- Thai Mobile Banking Apps Crash On Pay Day, Transfers Put Off/
- Bangkok Bank Mobile App Continues to Have Widespread Issues/
- Vana Nava ranked best water park in Thailand, 15th best in the world/
- Conquer Singto Challenge held Sunday/
- Hua Hin Bike Tour Tha Sadet cycling event Sept 10/
- Police on alert ahead of today’s opening of parliament/
- Are escalators and moving walkways safe?/
- State hospitals in search of more doctors/
- Thai company working on ‘milestone’ cancer treatment from tobacco plant/
- After fatal accident, nearly 10,000 extinguishers found in sorry state/
- Thai elephant Sak Surin safely repatriated after 22 years in Sri Lanka/
- Interior Ministry rolls out digital ID app/
- Southern Thailand’s military withdrawal sets off in full swing/
- Get past school uniforms, reframe the purpose of education/
- 70% work of India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway complete/
- Economy: FTI seeks urgent measures to support Thai industries hit by export slump/Thailand’s sustained economic recovery pushes up energy consumption/Is nuclear power in the cards for Thailand?/Chinese EV Giant AION Opening First Overseas Branch in Bangkok/
- Tourism: Thailand’s tourism confidence slides amid global economy concerns/Tourist forecast dips to 25 million for the year/Airport capacity at Suvarnabhumi to increase with new terminal and tech upgrades/AOT investing billions in its six airports to prepare for surge in passengers/Shifting patterns in global travel/LGBTQ+ tourism revenue boom fuels drive for legalized same-sex marriage in Thailand/Inside Thailand’s ‘rampant’ tiger cruelty as animals abused in zoos for selfies with tourists/
- Thailand Experience: Harvesting Thai durian/
- 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
Thai Mobile Banking Apps Crash On Pay Day, Transfers Put Off
there were loud complaints Saturday after mobile banking apps and online service of several Thai banks crashed, with customers told that cash transfers made from 2 pm onward would reach the destination by 7 pm Sunday.
A lot of people were affected by the outage with Saturday being pay day and many complained about the banking problem on various social media platforms. Continued …
Bangkok Bank Mobile App Continues to Have Widespread Issues
The Bangkok Bank mobile application has had a number of issues over this first weekend of July 2023, frustrating clients.
The issues began Saturday, in which many users continually reported being unable to connect and getting a picture of a lady bowing and apologizing for the inconvenience instead. This caused people to be unable to transfer money or pay for goods and services on a busy weekend with many people traveling. Continued …
Vana Nava ranked best water park in Thailand, 15th best in the world
Vana Nava Water Jungle Hua Hin has been ranked as the best water park in Thailand and the 15th best in the world, according to the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award 2023.
The award solidifies its position as a leading lifestyle destination in Thailand, attracting tourists from all corners of the globe, and reaffirms its standing as one of the world’s top water parks. Continued …
Conquer Singto Challenge held Sunday
Hua Hin Bike Tour Tha Sadet cycling event Sept 10
Get ready for a unique cycling experience as the Hua Hin/Cha Am Tourism Business Assn. gears up to host the Hua Hin Bike Tour Tha Sadet event on Sunday, Sept. 10.
Aimed at promoting local lifestyle tourism and encouraging the use of bicycles for both tourism and exercise, this event promises to showcase some picturesque historical and natural attractions of Hua Hin and its surrounding areas. Continued …
Police on alert ahead of today’s opening of parliament
Three city police stations have been readied to detain suspects should there be any protest violence during important political activities planned this month, including today’s opening of the new parliament at 5pm.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau has prepared facilities at Thung Song Hong, Chalongkrung and Chorakhe Noy police stations. Continued …
Are escalators and moving walkways safe?
An airline passenger had part of her leg amputated this past week after an accident on a moving airport walkway in Bangkok, authorities said.
The accident, involving a 57-year-old woman, occurred Thursday in the domestic terminal of Don Mueang International, the older and smaller of two major airports that serve Bangkok, the capital. Continued …
State hospitals in search of more doctors
The work-life imbalance among Thailand’s medical personnel needs a solution. The latest example came from a doctor-turned-actress who posted on her Facebook that her overloaded work schedule at a provincial hospital ruined her life so much to the extent that she quit the job.
The challenge remains with the Public Health Ministry on how to create a better and fairer working environment for doctors and medical staff nationwide, while maintaining best practice in medical care at public hospitals. Continued …
Thai company working on ‘milestone’ cancer treatment from tobacco plant
A Thai plant-based pharmaceutical company has produced antibodies against cancer from tobacco and undertaken successful trials using lab animals, it said.
Baiya Phytopharm, a start-up under the auspices of Chulalongkorn University, is known for its Baiya Sars-CoV-2 Vax, a plant-based vaccine against Covid-19. Continued …
After fatal accident, nearly 10,000 extinguishers found in sorry state
An inspection carried out by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has found that almost 10,000 emergency fire extinguisher units across the capital’s 50 districts need to be urgently replaced.
The inspection was ordered after a student at Rajavinit Mathayom School was killed and 10 others injured when a fire extinguisher unit exploded during an emergency drill on June 23. Continued …
Thai elephant Sak Surin safely repatriated after 22 years in Sri Lanka
The enduring odyssey of Sak Surin, an elephant initially gifted by Thailand to Sri Lanka, took a homeward trajectory as the pachyderm touched down in Chiang Mai yesterday, ending a 22-year-long overseas sojourn.
Sak Surin’s journey back to Chiang Mai was an elaborate endeavor. Encased within a specially designed cage that was placed in the cargo hold of an Ilyushin IL-76, Sak Surin was accompanied by a team of four veterinarians and two mahouts who had journeyed to Sri Lanka earlier to facilitate the repatriation. Continued …
Interior Ministry rolls out digital ID app
In an effort to digitize various government-provided services and increase their accessibility, Thailand’s Interior Ministry officially rolled out a novel mobile application as part of its digital ID program on Friday.
The launch event was graced by none other than caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who wholeheartedly endorsed the newly unveiled “ThaID” mobile application. Continued …
Southern Thailand’s military withdrawal sets off in full swing
The forthcoming military withdrawal in the southern region of Thailand, which has seen 19 years of insurgent unrest, is currently in its initial phase, according to Fourth Region Army commander, Lt. Gen. Santi Sakuntanak. The four-year plan aims to gradually decrease military presence and remove the state of emergency that has been prevalent in the area.
Since 2004, Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani, along with certain sections of Songkhla, have been in a state of upheaval due to various kinds of civil unrest. This turmoil has had detrimental impacts on the lives of the people, the economy and the social fabric of the region. A planned military withdrawal from these areas is anticipated to bring some relief and push for normalization. Continued …
Get past school uniforms, reframe the purpose of education
The conversation over whether school uniform and hair rules in Thailand should be repealed has come and gone many times. As the arguments and counterarguments are explained, we seem to forget to discuss the purpose and real goals of education. A teacher activist invites us to ask what kind of education we want for our children.
School rules have always been an integral part of formative education, but we should ask whether some of the controls they exert actually make children focus more on study. Classic examples, and perhaps the easiest to enforce, are the rules covering hair and attire. Continued …
70% work of India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway complete
Around 70% of construction work on the ambitious India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway has been completed. India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on about 1,400-km-long highway that would link the country with Southeast Asia by land and give a boost to trade, business, health, education and tourism ties among the three countries.
The highway will connect Moreh in Manipur, India with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Continued …
FTI seeks urgent measures to support Thai industries hit by export slump
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is calling on the government to lay down new measures to support industries affected by sluggish exports. FTI chief Kriengkrai Thiennukul said businesses need urgent support because many have cut down working hours to prevent closure.
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has said it is evaluating strategies to provide quick assistance to industrial groups affected by the slowdown in exports. These groups include steel, roofing and equipment, furniture, machinery and metal, textiles, footwear, jewelry and accessories, glass and ceramics. Continued …
Thailand’s sustained economic recovery pushes up energy consumption
Thailand’s energy consumption rose by 3.8% in the first four months of this year, thanks to a sustained economic recovery following the easing of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), the rise in energy consumption was primarily driven by an increase in the consumption of refined petroleum products. Aviation fuel consumption saw a significant rise of 89.1%, while petrol consumption increased by 6.2%. However, other energy sources like lignite/coal in the industrial sector saw a drop of 8.9%. Continued …
Is nuclear power in the cards for Thailand?
