Marut Buranasettkul, chief marketing officer, said the company's revenue would fall over the next one or two months as tourists react to the bombings but that the situation is then expected to return to normal, providing there are no further incidents.

However, CAT expects more revenue from business-

related calls, given that Malaysian businessmen may need to make more phone calls to the South rather than visiting the area.

Long-distance phone calls made in the South, where

a number of major tourist destinations are located,

contribute 20 per cent of CAT's long-distance revenue.

- The Nation.

Rice trade: S Korea to import 34,000 tonnes

South Korea will import 34,400 tonnes of rice next year, 52.6 per cent more than this year, the country's Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said late on Tuesday.

The announcement for bidding will be posted this week with actual sales taking place in 2007, an Agriculture Ministry official told Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency.

According to the ministry, South Korea is expected to import 21,500 tonnes of rice from China, 10,400 tonnes from the United States, 1,500 tonnes from Australia and 1,000 tonnes from Thailand next year.

In a pact signed with nine rice exporting countries in late 2004, Seoul is obliged to import a set amount until 2014. Between 10 and 30 per cent of it must be sold directly to consumers.

Before 2004, local consumers could not purchase imported rice. The nation has so far imported only unpolished rice, that

is used for processed rice products such as drinks and bread.

- The Nation.

Cuisine: World chefs cook up Bangkok meet

The Thai Chefs' Association is hosting the 10th World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) Asia Pacific Forum in Bangkok for the first time.

Chefs from 20 member countries of WACS are expected to attend the event, which runs from October 8-12. The WACS forum is held to give chefs the opportunity to exchange knowledge and will give Thailand the chance to promote its cuisine to the world. - The Nation.