Direct Phuket-Hat Yai flights mulled to boost

BANGKOK: -- Talks on establishing direct flights between Thailand's southern resort of Phuket and Hat Yai district, known as a shopping paradise for tourists, especially visitors from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, were planned to take place Tuesday with an aim to boost tourism and businesses in the region.

Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said he planned to discuss with Transport Minister Admiral Thira Haocharoen later Tuesday on ways to schedule direct flights between the two destinations, following requests by several hoteliers in Phuket.

Despite a recent series of violence, tourists are still visiting Hat Yai and nearby provinces, Mr. Suvit said.

Violence has rocked Hat Yai, near the Thai-Malaysian border, during the past three years with the latest incident occurring on September 16 when six bombs believed to be planted by southern insurgents exploded and killed five people, including a Canadian schoolteacher, and wounding more than 80 persons that night.

--TNA 2006-11-14

BANGKOK: -- Talks on establishing direct flights between Thailand's southern resort of Phuket and Hat Yai district,...

Pedantic, but that should read re-establishing the Phuket-Hat Yai route. THAI used to fly this daily a few years back but stopped (one would presume from a lack of traffic).