- Some train services between Hua Hin and Bangkok rerouted to new terminal/
- Hua Hin celebrates international charity night/
- Bangkok to move forward with removing street food from its streets/
- Why so many Thais have Chinese ancestry/
- Google identifies three consumer trends for Thailand/
- Thailand to send its first Earth exploration satellite into orbit this year/
- Australia returns 9 ancient Buddha statues to Thailand after 112 years/
- Tourism: Confidence and trust in Thailand damaged by Chinese VIP tourist services/Tourism operators exasperated regarding police scams/Police deny extorting money from Taiwanese actress/TAT expects 5 million Chinese tourists this year/Boutique routes added to tourism market/
- Thailand Experience: Where to travel in Thailand for Valentine’s Day/
- International: Regional CEOs on edge/US says it ‘hacked the hackers’ to bring down ransomware gang/One third of Amazon ‘degraded’ by human activity, drought/Climate tipping points in Amazon, Tibet ‘linked’/
- Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
Some train services between Hua Hin and Bangkok rerouted to new terminal
Some train services between Hua Hin and Bangkok have been rerouted to the new Krung Thep Apiwat Central Terminal.
According to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the change affects all rapid, express and special express trains between Hua Hin and Bangkok.
All ordinary, tourist and freight trains will continue to arrive and depart Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lumphong Station) until further notice. Continued …
Hua Hin celebrates international charity night
Attending the “Amazing Colorful’’ International Charity Night at Market Village on Wednesday was an opportunity to be part of an extravagant display of color, diversity, fashion and beauty, attended by the ‘Who’s Who’ of the Hua Hin community.
Strutting their stuff on the stage were the queens of past and current beauty pageants, but really starring were students from the Stamford International University in sensational costume and high-energy performances. Continued …
Bangkok to move forward with removing street food from its streets
Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt on Wednesday hosted a meeting among officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) regarding the reorganization of hawkers and vending stands in the city areas.
The move aims to tidy up the city by providing suitable spaces for vendors, while prioritizing the safety and ease of travel for pedestrians, said the governor.
He added that BMA will discuss with street vendors to allocate suitable areas that do not block public footpaths. One of the possible solutions is to open vending zones on private properties, he said. Continued …
Why so many Thais have Chinese ancestry
With the Chinese New Year wrapping up, those who venture out onto Thailand’s streets will see just how much the country’s history has been shaped by China.
Modern-day Thai people are thought to have emigrated from China over 1,000 years ago. The Tai ethnicity originally consisted of those who spoke a common Tai language. Those same people migrated from China down through Southeast Asia, with many ending up calling their newly discovered land “home.”
As they initially settled in Thailand’s northern areas, they eventually spread throughout the kingdom, making up the majority of the Thai population today. Continued …
Google identifies three consumer trends for Thailand
Internet giant Google has identified Thailand’s three main consumer trends, based on their web searches in 2022.
The three trends – Thai people cherishing their own identities and lifestyles, paying attention to economic circumstances, and finding ways to create joy – were identified in Google’s “Year in Search 2022–Thailand” report, which shared insights into consumers’ behavior.
“Millions of Thais use Google Search every day to find information they are looking for. We have noticed changes in consumer behaviors as we analyze billions of searches every year to identify key trends,” said Saranee Boonritthongchai, country marketing manager of Google Thailand. Continued …
Thailand to send its first Earth exploration satellite into orbit this year
Thailand plans to launch its first industrial-grade Earth exploration satellite this year, deputy government spokesman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Thursday.
The main satellite, THEOS-2, is the product of joint cooperation between 20 Thai satellite engineers, international organizations specialized in space technology and the Geo-Informatics Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand, she said.
The THEOS-2 satellite weighs about 425kg and is equipped with a high resolution camera. It was designed to be used to explore the Earth, for public disaster management and security. Continued …
Australia returns 9 ancient Buddha statues to Thailand after 112 years
Nine wooden Buddha statues have returned to Thailand after being in Australia for 112 years.
Murray Upton, an Australian man from Canberra, contacted the Royal Thai Embassy that he was in possession of nine ancient Buddha statues from Thailand.
The Australian said he received the Buddha statues from his father. He said they were in his father’s possession since 1911. Continued …
Confidence and trust in Thailand damaged by Chinese VIP tourist services
Despite growing public anger this week prompting statements from Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha and Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, it appears that three police officers involved in providing a VIP service to an incoming Chinese tourist party, including fast-track immigration clearance and a police escort service to Pattaya, will not face serious legal consequences, although they will face disciplinary proceedings.
The scandal has led to a tourism industry chief calling on the government to deal with online advertising in China revealing not only that such services are available at all Thai international airports but that they extend to a range of offerings provided by both public and private sector actors, extending to opening bank accounts, IVF services and other personal services to Chinese visitors.
