Category Archives: solar

hua hin, marijuana, pattaya, solar, thai economy, thai environment, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Friday’s news-Sept 8

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Today’s news: Road to Give charity run/PM Srettha asks to meet Biden/No closure of Facebook/Tree-clinging locals saved in flood/2-baht tax cut to fuel price/EGAT to boost renewable energyTree-planting carbon credit project/Initiatives to push green growth/Electric vehicle producers upbeat/New capital of cannabis tourism?/Focus on environmental protection/Fire at Pattaya Floating Market/Chonburi beach again fouledPattaya’s untidy shoreline/Expansion of Loei Airport/Traveler labeled ‘privileged/Fish sauce: Villain or hero?/El Niño threatens the world’s rice supplies/Pay to enter Venice?/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Road to Give charity run Nov 5

Marriott International is presenting its annual running event with contributions going to “Save the Children”. There will be both 10-kilometer and 5.5-kilometer categories, with a limit of 1,000 runners. There is a 600-baht entrance fee per person.

To register http://www.rtbth.com/road-to-give-hua-hin-2023/; Map https://maps.app.goo.gl/R54XUMsT9EYn3iuv5;for more information: 032-904-666 / 032-708-000 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM), 065-221-1005 / 065-221-1006 (5:00 PM – 12:00 AM).

PM Srettha asks to meet Biden during his US trip for UN General Assembly

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Thursday expressed his wish to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden during his upcoming trip to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Srettha also said that he hoped to welcome President Biden on the American leader’s future trip to Thailand, which he expected to take place soon. The Thai PM is scheduled to attend the 78th session of the UN General Assembly to be held at the UN headquarters from Sept. 18-26. Continued …

New minister rules out closure of Facebook

The new Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Chantararuangthong, has backed off from his predecessor’s threat to end Facebook services in Thailand due to its repeated failures to deal with fraudulent ads.

Prasert said on Thursday that he would instead seek a meeting with Facebook executives to discuss Thailand’s concerns on the matter. He explained that there were as many as 45 million Facebook accounts in Thailand and most Thai users benefit from decent use of the social media platform. Continued …

Kalasin’s disaster team saves tree-clinging locals in NE Thailand

Kalasin’s Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office swiftly came to the aid of locals trapped by flash floods, stuck to trees for up to 14 hours in northeastern Thailand.

The local government, led by Thanaset Chaisongkramthanatat, the mayor of Kuchinarai, called on officials to stay alert and assist affected citizens. Ongoing rainfall has already resulted in flash floods across four districts, significantly impacting agricultural areas and submerging roads. Continued …

Government plans 2-baht tax cut to fuel price drop below 30 baht per liter

The Excise Department is preparing a proposal to reduce diesel tax by 2 baht per liter and aiming to lower the retail price of diesel to less than 30 baht per liter, according to the newly formed government.

The proposal is in the pipeline following Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s announcement to slash the retail price of diesel to 30 baht per liter from the current cap of 32 baht per liter. The Excise Department is currently preparing data on diesel tax reduction to present to the Ministry of Finance and the prime minister. Continued …

EGAT aims to boost renewable energy to 30% by 2027

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is moving forward with its Net Zero initiative, aiming to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 30% by 2027, while planting an additional 1 million acres of forests and investing in 8 million tons of carbon capture.

This move comes in response to concerns about trade imbalances and low-priced imported products affecting Thailand’s exports and industries. Continued …

Tree-planting carbon credit project in Khon Kaen a success

The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is collaborating with the “Bank of Trees” community and more than 6,800 other communities to support the BAAC Carbon Credit project.

This project involves the purchase and sale of carbon credits and issues T-VER standard certificates from the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP). The goal is to address business needs in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Continued …

New industry minister promises slew of initiatives to push green growth

New Industry Minister Pimpattra Wichaikul said on Thursday that the government would focus on promoting sustainable industries that are environmentally friendly.

She said discussions would be held with relevant parties on the creation of zero-carbon industries in Thailand. This would be in addition to promoting the use of alternative energy to achieve the goal of becoming a bio-circular economy. Continued …

Electric vehicle producers upbeat on investment

More electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are expected to invest in Thailand, although the latest EV incentive package is believed to be less attractive than its predecessor, says the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT).

The existing package of incentives, including tax cuts and subsidies granted to car manufacturers and importers, ranging from 70,000 baht to 150,000 baht per unit, is meant to promote EV consumption and production between 2022 and 2023. Continued …

As Amsterdam bows out, what will be the new capital of cannabis tourism?

Amsterdam has dominated cannabis tourism for 40 years, but now it’s stepping back from this multibillion-dollar industry, creating opportunities for emerging marijuana destinations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. New rules in the Dutch city’s central tourist area limit alcohol sales, require bars to close earlier, and impose a €100 ($107) fine for public marijuana smoking.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has told media that marijuana tourism is a blight on the city, fostering crime and public disorder, and has proposed banning foreigners from its cannabis cafés. Continued …

Focus on environmental protection key to enhancing Thai tourism

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is focusing on ensuring that tourists from around the globe see Thailand in a new light – as a “sustainable destination” that prioritizes environmental protection, TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaiboon said on Thursday.

TAT will focus on educating foreign tourists so that they see that the kingdom’s tourism industry is making strides to align itself with the global trend towards greater sustainability, he said. Continued …

Fire partially destroys popular Pattaya Floating Market

Pattaya’s Floating Market, a popular tourist magnet on Pattaya’s Sukhumvit Road, has been burned to the ground by a fire that broke out last night. Around 1 rai of the 19-rai attraction was totally destroyed in the blaze.

Chon Buri Gov. Thawatchai Srithong says firefighters managed to get the blaze under control at around 10pm. The governor inspected the scene of the blaze later last night, accompanied by Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngamphichet. Continued …

Chonburi beach again fouled by green algae, dead fish

Bang Saen Beach in Chonburi is once again experiencing the plankton bloom phenomenon that has turned the water green and caused a foul odor.

Tourists visiting the beach in the Mueang district were discouraged from going into the water because the color of the sea had turned dark green due to a plankton surge. Continued …

Progress? Pattaya’s untidy shoreline sparks concerns

Jomtien Beach in Pattaya has been a subject of concern recently due to the cluttered state of its local fishing section. The area, specifically near the Chaiyapreuk intersection, has been criticized by citizens for being untidy and disorganized, potentially harming the city’s tourism image. This area serves as a docking and temporary seafood market spot for local fishermen.

Locals have voiced their concerns about the mess created by scattered fishing equipment and personal belongings, which they believe is not only unsightly but also contradicts Pattaya’s commitment to beach cleanliness for the enjoyment of both residents and tourists. Continued …

Plans for expansion of Loei Airport drawn up

The Chamber of Commerce is preparing to present plans for expanding and improving the airport in Loei province to the government, hoping to enhance connectivity for tourism in the northeastern provinces.

This initiative follows a similar plan launched during former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s time in office, when he and his cabinet visited Loei and held a mobile cabinet meeting in Phetchabun province. The cabinet approved the development of Loei Airport to increase its capacity and standards to accommodate the growing number of tourists, allocating a budget of 987.8 million baht for the project. Continued …

Blogger labeled ‘privileged’ for telling people to ‘just book a flight’ to Thailand

A travel blogger has been slammed for being “out of touch” after telling people to just “book a flight” to Thailand amid the cost-of-living crisis sweeping the globe.

‘What are y’all doing in America?’ Kat Crittenden asked, showing off the tranquil blue waters the country is famous for. ‘This could be five o’clock on a Thursday night for you if you just book a freaking flight,’ she added with a smile. She then jumped out of the water grinning. Continued …

Fish sauce: Villain or hero?

Nam pla, or fish sauce, is ubiquitous in Thai gastronomy. Not only is it an indispensable item in local kitchens, but a lifesaver for many Thais traveling overseas.

However, in recent years, the salty condiment has played an unfavorable part in Thailand’s social issues. Continued …

El Niño threatens the world’s rice supplies

Normally by mid-August, Thongpoon Moonchansong’s fields are submerged in still waters, with scattered rice plants reaching up to her knees. The waters are usually so abundant that if you plunge a net into the fields, you can draw out fish and crab to eat. Continued …

Visitors to Venice, Italy, will have to pay an entrance fee starting next year

Tourists planning to visit Venice, Italy, and its historic canals should prepare to pay an extra fee starting in the spring of next year. The city’s officials have committed to a 30-day “experiment” of charging visitors to the city 5 euros to enter on peak days if they’re not staying the night. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490

 

cha am, chiang mai, hospitality, hua hin, immigration, prauchuap khiri khan, real estate, solar, thai economy, thai food, thailand, tourism

Tuesday’s news-Sept 5

Today’s news: Water supply disruptions/Can I drink tap water in Hua Hin?/Hua Hin beach road left in ruins/PKK’s new official dish/Sam Roi Yat boardwalk opens/Thailand’s largest naga statue/Storm affects 54 provinces/Controversy Over Taxi Guidelines/Inflation up 0.88%/New Thai Cabinet prioritizes economic recovery/Government economy plan/Company installs solar power plants/Visa-free plan criminal warning/Visa-free policy welcomed by ATTA/Warning over new hotel regulations/Rainy season travel wish list/In-Flight Frustrations/Thailand’s ultimate beach getaway/Preferred Destination for Remote Work/September events in Prachuap Khiri Khan/Global sugar prices to surgeASEAN in the spotlight/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Can I drink tap water in Hua Hin?

The tap water source for Hua Hin comes from the Pranburi Dam and Phetburi Dam. The water from the dams is treated at water-treatment plants before it is pumped into the tap water distribution system.

There are five water-treatment plants in Hua Hin and they all use a similar process to treat the water. The water is first filtered to remove sediment and other large particles. It is then disinfected with chlorine to kill harmful bacteria and viruses before it enters the tap water distributed in Hua Hin. Continued …

Hua Hin beach road left in ruins by ocean waves, affecting 2,500 households

Intense waves, coupled with rising sea levels, caused severe damage to a cement road along Hua Hin beach in Satun province. The wave damage disrupted the lives of 2,500 households in 10 villages, causing transportation difficulties. Local officials have swiftly initiated an assessment of the damage and marked hazardous areas.

Following the distress signal from local leaders about the powerful sea wave hitting the shore, Jamras Hongsai, the head of the La-ngu subdistrict administrative organization, accompanied by local disaster prevention and mitigation officials, promptly arrived at the scene. The surge, together with the swelling sea water, had led to severe erosion of the cement road leading to the beachside villages. Continued …

Prachuap Khiri Khan has a new official dish – snakehead fish and cattail shoot curry

Prachuap Khiri Khan now has a new official dish, which even some locals are admitting they’ve never heard of.

Last week, the Department of Cultural Promotion announced a new promotional campaign that aimed to officially recognize one dish from each province in Thailand. Continued …

Renovated Sam Roi Yat boardwalk opens

The renovated boardwalk at Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is now open, offering views along a kilometer-long wooden structure over the Thung Sam Roi Yot freshwater marsh. The boardwalk includes seating areas and a viewing tower.

 

Opening of Thailand’s largest naga statue in Cha Am Sept 9

Preparations are underway for the official opening of Thailand’s largest naga, which is located at Wat Tham Cheng in Cha Am.

The opening ceremony for the statue, called Por Pu Phaya Phet Khiri Mahamuni Srisutthonakarat, will take place on Sept. 9 at 17:09. Continued …

Storm affects 54 provinces in Thailand

A powerful storm system is wreaking havoc across 54 provinces in Thailand, with the Meteorological Department issuing a warning today.

The southern region is experiencing the most rainfall, covering 80% of the area. Bangkok is also affected, with residents urged to be vigilant for sudden flooding and forest runoff. Continued …

Controversy Erupts Over Thai Taxi Group’s Guidelines for Female Passengers

The “Thai Taxi Association” recently issued a set of guidelines titled “5 Don’ts for Women in Taxis” aimed at ensuring passenger safety, sparking intense online debate.

The post, originally shared on their Facebook page, listed the following suggestions: Continued …

Inflation up 0.88% in August

Thailand’s headline consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.88% in August from a year earlier, quickening from a 0.38% year-on-year increase in the previous month, the Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday.

The figure compared with a forecast rise of 0.61% for August in a Reuters poll. The core CPI was up 0.79% year-on-year in August. – Bangkok Post

New Thai Cabinet prioritizes economic recovery, property and tourism sectors

The newly confirmed Cabinet, featuring many Pheu Thai Party members, is focusing on economic recovery matters and pledged to reduce energy costs to ease financial burdens.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin engaged with various business sectors but concerns about potential bias make it unlikely that the property sector will receive preferential treatment. Continued …

Government economy plan: Cost-of-living cuts, fuel and electricity price adjustments

The government plans to announce initiatives to reduce living costs and boost the economy in an upcoming Cabinet meeting. Deputy Finance Ministe  Julapun Amornvivat revealed these measures would involve changes to diesel and electricity prices.

A reduction in diesel excise tax is under consideration to lower retail prices at the pump and help the economy. A potential freeze on government debt payments to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is also being discussed. This would ease EGAT’s burden, as it has been subsidizing household electricity rates since September 2021, costing around 135 billion baht. Continued …

Leading Thai fruit drink maker installs solar power plants at factories

Tipco, Thailand’s leading fruit drinks maker, has partnered with GreenYellow, a leading energy turnkey services provider in solar projects. In this partnership, GreenYellow has successfully installed solar power plants at Tipco’s factories, with an installed capacity of 2.77 Mwp.

These solar power plants are invested, installed, and currently operated by GreenYellow, which will contribute to sustainable growth by reducing Tipco’s carbon emissions by 2,028 tons per year. Continued …

Visa-free plan may see more criminal elements entering Thailand

It is accepted, even by police, that a new policy ordered by the incoming Pheu Thai government to offer visa-free access to Chinese visitors from Oct.1 will see more criminal elements from China entering the kingdom.

On Monday, senior officers with the Immigration Bureau flew to China to meet with police and security officials there to help minimize the threat from Oct. 1. Continued … 

Visa-free policy for Chinese tourists welcomed by ATTA

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has expressed a desire to see Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin serve as a tourism ambassador to boost confidence, particularly among Chinese visitors, in Thailand as a safe destination.

This comes in response to social media reports about incidents of kidnapping for ransom and organ trafficking, which have raised concerns among Chinese travelers. Continued …

Warning over new hotel regulations

New ministerial regulations allowing places of accommodation with no more than eight rooms and 30 guests to be excluded from the hotel business would lead to a 15%-20% loss of tourism revenue and an increase in safety risks, according to the Thai Hotels Assn. (THA). Continued …

Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, and Nan top people’s rainy season travel wish list

The Suan Dusit Poll agency has conducted a survey of people’s opinions on the topic of “The New Government and Tourism”, reaching out to 1,114 respondents nationwide from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.

The pollster found that Chiang Mai province is the top preferred destination among respondents. The survey focused on people’s travel prospects during the current rainy season. Continued …

Agoda Reveals In-Flight Frustrations

Invasion of personal space, flight delays, and loud passengers are most likely to make travelers go “insane on the plane”.

With travelers across the globe raring to take off on new adventures, digital travel platform Agoda unveils a candid exploration of the less-glamorous side of air travel. From overly chatty neighbors to lavatory hoggers, Agoda’s Travel Bugbears Survey 2023 delves into the realm of in-flight annoyances, highlighting that even the smoothest flight can have its bumps. Continued …

Hua Hin: Thailand’s ultimate beach getaway and wellness wonderland

Hua Hin – what’s that? Sounds like a Thai insult right? On the contrary, Hua Hin is a stunning seaside resort on the Gulf of Thailand, a three-hour drive from Bangkok. Originally a quiet fishing village, it transformed into a chic retreat for Bangkok residents following the 1920s, thanks to the construction of summer palaces by the Thai royal family.

Hua Hin Beach has the most perfect white sand, with high-end hotels, seafood shacks and a few makeshift bars. What’s more enchanting is that it is never crowded and the sea is always warm and calm; so perfect for swimming. Continued …

Thailand: A Preferred Destination for Remote Work

Thailand has increasingly become a preferred destination for remote work due to affordable cost of living, variety of working spaces and facilities, high quality internet connection, friendly locals, delicious food, excellent healthcare, and diverse and rich culture.

As well as the kingdom’s 5F soft-power pillars of “food, fight, fashion, film, and festival”, Thailand offers a plethora of travel options that can be enjoyed throughout the year in the fields of health and wellness, sport, luxury travel, and gastronomy, as well as sustainable and responsible tourism experiences – to provide remote workers the work-life balance they are looking for. Continued …

September events in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Events taking place in September in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province include:

  • Let’s Go Wow: Explore Thap Sakae, Sept. 1-10, 2023, at Thap Sakae beach
  • Local Cycle Tourism, Sept. 9-10, starting from Rajabhakti Park to Tha Sa Det, Thanarat Camp, Pranburi district
  • Blessing the Fleet Ceremony, Sept. 24, at the Chao Mae Tubtim Shrine, Hua Hin
  • Love(Protect) Maenam Pran event, Sept. 24, at the Sirinat Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Study Center, Pranburi district

Global sugar prices to surge as drought-hit India set to ban exports

The Commerce Ministry has aired concerns about a surge in global sugar prices after India announced it will ban sugar exports for the upcoming production season starting in October. India, one of the world’s top sugar producers and exporters, is grappling with drought, which has led to a drop in sugar production. Continued …

ASEAN in the spotlight

Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN culminates this week with a series of summits that seek to establish the group’s central role in setting the future of the Indo-Pacific region. Not a moment too soon, given the escalating tensions, not only caused by the rivalry between the United States and China but also between Southeast Asian member states and China caused by overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490

 

cha am, hua hin, marijuana, solar, thai economy, thailand, tourism

Friday’s news-Sept 1

Today’s news: Cha Am Shellfish and Squid Festival/Hua Hin-Cha Am Golf Festival/Heavy rain to affect 44 provinces/Thailand among top 10 medical systems/Nationwide dental planned/Fearless tabby cat saves bedridden girl/The implications of Thailand’s turbulence/Economy on road to recovery/Heat affects indoor factory workers/Esso exits Thailand market/Solar energy to power petroleum production/Rice exports increase 12%/Minister touts medical cannabis policy/20 unique wellness itineraries/Best Times to Visit Thailand/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Cha Am Shellfish Eating and Squid Fishing Festival Sept 9-16

Cha Am Beach will host its annual “Shellfish Eating and Squid Fishing Festival @ Cha Am 2023” from Sept. 9-16 at the Cha Am Beach viewpoint.

Visitors can expect food choices from over 50 outlets, including leading hotels and restaurants. The event also includes musical performances by popular bands, as well as the opportunity for visitors to try their hand at squid fishing for 100 baht per person.

For more information: 0 3247 2550, 0 3247 1665

Heavy rain to affect 44 provinces

The Thai Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rain for 44 provinces, including Bangkok and its vicinity today.

This is due to the influence of a strong monsoon trough passing through the northern, northeastern, and upper central regions of the country. Additionally, the southwest monsoon is also relatively strong, covering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. This weather pattern is causing heavy rain in many provinces. Continued … 

Thailand rated among top 10 countries with best medical systems

In a comprehensive assessment of healthcare systems around the world, a recent study has revealed the top 10 countries that stand out for their exceptional quality of healthcare services.

These nations have consistently demonstrated their commitment to providing accessible, effective, and high-quality healthcare to their citizens. Here’s a closer look at the countries that have secured the top positions: Continued … 

Nationwide dental department, provincial hospitals planned

The Thai government is set to establish a dedicated dental health department, a move aimed at promoting oral healthcare across the nation, the Public Health Ministry announced.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Opas Karnkawinpong revealed to the press that the government had acknowledged the Senate Public Health Committee’s proposal to form the new department, though the plan is yet to be discussed with the incoming health minister. Continued …

Fearless tabby cat saves bedridden girl from venomous cobra

In a tale of courage and claws, a fearless tabby cat saved the life of a bedridden 12-year-old girl from a venom-spitting cobra snake in her bedroom in Saraburi Province. The incident took place yesterday at the girl’s home in Kut Nok Plao subdistrict.

The cat, a female white and brown tabby, defended its young owner by standing guard over the snake and raising the alarm, causing the girl to wake up in shock and run out of the room. Continued …

Thailand’s Turbulence: Implications for the Region and the World

It has been a turbulent summer for Thailand’s political scene, capped with the return of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after 15 years abroad, and with the Pheu Thai Party — long de facto under Thaksin’s sway — forming a governing coalition with pro-military parties and other establishment forces. What do the recent elections mean for Thailand’s democracy?

While the elections themselves were free and fair, their aftermath shows that Thailand remains controlled by a military-royalist establishment aligned with the judiciary and some larger companies. Continued …

Economy on road to recovery, central bank says

The Bank of Thailand (BoT) revealed yesterday that figures for July seem to indicate that the Thai economy is making a gradual recovery.

The bank is currently adjusting its GDP forecast for the September meeting but warns that exports remain slow and tourism is lower than expected. It will also be taking account of the potential impacts of the digital cash handout program promised by Pheu Thai. Continued …

Amid record heat, even indoor factory workers enter dangerous terrain

When temperatures in Thailand shot past 112 degrees earlier this year, the government issued extreme heat warnings for large swaths of the country. It wasn’t safe, officials said, to be outdoors.

But Rungnapa Rattanasri, 51, didn’t work outdoors. She worked inside, on the second floor of a dilapidated garment factory with no fans or air conditioning. For $10 a day, she cut and trimmed bolts of rayon in rooms where the ambient temperature regularly exceeded 100 degrees. Continued …

Esso exits Thailand market after 129 years

Petroleum company Esso Thailand has been acquired by Bangchak, following the completion of a majority stake acquisition by ExxonMobil. Esso’s petrol stations across the country will be operating under Bangchak’s brand from tomorrow.

The acquisition of Esso Thailand by Bangchak Corp. is now complete, with the Thailand-based petroleum company acquiring a 65.99% majority stake in Esso Thailand from ExxonMobil Asia Holdings. Continued …

Solar energy to power petroleum production

Thailand’s leading petroleum producer PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) recently opened its “Lan Saeng Arun” solar power plant in Lan Krabue district of Kamphaeng Phet province in upper central Thailand.

Operated by PTTEP’s subsidiary FutureTech Energy Ventures (FTEV), the 9.98-megawatt power plant will supply energy to the company’s S1 petroleum production project, Montri Rawanchaikul, PTTEP’s CEO said on Thursday. Continued …

Thailand’s rice exports increase 12%

The Commerce Ministry reported a significant increase in Thailand’s rice exports. Data reveals an 11.91% rise in exports from January to Aug. 29, compared to the same duration last year. During this period, Thailand managed to export 5.29 million metric tons of rice.

Despite the rice export figures, the agricultural sector in Southeast Asia has been grappling with lower-than-usual rainfall. This has adversely affected the growth of rice, palm oil, sugarcane, and coffee crops. The lack of sufficient rainfall has been particularly severe in Indonesia and Thailand. Continued … 

Public Health Minister plants seeds for ongoing medical cannabis policy success

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul strongly advocates for the continuation of the current medical cannabis policy under the incoming health ministry. He asserts that, if used correctly, cannabis provides immense benefits to users.

This discussion took place at the Public Health Ministry, where he expressed confidence that the new government would not terminate the “cannabis for medical treatments” policy. He also highlighted that the policy is still on the new government’s agenda, as per the leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Continued …

TAT reveals 20 unique wellness itineraries

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently hosted a Thailand Wellness Business Makeover seminar aimed at encouraging health and wellness providers to devise creative offerings that appeal to the global wellness tourism market. A key aspect of the event was a wellness itineraries contest that drew participation from a range of providers.

Aligned with the Thai government’s Thailand wellness economic corridor (TWC) strategy, TAT’s campaign is designed to promote high-value health and wellness tourism and foster a competitive edge for Thai providers in this sector. Continued …

The Best Times to Visit Thailand

The best time to visit Thailand is from December to March — though, as with any tropical destination, a short and ridiculously torrential burst of rain is unpredictably possible, even on the sunniest of days.

The time to not go to Thailand is the rainy season, from May to October, when monsoons blow in from all directions. The rain is heavy but sporadic in the first few months, while in the final months of the rainy season, it’s more persistent. Continued …

Super Typhoon Saola Hurtles Toward Southern China, Hong Kong

China issued its highest typhoon warning on Thursday as Super Typhoon Saola drew closer to Hong Kong and the mainland’s southern coast, with several cities delaying the start of the school year as a precaution. Continued …

Building Fire in Johannesburg Leaves at Least 73 Dead

A nighttime fire ripped through a rundown five-story building in Johannesburg that was occupied by homeless people and squatters, leaving at least 73 people dead early Thursday, emergency services in South Africa’s biggest city said. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490

 

bangkok, climate change, hua hin, immigration, real estate, solar, thai economy, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Thursday’s news-Aug 31

Today’s news: Champions Cup 7s event this Saturday/Hua Hin native Pone Kingpetch honored/Another media bites the dust/Retail LPG to remain at same price/Elite Card price to be increased by 50%/Cuts to diesel, electricity prices to be proposed/Economic peril for Srettha’s government/Thailand’s per capita income falls/Rules on digital wallet scheme/Boost for condominium sales/Factory output falls 4.43%/New EV policy/EV and renewable energy keyThailand plans visa overhaulNo more beer in glass bottles on Koh Tao/Thousands of Ducks Charge Across Rice Fields/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Champions Cup 7s event this Saturday

This Saturday, the first Champions Cup 7s Thailand will be held at True Arena, beginning at 9:30am. Organized by Viking Club Hua Hin, the event expects as many as 200 players from around Thailand.

Thailand’s first boxing world champion, Hua Hin native Pone Kingpetch, honored

The World Boxing Council’s Asian branch (WBC Asia) has formally recognized the legacy of Thailand’s first world boxing champion, Pone Kingpetch.

In a recent meeting at the Asian Boxing Council office an honorary certificate was received from the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF). Pone Kingpetch was inducted into the Hall of Fame in June. Continued …

Another media bites the dust

The Royal Coast Review, started by a former editor of Hua Hin Today several years ago, has gone on what its founder calls a “sabbatical.”

According to the publication, “The personal circumstances of the Royal Coast Review founder and managing editor has lead to a decision to take an extended sabbatical away from Thailand and the suspension of the publication of the Royal Coast Review website.”

RCR was started as competition for Hua Hin Today, but recently changed its focus to only report on the local nightlife scene.

Media history suggests that a publication taking a leave such as this rarely makes a comeback.

Retail LPG to remain at same price

The retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is expected to be maintained at 25.87 baht per kilogram, or 432 baht per standard 15-kg cylinder, for another month, according to the Oil Fuel Fund Office (OFFO).

Wisak Watanasap, director of the OFFO, said the fund’s board met on Tuesday and passed a resolution to cap the LPG retail price until Sept. 30, extending it from the expiration date of Aug. 31. Continued … 

Elite Card price to be increased by 50%

Thailand Elite Card is preparing to raise its minimum membership price by 50% to 900,000 baht, from 600,000 baht, as the company attempts to ramp up annual revenue to 8 billion baht, according to Thailand Privilege Card Co. (TPC), the operator of the card.

The four new types of card will also remove the word “Elite” from their title, which has been used since the scheme’s establishment under the Thaksin Shinawatra government in 2003. Continued …

Cuts to diesel, electricity prices to be proposed

New Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he expects his Cabinet to announce cuts to the price of diesel and electricity right after its first meeting.

Srettha was speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning after meeting with outgoing Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow and ML Chayotid Kridakon, chief of the United Thai Nation Party (UTNP)’s economic team. The meeting was held at the Pheu Thai head office at 11am. Continued …

Economic peril poses a greater threat to Srettha’s government than politics

Even though there are plenty of political challenges facing the Pheu Thai party, not the least being in a weak coalition, the economic challenges are far greater and could spell potential doom for the government if not handled correctly.

Experts say that 2024 will likely be a down year for the global economy and several macroeconomic issues will likely present themselves to the incoming government. Continued …

Thailand’s per capita income falls

Per capita income for this year has taken a hit after the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) revised the gross domestic product (GDP) projection from the initial estimate of 2.7%-3.7% to 2.5%-3%.

This decline is attributed to the second-quarter economic figures for 2023, which fell short of expectations due to a mere 1.8% expansion compared to the 2.6% achieved in the first quarter. The decrease in exports over the course of three consecutive quarters since the fourth quarter of 2022, with a negative growth of 5.7%, is the primary cause. Continued …

Rules on 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme clarified

Pheu Thai Party’s digital wallet scheme will be implemented in the form of utility tokens, a news source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

The party leading the government coalition promised during its election campaign to stimulate the domestic economy by providing 10,000 baht in digital money to all Thais aged over 16. Continued …

Free visa policy expected to boost condominium sales

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s policy to offer free visas to Chinese and Indian tourists will likely boost sales of condominiums, the Real Estate Information Center (REIC) said today.

The center’s acting director, Wichai Wiratkapan, expects the Thai property sector to recover slightly from the economic slowdown and strict financial institution regulations on borrowing. Continued … 

Factory output falls 4.43%

Thailand’s manufacturing production index (MPI) in July dropped 4.43% from a year earlier, the Industry Ministry said on Thursday, as exports declined amid sluggish global demand.

The figure compared with a forecast in a Reuters poll for a fall of 4.0% in July. Output shrank 5.24% in June. – Bangkok Post

New EV policy would maintain and increase level of sales

Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) is planning to propose to the new government that it implements measures to promote the purchase and manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand under the EV 3.5 policy until 2025.

BOI Secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi said on Wednesday that the EV 3.5 policy would help maintain the momentum of EVs in the automotive market, which has been growing thanks to the previous EV 3.0 policy. Continued …

EV and renewable energy key to addressing climate change challenges

Electric vehicles (EV) and renewable energy are essential to deal with climate change and herald a low-carbon society, experts said at the “ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week” on Wednesday at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.

Manu Leopairote, chairman of event organizer Informa Markets Thailand, said that climate change was the major problem affecting all regions of the world. Continued …

Thailand plans visa overhaul to boost tourism, lure Chinese and Indians

The Foreign Ministry is set to overhaul the visa system to boost tourism revenue from Thailand’s main markets, especially China and India.

The move comes after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met with the airports authority and airlines on Monday for talks on how to attract more foreign visitors. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is targeting revenue of 3 trillion baht from foreign visitors next year. However, Thai tourism operators have complained that lengthy and sometimes costly visa application processes are deterring travelers from Thailand’s top two overseas markets – China and India. Continued …

No more beer in glass bottles on Koh Tao

From tomorrow, beer in glass containers will be banned from Koh Tao as part of attempts to solve the garbage problem on the island.

Only canned beer will be allowed, said Pollution Control Department Director General Pinsak Suraswadi on Wednesday. Vendors on the island will sell only canned beer, he said. Continued … 

Why Thousands of Ducks Charge Across Fields in Thailand Every Year

Step into the enchanting world of rice farming in Thailand through the video below. It captures a breathtaking spectacle. The scene unfolds with an aerial panorama. It reveals a torrential flow of thousands of ducks surging through a gate, akin to molten lava cascading over a precipice.

Video 

This feathered force floods into the rice fields like an invading army. Their awe-inspiring sight might seem like the rice field’s doom to the uninitiated eye. However, a twist in the narrative uncovers a harmonious partnership between the ducks and the farmers. It unveils an ingenious agricultural practice. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490

 

bangkok, hospitality, hua hin, phuket, solar, thai economy, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Tuesday’s news-Aug 29

Today’s news: Hua Hin litterbugs warned/Storms and heavy rain forecast/Challenges for foreign workers/Tips for taxi riders/Facebook linked to 70% of online fraud/Cancer treatments under 30-baht healthcare plan/ Zika outbreak: Warning for pregnant women/Q2 economic recovery slows/Cooking gas price under review/Diesel tax subsidy/VAT increase still under consideration/Chinese ‘Low-Grade, Low-Price’ Goods Flood Thai Market/Major retailer installs solar/Moving Thailand Manufacturing/20 best hotels in Phuket/Thailand’s spiciest salad being made/Quake rattles Bali/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Did you know? Hua Hin has 2,000-baht fine for littering – no, really

The Hua Hin municipality has reminded citizens in online warnings about the legal consequences of dumping rubbish in public places. The laws against public littering include tossing litter on the ground, spitting, discarding cigarette butts, and dropping gum. There is a maximum fine of 2,000 baht.

Storms and heavy rain to affect most of Thailand this week

Several provinces will experience thundershowers with isolated heavy to very heavy rains from today until Sunday, the Thai Meteorological Department said in a weather warning issued on Monday.

The department said the conditions were due to the strong monsoon trough lying across the north, central and northeast regions and the strong southwest monsoon prevailing across the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf. Continued …

What are the biggest challenges for foreigners working in Thailand?

Thailand has been among the top countries with the highest number of expat workers. With its flourishing economy and expanding job market, it’s no wonder why overseas professionals are irresistibly drawn to this Southeast Asian country.

But while packing up your life to start anew in a foreign land, especially for work, is undoubtedly exhilarating, you must not overlook the potential hiccups that may come along the way. But remember, every problem has a solution. So to help you prepare for your journey, here are the biggest challenges for foreigners working in Thailand, and how to overcome them. Continued …

Taxi group offers six tips for riders

The Thai Taxi Assn. stirred debate by posting six tips to ensure a satisfactory taxi ride. The recommendations include asking before getting in, not forgetting to tip, and calling for a Grab taxi during peak hours or if the location is difficult for a regular taxi to reach.

The association’s Facebook page recently shared these suggestions, aiming to foster mutual satisfaction between drivers and passengers. The post, titled Thai Taxi Association Recommends Satisfactory Taxi Usage, featured a picture detailing these suggestions. Continued …

Facebook linked to 70% of online fraud in Thailand, says outgoing minister

Facebook is facing legal action from the Digital Economy and Society Ministry and the Royal Thai Police over its sponsored pages service in Thailand, which have been linked to over 70% of online fraud cases according to outgoing minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.

The legal moves against Facebook, including civil and criminal proceedings, according to senior officials, could see the site shut down in Thailand if it fails to address rising security concerns. Continued …

Cancer treatments under 30-baht healthcare plan under consideration

The Thai National Health Security Office (NHSO) is contemplating an expansion of its benefits under the 30-baht healthcare universal package, known as the “gold card” scheme. The addition could include cancer treatment and free screenings for non-cardholders.

In the pursuit of providing affordable medical aid to patients, the NHSO is also investigating potential drugs to incorporate into the national list of essential medicines. The NHSO is negotiating with pharmaceutical firms to provide targeted therapy, which is a crucial need for numerous cancer patients, particularly those battling breast cancer. Continued …

Zika outbreak: Warning for pregnant women as cases spike

A surge in Zika virus cases sparked a warning from the Department of Disease Control (DDC). In the last month, 266 cases were reported. Pregnant women are at risk, as the virus can cause babies to be born with microcephaly, a result of underdeveloped brains.

The monsoon season, with its frequent rain, has created ideal conditions for disease-carrying mosquitoes. Bird baths and other containers that collect water can become breeding grounds. The public is urged to promptly remove any such containers to reduce the risk of Zika and other diseases. Continued …

Thailand’s Q2 economic recovery slows, 2023 growth forecast revised

Thailand’s second quarter of 2023 saw a slowdown in economic recovery, with GDP growth falling from 2.6% year-on-year in the first quarter to 1.8%, as reported by the National Economic and Social Development Council on Aug. 21.

The figures fell significantly short of consensus estimates of 3.1% and growth projections of 2.9%. The economy’s quarter-on-quarter growth was a mere 0.2%, once seasonally adjusted. Continued …

Cooking gas price under review

The Fuel Fund executive committee is preparing to review the subsidy on the retail price of household cooking gas, or LPG, which is due to expire on Aug. 31.

