THAILAND MIGHT MOVE SUMMIT TO PATTAYA

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, March 11 (Bernama) -- Thailand is facing logistics problem in
finalising its venue for the 16-country East Asian Summit next month, with
the possibility of the event being moved from Phuket to Pattaya.

The proposed dates of April 10 to 12 coincide with the beginning of the long
Songkran holiday period where most of the hotels and flights tickets are
usually fully booked throughout the country.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who chaired the 14th Asean Summit in Hua
Hin from Feb 27 to March 1, confirmed Wednesday that the government was
considering changing the venue due to problem of getting enough accommodation
and air tickets.

"We are having some problem because of lack of hotel rooms and travelling
arrangement in Phuket. Our officials are checking other venues at the moment,
and we hope to finalise it within one or two days," he told reporters here.

Asked if Pattaya, which is about 170km from Bangkok, is the preferred choice
now, Abhisit said it was one of the destinations being considered as many hotels
were available there and travelling would not pose much problem.

If Pattaya is picked, the event is likely to be held at the Pattaya
Exhibition And Convention Hall (Peach).

Abhisit said Bangkok was not being considered as well, due to the
difficulty
in getting hotel rooms during the period.

Next month's meeting consists of the Asean+3 (China, Japan and South Korea)
and Asean+6 (Australia, India and New Zealand).

Bangkok was originally supposed to hold the 14th Summit and related meetings
with the dialogue partners last December, but months of anti-government street
protests here forced it to be shifted to Chiang Mai.

However, the collapse of the Somchai Wongsawat's government and the airport
closure by anti-government supporters again forced the event to be postponed.

Abhisit, who came into power in mid-December, then picked Hua Hin to avoid
confrontation with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's supporters, but
the +3 and +6 meetings were not included as Chinese leaders were busy with
their domestic programmes.

Abhisit said the change in venue would not pose any problem for visiting
leaders as they had agreed to the date only, while the venue would be picked by
Thailand.

-- BERNAMA