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baht, bangkok, climate change, healthcare, hua hin, immigration, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, thai economy, thai environment, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Wednesday’s news-Feb 21

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Today’s news: Immigration updates 90-day online reporting/PKK to combat air pollution, water shortages/Vehicle inspections in Hua Hin/Fires burn sensitive ecosystems/Hua Hin to host International Chess Open/Dead elephant killed by another elephant/Myanmar Refugee Surge to Thailand/Bt600 million from Chinese gang/UK and Thailand unveil science fund/62,000 new family medicine practitioners/Activist challenging Thai royalist establishment/Tiger Is Caught/Environmental Repercussions of Thai Graffiti/Economy: Baht may slip to 37/Economists offer insights/Thailand Embraces Renewable Energy/Industrial sentiment index rises/CKPower reports revenue/Tourism: More than 5 million visitors/Minister Addresses High Ticket Prices/Songkran unlikely to boost outbound trips/Captain Dies after Long-Tail Boats Crash in Krabi/Russian tourists: War weary and wary/Thailand Experience: The holistic approach of Thai medicine/Five hidden gems in Thailand/Thailand’s Storied Wellness Retreats/International news/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

90-day online reporting

Immigration updates 90-day online reporting

The Immigration Bureau on Monday updated its online service for foreigners who need to report their presence in the kingdom every 90 days.

The Immigration police chief said the “90 Days Online Notification” service initially covers foreign investors who have received promotional privileges from the Board of Investment. It would later be expanded to cover other kinds of visas, he said. Continued …

PKK officials plan measures to combat air pollution, water shortages

On Monday, the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee, led by Deputy Gov. Kittiphong Sukhapakul, convened to address drought conditions and formulating strategies for the prevention and management of wildfires, smog, and PM 2.5 dust particles.

To this end, Prachuap Khiri Khan has established a command center for drought disaster prevention and mitigation, tasked with monitoring the situation and coordinating aid for affected residents. Continued …

Vehicle inspections in Hua Hin to combat PM2.5 pollution

Officials have set up a checkpoint on the bypass road in Hua Hin in order to stop vehicles that emit black smoke, which they say is a significant contributor to the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) problem.

This latest initiative, launched yesterday, is part of the provincial authority’s efforts to address environmental health concerns, particularly those related to wildfires, smog, and PM2.5 pollution. Continued …

‘Intense’ fires burn sensitive ecosystems, including parks in Mae Hong Son

Fire-fighting teams are now on site as multiple forest fires burn sensitive areas in the northwest province of Mae Hong Son.

Pai District Chief Anek Pantayom on Tuesday said intense forest fires have been ravaging wildlife sanctuary zones, forest reserves and national parks, particularly in Mueang Paeng, Thung Yao, and Mae Hi subdistricts. Continued …

Hua Hin to host International Chess Open April 13-21

This year, the BCC (Bangkok Chess Club) International Chess Open & Challenger moves into it’s third decade with the 21st edition to be held April 13-21 at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa.

Successful chess events are often identified with the driving force behind it and so Kai Tuorila has become synonymous with this BCC Open, not only the founder but also the chief organizer and tournament director, and who is often also seen to be the de facto chief arbiter. Continued …

Dead elephant in Hua Hin believed killed by another elephant

The lifeless body of an elephant was discovered in the waters in Huai Sat Yai, Hua Hin. The dead elephant is believed to have succumbed to brutal injuries inflicted during a fierce clash with another elephant.

Deputy Inspector Police Lt. Col. Somphot Prayangam, stationed at Nong Plub Police Station in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, received a distress call from 51-year-old palm plantation owner Sarawut Luangprabang on Sunday. Sarawut stumbled upon the carcass near his plantation in Ban Fa Prathan, Pa La-U, prompting an urgent response from law enforcement. Continued …

Myanmar Military Conscription Sparks Refugee Surge to Thailand

On Monday, 2024, Kannavee Suebsang, the FAIR Party MP, publicly revealed the case where the Myanmar government announced military conscription without gender discrimination, leaving uncertainty about whether it would escape scrutiny under international human rights law.

Kannavee stated that currently, there are thousands of Myanmar nationals, both male and female, aged 18-35, seeking visas to Thailand at the embassy in Yangon, Burma. Continued …

OAG chases Bt600 million from Chinese gang

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) looks set to confiscate assets worth around 596.58 million baht, which were seized on Dec. 7 from a major Chinese gang, Wirun Chanthananan, director-general of the OAG’s Department of Special Litigation (DoSL), said on Tuesday.

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has up to 90 days from when its secretary-general ordered the freezing of the assets pending further investigation to officially confiscate them, meaning there is a March 5 deadline. Continued …

UK and Thailand unveil 15.3-billion-baht science fund

The British Embassy and Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) have joined forces to roll out the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).

This 337-million-British-pound (15.3 billion baht) venture, set to be fully operational by the year’s end, is poised to nurture sustainable scientific breakthroughs while fostering collaborative efforts among international partners. Continued …

Thailand invests 37 billion baht for 62,000 new family medicine practitioners

The Thai government approved a significant investment of 37 billion baht into the country’s healthcare sector, aimed at producing an additional 62,000 family medicine practitioners over the next decade. This initiative, approved during a Cabinet meeting yesterday, is designed to enhance the nation’s primary care services.

Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke explained that the objective of this investment is to significantly increase the number of healthcare professionals specializing in family medicine. The ultimate goal is to enhance the quality and reach of primary care services across the nation. Continued …

The fearless young activist challenging Thai royalist establishment

Tantawan Tuatulanon, a political activist known for campaigning against royal motorcades, is back in the spotlight after her latest escapade sparked both public controversy and legal action.

After being charged twice with lese majeste in 2022, the 22-year-old was arrested again on Feb. 13 and this time accused of sedition, breaking the Computer Crime Act, and causing a public disturbance. Sedition alone carries a penalty of up to seven years in jail as per Article 116 of the Criminal Code. Continued …

Tiger Is Caught After 5 Days of Wandering Into Village

Officials from Khlong Lan National Park, along with related agencies and a team from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), successfully captured a skinny tiger that had wandered into a village in Khlong Lan National Park in Kamphaeng Phet Province on Tuesday after a five-day operation involving more than 60 officials.

Video 

An initial health check revealed that the tiger was a 2-year-old female that was 1.5 meters long and 60 centimeters high. Originally, officials mistook her for a male. Continued …

Unraveling the Environmental Repercussions of Thai Graffiti

When you think of environmental concerns, Thai graffiti might not be the first thing that springs to mind. But delve deeper into Thailand’s vibrant street art scene, and you’ll discover a unique intersection of creativity and sustainability.

At the heart of this movement is a philosophy that’s not just about creating, but about making art responsibly. From eco-friendly art practices to workshops diving into environmental issues, the Thai graffiti scene is a hotbed of innovative ideas and unique perspectives. Continued …

Baht may slip to 37 per dollar

The baht could slide to 37 to the dollar later this year, as a weakening Thai economy and a delay in U.S. interest rate cuts pressure the Thai currency, says Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research).

Kanjana Chockpisansin, head of research, banking and financial sector at the think tank, said recent data from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) is the main reason causing the baht to depreciate more than other regional currencies against the dollar. Continued …

Leading economists offer insights on 2024 Thailand Business Outlook

At a recent member luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (Amcham), prominent economists and policymakers from Thailand have provided valuable insights into Thailand’s 2024 business outlook.

Kiatipong Ariyapruchya of the World Bank, Arnunchanog Sakondhavat of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and Phurichai Rungcharoenkitkul of the Bank of Thailand shared their perspectives on the country’s economic landscape. Continued …

Thailand Embraces Renewable Energy in Bold Climate Change Fight

In a significant pivot toward sustainability, Thailand is accelerating its push into renewable energy, setting ambitious targets to combat climate change. With a series of green initiatives and a firm commitment to the Paris Agreement, the nation is on a path to drastically reduce its carbon footprint and embrace a cleaner, greener future.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is at the forefront of this transformation, exploring alternative fuels such as wood pellets and hydrogen to phase out coal and slash carbon dioxide emissions. Continued …

Industrial sentiment index rises in January

The Thai industrial sentiment index rose in January on increased domestic demand, tourism and exports, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said today.

FTI said its industrial sentiment index in January increased to 90.6 from 88.8 in the previous month. Spending during Lunar New Year, government visa-free travel programs, as well as a tax break on spending, all supported the sentiment, the FTI said. Continued …

CKPower reports 2023 revenue of Bt10.94B, cites renewables

Thanawat Trivisvavet, managing director, CK Power Public Co. (CKPower), one of the region’s largest electricity producers from renewables with one of the lowest carbon footprints, disclosed that it recorded a total revenue of 10.941 billion baht for the year 2023.

Despite the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, water levels showed improvement from mid-Q3/2023 onward, prompting the company to adjust its electricity production plans upward. Continued …

More than 5 million visitors arrive in first seven weeks of 2024

Thailand welcomed 5,217,379 overseas visitors between Jan. 1 and Feb. 18, a 49% jump year on year, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol reported on Tuesday. She added that these visitors have generated tourism income of around 254.7 billion baht for Thai entrepreneurs.

During the first seven weeks of this year, China was the top source of foreign tourists to Thailand, with 987,941 arrivals, followed by Malaysia (641,605), Russia (347,837), South Korea (341,447), and India (258,269). Continued …

Transport Minister Addresses High Ticket Prices for Bangkok-Phuket Flights

Suriya Juangroongruangkit, the Thai minister of transport, gave an interview yesterday before the Cabinet meeting regarding the issue of some airline passengers criticizing that ticket prices for Bangkok-Phuket flights were too high.

Suriya stated that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), responsible for setting the fare ceiling for airlines, investigated the claim that Bangkok-Phuket flight tickets were too expensive. Continued …

Songkran holiday unlikely to boost outbound trips due to high airfares

Despite the extended Songkran holiday, a surge in outbound trips is not anticipated, mainly due to high airfares and deflation risk concerns. This perspective comes from travel agents who predict that the 21-day “Water Festival” campaign is more likely to entice foreign tourists than the local market.

Kriangphon Piyaekchai, the vice president of the Thai Travel Agents Assn., explained, “This holiday is no longer a high season for outbound trips as before the pandemic.” He further clarified that the recovering aviation industry’s high airfares mean only travelers with significant purchasing power can afford to travel during Songkran. Continued …

Captain Dies after Long-Tail Boats Carrying 31 Foreign Tourists Crash in Krabi

A boat captain died after two long-tail boats that carried 31 foreign tourists crashed near an island in Krabi. The Krabi Marine Police said the two long-tail boats crashed near the Poda Island earlier this week.

One boat carried 21 foreign tourists and another boat carried 10 foreign tourists. All foreign tourists were safe. Continued …

Russian tourists: War weary and wary

For over two years, world news was dominated by disclosures and information about Covid, and the measures we needed to undertake to keep ourselves safe from infection. But that all changed on Feb. 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and set about an egregious war against a non-aggressive country.

Since that day, the conflict in Eastern Europe has been the predominant feature in the headlines of newspapers around the globe. And more recently, the news that has joined it is the war between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East, which began in late 2023. Continued …

The holistic approach of Thai medicine and western medicine

Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM) has evolved over the centuries into a holistic health system that encompasses five diverse approaches: internal medicine, external medicine, spirit medicine, divination, and Buddhism. This natural and comprehensive approach to healthcare mirrors the development of Western medicine.

Internal medicine in TTM involves the use of herbs and diet, a practice that predates Western medicine’s shift to a scientific foundation. Even today, these treatments are prevalent among naturopaths and alternative therapists. Continued …

Five hidden gems in Thailand worth a visit

For those seeking a peaceful place to relax and rejuvenate, Agoda recently highlighted five up-and-coming destinations that are appealing, yet devoid of chaotic crowds.

With 50% higher searches on Agoda in 2023 compared to 2022, Nakhon Nayok is the top riser. There has also been a noticeable rise in interest in Ubon Ratchathani (29%), Suphan Buri (24%), Phetchabun (23%) and Trang (20%) compared to the previous year. Continued …

Finding Balance at Thailand’s Storied Wellness Retreats

Sunshine would have been too much after three years that felt like one long dark tunnel. I arrive, exhausted, on Koh Samui during a monsoon, the wet jungle swaying with the energy of renewal.

That night, a lullaby of raindrops helps me drift off to sleep. The far-off storm flashing on the horizon expels my subliminal rage. I awaken, refreshed, to birdsong. Continued …

How Asia is facing an $800 billion climate financing shortfall

The Asia-Pacific region is facing an $800 billion climate financing shortfall, exacerbated by the pandemic’s impact on public finances. To address this, a coordinated effort is needed from governments, central banks, financial supervisors, and multilateral institutions. Continued …

Trump’s words seen raising risk of war in Europe

As German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a new munitions factory early last week, he warned that Europe must move to mass-producing weapons “because the painful reality is that we do not live in times of peace”. Continued …

Bus Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule

Hua Hin train schedule

To book online

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490
  • Department of Highways – 1586

bangkok, chiang mai, hua hin, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, real estate, retirement, thai economy, thailand, tourism, transportation

Tuesday’s news-Feb 13

Today’s news: Valentine’s Day spending/Thais to go online for Valentine’s/Thailand braces for cold front/Thailand Jet Ski Championship/Orientation program for expatriates/Bangkok considers 50kph limit/Village issues 9 rules/10,000 baht fine for riding e-unicycles/5 meth pills too much?/Reporter, photographer arrested/Journalism, criminality, and Thailand/Economy: Thai economy needs more stimulus/PM defends digital wallet/Cheap goods flooding Thai market/Revenue collection beats target/Malaysia unfazed by land bridge plan/Phuket prices reach record levels/Tourism: Alcohol, sunbeds to be banned/Japanese tourist’s murder mystery/Environment: GWM Plans 15 Additional EV Models/Thailand Experience: Responsible relaxation/International news/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

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Valentine’s Day spending to reach more than 2.5 billion baht

Valentine’s Day is expected to cost consumers more this year as inflation remains sticky. Yet, despite the economic doldrums, they are planning to celebrate the official day of love with their sweethearts and buy gifts for them to show how much they care.

Flowers rank third on the list of top gifts, even though the price of roses, the queen of flowers, is lower than in previous years. Continued …

80% of Thais to go online for Valentine’s gifts

According to a recent study conducted by the YouGov analysis institute, sponsored by Visa, 80% of Thais will be ordering their Valentine’s Day treats from the comfort of their screens.

The research delved deep into the hearts and wallets of Thai consumers, uncovering fascinating insights into how lovebirds navigate the digital aisles in search of that perfect gift for their special someone. Continued …

Thailand braces for cold front and fierce monsoons

The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a severe weather warning due to a powerful cold front and strong northeastern monsoons affecting various regions of the country.

The warning, specifically targeting the upper part of Thailand and the lower Gulf of Thailand, indicates that the nation is experiencing unusually volatile weather patterns, leading to cooler to cold temperatures in the north and northeastern parts, and heavy monsoonal impacts in the southern region. Continued …

Email: kenbrown@businessclassasia.com

Thailand Jet Ski Championship coming to Hua Hin in April

Hua Hin will host the first round of the Thailand Jet Ski Championship “WaterJet ProTour Thailand 2024.”

The event, which marks the beginning of this year’s championship series, will take place on April 6-7, at Hua Don Beach in Khao Takiab. Continued …

A comprehensive orientation program for expatriates

The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) has announced the organization of the Fourth Expatriate Orientation Program (EOP 4), scheduled to take place at Vithes Samosorn Hall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, April 3-4.

This initiative, a collaboration between the Thailand Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is crafted to enrich the living and working experience of expatriates in Thailand. The program is tailored for a diverse group of international residents, including diplomats, business professionals, experts, and journalists. Continued …

Bangkok considers 50kph limit

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is asking the police to impose a 50-kilometer-per-hour speed limit on 40 roads in inner Bangkok and around major residential areas.

The request will be lodged with the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) to reduce traffic accidents and improve road safety, said Thaiphat Tanasombatkul, director-general of the BMA’s Traffic and Transportation Department. Continued …

Mystical Isaan village issues 9 rules after a series of mysterious deaths

A mystical village, Ban Khop Klang Nuea, in the Isaan province of Kalasin, has established nine strict rules in response to a series of mysterious deaths, with 15 reported in January.

Among the rules: Do not bring dead bodies from other places into the village; do not kill four-legged animals within the village. Continued …

2 foreign men to face 10,000 baht fine for riding e-unicycles in Chiang Mai

Thai motorists demanded police take action against two foreign men riding electric unicycles, or e-unicycles, on a crowded road in the northern province of Chiang Mai.

The two foreign men were seen riding the e-wheels in the right lane of the road. Their practice is considered dangerous and illegal because the right lane is reserved for vehicles traveling at high speed. Furthermore, this type of vehicle is not allowed on Thai roads. Continued …

Is possessing 5 meth pills too much?

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Monday said the government is ready to review a ministerial policy that will lower punishment for drug users found in possession of five meth pills or less.

The new policy specifies that five methamphetamine pills are the maximum amount that a person may possess and still be regarded as a user. Continued …

Reporter, photographer arrested for covering political activist news

Officers from Phrarachawang Police Station arrested a reporter and a freelance photographer from the Prachathai news agency for covering the story of the political activist who sprayed number 112 and an anarchy symbol on the wall of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace last year.

A news reporter from Prachathai news agency, Nuttaphol Meksobhon, was one of the reporters who covered the activist story and provided an update on the case. Continued …

Journalism, criminality, and Thailand’s troubling history

In recent years, Thailand has faced significant scrutiny over its treatment of journalists and media freedom, a concern that has been highlighted by several high-profile cases.

The arrest of Natthaphon Meksophon from Prachatai and a freelance photographer for their involvement in reporting an incident at Wat Phra Kaew is the latest in a series of events that underscore the precarious state of press freedom in the country. Continued …

Thai economy needs more stimulus amid global challenges, says K-Research

The Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) has warned that the Thai economy requires additional government stimulus to boost domestic consumption amid challenges such as global politics, China’s economic deceleration, and fluctuating currency rates.

The center’s managing director, Burin Adulwattana, emphasized that the decrease in headline inflation for the fourth consecutive month in January does not suggest deflation risks, but rather highlights consumers’ dwindling purchasing power. Continued …

Thai PM defends 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme amid criticism

The implementation of the controversial 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme was defended yesterday by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. This came following a statement by Move Forward Party Deputy Leader Sirikanya Tansakul, suggesting the government develop a backup plan due to the scheme’s uncertain future.

Tansakul pointed out that the scheme’s success hinges on the decision of the government’s digital wallet policy committee, which is scheduled to meet on Thursday. Continued …

Cheap, low-quality goods flooding Thai market due to duty exemption

The Finance Ministry is convening this week to review the exemption of import duties for goods valued under 1,500 baht.

Currently, goods not exceeding 1,500 baht in value, including packaging, transportation and insurance costs, are exempt from duties and 7% value-added tax (VAT). Continued …

Revenue collection beats quarterly target by Bt1.62 billion

The government’s revenue collection for the first three months of fiscal 2024 exceeded its target by 0.3%, or 1.62 billion baht, says Fiscal Policy Office Director-general Pornchai Thiraveja.

Pornchai, who is also a spokesman for the Finance Ministry, said the government’s net revenue collection in the first three months of fiscal 2024 (October to December 2023) was 623 billion baht. Continued …

Malaysia’s largest port unfazed by Thailand’s land bridge plan

Malaysia’s biggest port operator, Westports Holdings, remains unfazed by Thailand’s land bridge project, according to its executive chairman.

The firm is considering external strategic investors to fund a 39.6 billion ringgit (US$8.3 billion) expansion, aiming to nearly double its capacity in the coming decades. Continued …

Prices of condos and houses in Phuket reach record levels

Foreign interest in owning a home in Phuket pushed real estate costs to unprecedented heights in 2023, with newly launched sales breaking records and land prices soaring to as much as 25-100 million baht per rai (approximately 1,600 square meters), Phattarachai Taweewong, director of Research and Communications at Colliers International (Thailand), revealed last week.

The unprecedented opening of condominium and vacation house sales reached a historic peak, accumulating a total value exceeding 100 billion baht. Continued …

Alcohol, sunbeds to be banned on Phuket hideaway beach

Provincial and park authorities will kick off regular joint patrols on Freedom Beach today with strict checks on alcoholic drinks part of the mission, an MP on the resort island said on Monday.

Personnel from the Royal Forestry Department will combine with provincial counterparts to wipe out sales of alcoholic drinks on the beach. Continued …

Japanese tourist’s murder mystery in Thailand haunts family

In a heart-wrenching tale spanning over a decade, the unresolved murder of Japanese tourist Tamako Kawashita continues to cast a long shadow of sorrow and frustration over her family.

Tamako’s father, Yasuaki, stood at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, his voice heavy with grief as he recounted the tragic events. “Her life ended tragically during the trip and, sadly, her killer is still at large.” Continued …

Great Wall Motor Plans 15 Additional Models for Thailand’s EV Cars

Great Wall Motor (GWM), present in the Thai market for three years, which anticipates 70% growth in electric vehicle (EV) cars, plans to introduce 15 new models by 2025, and aims to secure its position among the top 3 xEV manufacturers by 2026.

GWM anticipates that the Thai car market will reach approximately 820,000 total sales, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. The xEV segment is expected to grow by about 40%, constituting 33% of the total market, with approximately 270,000 units sold. Continued …

Responsible relaxation

Krabi and Koh Lanta are two of Thailand’s most popular destinations, known for their stunning natural beauty, rich culture, and unique experiences. Krabi is a province located on the southwest coast of Thailand, famous for its limestone cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and pristine beaches. The province is also home to several national parks, not to mention some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Koh Lanta, on the other hand, is a beautiful island located in the Andaman Sea, just off the coast of Krabi. Less developed than the mainland, the island features stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a laid-back atmosphere. Continued …

Egypt threatens to void peace treaty with Israel. What does that mean?

In a historic moment at Camp David, President Jimmy Carter witnessed the unlikely handshake between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. This landmark agreement, bathed in sunlight, has fostered over 40 years of peace between Israel and Egypt. It has served as an important source of stability in a volatile region. Continued …

Bus Tickets 

Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule

Hua Hin train schedule

To book online

 

90-day online reporting

Emergency hotline numbers:

  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
  • Bus ticket – 1490
  • Department of Highways – 1586

hospitality, hua hin, immigration, thai economy, thai environment, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism

Saturday’s news-Oct 14

Today’s news: Late king remembered/Crab bank initiative honored/16 Best Food Delivery Apps/Heavy rain warnings/What the Srettha government has done/Gold prices up Bt550/Girl’s toes get caught in escalator/Australia interested in investment/Noodle maker sets out expansion plans/Isuzu mulls e-pickup factory/Japanese firms upbeat on Thailand/Turning waste into wealth/Hoteliers embrace expat focus/Chinese tourists drop/Krabi, Thailand’s Nature Paradise/Thailand’s best-kept secrets/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

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Late king, Rama IX, remembered in Hua Hin

Over a thousand people yesterday attended ceremonies honoring the late H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Participants carried the royal cypher of His Majesty from Phon Kingphet Public Park to Wang Klai Kangwon. Here, volunteer traditional Thai dancers from the Hua Hin-Pranburi region, adorned in yellow-patterned Thai Chitralada costumes, performed a candle dance. (HHT)

Hua Hin’s blue swimming crab bank initiative honored

Hua Hin has been listed in the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories for 2023 for the “blue swimming crab bank” initiative in Khao Takiab. The initiative is organized by the local fishing community of Khao Takiab and focuses on the conservation of the blue swimming crab population.

Under the initiative, any gravied female crabs caught by the local fishing fleet are released back into the sea after they are placed in a nurturing condition to spawn. From October 2018 to May 2023, the crab bank initiative released over 150 million crab larvae into the sea, representing an economic value exceeding 1,000 million THB (approximately 28.5 million USD).

The crabs are released back into the sea every morning from 9am on the beach next to Amazon Coffee in Khao Takiab,. Anyone can take part in the releasing of the crabs.

16 Best Food Delivery Apps In Thailand

Food delivery apps are the best way to get food delivered to your home or office. Most people in Thailand use these apps because they are convenient, fast and easy to use. However, this can also be a disadvantage because you don’t know what ingredients they use in their foods because they don’t disclose it.

But if you want something that’s quick and effective then these food delivery apps will definitely serve as a good solution for you, since most of them provide delicious meals made from fresh ingredients that do not compromise quality for quantity. Continued …

Tropical depression triggers heavy rain warnings for 47 Thai provinces

Today, 47 provinces of Thailand, including Bangkok, brace for heavy rainfall due to a tropical depression covering the Gulf of Thailand.

The public has been warned to be cautious of flash floods and forest runoff, especially in hillside areas and low-lying regions. The sea waves are expected to reach a height of two meters in areas affected by thunderstorms. Continued …

What the Srettha government has done during its first month in office

After a month in office, the Pheu Thai-led coalition government has launched a slew of policies with many more to come, according to Prommin Lertsuridej, the head of Pheu Thai Party’s economic affairs committee and secretary-general of the prime minister’s office.

Prommin acknowledged that though the government had officially announced its policies, some were introduced a bit hastily, including the initiatives to reduce energy prices, support farmers, boost tourism, and implement soft power. He emphasized that the government would be introducing more policies in the coming months. Continued …

Gold prices up Bt550 to Bt33,000

The Gold Traders Assn. this morning announced the buying prices at 32,305.96 baht per baht weight for gold ornaments and 32,900 baht per baht weight for gold bars.

The selling prices were set at 33,500 baht per baht weight for gold ornaments and 33,000 baht per baht weight for gold bars. Continued …

Girl escapes serious injury after toes get caught in escalator

A 4-year-old girl was injured when her foot got stuck in an escalator groove at a popular mall in the Bangna area of Bangkok Friday evening.

The little girl’s right big toe and index toe got stuck when she was coming down the escalator with her mother. Continued …

Australia interested in investment in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor

Australia is interested in investing in infrastructure development projects, water resources in particular, in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), according to Thailand’s trade representative Nalinee Taveesin.

Australia is Thailand’s 8th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade last year estimated at about US$18.38 billion, with a tendency to increase in line with Australia’s economic strategy in Southeast Asia over the next decade and longer, as announced by the Australian prime minister in September, with the government having initially set aside US$95.4 million across four years to fund the strategy. Continued …

Mama noodle maker sets out expansion plans

Thai President Foods, the manufacturer of Mama instant noodles, plans to invest more than 2 billion baht over a three-year period to expand its production capacity in response to anticipated future growth, both domestically and abroad.

Of the total budget, 1.6 billion baht is slated for acquiring and installing eight machines, while 400-500 million baht is for the purchase of land and construction of a new factory, said General Manager Pun Paniangvait. Continued …

Isuzu mulls e-pickup factory in Thailand

Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors plans to build a factory to make electric pickups in Thailand if local demand for the vehicles increases significantly, says Tri Petch Isuzu, the local distributor of cars under the Isuzu brand.

The Yokohama-based company believes Thailand has the potential to become its electric vehicle (EV) export base if the EV market, especially its pickup segment, continues to grow. Continued …

Japanese firms upbeat on Thailand, ASEAN

Japanese businesses remain confident about their investments in Thailand and are keen to stay here, particularly in businesses related to automobile manufacturing, according to Hideyuki Tanaka, chair of the subcommittee on ASEAN economic relations, Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organizations).

Thailand, which is one of 10 ASEAN member countries, has an abundance of natural resources, and Japan feels that its people have a common culture with Thais. More importantly, Thai people are friendly to the Japanese, Tanaka said. Continued …

China’s technologies help Thailand turn waste into wealth

There are abundant biomass resources in Southeast Asia, mainly including waste from agriculture and forestry. China has been employing its technologies to help its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partners in turning waste into wealth.

Thailand has rich biomass resources, such as crop straw and wood residue. The existing biomass gasification projects have faced problems like poor fuel flexibility, low gasification efficiency, high tar content in gas, and secondary pollution from tar wastewater. It is urgent to enhance equipment reliability and operation and maintenance capabilities to ensure system stability and reduce investment and operating costs. Continued …

Thai hoteliers embrace TAT’s forthcoming expat focus

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) recent announcement on the pivot toward offering benefits to expatriates in its 2024 strategy has garnered positive responses from leading hoteliers in the country.

Thailand, known for its cultural richness and scenic beauty, attracted 156,596 expatriates in 1Q2023 alone. Continued …

Chinese tourists drop by 75,093

The economic division of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that the number of Chinese tourists in Thailand last week fell by 75,093 compared to the previous week.

The ministry said Thailand received 497,966 foreign tourists last week. This was 54,453 or 9.86% less than the previous week. The number of foreign tourists in the country decreased, especially Chinese tourists. Continued …

Unleash Your Adventurous Spirit in Krabi, Thailand’s Nature Paradise

As exhilarating as it is to connect with unspoiled nature in all its primal glory, there are few places that deliver such experiences as wonderfully as Krabi does. Located in the southern part of Thailand, Krabi is known for its clear waters, stunning limestone cliffs, and dense mangrove forests – a paradise for thrill-seekers and adventure enthusiasts from around the world.

Adventure tourism has seen significant growth in recent years, and Krabi stands as a testament to this trend. Be it water sports, rock climbing, or jungle trekking, there’s no shortage of adventure activities in Krabi. Continued …

Why Nan and Phrae are Thailand’s best-kept secrets

There’s a couple I spot wherever I go in the northern Thailand province of Nan. He is bare chested with intricately tattooed legs; she is demurely dressed but smiles as he cups his hand and whispers in her ear. They pop up on tote bags and T-shirts and as fiberglass sculptures.

My guide tells me that to Thais their image is as synonymous with Nan as the “I (heart) NY” logo is with New York. If upcoming Tourism Authority of Thailand educationals pay off, this power couple could become a lot more widely recognized, as international visitors discover community-based tourism here and in the neighboring province of Phrae. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. 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 

November Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule

Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flights reduced to two per week

Thai Air Asia will reduce direct flights from four to twice weekly between Chiang Mai, the gateway city to north Thailand and the beach resort town of Hua Hin on the Gulf of Thailand.

From Chiang Mai, the new schedule switches to two weekly flights (Friday and Sunday), starting Oct. 30. The one-way is around USD78.40 (THB2,846), including fees and tax. Continued …

 

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  • Emergency hotline – 191
  • Emergency medical services – 1554
  • Water accident – 1196
  • Motorway hotline – 1586
  • Emergency medical – 1669
  • Highway police – 1193
  • Tourist police – 1155
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bangkok, chiang mai, hospitality, hua hin, immigration, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, solar, thai economy, thai environment, thailand, tourism

Saturday’s News-April 8

 

  • Hua Hin implements solutions for water shortages/
  • Mercury hits dangerous levels in Bangkok, Krabi on Sunday/
  • Alliance sought to combat haze/
  • 59 Chinese Christian asylum seekers exiled in Thailand leave for US/
  • Cyber data thief allegedly an army sergeant/
  • Thailand’s Economy: Experts outline the economic challenges facing the next government/Thailand’s workforce faces two major challenges, says ManpowerGroup/Renewables scheme targets new firms/Demco keen on expansion in renewable energy sector/UAC allots Bt300 million for renewable drive/
  • Tourism: Songkran celebrations set to move into high gear across Thailand/Songkran festivals around Thailand/Songkran revelers get an extra day to party this year/18 river sources unfit for Songkran/A tourist’s primer: The cleanest and dirtiest rivers, and the best beaches/Police preparing for Songkran traffic and crime/Thailand drafts bill to decriminalize its billion-dollar sex trade/Ukrainian Woman Arrested After Spray Painting Famous Viewpoint in Phuket/Indian national arrested for overstaying his visa by 1,200 days/
  • Thailand Experience: Koh Samui: The secret island gem of Southeast Asia’s hospitality scene/Uncover Thailand’s finest adventure hotels/Step Back In Time & Visit The Oldest Restaurants In Bangkok/
  • 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

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Hua Hin waterworks

Hua Hin implements solutions for water shortages

Hua Hin officials have proposed a three-stage plan to address local water shortages in Hua Hin w.

As a start, water from the Kasetsart University Animal Hospital will be pumped from university ponds to the Hua Na Waterworks pumping plant.

The second measure is for a pipeline to be installed from Suan Son Pradiphat, to the Hua Na water pumping plant. The pipeline is expected to be completed in 90 days, following which the municipality will install a booster pump to increase the water pressure.

Finally, improvements to the Hua Hin pumping station and a pipeline, with a budget of Bt1,054 million, has entered the final phase; 10 kilometers remain and are expected to be completed before the end of this fiscal year.

Mercury hits dangerous levels in Bangkok, Krabi on Sunday

The Thai Meteorological Department has forecast that Krabi will be the hottest place in the nation on Sunday, with its heat index hitting 54.2ᵒ Celsius.

The second hottest place in Thailand will be Bangkok’s Bang Na district, where temperatures are expected to soar to 50.2ᵒC. The other three hottest areas in the country are Phetchabun (44.3ᵒC), Chonburi (43.2ᵒC), and Nakhon Ratchasima’s Chok Chai district (41.3ᵒC). Continued …

Alliance sought to combat haze

Thailand, Myanmar and Laos are seeking to join forces to combat the transboundary haze pollution choking the region.

At Government House, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha hosted a trilateral meeting through video conference with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Myanmar leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing to discuss the transboundary haze crisis. Continued …

59 Chinese Christian asylum seekers exiled in Thailand leave for US

Dozens of Chinese Christian asylum seekers who fled alleged religious persecution in their homeland left Thailand for the United States after being released from Thai custody for an immigration violation, police and United Nations officials said Friday.

A group of 63 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church (also known as the Mayflower Church) had feared Thailand might deport them to China, but American officials and a lawmaker reportedly intervened and persuaded Thai authorities to send them to the U.S. Continued …

Cyber data thief allegedly an army sergeant

The cyberpunk who hacked into a government database and threatened to release the personal data of 55 million Thai people is believed to be an army sergeant.

Police held the unnamed army sergeant and his wife this morning in relation to hacking the personal data of 55 million Thais and putting the information up for sale on April 5 under the name “9Near.” Continued …

Experts outline the economic challenges facing the next government

In less than two months, Thai people will exercise their right to vote and choose the leader and party that should govern the country for the next four years. All political parties have been running intense campaigns, trying to persuade people to vote for them.

Economic policies are regarded as one of the first factors that people evaluate while voting because of their direct co-relation to their standard of living. Amid external uncertainties and volatility, as well as an uneven recovery of Thailand’s economy, where tourism is expanding but exports are contracting, the newly elected government will face difficulties and challenges in maintaining the country’s growth momentum while also making people happy. Continued …

Thailand’s workforce faces two major challenges, says ManpowerGroup

ManpowerGroup says Thailand’s labor market faces two big challenges in the next five years – shortages of IT skills and English language proficiency.

To remain competitive in the global economy, the country must adapt to fast-changing technology and invest in upskilling workers, the global staffing firm added. Continued …

Renewables scheme targets new firms

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is encouraging companies not selected for power projects under its 5.2-gigawatt renewables scheme to participate in the second phase after the general election. Continued …

Demco keen on expansion in renewable energy sector

Demco, a contractor and engineering service provider, is expanding its clean energy business following diversification into this sector by joining the government’s promoted renewable power development scheme.

The company proposed power generation projects in an auction for the 5.2-gigawatt renewable power scheme, overseen by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), said Pongsak Sirikupt, chief executive and managing director of Demco. Continued …

UAC allots Bt300 million for renewable drive

UAC Global Plc., a chemical trader and clean power operator, plans to allocate 300 million baht to support diversification into renewable energy and oil production development.

Roughly 20 million baht is for the development of a 3-megawatt biogas power plant in Khon Kaen, said Chatchapol Prasopchok, president and chief executive of UAC Global. Continued …

Songkran celebrations set to move into high gear across Thailand

Full-scale Songkran celebrations can be expected this year across the Kingdom after three years of cancellations or restricted activities during the Covid-19 crisis.

Many events have been scheduled to mark the Thai New Year in Bangkok and other major cities, including Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Phuket. The planned activities range from cultural shows and religious rites to musical events and international festivals. Continued …

Songkran festivals around Thailand

Filled full of festivals, fun and frolics, April is one of the most celebrated months of the year in Thailand, with the traditional Thai New Year of Songkran one of the most culturally important celebrations in the kingdom.

The Songkran festival is known worldwide and is celebrated to honor family values, pay respect to seniors, and participate in traditional ceremonies throughout the nation’s temples. This festival is observed as a three-day national holiday from April 13 to April 15 in Thailand. However, some locations also celebrate this festival a little later with unique local festivities. Continued …

Songkran revelers get an extra day to party this year

The Digital Economy and Society Ministry confirmed that Monday, April 17, is an extra day added to the Songkran holidays that kick off next Thursday.

The ministry said on Friday that its Anti-Fake News Center has been receiving many inquiries about the additional holidays. It said April 17 has been announced as compensation for April 15, which is a Saturday. This extra day is based on a Jan. 10 Cabinet resolution. Continued …

18 river sources unfit for Songkran

The Department of Pollution Control (PCD) has warned people not to use water from 18 sources during the Songkran holidays because of unsafe bacterial contamination. The unsafe water sources include river sections that pass through Bangkok and Nonthaburi’s Bang Kruai district.

Pornsak Phuim, deputy director general at the PCD, said surface water samples from 61 locations across the country had been collected ahead of the Songkran Festival (April 13-15), when vast quantities of water are used for splashing. Continued …

A tourist’s primer: The cleanest and dirtiest rivers, and the best beaches

The Pollution Control Department has certified as good the water quality of at least half of the 70 rivers it examined, amid an expected influx of visitors to beaches countrywide during summer.

The deputy director-general of the department, Pornsak Phuimm, said that officials had examined the water quality of 70 rivers around the country from January to March. Three of the 70 rivers have excellent quality of water, 35 are good quality, 21 are moderate level, while the water in nine rivers is of poor quality, he said. Continued …

Police preparing for Songkran traffic and crime

Police will implement measures nationwide to reduce traffic congestion, ensure safety on the roads, and prevent crime during the Songkran festival, national police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas said on Friday.

Police will enforce the enhanced measures during the April 13 to 15 holiday, he said. Trucks will be banned from main roads used for travel during the festival and extra lanes will be added to accommodate the surge in traffic, he said. Continued …

Thailand drafts bill to decriminalize its billion-dollar sex trade

From the rows of massage parlors, pulsing night clubs and rowdy bars of Thailand’s gaudy red-light districts, the country’s billion-dollar sex trade operates all but in the open.

Technically, the sex they sell is illegal, but a new government-led plan aims to change that. It calls for repealing the 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, which makes most sex work a crime, and replacing it with a new law, the Protection of Sex Work Act, affirming the rights of sex workers and their places of business to sell sex. Continued …

Ukrainian Woman Arrested After Spray Painting Famous Viewpoint in Phuket

A Ukrainian woman was arrested after she spray painted anti-Russia statements on rocks and benches at a famous viewpoint in Wichit.

Local residents in Wichit complained that many places at the popular Khao Khad Viewpoint were sprayed with red spray paint, professing anti-Russian views. Continued …

Indian national arrested for overstaying his visa by 1,200 days

Thai immigration, together with the police in the district of Kaset Sombun, Chaiyaphum, have arrested a foreigner for overstaying his visa.

According to reports, the operation was carried out as part of the government’s policy to crack down on various crimes in the area, including those committed by foreigners overstaying their visas or with warrants from Thai or foreign courts. Continued …

Koh Samui: The secret island gem of Southeast Asia’s hospitality scene

Koh Samui remains a “little-big” anomaly in Southeast Asia’s massive resort island arsenal. Despite hosting famed global hotel brands such as Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, W, InterContinental, and Banyan Tree, its smallish private airport capacity has somehow created a natural barrier to mass tourism in the development-crazed last 25 years.

Looking at the tourism recovery trajectory in our newly released Samui Hotel Market Update 2023, the best word I could use for growth was the impish term “moderate.” No, the island has not broken into a full sweat, but looking at the mounting hotel room night demand in Q4 of last year and into the first quarter of 2023, there are positive signs of momentum. Continued …

Float House on River Kwai

Uncover Thailand’s finest adventure hotels

Are you an adventure seeker looking to explore the natural wonders of Thailand? If so, then you’re in luck! Thailand is a country filled with breathtaking landscapes, from towering mountains and dense forests to tranquil beaches and crystal-clear waters. And with its growing popularity as an adventure tourism destination, Thailand offers an abundance of outdoor activities for travelers of all ages and abilities.

To make the most of your adventure tourism experience in Thailand, it’s essential to find the right hotel that caters to your needs. Whether you’re seeking a hotel that provides easy access to hiking trails, water sports, or wildlife safaris, there are plenty of options to choose from. And with so many hotels in Thailand that offer adventure activities and services, finding the right one can be a daunting task. Continued …

Step Back In Time & Visit The Oldest Restaurants In Bangkok

When it comes to countries with the tastiest culinary delights, Thailand always tops the list, and Bangkok’s dining scene is one of the most vibrant in the Asian nation.

While Thailand’s Capital’s Street food is considered legendary (it’s been featured in CNN as the city with the best street food in the world), it’s also home to numerous delicious restaurants, some of which have existed for more than a century. The restaurants offer a unique taste of some of Thai’s traditional dishes, making them well worth visiting. Step back in time and visit the oldest restaurants in Bangkok. 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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90-day online reporting

bangkok, chiang mai, hua hin, immigration, marijuana, medical tourism, pattaya, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, thai environment, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Friday’s News-April 7

  • Bangkok hottest in Thailand on Thursday as temperature soars past 50C/
  • Songkran activities at Bluport mall/
  • Be Well Clinic to move/
  • Dispute resolution center opened in Hua Hin/
  • Six people caught allegedly trapping macaques at temple in Phetchaburi/
  • Chiang Mai issues urgent work-from-home warning as PM2.5 soars even higher/
  • Shivering fox cubs rescued from forest fire in Lampang/
  • PM2.5 in Mae Hong Son tourist town at hazardous levels/
  • Police launch home-minding service for Songkran/
  • Thailand chips away at US trade deficit with 62% increase in chip market exports/
  • With plastic-eating machines, Thai communities turn a profit fighting pollution/
  • Thousands flee into Thailand amid renewed Myanmar fighting/
  • Marijuana Gold Rush: Weed conundrum polarizes society ahead of election/How medical cannabis is changing the lives of Thai patients/Thailand’s promised cannabis bonanza disappoints as politicians trade blame/Thailand’s First Cannabis Greenhouse: Step Forward for Medical Cannabis Industry/Why ASEAN countries should not look at Thailand for legalizing medical cannabis/
  • Tourism: 5 Thai beaches appear on list of top 100 beaches in the world/High flight costs said due to strong and swift recovery in tourism/What the big oil production cuts mean to airfares/Five-point plan to bring down airfares/Thailand to accept electronic VOA applications for 17 countries/Thai medical tourism market to recover to pre-Covid level in 2023/Pattaya Police Launch City-Wide Search Targeting Overstaying Foreigners/Phuket Close to a Drought, Phuket Officials Urge Residents to Save Water/Pattaya, Navy Helping Koh Larn Cope With Water Shortage/
  • Thailand Experience: Snorkeling in Thailand: A Guide to Koh Phi Phi, Krabi & Koh Lanta/Phuket vs Bali: how to choose between the two divine islands/Rain of fire at Buddhist temple in Nan/
  • 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

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Bangkok hottest in Thailand on Thursday as temperature soars past 50C

Bangkok will be the hottest area of the country on Thursday, with a heat index of 50.2 degrees Centigrade (122F), according to the Thai Meteorological Department.

The capital’s southeastern Bang Na district topped the forecasted five hottest places in the country as hot season gripped Thailand. Second-hottest was Chonburi’s Laem Chabang at 49.4C, followed by Phuket (47.9C), Si Sa Ket (41.5C) and Phetchabun (40.6C). Continued …

Songkran activities at Bluport mall

Be Well Clinic to move

The management team at Hua’s Be Well Medical Center has announced big changes for their Black Mountain satellite clinic, with a move to purpose-built premises at a location on the main road, close to the water park near the Black Mountain Golf Course entrance road.

Operations at the current location, established in November 2021, will cease from today. The new premises are expected to be open in the first quarter of 2024 as part of a larger healthcare and restaurant project. Continued …

Dispute resolution center opened in Hua Hin

A Public Dispute Resolution Center at Hua Hin police station will be responsible for mediating disputes that are classified as “petty offenses.”

These include verbal disputes, minor physical assaults, and other non-criminal issues that do not require legal intervention.

Six people caught allegedly trapping macaques at temple in Phetchaburi

Police arrested six suspects and seized three pickup trucks as they were trying to trap macaque monkeys at a temple in Phetchaburi province yesterday.

Police also found one monkey, traps and 40 blue plastic bags used to contain the animals after their capture. Continued …

Chiang Mai issues urgent work-from-home warning as PM2.5 soars even higher

Government agencies in Chiang Mai were ordered to let staff work from home on Friday as levels of PM2.5 smog surged to almost unprecedented levels.

In an urgent announcement issued on Friday morning, Chiang Mai Gov. Nirat Pongsitthavorn said officials who can work from home or online without impacting public services should be allowed to do so. Continued …

Shivering fox cubs rescued from forest fire in Lampang

Three fox cubs were rescued from a blazing forest in Chae Son National Park in Chae Hom district of Lampang province on Thursday. Officials found the cubs trembling with fear while the fire was being extinguished, the national park chief, Tewan Chanprom, said. (The Nation)

PM2.5 in Mae Hong Son tourist town at hazardous levels

The tourist town of Pai in Mae Hong Son province is choking with PM2.5 ultra-fine dust at a hazardous 398 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) of air on Thursday morning following weeks of forest fires and burning of farmland, the authorities said.

The Mae Hong Son operation center for tackling forest fires and smog added that the PM2.5 level in Muang district was measured at 196 µg/m3 and at 132 µg/m3 in Mae Saring district. Continued …

Police launch home-minding service for Songkran

Householders have been invited to “Leave your home with the police” during the long Songkran holiday.

Thousands of Thais are expected to start heading home from April 12 to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year on April 13. The public holiday for the three-day festival runs until April 18 this year.

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) today announced its scheme aimed at ensuring no one breaks into people’s homes while they enjoy the long holiday break. Continued …

Thailand chips away at US trade deficit with 62% increase in chip market exports

The United States has been experiencing a growing deficit in its chipmaking trade with Asia, but the good news is that Thailand is helping to chip away at that gap.

According to U.S. Census data, U.S. imports of chips grew 17% from last year to US$4.86 billion in February, with Asia accounting for 83% of that total. Continued …

With plastic-eating machines, Thai communities turn a profit fighting pollution

I found the workshop down a narrow soi in Bangkok’s old town. Several large sacks of plastic bottle caps, carefully sorted by color, sat by the entrance. Machines filled the rest of the shed.

Small and hand-operated, the machinery was there to be fed. I pressed a green button, and hungry teeth rotated rapidly at the bottom of a clear container, rattling like an aggressive kitchen blender.

I scooped handfuls of orange and red caps into the shredder. Once inside, they danced about like popcorn, becoming ever smaller as the teeth chomped them into tiny, thin flakes. The goal was to turn the caps into something new, ensuring they would no longer head to a landfill or, worse, into the ocean. Continued …

Thousands flee into Thailand amid renewed Myanmar fighting

Thousands of people have fled across the border to Thailand amid fierce fighting between Myanmar’s armed rebel groups and the military, according to Thai officials.

Myanmar was plunged into turmoil when the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, leading to mass protests and an armed uprising. Continued …

Weed conundrum polarizes society ahead of election

Despite the different stances political parties take when it comes to the subject of cannabis – with most objecting to its recreational use – and another potential shift in the plant’s legal status, many sellers remain unconcerned.

As the May 14 general election draws near, parties have begun publishing their policies in a bid to woo voters. The legal status of cannabis, frequently described as being in an unregulated “vacuum”, is a subject of significant public concern, however, and political parties seem keen to capitalize on this. Continued …

How medical cannabis is changing the lives of Thai patients

Before getting into the story of how medical cannabis is changing the lives of Thai patients, let’s first talk about the medical products that can be made from cannabis.

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, has been increasingly recognized for its potential therapeutic properties. The following are some of the key medical products derived from cannabis. Continued …

Thailand’s promised cannabis bonanza disappoints as politicians trade blame

Thailand’s decriminalization of cannabis has delighted its fans, alarmed some health experts and has increasingly disappointed farmers who have been undercut by illegal imports, sending a promise of a new bonanza crop up in smoke.

Marijuana has also become an election football, with the opposition criticizing the ruling pro-military coalition in the run-up to May 14 polls for rushing through decriminalization last year to what they say is the detriment of society, youngsters in particular. Continued … 

Thailand’s First Cannabis Greenhouse: Step Forward for Medical Cannabis Industry

The medical cannabis industry is a rapidly growing sector of the healthcare industry. It has seen tremendous growth in the last two decades, as more and more countries have passed laws legalizing the use of the same for certain medical conditions. This has opened up new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors who are looking to capitalize on the burgeoning market.

This medical sector offers many financial opportunities, including retail dispensaries, cultivation, processing, and delivery services. There are also opportunities to provide consulting services to help patients and businesses navigate the complex legal and regulatory environment surrounding the industry. Continued …

Why ASEAN countries should not look at Thailand for legalizing medical cannabis

Cannabis use was decriminalized in Thailand since June 2022. Yet, almost a year on, the country still lacks a comprehensive legal framework to regulate the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis products.

Amid the legal ambiguity, a fast-growing cannabis industry has emerged with significant implications for both Thailand and the broader Southeast Asia region, home to some of the world’s toughest drug laws. Continued …

5 Thai beaches appear on list of top 100 beaches in the world

The prime minister has expressed satisfaction with five of Thailand’s beaches being included among the Top 100 Beaches on Earth ranking published by the worldbeachguide.com website.

Koh Kradan in Trang province came in at number one on the list of the world’s best 100 beaches. Railay Beach in Krabi was placed on the ninth spot on the list, with Freedom Beach in Phuket ranked 18th and Laem Had Beach on Phang-nga’s Koh Yao Yai placing at the 21st spot. Ao Tanote on Surat Thani’s Koh Tao was ranked 44th. Continued …

High flight costs said due to strong and swift recovery in tourism

The Transport Ministry is pointing to the stronger-than-expected recovery in tourism for the high cost of flights, saying the surging number of international and domestic tourists created a large gap between supply and demand.

Thailand has attracted an average of 140,000 visitors a day since its reopened its borders in November 2021, Acting Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate said on Thursday. Continued …

What the big oil production cuts mean to airfares

The recent move by the big oil majors to cut production by over one million barrels a day as a “precautionary” measure to stabilize the oil market will have a domino effect on airfares, according to industry experts.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yesterday announced plans to lower oil production by 1.16 million barrels per day, starting next month, which has already led to a surge in oil prices. This reduction in oil production will lead to a decrease in the supply of oil, driving up the price of oil, which will ultimately impact the cost of airline operations. Continued …

Five-point plan to bring down airfares

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Transport Ministry to proceed with a five-point plan to tackle the soaring prices of air tickets in the short and long term.

Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate said the ministry has informed the prime minister of the measures taken and those in the pipeline to address the substantial hikes, which is due to the surge in demand after the Covid-19 pandemic. Continued …

Thailand to accept electronic VOA applications for 17 countries

BLS International Services on Wednesday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thailand to accept electronic visa-on-arrival (EVOA) applications for 17 countries. ”This convergence of forces is expected to propel Thailand’s tourism inflow steadily, with estimated 75,000-plus applications expected for the upcoming season,” the city-based company said.

The company collaborates with more than 46 client governments, including diplomatic missions, embassies and consulates, as well as employs technology and processes that ensure data security. Continued …

Thai medical tourism market to recover to pre-Covid level in 2023

According to SCB EIC estimates, the Thai medical tourism market in 2023 is likely to recover to a higher level than in 2019 and will be valued at 2 billion baht.

The future growth of the Thai medical tourism market is fueled by a number of health megatrends. These include the entrance of the silver economy in 2021, which is driving demand for medical care and innovation in anti-aging technology. Continued …

Pattaya Police Launch City-Wide Search Targeting Overstaying Foreigners

Pattaya Police and immigration launched a city-wide search Wednesday targeting foreigners on overstay or who might have been involved in illegal activities.

About 50 law enforcement officers swept across Pattaya City at 10:30pm to deter illegal activities. Continued …

Phuket Close to a Drought, Phuket Officials Urge Residents to Save Water

Officials are urging Phuket residents to save water, as water resources are limited and Phuket could be close to a drought.

Phuket Provincial Administrative Chief officer Somprat Prabsongkram said Phuket has three major reservoirs, which are the Khlong Katha Reservoir in Chalong, Bang Ward Reservoir, and the Bang Neow Dam Reservoir. These three reservoirs will only have enough water resources to last until July without rain. Residents have to save water. Continued …

Pattaya, Navy Helping Koh Larn Cope With Water Shortage

With Koh Larn off Pattaya being among the islands facing water shortage, this seaside city’s authorities, together with the navy, are now helping to partly alleviate the crisis by transporting badly needed fresh water.

Pattaya City Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai said this popular tourist destination has two sources of fresh water, with one being what is produced by East Water Co.’s desalination plant and the other ground water, plus what the local residents have stored during the rainy season. Continued …

Snorkeling in Thailand: A Guide to Koh Phi Phi, Krabi & Koh Lanta

Thailand is a beautiful country known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and abundant marine life. One of the must-do activities when in Thailand is snorkeling, and with its rich underwater world, there are plenty of places to do so.

We will focus on three popular destinations for snorkeling in Thailand – Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, and Koh Lanta – and provide recommendations on where to stay and eat, as well as tips to make the most of your snorkeling trip. Continued …

Phuket vs Bali: how to choose between the two divine islands

Anyone planning a trip to Southeast Asia confronts an embarrassment of riches. This magical part of the world has enough beaches, sunset spots, temples and fiery food to fill several lifetimes of travel. Yet, since we only have one, tough choices lie in store. Enter a pair of seasoned writers to make the case for their pick of two of the region’s most beloved hubs, Phuket and Bali.

For anyone who loves Phuket – as I do – it’s a magical island that instantly defies its stereotypes without making any fuss. Continued … 

Rain of fire at Buddhist temple in Nan

Water flowed and sparks flew as Nan locals performed their traditional Ched Peng ceremony at Wat Tha Lo in Phu Phiang district on Wednesday. Residents flocked to the temple to pour water on its Phra That Tha Lo stupa and offer alms to monks. As night fell, Bok Fai Dok rockets and Fai Phaniang fireworks bathed the sky and the temple beneath in fiery colors. Locals also competed to produce the most spectacular aerial show, launching 41 Bang Fai rockets. The event is held annually in the northern province for locals to celebrate and reaffirm their Buddhist faith. (The Nation)

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

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

baht, bangkok, hua hin, immigration, prauchuap khiri khan, thai economy, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Tuesday’s News-March 14

  • 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

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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 …

Our regular menu is also available

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 

Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedules

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, cha am, hua hin, immigration, marijuana, medical tourism, pattaya, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Thursday’s News-March 2

  • Old Days Festival at Bluport this weekend/
  • Cha Am seafood festival set for March 11-18/
  • Beach Party/Music Festival in Cha Am April 29/
  • Makha Bucha Day Monday: lots of Buddhism, no alcohol/
  • Trafficker abandons 106 illegal migrants stuffed inside truck in PKK/
  • FTI anticipates lower May power tariff/
  • Lazada Thailand says its e-commerce merchants rose 30% last year/
  • US serviceman found dead in Thai army barracks in Lop Buri province/
  • China-Laos Railway has carried 10 million passengers/
  • Dams constructed by China and Laos on the Mekong pose major problems/
  • 50 elephants ‘addicted to sugarcane’ destroy 2000 rai of crops/
  • Man arrested with 30 live monitor lizards, large quantity of reptile flesh/
  • Yes, you can have a lion as a pet in Thailand/
  • Foreigners flee Thai stocks at rapid rate/
  • London dogs head to Thailand to sniff out pangolin smugglers/
  • ‘Happy toilets’ on the way at land offices/
  • The highs and lows of liberalizing marijuana/
  • How Thailand’s booming cannabis industry can benefit all/
  • Tourism: Over 7,000 Russians in Phuket apply for visa extensions/Where are rich Russian holidaymakers going to avoid travel sanctions?/Expensive flights to Thailand too hot for Chinese/Taiwanese Tourist Dies After Snorkeling in Krabi/New Zealand Tourist Rescued After Getting Lost in Phangan Island Jungle/German Tourist Rescued After Getting Injured Inside Krabi Cave/Two Russian Kids Back with Parents after Being Lost in Patong/
  • International: Finnish parliament passes NATO bill with large majority/APEC posts lower economic growth, weaker trade activity/The ultra-rich lost 10% of fortune in 2022/
  • Links: Calendar of events/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

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Cha Am seafood festival set for March 11-18

Cha Am will hold its annual seafood festival between March 11-18, with the festival taking place on the viewpoint on Cha Am beachfront.

One of the main highlights of the festival is the wide range of locally caught seafood that will be available for visitors to sample. From grilled prawns and squid to fried fish and crab, there will be something to please everyone’s taste buds.

The festival also features a walking street and night market where visitors can purchase local products and souvenirs. There also will be live music every night.

Beach Party/Music Festival in Cha Am April 29

The NangLay Beach Party and Music Festival will be held at the northern end of the Cha Am beach area, near the Triple Tree Resort on Saturday, April 29.

The non-stop party features many popular artists, including Bright Vachirawit and Nanon, Billkin, Palmy, Potato, Paradox, Joey Boy, Three Man Down, Tillybirds, Paper Planes And Sarah Salola, with a light and sound system throughout the night.

Early ticket sales start on March 31 HERE, in every 7-Eleven store or HERE.

Makha Bucha Day Monday: lots of Buddhism, no alcohol

Next week, Thailand will celebrate Makha Bucha Day, an important religious holiday for Thai Buddhists. The holiday falls on Monday, March 6.

While the day may not hold the same religious significance for non-Buddhists, it is still recognized as a significant day in Thai culture, and for tourists for the banning of alcohol sales.

Makha Bucha Day falls on the full moon day of the third lunar month. Even the massive Full Moon Party in Koh Pha Ngan, which rarely follows the rules and laws, postpones the big event by one day in observance of Buddha Day. Other parties start after midnight when it is technically the next day and drinking is legal again. Continued … 

Trafficker abandons 106 illegal migrants stuffed inside truck in PKK

Police discovered 106 illegal migrants crammed into a truck in Prachuap Khiri Khan province yesterday. The driver was nowhere to be found.

A concerned forklift driver rang officers at Bang Saphan Police Station to say that he believed that a “suspicious” vehicle parked on the side of Petchkasem Road was carrying illegal immigrants.

Police arrived to find a six-wheel truck, about 20 meters in size, with a Bangkok registration plate. The truck driver was not there. Continued …

FTI anticipates lower May power tariff

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) expects the new mid-year power tariff, which is used to calculate electricity bills, to not exceed 5 baht per kilowatt-hour (unit) following a drop in liquefied national gas (LNG) prices.

The current rate for businesses, in effect from January to April, is 5.33 baht a unit.

Energy authorities are discussing the adjustment of the tariff, to be imposed from May to August. Continued … 

Lazada Thailand says its e-commerce merchants rose 30% last year

The number of retailers using the platform of e-commerce firm Lazada Thailand rose 30% last year, its chief business officer, Thanida Suiwatana, told a press conference on Wednesday.

The company will provide more innovative features and services to attract more shoppers to its platform, Thanida said.

Although she did not provide comprehensive details, she did give some examples. Lazada will make it easier for users to get refunds and accelerate deliveries, Thanida said. Its average delivery time is 1.1 days, she added. Continued …

US serviceman found dead in Thai army barracks in Lop Buri province

Thai police are investigating the death of a U.S. serviceman who was found lifeless in a bathroom of the 31st Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guards barracks in Lop Buri yesterday.

The American was a member of the U.S. force participating in the Cobra Gold 2023 joint exercise, being held in Lop Buri Province.

The body has been sent to the Ananda Mahidol Hospital, where a doctor said that there was a wound to his head. Mueang district police said that they have reported the incident to the Immigration Bureau for further action. Continued …

China-Laos Railway has carried 10 million passengers

The China-Laos Railway operated 20,000 passenger trains and carried 10.3 million passengers by Jan. 31, 2023, according to an update from the China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co.

The China-Laos Railway, with a total length of 1,035 km, runs from Kunming in China to the northernmost provinces and Vientiane in Laos.

Since the full line was made operational on Dec. 3, 2021, related departments in Laos have scientifically analyzed the travel rules for passengers, constantly enriched passenger transport products, optimized station services, and set up ticket offices in major cities in Laos to extend the pre-sale time. Thus, the China-Laos Railway is able to meet the travel needs of passengers better. Continued …

Dams constructed by China and Laos on the Mekong pose major problems

Video 

50 elephants ‘addicted to sugarcane’ destroy 2000 rai of crops

A herd of around 50 wild elephants has migrated into farmland in Loei province in northeast Thailand, destroying 2000 rai of crops so far. There is no sign of them retreating into the forest.

Recently, around 50 elephants migrated into agricultural land in the Phra Kradueng district from the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary.

No wonder the elephants moved away from their home, given the goodies on offer – the herd has worked their way through entire fields of sugarcane, bamboo, bananas, and cassava, and even chomped on rubber trees. Continued …

Man arrested with 30 live monitor lizards, large quantity of reptile flesh

Wildlife officials and police have arrested a man and seized 30 live monitor lizards (Varanus salvator), 59 lizard carcasses and several live turtles in a raid on an illegal slaughterhouse in Suphan Buri province.

Padet Laithong, director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, said that the meat was being sent to wildlife restaurants in Trat province, falsely identified as tree monitor (Varanus bengalensis) meat.

He also said that officials are investigating a report in social media that the monitor lizard meat might have been sent to customers to turn into meatballs. Continued …

Yes, you can have a lion as a pet in Thailand

Thai media were reporting that you can keep a lion as a pet in Thailand, as long as you have the required paperwork and tell the authorities in good time.

Earlier, a senior Pattaya policemen, vets and park staff, had been alerted to a foreigner keeping a lion at a housing estate in Nong Prue.

Neighbors were terrified that their children might soon be attacked and eaten by the lion – still actually a cub – that was allowed to prowl round the house. Continued …

Foreigners flee Thai stocks at rapid rate

Foreign investors were net sellers of US$1 billion (37 billion baht) worth of shares on the Thai stock exchange in February, the highest value among Asian bourses for the month and the biggest net sell-off on the exchange since April 2020, with several factors pressuring investments, according to analysts.

Foreign investors sold 3.33 billion baht worth of Thai shares on Tuesday, according to LH Securities. The current account deficit reached $2 billion in January, as reported by the Bank of Thailand on Tuesday, prompting continued capital outflows and a further weakening of the baht. Continued … 

London dogs head to Thailand to sniff out pangolin smugglers

Two Labrador dogs, which have been trained by British police, are to be flown to Thailand to help crack down on the smuggling of critically endangered pangolins, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said on Tuesday.

Pangolins, nocturnal creatures famed for their full armor of scales, are the most trafficked mammal in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund, and all eight species are on the red list of threatened species and at risk of extinction, the ZSL said.

The two dogs, Buster and Bess, who have already undergone an eight-week training program with London’s Metropolitan Police, will be sent to Thailand to complete their training, and then use their sniffing skills to detect pangolins being smuggled through airports, ports and by road. Continued … 

‘Happy toilets’ on the way at land offices

The Health Department and the Department of Lands have teamed up to renovate 461 public restrooms at land offices nationwide to meet health, accessibility and safety (HAS) standards.

During the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Bangkok Metropolitan Land Office between the two departments, Amporn Chantawibul, a senior sanitary expert of the Health Department, said the project aims to provide hygienic restrooms. Continued … 

The highs and lows of liberalizing marijuana

A boom in cannabis businesses has helped jolt the tourism industry back to life, as travelers flock to Thailand for marijuana tourism.

However, decriminalization preceded passage of the legislation needed to control and regulate cannabis, which has led to a free-for-all in the industry, as businesses, many owned by foreigners, invest in cannabis outlets and users buy weed with little or any medical or consumer guidance. Continued …

How Thailand’s booming cannabis industry can benefit all

 

With the increasing legalization of medical cannabis in many countries, a unique opportunity has arisen for Thailand to use this industry as an engine for positive change. An innovative example is Bloom Thailand using cloning technology to bring education and resources to disadvantaged communities in Bangkok.

Bangkok Community Help Foundation and Bloom sponsored a workshop in the Khlong Toei community to teach cloning techniques for growing vegetables.

The goal of the workshop was to empower the community to cultivate its own food using sustainable methods, leading to greater self-sufficiency. Continued … 

 

Over 7,000 Russians in Phuket apply for visa extensions

Over 7,000 Russians in Phuket are applying for visa extensions in a bid to stay in Thailand. Local immigration chief, Thanet Sukchai, says the great weather is one factor in their attempts to stay.

“Phuket is a nice place to visit, with delicious food and good weather. As word has spread about the island, Russian tourists keep coming to the province.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year, Thailand has become a refuge for Russian citizens, as reported by Al Jazeera. Continued …

Where are rich Russian holidaymakers going to avoid travel sanctions?

Travel sanctions didn’t stop rich Russians from going on holiday last year, a new report has revealed.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union suspended visas for Russian travelers. But wealthy tourists simply decided to holiday elsewhere.

According to research from flight data firm ForwardKeys, wealthy Russians returned to travel “with a vengeance”. Continued … 

Expensive flights to Thailand too hot for Chinese

Expensive flights to Thailand from bigger cities in China are delaying Thailand’s tourism recovery. Most tariffs are still one and a half times more than pre-pandemic prices, while for smaller cities, fares are more than double previous levels.

According to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn, while most tickets are cheaper than last year, prices for March and April are still higher than before the pandemic in every Chinese city.

Prices of flights from major cities in the mainland are 1.5 times higher, with prices from Shanghai as high as 24,500 baht (US$690). Ticket prices to and from smaller cities – in China a city of 4.2 million like Xiamen is considered “smaller” – are still around double the previous rates, and direct flights are still hard to come by from most transit hubs. Continued …

Taiwanese Tourist Dies After Snorkeling in Krabi

A Taiwanese tourist died after snorkeling at an island in Mueang Krabi.

The Mueang Krabi Police said they were notified of the incident by Krabi Hospital on Tuesday. Yueh Lee, 36, a Taiwanese national, was taken from Hong Island in the Khao Thong subdistrict. He was pronounced dead at the Krabi hospital. A doctor said he died from drowning.

Yueh’s unidentified friend told police that they went to Hong Island for snorkeling. Continued …

New Zealand Tourist Rescued After Getting Lost in Phangan Island Jungle

A tourist from New Zealand has been rescued after he got lost in a forest on Phangan Island in Surat Thani.

The Samui Tourist Police said on Monday they were notified that a 56-year-old New Zealand tourist was missing.

His friends told police that he was missing from a resort at 4am on Sunday. They went out to search for him but failed before they called for help. Continued …

German Tourist Rescued After Getting Injured Inside Krabi Cave

A German tourist has been rescued after she sustained injuries inside a cave in Mueang Krabi.

Emergency responders were notified on Tuesday from a local long-tailed boat operator that a 61-year-old female German tourist fell and injured herself inside a cave.

Rescue workers went into the area with the long-tailed boat before climbing up on a ladder in the natural hall inside the cave, which is more than 10 meters high. Continued …

Two Russian Kids Back with Parents after Being Lost in Patong

Two Russian kids are back with their parents after they got lost near Bangla Road.

The Phuket Tourist Police said on Sunday night at 9:35pm that they were notified by a Russian woman that she had lost her two kids aged four and five years old.

The Phuket Tourist Police, the Patong Police, and the Patong Beach lifeguards searched for the kids along Patong Beach. Continued …

Finnish parliament passes NATO bill with large majority

Finland’s parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly backed its bid to join NATO. Approval of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s treaties and Finland’s accession passed with 184 members of the 200-seat parliament voting in favor, seven against and one abstaining. Continued … 

APEC posts lower economic growth, weaker trade activity

The Asia-Pacific’s economy grew 2.6 % in 2022, a decline from 6.1 % growth in 2021, according to a new report published by the APEC Policy Support Unit. The region’s economy is expected to pick up in the short term with the gross domestic product (GDP) projected to expand by 3.1% this year. Continued …

The ultra-rich lost 10% of fortune in 2022

The world’s ultra-richest saw their fortunes shrink by 10% in 2022, due to the war in Ukraine, a study said Wednesday, but the outlook for them this year is bright. The study, by London-based property consultants Knight Frank, examined the fortunes of what it calls ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs): people with a net worth of at least $30 million, including their main residence. 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-Chiang Mai flight schedules

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, climate change, hua hin, immigration, marijuana, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, real estate, thai economy, thai environment, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Monday’s News-Feb 27

  • Hua Hin Boat Show March 24-26/
  • TradeAtlas reviews spike sales of Thai tea and dessert/
  • Bangkok rated 30th best city in the world, 2nd best in ASEAN/
  • Study finds Thai women eager to enhance job skills/
  • Chinese eye Thai properties to hedge against economic issues at home/
  • Krabi homeowner shocked by 5-meter king cobra/
  • Climate change bonanza/
  • Executives list policy priorities/
  • Economy to grow 3.8% this year, inflation to ebb: Finance minister/
  • Tourism: Thousands of Russians Flee to Thailand to Escape War/‘Tipsy tubing’ on Pai River hit by alcohol ban/Islanders tell tourists – don’t pollute or bring jet skis and drugs/Residents of Trat province’s Koh Mak Island have issued a set of rules to eFirst time in Thailand!? Don’t take a taxi! Do this instead/How to choose between Phuket and Koh Samui/6 major Bangkok tourist attractions, and where to go instead/Phase 5 of ‘We Travel Together’ program opens for registration today/Why Thailand has attracted more foreign tourists than Vietnam/
  • Thailand Experience: Preserving Thailand’s historic railway heritage/
  • International: North China city launches first China-Europe freight train/Daily marijuana use increases heart disease risk by over a third, study finds/
  • Links: Calendar of events/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

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TradeAtlas reviews spike sales of Thai tea and dessert

Sales of pa thong ko and Thai iced tea have surged since they made the top 10 lists on TasteAtlas, even in traditional restaurants that are a bit off the beaten track.

Sombat Suwanmanop said his restaurant in Trang province’s Mueang district, Kopee Sombat, is having a hard time keeping up with demand for the sweet snacks and beverages.

He said sales of pa thong ko and Thai iced tea have increased exponentially since they appeared on the lists compiled from reviews of food critics worldwide. Continued …

Bangkok rated 30th best city in the world, 2nd best in ASEAN

Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok has been ranked high lately on several lists of cities in a number of different areas. Now, a famous tourism consulting company, Resonance Consultancy, has named Bangkok the 30th best city in the world, and the second best in ASEAN. A Thai government spokesperson, Anucha Burapachaisri, announced the ranking on Saturday.

Resonance Consultancy is a leading global adviser in destination development, branding, and marketing. It is known for its annual reports on city rankings. The rankings name the world’s most desirable places to visit, live, work, and invest in, based on factors such as attractions, infrastructure, culture, and environment.

The list of “100 Best Cities in the World 2023” evaluates six categories, including place, product, people, prosperity, programming, and promotion. Continued …

Study finds Thai women eager to enhance job skills

Nearly half of Thai women age 35 and older showed the strongest motivation toward entrepreneurship, as the majority of the female workforce across Southeast Asia is interested in taking additional courses to develop their skills, a recent study showed.

A survey by Singapore-based non-profit She Loves Data (SLD) found 87% of female employees in the region are looking forward to enrolling in professional courses this year, with IT, computing and programming (33%) the top three choices.

Social media marketing is the most sought-after course among female employees in Thailand, according to more than half of respondents in two age groups: workers aged 16-34 and those 35 and older. Continued … 

Chinese eye Thai properties to hedge against economic issues at home

Guo Haojie had grown tired of China’s “high-pressure” lifestyle and reliance on personal connections to get things done. The native of Henan province had scoped out Thailand as a tourist years ago and went back in 2020 to invest, buying two condominiums.

And just like that, the 37-year-old IT consultant became part of a growing trend.

Chinese from the middle class upward are sending some of their money – and even themselves – to Thailand, particularly as China has been reopening following three difficult years under zero-Covid. Many are hoping to hedge against economic pressures at home, while building their future in an inexpensive Southeast Asian country with growth prospects. Continued … 

Krabi homeowner shocked by 5-meter king cobra

If you were a giant king cobra snake, where would you live? The answer is apparently “anywhere you want.”

A homeowner in Krabi got a major surprise when he discovered a five-meter-long king cobra relaxing at his house this week.

A team of snake handlers successfully caught the king cobra that was hiding under a chair in front of their home in Baan Nanai, Klong Tom Tai subdistrict earlier this week. Rescue workers had alerted the team after being notified of the presence of the dangerous snake. Continued … 

A biomass power plant operated by Clover Power in the northern province of Phitsanulok.

Climate change bonanza

Global campaigns to cut carbon dioxide emissions not only alert businesses to new non-tariff barriers imposed as part of efforts to fight global warming, they can also lead to new opportunities in the clean energy sector.

As the European Union (EU) gears up for the first phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) later this year, many businesses have announced plans aiming to benefit from the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

CBAM, which imposes charges on manufacturers that fail to adopt technology that benefits the climate, can affect Thai exporters in certain industries if they are too slow to make production more environmentally friendly. Continued …

Executives list policy priorities

The upcoming general election slated for May 7 is sparking speculation on a potential successor to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as well as new economic policies that might be promoted by an incoming government.

Business leaders have begun to chime in on what they believe could help the country survive economic challenges this year after Prayut told the House of Representatives that parliament would be dissolved in early March.

From tourism, wages and digital-related topics, which are always in the media spotlight, to issues related to steel that are crucial but appear less frequently in the headlines, company executives voiced their concerns and put forward suggestions for the next government to jointly shape a new look for Thailand. Continued …

Economy to grow 3.8% this year, inflation to ebb: Finance minister

Thailand’s economy is expected to grow 3.8% this year, helped by a rebound in the vital tourism sector, while inflation should cool to its target range, the finance minister said on Saturday.

Domestic spending has increased and the government will accelerate large project investment to help growth, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told a Radio Thailand program.

As the global slowdown hurts exports, “tourism is our hope,” he said. Continued …

Thousands of Russians Flee to Thailand to Escape War

Russian tourists are fleeing to Thailand to escape the war in Ukraine or look to move to the Southeast Asian country.

Thailand has become a haven for Russian visitors who are looking to escape Moscow’s war in Ukraine that has now entered its second year. Visitors are in Thailand but are they fleeing Russia, too.

Since Thailand fully reopened its borders and dropped Covid-19 restrictions in October, Russian arrivals have made up the third-largest group of visitors, only behind Malaysia and India, according to government data. Continued … 

‘Tipsy tubing’ on Pai River hit by alcohol ban

The sudden surge in the popularity of “tipsy tubing” down the Pai River in Mae Hong Son province has prompted the provincial office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to enforce safety regulations drafted last year and also protect visitors from price gouging and shoddy services.

Operators are now required to prohibit tubers from drinking alcohol while tubing down the river, said Phanuwat Khatnak, director of TAT’s Mae Hong Son office.

The prohibition against drinking while tubing was made last year, but enforcement will become strict due to the surging number of tubers, officials said. Continued …

Koh Mak

Islanders tell tourists – don’t pollute or bring jet skis and drugs

Residents of Trat province’s Koh Mak Island have issued a set of rules to ensure the idyllic island remains a low-carbon destination. These include a ban on motorsports and plastic food containers.

The 9,500-rai island is home to rubber and coconut plantations, residences, small hotels, and resorts. It is the third largest island in Trat, following Koh Chang and Koh Kut, and was among three Thai locations listed among the world’s Top 100 Green Destinations in 2022.

Even though it has few tourist attractions and even fewer facilities, the island’s natural beauty attracts foreign travelers. Continued …

First time in Thailand!? Don’t take a taxi! Do this instead

If you’re planning a trip to Bangkok, one of the things you may be worried about is transportation. After all, the city is known for its traffic congestion and sometimes chaotic roads. However, there are several transportation options available that can make getting around Bangkok easy and convenient.

One of the most popular transportation options for tourists is the airport rail link. This is a train system that connects both of Bangkok’s airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, to the city center.

The trains run from 5am to midnight and cost less than 50 baht, which is very affordable compared to other options. The train is also a fast and efficient way to get to the city center, especially during rush hour when traffic can be particularly heavy. Continued …

How to choose between Phuket and Koh Samui

Looking for an island holiday in Thailand? Phuket and Koh Samui are two of the country’s most popular destinations, but how do they stack up against each other?

Prior to the pandemic, some 40 million tourists visited Thailand annually. For many, the promise of lazing on an island beach shaded by coconut palms was sufficient enticement to jump on a plane, and the likelihood was that either Phuket or Koh Samui would be their final destination.

Fast forward a few years and Thailand’s tourism industry is clicking back into gear, with Phuket and Koh Samui leading the way. It’s hardly surprising; both islands offer a blend of relaxation and holiday indulgence. Phuket is busier, yet it offers more to do. Koh Samui is half the size of Phuket and is the more laid-back of the two, though action is never far away. Continued …

6 major Bangkok tourist attractions, and where to go instead

Sure, it’s easy to go to the obvious. There’s a reason why Bangkok’s most famous tourist attractions are packed with people, after all. Let us introduce you to a few places in Bangkok that are quite underrated, but will surely give you a memorable time.

It can be quite hard to look into destinations to travel to when you’re not familiar with the city. “Should I choose somewhere obvious because that’s what all the tour guides say? How do I find the places that won’t scam me, and that locals actually enjoy? Why do I have to buy a THB 500 ticket just to enter some temples?”

We hear these questions more times than we anticipated, and we’re here to help. If you’re looking for a good time, and want to stray away from the crowds without missing any of the culture, here’s where to go. These are the underrated tourist attractions in Bangkok you’ll have fun visiting. Continued …

Phase 5 of ‘We Travel Together’ program opens for registration today

People who want to join the fifth phase of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) program can register today from 6am until 9pm, deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Traisoranakul said Sunday.

She also said that those who have already registered for the first four phases of the program do not need to reapply, but they do need to click to accept the terms and conditions in the “Pao Tang” app on their smart phones.

560,000 “entitlements” are available under the fifth phase of the scheme and those who have registered can start booking hotel rooms between March 7 and April 26, and can check in to the hotels from March 10 until April 30.

Those who are eligible for the travel entitlements must be Thai nationals, aged at least 18. Continued …

Why Thailand has attracted more foreign tourists than Vietnam

A friendly visa policy and diverse entertainment services have made Thailand more attractive than Vietnam in the eyes of foreign tourists.

Grant Wilson, 61, an Australian who has been living in Vietnam for six years, said he had traveled to Thailand more than 30 times.

Though Vietnam has beautiful scenery, delicious food and friendly people, Wilson said that Thailand has been developing tourism better than Vietnam, especially the quality of tourism services. Continued … 

Preserving Thailand’s historic railway heritage

In most countries, people take great pride in their railway systems. Thailand’s historic railways, however, occupy a different place in the national psyche.

Time, money and effort go into the conservation of valuable public assets around the world that give a sense of place, beauty and identity. When developers want to tear down old station railway stations, people take to the streets in protest.

When Manhattan’s Pennsylvania Station was bulldozed in 1963, there was international outcry. This was the beginning of the architectural conservation movement across America that inspired New York’s civic preservation law. That’s why Grand Central Station, which had also been slated for the wrecking ball, remains grand today. Continued …

North China city launches first China-Europe freight train

The city of Langfang in north China’s Hebei Province saw its first China-Europe freight train leave the station Saturday. The freight train, carrying 55 40-foot containers, will complete a journey of 7,800 km. Continued … 

Daily marijuana use increases heart disease risk by over a third, study finds

Using marijuana every day increases the risk of developing heart disease, U.S. researchers found, adding to an increasingly complex picture about the drug’s health impact. The results released on Friday showed daily cannabis users were 34% more likely to have coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease, compared to those who never used the drug. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

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 

 

90-day online reporting

 

bangkok, chiang mai, climate change, covid, hua hin, immigration, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, real estate, thai economy, thai food, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Tuesday’s News-Feb 7

  • Inflation in January falls to 9-month low as cost-of-living crisis eases/
  • What you need to know about that knee problem/
  • Dental seminar set at Be Well Clinic Feb 18/
  • Muay Thai world record set – video/
  • Chinese buyers seek quick move amid zero-Covid fears/
  • Thailand deploying 20-member urban search and rescue team to Turkey/
  • Thai foodies angered as Kaeng Som named among world’s worst dishes/
  • 110 Thai immigration police officers charged in visa scandal/
  • Many Thai workers ill-prepared for old age/
  • Tourism: Forest park in Phetchaburi to become geological tourist attraction/PKK’s Golden Swan in Thap Sakae/First Chinese tour group in 3 years arrives in Phuket/Ministry to probe attack on Chinese tourist/Chinese investors return to Chiang Mai, Bangkok/Nine Swedish Tourists Survive after Boat Capsizes in Krabi/Body of German tourist who jumped from Koh Pha Ngan ferry found/Foreigners, particularly Russians, accused of working illegally in Phuket/
  • Thailand Experience: Thai cuisine comes in at 13 in TripAdvisor’s latest ranking/Northern Thai Food: A Guide to Regional Specialties in Thai Cuisine/
  • Covid: New Covid cases, deaths dropped by about half last week/
  • International: Rescuers Scramble In Turkey, Syria As Earthquake Death Toll Rises To 4,000/Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so deadly?/Single-use plastics production still on the rise/
  • Links: Calendar of events/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

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Inflation in January falls to 9-month low as cost-of-living crisis eases

Thailand’s headline inflation fell to a nine-month low of 5.02% in January, from 5.89% in December, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) announced Monday.

TPSO Director-general Wichanun Niwatjinda said the inflation slowdown reflected falling prices of energy and fresh foods. The TPSO expects inflation to drop further this month.

Wichanun said headline inflation in January stood at 108.18 points, up 5.02% year on year but still the lowest for the past nine months. Continued … 

What you need to know about that knee problem

Your knees are essential to your health. They have an incredibly important job of supporting and stabilizing your body as you walk, run, dance, or play sports. But most people don’t think about them until they start hurting.

Knee pain can be experienced in many different guises, it is common during growth spurts in children, or with trauma from sport or falls, or it may come on as we age with wear and tear. Knee pain can stem from the muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage or meniscus. It can sometimes also be referred from the hip joint or lower back.

Acute knee injuries often occur with sports that involve rapid acceleration or deceleration, twisting, kicking or sudden changes of direction. More gradual onset of knee pain can occur due to repetitive running, jumping and landing, kicking or squatting. Continued … 

Dental seminar set at Be Well Clinic Feb 18

The Be Well Medical Clinic in Hua Hin will hold a dental seminar, hosted by the Be Well Dental Department, on Feb. 18.

The seminar will address degeneration prevention, restorative dentistry (e.g., crowns and bridges), esthetic treatments (e.g., whitening, veneers), implants, and the speakers will also cover the possibilities, risks and costs of various therapies.

Registration will start at 9.30am with the seminar starting at 10am.

The clinic is located at the Coral Restaurant @ Banyan Resort (next to the Be Well Medical Center) Petchkasem Road, between Soi 120 and 122.

@BeWell members and Banyan Privilege Club members can attend for free, for others the fee is THB500. Advance registration is by email at event@bewell.co.th. For more information.

Muay Thai world record set

Renowned Muay Thai fighter Sombat “Buakhao” Banchamek teamed up with 3,650 soldiers to break a Guinness world record by performing the traditional Thai dance, Wai Kru, at the Amazing Muaythai Festival 2023 in Hua Hin.

Feb. 6 of every year is marked as Muay Thai Day to preserve and promote Thailand’s soft power Thai boxing.

Video 

Commander of the Royal Thai Army, Narongphan Jitkaewtae, wanted to celebrate and promote the cultural heritage of Muay Thai. So, the army collaborated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and other relevant departments to host a celebration event named Amazing Muaythai Festival 2023. Continued …

Chinese buyers seek quick move amid zero-Covid fears

Ready-to-move-in condos in Thailand are attracting Chinese buyers, as the majority of them want to speed up relocation to the country due to concerns over the future of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy.

Kashif Ansari, co-founder and chief executive of Juwai IQI Group, the real estate marketing firm that owns the international real estate portal juwai.com in China, said Chinese buyers had a sense of urgency, which never appeared prior to the pandemic.

“If Chinese nationals are planning to move to Thailand, they want to do it right away, not in two years. These are the first movers,” he said. Continued …

Thailand deploying 20-member urban search and rescue team to Turkey

Thailand will deploy a 20-member urban search and rescue (USAR) team to the disaster zone of major earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said 20 fully equipped members of USAR Thailand are on standby and will depart as soon as they get the green light from Turkish authorities.

USAR Thailand team members are trained experts with experience in search and rescue operations in large-scale disasters at both national and international levels. Continued … 

Thai foodies angered as Kaeng Som named among world’s worst dishes

Thais are struggling to digest the news that one of their favorite foods, kaeng som (spicy-sour fish curry), has been ranked the 12th worst dish in the world by a global foody website.

Netizens are venting their anger and disgust after the distinctive watery Thai curry received a score of 2.3 out of 5 in the online food guide TasteAtlas on Saturday.

Kaeng som is made from a paste of shrimp and shallots, its sharp sweet-sour flavor coming from the addition of tamarind and sometimes lime juice. Continued …

110 Thai immigration police officers charged in visa scandal

More than 100 immigration police officers, including three generals, have been found to have issued visas illegally to foreign visitors, Police Gen. Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police chief, said yesterday.

All 110 of them have been charged with malfeasance in office and taking bribes, he said, adding that he expects the case to be sent to the public prosecutors this week.

The probe into visa scandal, in which immigration police officers and several local administration officials are implicated, is an extension of an investigation into the conduct of a handful of immigration police officers who were allegedly involved in issuing visas for Chinese businessman Chaiyanat Kornchayanant and other Chinese businessmen allegedly involved in “gray” businesses in Thailand. Continued …

Many Thai workers ill-prepared for old age

Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith is concerned that more than 16 million informal workers have yet to participate in any savings scheme to prepare for life during retirement, even though Thailand is expected to become an aged society in the next two years.

He said that Thailand is now an aging society, as at least 10% of the population has been 60 years old or more since 2005. A total of 12.5 million people, or 19% of the population, is currently over 60. Thai people are also enjoying a longer life span.

Arkhom added that the country is expected to become an aged society in the next couple of years when elderly people will surge to 20% of the total population. It is set to become a super-aged society in 2034 when the elderly proportion of the population reaches 28%. Continued …

Forest park in Phetchaburi to become geological tourist attraction

Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment plans to develop the Khao Nang Phanthurat Forest Park in Phetchaburi province into a geological tourist destination, to promote geological study and conservation of natural resources.

Geologists from the Department of Mineral Resources have recently found many fossilized marine creatures embedded in the limestone mountain in the park, which are thought to be from about 250 million years ago, during the Permian period.

The fossilized marine creatures include bivalves, single-shell mollusc and corals.

The limestone mountain in the forest park was created by the massive accumulation of calcium carbonate sediments, dating back more than 250 million years. Some of the fossilized corals appear like tree branches or horns, called Rugose corals, which became extinct about 250 million years ago. – thaipbsworld.com

PKK’s Golden Swan in Thap Sakae

One of the most significant religious sites in Prachuap Khiri Khan province is the “Giant Golden Swan” located on the Hua Hin-bound side of Petchkasem Road in Thap Sakae. Believers say it is a gathering spot for angels. It was built by the former abbot of Huay Luek Temple, “Phra Kru Paisarn”. People who make merit at the temple do so to ask for fortune or money, and when the request is granted, frequently bring bracelets or sculptures of swans to say thank you. (HHT)

First Chinese tour group in 3 years arrives in Phuket

Phuket tourism officials have welcomed the first Chinese tour group to visit the island in three years. The group touched down at Phuket International Airport at 3.15pm yesterday.

Passengers were welcomed by airport director Monchai Tamod and Montree Manator from the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. There were 180 passengers in the group, arriving on a direct flight from Shanghai with Spring Airlines.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese tour groups were a regular feature on the island. However, harsh outbound travel restrictions imposed by Beijing meant there have been none for nearly three years. Continued …

Ministry to probe attack on Chinese tourist

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is rushing to investigate a case involving a Chinese tourist who was assaulted by a travel agent in Phuket after the case went viral, but the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is still hoping to secure 7-8 million tourists from China this year as the first batch of tour groups touched down in the country on Monday.

A viral TikTok clip showed a Chinese tourist being assaulted with a knife by a member of staff at a tour agency in Phuket during an altercation after the agency was unable to return in full a 5,000-baht deposit for a Similan Islands tour package, which a tourist had booked in advance for his group.

The tourist claimed the members of the group were instead left stranded at their hotel on the morning of Jan. 31, when they were supposed to take the tour. Continued …

Chinese investors return to Chiang Mai, Bangkok

Thailand welcomed 2.24 million foreign tourists in December, a surge from 1.17 million in July. The figures are expected to exceed 2 million people in January, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) estimated.

The significant recovery of the tourism industry has been able to attract foreigners to invest more in the supply-side business in Thailand – especially the major tourist destination cities, including Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. These popular provinces are seeing their bright future, as TAT expects more than 30 million arrivals of foreign visitors in 2023.

The rebounding of tourism sector not only brings back visitors, but also foreign investors, Panlop Sae-Jew, chairman of the Chiang Mai Tourism Industry Council, says. Continued …

Nine Swedish Tourists Survive after Boat Capsizes in Krabi

Nine Swedish tourists have survived after a long-tailed boat capsized in Krabi.

The head of the Than Bok Khorani National Park, Weerasak Srisajjang, stated tthey were notified of the incident on Sunday near the Hong Island in the Khao Thong subdistrict, Mueang Krabi.

Rescue teams went to the scene to find nine male and female Swedish nationals and the boat captain in the sea near the long-tailed boat, which was capsized. Continued …

Body of German tourist who jumped from Koh Pha Ngan ferry found

A body found floating in the sea near Koh Tao is believed to be the missing German tourist who jumped off a ferry shortly after it departed from Koh Pha Ngan in southern Thailand one week ago.

