Patong Hair Contest Takes Flight With Airline Back

[george]

Patong hair contest takes flight with airline backing

PHUKET: -- Thailand’s low-cost airline Air Asia yesterday spread its wings into the field of hairdressing by hosting the Thai Air Asia Hair Design 2005 contest on Phuket’s Patong Beach.

Held in conjunction with the Patong municipal authorities, the beachfront contest attracted the attention of a large number of actors, singers and foreign journalists.

Patong Mayor Pien Keesin described last night’s contest as confirmation that the Phuket tourism sector was ready to welcome tourists after the December tsunami.

Although hotel occupancy rates have climbed up since the tidal waves struck on 26 December to stand at 40 percent, they are still nowhere near pre-tsunami levels.

Attended by large numbers of foreign tourists, the contest included hair design shows and nail painting competitions.

--TNAa 2005-05-05