Tourism

*** UPDATE MAR 09: ***
BREAKING NEWS.....Child beggars back with a vengeance： SHABBY children selling flower garlands in tourist areas are back, it has been reported.
******************************

Notes from the Samui Express (local English language newspaper for Koh Samui, tourist ghetto extraordinaire), January Edition:

*** Oil exploration bid off Koh Tao (Island next to Koh Samui) nixed. This was Soco Exploration.

*** Firms join hands to stir tourism: discounts of 30-50% on Samui, Phuket (nearby tourist island), Krabi for high season (Dec-Feb). 500 members of the Thai Hotels Association offer 2 nights for 1. I checked out this "special offer" - turns out to be not that special. Available on a single Tuesday, need to book well in advance etc.

*** Fewer tourists turn up at last Full Moon Party (hippy shroom-fest sterilised into just another beach party). 30-40% fewer. Normally 40,000 tourists in Koh Phangan for the FMP (wow! didn't seem so much when I was there a few yrs ago). 50% decline in local tourist arrivals. Normally Koh Phangan earns 600M Bhat, over the period, implying GBP250/tourist.

*** Boat explodes in Bang Rak

*** Fisher drowns at Laemset Beach

*** Tourists collar four bisexual beach thieves in Phangan

*** String of gold robberies in Surat

*** 5M Baht marijuana seized in Chumphon