A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective. Reports from national and international media, with translations into English from Thai.


Straits Times Singapore roared out of recession with growth of 20.4 per cent in the second quarter over the previous quarter, marking the first expansion in a year and prompting the Government to raise its 2009 growth forecast. The flash estimates, based mainly on April and May numbers, showed growth in the construction sector and a sharp improvement in manufacturing. ''The Singapore economy is back, and back with a vengeance,'' said HSBC economist Robert Prior-Wandesforde, who expects other regional economies to produce similar rallies. The Ministry of Trade and Industry still predicts a weak recovery at risk from more bad news.

voanews.com The immediate outlook for Asia's tourism industry remains bleak as most major markets report sharp falls in visitor arrivals. There are hopes a recovery will come in 2010. The Pacific Asia Travel Association expects visitor arrivals in Asia to fall by more than four percent this year, because the global economic slump and concerns about the swine flu discourage travelers. Singapore reports arrivals down more than 30 percent from a year ago. In South Korea, arrivals have declined as much as 40 percent some months this year. In Japan, foreign visitor arrivals in May fell by more than 30 percent. PATA chairman Phornsiri Manoharn says: ''This year I consider the worst I have seen in the industry for the past 39 years.'''

etravelblackboardasia.com Centara Hotels & Resorts in Thailand is bracing itself for a poor high season, the company's president forecasting the global economic crisis to last until mid-2010. Centara President Gerd Steeb said the oncoming high season ''won't be good'' despite an expected unchanged operating profit. He said new hotel openings would entail a huge sum, but would generate revenue in the long term. According to Steeb, Centara's properties are currently performing at an average occupancy rate of 67 percent, showing the effects of the crisis and the closure of Bangkok's airports last year.

AFP Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will hold talks in India over the weekend on an ''enhanced strategic partnership'' before traveling next week to Thailand for talks with Southeast Asian ministers. An offiicial said Mrs Clinton will meet Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromyato ''to underscore the importance of our alliance and our bilateral relationship.'' On Phuket July 22-23, North Korea's weapons program will be discussed by Asean foreign ministers. Other regional issues including democratic reform in Myanmar could be raised during the Phuket talks, as well as the region's economy and joint action on tackling swine flu.

Associated Press Malaysian authorities are investigating two Muslims who sparked complaints after they pretended to be Christians and took Communion at a church service to research a magazine article, officials say. The investigation poses a fresh challenge for the government in its efforts to reduce religious friction in the ethnic Malay Muslim-majority country, where religious minorities have complained that their rights are being sidelined in favor of Islam.

washingtonpost.com Political analysts have cautiously welcomed the Burmese government's promise of amnesty for prisoners but warned that proof of the authorities' sincerity will be measured in how many political detainees are freed. ''It is too early to say for sure exactly what it means. We don't know how many will be released or how many political prisoners will be among them,'' said Thant Myint-U, an analyst and author of a book about Burma's history, 'River of Lost Footsteps.' The Burmese said they were preparing an amnesty offer at the request of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

abcnews.go.com Investigators from the Los Angeles County Coroner questioned Dr Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson's longtime dermatologist, and subpoenaed medical records from his office as part of their investigation into the singer's death. The Los Angeles coroner served Dr Klein with a subpoena to review medical records. Jackson was a patient of Klein for two decades and the doctor's name has reportedly surfaced on a shortlist of five personal physicians authorities have sought to question.

Straits Times Malaysian arrivals from Singapore have risen sharply since the open skies agreement went into force on January 1, with new direct flights to various parts of Malaysia. There were about 4.9 million arrivals from the start of the year until the end of May, 1.3 million or 36 percent more than the arrivals in the same period last year, Malaysia's Tourism Ministry said. Visitors arriving from Singapore account for almost half of total tourist arrivals. Flights between Singapore and Malaysia were previously monopolised by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. There are currently seven airlines with direct flights to seven cities.

prweb.com Healthy Travel Media and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have jointly announce the launch of 'Patients Beyond Borders: Thailand Edition', to be published in English for international distribution in September 2009. The 222-page guidebook will feature 32 pages of color inserts and offer an in-depth overview of Thailand's international hospitals, selected health travel agents, nearby recovery and guest accommodations, and area travel information. Thailand has emerged as one of the world's major destinations for medical services.


AseanWATCH: Big Show Getting Set to Go
News Photo Album What's happening as Hillary Clinton and other international notables arrive on Phuket? Let Phuketwan take you there. Today we launch AseanWATCH.
AseanWATCH: Big Show Getting Set to Go

Bid to Put 373 More Tuk-Tuks on Phuket Roads
Latest There are four times as many unregistered tuk tuks on Phuket as registered vehicles, a meeting hears to consider allowing 373 to register. Cheap public transport is not mentioned.
Bid to Put 373 More Tuk-Tuks on Phuket Roads

Land Ho! Sailor Rolly Gives for Phuket Road
Latest The Phuket Governor's plan to build a second highway between the airport and Phuket City receives a boost as sailor Rolly Tasker donates eight rai to the project.
Land Ho! Sailor Rolly Gives for Phuket Road

Secret Phuket: A Users' Guide for VIP Visitors
Heroines Photo Album We came across this dossier designed to let senior politicians from 26 countries know about the real Phuket. (OK, ok . . . Phuketwan actually wrote it)
Secret Phuket: A Users' Guide for VIP Visitors

Phuket Phi Phi Ferry Sinks in Raging Storm
Latest Five people survive the sinking of a ferry in a savage storm just a day after it carried 25 tourists as passengers from Phuket to Phi Phi. Marine Police reveal details of the incident.
Phuket Phi Phi Ferry Sinks in Raging Storm

Flower Thieves and Red Shirts Plague Asean
Photo Album Who stole the governor's welcoming garden from Phuket airport? That was the shock development today as the Defence Minister told the red shirts: Stay off Phuket.
Flower Thieves and Red Shirts Plague Asean

Burmese 'Passports' Mark New Phuket Deal
Latest More than 90,000 lowly workers on Phuket will have the chance to legitimise their labor under a proposal discuss at high level bilateral talks on Saturday
Burmese 'Passports' Mark New Phuket Deal


MediaWATCH: Phuket Schools May Close Next
News Digest Experts call for closures to curb ''unstoppable'' flu; 10,000 soldiers for Phuket; Ford and Mazda launch new plant; Thai resorts for sale; Burma plans amnesty.
MediaWATCH: Phuket Schools May Close Next

MediaWATCH: Thai Flu Death Toll Spirals to 21
News Digest Update Three more flu fatalities; storm sinks a ferry off Phuket; British boy dies at a Pattaya water park; Indonesia moves on Asean human rights.
MediaWATCH: Thai Flu Death Toll Spirals to 21