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Phuket wins praise, but the rise in figures also brings late bookings

Phuket 'Best Performing'; Tourism Trends Up, But Oh So Late; Reds Rally; Phuket People

Saturday, September 18, 2010
Phuketwan MediaWATCH

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

bangkokpost.com Passenger traffic through Thailand's six main airports including Suvarnabhumi [and Phuket] has returned to its traditional growth pattern seen in the previous two years with August figures showing 3.13 percent year-on-year growth. International passengers increased 12.82 percent to 23.68 million.

ttglive.com Thailand's tourism industry has been struck by the latest bookings in its history ahead of its peak season. Some hotels are seeing most of their bookings coming in the last four weeks before departure, the Thailand Travel Mart was told. Chris Lee, trade marketing manager for Tourism Authority of Thailand UK, said a significant number of UK bookings were coming in 30 days before departure. ''We have never seen such a short booking trend before,'' he said.

eturbonews.com Chanin Donavanik, head of Dusit Intenational: The situation was completely back to normal for us by August in terms of visitors with occupancy of 65 percent. I could easily say that Phuket is probably now the best performing market in the Kingdom and one of the best performing in Asia. The destination offers everything from superb hotels and food experience to beautiful beaches, nature as well as culture and shopping. A good indication is that there will be this winter 20 percent more flights to Phuket.

xinhua.com Thai authorities set up a center to monitor red shirt movement. The Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation unit will be supervised by Army Chief Anupong Paojinda and responsible for the seven provinces under the emergency decree. They are Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima. In other provinces, the situation will be monitored by staff of the Internal Security Operations Command.

nationmultimedia.com Red shirt protesters will be prohibited from using amplifiers this weekend as they hold a rally to mark the fourth anniversary of the 2006 coup, authorities said.

afp The International Monetary Fund warned Indonesia must make fighting corruption a priority if it wants to build on its progress as one of the world's best-performing economies. Southeast Asia's biggest economy expanded 4.5 percent in 2009, but the IMF said foreign investors would prove cautious until more is done to fight rampant corruption and improve the rule of law.

bangkokpost.com The Culture Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Saudi embassy have denied that Saudi Arabia rejected visas for Thai-Muslims intending to go on the haj pilgrimage. Rumors that 392 Thais planning to make the haj pilgrimage had their visas revoked were ''absolutely not true''.

afp Singaporeans have made more than one million visits to the country's two new casinos despite a levy of 100 Singapore dollars designed to deter them. Vivian Balakrishnan, the city state's minister for community development, youth and sports, released the figures in a parliamentary debate on the casinos, whose operations have caused concern among church and civic groups.

hotelnewsnow.com The Asia/Pacific hotel development pipeline comprises 1037 hotels totalling 255,208 rooms, according to the August 2010 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report.

afp The future of Sweden's famous welfare state was a central theme when the main political party chiefs met for a final televised election debate. ''We have to stop living as though we were the last generation on earth,'' Green Party co-chair Maria Wetterstrand said, while Left leader Lars Ohly insisted ''we should not have to have poor children in our welfare state.''

nationmultimedia.com Swiss-based Nestle is looking to expand the presence of its premium ice cream, with the first boutique outlet planned for the near future. Yaowapa Metmoulee, country business manager for Movenpick, said the company would launch kiosks in Bangkok, Samui and Phuket next year.

todayonline.com Singapore plans to spend $16.1 billion over the next five years on research, innovation and enterprise. This is 20 percent more than the amount committed between 2006 and this year. The high-powered Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council includes Cabinet ministers as well as international experts in science and technology.

bbc.co.uk The first school for pregnant teenagers in mainly-Muslim Malaysia has opened as part of an attempt to curb the rising number of abandoned babies. Officials hope that the school in the southern state of Malacca will help young women to overcome the stigma of having children outside marriage.

aap Australians planning to travel to Bali to commemorate the Bali bombings have been warned of the possibility of fresh terrorist attacks. Next month marks eight years since the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, and the 2005 bombings that killed 26 people, including four Australians.

thejakartaglobe.com Comment from Johnny Cool: Whilst travel warnings from various governments can be scoffed at, the fact remains that there is always an element of danger in countries like Indonesia and it's fair enough to warn travellers.

bbc.co.uk Shares in the French supermarket chain Carrefour have risen five percent after it announced plans to rebrand its biggest European stores. The company will invest 1.5 billion euros to refurbish 500 hypermarkets in Western Europe, rebranding half as ''Carrefour Planet''.

bernama Cambodia cancelled a TV mini-series about a Khmer woman whose rich suitors have to bid for her hand in marriage at auction, reports China's Xinhua news agency. The Ministry of Information ordered the Cambodian Television Network to stop showing 'Strange Married Couple' because it was totally opposite to good Cambodian traditions.

Phuket People


The Pavilions, Phuket, has appointed Ms Linda Augier as Guest Relations Manager. French national, Ms Augier, joins the Pavilions team after four years working for Relais & Chateaux hotels around the world. Ms Augier will manage the overall guest experience at the all pool villa resort and will oversee special events, including the coming Passion for Perfume workshop October 14-17 and Gourmet Week.

Phuket Coming Events


September 18 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Surin beach
September 22-26 Quiksilver 2010 Surf Competition, Kata beach
September 22-29 USNS Walter S. Diehl to visit Phuket
September 25 International Reef Cleanup Day, Phuket. More: Roger Chubb 087 628 2805 E: scubawoj@gmail.com
October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Central Festival Phuket Convention and Exhibition Center, Phuket City
October 8-16 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
October 12 Qatar begins daily flights to Phuket
November 2-7 Phuket womens' beach volleyball, Karon beach
November 5 Phuket Charity Pro Am Golf, Blue Canyon
November 19 AustCham at the new Westin Hotel at Koh Sireh from 3pm. E: harry@ladypie.com Tel: 081 2731740
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
More Phuketwan News

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Phuket's Largest Resort Planned for Patong Hills

Phuket Optimism Only Limited by Flights Capacity
Latest Phuket tourism officials jet out on a road show to Australia this weekend as the island benefits from a consistent boost in air passenger numbers. But can it be maintained?
Phuket Optimism Only Limited by Flights Capacity

Travel Alerts 'a Devastating Blow' to Thai Tourism
News Analysis Retail and resorts chief William Heinecke drives home the message that the present system of travel alerts doesn't work. Phuketwan believes it's time all travellers were treated as equals.
Travel Alerts 'a Devastating Blow' to Thai Tourism

Phuket Drownings: Time to Adopt In-Flight Warnings
News Analysis Visitors to Australia will be warned in flight before they arrive about dangers at the beaches. Introducing a water safety video on flights coming to Phuket would save lives.
Phuket Drownings: Time to Adopt In-Flight Warnings

Phuket's Most Notable Citizen Celebrates 114th Birthday
PHOTO ALBUM Remarkable scenes marked the eve of the 114th birthday of a remarkable Phuket man as amulets were prepared in the grounds of the temple named in honor of Luang Pu Supha.
Phuket's Most Notable Citizen Celebrates 114th Birthday

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Friday March 29, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

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