Today’s news: Bangkok to Hua Hin by seaplane?/City officials discuss air pollution/Chat Chai Market update/Soi 102 road expansion/Covid reinfection risk higher/Easing of restrictions at Singkhon border/Bangkok residents warned of air pollution/Government facilitates solar rooftops/Evolving Landscape of Cannabis/Pot industry pushes back/Tax revisions for cigarettes/Economy: China’s visa-free deals/Trade pacts to ignite growth/Electricity price support/Tourism: Huge Budget Boost/Lift 2-5pm booze ban/Rail the way to go/U.S.-Asia airfares jump/Pattaya Nightlife Sees Boom/Koh Samui set for tourism boost/Thailand Experience: Eco-Tourism Thailand/ World Heritage Site Of Ayutthaya/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
Bangkok to Hua Hin by seaplane? Only Bt335,400 ($9,309)
Siam Seaplane is among nine new airlines set to launch operations in 2024, signaling a significant recovery and expansion of Thailand’s aviation industry post-COVID. Over the past year, Siam Seaplane has demonstrated its commitment, most notably by acquiring its air operator license (AOL). Here are five key facts about this pioneering airline.
The service features flights like a 45-minute trip from Bangkok to Hua Hin and a 50-minute journey to Khao Yai. Prices for these excursions vary, with the platinum package for the Bangkok to Hua Hin route starting at Bt335,400 ($9,309) and the trip to Khao Yai priced at Bt358,200 ($9,950). Continued …
City officials discuss air pollution, Chat Chai makeover
The Municipality’s Strategic Committee of Hua Hin city convened for its inaugural meeting of the year on Friday, led by Mayor Nopporn Wutikul.
Also in attendance was Deputy Mayor Busaba Choksuchart, City Clerk Jeerawat Phramanee, and several government department heads, with the meeting focused on a variety of issues and developmental strategies for the city. Continued …
Hua Hin Municipality plans to update Chat Chai Market
In a bid to enhance the shopping experience at Chat Chai Market, Hua Hin’s municipal officials have announced plans to update the market’s layout and parking facilities.
This initiative, led by Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul, aims to modernize the market, making it more accessible and attractive to locals, entrepreneurs, and tourists. Continued …
Soi 102 road expansion project reviewed
In an effort toward improving local infrastructure, Nopporn Wutthikul, the mayor of Hua Hin, led a site survey on Soi 102, ahead of plans for an extensive road expansion project in the area.
Joined by key officials, including Nonglak Phadungthos, Cheep Suksee from the municipal council, Rawiroj Thaemmi of the Prachuap Khiri Khan provincial council, and Kalyuth Kuyyukam, the director of the engineering office, the mayor assessed the current conditions and logistics required for the expansion. Continued …
Covid reinfection risk higher among those who received multiple vaccines
Dr. Panthep Puapongpan (also known as Dr. Duer), a Thai doctor and public health expert, has warned that people who have previously been infected with Covid-19 and have received multiple Covid vaccines may be at risk of serious complications should they become reinfected.
Dr. Duer cited a study published in the journal Nature Medicine that found that people who had been infected with Covid-19 and then received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were more likely to develop severe disease from reinfection than people who had not been infected with Covid-19. Continued …
Easing of restrictions at Singkhon Border checkpoint discussed
In a significant move toward normalizing trade relations, Major Gen. Nathapong Praekaew of the Thai Border Military, along with other high-ranking officials, initiated talks on Jan. 11 to reopen a key trade relaxation point at the Thai-Myanmar border. This initiative aims to revive the bustling border trade economy to its pre-COVID-19 state.
Previously the border checkpoint was open for Thai and Myanmar nationals to cross, while Singkhon was also a bustling trading zone. Continued …
Bangkok residents warned of escalating air pollution, urged to work remotely
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) warned residents of Bangkok to prepare for an escalation in ultra-fine particle pollution in the air, which is anticipated to worsen by Wednesday. As a result of this alert, the PCD has implored individuals residing in the capital to opt for remote working until the situation improves.
The intensifying accumulation of PM2.5 pollutants, according to Preeyaporn Suwanakate, the PCD’s director-general, is a consequence of compromised air circulation in several areas across the city. This complication is largely attributed to the combination of low atmospheric pressure and fluctuating wind patterns in the region, leading to the buildup of pollutants. Continued …
Government facilitates solar rooftop expansion
In response to rising energy costs, the Thai government is fast-tracking the process for entrepreneurs to establish solar rooftops without the need for formal permission.
Nattapol Rangsitpol, the permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry, said the private sector’s interest in solar rooftops is expected to rise exponentially, not just due to rising power prices but also reduced installation costs. Continued …
The Evolving Landscape of Cannabis in Thailand
In June 2022, Thailand marked a significant shift in its drug policy by becoming the first country in Asia to fully decriminalize cannabis. This bold move stood in stark contrast to the stringent drug laws prevalent in neighboring countries like Singapore, where drug trafficking can result in the death penalty, and Hong Kong, where even non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) is illegal.
Previously, in 2018, Thailand had already taken a progressive step by legalizing medical marijuana, but the 2022 decriminalization allowed for broader use of cannabis and hemp products, especially in treating illnesses. Continued …
Pot industry pushes back against draft law
The cannabis industry is pushing back at Pheu Thai’s efforts to again criminalize the drug for recreational purposes. This week, Minister of Public Health Dr. Cholnan Srikaew was forced to clarify that a hard line draft bill signed by him was not final. The minister said it was a draft position prepared by his industry for the prime minister’s office.
However, the final law to be presented to parliament would, first of all, be agreed by the cabinet. The bill, which is to be treated as financial legislation, therefore has become one of political importance. In view of the contrast between the policies of the Pheu Thai Party and its coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, the issue has the potential to become as politically divisive as it is within society. Continued …
Excise considers tax revisions for cigarettes
The Excise Department is considering whether a single tax rate or weight-based levy should be applied for cigarettes, says Director-general Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
At present, a two-tier system is applied for excise duties levied on cigarettes, which comprises a 25% tax on cigarette packs with a retail price of up to 72 baht to ease the burden on low-income earners, and 42% for packs priced higher than 72 baht. Continued …
China’s visa-free deals could trigger ASEAN trade, investment boost
Enthusiasm for more regional economic cooperation could jump, analysts said, after China’s efforts to tap the Southeast Asian market partly paid off as Thailand followed hot on the heels of Malaysia by announcing a permanent visa-free policy for Chinese visitors from March.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the “upgrade” of the bilateral relationship at the start of January, with Thai businesses anticipating more Chinese tourists, increased exports of rice and durian, and additional China-invested factories. Continued …
Thailand forges ahead with free trade pacts to ignite economic growth
Thailand is actively negotiating 11 free trade agreements (FTAs) in a bid to expand trade, attract investment and bolster the country’s revenue streams.
The Commerce Ministry’s Department of Trade Negotiations said that five of these agreements involve improving existing partnerships, while the remaining six seek to establish new trade and investment connections. Continued …
Electricity price support has cost PTT Bt10.8 billion in lost revenue
State-owned oil and gas giant PTT Plc has said that that its support measures to control electricity prices have cost the company 10.8 billion baht in lost revenue.
The measures, which have been in place since October 2022, have capped the increase in electricity prices for households and businesses at 2%. This has meant that PTT has had to absorb the cost of the rising cost of fuel and other inputs. Continued …
Thai Tourism Agencies Get Huge Budget Boost
Led by a record 60% increase in the 2023/24 fiscal year budget of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Thai government is positioning the tourism industry as “the primary engine of economic growth” this year. However, those hopes are likely to be dashed in the event of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
A detailed analysis of the Thai budget bill, currently going through Parliament, shows that the budget allocation for the TAT is up from 3,258 million baht in fiscal year 2022/23 (beginning in October) to 5,201 million baht in fiscal year 2023/24, the largest percentage increase of any government agency. In the same period, the budget allocation for the Thai Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is up from 637 million baht to 826 million baht and the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism and Sports up from 1,753 million baht to 1,896 million baht. Continued …
Lift 2-5pm booze ban so tourists spend more, complain less: restauranteurs
Restauranteurs have proposed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin lift the suspension of alcohol sales in the afternoon because visitors are complaining.
Sorathep Rojpotjanaruch, head of the Restaurant Business Club, sent an open letter to the prime minister to ask the government to lift the ban on sales of alcohol every day between 2pm and 5pm. Continued …
For short hops, rail the way to go
With average global temperatures rising faster than experts had initially projected, flying is starting to look out of fashion, and not just among climate activists and environmentalists.
More travelers are realizing that while jets are without a doubt the fastest means of covering vast distances, their advantage over other means of transport significantly decreases as the trips get shorter. The question is whether the government – particularly the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) – adapts fast enough to cash in on the growing trend? Continued …
U.S.-Asia airfares jump as COVID travel restrictions end
Airfares from the U.S. to China and Japan rose about 30% last year, as more travelers headed to the countries after pandemic-era travel restrictions were lifted.
Fares on 29 routes between the U.S. and Japan’s Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports increased 20% to 50% on the year in 2023, according to an analysis by Nikkei and U.K. aviation information company Cirium. Continued …
Pattaya Nightlife Sees Boom After Extended Operating Hours
The Pattaya Entertainment Industry Association highly praised the Thai government’s policy of extending entertainment opening hours until 4 AM, citing its positive impact on the local economy, and urging further expansion of legal entertainment zones.
The extended hours, officially implemented on December 15th, 2023, as part of a pilot program in five provinces, have garnered positive feedback from a large number of Pattaya business owners. According to Mr. Damrongkiat Phinijkarn, secretary-general of the Pattaya Entertainment Industry Association, most entertainment businesses reported a significant increase in daily income, ranging from 20-30%, since the longer hours were implemented. Continued …
Koh Samui set for tourism boost with influx of cruise liner visits
Surat Thani province’s popular resort island Koh Samui is expecting a significant boost in tourism this year, with 47 cruise liners set to dock and unload around 25,000 international travelers, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
As stated by Kanokkittika Kritwuthikorn, TAT’s director for Koh Samui, the majority of these tourists will be hailing from the United States, Europe, and Australia. With 10 cruise liners scheduled to arrive in just January, the island is bracing for a busy start to the year. Continued …
Eco-Tourism Thailand: Enjoy Nature’s Paradise
Eco-tourism, which combines “ecology” and “tourism,” has become a buzzword in the travel industry. Responsible travel means respecting local cultures and conserving the environment.
With travelers looking for meaningful experiences that contribute positively to the places they visit, eco-tourism has grown significantly in recent years. Continued …
All About The UNESCO World Heritage Site Of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya, about 89 kilometers north of Bangkok, was the historical capital of Siam. Ramathibodi I, also known as King U Thong, is said to have founded the town around AD 1350 on an island formed by the confluence of the Chao Phraya, Lop Buri, and Pa Sak rivers.
Thailand’s modern state may be traced back to the creation of Ayutthaya, whose numerous rulers increased their powers to make their realm one of the most powerful in Southeast Asia. Continued …
Frederik X becomes Denmark’s new king as Queen Margrethe II abdicates
Denmark’s prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication, with massive crowds turning out to rejoice in the throne passing from a beloved monarch to her popular son. Continued …
Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule
Hua Hin train schedule
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
Water pipe work to disrupt service today
Strengthening monsoon to bring storms to all of Thailand
Did Thailand just have its cleanest ever election?
Myanmar junta says it will rethink relationship with Thailand
Employers’ group wary of MFP wage policy
SPCG keen on rooftop solar sales
Thai shrimp farmers urged to decarbonize now to escape new EU tax net
Korean firms set to invest Bt7 billion locally
MFP to shield ‘registered cannabis businesses’
Tourism officials plan to market ‘Pita fever’ globally
Militia leader gets 18 years in prison over US Capitol attack
Vietnam battles plastic blight in idyllic Ha Long Bay
Energy majors go slow on green transition despite pressure
Holidays coming up, government offices closed
Power bills set to fall in September
Summer storms to sweep across Thailand to Monday
SCG’s solar unit predicts sales of Bt1 billion
SPI and EGAT to develop charging stations, aim at driving Thailand’s EV ecosystem
