- Khao Tao railway crossing closed today, tomorrow/
- Cha Am Bikini Beach Run Sunday, March 19/
- 12-vehicle pileup on Phetchkasem Highway blocks traffic/
- Aussie Chamber names new executive director/
- Thai banks unaffected by two recent US bank failures/
- Baht surges amid US bank collapse/
- New Bangkok running park links 3 green lungs in city center/
- Wild elephants threaten farms/
- Gartner Says 2023 Is the Moment of Truth for Battery-Electric Vehicles/
- Mercedes-Benz seeks local partners for EV charging/
- Tourism: Should you arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport 3 or 4 hours prior to departure?/Four new airlines to join Thailand’s crowded skies/Record number of Russian tourists affect economy/Russian tourist drowns at Phi Phi Island in Krabi/
- Thailand Experience: Jumbo banquet served up in Ayutthaya to mark National Elephant Day/Local folklore show wins hearts of tourists at Buri Ram cultural festival/
- International: China lifts sweeping visa curbs on foreigners/Biden says US banking system is safe after two banks collapse/Nuclear-powered submarine plan unveiled for Australia/Kyiv condemns ‘kidnappings’ as Russians foster Ukrainian kids/Thousands of hospital doctors walk out in latest UK strike/
- 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
Khao Tao railway crossing closed today, tomorrow
The railway crossing at Soi Hua Hin 101 in Khao Tao will be closed today and tomorrow between 9am and 3pm. Motorists are advised to use Soi Hua Hin 105 and the entrance to Thanarat Camp as an alternate route.
12-vehicle pileup on Phetchkasem Highway blocks traffic
A multiple collision occurred on Phetchkasem Highway heading south in Muang district of Prachuap Khirikhan province at 1.30 pm yesterday.
It happened in Bon Ek subdistrict at kilometer marker 291 +300. The road south was completely blocked and an emergency lane needed to be opened on the inbound to Bangkok side to move traffic.
Despite this, the media reported tailbacks of many kilometers yesterday afternoon. Continued …
Aussie Chamber names new executive director
Sam Hanna has been named the new executive director of AustCham Thailand. Hanna commenced his career in Australia and worked in manufacturing, automotive and franchising roles, such as managing director for Ultra Tune (Based in Australia).
In 1999, he moved to Thailand and since then has been leading organizations in the automotive, manufacturing, and tourism sectors. Some of his roles in Thailand include managing director of Makro Auto Care Co., CEO of Shell AutoServe, and general manager of ARB Thailand.
Hanna is currently deputy executive director at the Asian Institute of Technology Extension, as well as lecturing at the School of Management. In addition, he owns a health and wellness business based in Bangkok.
Hanna will commence with the Chamber full time on Friday, March 17.
Thai banks unaffected by two recent US bank failures
Thailand’s commercial banks and other financial institutions have not been affected by the recent failures of the U.S.’s Silicon Valley Bank and New York-based Signature Bank in the past week, deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Traisoranakul said yesterday.
She disclosed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has, however, ordered the government’s economic team to monitor the situation closely.
She said that no Thai commercial banks or financial institutions had invested or engaged in any transactions with the two failed U.S. banks, adding that the impact of the closures on the U.S. economy is limited, because the services of the two banks were limited, unlike ordinary commercial banks, and thanks to swift intervention by the U.S. regulators. Continued …
Baht surges amid US bank collapse
The baht on Monday surged against a significant fall in the U.S. dollar mainly due to the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the market’s expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) would slow down its policy rate hikes.
On Monday, the baht opened at 34.65 per dollar, after closing at 35.02 last week.
Due to the fallout from SVB’s collapse, the market predicts that the Fed will increase its policy rate by lower than 50 basis points this month, and the terminal rate is expected to be no higher than 5.5% around the middle of the year. Continued …
New Bangkok running park links 3 green lungs in city center
Bangkok opened its newest park on Monday, aiming to serve as an exercise space for over 800,000 people in the city’s central business district.
The catchily named National Sports Development Fund-Sports Authority of Thailand (NSDF-SAT) Park links three city parks – Benchakitti, Benchakitti Forest and Lumphini – to provide a green jogging and exercise route through the city center.
The park/route uses 5 rai (0.8 hectares) of the three parks, plus the so-called “green mile” elevated walkway that links Benchakitti and Lumphini parks. Continued …
Wild elephants threaten farms
Phimphitcha Soonjirad, a 40-year-old teacher from Sai Yok Noi Vitthaya School in Mauen in tambon Chorsadao in Kanchanaburi’s Mueang district, on Friday night accompanied a group of local villagers on a patrol close to her village located inside Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, which harbors around 270 wild elephants.
Her team’s work is just one of many initiatives tried by the locals in a bid to keep the herd from causing damage to the community.
She has spent over 20 years battling the wild jumbos that regularly destroy farmland and other assets. Continued …
Gartner Says 2023 Is the Moment of Truth for Battery-Electric Vehicles
The auto industry will see more turmoil in 2023. By 2025, tech giants will wwn a part of the vehicle’s operating system for 95% of new cars on the road. By 2026, more than 50% of EVs sold globally will be Chinese-branded automobiles.
Several factors will make 2023 a true test to the resolve of governments and the automotive industry in driving battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) forward, according to Gartner, Inc.
“2023 is the moment of truth to drive full electrification forward,” said Pedro Pacheco, VP analyst at Gartner. Continued …
Mercedes-Benz seeks local partners for EV charging
Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) is seeking more local business partners for joint investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities to serve the growing domestic EV market.
Thailand is being developed into a high-potential EV market, following the government’s clear policy to strengthen the EV industry amid the global trend for using more zero-emission cars, said Martin Schwenk, president and chief executive of Mercedes-Benz (Thailand).
Last year, the cabinet approved a package of incentives, including tax cuts and subsidies, to promote EV consumption and production between 2022 and 2023. Continued …
Should you arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport 3 or 4 hours prior to departure?
Thai Airways (THAI) and Airports of Thailand (AOT) can’t agree on waiting times at Suvarnabhumi Airport. THAI recommends that passengers on international flights should arrive four hours ahead of departure due to delays at the airport.
AOT says this is “not true” and asks passengers to arrive three hours ahead of schedule.
THAI asks for passengers’ cooperation in arriving four hours before their flight, citing that Suvarnabhumi Airport’s international checkpoint Zone 3 is closed due to the installation of automatic return tray systems (ARTS) taking place from March 1-29. Continued …
Four new airlines to join Thailand’s crowded skies
The Thai Transport Ministry has announced that there are four companies seeking licenses to operate airline services in Thailand – P80 Air, Really Cool Air, Landarch Airline and Siam Seaplane.
The process of obtaining air service licenses is expected to take some time, and the four new airlines are expected to be approved to operate next year.
They join a crowded sky over Thailand, which already has Thai Air Asia, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Viet Jet, Nok Air and Bangkok Airways. Thai Smile, the short haul and discount offshoot from Thai Airways is expected to be amalgamated into the parent company. Continued …
Record number of Russian tourists affect economy
Thailand has seen a sharp rise in the number of Russian tourists in the country. So far this year, over 370,000 Russian visitors have arrived in Thailand. That’s 67% of last year’s entire total of 435,000.
Police Maj. Gen. Phanthana Nutchanart, the deputy commander of the Immigration Bureau, assures though that the influx has not increased Russian criminal activity.
The official stated that there has been no indication of any Russians sneaking into the country through illegal channels. They also say hardened criminals are not making it into Thailand, just well-off vacationers. Continued …
Russian tourist drowns at Phi Phi Island in Krabi
A male Russian tourist who had recently come from Phuket with a tour guide drowned at Phi Phi Island in Krabi.
Local media in Krabi reported that over the past weekend a 55-year-old male Russian tourist came from Phuket to Krabi with a tour guide. He joined in snorkeling activity with a tour group at Monkey Bay on Phi Phi Don Island.
The name of the tourist was withheld by Krabi officials. Continued …
Jumbo banquet served up in Ayutthaya to mark National Elephant Day
The residents of Wang Chang Ayutthaya elephant camp were served up a delicious feast on Monday to mark National Elephant Day.
Apart from feeding the 80 elephants in the camp, the staff also made merit for deceased pachyderms and prayed that this event would raise awareness among Thais.
The camp’s owner, Laitongrean Meephan, said this event is held every year to shed light on the important role elephants have played in Thai society. In ancient times, elephants were used for transport, labor and in battle, and now they play a significant role in the tourism industry. Continued …
Local folklore show wins hearts of tourists at Buri Ram cultural festival
A spectacular performance called “The Baray stream” was organized at Prasat Hin Muang Tam in Prakhon Chai district of Buri Ram province on Sunday.
The performance, based on local folklore, was a highlight of the three-day festival, which began on Friday, to preserve culture and promote tourism in the province.
Apart from the dance, the event also featured other cultural performances and sale of locally made products. Continued …
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China lifts sweeping visa curbs on foreigners
China will once again start issuing a range of visas to foreigners as of Wednesday, the country’s foreign ministry said, in a major easing of travel restrictions in place since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Continued …
Biden says US banking system is safe after two banks collapse
U.S. President Joe Biden pledged on Monday to do whatever is needed to address a banking crisis threatened by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which forced regulators to step in with emergency measures. Continued …
Nuclear-powered submarine plan unveiled for Australia
The leaders of the United States, Australia and Britain on Monday unveiled details of a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines, a major step to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. Continued …
Kyiv condemns ‘kidnappings’ as Russians foster Ukrainian kids
At their home in the middle of Siberia, Russian pastor Roman Vinogradov and his wife Yekaterina are the new foster parents of five children from Moscow-occupied eastern Ukraine. Continued …
Thousands of hospital doctors walk out in latest UK strike
UK hospital doctors on Monday began a three-day strike over pay at the start of a week that will also see teachers, train staff and civil servants walk out, in the latest wave of industrial action. 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
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