Phuket Villas & Homes News

Phuket Villas & Homes News Copyright (c) 2007 - 2009 Phuket Villas & Homes. All rights reserved. http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/ Phuket Villas & Homes News and Press Release en-us Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:16:41 EST The Flight to Asia Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:18:30 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1514.html The Flight to Asia By Tina Hsiao With rising global oil prices, a continuing uncertain economic landscape in the west, and increased purchasing power in the east, airlines in the Asia Pacific are looking to cash in on intra-regional travels in the coming years. According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer released in January 2012, global tourism arrival numbers reached 980 million in 2011, a 4.4% increase from the year before. The record tourism highs were reached despite a chall... Island Intelligence Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:41:32 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1509.html Island Intelligence Building a reliable infrastructure is an essential ingredient for success on popular tourist islands like Koh Samui in Thailand By Jules Kay Supporting a fast growing tourist destination with essential infrastructure projects is no easy task. In many of the world's island resorts, business drives development at a much faster pace than public funded projects can match, often leading to a disparity between the level of services and facilities of... Face Value on Facebook Wed, 8 Feb 2012 04:12:25 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1503.html Face Value on Facebook By Jules Kay As Facebook goes public with a stock value that's estimated to be worth between $75 billion and $100 billion, the world's largest social networking site boasts 845 million active users worldwide and ranks as the top provider of graphical online display ads in the United States, accounting for roughly 28 percent of the total "impressions" of such ads last year. Such astronomical numbers may impress stock brokers, potential s... Thailand sailing ahead in 2012 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:10:31 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1502.html Thailand sailing ahead in 2012 By Jules Kay A New Year means a new schedule of sailing events across the Asia region and Thailand, as always, is one of the principle locations for the on water action. With fine tropical waters on both sides of the Thai peninsular the regattas run throughout the year, attracting world class boats and crew from around the globe to compete and enjoy the legendary onshore hospitality that has become synonymous with the best yachti... Sweet Samui Valentine Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:16:02 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1488.html Sweet Samui Valentine By Jules Kay Valentine's day is the perfect time to appreciate the delights of tropical island life with your loved one and visitors to Koh Samui enjoy a wealth of options when it comes to a romantic outing or blissful break. With a little planning, love birds of all ages can make the most of Samui's indulgent attractions, whether looking for the ultimate private escape or a fun-filled couple's night out. The island offers so many choices that a single day i... Thailand's Year of the Dragon Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:33:04 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1481.html Thailand's Year of the Dragon By Jules Kay With floods and political upheaval now hopefully a thing of the past, Thailand is looking forward to a positive year. In the Thai lunar calendar, 2012 is actually 2555, and as the number five in the Thai language is "HA", the famous Thai smile is at last returning with a vengeance, inspired by a new catchphrase: "Ha, Ha, Ha". The New Year countdown to 2012 was a spectacular affair, both in Bangkok and in the ... Phuket gears up for action Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:24:32 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1472.html Phuket gears up for action By Jules Kay November is the official start of the high season on Phuket and this year the island will be welcoming visitors from all over the world with a full schedule of events and some the most appealing holiday choices on offer in the South East Asia region. In the last few years, Phuket has enjoyed an impressive revival as a one of the world's top tourist destinations with international arrivals forecast to top four million in 2011. ... Time for another Thai Miracle Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:34:40 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1463.html Time for another Thai Miracle By Jules Kay With international arrivals at all time highs in all first three quarters of this year, Thailand recently endured its worst flood in living history. The heart of the country, Bangkok, took a serious tourism hit as the international media broadcast images of widespread inundation. One of the national projects put on hold due to the floods was the "Miracle Thailand" tourism campaign, originally slated to launch in N... Loy Kratong - a pertinent Thai festival Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:57:41 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1455.html Loy Kratong - a pertinent Thai festival By Jules Kay When the moon fills out in the twelfth lunar month of every year, Thais take to the waterways nationwide to "loy" (float) their "kratong" (banana leaf vessel laden with flowers, incense and candals). Although Thais and especially Bangkokians, celebrate the likes of Halloween and Christmas, Loy Kratong is a festival that remains observed in a genteel way that celebrates the more traditional Thai way of life.... Help floods out in Thailand Sun, 16 Oct 2011 03:58:09 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1448.html