At 4pm yesterday, the Kusol Sattha Rescue Foundation was informed that a tourist boat came across the body of a male tourist floating in the Ao Muong Bay in Koh Tao subdistrict, Koh Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani province. Continued …

Foreigners, particularly Russians, accused of working illegally in Phuket

The Phuket Information Center Facebook page has accused foreigners, particularly Russians, of operating illegal businesses and working illegally in Phuket.

It shared with its followers Sunday that, “A lot of foreigners stay and work in Phuket, both legally and illegally. Recently, a group of foreigners started a car rental business. They offered both cars and minibuses and also served tourists as chauffeurs. They steal jobs from Thai people!”

“If anyone has more information on this, please send it to the page’s admin. We, together with the Phuket Tourist Police, will get rid of this issue.” Continued … 

Thai cuisine comes in at 13 in TripAdvisor’s latest ranking

Despite being a top travel destination for many, Thai cuisine only came in No. 13 in the latest ranking by online travel information and booking website TripAdvisor.

The top three food destinations in the world were the Italian capital Rome, the Greek island of Crete and the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

However, TripAdvisor sang Bangkok’s praises, saying: “Golden palaces, floating markets, majestic porcelain-laid spires … you’ve never seen a capital city quite like Bangkok. Continued …

Traditional Northern Thai food

Northern Thai Food: A Guide to Regional Specialties in Thai Cuisine

Thai cuisine is a melting pot of diverse flavors and ingredients, each region offering its own unique twist on classic dishes. If you’re tired of the usual pad Thai and green curry, head north to explore the treasure trove of delicious treats waiting to be discovered. Here’s what you need to know about the delicious northern Thai food.

Northern Thai cuisine is famous for its bold and pungent flavors. It uses plenty of chili, herbs, and spices. It’s a feast for the senses, leaving a lasting impression on the taste buds.

The region is renowned for its sausages, which consist of a mixture of pork and sticky rice. It also has a popular signature dish, Khao Soi. The local people make this rich and creamy curry with egg noodles, chicken, and a blend of spices that’ll tantalize your taste buds. Continued …

New Covid cases, deaths dropped by about half last week

Hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 last week dropped by about half from the week before, Thailand’s Disease Control Department (DCD) said on Monday.

The DCD reported that 252 Covid cases were hospitalized from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, an average of 36 patients per day. That represented a decline of 46.3% from the 472 cases hospitalized from Jan. 22-28, an average of 67 per day.

Deaths from Covid last week dropped to 17 (an average of 2-3 per day), from 29 a week earlier. Currently, 122 Covid patients are being treated in hospital for pneumonia, 78 of whom are on ventilators. Continued …

Rescuers Scramble In Turkey, Syria As Earthquake Death Toll Rises To 4,000

Rescuers in Turkey and war-ravaged Syria searched through the frigid night into Tuesday, hoping to pull more survivors from the rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed more than 4,000 people and toppled thousands of buildings across a wide region. Continued … 

Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so deadly?

A combination of factors made the powerful earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria early Monday particularly deadly, including its timing, location, relatively quiet fault line and the weak construction of the collapsed buildings, experts said. Continued …

Single-use plastics production still on the rise

Minderoo Foundation’s Plastic Waste Makers Index (PWMI) 2023 shows the planet’s plastic pollution problem is worsening, and new estimates of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from single-use plastics demonstrate how single-use plastics producers also contribute to the climate crisis. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

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

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

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.

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, chiang mai, hua hin, prauchuap khiri khan, thai environment, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Thursday’s News-Feb 2

  • Muay Thai Festival starts today at Seapines/
  • Kite festival this weekend in Thap Sakae/
  • National park in Nan opts for bamboo over plastic/
  • Bangkok air pollution worsens/
  • Air Pollution Hits Unhealthy Levels in Chiang Mai/
  • Summer season starts in Thailand at the end of February/
  • Fruit vendor wins 30 million baht lottery jackpot/
  • Myanmar citizens in Thailand protest on coup anniversary/
  • Tourism: Bangkok police crack down on checkpoints after actress bribe scandal/Tourists ‘told to pay or go to jail’/Thailand is most searched destination for Chinese Airbnb guests/Taxi scam concerns visitors the most/Bangkok opens first free space for street hawkers/Krabi hotel accused of favoring foreigners over Thais/
  • Thailand Experience: You Think You Understand Thai Culture Because You Eat at Thai Restaurants?/Restaurant Review: Praça at The Standard Hua Hin/
  • International: Philippines to expand US access to military bases/Australia to oust monarch from banknotes/’Surprising’ ancient Egyptian mummy ingredients discovered/
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Muay Thai Festival starts today at Seapines

Kite festival this weekend in Thap Sakae

The Fantasy Kite and Flag Festival, featuring more than 100 kites, is set for this weekend in Thap Sakae on Ban Thung Pradu Beach.

The event is organized by the Thap Sakae Beach Love Group, the Thap Sakae Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Thailand Kite Flying Assn., Prachuap province tourism and sports officials and the Ban Thung Pradu tourism community. Map 

National park in Nan opts for bamboo over plastic

Sri Nan National Park in northern Nan province is the latest public attraction to go plastic-free by providing bamboo cups and other naturally derived utensils made by people living in adjacent communities.

Staff at the park, known for its campgrounds amid beautiful mountain scenery, worked with a team from Chulalongkorn University and had the support of Thailand Science Research and Innovation to plan the project and recruit craftspeople in Ban Wana Phrai, Ban Nongphum and Ban Nam Pi to make the utensils.

Associate Professor Dr Khemarat Talerngsri, the project leader, said bamboo sheath and pluang leaves are run through specially developed forming machines to ensure good quality and reduced production costs.

Bangkok air pollution worsens

Seventy air-quality monitoring stations reported unsafe levels of air pollution in Bangkok as of 7am today, with the number rising to 80 by noon, the Bangkok Air Quality centrer said.

Four stations detected “red” levels of PM2.5.

PM2.5 refers to fine particles of dust in the air. It can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause premature death from lung and heart conditions, especially among the elderly and those with health complications. Continued …

Air Pollution Hits Unhealthy Levels in Chiang Mai

The northern province of Chiang Mai on Wednesday was blanketed with haze from forest fires, while the visibility was reduced, many people suffered eye and nose irritation.

The PM 2.5 level in the city reached 56 micrograms per cubic meter, while at Hot district of Chiang Mai, PM 2.5 level was measured at 93 micrograms per cubic meter. The air quality index (AQI) in Chiang Mai stood at 203, which is considered harmful to people’s health.

Inside the campus of Chiang Mai University, the air pollution detectors were installed at every faculty to monitor the level of PM2.5, starting on Wednesday morning for real time results hourly. Continued …

Summer season starts in Thailand at the end of February

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) is predicting a scorching high of 43 degrees Celsius in Thailand this summer, and that the new season will kick in before the end of February.

The TMD reported yesterday that the summer season in Thailand would be delayed by one or two weeks this year. The weather will get warmer by the end of February and the summer season will end around May.

March and April will bring hot, humid weather with thunderstorms, and temperatures will be about 35.5 degrees Celsius, a bit higher than last summer. Continued …

Fruit vendor wins 30 million baht lottery jackpot

A fruit vendor from Rayong province in eastern Thailand won 30 million baht (US$916,310) in the government lottery yesterday. He says it will pay off his debt and pay for his children’s education.

The new-found millionaire, 33-year-old Phongpat Witheethep, was at the market in Pluak Daeng district where he sells fruit for a living when he spotted a lottery ticket that he “liked the look of.”

Phongpat had such a good feeling about the number 297411 that he decided to buy five tickets with the same number. Continued …

Myanmar citizens in Thailand protest on coup anniversary

Hundreds of Myanmar citizens and workers gathered in front of the Myanmar embassy in Thailand to mark the second anniversary of the military coupin their home country, calling for the release of their duly elected leader Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Video 

Bangkok police crack down on checkpoints after actress bribe scandal

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has warned officers to abide by Royal Thai Police regulations on setting up and operating road checkpoints.

Station chiefs and their superiors at two levels would be made responsible for any failures to comply with these regulations, said MPB chief Thiti Saengsawang in an urgent order dispatched on Tuesday.

The order was issued after Huay Kwang police reportedly admitted to extorting 27,000 baht from a Taiwanese actress in exchange for turning a blind eye to her illegal vaping device. Continued … 

Tourists ‘told to pay or go to jail’

A Singaporean man who was with a Taiwanese actress who alleged earlier that her group was extorted said police told him to pay up or spend two days in jail for having vaping devices he’d bought in Bangkok. Continued … 

Thailand is most searched destination for Chinese Airbnb guests

Thailand is the most searched destination for Chinese Airbnb guests. According to Airbnb’s data, Thailand was the most searched spot for Chinese guests within 24 hours of the government’s announcement on Dec. 26 to lift inbound quarantine requirements.

The top cities within Thailand that Chinese guests searched for were Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya.

Searches among Chinese guests have spiked for the categories of historical homes, domes, boat houses, and camping tents. These became the most anticipated searches by Chinese users in 2023. Continued … 

Taxi scam concerns visitors the most

Overpriced taxi services are the leading complaint among foreign tourists, along with poor garbage management and facilitation at the airport, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT).

TCT’s quarterly survey, which polled 200 Western tourists in Thailand during the final quarter of 2022, showed satisfaction with taxi services received the lowest score of 3.5 out of 5, with tourists indicating this is the most critical problem that should be solved immediately.

The survey of tourists in Bangkok found they were not satisfied with what they deem to be unfair treatment, as taxi drivers often only take passengers who agree to pay a fare without using the meter, which means drivers can arbitrarily charge higher prices for their service. Continued … 

Bangkok opens first free space for street hawkers

Bangkok kicked off a project to offer space free of charge for hawkers and street vendors in the heart of the city on Wednesday, clearing cluttered pavements.

City Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt presided over the launch of the “Hello Hab-Re” (Hello Hawkers) project outside Samyan Mitrtown on Rama IV Road.

The project will reorganize hawkers and street vendors in the city by allocating suitable areas that do not block public footpaths. The operator of Samyan Mitrtown, a mixed-use shopping complex, has agreed to provide space next to its building in Soi Chula 42 for registered vendors to use for free from Monday to Friday, 8am-2pm and 3pm-8pm. Continued …

Krabi hotel accused of favoring foreigners over Thais

Thai tourists condemned a hotel in Krabi for discriminatory service standards after they claimed the hotel provided better treatment to foreign guests and neglected domestic tourists. They claimed that the hotel prioritized foreign guests with higher purchasing power over them for financial gain.

A Thai man posted three videos to share his bad experience at a hotel on Railay Beach. The incident was reported to have happened last Sunday.

In the videos, the man and his friends explained to the hotel staff that they booked the hotel for 5,000 baht per night. The fee included a shuttle golf cart from a car park to the Nam Mao Pier and a boat trip from the Nam Mao Pier to Railay Beach, where the hotel was located. Continued … 

You Think You Understand Thai Culture Because You Eat at Thai Restaurants?

Growing up in the American South, I was usually the only Thai person in any room. I’m used to seeing the limited knowledge that many Americans have about Thai culture, often reducing it to a takeout order or an object of fetishization.

As a Thai-American person, I find myself thinking a lot about my own experiences, as well as my family’s of being Thai restaurant owners, and I come back to this quote by scholar Jennifer Ho: “I understood my identity through my family and foodways.

Food has played a significant role in the ways people perceive my family’s identity in America. Witnessing members of my family being expected to fulfill a role of being easy-going (Thailand is marketed as “The Land of Smiles”) and serving delicious food compels me to explore the origins of this concept of “Thainess.” Continued …

Praça at The Standard Hua Hin

Be it at home or when traveling, the Let’s Eat team is always on the lookout for a great bar serving original quality drinks.

Such appealing watering holes receive bonus points if they are beach side in an idyllic, tropical, Insta-worthy setting. Double bonus if they have a food selection perfect for nibbling or sharing. Triple points if that food offering is inventive, appealing, and veers from the “usual” food and drink selection.

One such example is in Hua Hin, and it’s called Praça. Blessed with a prime beachfront location at the modish The Standard Hua Hin Hotel, Praça, is Portuguese for plaza or piazza, signifying a local meeting place. With its seaside garden setting and restored heritage beach house, Praça must be one of the coolest meeting places on Hua Hin’s beachfront. Continued …

Philippines to expand US access to military bases

The United States and the Philippines are expected to announce a deal Thursday that will give U.S. troops access to another four military bases in the Southeast Asian nation, as the longtime allies seek to deter Chinese aggression in the region. Continued … 

Australia to oust monarch from banknotes

Australia will erase the British-based monarch from its banknotes, replacing the late Queen Elizabeth II’s image on its $5 note with a design honoring Indigenous culture, the central bank said Thursday. Continued … 

‘Surprising’ ancient Egyptian mummy ingredients discovered

The discovery of dozens of beakers and bowls in a mummification workshop has helped reveal how ancient Egyptians embalmed their dead, with some “surprising” ingredients imported from as far as Southeast Asia, a study said Wednesday. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

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

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

 

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