smh.com.auThe plans of Australian holidaymakers to one of their most popular tourist destinations are in disarray after flights to Bali were again cancelled due to a volcano. Those on board Jetstar flight 116 from Perth were the first to be affected this afternoon, forced to turn around an hour from their destination. [No problems for flights from Phuket, says AirAsia.]


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

bloomberg.com Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva signaled he may call an election as early as April, undercutting street protests that have limited gains in the country's stocks and currency as he seeks to remain in office.

nationmultimedia.comPhuket marine biologist Niphon Phongsuwan says: "There are almost 100,000 rai of coral reefs in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand and almost 90 percent have been ruined [by coral bleaching]." He also blames the increase in such activities as snorkelling in and around popular diving sites for much destruction.

bangkokpost.com European tourist arrivals to Koh Samui will drop by 20 percent this year, due mainly to the continent's financial crisis, predicts the Tourism Association of Samui. During the January-February high season, average hotel occupancy on the island is forecast at 70 percent, down from 90 percent in the past. For the full year, occupancy will be less than 50 percent.

nationmultimedia.com Following complaints by local business people about tour companies in Phuket using Russians as tour guides, the Phuket Bureau of Tourism and Guide Registration revoked six companies' licenses and suspended the licenses of two more. [See Phuketwan's full report.]

independent.co.uk Travel booking site Wotif.com has revealed that Bali was the most popular Asian destination last year. The Indonesian island knocked Singapore off the top spot it held for three years. Singapore fell to third with Hong Kong in second spot, while Bangkok and Phuket were fourth and fifth.

afp A man has pleaded guilty to an ''intoxicated'' bomb hoax on board a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Britain, causing it to divert under a fighter jet escort. James Glen, 37, made the claims on a flight from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow on the same day that 35 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Moscow airport.

trust.org The United Nation's refugee agency is trying to get access to more than 150 Rohingyas detained in Thailand in the past few days amid fears they may be deported back to Burma which does not recognise them as citizens.

nationmultimedia.com Imagine a top American envoy doing a hearty high five with a reporter 15 minutes into their first meeting. Twitter-crazed and blogaholic new US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie A Kenney is unconventional at best.

southalltravel.co.uk It has been confirmed that a new airline will start offering new flights to Thailand. Crystal Thai Airlines is set to introduce flights from Bangkok to Incheon and Muan in South Korea on February 3. The new service will operate twice-weekly.

cnn.com Ten new superyacht playgrounds: 1. Ao Po Grand Marina, Thailand. Apart from the stunning backdrop of the region, a large part of the attraction of the Ao Po Grand Marina is its proximity to major facilities. Phuket International Airport is only 15 minutes away, as are major hotels and resorts.

bangkokpost.com Bangkok Airways remains keen on assuming the management of 28 provincial airports run by the Department of Civil Aviation. The department says that only five of the 28 provincial airports, including Krabi, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen, generated revenue in the fiscal year to last September 30, amounting to about 200 million baht.

guardian.co.uk Dismissed as "Disneyland with the death penalty" and as "an antiseptic island peopled by a passive citizenry and governed by paranoia", Singapore demonstrates the power of triple bottom line strategy at the country level: economic competitiveness, social inclusion (up to a point) and a cleaner environment for all.

eturbonews.com Bangkok Airways' juicy monopoly might soon be in tatters as CAA Vice-CEO Kao Lim confirmed that it seriously looks at opening flights between Siem Reap and Bangkok.

nationmultimedia.com The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects the Chinese New Year Celebrations to generate 7.8 billion in tourism with the help of 150 charter flights to Phuket, an increase of 200 percent. The authority is organising Chinese New Year events in Bangkok, Phuket and other provinces.

justmeans.com Tourism is an opportunity for much-needed economic growth for Burma, and a chance for the much-isolated Burmese people to connect with outsiders. Increasingly, the government is becoming less involved in tourism, with state-owned services being sold to private investors.

islandcrisis.net A strong earthquake struck off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia on late Wednesday evening, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

afp Illegal money lending syndicates in Singapore are hiring more foreign thugs to harass delinquent borrowers into paying up, police said. Loanshark runners usually harass delinquent borrowers by splashing paint on their homes and publicly shaming them by writing their name, home address and telephone number on the walls of highrise housing blocs.

ft.com Indonesia is on the cusp of becoming a middle-income country, with GDP per capita above $3000. The economy is increasingly driven by domestic consumption as the ''middle class'' swells to an expected 100 million people or more by 2020.

bernama.com.my Search engine giant Google will soon increase investments in Southeast Asia to serve users and advertisers. Google's Southeast Asia Managing Director Julian Persaud said the investments included the opening of its Kuala Lumpur office, in line with Google's commitment to provide Malaysians with local products.



January 27 Second match, Muangtong United versus FC Phuket, 6pm. Tickets 50 baht, 100 baht
February 3 Chinese New Year Festival, Phuket
February 8-10Old Phuket Town Festival, food and walking street fest
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
February 18 Makha Bucha public holiday
February 23-26 Phuket Gay Pride Festival, Patong
February 25-26 Phuket International Blues and Rock Festival 2011
February 26-27 Phuket Spicy Soccer 7s, Phuket International Academy
March 14-19 ADFEST 2011 at Movenpick Resort, Phuket
March 27 Earth Hour commemoration on Phuket
April 13-15 Songkran Festival
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City


Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket