- Phetchaburi immigration office moves to Cha Am district/
- Cha Am Bikini Beach Run tomorrow/
- Thailand’s economic outlook upgraded to 3.9% in 2023/
- Asia-Pacific banks said safe from US contagion/
- Thailand ready to dissolve Parliament, as PM submits decree to King/
- 2023 election: number of voters in each generation/
- Commentary: Wildlife wars must end/
- Elephant filmed stopping trucks for food/
- Thailand to celebrate 241st anniversary of Bangkok as its capital/
- SRT on right track to lead Thailand’s green recovery/
- AmChams Thailand Holds Asia Pacific Business Summit/
- Gold prices up Bt500 to Bt31,750/
- Diesel to dip to 33.5 baht a liter next week/
- Draft bill sets in motion protection, legalization of sex work/
- Thai man ‘nearly dies’ after replacing water with kratom tea/
- Tourism: Pattaya island Koh Larn draws in 130,000 tourists this month/Bangkok’s Khao San Road hopes for Songkran boom/Is Chiang Mai Safe? Here’s What You Need To Know/Russians flee for Thailand to avoid Ukraine war call-up as they ‘take over’ top resorts/Why Amsterdam wants tourists to ‘stay away’/
- Thailand Experience: Isan, Thailand: Unique culinary capital/
- International: Arrest warrant issued against Putin over alleged war crimes/Credit Suisse at a crossroads as stocks slide again/Mountain forests disappearing at alarming rate/UN: Environmental threat looms as bottled water consumption grows exponentially/Golf’s ruling bodies clash with pros over plans to reduce golf ball distance/
- Links: Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
Phetchaburi immigration office moves to Cha Am district
Cha Am Bikini Beach Run tomorrow
Thailand’s economic outlook upgraded to 3.9% in 2023
SCB EIC revised Thailand’s economic growth forecast to 3.9% (previously 3.4%) in 2023, thanks to an upbeat rebound from the tourism and service sectors.
Foreign tourist arrivals will likely hit 30 million in 2023 before resuming the pre-pandemic pace by late 2024.
With China lifting its zero-Covid restrictions, Chinese visitors should bounce back to around 4.8 million this year, alongside improving tourist arrivals from other countries. Continued …
Asia-Pacific banks safe from US contagion
Asia-Pacific banks are resilient to risks related to the failures of their U.S. peers, says Fitch Ratings, noting that regional banks have limited direct exposure to Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank.
“The direct exposures among Fitch-rated banks in Asia-Pacific to SVB and Signature that we are aware of are not material to their credit profiles,” the global rating agency said in a statement on Friday.
Few Fitch-rated banks in the region have depositor concentration profiles similar to SVB, which left it vulnerable to a run. Continued …
Thailand ready to dissolve Parliament, as PM submits decree to King
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Friday that he has prepared a decree to dissolve the Parliament and that it is awaiting royal endorsement.
Once approved, the decree will go into effect after being published in the Royal Gazette. As per the Constitution, the election should be held 45 to 60 days after Parliament is dissolved.
Prayut was speaking to the press while visiting the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Center on Friday as part of his election campaign. Continued …
2023 election: number of voters in each generation
The number of eligible voters in each age group will help determine which generation will have the greatest influence in the upcoming election.
According to the Bureau of Registration Administration, Thailand’s population as of December 2022 stood at 66,090,475, split into 32,270,615 men and 33,819,860 women.
However, the total number of qualified voters for the upcoming election is 52,322,824, which can be categorized as follows: Continued …
Wildlife wars must end
As Thailand celebrates National Elephant Day this week, the country is facing a paradoxical experience, with a surge in human-elephant conflicts that sometimes prove fatal.
March 13 was designated national elephant day in 1998. On the one hand, the elephant is glorified as a national symbol. In bygone days, the national flag even carried the image of an elephant.
On the other hand, human-elephant conflicts, as a result of shrinking habitats due to human expansion, are intensified. Food and sometimes water shortages drive wild elephants to raid farms and plantations, as well as villages. Continued …
Elephant filmed stopping trucks for food
A video of an elephant stopping trucks on a road in Thailand has been misleadingly shared in Facebook and Twitter posts about Cambodia. The clip actually was filmed in Chachoengsao province, east of Bangkok. A road sign seen in the video and the fact the vehicles are driving on the left side of the road also show the encounter took place in Thailand.
“Elephants in Cambodia have learned to exploit their right of way and stop passing sugar cane trucks to steal a snack. 0.5% road tax being collected by these intelligent beings,” reads the misleading claim shared on Twitter on March 6.
Regardless where it occurred, it’s fun to watch. Video …
Thailand to celebrate 241st anniversary of Bangkok as its capital
Thailand will celebrate the 241st anniversary of Bangkok serving as its capital around Rattanakosin Island. The Ministry of Culture and more than 30 other agencies are teaming up to hold the event between April 21-25, just a week after the Thai New Year of Songkran.
Organizers are hoping to promote tourism and create awareness of the history of Krung Rattanakosin. Religious ceremonies, a “Night Museum”, multimedia light and sound shows, a photo contest, and outdoor film screenings are being planned for the event. Continued …
SRT on right track to lead Thailand’s green recovery
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is on the right track after announcing plans to build a hospital and develop land around Thon Buri Railway Station into an environmentally friendly zone, to lead the way in Thailand’s green recovery.
The transit-oriented development (TOD) project is the first of its kind in the country, designed to bring people, human activities, residential buildings and public space within walking distance of public transport.
The company will call bids for the project, which is set to be divided into several phases over about 20 years. The winning bidder for the 14-rai development project could put up a condo or apartments with no more than 13 storys, as stipulated by city ordinance. Continued …
AmChams Thailand Holds Asia Pacific Business Summit
The AmChams of Asia Pacific Business Summit 2023, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM Thailand), in partnership with Trade Winds ASEAN and the U.S. Commercial Services, recently took place over three days.
This event was the largest U.S. government trade mission, with over 100 American businesses participating, offering numerous opportunities for networking, business development, and one-on-one meetings with the U.S. Foreign Commercial Services Department to gain insights on investing in the region.
“The AmChams of Asia Pacific Business Summit 2023 brought together key players in the American and Asian business communities for a three-day event that provided valuable insights into the latest trends and challenges in the region, said AMCHAM Executive Director Heidi Gallant. Continued …
Gold prices up Bt500 to Bt31,750
The Gold Traders Assn. today announced the buying prices at 31,078 baht per baht-weight for gold ornament and 31,650 baht per baht-weight for gold bar.
The selling prices were set at 32,250 baht per baht-weight for gold ornaments, and 31,750 baht per baht-weight for gold bar.
The prices rose 500 baht from Friday’s close, the highest since March 1. Continued …
Diesel to dip to 33.5 baht a liter next week
Motorists will see another dip in diesel prices to around 33.5 baht a liter next week, down from 33.94 baht, partly attributed to falling global crude oil prices, says the Oil Fuel Fund Office (OFFO).
The new price, scheduled to take effect on March 24, is the third in a series of deductions made since early February when the retail price of diesel was 34.94 baht a liter.
Diesel under Platts reference prices plunged to US$103 a barrel on average in February, down from $133 in January, and declined to $102 yesterday, said Wisak Watanasap, director of the OFFO. Continued …
Draft bill sets in motion protection, legalization of sex work
A bill to protect sex workers is being drafted to legalize sex work in a bid to prevent them from exploitation.
Narong Jaihan, a lecturer from the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University, on Friday said the bill, drafted by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), will legalize sex work and limit the minimum age to provide or buy the service.
Sex workers under 20 will not be guilty, but legal action will instead be taken against business operators that employ them underage, as well as their parents, Narong said. Continued …
Thai man ‘nearly dies’ after replacing water with kratom tea
A Thai man says he “nearly died” after replacing drinking water with kratom tea. Now, he’s warning others against abusing the formally-illegal plant.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. The leaves of the kratom tree are known for their opioid and stimulant-like effects.
Leaves of the kratom tree have been used for centuries in Thailand, in traditional medicine as well as by farmers who chew kratom leaves to sustain their energy levels while working in the fields. Continued …
Pattaya island Koh Larn draws in 130,000 tourists this month
Pattaya‘s picturesque island of Koh Larn is proving to be a hit with tourists this month, with over 130,000 tourists flocking to the island. Officials expect this number to rise as Chinese tourists start to return to the area.
Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai said on Wednesday that Koh Larn saw an average of 10,000 visitors per day in the first two weeks of March. Manote noted that 70% of these tourists were Thai, with the two largest foreign groups being Russians and Indians. Continued …
Bangkok’s Khao San Road hopes for Songkran boom
The Songkran festival is likely to return to Khao San Road this year, as tourism operators are discussing possible events to lure visitors after the authorities prohibited water splashing last year.
Splashing occurred on the first day of Songkran last year on Khao San Road as tourists were unaware of the prohibition, with authorities enforcing the ban for the remainder of the festival. Continued …
Is Chiang Mai Safe? Here’s What You Need To Know
Out of all the cities I’ve visited worldwide, there is only a handful where I experienced “love at first sight.” Chiang Mai, the peaceful mountain city in northern Thailand, was one.
Although technically a city, its small size, laid-back atmosphere, and breathtaking mountainous scenery don’t make it feel like one. For these reasons and more, this northern Thai city is becoming increasingly popular among tourists and digital nomads.
If you’ve heard incredible things about Chiang Mai and are considering a trip here, you may wonder, “Is Chiang Mai safe?” Continued …
Russians flee for Thailand to avoid Ukraine war call-up as they ‘take over’ top resorts
Tens of thousands of Russians have fled to Thailand to escape a Ukraine war call-up. Top tourist resorts, such as Phuket, have been swamped with draft dodgers.
Some have taken over neighborhoods and have no intention of returning home.
Figures show at least 233,000 Russians have arrived on the isle of Phuket alone since November. The flood has led to a home price boom, as wealthy middle- class arrivals rent or buy to stay indefinitely on residential visas.
In Pattaya, would-be conscript Nikolai, 25, said he had traveled between Thailand, Cambodia and Laos to escape a call-up. Continued …
Why Amsterdam wants tourists to ‘stay away’
Amsterdam is taking a step closer to saying good riddance to wild bachelor parties and rowdy tourists.
The popular destination is launching a new campaign this spring aimed at curbing tourism-induced “nuisance and overcrowding” and building a more responsible visitor economy by 2035, according to the city’s tourism plan. The campaign’s new rules will impact some of the top tourist attractions: the Red Light District, river cruises, pub crawls and coffee shops.
City officials say they are tired of businesses who “abuse the city’s image to promote it as a place of ‘unlimited opportunity,’ ” according to the Vision on Tourism in Amsterdam 2035. The city has long attracted tourists from around the world wanting to experience its liberal laws around prostitution and tolerance of soft drugs. Continued …
Isan, Thailand: Unique culinary capital
Chances are you’ve already tried food from Isan, and you might not even know it. The largest region in Thailand, which hugs the border with Laos and Cambodia in the country’s northeast, has given us such classic dishes as som tum (green papaya salad) and larb (ground meat salad), and its diaspora is spreading this sour, spicy, herbaceous cooking style far and wide.
The cuisine is becoming so ubiquitous abroad, in fact, that an Isan restaurant in tiny Randolph, Vermont, called Saap, earned last year’s James Beard Award for best chef in the Northeast.
Those who venture to this off-the-beaten-path region of Thailand teeming with rice fields are rewarded with national parks and Khmer temple ruins that rival Angkor Wat, and now: Michelin-recommended restaurants. This year, the company expanded its Thailand guide to include Isan, doling out 33 Bib Gourmand designations across the region to spots like Kai Yang Saeng Thai, which has been serving its herb-marinated rotisserie chicken since 1967, and Lab Nua, known for its fiery salads and rice field snail soup. Continued and video …
Arrest warrant issued against Putin over alleged war crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on Friday against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for war crimes committed in Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied accusations that its forces have committed atrocities during its one-year-old invasion of its neighbor. Continued …
Credit Suisse at a crossroads as stocks slide again
Credit Suisse shares fell again Friday despite being bolstered by the Swiss central bank, as investors worry about which road the embattled lender will take to try and restore confidence. Continued …
Mountain forests disappearing at alarming rate
Logging, wildfires and farming are causing mountain forests, habitat to 85% of the world’s birds, mammals and amphibians, to vanish at an alarming rate, according to a study published on Friday. Continued …
UN: Environmental threat looms as bottled water consumption grows exponentially
More than 1 million bottles of drinking water are sold globally every minute, which comes at a significant environmental, climate, and social cost, a new United Nations report said. Continued …
Golf’s ruling bodies clash with pros over plans to reduce golf ball distance
Some of the world’s top professional golfers slammed plans by golf’s ruling bodies to impose restrictions on the distance that golf balls can travel during elite tournaments. Continued …
Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule
The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.
- Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
- Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm
Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day
Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. 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-Chiang Mai flight schedules
