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

nationmultimedia.com The Tourism Council of Thailand has laid out an eight-point strategy to help develop the tourism industry post-political crisis and help prepare for the full effect of the Asean Free Trade Agreement in 2015. The two-year road map has eight development plans covering marketing, product development and human-resources.

bangkokpost.com The TCT will propose a major reform plan by 2012, aiming to increase the industry's competitiveness, which is increasingly threatened by rivals. This year Malaysia, with just one-third Thailand's population, expects 22 million arrivals - though many are day-trippers from Singapore - against 14-15 million for Thailand.

Phuketwan Update A Phuket group of 350 people have applied to visit Mecca for the Haj, leaving on October 17-18 and returning on December 7-8. The applications were expected to top 500 but some Phuket Muslims are concerned about Saudi uncertainty.

arabnews.com Haj visas have been granted to the first batch of 392 Thai pilgrims by the Saudi Embassy, according to Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat. Visas for the second batch, however, could not be processed due to a shortage of staff at the embassy, he said.

nationmultimedia.com The government ordered PTT to end its bid to buy Carrefour's retail assets in Thailand, saying the state-controlled company should not be competing with private firms. Deputy Government Spokesman Watchara Kannikar said the Cabinet considered it inappropriate for PTT - as a state-owned company - to be competing with private companies for a retail business.

bangkokpost.com The Tourism Authority of Thailand will join the private sector in closely monitoring three key risks affecting the Thai tourism industry: political instability, the stronger baht, and natural disasters. TAT governor Surapol Svetaseni said a crisis management centre had already been established and both public and private groups must work together to stay on top of developments.

DPA Separatists have killed 135 teachers in southern Thailand over the past eight years in their efforts to rid the region of ''Siamese infidels,'' a human rights group said. Since January 2004, insurgents in Thailand's southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala have deliberately targeted school teachers in their fight against Thai rule.

Associated Press Indonesia will vaccinate 400,000 dogs against rabies on the resort island of Bali, officials as officials cranked up efforts to wipe out an epidemic that has killed dozens of people. Local authorities came under heavy criticism earlier this year after they started killing stray dogs by the tens of thousands. [Phuket is rabies-free.]

afp Japan's Canon Inc. said it would spend $170 million to build a new plant in Thailand employing a workforce of 5000 to meet rising global demand for inkjet printers. The plant in the northeastern province of Nakhonratchasima will start in October 2011.

calgary.ctv.ca A Thai police officer accused in the death of a Canadian man in 2008 is now a suspect in the death of another person. The officer's 18-year-old pregnant wife was clubbed to death with a large stick. It happened in the police married quarters in the same town where Leo Del Pinto was shot three times during an altercation.

montrealgazette.com The Montreal Symphony Orchestra has found a conductor, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, to replace Mikhail Pletnev, originally scheduled to lead concerts next week. The MSO gave no reason for the Pletnev cancellation, but it has been widely reported that the founder of the Russian National Orchestra, arrested on July 6 on a child-molestation charge, is able to leave Thailand only occasionally on temporary bail permits.

cnn.com A pedestrian bridge under construction for next month's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi collapsed, adding to concerns raised about India's preparedness for the international sporting event. At least 24 people were injured in the accident, three critically.

indiatimes.com Visiting Commonwealth delegates have objected to ''unlivable conditions'' in the Games Village, the protests have only piled up with several countries protesting against the ''filthy'' and ''disgusting'' apartments that were being provided to the international athletes. News came in that China had finished all work and handed over the athletes' village to the Asian Games Federation for the Asiad in November. The contrast only drove home India's collosal incompetence and shame.

reuters Celebrity socialite Paris Hilton was held for questioning by officials at Tokyo airport where she had flown for business one day after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine in Las Vegas. Immigration officials at the Narita International Airport detained Hilton for hours after her chartered plane landed, then asked Hilton to stay overnight at an airport hotel for more questioning.

tvnz.co.nz A 53-year-old New Zealand man has gone on trial in Cambodia for sexually abusing two underage girls. Michael John Lines, who also has Australian citizenship, faces charges of procuring a child for prostitution. He was arrested in March at a hotel in Sihanouk.

smh.com.au The acceleration slows as we approach our top speed - 431kmh. At this point, most of the passengers are getting up to take photos of the speedometer. we're still a few minutes away from Shanghai airport, but to get back from 431kph to zero takes time. The moment has passed, but it's hard to forget what must be the best airport commute in the world.

afp Sophie Blanchard shares the name of a French aviation pioneer and has now become one herself - as the first female captain, or pilot-in-command, for Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways. ''I am very happy. It still is a pretty macho environment, but my colleagues here encouraged me a lot, and the flight attendants are very proud,'' said the 33-year-old mother of two, a French citizen.



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
September 25-26 Phuket Dinghy series, for young sailors, begins
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