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Today’s news: Planes to battle drought, pollution/More for expressway travel/How AI revolutionizes your food/Economy: Economy improves slightly/Weakening Thai baht forecast/Manufacturing sector sees slump/Another symptom of economic maladies/Global cargo distribution hub/Developing Laem Chabang Port/Year-End Ban on Recreational Cannabis/Tourism: Bid to curb airfares/Misbehaving foreigners/Southern provinces into tourist hub/Tuk tuks and taxis/Sydney launches eVisa/Thailand and US Air Travel/Environment: Thailand’s hotels and greenhouse gas/Thailand to tackle plastic waste/Turning waste into sustainable communities/Thailand Experience: In search of Thailand’s tasty hideouts/One of Thailand’s last untouched islands/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

30 rainmaking planes to battle drought, pollution

The government plans to deploy 30 aircraft nationwide for cloud-seeding operations to induce artificial rain to battle air pollution and ease dry weather conditions in the main crop-growing areas.

The annual royal rainmaking program began on Thursday, with seven centers set up across the country to coordinate efforts in all 77 provinces for operations in March and April, the government said. Continued …

Motorists to pay more for expressway travel from today

Toll fees for Bangkok’s Chalong Rat (Ramindra-At Narong) and Burapha Withi expressways will be more expensive from today.

The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announced earlier this month that the fee for 4-wheel vehicles on the Chalong Rat Expressway will increase by 5 baht to 45 baht. Toll fees for six to 10-wheelers, meanwhile, will also be 5 baht more expensive, going from 60 to 65 baht, while those for vehicles with more than 10 wheels will be 90 baht, up from 80 baht. Continued …

How AI revolutionizes your food: From farm to fork

In the fast-paced world of food innovation and production, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword; it’s a game changer. From enhancing the quality of your morning cereal to ensuring the sustainability of your favorite snacks, AI’s role is both profound and transformative.

Imagine a world where food waste is significantly reduced, and every product on your plate meets the highest quality standards. That’s the reality AI is creating in the food industry today. It’s not just about making processes faster; it’s about making them smarter, safer, and more consumer-centric. Continued …

Economy improves slightly but overall recovery remains slow

The Thai economy in January showed signs of improvement from the previous month, but, overall, economic expansion remained slow, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) said on Thursday.

BOT spokesperson Chayawadee Chaianant said contributing factors include increasing foreign arrivals and direct foreign investment, while the value of exports, excluding gold, also rose after contracting the previous month. Continued …

Weakening Thai baht forecast due to economic and freight cost factors

Analysts are forecasting a weakened Thai baht due to factors including poor economic performance, high freight costs, and disagreements over interest rate reductions. The baht is anticipated to fluctuate within the range of 36-36.50 to the U.S. dollar this month.

On Wednesday, the baht recorded a decline, falling below 36 to the U.S. dollar, and was quoted at 35.96-98 to the U.S. dollar yesterday morning. This was in response to a slight easing of the dollar, following a minor reduction in U.S. economic growth than initially projected at 3.3% for the last quarter of 2023, as reported by the Kasikorn Research Center. Continued …

Thailand’s manufacturing sector sees slump for 16th month

Thailand’s manufacturing sector witnessed a prolonged slump for the 16th month in January, as the country’s key economic pillar grapples with dwindling domestic and overseas motor vehicle sales, according to information released by the Industry Ministry.

The year-on-year decline of 2.94% in the sector fell short of the anticipated 5.1% fall predicted in a Reuters survey and followed a revised 4.66% slump in December. This downturn was primarily triggered by a reduction in auto production, marking the sixth consecutive month of slowdown, taking into account both domestic sales and exports. Continued …

Migrants moving back to rural hometowns another symptom of Thailand’s economic maladies

Thailand’s economy is undergoing major changes, with ominous signs of a downward spiral. The country has been battling slow growth since the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998, after being a “tiger” economy for close to a decade.

In addition to a series of political crises, the country has also faced several other setbacks, such as the global financial crisis in 2008, the devastating floods in 2011, and the COVID-19 fallout recently. Continued …

PM unveils plan to become global cargo distribution hub

Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin envisions the country as a regional aviation center and one of the world’s top five cargo distribution hubs. During a live broadcast scheduled for today, the premier will elaborate on this ambitious plan on the government’s NBT television channel and various online and social media platforms.

Airports of Thailand (AoT) President Kerati Kijmanawat shared a sneak peek of the Ignite Thailand Aviation Hub campaign. Kerati stated that AoT has already put forth the plan for the hub vision to PM Srettha. He added that the prime minister would reveal the key details of the plan today. Continued …

PAT developing Laem Chabang Port as a world-class facility

The third phase of development of Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi province is among important government-private joint investment projects under the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development plan.

The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has invested 47% in the 114-billion-baht project, while 53% is by the private sector. The development focuses on the F port with a concession period of five years. Continued …

Thailand Plans Year-End Ban on Recreational Cannabis

In a bid to assert greater control over recreational cannabis consumption, Thailand is set to impose a ban by the end of the year, according to statements from the country’s health minister.

(Editor: Simple solution – regulate it, tax it and use the proceeds for addiction programs and public education.)

Since blazing the trail in Southeast Asia with the legalization of medicinal marijuana in 2018, followed by the nod to recreational use in 2022, Thailand has witnessed a rapid proliferation of the cannabis market. The landscape now boasts an abundance of tens of thousands of cannabis outlets, with industry projections soaring to a monumental $1.2 billion valuation by the upcoming fiscal year. Continued …

In bid to curb airfares, 38 domestic flights added for Songkran

Amid escalating complaints over skyrocketing airfare prices, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced an additional 38 domestic flights and an estimated 13,000 seats for the upcoming Songkran holiday season in April.

Suriya asserted that this measure is just one of the short-term solutions being devised to combat the escalating airfare predicament. “We’re taking decisive action to address the concerns raised by citizens on social media.” Continued …

Thai immigration cracks down on misbehaving foreigners

The Immigration Bureau has ordered thorough investigations and apprehensions of foreign nationals engaging in illegal activities in Thailand, including scrutinizing Thai and foreign residents exhibiting inappropriate behavior.

These actions violate the law, endanger public safety, tarnish the country’s image, or involve transnational criminal activities exploiting Thailand as a base. Continued …

Plan to transform southern provinces into tourist hub

The Thai government has committed to transforming the country’s three southernmost provinces into global tourist attractions and increasing investment in this region. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gave this assurance during a three-day visit to Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala which concluded yesterday.

According to the prime minister, the southernmost provinces possess the potential to rise as the nation’s premier tourist destinations. However, a comprehensive development plan is crucial to actualize this potential and convert these provinces into tourism hotspots. Continued …

Tuk tuks and taxis: Bangkok’s solution to overcharging crisis

Amid a flurry of concerns raised over the fleecing of foreign tourists by tuk tuk and taxi drivers, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has taken a decisive stand. Permanent Secretary Wanthanee Wattana spearheaded this pivotal moment following an intensive meeting with both public and private stakeholders.

Diving into the heart of the issue, yesterday’s summit convened at the Bangkok City Hall and was chaired by the PM’s office minister, Puangphet Choonla-iad. A coalition of representatives from various agencies lent their voices to the cause, acknowledging the urgent need for action. Continued …

Thai Consulate in Sydney launches eVisa from March 19

The Royal Thai Consulate in Sydney has announced it will stop issuing “sticker visas” and go live with eVisa online applications from March 19. The Sydney Consulate will only accept applications from people who live in NSW from that date.

You can apply until March 9 the previous way. As of today, there is no mention of any visa fee increases on their website.

Thailand and US Air Travel: A Dozen Years of Separation Over?

Thailand and the U.S. may be moving ever closer to “Thai-ing” the knot in air travel again after a dozen years of separation.

In 2012, Thai Airways ended its nonstop flights between Bangkok and the U.S. That was because the airline deemed these trans-Pacific routes to be unprofitable. However, more serious reasons loomed in the background. Continued …

Thailand’s hotels produce the most greenhouse gas in Asia

According to KResearch’s latest findings, Thai hotels are the leading culprits in greenhouse gas emissions, emitting a whopping 0.064 tons of carbon per guest each night, significantly higher than the regional and global averages of 0.057 and 0.019 tons, respectively.

Urging the government to intervene, KResearch emphasised the crucial role of sustainable practices in curbing this environmental menace. “While hotels worldwide are embracing eco-friendly initiatives, Thailand’s hospitality sector seems to lag.” Continued …

A top-10 marine water polluter, Thailand to tackle plastic waste

Named one of the world’s top 10 marine water polluters in 2021, Thailand has now added environmental mitigation as a national agenda item.

According to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2019, the global production of plastics had reached 460 million tons annually, doubling in volume over 20 years. And some 353 million tons ended up as waste, given the increasingly single-use nature of plastics. Continued …

How ‘Grandpa Garbage’ turned waste into sustainable communities

Pirathorn Saneewong, or “Grandpa Garbage”, is the founder of the “Zero Baht Store”, a community initiative born from trash and hunger that has grown into a movement for positive change.

His story begins over three decades ago when living under a bridge in Bangkok and with a young child to feed, Pirathorn hatched a plan to escape poverty. Little did he know that his ingenious idea would provide a remedy for the global problem of waste management – a challenge that has plagued Thailand and other countries for decades. Continued …

In search of Thailand’s tasty hideouts that the locals would rather keep secret

“Stomach and soul,” says chef David Thompson with a smile. “The two things that sum up Thailand.” He pauses. “Well, if I was being flippant and succinct.” David, as I know only too well, is a master of both.

It’s quarter past two in the morning, just outside Amphawa, a town an hour or two to the southwest of Bangkok. And I’m a little confused. We’re here, loitering beneath the ornate eaves of the King Rama II Memorial Park, to observe a wai khru, an ancient Thai ritual where students pay respect to their masters, both human and divine, or — in this case — to honor the art of cooking. Continued …

My stay on one of Thailand’s last untouched islands

What a difference 30 minutes makes. That’s how long it takes to sail by public ferry from Phuket to Koh Yao Yai. You’ll have heard of the first island; Thailand’s most popular and overdeveloped holiday hub. But the latter, not so much.

And it’s startlingly different. I am here to stay in its brand-new Anantara resort among vast grounds of virgin jungle, palm groves and farmland. The plot has a long private coastline and is so big that the hotel requires a fleet of six speedboats, five golf buggies, two vans and two 4WDs, plus one longtail, while guests have use of free bicycles to get around. Continued …