PHUKET should benefit from this weekend's top-level 13-nation Asean (plus Three) gathering on the island with a burst of good publicity around the region.

If these key financial decision-makers are comfortable on Phuket, then perhaps potential tourists from the South East Asia Region and beyond will feel comfortable in heading for the island, too.

Tourism and rubber, two of Phuket's three key industries, are in need of assistance. (So is the third, property, but that's not likely to be discussed this weekend.)

Regional Tourism Authority of Thailand director Sethaphan Buddhani said: ''It is good to have Phuket as the destination for a macroeconomic summit. Decision-makers are bound to note where these important talks are taking place.''

Residents will pay a small price for the gathering in minor disruptions on the main artery road as VIPs travel to the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket on Saturday and Sunday and head back to the airport once the talking is done.

Police have told Phuketwan there will be no traffic holdups, just escorted cavalcades being given precedence at traffic lights.

We expect the Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangj an, will try to catch up with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva if he can to press the case for boosting Phuket's appeal as an international tourist destination.

Just being on Phuket will be a big help, assuming the PM can cope with being in Indonesia talking about the Rohingya issue on Friday and Saturday and on Phuket talking about the regional economy on Sunday.

The PM will have about four hours on the island before heading back to Bangkok, where renewed opposition protests threaten the growing impression that Thailand is again a peaceful place to visit.

Governor Dr Preecha visited the Sheraton on Friday afternoon to check final security arrangements with senior police.

The finance ministers will stay across the lagoon from the Sheraton in a line of villas that form the most prestigious accommodation at the Dusit Thai Laguna Phuket.

Greeting the governor was Niyom Tassaneetipagorn, Senior Assistant Vice President at Laguna Resorts and Hotels, the six-resort complex set amid lagoons on the shores of Bang Tao beach.

On Saturday and Sunday, efforts to revive the entire region's economies are bound to be the top talking point.

Japan's recent fall into financial crisis is further proof that 2009 is bound to bring turbulence everywhere.

Thailand's imports and exports contracted alarmingly in January, the number of jobless is rising, and poverty and crime are also likely to increase if the downturn is not stemmed.

Decisions made at the weekend talks will be relayed to the Association of South East Asian Nations (plus Three) summit in Huan Hin at the end of the month.

Eventually, those decisions will affect everyone on Phuket and around the region: investors, traders, resorts, plantation owners, people keen to avoid the queues outside the pawn shops.

Interestingly, the ''plus Three'' nations, Japan, China and Korea, are not only the Asian region's economic powerhouses in normal times but also the ones showing the strong connection between the global downturn and tourism.

The number of Korean arrivals by air in Bangkok in January was down by 53.07 percent, having dropped 27.87 percent in 2008.

Visitors from China coming through Bangkok are down 35.61 percent so far this year, and down 10.65 percent in 2008.

Japanese visitors are down 31.98 percent in January, having dropped 10.24 percent in 2008.

Senior officials from all 13 countries will gather and start exchanging information at the Sheraton Grande from 3pm on Saturday, with a cocktail reception and a dinner hosted by Thailand's Minister of Finance, Korn Chatikavanij, to follow.

Perhaps guests will be offered the new Siam Sunray, a Thailand signature cocktail unveiled by the TAT this week that consists of a shot of vodka, coconut liqueur, a dash of chili pepper and sugar, lime juice, a few slivers of lemongrass and ginger - shaken not stirred, then strained into a glass - with ice and soda water.

(Two of these, and 13 finance ministers will agree about everything.)

Sunday's talk session begins at 9.30am and continues through to a joint media conference at 3pm.

Phuketwan will be posting updates as they come to hand.

Malaysia's Dato Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Hj Abd Razak is one of the most interesting ministers because national politics there are in a state of flux.

Who knows? Next week he might be prime minister.

PM to Visit Phuket for Finance Summit
Latest The Prime Minister is a likely visitor to Phuket in February as part of an international gathering that should also help to boost the island's reputation as a conference destination.
PM to Visit Phuket for Finance Summit