THE NEWS is better day by day for Northern Ireland and UK travellers planning on visiting Tsunami-hit Thailand in the months ahead. Thailand is particularly popular with younger travellers, and honeymooners, many of them from the Province, and the latest news is that services and facilities in most areas of the country affected by the Tsunami, including Phuket, are now operating normally.

However, on the coast of Khao Lak and on Phi Phi island, many houses, shops, Hotels and tourist accommodation have been destroyed although some resorts are now open. The Foreign Office warns: "Although most services have been repaired some may still not be back to pre-Tsunami standards.

"If you are planning to visit any of these places, you should first check with your travel and accommodation agents to ensure that it is safe and practical to do so."

Perhaprs surprisingly, the Foreign Office warns that there is a high threat from terrorism throughout Thailand, particularly in the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla.

"We recommend against all but essential travel to these four provinces where, since January 2004, there have been regular attacks including bombings and shootings. On April 3, 2005, three bombs exploded in Songkhla Province, one at Hat Yai International Airport, one at a hotel and one in a shopping centre. Further attacks against places frequented by foreigners could occur at any time."

Turning to Tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka, the Foreign Office says that many hotels and other tourist accommodation in the south and south-west have been repaired quickly and have reopened, although others remain closed. Most hotels on the east coast in Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Arugam Bay suffered major damage and remain closed.

"We advise anyone planning to travel to areas affected by the Tsunami to check with their tour operators and/or hotel before departing to ensure that the hotel is operating. "There has not been a large-scale outbreak of disease in affected areas. If you do, however, intend to visit affected areas, you should ensure that your inoculations are up to date and be particularly careful to drink only bottled or purified water as local water sources may be contaminated. For further information, check the Department of Health's website at:

www.dh.gov.uk .

"Visitors are able to travel as normal to parts of Sri Lanka unaffected by the tsunami, including Colombo."