The tourist boss warned that the situation has resulted in a “tremendous downgrade” of security confidence in Thailand as a destination. The president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Sisadiwat Cheewaratanaporn, said such services continued to be advertised on popular Chinese retail sites this week. Continued …
Tourism operators exasperated regarding police scams
Tourism operators have expressed frustration over repeated scandals involving Thai police, after they were accused of extorting a Taiwanese actress during her trip to the country.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) urged an investigation into the issue to evaluate its impact on the country.
Taiwanese actress Charlene An talked with media about her experience, claiming she was extorted of 27,000 baht by Thai police on Jan. 4. The incident was widely reported by Taiwanese media this week. Continued …
Police deny extorting money from Taiwanese actress
After a Taiwanese actress accused Huai Khwang police of taking a 27,000 baht payoff from her during New Year holiday visit to Bangkok, the seven policemen at a checkpoint where she and her friends were stopped have denied the extortion allegations.
The Instagram posts of actress An Yu-Qing, whose English name is Charlene An, accuses Huai Kwang police of having shaken her down for 27,000 baht the night of Jan. 4, a day before her departure.
She alleged that while going back to her hotel in a taxi with some friends at around 1 a.m., police at a checkpoint stopped them and searched her bag. They asked to see her passport and then, according to her, they said her visa on arrival is not acceptable, only a proper stamped visa. Continued …
TAT expects 5 million Chinese tourists this year
Thailand’s tourism industry has welcomed the news that the Chinese government is allowing the group tour market to resume after a hiatus of almost three years. The Chinese tourists will be able to visit 20 countries, including Thailand, a blessing for the hospitality industry that stands to benefit from the return of a significant increase in these international tourists and the revenue they would bring.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects at least 5 million Chinese tourists to visit Thailand this year. Approximately 11 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand in 2019 before the Covid-19 outbreak, and they generated 531 million baht in tourism income. TAT expects the revenue from Chinese tourists this year to exceed that of the pre-Covid era.
In a reassuring message to the public, the Thai government says Thailand will be able to contain the spread of Covid-19 despite the influx of tourists from China, which is seeing a massive increase in cases following the relaxation of the zero-Covid policy. Continued …
Boutique routes added to tourism market
As China has witnessed rapid social and economic development over the past few decades, more Chinese people are willing to explore tailored traveling routes. Thailand’s tourism sector has sensed the new trends and has started to launch more diversified products.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand head office in Bangkok has worked with the five TAT offices in the People’s Republic of China to offer niche products to Chinese travelers.
“Over the past years, we have tapped the potential segments in China, such as luxury, weddings, honeymoons, and sports tourism,” said Tanes Petsuwan, TAT deputy governor for international marketing, Asia and the South Pacific. Continued …
Where to travel in Thailand for Valentine’s Day
A change of pace can really rejuvenate your soul, and having some company to experience that with you is the cherry on top. Let’s show you a few places in Thailand to travel to for Valentine’s Day.
Sometimes you need a break from all this daily routine. Working nine to five—what a way to make a livin’. It’s only right to treat yourself every once in a while, and what would be a better occasion than Valentine’s Day?
Grab your significant other (or some of your best friends) and embark on a trip you’ll never forget. These places would surely do the trick, and more. Continued …
Regional CEOs on edge
As macroeconomic conditions deteriorate, uncertainty rises and inflation hits levels not seen in decades, chief executives of companies in Asia-Pacific have more to worry about than usual. Continued …
Denmark plans military conscription for women
Denmark plans compulsory military conscription for women, as the country seeks to significantly boost the size of its armed forces. Currently, women can join the military on a voluntary basis, while men generally are required to serve if they are called on under a lottery system, for a duration of four months for most. Continued …
US says it ‘hacked the hackers’ to bring down ransomware gang
The Federal Bureau of Investigation hacked a prolific ransomware gang called Hive to disrupt its operations and rescue its victims, senior U.S. officials said on Thursday. Officials said government hackers broke into Hive’s network and put the gang under surveillance, surreptitiously stealing the digital keys the group used to unlock victim organizations’ data. Continued …
One third of Amazon ‘degraded’ by human activity, drought
More than one-third of the Amazon rainforest may have been degraded by human activity and drought, researchers said Thursday, and action is needed to protect the critically important ecosystem. Continued …
Climate tipping points in Amazon, Tibet ‘linked’
Climate extremes in the Amazon rainforest are directly affecting those in the Tibetan Plateau, scientists said Thursday, warning that the Himalayan region crucial for the water security of millions was close to a potentially disastrous “tipping point”. Continued …
Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule
The VIP bus service schedule from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has been updated. In addition, a new Cha Am boarding location has been added in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.
- Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
- Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm
The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets
