• Thailand Open returns to Hua Hin/
• How to register for the Hua Hin Marathon 2023/
• Government to keep a close eye on food prices before Chinese New Year/
• Southeast Asia’s biggest railway station opens to passengers/
• With station change, commuters face railway confusion/
• Charges filed against Chinese ‘gray’ organization members/
• Rare clouded leopard struts its stuff in new wildlife haven/
• JPMorgan sees Thai stocks as the most attractive in Southeast Asia/
• Thai oil firm targets 7,000 EV charging units by 2030/
• Tourism: Flexible visas to boost the economy as business confidence falters/Over 900,000 Foreign Tourists Came To Thailand During Jan 1-15/Dusit suffering from lack of long-haul hotel guests/Financial worries keep many Chinese at home/Thailand’s tuk-tuks go green amid rising demand for electric models/
• Thailand Experience: Hua Hin: A golfer’s paradise/Bangkok’s best floating markets become much more accessible/This Is Where You Can Find Thailand’s Biggest Buddha/
• International: Executives gloomy about global outlook/Star visibility eroding rapidly as night sky gets brighter/
• Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas

Thailand Open returns to Hua Hin

Australian three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic is among high-ranked players competing in the WTA “Thailand Open 2023 by E@”.

The event will be held at True Arena Hua Hin Sport Club in Prachuap Khiri Khan province from Jan. 31 to Feb. 5.

It is the most lucrative WTA event in Southeast Asia, offering a total prize money of US$250,000 (9.37 million baht). Continued …

How to register for the Hua Hin Marathon 2023

Registration for the Hua Hin Marathon on May 14 is available in English on the event’s website.

The event, which returns after being canceled due to the pandemic and then being abruptly moved to Cha Am in 2022, will see up to 5,000 runners take to the streets of Hua Hin.

The registration fee for each is as follows:

Marathon, 42.195km, (1,200 THB application fee)
Half Marathon, 21km, (900 THB)
Mini Marathon, 10.5km, (700 THB)
Fun Run, 5km, 5.45am, (500 THB)

Everyone running in the race will receive a t-shirt and medal, while trophies will be given to the winners and runners-up overall and across each age category.

Official Hua Hin Marathon Facebook page. Continued … 

Government to keep a close eye on food prices before Chinese New Year

State agencies will closely monitor prices of foods and products in the countdown to Chinese New Year to prevent unfair price hikes, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Thursday.

Anucha said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered related agencies to survey the markets to prevent sellers from taking advantage of consumers during the Lunar New Year festival, which started on Sunday.

Anucha added that on Tuesday the Commerce Ministry launched the “Special Discounts for the Year of the Rabbit” campaign, under which participating manufacturers sell specially priced foods and consumer products at over 4,600 retail shops, discount stores and fresh markets nationwide. The campaign aims to help reduce people’s cost of living and will run until Friday. Continued … 

Southeast Asia’s biggest railway station opens to passengers

Southeast Asia’s biggest railway station officially began operations yesterday, a potential new age of train travel in Thailand.

The cost of the new terminal, including the station, tracks and a connecting station for Bangkok’s mass transit system, was around US$1 billion (30 billion baht).

Officially, the station’s name is Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, a name bestowed by the king, and the center of some controversy. To most people, it will likely continue to be known as Bang Sue Grand Station, after the part of Bangkok it’s in. Continued … https://thethaiger.com/news/national/southeast-asias-biggest-railway-station-opens-to-passengers

With station change, commuters face railway confusion

The State Railway of Thailand made a big change in its 126-year history on Thursday when the SRT moved the operation of long-distance train services to the north, northeast and south of the country from Hua Lamphong station to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, formerly known as Bang Sue Grand Station, in Chatuchak district.

The aim is to fully utilize the 34-billion-baht central grand station and reduce traffic congestion around a number of railway crossings near the old rail hub in Bangkok, according to Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob.

The ministry plans to renovate the 121-rai Hua Lamphong area for commercial purposes, while the old terminal, which was constructed more than a century ago, will become a museum that is accessible via public transportation, he said. Continued … 

Charges filed against Chinese ‘gray’ organization members

The attorney general filed a string of charges against a key Chinese gray capitalist suspect and 40 others yesterday with drug-related offenses carrying maximum death penalty.

Naree Tantasathien, the attorney general, ordered the Office of Narcotics Litigation to submit the 332-page indictment of Chaiyanat “Tu Hao” Kornchaiyanan and 40 others to Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, with the police told to chase and arrest those suspects still on the run.

Among the charges the suspects face are setting up an organized crime to distribute category one narcotics and categories two and four psychotropic substances, money laundering, holding firearms, operating a transnational network to commit serious crime, running entertainment venues without permit, and allowing foreigners without work permit to work in their business. Continued …

Rare clouded leopard struts its stuff in new wildlife haven

In the mountains of Kanchanaburi in western Thailand, hidden cameras are capturing more and more clouded leopards, Indo-Chinese tigers, gaurs, and other wildlife.

Recognizing the importance of the conservation of Thailand’s wildlife, Thailand’s Treasury Department is preparing to declare an area of land covering 219,000 rai of land a non-hunting area.

The huge conservation area – covering Si Sawat and Bo Phloi district – is comprised of steep mountains and dense jungle home to millions of species of flora and fauna. Continued … 

JPMorgan sees Thai stocks as the most attractive in Southeast Asia

The strong recovery of Thailand’s tourism, with an expected influx of Chinese visitors, and strong domestic demand for consumer products have made the Thai stock market the most attractive in Southeast Asia, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co, an American multinational financial services company.

Jakkapun Pornpunnarath, JPMorgan’s head of Thai equity research, said that the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has become the top pick for JPMorgan in Southeast Asia.

He pointed to robust trading of Thai stocks ahead of the next general election later this year and the strong operating performance of many listed companies. Continued …

Thai oil firm targets 7,000 EV charging units by 2030

PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) has vowed to become Thailand’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging service provider, with the number of charging outlets projected to increase to 7,000 by 2030 under the company’s “Rise OR” concept.

The plan was announced by OR’s new Chief Executive Disathat Panyarachun, who was introduced to the public yesterday.

At present, the company operates 139 EV charging outlets. Continued …

Flexible visas to boost the economy as business confidence falters

Danucha Pichayanan, the secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the government’s key economic agency, has called on ministers to make visa provisions for foreign tourists more flexible and user-friendly, while also marketing the kingdom’s legalization of medical marijuana or pot in a bid to boost the still slow recovery of the country’s critical foreign tourism industry.

It comes as Thai exports have plummeted, with the chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), this week, revealing that business confidence fell in December for the first time in seven months as the country’s industrial confidence index fell due to faltering output.

The chairman of FTI has issued a stark warning to the government that confidence in the manufacturing sector has been undermined, with the country’s industrial confidence index for December falling for the first time in seven months. Continued …

Over 900,000 Foreign Tourists Came To Thailand During Jan 1-15

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said altogether 913,013 foreign tourists came to the country the first 15 days of 2023, with Russians topping the list, followed by Malaysians, South Koreans, Indians and Laotians.

TAT Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn revealed that during Jan. 1-15 there were 99,593 Russians arrivals, followed by 89,461 Malaysians, 76,057 South Koreans, 47,471 Indians and 41,863 Laotians. Just on Jan. 14, 58,528 foreign tourists arrived.

“In terms of incoming foreign tourists, it was found that Chinese nationals ranked tenth, totaling 28,643. This is in line with expectation that the Chinese market will gradually improve in 2023,” he said. Continued …

Dusit suffering from lack of long-haul hotel guests

Hotel operator Dusit International is experiencing an ongoing shortage of long-haul guests because of limited flights and high airfares, although last year’s fourth quarter saw its best performance in three years with a 75% occupancy rate.

Siradej Donavanik, vice president of global development at Dusit International, said long-haul guests could reach pre-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter of this year, as Thailand remains a popular destination for them.

He said the government should focus on increasing high-spending tourists and promoting Thailand as a high-end destination, such as by utilizing health and wellness concepts – serenity, sustainability and spirituality – rather than just being a sea-sand-sun destination. Continued …

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• 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!

Financial worries keep many Chinese at home

About 40% of Chinese travelers aren’t planning to venture overseas this year despite the sudden easing of restrictions, mainly because of the financial impact of Covid, according to a survey published yesterday.

Health concerns, the inconvenience of applying for travel documents, busy work schedules, worries over safety and destinations seen as unfriendly to Chinese were also among factors deterring overseas travel, the Dragon Trail International survey of 1,058 people in 49 cities found.

The survey was conducted from Jan. 4 to 7, just before the lifting of curbs such as mandatory quarantine came into effect. Continued …

Thailand’s tuk-tuks go green amid rising demand for electric models

Thailand’s iconic, gas-guzzling tuk-tuks are being replaced by a greener, more energy-efficient model, offering travelers a more environmentally friendly way of getting around what is one of the world’s worst countries when it comes to air pollution.

“The benefits are quite clear in terms of the environment”, says Krisada Kritayakirana, co-founder and CEO of start-up Urban Mobility Tech. “When you use traditional tuk-tuks, you can smell the gas and it sometimes could be unpleasant. With the electric tuk-tuks, basically you don’t have any noise and you don’t have any emission from tailpipes.”

In 2021, the levels of the pollutant PM2.5m in Thailand were four times higher than World Health Organization guidance. Inhalation of PM2.5 can cause respiratory problems and heart issues. In 2019, pollution was to blame for more than 31,000 deaths in the country. Continued …

Hua Hin: A golfer’s paradise

Hua Hin is a coastal town that lies 200km to the southeast of Bangkok and is a popular destination among expats, tourists, and Thai holiday makers alike. This region has a wealth of stunning beaches and scenery to offer, with a host of excursions and distractions to be enjoyed; however, what really stands out about Hua Hin is its golf courses. In fact, many people argue that Hua Hin is a golfer’s paradise – and with good reason.

Hua Hin, or “stone head” was named after the large rocks that were formed at the north end of the famous powdery sand beach. This renowned holiday destination was initially developed as a retreat for Thai royalty and the wealthy elite back in the 1920’s.

As the years have gone by, the region has gone through many changes and is now considered as being the number one golfing destination in all of Thailand. Continued …

Bangkok’s best floating markets become much more accessible

In today’s digital age, shopping can be done with a click of the mouse. However, there is no substitute for a visit to a local market.

That has become a whole lot easier thanks to the BMA putting on a feeder bus service from the MRT Blue Line station to Bangkok’s four best floating markets, serving as a link between urban dwellers and local farmers. If you are looking for a unique street food adventure and shopping spree, then head to these floating markets on a weekend.

Four brand-new electric buses with USB charging ports and modern facilities provide a free ride from/to the MRT Bang Khun Non Station to Wat Saphan Floating Market, Taling Chan Floating Market, Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, and Song Khlong Floating Market. Continued …

This Is Where You Can Find Thailand’s Biggest Buddha

One of Southeast Asia’s gems is the Land of Smiles. Thailand is well-developed and offers a wide range of modern conveniences due to a growing tourism sector, but it is also still wild enough to provide off-the-beaten-path adventure and once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunities.

Thailand will not disappoint its visitors, whether they come for the enchanting mountain villages in the north or the world-class beaches in the south.

Cities like Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok are hives of activity and business, but until tourists have gone on a mountain walk, interacted with elephants, or seen brazen monkeys who are always ready to take their food or their cameras, tourists have not really experienced the nation.

Each of Thailand’s attractions is unique and offers a pleasurable and memorable experience. However, the statues of Buddha in Thailand shine among the other attractions for their splendors and sizes. Here is where tourists can Thailand’s biggest Buddha. Continued …

Executives gloomy about global outlook

Chief executives of companies around the world are planning to cut operating costs, as nearly three-quarters of them anticipate a decline in global economic growth over the next 12 months, according to a recent survey by PwC. Continued … 

Star visibility eroding rapidly as night sky gets brighter

Light pollution is growing rapidly and in some places the number of stars visible to the naked eye in the night sky is being reduced by more than half in less than 20 years, according to a study released yesterday. 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