Pop star Ronan Keating wrapped up a two-day swing through tsunami-ravaged southern Thailand last Sunday, expressing sorrow over the devastation but hailing local people for their optimism and efforts to quickly rebuild after the disaster. 

Keating, formerly of the Irish pop group Boyzone, visited the area to tape a performance on the resort island of Phuket that will be shown during a concert next month sponsored by MTV to support tsunami relief work. The trip was also intended to boost tourism.