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Some fantastic local food and entertainment is on offer at the annual Phuket Red Cross Fair in Saphan Hin park in Phuket Town, which had its official opening today. Phuket people flock to the fair every year to vie for one of the big prizes on offer. Visitors are welcome to come, too, for the chance to see a lively Thai-style festival and enjoy some great tastes on the cheap.
 
The Red Cross fair is on every evening until January 5.

Travellers around Thailand and the Southeast Asia region are expected to enjoy more choices and convenience in flying next year. Bangkok Airways, the main airline serving Koh Samui and a popular choice for domestic flyers in Thailand, is looking to expand to Phuket’s neighbour Krabi and Mandalay in Myanmar, a fast-growing tourism destination.
 
The airline is hoping to gain regulatory approval for a new Bangkok-Krabi route in April and four flights a week from Bangkok-Mandalay in September. If more flights are allowed from its Samui airport hub, then the airline will also boost its Koh Samui-Phuket and Bangkok-Chiang Mai routes to six flights a day and its Koh Samui-Chiang Mai service to seven flights a day.
 
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/328058/bangkok-airways-adding-two-routes

We hope Santa’s been kind to you this year, whether you’ve been naughty or nice. Mr Claus has been a busy man for the last 24 hours. Though he usually arrives in the dark of night while children are dreaming of sugar plums and fairy-light trees, some cameras around the world captured Santa’s global adventures. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/photos/3535/#igImgId_59042
 
Phuket is enjoying a beautiful sunny Christmas Day. Time for some eggnog and a festive dip at the beach!

The whole island of Phuket is ready to celebrate the New Year including Phuket Town, which will be host to three days of lights and entertainment for the Colourful Countdown 2013 party from December 29-31 at Sanam Chai near Phuket City Hall.
 
Visitors will enjoy concerts, singing contests and local food on sale each night, plus a colourful “Light Wonderland” display. Admission is free for all three nights.

Bangkok continues its reign as a top city destination for world travellers, a recent poll by TripAdvisor reveals. Bangkok was named second overall for shopping, just behind New York City, and third overall in the value for money category behind Lisbon and Budapest.
 
Asian cities ranked highly across many categories, with Tokyo and Singapore among the top global city destinations overall.
 
http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_news.php?id=6574&a=4

Thailand’s most historic, sacred and cool sites will soon be ready for exploration via smartphones and tablets with the help of Google, TripAdvisor and Zizzle. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is teaming up with the influential websites to bring attractions such as Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi and the Ban Chiang archaeological site in Udon Thani in to sharper focus online with Google Maps and other platforms.
 
The move is expected to help promote Thailand attractions to the growing segment of free independent travellers (FITs), who tend to plan their trips through online searches and review websites.
 
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism/326080/tat-targets-independent-travellers-via-web-trio

Just in time before making those New Year’s resolutions for a more fabulous life, the Phuket Smart Property & Lifestyle expo is set to run from December 27 to 30 at the Royal Phuket Marina. The exhibition will feature a host of cool things to see, do and buy including specially-priced helicopter tours, top luxury properties, supercars, wine and rum tastings and parties.
 
Entry is free. Find more information at http://www.smartexpos.com/smartexpo2012/hktdec/why_visit.htm

Patong Beach is a fascinating spectacle any day of the year, but Phuket's biggest resort town will have some added glitz and colour for five days during its annual Patong Carnival from December 15 to 20.
 
The event will feature nightly music performances on stages set up on Soi Bangla and the football field, plus a diving cleanup day in the bay on December 16. The Carnival kicks off with a parade starting at 5pm on the 15th.

Those looking to have a head start on their Christmas shopping will want to stop in at Laguna Grove in Cherng Talay, when it hosts a Christmas Market Fair on December 8. Support artist, crafters, jewellers and other businesses as well as get some festive shopping done including Christmas decorations.
 
Entry is free and tables are available for 500 baht for those who have items to sell. Contact Mei on 080 7086351 or gsphuketinfo@gmail.com for further details.