theage.com.au A 30-year-old man faced a Melbourne court over the smash-and-grab theft of a $1 million diamond ring from a high-end jewellery shop in March last year. George Georgiou is alleged to have fled to Thailand's seaside resort of Pattaya after the brazen robbery.


A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. PLUS World Cup Watch, every day.

nationmultimedia.com The Tourism Authority of Thailand is arranging five major events over the next two months to revive tourism. They are the Thailand Travel Fair, Amazing Thailand Grand Sales, the Phuket Music Festival, the Golf and Dive Expo and Smile @ Rajprasong. In the provinces, the Phuket Music Festival will be held from June25-26 at Karon Beach. The event is expected to draw 50,000 local and foreign visitors and generate revenue of 500 million-600 million baht. More than 20,000 hotel rooms on the resort-island will be on offer at a 50-percent discount during the ''green'' season. [Who adds the extra zeroes to these figures?]

hotelinteractive.com The challenge for the Thai tourism industry going forward is to help travelers distinguish between the perceived threat and the actual threat. As the Sydney Morning Herald reported in a June 5 story from Phuket: ''The Australian government's travel warnings to the whole of Thailand seemed overkill at best.'' Mark Siegel, CEO of Bangkok-based tour operator Golfasian, says: ''Tourists were certainly inconvenienced by the difficulties in April and May, but they were never endangered. We need to emphasise that not only is it safe to travel here, but it was safe even at the height of the crisis in May.''
Arrivals at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport fell by an average of 20 percent compared to arrivals in May 2009. However, the number of international passengers arriving at Phuket International Airport rose by 61.15 percent during the height of the demonstrations. ''I think this shows pretty clearly a strong desire to work around the inconvenience, and an understanding of how isolated the troubles in Bangkok actually were,'' says Santi Chudintra, director of the Americas Market Division at the TAT.

easydestination.net Immediately after the violence erupted, the US and other countries issued travel advisories for Thailand. This led to huge losses for the tourism sector. Hotel bookings were down to 20 percent, cancellations soared to over 70 percent. Finally the violence is over and Thailand seeks to dominate tourism in Asia once again, but it won't be easy since tourists are still scared. Hotel bookings have gone up marginally but not enough to cheer the tourism industry.

Phuketwan Update The Public Health Ministry says that dengue fever has infected 17,587 people and killed 20 patients around Thailand so far this year. A ministry spokesman said the number of dengue fever patients this year has increased by 58 percent. The Central region was the hardest hit with 7945 cases, with 4264 in the South, 3753 in the Northeast, and 1625 in the North. Most dengue victims are aged between 10 and 24.

aap Online accommodation and travel booking site Wotif.com Holdings Ltd expects full-year profit to rise as much as 29 percent as occupancy levels in Australia remain strong. But the outlook for its business in Thailand remained challenging, the company said.

guardian.co.uk A survey by flight comparison website Skyscanner compared the cost of paying for various typical items - including a coffee, a beer, a meal, accommodation in a Marriott hotel and hiring a car from Avis - in 30 countries and found that the cheapest was Cyprus, followed by mainland Greece and South Africa. France was most expensive.

heraldsun.com.au Australian single mother Ambah Young, 18, will head to Malaysia in a fortnight to have a tummy tuck, a boob job and a ''designer'' vagina procedure. But the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery has raised concerns about the appropriateness of such procedures on someone so young, along with the added risks of having them done overseas. Ms Young, who has a two-year-old daughter, said she felt old and hoped to reclaim her youth and regain confidence.

dailymail.co.uk Admittedly, [under Sir Terry Leahy] Tesco was accused of destroying the nation's villages and high streets with its vast out-of-town superstores - but it was simply responding to consumer demand. He dared to tread where other UK retailers failed to venture. Tesco also embarked on a massive expansion in the Far East from Thailand to China. Recognising the property opportunity in China, it is establishing Tesco-malls - owning the land wherever possible - and drawing in retailers from across Asia.

telegraph.co.uk Sir Terry's decision sparked speculation about his next move. The 55-year-old said he would focus on his ''private investments'' and played down suggestions he could go into public service. [Sir Terry has a substantial investment in West Sands Phuket and the Splash Jungle waterpark.]

nationmultimedia.com Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's selection of former attorney-general Kanit na Nakorn to head an independent investigation into the recent political uprising in Bangkok drew scepticism from the opposition. Cabinet approved the appointment of Kanit, who is now the dean of Dhurakij Pundit University's Pridi Banomyong School of Law, to uncover the truth behind the violent unrest triggered by the red-shirt rally between March 12 and May 19.

