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

STR Global Hotels in the Asia/Pacific region experienced increases in all three key performance metrics for June 2010 when reported in US dollars, according to data compiled by STR Global. With a boost from the Expo 2010, held 1 May-31 October 2010, Shanghai, China, achieved the largest increases in all three key performance metrics. Bangkok posted the largest occupancy decrease, falling 25.8 percent to 34.9 percent. Phuket ended the month virtually flat with a 0.2-percent decrease to 36.3 percent. [Phuket hopes to win the right to stage World Expo 2020.]

smh.com.au Before year's end, Qantas will introduce what it is describing as an airline first, the Marc Newson-designed Q Bag Tag, which will enable all passengers to check-in and tag their own baggage.

travelbizmonitor.com In spite of sharp declines in arrivals during May and June 2010, international visitor arrivals in the first four months were still high enough to allow Thailand to enjoy a 13.70 per cent increase in total arrivals in the first half. Figures tabulated by Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports in January-June 2010, showed total arrivals by nationality of 7,515,025 up from 6,609,313. While arrivals to Bangkok were significantly affected, arrivals to Phuket remained relatively buoyant. Russian visitors to Thailand totalled 305,415, up 102.28 percent.

dow jones Thailand is considering plans to upgrade the speed of its rail system and expand its logistics network nationwide, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva said. Part of the170 billion rail system budget for the next five years is aimed at doubling the speed of trains, to 100-120 kilometers per hour from 50-60 km/h, he told reporters. Auctions for the construction of high-speed train projects are in the pipeline, he said, without elaborating on a time frame of the implementation. [A fast rail Bangkok-Phuket service has been suggested.]

afp Thailand's PM said a state of emergency in force across about one-fifth of the country would be lifted ''gradually,'' following fresh calls for the strict laws to be rolled back. ''The government will proceed with gradually lifting (the decree) but not all at once,'' PM Abhisit told reporters a day after a reform committee he set up recommended ending emergency rule.

scotsman.com Gavin John Laidlaw, 42, from Edinburgh, was arrested with two Thai women in Pattaya and faces drug possession charges. David Hill, 31, from Australia, and Patric Jose, 52, from France, were arrested at other locations. All the women are believed to have been involved in the local sex industry. Police said they were cracking down on vice before a Buddhist holiday.

thesun.co.uk Evil Jon Venables collected child porn off the internet while posing as a mum selling her eight-year-old daughter for sex. The depraved killer of James Bulger - who served just eight years for snatching the two-year-old and torturing him to death for kicks - wooed fellow perverts in chatrooms. Vile Venables, 27, called himself ''Dawn'' as he begged for photos of parents abusing their own children like he did his own.

independent.co.uk While Venables' family support him, the Bulger family still revile him. James's father Ralph Bulger, in a statement issued via his lawyer, described Venables as a timebomb, and said that re-naming and releasing Venables was ''a liberal experiment ... that was never really going to work.''

nationmultimedia.com Visitors to Thailand surprisingly felt as safe in their trips during the recent political protests as they usually do when travelling in the country, according to a survey by Asia travel specialist, Asia Web Direct. Conducted with almost 400 travellers who had booked their hotels through Asia Web Direct to visit Thailand in May, the survey by the online accommodation site found that 91 percent felt safe during their latest trip, a small drop from the 95 percent of repeat travellers who usually feel safe.

Associated Press.com North Korea is threatening a physical response to planned naval drills off the Korean peninsula that will start this weekend, accusing the US of conducting 19th-century-style ''gunboat diplomacy.''

smh.com.au If all goes to plan, by 2014 you could find yourself aboard a British Airways flight powered by lawn clippings, food leftovers and other waste. The airline has announced plans to set up what it claims is the first '''sustainable jet-fuel plant in Europe''' to power part of its fleet. The plant, in east London, will take 500,000 tonnes of domestic and municipal waste each year to convert to jet kerosene.

bangkokpost.com Airports of Thailand president, Serirat Prasutanond, said Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok was ranked 10th in Skytrax's latest review of world airports. According to Serirat, AOT aims to service 56 million to 57 million passengers at its six airports, including Phuket. The company has also maintained its revenue at 24 billion baht this year despite political unrest.

reuters No.9 of 10 top child-friendly hotels around the world: Trisara, Phuket. Set over a private bay along Phuket's less developed northwest coast, each suite or villa has an ocean view and its own pool. Despite its grown-up credentials like a spa and gourmet dining, there is also a kids' club and range of outdoors beach activities from swimming, kayaking, snorkeling to rock pools.

koreaherald.com Nestled into the hillside above the town at the northern end of Patong on Phuket, the Diamond Cliff Resort & Spa offers spectacular views of the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea and the white sands of Kalim Beach. Equipped with 333 rooms and suites all with private balconies, eight villas, three outdoor swimming pools, seven restaurants and bars and an exclusive spa reserved only for its guests, Diamond Cliff is one of the few five-star hotels in Patong.



July 24 Third Worldwide Photo Walk, with at least one walk for photographers on Phuket
July 30 AustCham Thailand Sundowners at 4.30pm at Skippers, RPM. AustCham Thailand will host this Sundowners business networking session with a marine industry theme. Contact Harry Usher harry@ladypie.com 0812731740
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
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