Latest News

Phuket bicycle fans will want to join the ride around Koh Yao Noi island, an event that will raise money in support of the Koh Yao Children’s Community Center in addition to being a great way to explore this picturesque island off Phuket’s east coast.
 
The ride is a gentle 30km cycle around the island including lunch at a beachside restaurant and a stop at the community center. All cyclists are required to make a minimum donation of 2000 baht to join the ride, all of which will be donated to the project.
 
The ride will take place on October 30. To join or for more information contact Amazing Bike Tours via www.amazingbiketourstshailand.asia.

Phuket hipsters hoping to pick up some new or recycled art and fashion items will find it at the Hip & Chic Market at Siam Indigo restaurant in Phuket Town, from 5pm onwards on October 15. A mini fashion show, creative cocktails and tapas and chill-out music will make for a stylish evening out in Old Town.
 
For more information call Siam Indigo on 076 256697.

Young Phuket yachting fans will have the chance to hone their skills in the advanced sailing course being held from October 21-30 at Ao Yon beach. The intensive course, organised by the Phuket Youth Sailing Club, will be led by a national coach from the Royal Thai Navy. In addition to the advanced course, there will be a beginner's course at the same time, free of charge and open to Thai children aged 8-12 living in the area.
 
For more information and to register, visit the site www.phuketyouthsailing.org or call K. Aey (Thai) at 081-373 5447 or Katy (English) at 085-215 9185.

Phuket art lovers will get the chance to peruse, ponder and buy a range of artwork from 30 local artists at the Spin Art Exhibition being held at Brush Restaurant & Beach Bar in Kalim Beach on October 8. All proceeds will go to the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation, a charity that runs children's education programs.
 
For more information call 076 340348 or email info@underwood-phuket.com.

The newly-launched Phang Nga Bay Conservancy organisation is planning
a regular clean-up effort, with the first event set to be held on
October 15. Sponsors and volunteers are welcome to get involved in the
clean-up event focused on the stunning Phang Nga Bay's sea, beaches
and mangroves.
 
An initiative of the International Business Association of Phuket, it
is aimed at being an event that the whole family can join, to "not
only create an awareness of the pollution issues that we face but also
ensure that the next generations also appreciate the importance of
behaving in an environmentally responsible way."
 
For more information, visit the website: www.phangngabayconservancy.org.

Parents wondering what to do in Phuket on their family holiday now
have a fun guide that offers the best things to do and see for the
seven-to-14 year old jet set. Phuket is one of six world travel
destinations selected for the KidsGo! travel guide series. The five
other locations are New York, London, Sydney, Bali and Hong Kong.
 
The guide features maps, attractions information and tips on the local
culture, and there's an interactive website as well for the more
tech-savvy tweens and teens to explore.
 
Find more information on the Phuket KidsGo! guide at
www.kidsgotravelguides.com/phuket. Hard-copy guides are available now,
for HK$80 (320 baht), and ebooks are coming soon.

Bangkok is set to come alive with the 'Oscars' of the travel industry,
the World Travel Awards for Asia & Australasia, being held this
evening (September 28) at the Dusit Thani Bangkok. Regional industry
leaders from India to Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China,
Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand are joining the event in
anticipation of scooping up some accolades.
 
The event comes on the back of news from STR Global data that Thailand
enjoyed the highest growth rates in hotel occupancy for the
Asia-Pacific region last month. Bangkok's occupancy levels rose by
26.7 percent to 65.3 percent, followed by Phuket, with a 25.2-percent
increase to 71.8 percent. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has
revealed that it's aiming to attract 19.5 million international
tourist arrivals by 2012. (Source: breakingtravelnews.com)

Tomorrow marks the start of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, an annual
event honouring the nine Emperor Gods who temporarily inhabit the
bodies of marching mediums during nine days of processions and
activities at Phuket's Chinese shrines. Weird, wild and intense, this
is probably one of the world's most photographed festivals, featuring
parades of men (and some women) with their faces pierced with an array
of implements, or performing daring acts of self-flagellation.
 
This year's festival runs from September 27 to October 5 at various
locations around Phuket, mostly around the Chinese shrines in Phuket
City. Visit www.phuketvegetarian.com to see the full schedule of
events.

Top tourism professionals from across the region are coming together
for a dinner and discussion on Phuket's tourism future. Members from
Skål International Phuket and South Thailand and the Pacific Asia
Travel Association (PATA) Thailand Chapter will meet at the Movenpick
Resort & Spa Karon Beach on September 24, with speakers and
discussions on the topic of how to work together to promote the
destination. Others in the travel industry are welcome to join the
event.
 
Visit www.skalphuket.org or www.pata-thailand.org for reservations and
more information.