Iranian airline Mahan Air will begin a non-stop service from Tehran to Phuket from December 6.

The British Embassy in Bangkok will consider sending staff to Phuket on a regular basis to conduct “clinics” at which consular services will be offered that are currently not available on the island through Honorary Consul Martin Carpenter MBE.

Phuket is leading the charge as tourist arrivals into Thailand climb out of the 2009 doldrums.

The Indigo Pearl Resort and the Dusit Laguna Resort have both scored awards in the annual “Oscars of the travel world” – the World Travel Awards.

Soccer-playing staff of Mom Tri’s Boathouse hotel get a very special ending to their annual tournament: a visit by Thai national team manager and former Man U hero Bryan Robson.

Phuket has scored a number of useful hits in the sixth Smart Travel Asia poll. The Hong Kong-based online travel magazine (run by writer Vijay “He’s Everywhere” Verghese), asks visitors to rank a variety of business hotels, luxury resorts, spas, destinations, business cities, shopping spots, airlines and airports.

The girls – er, sorry, the women – of the Women’s Willpower Group are at it again, creating a new sexy calendar for charity. Exclusive Phuket Observer pictures.

Laguna Resorts & Hotels (LRH) has held its first function in its new Latitude convention and exhibition facility – a demo for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) industry of what’s possible in the giant tent.

In the blue corner, Absolute Resort Management. In the red corner, the other Absolute, from Bangkok, Absolute Hotel Services.

There can be little doubt that AirAsia has had an effect on the bottom line at Thai Airways International, offering discounts that the Thai flag carrier has not even tried to match. Now Thai has a plan to fight back.