Category Archives: transportation

bangkok, chiang mai, covid, hua hin, immigration, pattaya, phuket, thai economy, thai environment, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Wednesday’s News-Dec 28

  • Interior Ministry issues urgent order for New Year celebrations/Price hikes to affect over 7,000 food, drink products/Thailand readies for turbulent economic ride/Environment was uppermost in the minds of many in 2022/Thai navy intensifies hunt for 8 missing HTMS Sukhothai crew/DDC allays brain-eating amoeba fears/The 5 S’s of Wine Tasting/Thailand’s Plastic Waste Conundrum/Manufacturing falls in November amid global economic slowdown/Thai exports exceed 2022 target despite end-of-year slump/Export sector outlook looks bleak as global economy heads into tailspin /Seven key trends expected to influence financial services in 2023/National Parks chief charged with massive corruption/Meet the food waste fighters/Indian man arrested in Patong for 1,322 days of overstay/Pakistani Man Arrested in Patong for 3,270 Days of Overstay/
  • Tourism: Thai tourism industry waits expectantly as China scraps travel restrictions/Chinese tourism influx raises fears/No immediate surge of Chinese tourists expected after re-opening/Bangkok airport girds for New Year travelers/Phuket’s Russian Revolution/New Zealand Tourist Dies In Fall From Kanchanaburi Train/
  • Thailand Experience: Chiang Mai is the trendy new travel spot: 7 things you must do when you go/Eastern Thailand: Why Travel to this Underrated Region/
  • Covid: Current vaccines ‘will do’ for coming year: ministry/
  • International: Massive flight cancellations leave thousands of suitcases stranded at US airports/Putin bans Russian oil exports to countries that impose price cap/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas

Interior Ministry issues urgent order for New Year celebrations

The Interior Ministry has issued five rules for New Year celebrations in an urgent order sent to all provincial governors.

Issued on Monday, the ministry order explains that government agencies and the private sector can still organize celebrations, but organizers must strictly stick to the following five rules:

  1. Entertainment venues must close at specified hours and keep underage people, weapons, drugs and other illegal items out of their premises. Continued … 

Price hikes to affect over 7,000 food, drink products

The price of many food and beverage products will rise early next year by an average of 18% between January and Apri, according to a survey of 105 major companies compiled by credit research firm Teikoku Databank, as of today.

Price hikes will affect 7,152 items, more than 1.5 times the number from the same period this year, with some products such as frozen and wheat-based foods seeing a further increase.

Original figures compiled as of the end of November showed that 4,425 items would be affected by price hikes. However, the last 20 days have seen the number of products rise by 1.6 times. Manufacturers are believed to have pushed forward with further price increases in the face of higher costs in areas such as materials, transportation and labor. Continued …

Thailand readies for turbulent economic ride

As global interest rates continued to rise in 2022 to tame persistently high inflation, the Bank of Thailand and its governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput are being scrutinized as the business sector watches the direction of Thai interest rates.

Aggressive monetary policy this year to curb inflation was led by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The Fed began to increase its policy benchmark rate from March and deployed a hawkish monetary policy throughout the year.

Despite the tight monetary policy of the Fed, the Bank of Thailand has maintained its normalization of policy rates on a gradual basis, in accordance with the slow recovery of the Thai economy compared with other countries. Continued …

Environment was uppermost in the minds of many in 2022

From floods and extreme weather, to climate change and the adoption of the bio-circular-green economy, the environment was uppermost in the minds of many in 2022.

For Thais, especially those who reside in low-lying areas and flood plains, 2022 was another year of floods and extreme weather.

Throughout the year, Thailand experienced a series of unseasonal weather events and unusually intense rainfall, which led to major floods in many parts of the country. Continued … 

Thai navy intensifies hunt for 8 missing HTMS Sukhothai crew

The Royal Thai Navy announced that eight sailors of the doomed HTMS Sukhothai are still missing after two bodies were retrieved on Tuesday morning.

The navy said that 76 of the 105 crew members of the warship were rescued, 21 were confirmed dead and eight still missing.

Vice Admiral Pichai Lorchusakul, commander of the First Naval Area, said the navy’s drone had spotted a body near Koh Sak close to the coast of Chumphon’s Muang district at 8.36am. Continued …

DDC allays brain-eating amoeba fears

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) said a brain disease caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as “brain-eating amoeba”, is not contagious between people.

The announcement came after The Korea Herald reported on Monday that a Korean national in his 50s died last Wednesday of the brain disease after returning from a four-month stay in Thailand.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), his genetic tests for three types of pathogens causing Naegleria fowleri were 99.6% similar to those found in a meningitis patient reported abroad. Continued …

The 5 S’s of Wine Tasting

Thailand’s rapidly emerging wine culture is now centering on Hua Hin, with a growing number of sophisticated wine bars offering a huge range of wines from important wine growing regions across the world, but importantly an internationally awarded vineyard at the city’s doorsteps.

The Monsoon Valley Vineyard now also features a wine sampling cellar and on the 2022 Harvest Festival (Feb. 18-23), offers the ideal opportunity to discover what’s so special about Thailand’s best wines.

You may believe that a wine-tasting procedure is unnecessarily tedious; after all, why not just drink and enjoy it? In truth, there’s something mystical about wine tasting when you learn to use all of your senses, so let’s explore the 5 S’s in wine tasting. Continued …

Thailand’s Plastic Waste Conundrum

Despite the Thai government’s ban on four more types of single-use plastics in 2022, up to 250,000 tons of imported plastic waste from other nations continues to flow into the country annually through the international plastic waste trade.

Thailand is trying to stay the course with further efforts to mitigate plastic pollution, but there are still challenges in waste sorting and collection on the ground.

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In 2019, the Thai Cabinet also approved the “Road Map on Plastic Waste Management” for the period 2020 to 2030 as the policy framework for related agencies to work on in pursuit of the targets. This includes a ban on seven types of single-use plastics and to completely recycle domestic plastic waste within the designated time frames in the road map. Continued …

Manufacturing falls in November amid global economic slowdown

Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) fell in November by 5.6% year-on-year to 95.11 points, the lowest in 15 months, as oil refineries were shut down for maintenance while a global economic slowdown began to affect exporters, says the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE).

Officials expect the MPI for the whole year to grow by 1%, down from an earlier prediction of 1.9%.

“A global economic slowdown could lead to a recession, which will affect the Thai export sector,” said Warawan Chitaroon, acting director-general of the OIE. Continued …

Thai exports exceed 2022 target despite end-of-year slump

Exports rose 7.6% in the first 11 months of 2022 to US$265.34 billion, or 9.16 trillion baht, exceeding the target of 9 trillion baht for the whole year, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Tuesday.

Cross-border trade in the same period was worth 944 billion baht, down 0.51% from the previous year.

However, exports in November were down 6% on last year to $22.3 billion, while imports rose 5.6% to $23.65 billion. December’s export figures are also expected to drop from last year amid the ongoing global economic slowdown. Continued …

Export sector outlook looks bleak as global economy heads into tailspin

Thailand’s exports contracted by 6% in November due to a decline in external demand, but rising economic activities from tourism recovery allowed manufacturing outputs to expand 1.41% last month, government agencies said.

Export value contracted by 6% to US$ 22.31 billion in November due to the slowdown of the global economy, the Ministry of Commerce said.

This was the second consecutive month of decline in exports after a 4.4% dip seen during October. Continued …

Seven key trends expected to influence financial services in 2023

Cloud, real-time payments, and embedded finance are among seven key financial trends predicted for 2023, Mambu, a cloud banking platform, has revealed.

The prediction by the world’s leading financial services firms is included in Mambu’s annual “Partner Predictions” report, which highlights the top financial trends expected to influence the industry in 2023, as businesses try to survive and thrive in a volatile macroeconomic environment.

The report features insightful commentary from industry leaders from the fintech and financial services sectors, including executives from AWS, Backbase, Deloitte, Google Cloud, and others. Continued … 

National Parks chief charged with massive corruption

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has launched an internal investigation of National Parks chief Rutchada Suriyakul na Ayutthaya after he was arrested and charged with malfeasance and bribery on Tuesday.

Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) police detained Rutchada during a bribery sting operation at his Chatuchak office in Bangkok on Tuesday morning.

After the shock arrest, ministry Permanent Secretary Jatuporn Buruspat issued an order to form a panel for a seven-day investigation. Continued …

Meet the food waste fighters

Thailand ranked 9th on the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index of countries most affected by “extreme weather events” between 2010 and 2019.

One of the factors contributing to climate change is food waste. When organic material decomposes in landfills, it emits the greenhouse gas methane, which is far more potent than CO2. Hence, the quickest way to save the planet is to reduce the amount of food waste.

“Food waste actually starts from the harvesting of the raw material up to consumption, to the food on the plate. All the way up from the harvest to consumption we consider the waste so, all in all, globally we have about 30% of the food produced and processed being wasted. This is remarkable and is a lot. Continued …

Indian man arrested in Patong for 1,322 days of overstay

A 44-year-old Indian man was arrested in Patong for 1,322 days of overstaying his legal visa conditions. The Phuket Immigration Office said they have arrested Anil Dutt, an Indian national, on Phra Baramee Road in Patong. Continued …

Pakistani Man Arrested in Patong for 3,270 Days of Overstay

A 35-year-old Pakistani man was arrested in Patong for 3,270 days of overstaying his legal visa conditions the Phuket Immigration Office reported Monday. They arrested Anjum Raza, a Pakistani national, on Phra Baramee Road in Patong. Continued … 

H O T HIGH SEASON D I S C O U N T: 500 BAHT

  • Treat yourself. Get away for the day. Get a beach bed at our Anantasila beach ! 
  • You get a Big Beach Towel for the day
  • You get to use our facilities
  • You are welcome to splash around in our infinity pool
  • You can enjoy the beautiful Anantasila environment
  • You can use the 500 Baht as a credit in our restaurant or beach bar, for food and drinks, up to that 300 Baht

That sounds like a deal, doesn’t it ? Welcome !

The Beach at Anantasila, Khao Takiab, Hua Hin

A spacious safe environment with all measures taken.

For information or reservations: e-mail fb@anantasila.com or dial 032 527638

Your deserve It!

Thai tourism industry waits expectantly as China scraps travel restrictions

Thailand’s tourism industry can expect a boost from China’s move to scrap measures on overseas travel of its citizens from Jan. 8, the Tourism Council of Chiang Mai said on Tuesday.

China’s National Health Commission announced the move on Monday after nearly three years of strict pandemic border restrictions effectively prevented tourists from leaving the country.

Visitors from China were Thailand’s largest tourism market before the pandemic struck in 2020. Continued …

Chinese tourism influx raises fears

An overload of tourists and an overwhelmed Thai healthcare system are issues to monitor next year after China fully reopens, with up to 500,000 tourists projected to start traveling during Chinese New Year.

Even though the tourism sector applauded the announcement from Beijing that it is lifting most entry requirements from Jan. 8, except for a pre-arrival Covid-19 test, tourism operators were concerned about an imbalance between supply and demand.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn said China’s reopening would lead TAT to revise its target for foreign arrivals from 20 million to more than 25 million in 2023. Continued …

No immediate surge of Chinese tourists expected after re-opening

China’s relaxation of Covid-19 rules for international arrivals has raised hopes that its multi-billion dollar travel business will soon flourish again but countries longing for the return of Chinese tourists will likely face more of a wait.

China’s National Health Commission announced on Monday that inbound travelers would no longer have to go into quarantine from Jan. 8. There are no official restrictions on Chinese people going abroad but the new rule will make it much easier for them to return home.

China was the world’s largest outbound tourism market before Covid shut down global travel, with its overseas visitors spending US$27.5 billion on travel in 2019. Continued … 

Bangkok airport girds for New Year travelers

The number of outbound and inbound travelers passing through Suvarnabhumi airport is expected to surge to an average of 145,000 per day during the New Year period.

Kittipong Kittikachorn, director of Suvarnabhumi airport, on Tuesday said the daily number would bring the total number of travelers coming through the airport to 1.01 million during Dec. 29–Jan. 4. Continued …

Phuket’s Russian Revolution

Phuket is busy again, for the first time since April 2020 when the government closed off the airports and passenger arrivals into Thailand, because of the Covid pandemic.

While the surge of tourists, principally from a couple of countries, is a very welcome return to business for many hotels, tour companies, restaurants and tourist-related businesses, the current arrival numbers could provide some stark warnings for the island’s sustainability as a tourism destination.

Without getting into the specific geo-politics, we should at least be completely transparent about how the current rush to repopulate Phuket with tourism customers may have some unforeseen consequences. Continued …

New Zealand Tourist Dies In Fall From Kanchanaburi Train

A tourist from New Zealand slipped and fell from the train that had slowed down for passengers to take photos at Kanchanaburi’s Krasae Cave, which was the camp of POWs in World War II.

At 12.10 p.m. Police Lt. Col. Kiattisak Kerdchok, an investigator at Sai Yok police station, was notified of a foreigner having died after falling off a train at Krasae Cave in Lum Sum subdistrict and quickly went there together with Pitakarn Kanchanaburi Foundation rescuers.

At the scene they found Patrick Ward, 45, lying on the ground after plunging seven to eight meters from the train. His body was taken to Sai Yok Hospital for an autopsy, with the New Zealand embassy also contacted. Continued …

Chiang Mai is the trendy new travel spot: 7 things you must do when you go

With its stunning array of temples, delicious food scene, hopping nightlife, gorgeous natural opportunities, and all-around laid-back atmosphere, there’s a lot to love about Chiang Mai. Beyond its abundance of awesome experiences, this moderate-size city also offers a high standard of living at a relatively low cost, along with a well-developed visitor infrastructure.

It’s no wonder that it’s become so popular with travelers over the past two years, particularly among the remote-working “digital nomad” crowd.

The best time to go is between October and April when temperatures cool off a bit (though it never really gets cold), but keep in mind that February tends to bring a few months of smoky air — sometimes uncomfortably so — as the country burns its dead crops. Continued …

Eastern Thailand: Why Travel to this Underrated Region

Eastern Thailand is a stunning region in The Land of Smiles that is often less explored than the rest of the country. It’s a shame, though, because this is one of the best regions of Thailand!

This area has everything from gorgeous, white sand beaches to lush, forested national parks!

If you are looking for ways to enhance your Thailand itinerary, check out our suggestions for having the best time in the region. Continued …

Current vaccines ‘will do’ for coming year: ministry

The second generation of Covid-19 vaccines is unlikely to be included in the Department of Medical Services’ procurement pipeline next year while current vaccines remain effective in reducing severe symptoms, says its deputy director-general.

Dr. Weerawut Iamsamran said on Tuesday that no evidence has emerged to back claims that bivalent vaccines offer better results than the monovalent platforms widely being used to prevent advanced infection and severe symptoms.

“Therefore, the current Covid-19 vaccines can still achieve the goal, especially in reducing severe symptoms of Covid-19,” he said. Continued … 

Massive flight cancellations leave thousands of suitcases stranded at US airports

After a weekend of canceled flights and travel delays, storm-weary travelers in the U.S. found themselves facing yet another challenge – tracking down their lost luggage. In airports around the country, thousands of bags have piled up, waiting for their rightful owners to claim them. Continued … 

Putin bans Russian oil exports to countries that impose price cap

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday delivered Russia’s long-awaited response to a Western price cap, signing a decree that bans the supply of crude oil and oil products from Feb. 1 for five months to nations that impose the cap. Continued …

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, covid, hua hin, marijuana, pattaya, real estate, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Tuesday’s News-Dec 27

  • Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hua Hin/Hua Hin: A magnet for retirees, second home buyers/3 trends shaping Thailand’s new condos and housing projects/2,684 companies close in November; construction sector worst hit/10 Thai stories that trended the most on social media in 2022/Navy chief expresses sorrow at funerals as search resumes for missing crew/Korat’s century-old train station to be demolished to make way for new, modern version/The rise of Chinese electric vehicles in Thailand/What Are Makrut Lime Leaves And How Do You Cook With Them?/20 more Kana Pure cannabis outlets to be opened in Thailand next year/
  • Tourism: Thailand’s tourism story in 2022/7 Airlines To Slash Airfares By Up To 20% From January/From Tokyo to Thailand, Cheap Flights to Asia Are Back/AOT expects 2 million passengers to use its 6 airports from Dec 29-Jan 4/Bangkok a global top 10 NYE party spot/Pattaya reverses course, to hold New Year’s countdown fireworks/
  • Covid: Thai tourism stocks soar as China scraps quarantine measure from Jan 8/China’s COVID-19 Surge Raises Odds Of New Mutant Coronavirus Variant/
  • International: More than 50 perish, so far, in US frigid weather/17 Dead, Nearly 100 Injured After Heavy Snows In Japan/Hong Kongers to pay HK$1 (4.5 baht) per plastic bag at supermarkets/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas

H O T HIGH SEASON D I S C O U N T: 500 BAHT

  • Treat yourself. Get away for the day. Get a beach bed at our Anantasila beach ! 
  • You get a Big Beach Towel for the day
  • You get to use our facilities
  • You are welcome to splash around in our infinity pool
  • You can enjoy the beautiful Anantasila environment
  • You can use the 500 Baht as a credit in our restaurant or beach bar, for food and drinks, up to that 300 Baht

That sounds like a deal, doesn’t it ? Welcome !

The Beach at Anantasila, Khao Takiab, Hua Hin

A spacious safe environment with all measures taken.

For information or reservations: e-mail fb@anantasila.com or dial 032 527638

Your deserve It!

Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hua Hin

New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, as we prepare to say goodbye to 2022.

Despite being a highlight of the social calendar, the previous two years were disrupted by the pandemic, which put a stop to the usual festivities.

However, this year’s festivities promise to be bigger than ever, and if you haven’t yet decided on where you’ll be celebrating, you might want to take a look at this list of parties, events and celebrations taking place across Hua Hin and the surrounding area. Continued … 

Hua Hin: A magnet for retirees, second home buyers

The once quiet little sleepy fishing village favored by the Thai Royal family over this last century is not so quiet and sleepy now. Over the years, many Thais have been buying property in Hua Hin, using it as a weekend getaway or placing it on the rental market.

Additionally, in the last 30 years or so, retirees looking for an easy-going and affordable lifestyle in a more authentic Thai setting started investing and making a home here, some just for the winter months, others for permanent retirement. This resulted in an increase in villas, housing developments and condos, as well as infrastructure and amenities to make living in Hua Hin more comfortable for Thais and foreigners.

The last couple of years have seen further change, primarily brought about by the pandemic and other environmental changes. The mix of buyers in the Hua Hin residential market, particularly condos, has changed significantly, with many buyers coming from Bangkok – including moneyed Thais and expats. Continued …

3 trends shaping Thailand’s new condos and housing projects

New real estate projects must address people’s rising concern over energy prices, the environment, and health issues, a leading property advisory firm cautioned on Monday.

Lumpini Wisdom and Solution Co., the research arm of SET-listed property developer LPN, said developers need to incorporate energy-saving, eco and health standards in their new housing and condo projects if they want to attract the new generation of buyers.

Praphansak Rakchaiwan, CEO of Lumpini Wisdom, said prospective buyers are increasingly focused on these three standards amid the pandemic and energy price crisis. Continued …

2,684 companies close in November; construction sector worst hit

The construction sector suffered the highest casualties among 2,684 companies that went out of business in Thailand in November, according to the Department of Business Development.

The shuttered companies had total registered capital of 9.417 billion baht.

Construction firms accounted for 236 closures or 9% of the total. Second-worst hit was real estate with 108 closures (4%), followed by restaurants with 64 (2%). Continued … 

10 Thai stories that trended the most on social media in 2022

The death of TV actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong topped trending topics during 2022, according to a study by analytics company Wisesight published on Monday.

The company used its Zocial Eye tools to collect data from social media users in Thailand between Jan. 1 and Dec. 20.

The top 10 trending topics were: Continued …

Navy chief expresses sorrow at funerals as search resumes for missing crew

Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, expressed sorrow at not being able to save the lives of HTMS Sukhothai crewmen as he presided over funeral rites on Monday.

Choengchai was speaking at rites for four victims of the ship’s sinking held at Sattahip Navy Crematorium in Chonburi.

The four were identified as Petty Officer Third Class Sarawut Nadi, Seaman Suthipong Hongthong, Seaman Jirawat Thuphom and Seaman Worapong Boonlakhon. Continued …

Korat’s century-old train station to be demolished to make way for new version

Nakhon Ratchasima’s 122-year-old train station will be torn down next year to make way for one that supports the dual-track system of Thailand’s new high-speed railway network.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on Monday that the demolition will kick off in February before a more modern one is built. The new station will be fully compatible with the dual-track, high-speed railway system that is currently in Phase 1 of construction.

The 179-billion-baht Phase 1 covers the 253-kilometer distance between Bangkok and Korat, as the northeast province is also known. Continued … 

The rise of Chinese electric vehicles in Thailand

While sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have been good this year, manufacturers – most notably Chinese automakers – have also marked a new chapter for Thailand’s auto industry through significant investment projects.

Great Wall Motor (GWM), MG, BYD and Neta are all building their brands in Thailand, together with plans to secure market share, develop production facilities and use the country as their export base, according to Surapong Paisitpatanapong, vice chairman and spokesman for the Federation of Thai Industries’ Automotive Industry Club.

The Neta brand has the ability to make its competitors stand in awe in terms of the business direction of its manufacturer, Hozon New Energy Automobile, said Surapong. Continued … 

What Are Makrut Lime Leaves And How Do You Cook With Them?

Pad thai and papaya salad are infamous examples of Thai food, yet they’re only a tiny snippet of a complex, varied cuisine. From the spicy, bold curries of southern Thailand to the herbal, vegetable-driven dishes of the north (via Culture Trip), it’s hard to encapsulate Thai food into a single entity.

However, some pantry staples unite all the styles — fish sauce, coriander seeds, garlic, ginger, and aromatics like lemongrass and makrut lime leavess. Especially the latter — the deep green makrut lime leaves contribute an unmistakably citrusy, earthy flavor. Balancing other components with a strong zest, their brightness is an essential component of Thai cuisine.

Also making frequent appearances in Laotian, Vietnamese, and Indonesian food, it’s safe to say the food punches far above its weight. So let’s dive into this herbal ingredient and how to cook with it — its flavor is unlike anything else. Continued …

20 more Kana Pure cannabis outlets to be opened in Thailand next year

Bespoke, a subsidiary of Boutique Corp., is opening 20 more fully licensed Kana Pure cannabis outlets in Thailand next year.

Prab Thakral, president and Group CEO of Boutique, stated at the opening of the third outlet on Monday that the plan was developed after positive feedback from the two licensed cannabis outlets, giving the company confidence to expand nationwide.

However, the exact location has yet to be determined, but it is likely to be on Boutique’s own property, the parent company of Kana Pure. Continued …

Thailand’s tourism story in 2022

Thai tourism in the first half of the year was like riding a roller coaster, as the “Test & Go” program – the country’s reopening initiative – was suspended in January in the wake of the Omicron variant, which spread rapidly since the end of last year.

The tourism industry was able to take a deep breath again once the scheme was allowed to resume in February. However, since the high season was set to come to an end and many of the requirements of the program remained in place, the response was not as impressive as anticipated, with only 152,954 visitors recorded during that month.

The Test & Go program initially required travelers to register in the Thailand Pass system and pre-book a room for Covid-19 testing upon arrival. Each visitor was required to have insurance coverage of US$50,000 and a vaccination record. Continued …

7 Airlines To Slash Airfares By Up To 20% From January

The Thai Airline Assn. said yesterday that seven airlines are going to cut airfares by up to 20% from January after the government reduced the excise tax on jet fuel to only 20 satang per liter to stimulate tourism.

Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of the association, said excise tax on jet fuel was cut to 20 satang per liter from 4.726 baht for six months starting January.

All seven airlines will be jointly organizing a special promotion with all air fares to be gradually reduced by up to 20% depending on how each airline arranges it. Continued … 

From Tokyo to Thailand, Cheap Flights to Asia Are Back

After two-plus years off limits, trips to Japan are suddenly a reality again. Same goes for Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, and almost everywhere in between.

It took a bit longer than the rest of the world, but nearly all of Asia has reopened to travelers … and the timing couldn’t be better. Whether you want to score a flight for under $700 round-trip (or much less) or score a lie-flat business class seat using your points, cheap flights to Asia for a trip in 2023 are back on the menu, too!

From Phuket to Tokyo, our Thrifty Traveler Premium team keeps finding tons of great fares to visit some of the best destinations on the continent. Continued …

AOT expects 2 million passengers to use its 6 airports from Dec 29-Jan 4

Thailand’s key economic stimulus is likely to see a boost during this holiday season as the Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) says that the number of tourists could see a rise of nearly 170% year-on-year as Thailand’s tourism sector has seen a resurgence.

AOT said during this New Year break it expects to see as many as 2 million passengers using its services at its six airports, which would be a 170% rise year-on-year, as Thailand only started to open its borders to foreign tourists on July 1, 2022.

The 2 million passengers (domestic and international), AOT said, would be a 171.3% increase from the same last year, and AOT will see 12,190 flights, or an increase of 87%, as people start to travel more amid lesser fear of Covid-19. Continued …

Bangkok a global top 10 NYE party spot

Bangkok has been named among the top 10 destinations in the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve this year, as it booms back to life after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a CNN report.

The report said Bangkok often tops roundups of Asia’s best nightlife cities. So, of course, it’s a natural place to ring in the New Year if people like crowds, bright lights, noise and revelry. Continued … 

Pattaya reverses course, to hold New Year’s countdown fireworks

It seems that Pattaya authorities have changed their mind and will go ahead with the firework display at the New Year countdown celebration on Dec. 31.

According to the Pattaya mayor, the New Year celebration will include national-level fireworks displays but only on Dec. 31 in Pattaya and Koh Larn. The fireworks will be prohibited only from Dec. 29-30 as per the previous announcement.

Apart from this, the authorities said the countdown event in Pattaya will feature concerts and other activities such as shopping and eating, as usual. Continued …

Thai tourism stocks soar as China scraps quarantine measure from Jan 8

China will scrap quarantine measures for overseas arrivals starting Jan. 8, in what is seen as a game changer for Thailand’s tourism industry.

Chinese health authorities announced the move on Monday after nearly three years of strict pandemic border restrictions effectively prevented tourists from leaving the country. China was Thai tourism’s largest overseas market before the pandemic struck in 2020.

China’s National Health Commission (NHC) added that travelers would only need a PCR test taken 48 hours pre-flight to enter China. Continued …

China’s COVID-19 Surge Raises Odds Of New Mutant Coronavirus Variant

Could the COVID-19 surge in China unleash a new coronavirus mutant on the world?

Scientists don’t know but worry that might happen. It could be similar to omicron variants circulating there now. It could be a combination of strains. Or something entirely different, they say.

“China has a population that is very large and there’s limited immunity. And that seems to be the setting in which we may see an explosion of a new variant,” said Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University. Continued …

More than 50 perish, so far, in US frigid weather

Buffalo residents hovered around space heaters, hunted for cars buried in snow drifts and looked for more victims Monday, after 28 people died in one of the worst weather-related disasters ever to hit western New York. Continued … 

17 Dead, Nearly 100 Injured After Heavy Snows In Japan

Heavy snow in large swaths of Japan has killed 17 and injured more than 90 people, and left hundreds of homes without power, disaster management officials said Monday. Continued … 

Hong Kongers to pay HK$1 (4.5 baht) per plastic bag at supermarkets

Hongkongers will pay HK$1 (4.5 baht) for each plastic bag they take at supermarkets and wet markets from next week. The charge is aimed at cutting down waste, and it is doubling in its first increase in 13 years. Continued …

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, hospitality, hua hin, marijuana, pattaya, phuket, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Saturday’s News-Dec 24

  • Centara Grand Beach Resort Hua Hin celebrates 100th anniversary/Elephant Santas deliver presents at Thai school/Kindergarten students save up to buy blankets for the needy in northern Thailand/Foreigner in Thailand Cooks Christmas Feast for Street Dogs – video/January fuel tariff hike will raise product prices by 5%-12%, warns group/Why everyone is confused by khao soi being named the best soup in the world/Rescuers scouring Chumphon islands for missing HTMS Sukhothai sailors/Body found near spot where HTMS Sukhothai sank/Sunken Warship’s Life Jacket Found Near Koh Tao/Chula academics warn of challenges in shift to EVs/Thailand Legal Cannabis Market Size, Share and Trends Analysis/Weed’s next frontier is in Asia/
  • Tourism: Thailand welcomes nearly 11 million tourists this year/New Year celebrations not canceled yet, officials say/Khao San Road cancels Dec 31 ‘Countdown’ event/Bangkok 2023 countdown at Iconsiam still on/Foreigners donate blood after massive shortage due to foreigner mishaps/Outbound travelers surge to 3-year high/Could Thailand’s Southeast Coastal Gem Khanom Be the Next Koh Samui?/
  • Links: Airport schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas

Centara Grand Beach Resort Hua Hin celebrates 100th anniversary

Centara Hotels & Resorts is getting ready to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of its historic Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, home of the original Raliway Hotel Hua Hin, with a month of spectacular events, exhibitions and entertainment lined up at the seaside retreat.

Festivities begin on Dec. 31 with the “Centenary Celebration: 100 Years of Memories”. The evening will feature retro tunes from the 1950’s–1980’s, entertainment, and midnight fireworks.

Events continue into January, highlights of which include the Silpakorn University String Orchestra, the return of the resort’s French buffet with a live performance by French tenor Yves Baron, and an art exhibition featuring the Railway Hotel throughout its history. – traveldailynews.asia

Elephant Santas deliver presents at Thai school

A group of mahouts, each dressed as Santa Claus, led a herd of elephants into a school in central Thailand on Friday to distribute Christmas gifts to students. Video https://www.nationthailand.com/world/40023384

Kindergarten students save up to buy blankets for the needy in northern Thailand

Kindergarten students in Chiang Rai province in northernmost Thailand saved up one baht every day for a year to buy blankets for people suffering in the cold weather this winter, especially those living at high altitudes in the province’s mountainous regions.

Teachers at Chiang Rai Kindergarten invited students to join a charitable project entitled “Doing 89 Million Good Deeds for the King” to develop their social skills and teach them the importance of sharing.

Each child, aged five to six years old, was encouraged to save up one baht per day for one year to buy blankets. The children were told the blankets would be donated to underprivileged people suffering from cold weather this winter. Continued … 

Foreigner in Thailand Cooks Christmas Feast for Street Dogs – video

Over the next few days, people across the world will be tucking into their favorite food for Christmas – and why should our furry friends miss out on the fun?

A man in Thailand has gone viral online for celebrating Christmas with street dogs. Niall Harbison works to help stray dogs in the country, and posted videos online of him treating 100 to a real festive feast.

“Street dogs around the world have a hard life,” he began in the caption. “But this group of 100 here in Thailand today were made (to) feel very special. I was up at 4.30am to cook them the finest meal of their lives and people have been sending me toys from all over the world so I saved them up for today. Most of these dogs have never seen a toy in their lives. Continued … 

January fuel tariff hike will raise product prices by 5%-12%, warns group

The fuel tariff (FT) increase in January will force manufacturers to raise product prices by 5%-12%, industry chiefs warned on Thursday.

The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) voiced concern after the government announced subsidies to soften the FT hike’s impact on household utility bills but prepared no such measures for business.

The January-April increase in FT will drive up the cost of electricity to 5.69 baht per unit, the JSCCIB said. Continued …

Why everyone is confused by khao soi being named the best soup in the world

TasteAtlas has named khao soi as the number one soup in the world, and the internet has so many questions. Us included. This is why many are confused by khao soi getting the #1 spot.

According to Cambridge Dictionary, a soup (n.) is a usually hot, liquid food made from vegetables, meat, or fish. What about Oxford? They describe it as “a liquid food made by boiling meat, vegetables, etc. in water, often eaten as the first course of a meal.”

That’s very understandable. When we think of soup, we think of liquid food. Most of the time it’s hot, but there are also cold soups, such as gazpacho and chilled soups. It can be sweet, sour, savory, salty, and made with vegetables, various kinds of meat, or sometimes even fruits. There are so many kinds of soups with different variations in every corner in the world, served in your homes or cafes, to fine dining. But one thing’s in common: they’re basically liquid food. Continued …

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That sounds like a deal, doesn’t it ? Welcome !

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Rescuers scouring Chumphon islands for missing HTMS Sukhothai sailors

The search for 23 HTMS Sukhothai sailors missing in the Gulf of Thailand resumed on Friday, as the Royal Thai Navy issued an update on their mission to probe the ship on the seabed.

The search mission for the sailors launched for a fifth day on Friday in the seas off Chumphon and Surat Thani provinces. The Navy also released the names of the missing personnel.

Rescuers are now checking islands and outcrops off Chumphon for any signs of the 23 sailors, who went missing when the Sukhothai sank in heavy seas about 20 nautical miles off Prachuap Khiri Khan on Sunday night. The vessel was knocked over and suffered an engine malfunction as it took on water. Continued … 

Body found near spot where HTMS Sukhothai sank

Another body has been found floating near the spot where HTMS Sukhothai sank off Prachuap Khiri Khan, but the navy has yet to confirm whether it is one of its 23 missing sailors.

A search team on the HTMS Bang Rachan found the body around 4:15pm on Friday off the coast of Bang Saphan district, Royal Thai Navy spokesman Adm Pokkrong Monthatpalin said. Continued … 

Sunken Warship’s Life Jacket Found Near Koh Tao

A life jacket from HTMS 442 Sukhothai that sank off Prachuab Khiri Khan on Sunday night was found floating near Koh Tao, almost a hundred nautical miles away, but no sailor seen nearby.

At 10.15 a.m., Surat Thani Gov. Wichawut Jinto was alerted about a life jacket not worn by a sailor being seen floating in the sea about 25 nautical miles from Koh Tao island.

Wichawut then instructed the officials to alert the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center in Chumphon to instruct their officers based on this island to bring the item ashore and inspect it. Continued …

Chula academics warn of challenges in shift to EVs

The government and businesses must brace for new disruptions and challenges as Thailand shifts to the electric vehicle (EV) era, part of state efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, say Chulalongkorn University scholars.

At present, more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in Thailand come from the transport and power generation sectors, so businesses in these sectors need to adapt themselves as the government promotes more use of clean energy and zero-emission cars, according to the researchers.

Thailand’s consumption of fossil fuels is expected to peak in 2030, then decrease significantly as a result of the government’s renewable energy and EV development plans, said Weerin Wangjiraniran, a researcher at Chulalongkorn University’s Energy Research Institute (ERI) during a seminar on the impact of the carbon neutrality campaign yesterday. Continued …

Thailand Legal Cannabis Market Size, Share and Trends Analysis

The Thailand legal cannabis market size is expected to reach USD 9.6 billion by 2030 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 58.4% from 2022 to 2030

The growth is attributed to the rising usage of cannabis for recreational and medical purposes. Cannabis legalization has opened new revenue-generating opportunities for various industries in the country. The adoption of CBD oil and tinctures for treating various ailments like nausea, anxiety, and cancer, along with the rising prevalence of cancer are some of the significant factors boosting the industry’s growth.

The growing burden of chronic pain has also augmented the rise in the usage of CBD for treatments related to pain management, and thus, positively impacting the market growth. Various studies have shown positive outcomes of marijuana and its derivatives to treat symptoms of several chronic conditions.

For instance, it has been effectively used to treat patients dealing with chronic pain, nausea induced by chemotherapy, and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Hence, FDA and other government organizations are permitting marijuana derivatives for the prescription of several diseases. This is one of the key factors for the quick turnaround. Continued …

Weed’s next frontier is in Asia

Asia is beginning to warm up to the use of cannabis. Thailand legalized marijuana cultivation at home in 2022, while South Korea, Japan and Malaysia are paving the way for pharmaceutical applications. With the weed market estimated to be a $100 billion industry by 2026, according to research firm Prohibition Partners, regional businesses are preparing for demand from Asian consumers.

The Thai decision to remove cannabis from narcotics control lists is nominally to support its medical use, but this will naturally ease recreational consumption, which may boost international tourist inflows.

Renewable energy firm Gunkul Engineering committed 2 billion baht ($57.6 million) to building a new cannabis plantation and extraction facilities, local Thai media reported. Cannabis-leaf chicken leg snacks and cannabidiol-infused green teas made by Bangkok-listed Srinanaporn Marketingand Ichitan Group already line the shelves of local supermarkets. Continued …

Thailand welcomes nearly 11 million tourists this year

Tourist arrivals in Thailand could hit the 11 million mark before the year is through, according to the governor of the Tourism Author ity of Thailand (TAT), Yuthasak Supaporn.

Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 20, Thailand welcomed 10.9 million tourists from around the world, the governor said this morning.

With high season in full swing, Yuthasak said he expects tourist arrivals to reach 11.5 million before the year’s end. Continued … 

New Year celebrations not canceled yet, officials say

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) backs New Year countdowns and celebrations going ahead as planned as long as the government does not order any cancellations.

TAT Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn said, at the moment, the TAT has not yet received any warning that an order of this nature is forthcoming after a number of provinces decided to downgrade their countdown events this year.

Neither the tourism minister nor Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had given any indication that events supported by private sector partnerships across 12 provinces were in jeopardy, he said. Continued … 

Khao San Road cancels Dec 31 ‘Countdown’ event

Khao San Road in Bangkok became the latest high profile tourist venue to cancel their special “countdown” event on New Year’s Eve.

The street’s traders’ association chief Sagna Reuangwattanakun said he was responding to official requests to tone down celebrations. But he said businesses in the area would still be open on Dec. 31.

Instead of a big fuss, there would be a giant ball for tourists to take pictures with and live TV scenes from other places around the world celebrating New Year. – Sanook

Bangkok 2023 countdown at Iconsiam still on

Bangkok’s “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023” at Iconsiam on New Year’s Eve has not been canceled, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) insisted.

TAT Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn said on Friday that no cancellation orders have arrived from the government or the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

“The ‘Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023’ focuses on happiness, hope and moving forward together to boost the country’s economy after it was hit by the pandemic for five years,” he said. – The Nation

Foreigners donate blood after massive shortage due to foreigner mishaps

Foreigners donated blood after a massive shortage of Rh Negative in Phuket due to increasing numbers of foreigners who have been involved in accidents.

The donations Thursday were held at the Central Floresta department store.

Dr. Weerasak Lorthongkam, the director of the Vachira Phuket Hospital, said, “In Thai people, there are only 0.3 percent who have special blood types. Continued … 

Outbound travelers surge to 3-year high

The New Year holiday is expected to see 33,400 Thais traveling overseas every day, increasing from an average of 28,000, mainly driven by pent-up demand from years of the pandemic, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

TAT Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn said the number of Thai travelers was surging as many popular destinations have reopened with no restrictions.

Meanwhile, weaker foreign currencies against the baht were also helping the growing outbound market, he said. Continued …

Could Thailand’s Southeast Coastal Gem Khanom Be the Next Koh Samui?

The search for the next big resort destination in Thailand is an absolutely big ask. Thailand is an expansive country with 77 provinces and an amazing array of diverse geographical locations, Instagram-worthy aspects, and distinctly different nuances.

Out of this brazen travel chaos, the endearing term “same same, but different” was born and remains highly relevant.

Yet, one of the simple truths of emerging destinations remains the adage “you can’t stay there if you can’t get there”. Potential is one thing but reality bites when getting to it is just too painful for words.

Here in Thailand, one of my favorite places is Koh Samui. It marches to its own drum beat, and the vibe is undeniable. Still, access is never easy, the cost to get there is on the high side, and options for access are limited. Continued …

 

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