The review will take account of the global LPG market price, the status of the Fuel Fund, and the cost of living for the public and businesses, in order to decide whether the price stabilization for LPG should continue. Continued …

Fuel Fund executive committee seeks to retain diesel tax subsidy

The Fuel Fund executive committee is to recommend that the newly appointed energy minister retains the diesel tax subsidy to keep the price of diesel fuel at no more than 32 baht per liter.

The committee has asked the Office of the Oil Fuel Fund to closely monitor the global energy price situation, especially as winter approaches in the Western nations, which will lead to a high demand for energy for heating purposes and lead to a rise in both oil and LPG prices. Continued …

VAT increase still under consideration

The Thai administration yesterday dismissed the possibility of increasing the value–added tax (VAT) from 7% to 10%. Despite this official stance, talks have been initiated around this proposal, attributing the potential increment to the requirement for additional funding to cater to the escalating needs of the country’s aging populace.

From the Office of Fiscal Economy, Pornchai Thiravej, the director, shed light on a proposal put forth by the National Economic and Social Development Council. This proposal advocates for an increase in the VAT rate, as it could serve as a steady source of funds to address the financial necessities of the retirement community. Continued …

Local Businesses Struggle as Chinese ‘Low-Grade, Low-Price’ Goods Flood Thai Market

The slowdown in the global economy is affecting China’s exports, and the recovery of China’s domestic market is slower than expected. This has led to an abundance of Chinese products, including in ASEAN markets such as Thailand, where they compete with local producers, worsening Thailand’s trade deficit with China.

The Confederation of Thai Industry stated that Thailand’s trade deficit in the first half of 2023 will be 603.2 billion Thai baht. This is the result of exports amounting to 603.1 billion Thai baht and imports amounting to 1.2 trillion Thai baht. This deficit in the first half of the year is comparable to that of the entire year 2020. Continued …

Major Bangkok retailer installs rooftop solar

Siam Piwat Simon, a joint venture between Siam Piwat Co. and Simon Property Group operating Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, successfully installed solar rooftop at Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok as a part of its sustainability goals.

The environmentally conscious practice is a coordinated project with Gunkul Engineering Public Co., an integrated leader of renewable energy, to install over 50,000 square meters of solar rooftop at Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, with an investment of over Bt100 million. The solar panels can generate solar power, offsetting the reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity, at 3,800,760 kWh per year. Continued …

Moving Thailand Manufacturing Up the Value Chain

Despite accounting for over 6 million jobs and contributing to 34% of the Thai economy earlier in the year, it is no secret that the manufacturing sector is on a downward spiral.

According to the Thai Ministry of Industry (MOI), the nation’s manufacturing production index (MPI) dropped for a ninth consecutive month in June 2023, declining by 5.24% compared to 2022. Continued …

20 best hotels in Phuket

2. Best eco hotel in Phuket: Keemala

Sheer beauty aside, what we love most about this property in the Keemala rainforest is the variety of lodgings from glamping tents to tree houses spanning two-storys with their own private pools.

Even though it’s a 10-minute drive to the nearest beach, you’ll doubtless spend most of your time in your timber sanctuary, complete with deliciously deep tubs. The food is also exquisitely fresh thanks to the hillside farm that supplies almost half of the resort’s daily vegetable and herbs. The Mala spa is one of the best on the island. Continued …

Watch Thailand’s spiciest salad being made

Watch Thailand’s spiciest salad being made … with thousands of chillis mixed with tomatoes. Footage shows 2kg of chopped-up Bird’s eye chillis, which each measure up to 100,000 Scoville units, being poured onto a large wooden mortar in Bangkok.

The Thai variety that is hotter than jalapeno was pounded with other ingredients such as tomatoes, shrimp with shells on, lime juice, and fish sauce. The mixture was used as the strongly flavored dressing to the salad locally called “som tam” and then mixed with grated unripe papaya and served as is or as a side dish to meat. Continued and video …

7.1-magnitude quake, aftershocks rattle Bali residents

A strong, deep 7.1-magnitude earthquake and several aftershocks rattled Bali and other Indonesian islands today, the USGS reported, sending panicked tourists into the streets but causing no major damage. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490

 

climate change, hua hin, pattaya, solar, thai economy, thailand, tourism, transportation

Monday’s news-Aug 21

  • Heavy rain forecast for 45 provinces/
  • DDC warns of rise in influenza cases/
  • Thai-Danish beauty crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2023/
  • More Thais are installing their own solar panels to reduce costs/
  • Bangkok to Laos high-speed rail making progress/
  • Thailand’s ‘most beautiful’ road sweeper defies stereotypes/
  • Major Elite Card overhaul planned/
  • Thailand election: 14 parties coalesce to form new Thai government/Most Disagree With Pheu Thai Coalition Government, Poll Shows/
  • Economy: Climate change: Thailand beginning to figure it out/Revenues surge at restaurant chains as dining out is back in vogue/Q2 GDP growth below forecast, outlook trimmed/Institute predicts sales of 50,000 EVs/China eyes enhanced cooperation in various fields with Thailand/Revenue Dept pockets over 5 billion baht from e-service providers/
  • Tourism: Top 5 tourist arrivals to Thailand in first 7 months/Rough start for ‘new Chinatown’/Thais irked as Kuwaiti bikers living the fast life descend on Pattaya/
  • International: How Chinatown restaurants and food are evolving and redefining their place in the world/Korean Air to measure passengers’ weights for better safety, efficiency/Tens of thousands flee western Canada wildfires/Russian space agency says its Luna-25 spacecraft has crashed into the moon/
  • Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Heavy rain forecast for 45 provinces

Heavy downpours are likely to soak 45 provinces across the country today, including Bangkok and the surrounding areas, the Meteorological Department announced.

The increased rainfall, which could cause flash flooding and forest runoff especially in hilly areas near waterways and low-lying areas, is due to a monsoon trough passing through the northern and upper northeastern regions and combining with a low-pressure system along the central coast of Vietnam. Continued …

DDC warns of rise in influenza cases

The number of people infected with seasonal influenza has surpassed 970,000 so far this year, three times more than for the same period last year, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) says.

Among those infected, one has died — a 39-year-old man with a history of alcoholism and liver disease, said Dr. Sopon Iamsirithaworn, deputy director-general of the DDC. Continued …

Thai-Danish beauty crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2023

Anntonia Porsild, 26, representing Nakhon Ratchasima, was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2023 on Sunday. She will now represent Thailand in the Miss Universe beauty pageant to be held in El Salvador late this year. Porsild is a Thai-Danish beauty contestant with an undergraduate degree in marketing and public relations from Stamford International University. (The Nation)

More Thais are installing their own solar panels to reduce costs

Expensive electricity bills are leading more businesses and households to adopt rooftop solar power technology, despite costly installation fees.

Businesses view this type of renewable energy as a way to save on costs and help them cut carbon dioxide emissions. Homeowners are eager to save on electricity bills over the long term. Continued …

Bangkok to Laos high-speed rail making progress

Construction of the Thai-Chinese high-speed train between Bangkok and the northeastern border province of Nong Khai is progressing satisfactorily, with the construction of the 250.77km section between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima province already almost 40% complete.

For the second section, between Nakhon Ratchasima and Nong Khai, State Railways of Thailand (SRT) has recently completed the study and design of the project and it is ready to be submitted to the cabinet for approval, according to Sorapong Paitoonphong, deputy permanent secretary of Transport Ministry, in his briefing to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday during his field inspection of the project. Continued …

Thailand’s ‘most beautiful’ road sweeper defies stereotypes

Whether she is perched in the back of a water truck, gingerly plucking weeds with her manicured nails or staring down a stray dog on the streets, Pattaramon Thocharoen is always camera-ready with a full face of make-up and several poses.

Also known as “Bow”, the 27-year-old has an image to upkeep with over 300,000 TikTok followers, some of whom have dubbed her Thailand’s “most beautiful street sweeper”. Continued …

Major Elite Card overhaul planned

Thailand Privilege Card Co. (TPC), the operator of the Thailand Elite membership and benefits program for foreigners, is preparing for a major overhaul of its packages, which is expected to come with price increases.

The new packages are expected to be available in October, but applications will be accepted until Sept. 15 for the existing packages at the current posted rates, TPC has announced on its website. Continued … 

14 parties coalesce to form new Thai government

Fourteen parties, led by Pheu Thai, will hold a press conference at parliament at 1pm today to announce their partnership in forming a new government.

Collectively, the coalition has 317 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives. Continued …

Most Disagree With Pheu Thai Coalition Government, Poll Shows

Most respondents to a NIDA Poll disagree with the Pheu Thai party partnering with the two junta-linked parties, Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation, to form a “government of reconciliation”, and most would prefer Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Thailand’s next prime minister.

The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) conducted an opinion poll of 1,310 people aged over 18, and of various occupations and educational backgrounds across the country. Continued …

Climate change: Thailand beginning to figure it out

With household electricity bills surging in April as the temperature topped out at 44.6° Celsius in Thailand, followed by a record high average global temperature in July, businesses and governments are factoring in climate change when designing their forecasts.

The UN issued a striking warning regarding the arrival of an era of “global boiling”, as more people take steps to address the impact of climate change, as it is increasing costs for business operations and household living. Continued …

Revenues surge at restaurant chains as dining out is back in vogue

The restaurant business has bounced back from the pandemic, while food delivery services have seen a 32% decline since the pandemic, according to some estimates, as dining out is back in vogue, especially at large chains.

MK Restaurant Group’s revenue rose 10% year on year to 4.435 billion baht in the second quarter, while net profit reached 459 million baht, a 4.5% increase during the same period. In the first six months, the company’s revenue totaled 8.52 billion baht, up 13.5% year on year, and its net profit was 784 million baht, a 10.4% on-year increase. Continued …

Q2 GDP growth below forecast, outlook trimmed

Thailand’s economy expanded slower than expected in the second quarter, data showed on Monday, with strength in tourism helping to counter weaker exports amid a slowdown in global demand.

The government cut its 2023 gross domestic product growth forecast to 2.5% to 3.0% from a range of 2.7% to 3.7%, citing slower exports. Continued …

Institute predicts sales of 50,000 Evs

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are expected to reach a target of 50,000 units this year despite weak purchasing power, high household debt and banks’ stricter auto loan criteria, says the Thailand Automotive Institute TAI).

Last year, local EV sales tallied roughly 20,000 vehicles. EVs remain popular partially because of the government’s incentive package, part of efforts to make Thailand a regional EV hub. Continued …

China eyes enhanced cooperation in various fields with Thailand

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday met with the visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai in Beijing.

Noting that the development of bilateral relations will not be affected by changes in the international situation or the domestic situation in Thailand, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said it is believed Thailand will maintain stability and sustained development. Continued …

Revenue Dept pockets over 5 billion baht from e-service providers

The Revenue Department of Thailand has reported the successful collection of over 5.01 billion baht in tax revenue from foreign platforms and e-service providers. This reflects a growth of 3.2% compared to last year.

The revenue was amassed over the first nine months of the current fiscal year, which began in October 2022. The overall tax collection during this period reached approximately 1.59 trillion baht. Continued …

Top 5 tourist arrivals to Thailand in first 7 months

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand has welcomed more than 15 million foreign tourists during the first seven months of this year (January-July).

Statistics for foreign tourists entering Thailand from January to July show that the cumulative number is 15,391,104 people. That made Thailand’s income from foreign tourists rise to 638,161 million baht. Continued …

Rough start for ‘new Chinatown’

A parallel Chinese society has grown up in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district ,as the number of Chinese expats has increased, deepening the reputation of Huai Khwang as the second Yaowarat, or Bangkok’s new Chinatown.

The area temporarily emptied during the pandemic when Chinese vendors exited the country. But after the pandemic subsided and the Chinese government announced it would reopen its borders in January, investors returned to Huai Khwang. Continued …

Thais irked as Kuwaiti bikers living the fast life descend on Pattaya

Theatrically wobbling the handlebars as his cackling passenger covers his eyes from behind, a young Kuwaiti driver whips his motorbike around a bend of a narrow lane, blithe to the potential danger posed by a moped rushing toward him. It’s 9pm in Thailand’s Pattaya and the nightly show is just beginning.

“They go round and round like this until 3am or 4am,” says Ammy, a masseuse who has a free ringside seat to the motorized mayhem jump-started by Kuwaiti students visiting the country’s most popular resort city. Continued …

How Chinatown restaurants and food are evolving and redefining their place in the world

Take a walk down Gerrard Street in London’s Chinatown today and it looks, at first glance, as it did in decades past. The pagoda-topped gates still mark the entrance to the street, and red lanterns, the symbol of Chinatowns everywhere, criss-cross above, draped from second-story shopfronts. Continued … 

Korean Air to measure passengers’ weights for better safety, efficiency

South Korean carrier Korean Air said Sunday it would be measuring the body weights of its passengers in a bid to strengthen aviation safety and minimize excessive fuel use. Passengers on domestic flights will be asked to weigh in from Aug. 28 through Sept. 6, while international flight passengers will be weighed from Sept. 8 to 19. Continued …

Tens of thousands flee western Canada wildfires

Residents of western Canada scrambled to evacuate Saturday as raging wildfires encroached on two metropolitan areas — separate blazes that have sent tens of thousands fleeing over the course of just days. Continued …

Russian space agency says its Luna-25 spacecraft has crashed into the moon

Russia’s robot lander the Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the moon after it had spun into uncontrolled orbit, the country’s space agency Roscosmos reported on Sunday. “The apparatus moved into an unpredictable orbit and ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the moon,” read a statement from the agency. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490
chiang mai, hua hin, solar, thai economy, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation, wildlife tourism

Saturday’s news-Aug 19

  • Big sex-for-sale website shut down by police in Hua Hin/
  • Rainfall forecast for most of Thailand until Thursday/
  • Dengue Fever Cases Climb To 5,000-6,000 a Week/
  • Car seats for kids are now mandatory in Thailand/
  • Thailand election: PM vote doubts persist/Changing Thailand: New Ideology, Old Politics/
  • Economy: Thai, ASEAN solar firms face US penalty duties/
  • Tourism: Ranong among four finalists for planned Andaman mega-cruise-ship port/Small tourism operators face high season staff woes/Haven Launched by the Elephant Freedom Project in Chiang Mai/Chiang Mai Hotel Exposes Hotel Booking Scams/Thailand’s first sniffer dog training center unleashed for battling narcotics/
  • Thailand Experience: Experience the Rich Heritage of Thailand Through These UNESCO World Heritage Sites/
  • International: Manila doubles down on casinos/China Appears To Be Building Runway on Disputed South China Sea Island/US to sign strategic partnership deal with Vietnam/
  • Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Big sex-for-sale website shut down by police in Hua Hin

Police this week arrested an American/Thai couple in Hua Hin after they suppressed the operation of what they believed to be Thailand’s leading prostitution website catering to foreign tourists in the kingdom. A press conference in Bangkok was told that ฿40 million in assets were seized, including a pool villa and 9 million baht in bank deposits in a joint task-force raid last Sunday morning.

The website, according to a police briefing given by Deputy Immigration Bureau Chief Police Panthana Nuchanart, was the leading site on Google and had nearly 430,000 visits per month, according to police cyber experts. Continued …

Rainfall forecast for most of Thailand until Thursday

A moderate southwest monsoon will bring rainfall to most of Thailand from today until next Thursday, with isolated heavy rains in some areas, the Meteorological Department forecast on Friday.

Isolated heavy rains are likely today in the east and the south’s west coast. From Sunday to Monday, a moderate monsoon trough will move down from Laos to lie across the north, northeast, central, and upper east regions, while the moderate southwest monsoon will lie over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Continued …

Dengue Fever Cases Climb To 5,000-6,000 a Week

The Public Health Ministry said Friday the number of dengue fever patients has risen to around 5,000-6,000 a week over the past four weeks, and to cope with the situation emergency operation centers have been opened in 31 provinces and seven other districts.

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, also revealed that the cumulative total of dengue fever cases has risen to 65,552, while the cumulative death toll is 58, of which 40 were older children and adults. Continued …

Car seats for kids are now mandatory in Thailand

Children under six years old must be placed in car seats that have proper harnesses and have passed the safety standards of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, or the drivers of the vehicles they are in will face fines of up to 2,000 baht, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) have announced.

The announcement was a reminder that the 13th amendment of the Land Traffic Act of 1879 has been effective since Aug. 17, after being published in the Royal Gazette in May last year. Continued …

PM vote doubts persist

Questions remain over whether the country’s 30th prime minister can be elected on Tuesday, as the political situation is still highly volatile, according to observers.

The Pheu Thai Party, which is in charge of forming a new government, now has the backing of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, which has agreed to join a Pheu Thai coalition and vote for its prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin. Continued …

Changing Thailand: New Ideology, Old Politics

The victory of the opposition parties, the Move Forward Party (MFP) and Pheu Thai Party (PTP), at Thailand’s May 14 election marked the end of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s eight-year-long administration. Prayut, a military general who came to power after the 2014 coup and maintained his position after the highly disputed 2019 election, has recently announced his retirement from politics.

The overwhelming votes for the MFP in the election highlight a clear ideological divide and the mainstreaming of a hitherto radical stance among the Thais, considering the party’s intention to revise the lese-majeste law (Article 112 of the criminal code). But following a concerted effort to block the MFP from taking part in the governing coalition, it is unclear if the voters’ cries for change will be met. Continued …

Thai, ASEAN solar firms face US penalty duties

The United States is preparing to impose steep penalty duties on solar panel makers who finished their products in Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, to avoid tariffs on Chinese-made goods.

The duties threaten to push up the cost of renewable power and slow the development of clean energy in the United States if solar power developers cannot find other sources of supply. Continued …

Ranong among four finalists for planned Andaman mega-cruise-ship port

Ranong tourism operators are upbeat, as the southern province has been selected as one of the four candidates for constructing a port for mega-cruise ships on the Andaman coast.

Nit Uitekkheng, deputy chairman of Ranong Chamber of Commerce, said on Friday that the other candidates were Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga provinces. Continued …

Small tourism operators face high season staff woes

As the tourism sector remains buoyant, small operators are likely to face labor shortages during the high season as larger businesses offer more competitive salaries.

Krod Rojanastien, board adviser for the Thai Spa Assn., said about 30% of more than 8,000 spas and Thai massage venues nationwide lack the necessary amount of therapists, particularly small operators, as the number of foreign arrivals keeps increasing. Continued …

Haven Launched by the Elephant Freedom Project in Chiang Mai

The Elephant Freedom Project recently launched the Premiere Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand. The sanctuary is nestled in the heart of northern Thailand’s mountains and is dedicated to rescuing and protecting abused elephants.

The Elephant Freedom Project is a pioneering organization dedicated to rescuing and protecting elephants. Its new project, The Premiere Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand, is nestled deep in the picturesque mountains of northern Thailand, an hour’s ride from Chiang Mai City. Known to locals as the “Jurassic Park of Thailand,” the sanctuary is set to revolutionize the ethical elephant sanctuary tourism industry. Continued …

Chiang Mai Hotel Exposes Hotel Booking Scams

A renowned hotel in Chiang Mai has filed a complaint to the police against scammers creating a fraudulent Facebook page to deceive individuals into making accommodation bookings and transferring money.

The manager of R1 Nimman Hotel Chiang Mai filed the complaint at the Phu Ping Police Station after a cybercriminal gang took images from the hotel’s official Facebook page, created a counterfeit page, and posted messages claiming to offer room reservations. Continued …

Thailand’s first sniffer dog training center unleashed for battling narcotics

 

The Thai Customs Canine Training Center (TCCTC) was officially inaugurated yesterday in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan. This is Thailand’s first facility for training sniffer dogs, set to become a vital tool in combating narcotics smuggling. Roughly five dogs are anticipated to be enlisted for a program focusing on the identification of illicit substances concealed within imported and exported goods. (thethaiger.com)

Experience the Rich Heritage of Thailand Through These UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Thailand is quite famous for its Michelin-rated street food, shopping and nightlife; however, it also has a rich cultural heritage associated with it. And, if you want to delve deeper into this side of The Land Of Smiles, then this list of heritage sites can be your guide.

Historic City of Ayutthaya

Founded in 1350, the historical city of Ayutthaya thrived between the 14th and 18th centuries. In 1767, the Burmese army attacked and burned it down, but the ruins still speak of its glorious past and make for an important archaeological site with its monasteries, such as Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Continued …

Manila doubles down on casinos

The Philippines’ gambling industry expects to double its gross gaming revenue by 2028, as the country attracts more tourists such as wealthy Chinese gamblers, the gaming regulator’s chief said on Wednesday. Continued …

China Appears To Be Building Runway on Disputed South China Sea Island

China appears to be constructing a runway on a disputed island in the South China Sea claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan in its latest move to claim sovereignty in the contested waters, a Hong Kong newspaper reported Friday, citing satellite images. Continued …

US to sign strategic partnership deal with Vietnam

United States President Joe Biden will sign a strategic partnership agreement with Vietnam during a state visit to the Southeast Asian country in mid-September. The agreement will allow for new bilateral collaboration that will boost Vietnam’s efforts to develop its high technology sector in areas including semiconductor production and artificial intelligence. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490
baht, bangkok, cha am, hua hin, real estate, solar, thai economy, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism

Friday’s news-Aug 18

  • Cha Am seafood festival returns Sept 9-16/
  • Sansiri partners with Huawei to launch ‘SOLAR to ZERO’ campaign/
  • Energy Ministry kicks off plan to transform Surat Thani with smart energy/
  • All 12 districts of Nakhon Phanom declared flood disaster zones/
  • Aging Thailand agonizes over welfare state as elderly subsidy cut/
  • Swedish man arrested for overstaying visa 3 years/
  • Elephant brutality: Wild Thai Park shooting sparks probe/
  • More than a ton of endangered pangolin scales seized in Thailand/
  • Thailand election: Coup-linked parties now part of new coalition/A long road ahead for Thailand/
  • Economy: Economy likely grew 3.1% in Q2 on higher tourist arrivals/Thailand preparing for a soft landing as ‘cracks’ open up in the Chinese economy/Foreign investments bolster Thai economy with 58.9-billion-baht boost/Thailand, India compete for semiconductor investments/Property developers bullish on 2nd half of year/
  • Tourism: Bookings down as China slumps/600-kilometer road in southern Thailand would aid tourism/Inside Thailand’s Child Sex Tourism Trade/
  • Thailand Experience: Thailand After Dark: Exploring the Kingdoms Enchanting Nightlife/Ten best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Bangkok/
  • Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Cha Am seafood festival returns Sept 9-16

The viewpoint at Cha Am Beach will play host to the 22nd “Shellfish & Squid Festival @ Cha Am” from Sept. 9-16. The event promises lots of delicious food, live music, and lots of fun activities.

One of the main highlights of the festival is the wide range of locally caught seafood that will be available for visitors to sample. From grilled prawns and squid to fried fish and crab, there will be something to please everyone’s taste buds. Continued …

Sansiri partners with Huawei to launch ‘SOLAR to ZERO’ campaign

Sansiri Public Co. plans to install 100% solar systems for 10,000 houses, reducing carbon emissions by up to 42,000 tons/carbon through revolving credit funds of over 2 billion baht in five years.

This collaboration in the “SOLAR to ZERO” campaign is in line with Sansiri’s mission as Thailand’s first real estate company to set a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (Net-Zero) by the year 2050, to create a sustainable turning point for the environment. Sansiri has several projects in the Hua Hin area. Continued …

Energy Ministry kicks off plan to transform Surat Thani with smart energy

The Energy Ministry on Thursday began a two-day seminar in Surat Thani to mark the official start of its effort to transform the southern tourism province into the first “smart province in terms of energy management” in Thailand.

Pethai said Surat Thani is the pilot province for smart energy management and other provinces will follow. The smart energy province project is part of Thailand’s plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero emissions by 2065. Continued …

All 12 districts of Nakhon Phanom declared flood disaster zones

Nakhon Phanom Gov. Wanchai Chanporn on Thursday declared all 12 districts in the northeastern province as flood disaster zones to speed up aid efforts for the affected people.

The governor said that as per the initial estimates, some 40,000 rai (6,400 hectares) of paddy fields were under floodwater following several days of heavy rains. Continued …

Aging Thailand agonizes over welfare state as elderly subsidy cut

Thailand’s universal welfare has taken a backward step with the caretaker government’s recent decision to limit monthly subsidies of 600 to 1,000 baht per head to just poor, elderly Thais.

Previously, all elderly Thais were eligible. But those who register themselves as elderly from now on will not receive monthly state subsidies unless they can prove that they do not have enough income or resources to live on. Continued …

Swedish man arrested for overstaying visa 3 years

The Immigration Police arrested a Swedish man for overstaying his visa by over three years in the Isaan province of Sakon Nakhon.

Following an ongoing effort to thwart foreign criminals seeking refuge in Thailand, officers from the Sakon Nakhoh Immigration Office discovered a 49-year-old Swedish man, Toerner John Alexander, overstaying his visa. Continued …

Elephant brutality: Wild Thai Park shooting sparks probe

In Loei, law enforcement services are currently being solicited by park authorities to uncover the culprit behind a recent act of elephant brutality in Phu Luang wildlife sanctuary in this northeastern region. A wild bull elephant was confirmed to be the victim of the cruel act.

This elephant brutality discovery was made near a forest creek located within the Sri Song Rak sector of the Dan Sai district yesterday morning. Speculation from officials at Phu Luang suggests that the deceased appears to have been part of a roaming trio of elephants, who had been sighted near local farmland in the preceding two months. Continued …

More than a ton of endangered pangolin scales seized in Thailand

Thai authorities said Thursday they have seized more than a ton of pangolin scales worth over 50 million baht ($1.4 million) that are believed to have been headed out of the country through a land border.

The scales that cover a type of anteater were found Wednesday night in the northeastern province of Kalasin, and apparently were meant to be transported out through Mukdahan province, which shares a border with Laos, Thai police said at a news conference in Bangkok on Thursday. Continued …

Coup-linked parties now part of new coalition

The Pheu Tha-led coalition government now has mustered a combined force of 314 Mps, including those of the “uncles’ camps” on their side, confirmed Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer Bhumtham Wechayachai yesterday.

The 314-MPs-strong coalition partners include the Pheu Thai under de facto party boss Thaksin Shinawatra with 141 MPs, the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob with 71 MPs, the Palang Pracharath led by Prawit “Uncle Pom” Wongsuwan with 40 MPs, the Ruam Thai Sang Chart under de facto party boss/caretaker prime minister Prayut “Uncle Tu” Chan-o-cha with 36 MPs, the Chart Thai Pattana led by Varawut Silpa-archa with 10 Mps, and the Prachachart led by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha with nine Mps, plus those of six splinter parties with only one MP or two each. Continued …

A long road ahead for Thailand

We all should have been celebrating. The celebration should have started the night of the election when the Democratic Alliance, led by the Move Forward Party, claimed victory.

I still vividly remember that night’s energy — people thronging the streets, social media posts celebrating progress’s triumph over fear and intimidation, and even my friends marveling at how the Move Forward Party had achieved the impossible. Continued …

Economy likely grew 3.1% in Q2 on higher tourist arrivals

Thailand’s economy likely grew 3.1% in the April-June quarter from a year ago, up from 2.7% in the previous quarter, driven by increased foreign tourist arrivals, according to the median forecast of 21 economists polled.

On a quarterly basis, gross domestic product (GDP) was forecast to have grown by a seasonally adjusted 1.2%, a slowdown from the 1.9% growth in the preceding quarter, according to a smaller sample of forecasts in the Aug. 14-17 poll conducted by Reuters. Continued … 

Thailand preparing for a soft landing as ‘cracks’ open up in the Chinese economy

The Thai baht has fallen in value against the U.S. dollar by 8.4% since Jan. 30, as the kingdom finds itself being buffeted by the country’s political instability and a growing crisis linked with the Chinese economy, as well as elevated interest rates in the United States.

This week, at a conference in southern Thailand, Bank of Thailand Gov. Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput suggested that while the economic recovery was still intact, the bank was now focused on achieving a “soft landing” as he referred to “cracks” in China’s economy. Continued …

Foreign investments bolster Thai economy with 58.9-billion-baht boost

From January through July of this year, Thailand saw 377 foreign business people invest 58.95 billion baht in the kingdom, an increase of 17% in the number of investors but a drop of 20% in the value of foreign direct investment (FDI), a senior official said.

Estimates suggest that the Japanese investors led the pack with a total outlay of 19.9 billion baht. They were closely tailed by Singaporean enterprises who injected 12.9 billion baht into the Thai business sector. Additionally, Chinese and U.S. firms put in 11.7 billion and 3.04 billion, respectively, catalyzing foreign investments within the nation. Continued …

Thailand, India compete for semiconductor investments

Thailand and India are competing to attract semiconductor investments, aiming to reduce dependency on the supply chain from China.

The trade dispute between the U.S. and China regarding the transfer and export of advanced semiconductor technology has led both countries to see an opportunity to become a production base and benefit from major technology players seeking new options in the supply chain system. Continued …

Property developers bullish on 2nd half of year

SET-listed developers are hoping an economic recovery in the second half will help them achieve their performance goals this year after modest first-half results.

Wongsakorn Prasitvipat, managing director of Property Perfect Plc., said the company plans to launch nine new residential projects worth a combined 13.3 billion baht in the second half after introducing just one 1-billion-baht project in the first half. Continued … 

Bookings down as China slumps

China’s economic woes are pressuring inbound tourism during the Golden Week holiday in October, leading to sluggish forward bookings, according to tourism operators.

Surawat Akaraworamat, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said travel agents reported slower booking than usual for China National Day, one of the longest holidays in that country. Continued …

600-kilometer road in southern Thailand would aid tourism

The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) in Thailand recently announced a forthcoming impact study concerning a proposed coastal road project linking the provinces of Ranong and Satun to boost Andaman tourism.

The proposed two-lane highway, covering a distance of 600 kilometers, is designed to notably enhance the ease of access for tourists to key attractions spread across six different provinces – these being Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, and Satun, relayed Punya Chupanit, who is at the helm of OTP. Continued …

Inside Thailand’s Child Sex Tourism Trade

Thailand’s multibillion-dollar sex tourism trade is thriving again after its shutdown during the COVID-19 lockdowns. With the country’s borders open again, tourists are flocking from around the world.

Despite prostitution being illegal, bar girls in the coastal city of Pattaya can earn triple the average wage, drawing workers from the country’s poor rural provinces. But police say children are increasingly targeted in the city’s red-light district. Video 

Thailand After Dark: Exploring the Kingdoms Enchanting Nightlife

A completely new universe comes to life when the sun sets over Thailand’s beautiful surroundings. Thailand’s nightlife is a vivid tapestry of colors, noises, and sensations that captivates both locals and tourists alike, from bustling cities to peaceful seaside towns.

Thailand changes into a land of lit streets, bustling marketplaces, and exciting entertainment as the day gives way to night. Everyone may find something to enjoy in the country’s diversified nightlife culture, which spans the vibrant metropolis of Bangkok to the calm beaches of Phuket. Continued …

Ten best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Bangkok

For decades, vegetarian dining in Bangkok was synonymous with rice and curry dishes crafted from tofu, soy protein, and additives. However, a rapid transformation occurred almost overnight. Chefs embraced creativity, menus underwent a renaissance, and a wave of trendy specialized restaurants emerged.

New culinary terms entered the lexicon: legumes, quinoa charcoal burger, chia seed pad Thai, tempeh. And just like that Bangkok became a vegan- and vegetarian-friendly city. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490
bangkok, climate change, hua hin, pattaya, real estate, solar, thai economy, thai food, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism

Monday’s news-Aug 14

  • Queen mother ceremony at Wat Huay Mongkol/
  • Two Hua Hin golf courses named among Asia’s 20 best/
  • Southwest monsoon to bring heavy rain nationwide/
  • How much does a Retirement Home cost in Thailand?/
  • Developer Sansiri sees net profit surge 162% in the first half/
  • Credit-card operators say raising interest ceiling to 18% only way to survive/
  • Excise Dept mulls reclassifying liquor and beer/
  • Wild elephant captured after 22 days of disruption/
  • Tak hospital in red as Myanmar migrant patient numbers soar/
  • Body of second victim of boat capsize in Phetchaburi recovered/
  • Thailand election: How Thailand’s long wait compares with the world record for forming a new govt/Pita Takes Pheu Thai To Task For About-Face On ‘Uncles’ Camps’/Light at the end of the tunnel?/
  • Economy: Economic danger signals emerging as politicians wrangle over election/Thailand: A Rising Economic Powerhouse in Southeast Asia/Thailand’s Ambitious Strides Toward Clean Energy/FamilyMart brand to be replaced by Tops Daily stores/
  • Tourism: Travel industry girds for weak low season amid cost and weather challenges/Chinese tourists to Thailand may drop as tour group restrictions lift/Thailand gears up to be the top destination for visitors from Europe, America, the Middle East/Opinion: Bangkok, a Most Visited City on Earth, and The Other Bangkok/Pattaya police nab defiant Arab road racers/
  • Thailand Experience: Rising Sea Levels Threaten 11 Million People in Bangkok/The best snacks to get at Thai 7-Eleven/Forget cereal, I’ll take these spicy breakfast noodles every time/
  • International: Maui wildfires deadliest in a century after death toll hits 89/China issues new guidelines to attract foreign investment/Chinese Uninterested in the Climate Change Narrative Despite Extreme Weather/Miss Universe cuts ties with Indonesia chapter after harassment allegations/
  • Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Queen mother ceremony at Wat Huay Mongkol

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother was honored yesterday on her 91st birthday In an annual robe wrapping ceremony at Wat Huay Mongkol Temple, more than a thousand spectators paid their respects to the theme “Enhancing Your Heart with Faith.”

Under a hot August sky at the Wat Huay Mongkol Temple, located in the Thap Tai subdistrict of Hua Hin, hundreds of the attendees grabbed ahold and walked the 399-meter-long robe around the statue of the legendary Thai monk, Luang Pu Thuat.

Black Mountain

Two Hua Hin golf courses named among Asia’s 20 best

The diverse topography of Asia, the largest and most populous continent in the world, has been a golf architect’s delight for ages. Home to every imaginable terrain on the face of earth, designers have reveled and been challenged while giving shape to vast tracts of land, creating masterpieces that test golfers’ skill and temperament to the hilt.

Asia isn’t just about designer layouts and golf courses, though. Links-style courses and other designs, too, have played a part in highlighting the continent as a golfing juggernaut. Continued …

Southwest monsoon to bring heavy rain nationwide

The Southwest monsoon is intensifying, covering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, and causing heavy rainfall across 60%-80% of Thailand, according to the Meteorological Department.

People in affected areas are advised to be cautious of heavy to very heavy rain and accumulated rainfall, which could lead to sudden flooding and forest runoff, especially in hilly and low-lying areas. Continued …

How much does a Retirement Home cost in Thailand?

Aging is an inevitable part of our life cycle. And as you reach your golden years, planning for retirement becomes increasingly important. If you have set your sights on spending your retirement in Thailand, understanding the cost of a retirement home should be a priority.

The beauty of Thailand extends beyond gorgeous landscapes and rich culture; it also offers a range of high-quality elderly care options. Below, we’ve broken down the various costs associated with your potential future home – retirement Continued …

Developer Sansiri sees net profit surge 162% in the first half

Net profit at Sansiri Plc. surged 162% year-on-year to 3.2 billion baht in the first half on strong sales of high-end houses and furnished condos, the company’s CFO, Wichan Viriyaphusit, said. Sansiri operates several projects in Hua Hin.

Second quarter net profit was 1.62 billion baht, up 77% from the year-ago period. The profit margin for the six-month period was 17.3% compared to 9.3% in the first six months of last year. Continued …

Credit-card operators say raising interest ceiling to 18% only way to survive

Thailand’s Credit Card Club will ask the central bank to allow credit-card operators to bring the interest rate back up to 18% soon, the club’s chairman said.

Atis Ruchirawat, the club’s chairman and managing director at General Card Service Co., said on Sunday that the 16% interest rate ceiling may make it difficult for operators to cover their expenses due to the Bank of Thailand’s rising policy rates. Continued …

Excise Dept mulls reclassifying liquor and beer

The Excise Department is currently in discussions with relevant government and private sector agencies on proposals to adjust the structure of alcohol and beer taxes to align with the current situation and to be consistent with the development of alcoholic beverage products.

Currently, alcoholic beverages are subject to various tax rates, such as non-alcoholic beer with 0% alcohol content, according to Ekniti Nitithanprapas, director general of the Excise Department. Continued …

Wild elephant captured after 22 days of disruption

Perhaps only in Thailand can an elephant be avoiding a court order for disturbing the peace. After 22 days on the lam, a wild elephant has been successfully captured in the Nop Phi Tham district of the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The “elephant arrest” was made to comply with a court order issued to relocate it due to the animal’s continuous community disruption. Continued …

Tak hospital in red as Myanmar migrant patient numbers soar

The Ministry of Public Health has sent 20 million baht to Umphang Hospital in Tak province to help it cover the increased costs of treating the rising number of migrants fleeing the conflict in neighboring Myanmar. Continued …

Body of second victim of boat capsize in Phetchaburi recovered

The search for a second passenger, missing after a tour boat was struck by a waterspout and capsized, ended last evening when his body was recovered from the water near a pier, behind Pak Lad Temple in Bang Tabun Bay in Ban Laem district of Phetchaburi province.

The remains, identified as those of “Kritanat”, a resident of Ban Laem district, were taken to King Mongkut Memorial Hospital for autopsy. The other victim has been identified as “Chanin”, a Bangkok resident. Continued …

How Thailand’s long wait compares with the world record for forming a new govt

Could Thailand break world record time for forming new govt? Three months have passed since the May 14 general election, and Thailand’s next government is still nowhere in sight.

Waiting much longer could very well earn Thailand a place among countries that have suffered the biggest delays in forming governments after elections. Continued …

Pita Takes Pheu Thai To Task For About-Face On ‘Uncles’ Camps’

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat yesterday took the Pheu Thai to task for evidently turning an about-face only to bring “the uncles’ camps” into their coalition.

Without naming names, Pita told Move Forward supporters at a by-election campaign rally in Rayong that the Pheu Thai as core of the current coalition has gone back on their word by having the Palang Pracharath led by Prawit “Uncle Pom” Wongsuwan and the Ruam Thai Sang Chart under de facto boss/caretaker prime minister Prayut “Uncle Tu” Chan-o-cha jump onto the bandwagon. Continued … 

Light at the end of the tunnel?

Since the general election on May 14, Thailand has gone three months without a new government to lead the economy. Foreign investors, businesses and tourists are eager to see a favorable outcome following several unexpected twists and turns.

Some countries have issued a travel advisory for Thailand because of occasional unrest in Bangkok. Australia warned its citizens about an unpredictable security environment, given previous anti-government protests in Bangkok, while Canada highlighted demonstration sites that people should avoid. Continued …

Economic danger signals emerging as politicians wrangle over election

As Thailand’s politicians wrangle over who will take power amid a well-conceived conservative plot to use the unelected Senate to control the formation of the next government, the country’s economy is manifesting danger signals with a prolonged export slump and a rising problem with private sector debt that may become explosive.

These have combined with political instability concerns to reduce consumer confidence for the first time in 14 months. Continued …

Thailand: A Rising Economic Powerhouse in Southeast Asia

Thailand is a Southeast Asian country with a population of over 70 million people. It is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government. The capital city is Bangkok.

Thailand has a long history of trade and commerce. It was a major trading hub in the region for centuries. In recent years, Thailand has become a major player in the global economy. It is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Continued …

Thailand’s Ambitious Strides Toward Clean Energy

Thailand is gaining recognition for its efforts in clean energy. With increasing demand driven by government initiatives, environmental awareness, and technological advancements, the country’s energy market is undergoing a transformation.

The Thai government has set a goal to increase the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption to 30% by 2036. This commitment has led to investments in various clean energy projects, such as solar and wind farms, bioenergy, and hydropower plants. Continued …

FamilyMart brand to be replaced by Tops Daily stores

Japanese convenience store brand FamilyMart is set to exit Thailand, with all stores set to be rebranded by the end of this year.

Three years ago, Central Retail Corp. bought out FamilyMart’s share in their joint venture in the market, at the time describing it as a precursor to network expansion as the master franchise holder there. Back then, there were 1,000 FamilyMart stores trading in Thailand. Now there are reportedly only 200 left, which will be converted to Central’s Tops Daily branding by the end of this year. Continued …

Travel industry girds for weak low season amid cost and weather challenges

The travel industry is bracing itself for an exceptionally weak low season, with predictions of stagnant demand, escalating operational costs at popular destinations, and the impacts of tropical storms.

The president of the Thai Travel Agents Assn., Charoen Wangananont, highlighted that the season’s sale rate for outbound packages significantly lags behind the comparison period recorded before the pandemic. He cited hesitancy and prudence shown by both individuals and executives, reducing their expenditure on travel. Continued …

Chinese tourists to Thailand may drop as tour group restrictions lift

In the wake of China’s announcement to allow tour groups to visit Japan and several other nations for the first time since 2020, Thailand’s tourism industry braces itself for a sharp fall in Chinese tourists. This drop is, in part, caused by ongoing visa application challenges, in spite of the government’s efforts to simplify the process.

This recent development comes as China finally moves to lift previously imposed Covid-19 travel restrictions on tour groups. Aside from Japan, other countries, including the U.S., South Korea, and Australia, can accept Chinese tour groups. In addition, China has expressed the desire for Japan to consider a visa waiver for Chinese citizens. Continued …

Thailand gears up to be the top destination for visitors from Europe, America, the Middle East

Thailand is gearing up to be the top destination for our friends in Europe, America, and the Middle East! Here’s why:

  • European visitors typically stay 19.4 days, spending around 71,718 baht.
  • Middle Eastern guests enjoy 16.17 days and spend an impressive 99,172 baht.
  • Americans unwind for 15.26 days, with a spend of 76,297 baht. – Pattaya Mail

Bangkok, a Most Visited City on Earth, and The Other Bangkok

Many Thais expressed pride when a travel website, Travelness.com, recently reported that Bangkok was the most visited city on earth in the first half of 2023 – 22.78 million foreign visitors compared to 19.1 of Paris and London’s 19.09 (Dubai clocked in the fourth place at 15.93 followed by Singapore at 14.67).

We should identify and reinforce Bangkok’s charms and strengths in order to further cement Bangkok as one of the most popular cities on the planet. Truth be told, Bangkok is a different city if you are working and living in the city as a low-paid working class, lower middle class or migrant laborer from neighboring countries. Continued …

Pattaya police nab defiant Arab road racers

Notorious Arab motorbike riders were forced to cancel their road-racing plans after some 200 policemen and Interior Ministry officials were deployed to keep law and order on Pattaya roads late on Saturday night.

Officers from Pattaya Police Station and officials from Chonburi provincial administration were deployed to check the roads and sois where local residents have complained about road racing and the blocking of traffic by Arab youngsters, mostly tourists from Kuwait. Continued …

Rising Sea Levels Threaten 11 Million People in Bangkok

Rising sea levels are a major concern not only for rural coastal communities but even for some of the world’s major cities surrounded by bodies of water. In the context of climate change, melting glaciers due to global warming is releasing frozen water back into the oceans at unprecedented rates never seen before in modern history.

Due to the threat, inhabitants of these “at risk areas” are forced to flee from the rising tides. One such place facing this threat is Thailand’s Bangkok metropolitan area, which has been projected by climate experts to further sink in the coming decades. Situated in Southeast Asia and near the Gulf of Thailand, Bangkok, and its suburbs are dealing with coastal flooding as a result of the global sea level rise. Continued …

The best snacks to get at Thai 7-Eleven

Ever prowled around a 7-Eleven searching for the perfect midnight snack? We know that feeling. Here are some of the best 7-Eleven Thai exclusive snacks, based on our most popular picks.

Walking through the white metal shelves, hoping you don’t spend too much time picking a snack, sneaking furtive glances at the cashier…we’ve been through it. There’s a 7-eleven seemingly on every corner in Thailand, so people can be found always searching the aisles, night or day. And when you’re spoiled for choice, there’s got to be a guiding light. Continued …

Khanom chin nam ya

Forget cereal, I’ll take these spicy breakfast noodles every time

Pity the Anglo-Saxon world for its lo-fi breakfast choices. Toast, cereal, even bacon and eggs… these carry little flavor, they’re stodge designed to fill a gap until lunch rolls around and the real eating begins. Not so in much of the rest of the world, including Thailand.

Picture this to kick-start your day: thin rice noodles known as khanom chin, curled into neat little bundles, topped with a ladle-full of nam ya, a fiendishly spicy curry of minced fish, with pickled mustard greens, boiled eggs, raw green beans and fresh herbs to stir through. Now that is a breakfast. Continued …

Maui wildfires deadliest in a century after death toll hits 89

The death toll from the Maui wildfires is now at 89, officials said on Saturday, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Gov. Josh Green warned at a news conference on Saturday afternoon that the death toll would continue to rise as more bodies were discovered. Continued …

China issues new guidelines to attract foreign investment

China has issued 24 new guidelines to attract more global capital and further optimize the country’s business environment for multinational corporations. The guidelines cover topics such as encouraging foreign investors to undertake major scientific research projects and ensuring equal treatment of foreign and domestic companies. Continued …

Chinese Uninterested in the Climate Change Narrative Despite Extreme Weather

This summer’s record heat and epic floods in China failed to spark local public debate about how the world’s top carbon polluter should mitigate climate change, leaving environmentalists furious at a wasted opportunity. Continued …

Miss Universe cuts ties with Indonesia chapter after harassment allegations

The Miss Universe Organization has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise, it announced days after allegations of sexual harassment, and will cancel an upcoming Malaysia edition. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490
bangkok, hospitality, hua hin, immigration, marijuana, pattaya, prauchuap khiri khan, solar, thai economy, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Friday’s news-Aug 11

  • Prachuap Khiri Khan is no longer in drought crisis/
  • Hua Hin Coffee Fest slated this weekend/
  • Special blends, unique brands key to Thai coffee’s global appeal/
  • Monsoon Valley Vineyard Fest this weekend/
  • Queen birthday celebration at Huay Mongkol Temple Sunday/
  • Thailand’s health services strain as dental appointments delayed/
  • Bangkok is sinking/
  • Iraqi man arrested for overstaying in Thailand for nearly 15 years/
  • Suvarnabhumi’s sustainable future fueled by solar panel installation/
  • Woman rescues 19 puppies abandoned in Isaan forest/
  • Thai researchers develop antibody drugs from tobacco plants for cancer treatment/
  • Pilots face pricey training fees to secure airline jobs/
  • Thailand election: Pheu Thai cruising toward power, but at what price?/The continuing crisis of Thai democracy/
  • Economy: Consumer confidence drops for first time in 14 months/Thai rice price surges amidst drought concerns/Fruit exports fare well in first 5 months/Thailand’s data center market to grow in triple digits/Thailand’s legal cannabis story – one year later/
  • Tourism: Tourist visa requirements eased for Chinese visitors/China Expands the Number of Countries for Travel/Thailand plans to build 3 terminals for cruise ships/Agency turns to culinary tourism/Hotels looking to hire temporary workers as high season nears/Motorbike collision sparks street fight between Thais and Kuwaitis in Pattaya/Police Urged To Stop Tourists Partying On Jomtien Beach All Night/
  • International: Maui fire fatalities rise to 53/Russia launches moon lander in race to find water on moon/Virgin Galactic rockets its first tourist passengers into space/
  • Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Prachuap Khiri Khan is no longer in drought crisis

Prachuap Khiri Khan has emerged from its drought crisis, with sufficient aid having been given to all the impacted areas, officials reported.

Decha Rueang-On, the director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DPMO) of Prachuap Khiri Khan, announced yesterday the province had activated a drought disaster response and solution center as early as Jan. 25. This initiative coordinated various government agencies to closely monitor the situation, gauge its impact on residents, and formulate appropriate assistance and support measures. Continued …

Hua Hin Coffee Fest slated this weekend

The Hua Hin Coffee Fest 2023 will be held Aug.10-13 at the Plik Vivek Cafe https://goo.gl/maps/oBAQs3hTcPTNDSFE6. The inaugural event,will offer a range of activities designed to celebrate the love of coffee:

  • A cold drip competition, “Drip Yenn Championship Thailand 2023,” on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13;
  • Booths from shops, coffee houses in Hua Hin, and nearby provinces, including coffee shops and roasters from all over Thailand. There will be cocoa, tea, bakery, coffee equipment, and various souvenirs, as well as local farmers who will offer a variety of special coffee processes to choose and taste from.
  • Workshops, coffee seminars with teachers, and celebrities in the coffee industry. Facebook; tel. 063 551 6244

Special blends, unique brands key to Thai coffee’s global appeal

Thai farmers and entrepreneurs are being urged to create unique coffee blends to increase sales in the lucrative and expanding global coffee market.

Thailand can increase its competitiveness in the global coffee market by producing and processing specialty coffees, Trade Policy and Strategy Office director-general Poonpong Naiyanapakorn said on Thursday. This will increase the value of Thai coffee and promote Thai coffee as a global brand, he said. Continued …

Queen birthday celebration at Huay Mongkol Temple Sunday

One of the region’s most significant religious and cultural events will be held at Wat Huay Mongkol in Hua Hin Sunday. Centered on the theme “Enhancing Your Heart with Faith,” this celebration pays tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother on her 91st birthday.

The event will see a 399-meter-long robe paraded through the temple grounds and around the statue of Luang Pu Thuat. Continued …

Thailand’s health services strain as dental appointments delayed

The lack of medical personnel in every department, coupled with the measly number of dentists, has pushed health services to the brink in Thailand, with patients finding themselves on the verge of collapse as dental appointments are pushed two years ahead.

At 9am yesterday, a caregiver, who was accompanying an 11-year-old boy for tooth decay treatment, shared this grim situation. The patient was treated at a provincial hospital in Chachoengsao. After the dentist performed root canal treatment, the boy was given a second appointment, in two years’ time. Continued …

Bangkok is sinking

Sopin Jindachom has lived in Bangkok all her life, but her village is far away from the bright lights of the city — and that is a blessing and a curse.

The blessing is that Sopin loves her small, coastal community, which is accessible only by foot, motorbike, or boat. But the curse is this part of Thailand’s capital is slowly being swallowed by the sea, and the authorities have no plan to try to stop it. Continued …

Iraqi man arrested for overstaying in Thailand for nearly 15 years

Immigration police officers arrested an Iraqi man in the central province of Kanchanaburi today after almost 15 years of overstaying in Thailand. As part of a concerted effort to root out illegal immigrants across the country, Thai authorities, led by the Royal Thai Police and Immigration Bureau, investigated cases in each province.

The operation led to the discovery of the Iraqi man, identified as 43-year-old Oday Jabbar Khudhair, who had been concealing himself in a guest house within Kanchanaburi. Continued …

Suvarnabhumi’s sustainable future fueled by solar panel installation

In a decisive move toward clean energy, the Airports of Thailand (AoT) are looking to harness the sun’s power, with the installation of solar rooftop panels on the passenger terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The green airport project is part of a larger crusade intending to derive 20% of the airport’s electricity from renewable sources in the coming two years. Continued …

Woman rescues 19 puppies abandoned in Isaan forest

A Thai woman rescued 19 puppies that were abandoned near a roadside forest in the Isaan province of Nong Bua Lamphu. The animal lover is now looking for new homes for the abandoned puppies.

The compassionate woman shared pictures of the black-and-light-brown-colored puppies on a Facebook group on Tuesday, in the hope of finding new homes for the cute little pups. Continued …

Thai researchers develop antibody drugs from tobacco plants for cancer treatment

For the first time in Thailand, lecturers at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences have successfully developed antibody from tobacco plants with inhibitory effects on the growth of cancer cells in laboratory animals. This signals hope for access to effective cancer medication and treatment at a lower cost.

From world-class success in producing a COVID-19 vaccine from tobacco plants, researchers from Baiya Phytopharm Co., a Thai company under Chulalongkorn University, have reached another milestone in the research and development of antibody drugs from tobacco plants, which have been found to reduce the size and inhibit the growth of cancer cells in laboratory animals. Continued …

Pilots face pricey training fees to secure airline jobs

With employment in the aviation industry yet to fully recover, airlines in Thailand are adopting pay-to-fly employment schemes, which require licensed pilots to pay more than 1.5 million baht for training to secure jobs.

Yet, the average salary of pilots in Thailand remains lower than before Covid-19, as airline fleets are below pre-pandemic levels. The situation would be even tougher for student pilots who do not have enough experience to compete with veteran pilots. Continued …

Pheu Thai cruising toward power, but at what price?

Voters are now watching how the Pheu Thai Party goes about forming the new government after it parted ways with election-winner Move Forward, and courted several conservative parties including Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation and Palang Pracharath.

With serious political bargaining laid bare under the public gaze, netizens are crying foul over Pheu Thai’s recent moves. Many have declared they will certainly vote for Move Forward again, after witnessing what they perceive as Pheu Thai’s betrayal of the popular liberal party. Continued …

The continuing crisis of Thai democracy

The prolonged volatility and instability in Thai politics attest to a continuing crisis of democracy since the military coup in September 2006. It is characterized by the nature, direction and duration of government after an election.

Unless the poll-topping political party is backed by the conservative military-authoritarian regime, it is either not allowed to take power or gets overthrown while in office before completing its term. This crisis of Thai democracy has now persisted since the May 14 poll, as the formation of the next government remains stuck in a stalemate. Continued …

Consumer confidence drops for first time in 14 months

Thai consumer confidence declined for the first time in 14 months in July, dented by concerns over persistent political uncertainty after elections were held in May, and a slow economic recovery, a survey showed today.

The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) fell to 55.6 in July from 56.7 in June. Continued … 

Thai rice price surges amidst drought concerns

The world has been witnessing increases in the price of rice following drought concerns and India’s export ban, but it is Thailand’s rice that has seen the sharpest rise, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

In its monthly rice update issued on Aug. 8, the FAO said that over the span of two weeks, quotations of Thai 100% B white rice jumped by US$38, raising the monthly average to $562 per ton, the highest since February 2021. Continued …

Fruit exports fare well in first 5 months

Thai fruit remained popular during the first five months of this year, as demonstrated by the utilization of free trade agreement (FTA) benefits by exporters, especially with regard to shipments bound for China.

Ronnarong Phoolpipat, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said durian, guava, mango and mangosteen are popular fruits in China, especially during the hot season. The value of Thailand’s fruit exports utilizing ASEAN-China FTA privileges amounted to more than US$3.3 billion in the first five months of this year, up 14.2% year-on-year. Continued …

Thailand’s data center market to grow in triple digits

Thailand’s data center market is anticipated to post triple-digit growth over the next two years, fueled by an influx of global cloud service providers and tech companies, according to hyperscale data center firm ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (Thailand).

Data centers form the digital infrastructure that contributes to the country’s economic growth, said Supparat Sivapetchranat Singhara na Ayutthaya, the company’s chief executive. Continued …

Thailand’s legal cannabis story – one year later

In June 2022, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize cannabis following the Food and Drug Administration’s removal of all parts of the plant from the national narcotics list. Thailand had previously legalized medical cannabis in 2019, and its leaves in 2021.

At the time, the Thai government said the new regulations were intended to promote small-scale cannabis farms and bring a much-needed boost to the country’s agricultural sector, which accounts for around one-third of the national workforce. As well as this, cannabis legalization was intended to bolster Thailand’s economy – with the potential to generate 10 billion baht per year (around £22.5M), while allowing people to showcase their cannabis and hemp-related products. Continued …

Tourist visa requirements eased for Chinese visitors

The government has further relaxed its tourist visa requirements and shortened the standard time required for approving visas for Chinese visitors, in a bid to make the process easier for people visiting the country.

Last week alone, 95,581 Chinese arrived in Thailand, representing the largest proportion of international visitors, followed by Malaysians (73,810), South Koreans (37,754), Indians (27,707) and Vietnamese (25,717), deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Thursday. Continued …

China Expands the Number of Countries for Travel

China has increased the number of countries that its big-spending tourists can visit by more than 70 following the lifting of its last COVID-19 travel restrictions. The decision comes as international flights to and from the country gradually return to their pre-pandemic levels.

China implemented strict lockdowns and draconian travel controls within the country and closed its borders almost entirely after the virus was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019. Continued …

Thailand plans to build 3 terminals for cruise ships

 

Three feasibility studies for three terminals for cruise ships to dock in Thailand are 60% complete and will be finished next year, a senior official at the Transport Ministry’s Marine Department said on Thursday.

Kritphet Chaichuay, acting director-general of the department, said the three projects are for three cruise ship terminals on Koh Samui, the Andaman coast and Pattaya, with the latter two including ports. Continued …

Agency turns to culinary tourism

Thailand plans to hold the world’s first “Kaphrao Grand Prix” in Bangkok to showcase the authentic Thai dish to foreign travelers and increase local ingredient exports, aiming to increase food expenditure among tourists from 20% to 25% by 2027.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said this marks the first time the agency has held an official promotion dedicated to pad kaphrao, a dish beloved by locals and tourists alike. Continued …

Hotels looking to hire temporary workers as high season nears

With the high season approaching, hotel operators are preparing to address the current labor shortages so they are able to accommodate the pent-up demand from foreign travelers after the lifting of Covid-19 shutdowns.

According to Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Assn. (THA), a survey conducted in July by the THA in collaboration with the Bank of Thailand (BOT) involving 91 hotel establishments, found that the labor shortage problem in the hotel business in July was close to the level of the previous month, with around 47% experiencing staff shortages, although this did not significantly impact the number of customers they could accommodate. Continued …

Motorbike collision sparks street fight between Thais and Kuwaitis in Pattaya

Panicked residents living on Soi Yensabai in Pattaya City had to rush out of their homes to stop a street fight between Thai locals and Kuwaiti tourists at about 15 minutes before 1am today.

The street fight took place in front of a restaurant after a group of Thais on motorbikes chased down a group of Kuwaiti tourists on motorbikes in an attempt to negotiate a settlement for a motorcycle collision the Thais blamed on a Kuwaiti tourist. Continued …

Police Urged To Stop Tourists Partying On Jomtien Beach All Night

Local residents in Pattaya have urged the authorities to crack down on tourists partying on Jomtien beach after midnight until 7 am, with the loud music they play preventing them from sleeping.

Upon receiving complaints, a TV station’s news team inspected the beach and found that after bars closed groups of tourists gradually flocked in and bought alcohol and drugs, plus renting bluetooth speakers to play music, which is against the law. Continued …

Maui fire fatalities rise to 53

The number of fatalities from the catastrophic fires in Maui, officially at 53 by Thursday afternoon, will probably surpass 60 and make the disaster the deadliest since Hawaii became a state in 1959, Gov. Josh Green said. Continued …

Russia launches moon lander in race to find water on moon

A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft blasted off Friday on Russia’s first moon mission in nearly 50 years, racing to land on Earth’s satellite ahead of an Indian spacecraft. Continued …

Virgin Galactic rockets its first tourist passengers into space

Virgin Galactic launched its first tourist passengers into the weightlessness of space Thursday, the culmination of a nearly two-decade commercial pursuit, the company said. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490