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

JETSTAR passengers booked on a Phuket-to-Sydney flight have been stuck on the resort island since Monday because of twin maintenance problems, Australian media outlets reported today.
Flight JQ28 was due to leave Phuket at 9pm (local time) on Monday, but the flight was cancelled, leaving hundreds of passengers to spend the national holiday on Tuesday, Australia Day, stranded far from home.
A report on news.com.au said that the passengers were put up in a hotel on Monday night and told they would leave at 5pm (local time) yesterday.
Then came more maintenance problems, and that flight was also cancelled - after passengers boarded the aircraft. Jetstar again arranged accommodation for them last night.
One disgruntled passenger was quoted as saying: ''I'm not so worried about myself. One lady has to get back for chemo. Some kids are starting school tomorrow. It's a great Australia Day for us.''
theage.com.au reported that Jetstar was sending another A330 to Thailand today to pick up the passengers. ''The other aircraft should be repaired today, but we're not taking any chances,'' a spokesman was quoted as saying.
All passengers are to receive a full refund and travel vouchers worth $600. He said a couple that had a pressing medical issue were found seats on a Thai Airways flight.
Ben Sandilands, aviation writer at crikey.com.au reported that a fault in a de-icing system, followed by a fault in a nose-wheel steering mechanism each required a replacement part that could not be flown in and promptly installed.
(Major ar*se kicking is about to occur in relation to the inventory and supply line arrangements in Jetstar maintenance.)

smh.com.au Air New Zealand will offer the world's first economy class bed-seat on its long haul services from the end of the year. But there is a catch, you will have to share with your neighbor. The ''Skycouch'' combines a row of three seats along the window sides of the aircraft, which can be configured into a bed just wide enough for two people lying on their side.

cnngo.com Most Singaporeans call it the Sentosa Casino but, as we are constantly reminded by the Singapore Government, we should call it the Integrated Resort. After all, this resort is a mix of hotels, a theme park and ahem, the casino. ''$2 please,'' said the gentleman at the admission booth. Yes, I needed to pay to ride my bicycle into Sentosa. east I am not in a car or cab, who have had their surcharges and entrance fees increased. To encourage carpooling, we are told.

enews.mcot.net The Phuket Tourist Association and the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation recently held a road show in Hong Kong aiming to attract more tourists to the Land of Smiles. More than 70 entrepreneurs and Hong Kong media representatives flocked to the Table Top Sale fair in Hong Kong, where Thai tourist services were on offer. According to the Phuket Tourist Association, the number of Hong Kong residents visiting the province increases every year. In 2009, Phuket welcomed around 100,000 Hong Kong tourists, with the last quarter alone seeing over 40,000 visitors.

reuters El Bulli, the Spanish restaurant repeatedly crowned the world's best, will temporarily close in 2012 and 2013, its famed chef Ferran Adria announced. ''No meals will be served in El Bulli in 2012 and 2013,'' he told a news conference at Madrid Fusion, the annual international culinary conference focussing on the cutting-edge in haute cuisine. ''I need time to decide how 2014 is going to be... I know that when I return it will not be the same.''

asiaone.com The framework for the five-year 2011-15 strategic plan, which aims to promote Southeast Asia as a one-stop tourism destination, has been endorsed by ministers and senior government officials from Asean member countries at the Asean Tourism Forum Ministerial Meeting in Brunei. Sasithara Pichaichannarong, Permanent Secretary at Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sport, said: ''We know that tourism and transport (go) together, for railway tourism, for the cruise tourism, for the road access and even the open-skies connectivity.''

jakartapost.com Letter from Evan Jones: Indonesia's tourism potential is handicapped by a serious lack of talent and imagination both at a government administration level and from within the industry, both of which, like Indonesia itself, tends to be defensive and inward-looking. I suggest that the industry is in such bad shape that the government should ask Malaysia, Thailand and Australia to lend some qualified policy makers to help get Indonesia's tourism back on it feet.

bangkokpost.com Amari Estate Co plans to increase prices by 5-10 percent at its mixed-use Amari Residences in Hua Hin, a flagship property and business model that the company intends to use for other projects, in the first quarter of this year. One-quarter of the 201 units at Amari Residences were sold in the first 45 days of presales. Chief executive officer Yuthachai Charanachitta said the price increase would be in line with market conditions and demand.

independent.co.uk In some Central and West African countries, poaching is now pushing elephant populations to extinction. Chad is thought to have only a few hundred elephants and Senegal and Liberia may have fewer than 10; Sierra Leone's last elephants were wiped out by poachers in November. Reports suggest that at least 15 tonnes of African ivory tusks and pieces - the equivalent of up to 1,500 elephants - were seized in, or en route to, Asia in the past year.



January 27 Opening of @Beach Food Loft at Ocean Plaza Patong, a rooftop food court with views across beach road to the foreshore and sea. Seats 160, said to offer reasonable prices, something rare for Patong.

January 29 Former Phuket Brewery dining-entertainment venue opposite Tesco-Lotus to reopen as Lang Lao Sang Chan (Whisky and Moonlight.)

January 30 Splash Jungle, Phuket's first theme park across 14 rai with slides to suit everyone, opens at West Sands Residences and Resort, Mai Khao.

January 31-February 4 Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other warships anchor off Phuket for shore leave.

February 2 Welcome by the Phuket Navy League for senior officers and crew from US vessels. 7pm-9pm, BBQ Hut Smokehouse, Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong (opposite the Mercure). Cost is 200 baht for members and 400 baht for visitors. E: info@navyleaguephuket.org

February 3-7 Phang Nga Bay Regatta. More than 60 yachts are expected to enter in six classes. More information: http://www.bayregatta.com

February 7 Wichit Municipality mini-marathon over 4.5 kilometres and 10.5 kilometres. For more information call 076-525100 or 080-6481363.

February 25-28 Phuket Gay Festival in Patong.

February 26-27 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival 2010 at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Karon.

April 9-13 Phuket Bike Week, including tattoo competitions, island rides and the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest.

May31-June 5 Eight-nation football tournament for players over 55 at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City. Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, Iran, Armenia competing.

May Date to be finalised for Muay Thai kickboxing competition at Laguna Phuket.

June 4-13 Phuket International Film Festival.