• New entry rules to Thailand – effective today/Hua Hin’s ‘boardwalk’ – a dream for some/Comedy show, free concert coming to Hua Hin/Thai electricity bills to get slightly cheaper from January/New point system for motorists takes effect today/Man who shot Brit turns himself in to Pattaya police/Bangkok’s New Rail Service Terminal In Operation From Jan 19/Thailand ranked 1st in ASEAN in Sustainable Development Report/Shaking up the EV market/Man jailed for killing and eating dogs he kept in his home/British man claims he was tortured in Thailand jail/
• Tourism: Covid chaos descends again on Thailand’s foreign tourism sector/Thailand’s new regulations keeping tourists away, say tour agencies/Some visitors must show minimum US$10,000 health insurance/Will Chinese arrivals overwhelm Thailand’s healthcare sector?/Chinese tourism set to surge as 15 airlines open routes to Thailand/What the return of Chinese tourists means for the global economy/Medical tourism in Thailand expected to generate over 25 billion baht in 2023/Brit tourist blamed for damaged Thai art, refuses to pay/
• Thailand Experience: Get lucky at Wat Doi Suthep, the famous Chiang Mai temple/
• Covid: Free COVID-19 vaccinations stepped up ahead of increased foreign arrivals/
• International: ASEAN poised for starring role in global economy this year/Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazil Congress, presidential palace/2 men found frozen in the belly of Colombian plane/
• Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas

New entry rules to Thailand – effective today

The requirement that all international travelers show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination before boarding flights to Thailand took effect from Sunday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said on Saturday.

The aviation regulator has formally notified all parties about the change to arrival rules for international travelers aged 18 and over. They will take effect for flights landing in Thailand from 1am local time on Monday and will remain in effect at least until the end of the month.

The vaccination requirement was scrapped last October but it has been revived as travel from China is about to resume worldwide on a large scale. Many countries have responded with special measures out of concern that Covid-19 is sweeping through China since the country scrapped its zero-Covid restrictions last month. Continued …

Hua Hin’s ‘boardwalk’ – a dream for some

It’s the closest thing Hua Hin has to a boardwalk – Naresdamri Road in downtown Hua Hin, the approximately 500 meter stretch of road that runs from the fishing pier to the Chinese temple located close to the Hilton Hotel.

In decades gone by, it was originally the hub of Hua Hin’s fishing community, and while that is still true to some extent, the area is now home to a range of restaurants, guesthouses and other tourism-related businesses.

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However, recent years have seen a partial redevelopment of the area. The redevelopment has been somewhat “stop/start” to say the least. Continued …

Comedy show, free concert coming to Hua Hin

Stand-up comedy is coming to town for the first time in Hua Hin on Jan. 21 at the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa. A roster of some of the funniest international comedians are scheduled to appear.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 14. Swedish band DUO Jag will perform a free concert at Black Mountain Golf Club, starting ay 6pm.

There are only 70 tickets available for the Jan. 21 Hua Hin Comedy Show, which starts at 8pm. Very early bird tickets at 400 baht can be purchased until Jan. 15; early bird tickets are 500 baht, and tickets at the door ar 600 baht. BOOK TICKETS 

Thai electricity bills to get slightly cheaper from January

The Energy Regulatory Commission has relented to complaints about rising power bills and agreed to reduce its service fee slightly from this month.

Consumers who use more than 150 units per month and those who are charged under the time of use (ToU) rate during off-peak hours will find their monthly service charge reduced from 38.22 baht to 24.62 baht.

Small businesses using low-voltage power are eligible for a new service charge of 33.39 baht per month, down from 46.16 baht. Continued …

New point system for motorists takes effect today

Traffic police will start enforcing a new point system for motorists today, but it will be implemented gradually, with education being the initial priority, a senior officer said on Saturday.

The point system aims to improve compliance with traffic laws, reduce accidents, and increase road safety, Highway Police Division commander Maj-General Ekkarat Limsangkat said.

Each motorist will start with 12 points. Violations of traffic laws will result in the deduction of points, with the most severe offenses resulting in the biggest deductions. Continued …

Man who shot Brit turns himself in to Pattaya police

A 32-year-old man turned himself in to police for shooting dead a retired British engineer in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district, saying he acted in a fit of anger after the victim honked a motorcycle horn at him and hit his car.

Apicha Boonsawat contacted police about his surrender at about 9am yesterday before police took him to Huai Yai station for detention and questioning. Continued …

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Bangkok’s New Rail Service Terminal In Operation From Jan 19

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has officially announced the relocation – effective from Jan. 19, of 52 long-distance, rapid, and express train services from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station to the new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

From this date onward, people will need to catch their trains to other destinations throughout Thailand from the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, while the inbound trains to Bangkok will also arrive there. This includes 14 train services to the north, 20 to the south, and 18 to the northeast (Isan).

The Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal is the new main train station of Thailand designed to be a major rail transportation hub. Located near the famous Chatuchak weekend market, it is close to both the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway networks, making for convenient travel around Bangkok, and to the Bangkok bus terminal (Chatuchak). Continued …

Thailand ranked 1st in ASEAN in Sustainable Development Report

Thailand has been ranked first in ASEAN in the latest Sustainable Development Report by United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN).

The report assesses 193 UN member states on their progress toward achieving the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) and calculates their percentage of achievement. 100% indicates that all SDGs have been achieved.

Thailand ranked first in ASEAN and 44th in the world with 74.1%, ahead of Vietnam (72.8%), Singapore (71.7%), Malaysia (70.4%), Indonesia (69.2%), Brunei (67.1%), Philippines (66.6%), Myanmar (64.3%), Cambodia (63.8%) and Laos (63.4%). Continued … 

Shaking up the EV market

The entry of more Chinese electric vehicle (EV) producers into the Thai market is not only improving sentiment among buyers, as they can choose from a wider variety of models, but it is also testing their brand loyalty.

Thais have long been enamored with cars produced by Japanese and European companies, eager to buy their products and services.

With the shift from internal combustion engines to battery-powered vehicles, the question is whether consumers will buy new technology from familiar brands, or take the plunge with Chinese entrants. Continued … 

Man jailed for killing and eating dogs he kept in his home

A man in Chalerm Prakiat district of Nakhon Si Thammarat has been arrested and sentenced by a local court to three months in prison for slaughtering dogs and using their meat for cooking, according to the Soi Dog Foundation.

The not-for-profit organization said a dog sterilization team had recently rescued an injured puppy that had escaped from a house that neighbors told the team was owned by a former drug addict whom they said had been killing and eating his dogs.

The foundation sought help from the police and six dogs were rescued during a search, and they also found the remains of many others. Continued …

British man claims he was tortured in Thailand jail

A British national claims he was beaten and tortured by police in a Thai jail while incarcerated abroad.

Carl Gentry-Evans, 51, was on vacation in Phuket, southern Thailand, when a local gang targeted him and drugged his drink, turning his life upside down.

The unsuspecting Southampton man lost almost everything in the incident, including four teeth, according to images obtained by a newspaper, which tell a dramatic story. Continued …

Covid chaos descends again on Thailand’s foreign tourism sector

Last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced new restrictions on incoming tourists to Thailand in response to the reopening of the Chinese market.

This includes a requirement that all arrivals must be vaccinated. Over the weekend, it became clear that the new regime would be going into effect on Sunday concerning all incoming flights after Monday at 1 am, with international airlines tasked with screening passengers when boarding flights and instructed to deny passage to unvaccinated passengers.

The situation has sent waves of chaos throughout the foreign tourism industry, with travel agents in France, Germany, Scandinavia and Russia warning that confidence in Thailand as a tourist destination has been damaged as thousands of passengers stand to lose money with thousands of holiday night bookings already withdrawn in Phuket alone. Continued …

Thailand’s new regulations keeping tourists away, say tour agencies

The government’s new regulations for foreign arrivals is badly affecting the tourism industry, the Phuket Tourist Assn.’s chief said.

Phukmit Raktaengam said on Sunday that the latest 7-point notice to airmen (Notam) announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has caused many tourists to cancel their trips.

The CAAT regulations require airlines to check if all passengers have had at least two Covid-19 vaccines before letting them board flights to Thailand. Continued …

Some visitors must show minimum US$10,000 health insurance

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) from today will require visitors whose next destinations require proof of a negative Covid-19 test to show health insurance coverage worth at least US$10,000.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Sunday the CAAT’s notice requires visitors who must test negative for Covid-19 before leaving Thailand to show proof of health insurance coverage worth at least $10,000 in case the test leads to Covid-19 treatment. Continued …

Will Chinese arrivals overwhelm Thailand’s healthcare sector?

While several countries have imposed stringent COVID-control measures on travelers from China, Thailand has decided to welcome them with open arms despite concerns about its healthcare sector being overwhelmed.

(A high percentage of passengers on flights from China have tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in several countries.)

China dropped quarantine rules yesterday, signaling that its people can resume outbound travel without restrictions.

While this move may sound like good news for both Chinese travelers and tourism-dependent economies like Thailand, it has triggered international concern over the surging COVID-19 infection rate in China. Continued …

Chinese tourism set to surge as 15 airlines open routes to Thailand

The long-awaited return of Chinese tourists will be a surge, as the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has given permission for 15 Chinese carriers to fly from major cities in China to Thailand from Sunday.

After enduring more than two years of lockdowns and restrictions on travel, citizens of the world’s most populous nation are rushing to take advantage of the relaxation of China’s zero-Covid-19 policy to travel abroad, and Thailand remains a preferred destination.

Thailand welcomed more than 11 million Chinese tourists in 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic paralyzed air travel. Continued …

What the return of Chinese tourists means for the global economy

In the years before Covid, China was the world’s most important source of international travelers. Its 155 million tourists spent more than a quarter of a trillion dollars beyond its borders in 2019.

That largesse fell precipitously over the past three years as the country essentially closed its borders. But, as China prepared to reopen on Sunday, millions of tourists are poised to return to the world stage, raising hopes of a rebound for the global hospitality industry.

Although international travel may not return immediately to pre-pandemic levels, companies, industries and countries that rely on Chinese tourists will get a boost in 2023, according to analysts. Continued …

Medical tourism in Thailand expected to generate over 25 billion baht in 2023

The medical tourism industry in Thailand has shown good signs of growth since the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic. ttb analytics, a division of TMBThanachart, has recently forecast that medical tourism in Thailand would generate revenue of over 25 billion baht (700 million USD) in 2023.

According to ttb analytics, Thailand has become one of the world’s major medical destinations thanks to its reputation for good healthcare management and security. It has been shown on the Johns Hopkins University’s 2021 Global Health Security (GHS) Index that Thailand was ranked fifth place out of 195 countries, and first in Asia, in its ability to respond to pandemics and epidemics.

The forecast also declared that the global trends in wellness tourism and innovations in medical technology would lead to good opportunities for Thailand to enhance its medical tourism industry, since the country has health professionals of high capability, as well as international-standard hospitals and relatively inexpensive costs for medical expenses. – PRD

Brit tourist blamed for damaged Thai art, refuses to pay

The chief of the Thai cultural affairs department, Dr. Apinan Posyananda was furious, along with many art lovers, after an albino water buffalo at the Bangkok Biennale 2022 art show was destroyed. It was “Kwai Calm” by artist Maitree Siriboon.

Apinan said that several German and British tourists were “having a great time”.

He named one 34-year-old Brit for allegedly destroying the buffalo after climbing on it. Then, he said the tourists refused to apologize or pay for the damage. Continued …

Get lucky at Wat Doi Suthep, the famous Chiang Mai temple

If you know what’s what in Thailand, you’ll know a wat is a temple, and that wats are the why when it comes to Chiang Mai.

Still with me? The key thing to know is that it’s all in the name. Wat Doi Suthep. The temple on Suthep Mountain. It’s probably the northern Thai city’s most famous site, its gold-plated stupa visible from the town in the valley below, shining out of the jungle.

Free COVID-19 vaccinations stepped up ahead of increased foreign arrivals

Due to an anticipated increase in foreign arrivals, Chinese tourists in particular, everyone, especially those over 60, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, those who weigh over 90kg, small children and those who have not been vaccinated, have been urged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or to get booster shots.

COVID-19 infections are on the rise in several provinces. In the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, for instance, over 600 cases were reported last week alone, with 14 fatalities, most of whom were unvaccinated.

The vaccination services are free of charge for Thais and foreigners at state hospitals or health centers nationwide. Continued … 

ASEAN poised for starring role in global economy this year

Key ASEAN economies will be among the few globally to show impressive growth this year, as the world economy slips into slower growth or a recession, according to a recently published report by one of the largest banks in Southeast Asia – Singapore-headquartered United Overseas Bank (UOB). Continued … 

Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazil Congress, presidential palace

Supporters of Brazil’s far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro pushed through police barricades and stormed into the national Congress building Sunday in a dramatic protest against President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva’s inauguration last week. Continued … 

2 men found frozen in the belly of Colombian plane

An aircraft maintenance technician in Colombia made a shocking discovery. Under the belly of an Avianca plane at the airport in Bogota, the bodies of two young men were frozen to death. The airline technician was inspecting and performing regular maintenance on the aircraft of Colombia’s flagship airline when he was horrified by the corpses. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service schedule from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has been updated. In addition, a new Cha Am boarding location has been added 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

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets