- Tourism: Songkran forecast: Domestic tourism surge dampened by trickle of foreign arrivals/Songkran spending to surge to Bt125 billion/Over 14,200 flights, 2.37 million passengers expected at 6 airports during Songkran week/More than 90,000 Tourists to Visit Surat Thani, Samui Island During Songkran/Khon Kaen is the most affordable tourist destination in Thailand: Agoda/3 Bangkok expressways tollfree on Thursday, motorways free for Songkran/Maldivian tourist caught smuggling 25 live birds/Australian Resort Boss Murdered While at Work in Krabi/Phuket Airport gains new direct flights to Vietnam and China/
- In other Thai news: Inflation up 2.83% in March, slowest pace in 15 months/FDA warns public of toxic hair dye/Exports expected to decline in first half/’Man-made’ fires rage in Chiang Mai/Thai badminton ace becomes a cop: ‘It’s something I’ve always wanted’, says Ratchanok/A twist in the case of the kidnapped and murdered Chinese student/Chinese trio facing prospect of execution for a horrific murder in Thailand/
- Thailand Experience: It’s mango season: A guide to the best mangoes in Thailand/How many elephants are left in the world?/Where do tigers live? Tigers have a diverse range of habitats/
- International: Trump pleads not guilty to 34 criminal charges in New York/Johnson & Johnson proposes $8.9-billion settlement of talc cancer claims/
- 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
Songkran forecast: Domestic tourism surge dampened by trickle of foreign arrivals
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects to see 13.5 billion baht in revenue from domestic tourism during the Songkran holidays (April 13-16), up 22% from 11 billion baht last year.
However, it is far less optimistic about foreign arrivals over the traditional New Year.
The tourism agency estimates Thais will make up to 3.8 million trips to domestic attractions this Songkran, a rise of 14% from the 3.34 million trips made last year. Continued …
Songkran spending to surge to Bt125 billion
Spending sentiment for the upcoming Songkran festival is expected to be lively as people have been hesitant for many months, but the country’s economy is showing signs of recovery, driven by rapidly reviving tourism.
According to the latest survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), spending during the festival is expected to increase by 17.3% to 125 billion baht, up from 107 billion in 2022. Continued …
Over 14,200 flights, 2.37 million passengers expected at 6 airports during Songkran week
As many as 14,220 flights are expected to be operated at six airports during the Songkran festival from April 11 to 17 this year, 59.6% higher than in the previous year, Airports of Thailand (AOT) said on Tuesday.
AOT runs Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang (Chiang Rai), Phuket and Hat Yai airports.
“The 14,220 include 7,500 international and 6,720 domestic flights,” AOT said. Continued …
More than 90,000 Tourists to Visit Surat Thani, Samui Island During Songkran
More than 67,000 foreign tourists, and 23,000 Thai tourists are expected to visit Surat Thani, including Samui Island, during the Songkran Festival period.
Surat Thani Gov.Vichawut Jintoe said from April 13 to April 16 the tourism authority is expecting to welcome 91,000 tourists.
Of those, 23,000 will be Thai tourists, while 60,000 will be foreign tourists. Continued …
Khon Kaen is the most affordable tourist destination in Thailand: Agoda
With many across Asia and Australia looking forward to long weekends and holidays in the coming weeks, price-savvy travelers will be happy to learn that Agoda crunched the numbers to reveal the cheapest tourist destinations. In Thailand, it’s Khon Kaen, where travelers can enjoy the most competitive room rates this month.
The digital travel platform analyzed the average room rates of tourist destinations in April. In Thailand, Khon Kaen is the most affordable tourist destination, with an average room rate of 1,030 THB. Also in Thailand’s top 5 are Surat Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani and Hat Yai, respectively. Continued …
3 Bangkok expressways tollfree on Thursday, motorways free for Songkran
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has announced that it is waiving toll fees for three expressways on Thursday to mark Chakri Memorial Day.
The Highways Department, meanwhile, will allow motorists to use four motorways for free during the long Songkran holidays. Continued …
Maldivian tourist caught smuggling 25 live birds
Officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok caught a tourist attempting to smuggle 25 exotic live birds out of Thailand on a flight to the Maldives yesterday morning.
Customs officials made the discovery when they inspected luggage destined to board flight PG711 to Malé in the Maldives, reported Prasert Sornsathapornkul, the director of the Division for the Protection of Wildlife and Wild Plants under the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Continued …
Australian Resort Boss Murdered While at Work in Krabi
A 57-year-old Australian resort boss was killed by the husband of one of his employees who was apparently upset about her pay at a resort in Krabi.
The Ao Nang Police tsaid they were notified by the Krabi Hospital that a foreign man had been pronounced dead yesterday morning. Multiple stab and slash wounds were found on his body, said Ao Nang police. Continued …
Phuket Airport gains new direct flights to Vietnam and China
Phuket International Airport in southern Thailand is gaining two new direct flights to China and Vietnam. The first is to Chongqing in China operated by Chongqing Airlines and the second is the first-ever service from Phuket to Hanoi in Vietnam serviced by VietJet.
Chongqing Airlines’ inaugural flight OQ2093 landed on the runway in Phuket yesterday afternoon with 128 tourists on board. Tourists were welcomed with gifts from Airports of Thailand (AOT) staff. Continued …
In other Thai news:
Inflation up 2.83% in March, slowest pace in 15 months
Thailand’s headline consumer price index (CPI) rose a less than forecast 2.83% in March from a year earlier, the slowest pace in 15 months due to lower energy and food prices, the Commerce Ministry said.
The reading compared with a forecast rise of 3.3% in March in a Reuters poll. The core CPI index was up 1.75% in March from a year ago, versus a forecast increase of 1.82%. Continued …
FDA warns public of toxic hair dye
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday warned consumers that three South Korean hair-dyeing products contain cancer-causing chemicals.
The FDA said the products are Seedbee’s Water Coloring Medium Brown and Seedbee’s Water Coloring Wine Brown, both by Soky C&T Co., and Mielle Professional’s Blondie Anne Treatment Color Cream by JPS Cosmetics Co. Continued …
Exports expected to decline in first half
The Thai export sector faces a spate of challenges in 2023, with a trade group forecasting that shipments may decline by as much as 7.4% in the first half of the year.
The export sector may not recover in the second quarter of 2023 and contract by about 5%, before rebounding by 1.8% and 12% in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. Continued …
‘Man-made’ fires rage in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai declared four more areas as wildfire crisis zones on Tuesday amid growing concerns over the North’s haze pollution problem.
The four areas cover 10 villages in Mae Taeng district and six villages in Phrao district, said Chiang Mai Gov. Nirat Pongsitthaworn. Continued …
Thai badminton ace becomes a cop: ‘It’s something I’ve always wanted’, says Ratchanok
Thai badminton ace Ratchanok Intanon, 28, has fulfilled a dream to become a member of the Royal Thai Police.
She is now lieutenant sergeant major. But still known as May to most.
The current world number 8 and still Thai number one from Yasothon in the northeast, was on Facebook with the good news. Continued …
A twist in the case of the kidnapped and murdered Chinese student
The murder of the Chinese student in Nonthaburi province last week was motivated by a soured love affair between the victim and one of her three abductors. The ransom story was just a diversion created by the abductors, with the help of a Thai bar girl.
The twist in the abduction and murder of 22-year-old Jin Can, a third-year music student at Bangkok Thonburi University, was revealed late yesterday afternoon by Police Gen. Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police chief, who was assigned to supervise the case. Continued …
Chinese trio facing prospect of execution for a horrific murder in Thailand
Three men accused of the sadistic torture and murder of Chinese student Jin Can are in the custody of Chinese police after being arrested in the last 24 hours in Wuhan, China, according to Thai National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas. On Tuesday, he confirmed that the suspects would not be extradited to Thailand but would face a joint investigation and trial before a Chinese court, with the prospect of them facing the death penalty or execution for the outrage they committed in Thailand.
Kittiprapas revealed on Tuesday that police in China have already arrested three men accused of murdering Chinese student Jin Can on March 28 in Nonthaburi in a case that has shocked the kingdom. Continued …
It’s mango season: A guide to the best mangoes in Thailand
Thai mangoes are commonly referred to as Mamuang, and are a beloved staple in Thailand. Its versatility in both sweet and savory dishes has drawn tourists from every corner of the globe.
Visitors eagerly explore the streets of Bangkok and Phuket, eager to savor local favorites like mango sticky rice or a refreshing spicy mango salad. The distinct flavor of Thai mangoes sets them apart from others, making them an undeniable crowd-pleaser.
The origins of Thai mangoes can be traced back to ancient India and Southeast Asia, where mangoes have been cultivated for thousands of years. The mango (Mangifera indica) belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, and it is believed to have initially spread from India to other parts of Southeast Asia, including present-day Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, and eventually Thailand. Continued …
How many elephants are left in the world?
The elephant is the largest existing land mammal on Earth, weighing anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 pounds. There are three species of elephants: the African bush elephant (also known as the African savanna elephant), the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant.
In 1930, approximately 10 million wild elephants were in Africa, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Since then, elephant populations have dwindled due to various threats, including habitat loss and illegal poaching. Continued …
Where do tigers live? Tigers have a diverse range of habitats
If you have ever had a cat, you know they don’t like to take baths. But there is one kind of cat out there that loves to swim and bathe: the tiger.
Thanks to their large webbed paws and muscular bodies, tigers are excellent swimmers. But that’s not the only thing interesting about the majestic animal: Tigers are the largest wild cat species and share nearly all but 4.4% of their DNA with domestic cats.
But where in the world do these big cats live? Continued …
Trump pleads not guilty to 34 criminal charges in New York
A defiant Donald Trump on Tuesday denied all wrongdoing after pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, as prosecutors accused him of orchestrating payments to two women before the 2016 U.S. election to suppress publication of their sexual encounters with him. Continued …
Johnson & Johnson proposes $8.9-billion settlement of talc cancer claims
U.S. pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday proposed an $8.9 billion settlement to resolve years-old lawsuits claiming that its talcum powder products caused cancer. 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-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October
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