Help floods out in Thailand By Jules Kay Heavy rains in Thailand caused extreme flooding in many parts of the country this month, in what has become the nation's most expensive natural disaster. The country's finance minister put the cost of damage at $3.9 billion and with more than 10% of the country's rice farms destroyed, the economic impact of the flooding is set to last far longer than the high waters. Yet despite the economic impact of the flooding, the disaste... Jason Mraz to play Thailand Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:28:19 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1440.html Jason Mraz to play Thailand By Jules Kay With Thailand firmly established as one of the world's top holiday destinations, the kingdom is also an increasingly popular choice for some of the world's top bands and music stars. Until quite recently, the biggest selling acts tended to favour Singapore as the main Southeast Asian stop when they planned their world tours, but in the last few years the Bangkok gig list has grown to include everyone from rock legends The Eagles to crossov... Adding an 'i' to Hospitality Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:19:35 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1432.html Adding an 'i' to Hospitality By Jules Kay Steve Jobs may have left the house, but the iRevolution he led has satisfied hungry consumers with innovative products no one knew they were missing until they watched his legendary Apple presentations. In particular, the scrambling popularity for the versatility of the iPad has changed the way business is conducted across the board, from banking to health services, construction to charity. The game changer of the computing world has also... Dropping anchor on Phuket Tue, 2 Aug 2011 23:39:53 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1423.html <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexS... Capital culture in Bangkok Tue, 2 Aug 2011 03:08:18 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1415.html <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexS... Phuket for Foodies Tue, 2 Aug 2011 02:10:33 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1407.html <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexS... AirAsia: Spinning a World Wide Web Wed, 6 Jul 2011 21:59:52 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1400.html AirAsia: Spinning a World Wide Web By Tina Hsiao & Jules Kay AirAsia stole the headlines at the biennial Paris Air Show held in June, inking the largest ever order of Airbus' A320 aircraft, a deal worth US$ 18.2 billion. The move reflects the strength in the region's tourism industry. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)'s recently released figures, 2010 saw an 12.7% y-o-y increase of international tourist arrivals to Asia and the Pacif... Adventure Racing returns to Koh Samui Mon, 4 Jul 2011 02:03:58 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1392.html <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexS... A Healthy Thai Hangover Mon, 4 Jul 2011 01:41:41 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1384.html A Healthy Thai Hangover By Jules Kay The blockbuster bachelor party movie of the year, Hangover Part II, may have received mixed reviews in Thailand for its focus on the seedy side of Bangkok, but the benefits in terms of tourism may far outweigh any negative images portrayed in some of the scenes. According to a report published in The Hollywood Reporter, by June 20, 2011, "The Hangover Part II" had achieved $488.7 million in worldwide box office receipts, making it th... Phuket swings to success Sat, 14 May 2011 04:44:48 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1375.html <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexS... Glamorous Asian Yachting Finale Sat, 14 May 2011 02:42:06 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1367.html Glamorous Asian Yachting Finale by Jules Kay Phuket has long been well known as a major yachting destination. As the host of The Phuket King's Cup Regatta every December, Asia's biggest and most popular regatta, the island attracts boats from around the globe year round. Other high profile sailing events on Phuket include the Phang Nga Bay Regatta, always held over the Chinese New Year in January or February and Six Senses Phuket Raceweek in July, considered by many sailors a... You Cash Following money down the You Tube Wed, 11 May 2011 00:11:34 EDT http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1359.html You Cash Following money down the You Tube By Tina Hsiao Ever since the first video was uploaded on April 23, 2005, YouTube.com has grown into the world's largest online video portal boasting hundred of millions of users. Founded in 2005 by three ex-PayPal employees, the startup's potential was recognized and the firm was consequently bought by Google Inc. for a whopping USD 1.65 billion the following year. Over 35 hours worth of video content are uploaded onto the site... Phuket bounces back Fri, 4 Mar 2011 22:37:29 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1351.html <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexS... The spiritual side of Thai New Year Fri, 4 Mar 2011 03:52:25 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1343.html The spiritual side of Thai New Year Well known as one of Asia's most fascinating spectacles, Songkran, the official Thai New Year festival in April has come to be seen by many foreign visitors as the world's biggest water fight. Yet despite the famous wet revelry, Songkran is still a deeply spiritual celebration for most Thai people and the ceremonies and rituals that surround the festival offer a fascinating insight into one of the world's most unique cultures. Visitors tr... Pooling resources on Phuket Wed, 2 Mar 2011 21:50:51 EST http://www.phuketvillasandhomes.com/news/news_1335.html <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexS...