Tag Archives: Pita Limjaroenrat

climate change, hua hin, marijuana, thai economy, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Saturday’s news-June 10

  • Prospective PM Pita clears a hurdle… next the parliamentary vote/
  • New Thai government still not assured/
  • Top 10 countries Brits want to spend their retirement/
  • Dengue outbreak hits Thai village with over 100 cases/
  • Thai elephant to be repatriated from Sri Lanka with 19-million-baht budget/
  • Thai Cannabis Day Promotes New Government Negotiations/
  • Economy: Thai households’ monthly bills high despite falling fuel prices/El Niño fails to affect Thai food prices/12.5 million more skilled staff eyed by 2027/
  • Tourism: Thai hotels and serviced apartments turning to Airbnb to drive international bookings/
  • Thailand Experience: Sakhon Nakhon is known for its unique local culture/
  • International: Commentary: Russian invaders blew up hydroelectric power plant dam/Vietnam to have 33 international and domestic airports by 2030/Children lost for 40 days in Colombian Amazon found alive/Indonesia’s Anak Krakatoa volcano erupts/Donald Trump indictment details charges against former president/Boris Johnson resigns as MP after tumultuous political career/
  • 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

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Prospective PM Pita clears a hurdle… next the parliamentary vote

Thailand’s Election Commission has unanimously dismissed three official complaints against Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, who was accused of holding 42,000 shares in iTV, a media company. The complaints were filed by various individuals, including serial litigant Ruangkrai Leekitwattana.

But the EC says that the complaints were submitted after the prescribed time limits and therefore could not be considered. Continued …

New Thai government still not assured

The Move Foward Party (MFP)-led alliance is conjuring up the impression that it has already assumed control of the country’s administration, according to a political source.

The surreality being created, which critics decried as counting chickens before they hatch, has given supporters a sense that a new dawn awaits the country. Continued …

Top 10 countries Brits want to spend their retirement

New research has revealed the top 10 countries Brits want to spend their retirement in, with Spain placing first.

Equity release specialists at Retirement Solutions analyzed the average monthly Google search volume for different terms relating to retiring abroad. They wanted to determine the countries that Brits are most seeking to move to, upon retirement. Continued …

Dengue outbreak hits Thai village with over 100 cases

A severe dengue outbreak has hit Thailand’s northern Nan province, with over 100 cases reported in a single village. Ranking second in Thailand for the highest number of dengue patients, health officials are stepping up efforts to control the spread of the disease.

Dr. Warin Teppitaksak, the provincial public health officer, revealed that the dengue outbreak situation in Nan province is concerning, with Chiang Klang district having the highest number of dengue patients. The outbreak began in the village of Huay Kaeo, with over 100 patients coming from the same area. Continued …

Thai elephant to be repatriated from Sri Lanka with 19-million-baht budget

Animal lovers will be happy to know that Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has allocated a budget of 19 million baht for the return of Sak Surin, an ailing Thai elephant, from Sri Lanka next month, as announced by Minister Varawut Silpa-archa.

Sak Surin was one of three elephants sent to Sri Lanka as goodwill ambassadors from Thailand in 2001. Rally for Animal Rights & Environment, an animal rights group, has filed a complaint stating that the elephant has suffered mistreatment for several years. Continued …

Thai Cannabis Day Promotes New Government Negotiations

Cannabis advocates in Thailand organized a political movement on Thailand Cannabis Day, June 9, to advocate for the declassification of cannabis as a Class 5 narcotic and to allow home cultivation without a license for medicinal purposes, as decided by the Food and Drug Administration on June 9, 2022.

The status of cannabis takes a turn after the general election when the eight political parties forming a coalition government, led by the Move Forward party, sign an MOU expressing their mutual agreement to reintroduce cannabis as a controlled narcotic. Continued …

Thai households’ monthly bills high despite falling fuel prices

The average monthly household expenditure for Thai families came in at 18,023 baht in May, down by 130 baht from the previous month. However, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) said this was still high.

The average household expenditure dropped in line with the country’s headline inflation in May. Inflation dropped sharply to 0.53% in May, the lowest in 21 months, from 2.67% in the previous month. Continued …

El Niño fails to affect Thai food prices

The Internal Trade Department says the droughts caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon have yet to affect the prices of local goods. The prices of fresh vegetables, limes and coriander are declining, as are fertilizer prices, said the department.

Chakra Yodmani, the department’s deputy director-general, said the droughts have not yet had a significant effect in terms of price adjustments. Continued …

12.5 million more skilled staff eyed by 2027

Thailand aims to produce around 800,000 skilled workers next year in targeted industries, including intelligent electronics, next-generation automobiles and healthcare.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon chaired a meeting of the national workers’ skill development committee at the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation on Friday to discuss incentives to develop more skilled workers. Continued …

Thai hotels and serviced apartments turning to Airbnb to drive international bookings

As global travel recovery continues at pace, Thailand remains top of mind among international travelers. Thailand was the #1 most-visited country on Airbnb in Southeast Asia in 2022, while Bangkok ranks #5 on Airbnb’s list of top trending global travel spots in 2023.

As travelers flock to the country for business, leisure and remote work, they are searching for more affordable stays. They are also exploring a wider variety of accommodation offerings that meet their varying needs – ranging from entire homes, to shared homes and rooms. Notably, nights booked in private room listings on Airbnb in Thailand grew by over 500% year-on-year last year, up from 2021. Continued …

Sakhon Nakhon is known for its unique local culture

Sakhon Nakhon is a province located in the northeastern region of Thailand, commonly known as Isaan. It is situated approximately 651 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand.

Sakhon Nakhon province covers an area of around 9,605 square kilometers and is bordered by six other provinces: Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Kalasin, and Udon Thani. Continued …

Russian invaders blew up hydroelectric power plant dam

Since the beginning of the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine, there have been so many crimes and atrocities committed by the aggressor-state forces, causing suffering and pain to the Ukrainian people. Continued …

Vietnam to have 33 international and domestic airports by 2030

Vietnam is set to have 33 airports by 2030, including 14 serving international flights and 19 serving domestic flights. The investment is estimated at about VND420 trillion (US$18 billion), mobilized from the state budget, non-budget capital and other legal capital sources. Continued …

Children lost for 40 days in Colombian Amazon found alive

The four Indigenous children who had been missing for more than a month in the Colombian Amazon rainforest after a small plane crash have been found alive, President Gustavo Petro announced Friday. Continued …

Indonesia’s Anak Krakatoa volcano erupts

Indonesia’s Anak Krakatoa volcano erupted on Friday, belching a column of ash more than three kilometers into the sky, officials said. The volcanic island emerged from the sea at the beginning of the last century from the crater formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa — one of the deadliest and most destructive in history. This is the second volcano eruption in the past week in Indonesia.(thaipbs.com)

Donald Trump indictment details charges against former president

Donald Trump and one of his Mar-a-Lago staffers, personal valet Walt Nauta, were charged with dozens of counts of allegedly violating eight federal statutes related to the handling of classified documents after the former president left the White House, according to the 44-page indictment unsealed Friday. Continued …

Boris Johnson resigns as MP after tumultuous political career

Boris Johnson’s fall from power in the UK was as dramatic and controversial as his rise. The former prime minister, whose career was defined by surviving scandal, stepped down as an MP after a series of controversies. Despite this, Johnson left the possibility of a return to politics open for his allies. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

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

UPDATED: Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departing 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

bangkok, hua hin, immigration, solar, thai economy, thai environment, thailand, tourism, transportation

Saturday’s news-May 20

  • Downpours expected to herald arrival of rainy season on Monday/
  • Thap Sakae EV charging station part of 5,000km SE Asian EV highway/
  • The election is over, a new round of ‘war’ begins/
  • Pita Limjaroenrat: Meet Thailand’s (probable) next leader/
  • He promised change in Thailand. But will he be allowed to lead?/
  • Phitsanulok locals stock up on eggs amid rising price and tight supplies/
  • EGAT plans hybrid hydro-floating solar project in Khon Kaen/
  • Thailand sending essential supplies to cyclone-hit Myanmar/
  • C.P. Group collaborating with French companies on food, energy and transportation/
  • Tourism: Immigration Bureau Intensifies Crackdown on Overstaying Foreigners/Almost 10 Million Foreign Tourists So Far This Year/
  • Thailand Experience: 7 Most Scenic Bangkok Train Trips To Take At Least Once/Koh Samui Is an Idyllic Thailand Getaway/Isaan booming as fuse lit for annual Rocket Festival/
  • International: Queen’s funeral costs taxpayers £162M amid cost-of-living crisis/
  • 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

  • Subscribe to Blog via Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Downpours expected to herald arrival of rainy season on Monday

Heavy rains are forecast for most parts of the country when the wet season officially begins on Monday, the Meteorological Department announced on Friday.

Downpours are expected to be frequent in most regions of the country as Thailand’s summer season ends and the wet season begins, according to weather forecasts. Continued …

Thap Sakae EV charging station part of 5,000km SE Asian EV highway

Singapore-based charging provider for electric vehicles (EVs) Charge+ has announced a strategic partnership with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to boost the country’s EV ecosystem as it strives to become a zero-carbon emission nation by 2050.

EGAT will provide Charge+ with a site for a direct current (DC) charging station in Thap Sakae, about 320 kilometers south of Bangkok, according to a statement from Charge+. Continued …

The election is over, a new round of ‘war’ begins

After the polls have closed, the victories of two major opposition parties mark a new chapter in Thai politics, as the country enters the phase of forming a new government. However, the Thai political scene is abuzz with several pressing questions:

Will the Forward Party manage to establish the government successfully? Will Pita Limcharoenrat become the prime minister? Could the Forward Party face dissolution or will Pita face a dismissal? Continued …

Pita Limjaroenrat: Meet Thailand’s (probable) next leader

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat is on the road to becoming Thailand’s next prime minister after his three-year-old progressive party’s shock victory in last Sunday’s general election.

The election results, which are awaiting endorsement by the Election Commission, show Move Forward in first after winning 152 of the 500 MP seats in the House of Representatives. Continued …

He promised change in Thailand. But will he be allowed to lead?

When Pita Limjaroenrat was a student at Harvard in 2008, he shadowed his American classmates who were campaigning at the time for Barack Obama. The experience gave him a window into electoral politics, from phone banks and polling data to knocking on doors and putting campaign flags on front lawns.

Fifteen years later, Pita said he used what he learned in Massachusetts to help his recent campaign in Thailand, where he stunned the country’s political establishment by leading his progressive Move Forward Party to a momentous victory. Continued …

NOTICE: Avatar Garden has temporarily closed for renovations. We will reopen about July 1. Stay tuned!

Phitsanulok locals stock up on eggs amid rising price and tight supplies

Consumers in Phitsanulok are bristling over a 0.2 baht per piece rise in the price of chicken eggs, or six baht per tray of 30 eggs. The price hike was announced by Thailand’s Egg Farmer Cooperative Network earlier this week.

The network on Monday told its members to raise the price of assorted eggs at farms from 3.6 baht to 3.8 baht per egg, the highest price yet this year. Continued …

58.5MW Floating PV Plant with Sungrow PV and Floating Solutions

EGAT plans hybrid hydro-floating solar project in Khon Kaen

The EGAT (Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand)–MPD Consortium has signed a construction contract for a hybrid hydro-floating solar project at Ubol Ratana Dam in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand.

The project will ensure renewable energy stability for sustainability, driving the country to achieve carbon neutrality, according to a press release. Continued …

Thailand sending essential supplies to cyclone-hit Myanmar

Thailand will be sending a plane carrying essential supplies to Myanmar, after the neighboring country was hit by powerful cyclone “Mocha”, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The spokesperson for Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kanchana Patarachoke, said that the Thai government had expressed its concerns to Myanmar, where Cyclone Mocha has killed 145 people and left 800,000 people in need of food aid, according to reports as of Friday evening. Continued …

C.P. Group collaborating with French companies on food, energy, transportation

Charoen Pokphand Group Co. (C.P. Group) announced that the group will collaborate with leading French corporations on projects that span the agribusiness, renewable energy, and transportation sectors.

The projects and the broader partnership will strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation, introduce advanced technologies and innovation into Thailand, and create employment opportunities for the local economy in Thailand and France. Continued …

Immigration Bureau Intensifies Crackdown on Overstaying Foreigners

In their most recent effort to crack down on overstaying foreigners, the Thai Immigration Bureau (IB) delivered a robust display of enforcement.

Yesterday, a briefing was held to share the results of the dureau’s operations. In attendance were various high-ranking officials, including the commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, his deputies, and other members of the force. Continued …

Almost 10 Million Foreign Tourists So Far This Year

The Thai tourism industry is soaring, as seen by altogether 9.47 million foreign tourists having come here from the beginning of the year until May 15, with the biggest markets being east and south Asia, plus ASEAN countries.

Trisulee Trisoranakul, deputy spokesperson for the prime minister’s office, also said that total tourist expenditure during this period reached 391 billion baht. Continued …

Kanchanaburi railway bridge

7 Most Scenic Bangkok Train Trips To Take At Least Once

Flying is one way to get to different cities in Thailand. But if you’re after an epic journey that lets you wind through dramatic valleys, forests, and mountains, then you should hit the rails.

From short jaunts to cross-country trips, here are seven scenic trains in Bangkok for you to indulge in slow travel. We’ve even provided helpful train travel tips because you’ll most likely want to book a trip after seeing what’s in store. Continued …

Koh Samui Is an Idyllic Thailand Getaway

Phuket has its nightlife and Pha Ngan has its full-moon parties, while Krabi has the coastline and Koh Tao has dominion over Thailand’s scuba scene. Samui stands apart by offering a slice of it all, with strings of serene, white sandy beaches and blissful indulgence from a collection of the country’s swankiest resorts, combined with no shortage of amusement or adventure.

Thailand is picking up where it left off after a lengthy pandemic shutdown to international tourism, returning as one of the most favored of far-flung destinations. Koh Samui, part of the Surat Thani province, is an island found in the Gulf of Thailand about halfway down the country’s thin central land strip. It caters to tourists, and as such, rather than mourning the sense of calm their absence provided, it’s celebrating their return in grand style, eager to once again offer its signature, friendly hospitality. Continued …

Isaan booming as fuse lit for annual Rocket Festival

Isaan skies are streaked with gray smoke trails from May to July every year, as locals launch Bang Fai or bamboo missiles to prod the rain god awake. Celebrated in Thailand’s northeast and Laos, the Bun Bang Fai rocket festival blasts off to summon clouds at the start of the rainy season around the end of May.

“Bun” means merit while “bang” refers to the giant bamboo bodies of the missiles. “Fai” (fire) is what happens when fuses are lit and the sparks ignite the gunpowder packed inside. Continued …

Queen’s funeral costs taxpayers £162M amid cost-of-living crisis

The UK government has disclosed that the state funeral and related events for Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last September, cost taxpayers almost £162 million (US$201 million). This is the first public estimate of the expenses associated with the funeral of Britain’s longest-serving monarch. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • 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 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 twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departing 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

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

Thursday’s news-May 18

  • How people in Prachuap Khiri Khan voted in the general election/
  • Four scenarios for next Thai govt and only two have Pita as PM/
  • What role will senators play in naming Thailand’s next PM?/
  • Move Forward lines up changes for 45 laws as soon as Parliament reopens/
  • Royal Ploughing Ceremony forecasts bumper crops and prosperity for year ahead/
  • Baby elephant saved after falling in a golf course well/
  • Cyanide murder suspect had massive online gaming debts/
  • Teen Girl, 2 Youths Held For Killing Chinese Factory Owner/
  • Thailand’s Economy: Residential sales revenue delines in Q1/CBRE Reveals Positive Signs of Foreign Demand for Luxury Residences in Thailand/Thailand Remains Popular Filming Location/Thailand keen to serve as ASEAN energy hub/Thailand eases EV restrictions to attract European manufacturers/US$20M invested in data center expansion amid cloud services boom/3 municipal biomass power plants approved/After election, Thai cannabis ready to roll with the changes/
  • Tourism: Tourism to limit economic pain as new government awaited/Pattaya Police ban prostitution on the beach/30 tourists injured, 1 missing after Phuket speedboat crashes into pillar/Flights to Mae Hong Son to resume in August/
  • International: Heat Wave in Asia Made 30 Times More Likely Because of Climate Change/Vietnam bets big on LNG, South China Sea gas fields/Four kids, including baby, found alive in Amazon after plane crash/
  • 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

  • Subscribe to Blog via Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

How people in Prachuap Khiri Khan voted in the general election

The Election Commission of Prachuap Khiri Khan has announced the results of how people in the province voted during the election, which took place on Sunday. Officials said that Prachuap Khiri Khan witnessed higher voter turnout in this election.

According to the unofficial results released by the Election Commission of Prachuap Khiri Khan, 328,366 people, or 76.4% of eligible voters, cast their ballots out of a total of 429,883 eligible voters. This is a significant increase compared to the 2019 election, which had a voter turnout of 70.2%. Continued …

Pita Limjaroenrat

Four scenarios for next Thai govt and only two have Pita as PM

Even though Move Forward Party won Sunday’s general election with 152 seats, that won’t be enough for party leader Pita to become Thailand’s 30th prime minister.

Pita will need a majority of at least 376 votes from the 500-seat House of Representatives to nullify the 250 votes from the junta-appointed Senate. The four scenarios for the next government’s formation are as follows: Continued …

What role will senators play in naming Thailand’s next PM?

Despite declaring that Move Forward will form the next coalition with five other parties, party leader Pita Limjaroenrat is facing one formidable obstacle on his journey to the premiership – the junta-appointed Senate.

Move Forward’s allies are Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, Thai Liberal, Prachachart and Fair parties, and together they will have 310 of the 500-seat House of Representatives. Continued …

Move Forward lines up changes for 45 laws as soon as Parliament reopens

Move Forward Party will submit 45 bills to either amend or enact new laws once Parliament reopens, a party executive said.

Bencha Saengchantra, a Move Forward party-list MP, said on Wednesday that the 45 bills will aim to reform the bureaucracy and abolish mandatory conscription. In her post, she grouped the 45 items into eight groups, as follows: Continued …

Royal Ploughing Ceremony forecasts bumper crops and prosperity for year ahead

The year ahead will be one of bumper crops, booming trade, and economic growth for Thailand, according to Wednesday morning’s Royal Ploughing Ceremony.

The ceremony was held at Sanam Luang at 8.30am and was presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen. It was the second day of the annual two-day ceremony, during which the King blesses the start of the rice-growing season. Continued …

Baby elephant saved after falling in a golf course well

The calf was found in a cement well at Chatrium Golf Course in Chanthaburi Province. Staff from the local wildlife sanctuary and volunteers scrambled to save it, using a digger to dig around the well as its mother watched on. Video …

Cyanide murder suspect had massive online gaming debts

Online gambling debts are believed to be the leading motive of murder suspect Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, who allegedly poisoned at least 14 people with the deadly chemical cyanide, Deputy National Police Chief Surachet Hakparn said on Wednesday.

He said police discovered 78 million baht spread over 180 bank accounts belonging to Sararat, which had been used to transfer money to and from several online gambling websites. Continued …

Teen Girl, 2 Youths Held For Killing Chinese Factory Owner

Police arrested a teenage girl and two youths on the charges of stabbing a Chinese parawood processing factory owner to death at a resort in Trang province after the girl called for help upon being physically assaulted by her sex client.

The 17-year-old girl, only identified as Fai, together with Natdanai (surname withheld), 22, and Nattaphon, 19, were arrested in Satun province after being tracked down there and were charged with jointly killing Li Zhri Rui, 43, a Chinese national and owner of several parawood processing factories in the south by stabbing him around 20 times in the rented room. Continued …

Residential sales revenue delines in Q1

The expiration of the easing of loan-to-value (LTV) limits has had an impact on two-thirds of listed developers, resulting in residential sales revenue declining year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023.

Based on reports submitted to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, of the 30 developers engaged in residential development business, 20 experienced a year-on-year decline in revenue from residential sales in the first quarter. Continued …

CBRE Reveals Positive Signs of Foreign Demand for Luxury Residences in Thailand

CBRE, one of the world’s leading property consultants, says foreign interest in purchasing luxury residences in Thailand, including condominiums, houses, and villas in prime locations, has surged since the return of international tourists in the second half of 2022.

Sales transactions through CBRE have increased by more than 200%-300%, confirming this trend. In response to the growing demand, developers are gearing up to launch new luxury and super-luxury residential projects in 2023, with a particular focus on single houses. Continued …

Thailand Remains Popular Filming Location

Thailand remains a popular filming location among international production houses. Filming activities have generated massive revenue for the country and local people, while at the same time revitalizing the country’s own film industry.

Thailand has maintained its reputation as a popular filming location and has recently welcomed the production teams of two series from Singapore and the U.S. television network HBO, who chose Hat Yai City in Songkhla as a filming location. Continued …

Thailand keen to serve as ASEAN energy hub

Thailand is ready to be ASEAN’s future energy and mobility hub, as part of the global trend to improve sustainability through collaboration with countries worldwide, a senior Thai official said.

Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo, deputy permanent secretary at the Energy Ministry, revealed this ambitious objective during his speech at the opening ceremony on Wednesday of “Future Energy Asia and Future Mobility Asia Exhibition and Summit 2023”. Continued …

Thailand eases EV restrictions to attract European manufacturers

The caretaker Cabinet on Tuesday approved changes aimed at making it easier for European and other foreign manufacturers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to set up production in Thailand.

The two amendments to the EV3.5 promotion package offer more flexibility in the requirement for foreign manufacturers to offset imports to Thailand with an equal number of BEV units manufactured here. Continued …

US$20M invested in data center expansion amid cloud services boom

Etix Itel Bangkok Co., the company behind the ETIX Bangkok#1 data center, is set to invest nearly US$20 million in expanding its capacity to meet the increasing demand for cloud services and digital transformation in Thailand. The growth of the digital economy in the country has been bolstered by global cloud providers investing in the region.

The data center is currently in its second phase, with a capacity of 0.6 megawatts and 85% occupancy. The company anticipates full capacity in the next quarter and is preparing for the third phase, worth US$11 million, which will increase capacity by an additional 1.5MW in the fourth quarter of 2024. Continued …

A biomass-fired power plant operated by TGE in Surat Thani

3 municipal biomass power plants approved

Thachang Green Energy (TGE), a SET-listed biomass power plant developer and operator, has been awarded contracts to develop three municipal solid waste-fired power plants as the firm aims to reach a revenue target of more than 3 billion baht in 2026. Last year TGE’s revenue was 955 million baht.

The company signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the Provincial Electricity Authority, the state electricity distribution arm, to supply electricity to three administrative bodies in Ratchaburi, Sa Kaeo and Chumphon. Continued …

After election, Thai cannabis ready to roll with the changes

Is the sky falling on Thailand’s nascent cannabis industry? Not according to some of its biggest players.

After the votes were counted Sunday, cannabis entrepreneurs were even more confident that the future of weed is green, with most saying the outcome gave them more confidence that much-needed regulation will be rational and reasonable under a Move Forward-led coalition government. Continued …

Tourism to limit economic pain as new government awaited

Thailand has not been spared the political uncertainty that usually comes with elections, yet foreign tourists returning by the millions this year are counted on to help shield Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.

The influx of visitors — totaling 6.5 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared with 498,000 a year ago — is aiding greater business and consumer activity in Thailand. On track to hit the government’s target of hosting three times more foreign guests this year from 10 million in 2022, tourism is seen as an anchor amid the political noise, even as the exports growth-engine sputters. Continued …

Pattaya Police ban prostitution on the beach

Thailand’s Tourist Police have banned sex workers from selling services on the beach in Pattaya.

Last night, Tourist Police and officers from Pattaya City Police Station headed down to Pattaya Beach and instructed the city’s ladies and ladyboys of the night to move along. Continued …

30 tourists injured, 1 missing after Phuket speedboat crashes into pillar

Thirty tourists, most of them Russian, have been injured after the tour boat they were traveling in crashed into a concrete pillar/navigation marker approaching Chalong Pier in the south of Phuket. According to a number of media reports, one person is still missing following the incident, which happened at around 5.30pm yesterday.

There were over 33 people on board when the Thanathip Marine speedboat hit a channel marker in Chalong Bay as it was bringing tourists back from a trip to the Phi Phi islands (about a 45-minute journey). Provincial marine chief Nachapong Pranit says that in addition to the tourists and the boat driver, the driver’s assistant and a tour guide were also on board. Continued …

Flights to Mae Hong Son to resume in August

Tourism operators in Mae Hong Son expect a more active market during the cool season, with Bangkok Airways poised to revive flights from the capital after Nok Air ended operations in April.

Phanuwat Khatnak, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Mae Hong Son office, expects air travel to increase tourist numbers by 10%, as there are currently no commercial flights. The tourist tally this year would reach 1.5 million, he said. Continued …

Heat Wave in Asia Made 30 Times More Likely Because of Climate Change

A searing heat wave in parts of southern Asia in April this year was made at least 30 times more likely by climate change, according to a rapid study by international scientists released Wednesday. Continued …

Vietnam bets big on LNG, South China Sea gas fields

Vietnam’s plan to quadruple by 2030 its gas-processing capacity, turning it into its first source of energy, marks a big bet on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and its reserves in the South China Sea, despite supply and geopolitical risks. Continued …

Four kids, including baby, found alive in Amazon after plane crash

Four Indigenous children, including an 11-month-old baby, have been found alive in the dense Colombian Amazon after a plane crash more than two weeks ago, President Gustavo Petro said Wednesday, declaring “joy for the country.” Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • 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 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 twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departing 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