cbc.ca A foreign worker from Thailand was stabbed to death while coming to the aid of an assault victim. Apichat Sudsaneh, 37, had been working as a welder in Edmonton for two years, and was preparing to return to Thailand this week. Co-workers said he was a good-natured man, who had been sending money home to his mother in Thailand.

afp Twelve Indonesian children died when a suspension bridge collapsed as they were taking part in a traditional ceremony to dispel bad luck in a remote village in Aceh province. Twenty-five children were rescued with minor injuries but 12 others, all below the age of 12, were swept away in the strong currents.

ft.com A lawyer and two associates orchestrated a ''well-targeted and extremely ambitious scam'' in which they fraudulently tried to sell the Ritz hotel and casino in Piccadilly - which they did not own - for 250 million pounds, a court heard. Conn Farrell, a solicitor, Patrick Dolan and Anthony Lee were involved in a deal ''based on one great big lie,'' duping their victims into making a one million pound payment, a jury was told. All three have pleaded not guilty.

nytimes.com Four Russian soldiers assigned to guard the smoldering wreckage of a Polish airliner in April were charged with stealing bank cards from an official who died in the crash. Between one and three hours after the crash, cash was withdrawn from a bank card belonging to Andrzej Przewoznik, who oversaw war memorials and commemorations in Poland.

cnn.com Dramatic changes in North Korean leadership this week appear to be paving the way for an eventual transfer of power from leader Kim Jong Il to his youngest son, analysts say. ''The fact that young Kim Jong Un, the presumed successor, is the son of Kim Jong Il and grandson of Kim Il Sung - that kind of legitimacy of authority stems from the family, as opposed to the person's capability or leadership ability,'' one said.

bernama.com Malaysia will not go bankrupt like Iceland and Greece following the nation's success in maintaining its debt level under control and prudent measures taken to reduce debt rate, PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said, adding that the federal government's financial position will be carefully planned, constantly monitored and strictly controlled with full responsibility.

prlog.org After gaining its economy on semiconductors, ships and steel, South Korea is now pushing its surgeons' skills in the beauty business to carve out a new position. This is boosted by active government support, boom in cosmetic surgery and a pool of experienced surgeons. The country is looking forward to surpass Singapore, Thailand and India to become Asia's new medical tourism hub.

afp Homosexuals and their supporters have filled the main avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for an annual Gay Parade that organisers claim is the biggest in the world with an estimated three million participants. Gay rights groups say although Brazil is a relatively open society in terms of homosexuality, 198 gays were killed last year in homophobic attacks. The gay pride association said the event has become the biggest gay parade in the world, outdoing celebrations in San Francisco and Sydney.

Associated Press Helen Thomas, 90, the doyenne of the Washington press corps who used her seat in the front row of history to grill 10 presidents, has been forced to quit after comments that Israelis should "get the hell out of Palestine" earned the condemnation of the White House and her colleagues.



bbc.co.uk Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague tips Argentina to see off his countrymen, with Brazil and England also in his top four. ''Argentina have two of the most in-form strikers in the world in Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez,'' Balague said. ''You don't need to play great football to get far in the World Cup. You have to score at least once in most games. Argentina can do that even if they will not be able to exploit what Messi can do.''



The Laguna Phuket International Marathon returns on Sunday where an anticipated 5000 runners and walkers will take part in the full marathon, half marathon, 10.5km fun run, 5km walk for charity and a 2km run for children. 91.5FM - Phuket FM Radio will be broadcasting the Saturday press conference LIVE for the first time and presenting LIVE coverage of race day from 7am.

Until June13 Prison Products Fair, each evening at Saphan Hin park, Phuket City. On-stage entertainment, food stalls, refreshments, furniture for purchase.
June 13 Laguna Phuket International Marathon. Fun runs, too.
June 25-26 Phuket Music Festival, Full Moon Version, at Karon beach. [Last year it was called the RoyFest. It's no longer the RoyFest.]
June 25 to 27 Second Kathu Culture Road Fair, recalling the region's history
July 21-25 Phuket Six Senses Race Week, Evason, Rawai
July 4 US Phuket Navy League Independence Day free family picnic at the Headstart International Learning Center directly across from Makro (near Central Festival) in Phuket City from 10am-7pm.
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