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

bangkokpost.com High-end holiday makers will become the new target of Phuket's tourism industry, says the local tourism promotion body. Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, director of the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said Phuket was seeing a rise in numbers of this particular group. At present, high-end tourists account for 10 percent to 20 percent of tourists visiting Phuket, she said, adding that many of them travelled there by private yacht.

afp A drug-resistant ''superbug'' has infected three Australians who travelled to India, an expert said, reinforcing fears it could spread worldwide after hitting dozens of people from Britain. Professor Peter Collignon, Canberra Hospital's head of infectious diseases department, said the cases - including one patient who had plastic surgery in Mumbai - were just the ''tip of the iceberg''. ''There may well be more because it's difficult to pick up this particular gene unless you've got sophisticated testing,'' Collignon told AFP.

cnn.com India has rejected findings of British scientists about a new form of drug-resistant ''superbug'' infecting patients who have traveled to the South Asian nation for treatment. The Indian health ministry insisted that such organisms were present universally.

guardian.co.uk Burma will hold its first elections in two decades on November 7, the ruling military junta has announced, amid growing international criticism that the poll will be neither free nor fair.

news.com.au Australia has expressed ''grave reservations'' about Burma's plan to hold its first election in 20 years. Amnesty International says the regime has prevented more than 2000 political prisoners - including high-profile activist Aung San Suu Kyi - from contesting the election.

thephuketinsider.com Thai group KP Commercial and Property Group are developing a five-star project in the Burma archipelago of Myeik. The Pearl Laguna Resort will open in December.

Phuketwan Update A survey of the top 20 best beaches in the world can't be for real - there are no Phuket beaches listed, with Patong, Karon, Kata an even Phi Phi's Maya Bay missing out. Kelkoo's 2010 Beach Index, based on a survey of more than 2000 Britons and focussing on affordability, weather and food, has Bali at No. 13 and - wait for it - at No. 1, Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast.

independent.co.uk Around 1200 holidaymakers were facing travel chaos following the collapse of tour operator Sun4u. The Birmingham-based firm announced it ceased trading on its website. Its demise will spark fears more travel companies could meet a similar fate. The firm is understood to have been a victim of the ash cloud crisis earlier this year. Most of the company's customers currently on holiday are in Spain.

traveldailynews.com According to ATOR Analytical Service Russia has taken the third place for the tourist flow to Thailand among the European countries. Twenty thousand Russians visited Thailand in July, 54 percent more than during the same period of last year. According to the experts, the main reason of the growing popularity of Thailand in Russian market is political instability in the country, which led to a decline in prices.

toronto.ctv.ca After three months at sea, the MV Sun Sea cargo ship carrying nearly 500 Tamil migrants is being towed into harbor in Canada. The ship left Thailand in May. It was intercepted by the Canadian military off the coast of British Columbia on Thursday and was taken to CFB Esquimalt, near Victoria, on Friday.

mb.com.ph Thai Airways International's board approved a plan for the national carrier to borrow about $550 million to pay for new airplanes as tourists return to Thailand, President Piyasvasti Amranand said. The airline will borrow 17.5 billion baht from four Thai banks, with 12 billion baht of that coming from Bangkok Bank, the nation's largest lender. The move will help Thai Airways add capacity to handle more passengers as demand picks up following recent unrest, Piyasvasti said.

telegraph.co.uk Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam should not be overlooked by investors looking to cash in on the recovery in the Far East. There's a real buzz in Asia right now as economies in the region here power ahead and look to break out of the shadows of China.

thisleicestershire.co.uk Leicester City's new Thai owner says he wants to boost the club's fan base across Asia. Top Raksriaksorn is also looking to teach football skills to youngsters in Thailand using City's much-respected academy set-up as a template.

ft.com What is it about Thai billionaires and British football clubs? First Thaksin Shinawatra - telecoms magnate turned prime minister turned international fugitive - bought Manchester City and now Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, whose family owns duty free outlet King Power, has taken over Football League club Leicester City. The continent is obsessed with football, and especially British football. Step into a taxi anywhere from Bali to Beijing and once nationality has been established, the conversation takes a familiar swerve: ''That Wayne Rooney. . . ''.

nzherald.co.nz Stays in exclusive luxury hotels such as the Pullman Bangkok King Power and Vie Hotel by MGallery cost from $85 per night at the moment. Both hotels are also currently running a ''cash back'' deal where they'll give you $17 to spend in the hotel each day - which goes a long way in Thailand. Even better, Vie Hotel is throwing in a third night's accommodation for free (If you do the maths, that means it costs $40 net per night). Both hotels are located in the heart of Bangkok and both run several dining venues and a day spa which are simply to die for; not to mention currently heavily discounted.

nationmultimedia.com Thai residents can enjoy special room rates at Banyan Tree Phuket from now until October 31. Spoil yourself with Banyan Tree's fine service and exclusive spa treatment in lush surroundings. Special rates start from 7600 baht a night.

usatoday.com South Africa & Indian Ocean Odyssey. A 46-day roundtrip sailing on the 1990-passenger Sun Princess from Perth, Australia, that includes calls at Asian ports such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Phuket, as well as visits to Mumbai and Goa in India and the Maldives. After crossing the Equator, the ship also visits the Seychelles, and the South African ports of Richard's Bay, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Durban. The ship calls at Reunion Island and Mauritius before returning to Perth. Sun Princess departs on May 3, 2011.



August 14-15 Baba wedding, Hongyok House, Phuket Town
August 21 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Nai Harn beach
August 29 Patong Rotary Golf Scrambles and fun dinner for charity at Laguna. Details: 081 8929207
September 4 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Kata beach
Until September 9 Ramadan
September 11 Phuket Surf Lifesaving Carnival, Loma Park, Patong
September 18 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Surin beach
October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Central Festival Phuket Convention and Exhibition Center, Phuket City
October 8-16 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
November 2-7 Phuket womens' beach volleyball, Karon beach
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