket's Clean Beach campaign returns with monthly volunteer efforts designed to keep Phuket sparkling
April 28GreenLOVE festival to raise awareness about local and international environmental issues and solutions, British International School 8am-3pm.
May 31-June 5 Eight-nation football tournament for players over 55 at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City. Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, Iran, Armenia competing.
May Annual Phuket seafood festival.
May Date to be finalised for Muay Thai kickboxing competition at Laguna Phuket.
May 21-23 Paragliding on Phuket.
June 4-13 Phuket International Film Festival, Coliseum Cineplex, Phuket City.
June 13 Laguna Phuket International Marathon. Fun runs, too.
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta