HAZED AND CONFUSED Singapore Exodus

Over the past few days as Singapore has been enveloped in a massive haze from nearby Indonesia, local residents are increasingly worried about rising health hazards.
Speaking to hoteliers in both Phuket and Bali today there is a noted rise in bookings this weekend from Singapore visitors.
Welcome to the world of haze refugees, who gladly prefer bearing the risk of rain in Phuket to the pollution of Singapore.
Meanwhile the toll on Singapore's tourism economy due to the global attention which is focused on the state of current affairs appears to be considerable.
Experts are saying the effects may linger for weeks and harken back memories to the big Asian haze in 1997 and 1998.
Clearly the lessons of the time on the dangers of slash and burn fires have not been learned.
Thailand has its own rising levels of haze in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, where similar burning is creating health concerns.