PHUKET will gain a burst of Bangkok media attention when journalists from the capital accompany the Airports of Thailand board to the island tomorrow.
The 14-member board, led by new AoT Chairman Piyapan Jampasud, is set to meet at Phuket International Airport from 1.30pm.
A special flight arrives at 9am Thursday with the media contingent of about 20 on board, travelling with the AoT team.
Activities are expected to include a briefing from Airport Director Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop, who will explain Phuket's appeal to tourists and the five billion baht plan to enlarge the existing airport to cope with traffic increases.
The near-certainty of Phuket being the next site for the important Asean Plus Six summit as soon as June is bound to raise some issues concerning airport security.
Phuket airport was invaded by yellow shirt protesters in a three-day blockade in August last year, a preliminary to their invasion of Bangkok's two major airports in November that led to the change in government.
It was opposition protesters in red shirts, however, who took over the resort in Pattaya where the Asean Plus Six summit was due to be held during the Songkran-Easter break.
As an island with one bridge on and one bridge off, Phuket is considered to be more secure. The island is also a stronghold for the ruling Democrat Party.
It's anticipated that numbers of flights and tourists coming to the island will resume a trajectory to higher levels as soon as the political uncertainty in Bangkok comes to an end.
Phuket, travel industry officials say, compares favorably as a holiday destination despite the worldwide economic downturn, which has hit other destinations inside and outside Thailand harder.
The island has a new police chief, who started work on April 11, and a new governor, who has been in the job for a month.
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The 14-member board, led by new AoT Chairman Piyapan Jampasud, is set to meet at Phuket International Airport from 1.30pm.
A special flight arrives at 9am Thursday with the media contingent of about 20 on board, travelling with the AoT team.
Activities are expected to include a briefing from Airport Director Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop, who will explain Phuket's appeal to tourists and the five billion baht plan to enlarge the existing airport to cope with traffic increases.
The near-certainty of Phuket being the next site for the important Asean Plus Six summit as soon as June is bound to raise some issues concerning airport security.
Phuket airport was invaded by yellow shirt protesters in a three-day blockade in August last year, a preliminary to their invasion of Bangkok's two major airports in November that led to the change in government.
It was opposition protesters in red shirts, however, who took over the resort in Pattaya where the Asean Plus Six summit was due to be held during the Songkran-Easter break.
As an island with one bridge on and one bridge off, Phuket is considered to be more secure. The island is also a stronghold for the ruling Democrat Party.
It's anticipated that numbers of flights and tourists coming to the island will resume a trajectory to higher levels as soon as the political uncertainty in Bangkok comes to an end.
Phuket, travel industry officials say, compares favorably as a holiday destination despite the worldwide economic downturn, which has hit other destinations inside and outside Thailand harder.
The island has a new police chief, who started work on April 11, and a new governor, who has been in the job for a month.
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