- Hua Hin’s iconic Chat Chai Market to undergo a revamp/
- How an aging population is creating new business opportunities/
- Electric bill increase fuels rise in food production costs/
- Heat and air pollution persist in North, South sees heavy rain/
- Scorcher powers LG air conditioner sales/
- Practical tips for learning Thai as a beginner/
- Thailand’s Economy: Bloomberg calls Thailand a new economic star/Workers mark Labor Day with demand for THB700 minimum wage/Shippers expect exports to rise 1% this year/EGAT to spend Bt300 billion on floating solar farm development/MG readies the construction of EV battery plant in Thailand/Executives fret over ‘greenwashing’/
- Tourism: Thai tourism industry optimistic as Chinese tourist arrivals skyrocket/Wealthy tourists unfazed by pricey trips/Phuket’s international arrivals stabilize, with Russians still leading the way/
- International: North Asia’s factories stuck in decline/How Close is Asia to Fixing its Plastic Pollution Problem?/Chase’s takeover of First Republic does not end worries over US banks/Biden and Marcos Jr discuss Beijing’s South China Sea expansion/Brain scans and AI could transcribe what people are thinking/
- 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
Hua Hin’s iconic Chat Chai Market to undergo a revamp
Hua Hin’s iconic Chat Chai Market is set to undergo a major revitalization, according to plans announced by Hua Hin municipality. The market, which has been a fixture of the Hua Hin community for almost a century, will be modernized and upgraded to meet the needs of both locals and tourists.
The project will involve both the development of new products and the upgrading of existing offerings to be more contemporary, while still retaining the unique character of the historic market. Additionally, the market’s layout will be reorganized to provide more organized parking and shopping areas. Continued …
How an aging population is creating new business opportunities
The world’s population is getting older. And Thailand is among the fastest-aging societies in the world. Of its 67 million population, more than 12 million Thais are elderly, according to the Department of Older Persons, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, with the majority of them in the 60-69 group.
Japan became the world’ first “super-aged” society in 2006. By 2029, Thailand is expected to join Japan in this demographic trend, according to recent research carried out by Kasikorn Research Center (KResearch). This is due to a decrease in the population in the past three years. Continued …
Electric bill increase fuels rise in food production costs
The rise in electricity bills since the start of this year has increased the overall cost of food manufacturing by 2.5% to 5%, Wisit Limleucha, vice president of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said on Monday.
He said last year’s electricity costs were responsible for 5%-10% of manufacturing costs of the food industry, but this year the number has jumped to 7.5%-15%, prompting some operators to find ways to reduce their power bills, including installing solar rooftops and turning off unnecessary appliances. Continued …
Heat and air pollution persist in North, South sees heavy rain
Thunderstorms and gusting winds will affect 36 provinces over the next two days due to the presence of a cold air mass over the upper region of Thailand, which is experiencing scorching temperatures.
Meanwhile, the winds blowing in over the Gulf of Thailand, the southern region, and the Andaman Sea, are increasing in strength, causing an increase in rainfall in the southern region and heavy rain in some areas. Continued …
Scorcher powers LG air conditioner sales
LG Electronics (Thailand) Co., the distributor of LG air-conditioning products, has reworked its marketing strategies after experiencing a surge in sales attributed to the scorching heat.
Amnaj Singhachan, the company’s senior marketing manager, said LG revised its sales targets for air-conditioning products twice this year because of unprecedented demand related to the hot weather. Continued …
Practical tips for learning Thai as a beginner
Learning a new language can be challenging, and Thai is no exception. As a beginner, you might find yourself struggling to grasp the tonal nuances of the language, the unfamiliar script, and the sheer volume of vocabulary to learn.
But with the right mindset and approach, learning Thai can be an exciting and rewarding journey that opens up a world of possibilities. And to make your language-learning journey smoother and more enjoyable, we’ve put together some practical tips that will help you get started on the right track. Continued …
Thailand’s biggest serial killer suspect legally protected from the death penalty
As the police screen more incoming reports of suspicious deaths linked with what officers suspect to be Thailand’s biggest-ever serial killer, Sararat Rangsiwutthaporn, one story in recent days of a doctor working with the Royal Thai Police stood out as particularly harrowing.
The doctor appeared on the country’s popular Channel 3 TV telling top host, Kanchai Kamnodploy, on the daily news program that he believed his wife was poisoned by a pill sent to her after she had just given birth to the couple’s infant daughter in November 2020. Continued …
Bloomberg calls Thailand a new economic star
Global financial news service Bloomberg is calling Thailand an economic star for its resiliency and reports that investors are flocking to the Kingdom.
“Among the kingdom’s attributes are a resurgence in tourism, low foreign debt and a surplus in the broadest measure of trade. That is a halo historically associated with Switzerland, Japan, or prized asset classes like U.S. Treasuries,” Bloomberg wrote, adding that investment bank Goldman Sachs likened the Kingdom to a “safe haven.” Continued …
Workers mark Labor Day with demand for THB700 minimum wage
Labor representatives gathered on National Labor Day on Phitsanulok Road in Bangkok to demand 700-baht daily wage from the next government.
Rallyists also demanded that the new government, expected to be formed after the May 14 general election, would ensure laborers have the right to form a union to negotiate with their employers for better compensation and benefits. Continued …
Shippers expect exports to rise 1% this year
Thailand’s exports are likely to rise 1% in 2023 and should pick up later in the year, owing to a recovery in China’s economy, the Thai National Shippers’ Council said today.
Exports, a key driver of Thai growth, were not as weak as expected in the first quarter and should improve in the remaining months of the year, Chaichan Chareonsuk, chairman of the council, told a news conference. Continued …
EGAT to spend Bt300 billion on floating solar farm development
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) aims to increase its power-generation capacity from floating solar farms at its nine hydropower plants to 10 gigawatts by 2037, with investment of almost 300 billion baht.
The government earlier approved EATs plan to develop 2,725 megawatts from floating solar farms at the nine dams. Continued …
MG readies the construction of EV battery plant in Thailand
SAIC Motor-CP and MG Sales (Thailand), manufacturer and distributor of MG cars in Thailand, held a foundation stone laying ceremony with a road map to transform the 75-rai factory space into partnership development areas for car parts and a battery-manufacturing plant in response to the electric vehicle trend.
The factory is located in the WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate 2 (WHA ESIE 2) in Chonburi. Spanning across an area of over 437.5 rai, the manufacturing facility has a maximum production capacity of 100,000 units per year. Continued …
Executives fret over ‘greenwashing’
More than half of executives surveyed in Thailand admitted their organizations have overstated or inaccurately represented the impact of their sustainability initiatives, which could potentially stall progress on sustainability, according to a recent report.
A report by Google Cloud found corporate greenwashing is a prevalent concern among local executives, with 83% of them believing greenwashing is accidental when companies cannot effectively measure results or progress, which leads to overstatement of sustainability efforts. Continued …
Thai tourism industry optimistic as Chinese tourist arrivals skyrocket
The recent steady increase of Chinese tourists to Thailand has been observed by a Thai expert, who views it as a positive sign for the Thai tourism industry and the broader Thai economy.
From Jan. 1 to April 23, over 737,000 Chinese tourists visited Thailand, marking a 30-fold increase from the same period last year, according to Kevalin Wangpichayasuk, assistant managing director of Kasikorn Research Center. This increase came after China optimized its COVID-19 restriction measures late last year. Continued …
Wealthy tourists unfazed by pricey trips
Increased hotel room prices and living expenses in Japan will not significantly affect tourists with high purchasing power, as they usually demand premium services, but the outbound market could slow based on seasonality.
A survey by hotel research firm STR found Tokyo’s room rates already exceeded the level recorded before the pandemic. A domestic travel subsidy scheme in Japan also contributed to increasing occupancy rates. Continued …
Phuket’s international arrivals stabilize, with Russians still leading the way
Tourism arrival numbers appear to have stabilized in Phuket during April after a drastic drop immediately after Songkran on the holiday island. Between February and the middle of April, the average tourist arrivals dropped around 20%.
But from April 20 until the end of the month, there has been a welcome uptick in international arrivals, which bodes well for the post-Songkran tourist traffic onto the island. Continued …
North Asia’s factories stuck in decline
North Asia’s export powerhouses continued to stutter in April amid sluggish global trade and a patchy economic recovery in China, according to new data that amplified concerns about the risk of a global recession. Continued …
How Close is Asia to Fixing its Plastic Pollution Problem?
Plastic pollution is a growing environmental problem across the world, but Asia is particularly vulnerable. With high population density, rapid urbanization, and inadequate waste-management infrastructure, plastic waste is accumulating in Asian waterways and ultimately ends up in the ocean, where it poses a significant threat to marine life and ecosystems. Continued …
Chase’s takeover of First Republic does not end worries over US banks
The seizure of First Republic Bank by bank regulators and the selling of its assets to JPMorgan Chase on Monday may have resolved the largest U.S. bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis. Still, experts say it did not wholly eliminate lingering concerns about U.S. banks. Continued …
Biden and Marcos Jr discuss Beijing’s South China Sea expansion
In recent discussions at the White House, President Joe Biden and Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed Beijing’s assertive expansion through the strategic trade routes and islands of the South China Sea. This move signals Washington’s increasing concern over China’s aggressive claims of sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea, despite international rulings stating otherwise. Continued …
Brain scans and AI could transcribe what people are thinking
Scientists have announced a breakthrough in the decoding of human thoughts, utilizing a combination of brain scans and artificial intelligence (AI) models. The technology uncovers “the gist” of an individual’s thoughts and may significantly benefit those who have lost their ability to communicate. 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
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