pattayadailynews.com Police have arrested a Korean man suspected of having mafia ties in Pattaya. Korean authorities tipped off Thai police to Fun Jai Lee, 44, before his arrest.


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

bangkokpost.com Immigration will start a new campaign next month to keep track of the whereabouts of all tourists by enforcing reporting requirements of hotels, resorts and guesthouses. Managers failing to comply will face arrest and fines of up to 10,000 baht per tourist if they do not fulfil their obligations under Section 38 of the Immigration Act to notify the Immigration Office about guests within 24 hours of their arrival. An improved computer system at the bureau has now made registration and enforcement possible.

Phuketwan Update Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attracted attention at the Democrat MPs conference on Phuket and whilst on a walk through a local market on Saturday afternoon. One family of visitors from Isarn told the PM: ''You can't come to Isarn because of the crisis so we have come to Phuket to have our photo taken with you.'' And they promptly posed with the PM on the steps of the Merlin Beach Resort Phuket.

nationmultimedia.com On the eve of a new parliamentary session, Abhisit opened a party seminar on the theme ''Join forces and solve the country's crisis,'' in Phuket amid tight security by local police and troops. He told party MPs to be united, give correct information to people, to attend House meetings regularly, and be active pushing for passing of key laws.

cnn.com The rescue and recovery efforts of the Pakistan floods that have killed more than 800 could become more complicated as weather officials predict more monsoon rains starting Monday.

telegraph.co.uk Holidays to Thailand are being discounted by up to 50 percent to encourage Britons to return. ''As our figures are demonstrating, this strategy appears to have paid off and the great news for holidaymakers is that there are still great bargains to be had on holidays to Thailand," said a spokeswoman for Travelmood. According to Joanna Cooke, the UK marketing manager for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the number of British visitors to Thailand actually increased by 4.6 per cent between January and June compared with the same period last year. However Albert Van Walbeek, chairman of the Pacific Asia Tourism Association, warned that it might take up to four years to achieve the same average room rates as last winter if these heavily discounted offers continue. Prakit Chinamourphong, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said its members have little choice.

businessweek.com Across Thailand many doctors traded their white coats for black to protest a draft law that would give victims of medical malpractice legal rights to win compensation. The law would be the first of its kind in Thailand, where malpractice complaints face resistance from doctors, hospitals, police and many get dismissed from court for lagging too long in the system, according to proponents of the bill.

bleacherreport.com According to the Orlando Sentinel, Adrienne Simmons, 34, a kickboxer who fought for the International Kicking Federation, died after suffering a devastating blow during a competition the day before. The Sentinel also reports that ''a referee ended the bout immediately, and doctors sitting ringside were in the ring right away'' as soon as Simmons lost consciousness.

washingtonpost.com Thailand's ambassador to the US, Don Pramudwinai, writes: [Your] editorial's conclusion that application of law and restoring security would damage our support among Western allies and hit investment was wrong-headed. In fact, our stock market is up 14 percent this year, exports last month rose the most in 18 years to their highest level ever, and tourism was up 13.7 percent for the first half of 2010.

bangkokpost.com Property developers should adjust their products to reflect changes in household demographics, which will drive higher demand for specific housing types, says Sethaput Suthiwatnarueput, the chief economist of Siam Commercial Bank. He said the proportion of traditional households - married couples with children - had declined in Thailand from 37 percent of the total in 2002 to an estimated 30 percent this year and would be just 21 percent in 2020.



August 5-8 Kite Jam, Surin beach
August 6-12 Andaman Motor Expo
October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Central Festival Phuket Convention and Exhibition Center, Phuket City
October 8-16 Vegetarian Festival
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi