Thailand - Visitors welcome around the south

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VISITORS WELCOME AROUND THE SOUTH

Compiled by HORIZONS STAFF

It is an ill wave that does no good. Beaches around the South are
reportedly cleaner than ever.
The scenes of ravaged tourist areas on the west coast of the Thai
Southy have shocked the world. But the area is recovering quickly, and
many parts of the Andaman coast were hardly affected at all. If you
have guts, the folks in the South would love to see you. Here is a
guide with the details if where to go in the aftermath of the natural
catastrophe.

PHUKET

Most of the island is still fine for a holiday, and capable of
accommodating tourists. That includes, especially, the eastern side of
the island.

Phuket has a total of 33,587 rooms but 17,847 rooms or 53.14% were not
affected in any way by the disaster.

All of the following areas are fully ready to welcome tourists: Ao
Maya, Thap Kaek Beach, Pan Wa Cape, Ko Sire, Ao Chalong, Laem Ka, Nai
Han Beach, Rawai Beach, Ao Len, Ko Loan, Ko Bon, Ko Racha Noi, Maiton
Beach, Ko Taphao Yai, Ko Maphrao, Ko Rangyai, Kalim Beach, Surin Beach,
Nai Thon Beach, Bang Thao Beach, Sai Kaew Beach, Mai Khao Beach.

Eastern side of the island:

Cape Panwa and The Bay, located on sheltered position on the eastern
coast of Phuket, were totallay spared the onslaught of the waves. They
are running business as usual.

Western side of the island:

Patong Beach: Much of the area, perhaps most, is open as usual.

Club Andaman was damaged but rapid renovation is under way. One of the
pools is open and serves the guests normally while another is likely to
be open shortly.

In the meantime, cottages are being refurbished and should be ready by
Feb 1. The resort is running 38 cottages (Andaman Cottages) out of 52.
The plan is for the other 14 to be rebuilt as beachfront gardens.



The Amari Coral Beach Resort received some damage in the tsunami and
will be closed until April 1.

Bura Sari is to reopen tomorrow.

The Mangosteen Resort at Patong Beach, like many other hotels in Phuket
was not damaged by the tsunami. Beaches have been cleaned up, people
are swimming, and restaurants, shops, malls, cinemas and bars are open.

Kata Beach: Kata Thani Beach is now functioning normally; restaurants
and spa are all open, gardens are unaffected and the swimming pools
have been cleaned up are now open. The Kata Noi beach is as beautiful
as ever, and the surrounding areas to the hotel are functioning
normally.

Bang Thao Beach: Laguna Phuket was spared serious damagem because it
was protected from a direct hit by the headland to its south.
Nevertheless, a wave surge swept the beaches and inundated the ground
floor rooms and some of the resort's restaurants.

Casualties were light and damage to property is being repaired. The
beaches and lagoons are clear of debris and back in operation.

Of the five hotels at Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket and Allamanda
Laguna Phuket were unscathed apart from damage to a small beach
restaurant operated by Banyan Tree. The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
has six rooms still out of order, and Laguna Beach Resort 14. The Dusit
Laguna Resort suffered the worst and is repairing the 30 beachfront
rooms which were flooded by the tsunami.

Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort and Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach and Spa
Resort were substantially affected by this tragedy and Resort and Le
Meridien Khao Lak Beach and Spa Resort anticipate re-opening no earlier
than April 1 and some time in November, respectively. Current
reservations from the two hotels have been redirected to Le Royal
Meridien Phuket Yacht Club or other hotels.

Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club on Nai Han Beach sustained no
damage and the property is fully operational.

Its sister hotels across the region reported no injuries or damage _ Le
Royal Meridien Baan Taling Ngam, Ko Samui, Le Meridien Nirwana Golf and
Spa Resort Bali, Le Meridien Fisherman's Cove Seychelles and Le
Meridien Ile Maurice Mauritius. Le Meridien properties in India were
not affected.

Up-to-date information on the status of Meridien hotels will be posted
on www.lemeridien.com

Nai Thorn Beach: Trisala Resort hotel facilities suffered only minor
damage to the main beach pool as sea water washed in. Some beachside
sundeck lounges washed away, and decorative jars were broken. There was
no structural damage to the main facilities and the pool villas were
out of reach of the waves. Restaurants, bar, and kitchen were all
unaffected. The staff is cleaning up the beach area and the main beach
pool will be operational shortly.

Layan Beach Phuket Aprime Resort, located on Layan Beach, is not
damaged and operating normally.

PHANGNGA

Islands in Phanggna Bay were not damaged, and the following survived
well: the water-floating Panyi Village, Ko Yao Noi, Ko Yao Yai, Ko
Khai, Tham Lot, Ko Hong, Ko Phanak, Ko Lawa Yai. In the province, there
are 1,023 rooms available out of the pre-tsunami 6,369.

KRABI

Ao Nang has recovered very quickly. Coming back are Ko Lanta Yai, Ko
Rok, Ao Nam Mao, Ko Yoong, Ko Phai, Ha islets, Nopparat Thara Beach and
Ko Poda.

Some bungalows at Lo Ba Kao Bay can accommodate visitors. At the
moment, more than 170 resorts with 5,800 rooms are operating. Many
resorts on the hill at Ao Nang and in the area of Nopporat Thara were
not affected.

Sheraton Krabi is open as normal; so are its other properties _
Sheraton Grande Laguna and Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort, Malaysia. At
the Phuket Sheraton property, one of eight restaurants is closed. At
Langkawi, the beach has been cleaned up and back to normal. One of six
restaurants is closed for renovation. The Sheraton Perdana Resort in
Langkawi is also in operation.

The Tubkaak, Thabkhaek Beach of Krabi is fine. Thanks to its remote
location behind the cave, the waves just flooded the grass lawn
briefly. Guests can enjoy excursions to Ko Hong nearby, as before.

The Cliff, Ao Nang, Krabi, like most resorts in the area, is high on
the hill, and safe and sound. Some resorts at the seaside were
inundated.

Ko Lanta: Pimalai Resort, Ko Lanta, Krabi, is in a very good shape.
Like most businesses on the island and on Krabi mainland, the resort
was lucky and damage was minimal. The slight damage has no affect on
operations.

TRANG

All accommodations totalling 1,125 rooms in Trang provincial town are
unaffected. There are 42 rooms available on Ko Sukhon, and 105 rooms on
Koh Mook. Amari Trang on Changlang Beach, part of Chao Mai National
Park, is open as usual.

Ko Ngai: Coco Cottage, Ko Ngai, off Trang, was unaffected.

All 12 marine national parks are closed until further notice. For
details, call National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department
at 02-2562 0760. These parks are Laem Son in Ranong, Ko Payam in
Ranong, Ko Surin in Phangnga, Ko Payam off Ranong, Ko Similan in
Phangnga, Khao Lak-Lamru in Phangnga, Sirinat in Phuket, Nopparat
Thara-Ko Phi Phi in Krabi, Ko Lanta in Krabi, Ko Phetra in Satun, Hat
Chao Mai in Trang, Tarutao in Satun.
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