Clean energy campaigns are not only promoting solar, wind and biomass power in Thailand, but also prompting conversations about nuclear energy.
Considered a highly contentious energy source by some people, nuclear power technology was addressed by Dhanin Chearavanont, senior chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group, during a recent speech he delivered at the three-day World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention in Bangkok, which ended on June 26. Continued …
Chinese EV Giant AION Opening First Overseas Branch in Bangkok
AION, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant, has signed its first memorandum of understanding for business cooperation with Gold Integrate, its first overseas distributor.
The company also announced the establishment of a subsidiary in Thailand, marking AION’s entry into the global market and the beginning of a journey to bring top-tier Chinese EV technology to the rest of the world. Continued …
Thailand’s tourism confidence slides amid global economy concerns
The second quarter of this year saw the Tourism Confidence Index remaining subdued, sliding from the previous quarter. The contributor to this drop was a blend of Thailand‘s low season and decreased earnings from tourism.
The president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Chamnan Srisawat, announced that the second quarter’s score was two points lower than the prior quarter at 72. This noticeably fell short of the identical period in 2019, which recorded 100, inferring weakened optimism. The findings came from a survey conducted from April 20 to May 30, comprising 740 operators. Continued …
Tourist forecast dips to 25 million for the year
In a recent announcement, the kingdom is on track to welcome 25 million tourists by the year end, offering a much-needed booster to the economy. (Earlier predictions were for 30 illion tourists for 2023.) This follows a significant surge in Thai tourism, exceeding 12 million arrivals recorded late last month.
Between January and June 25 of this year, the kingdom saw a record-breaking 12.46 million tourists, marking an increase of 539% over the same period in the previous year. The bulk of these visitors hailed from Malaysia – totaling 1.9 million. China followed with 1.3 million tourists, then Russia, South Korea, and India, with 784,428, 741,909, and 732,523 visitors, respectively. Continued …
Airport capacity at Suvarnabhumi to increase with new terminal and tech upgrades
Airports of Thailand (AoT) is set to inaugurate a new satellite passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport come this September.
This addition is expected to bolster the airport’s passenger-handling capacity significantly, managing 15 million extra passengers annually, which effectively raises the total capacity to 60 million per annum, revealed AoT’s president. Continued …
AOT investing billions in its six airports to prepare for surge in passengers
Airports Authority of Thailand Plc (AOT) will invest 100 billion baht in the expansion of its six international airports in Thailand over the next five years, as the number of passengers is forecast to rise to 200 million per year in 2027, AOT Chief Executive Officer Kirati Kitmanawat said.
The expansions will be funded by revenue, which rose dramatically in the first six months of this fiscal year to 2.2 billion baht. Continued …
Shifting patterns in global travel
In the midst of an uncertain economic and political climate, people in Thailand have various options for getting away from the frenetic pace of life in big cities and recharging their batteries.
Recent findings from Booking.com’s 2023 Travel Trends forecast survey show a rise in the popularity of wellness travel among Thai tourists seeking mental and physical renewal. Continued …
LGBTQ+ tourism revenue boom fuels drive for legalized same-sex marriage in Thailand
Thailand is witnessing a surge in the burgeoning LGBTQ+ community, as diversity takes center stage worldwide, boosting LGBTQ+ tourism in the country. As per estimates by LGBT Capital, an asset-management company serving the LGBTQ community, 5% to 10% of the world’s population identifies as LGBTQ+. This demographic represented around 3.6 million residents in Thailand in 2019.
During Pride Month this past June, massive crowds were seen participating in parades across Bangkok. This growing demographic has been a key contributing factor in nudging corporations to advocate for gender equality. Consequently, this shift is positioning Thailand’s tourism sector to capitalize on LGBTQ+ tourism, aiming to establish the country as a preferred travel destination that embraces diversity for both locals and international visitors. Continued …
Inside Thailand’s ‘rampant’ tiger cruelty as animals abused in zoos for selfies with tourists
A new undercover investigation of Thailand’s zoos shows abuse of tigers for tourist selfies is still “rampant”, a charity has said.
While concerns about the treatment of big cats in the country have been raised for years, animal rights campaigner group Lady Freethinker (LFT) said it had found cruelty against “photo-prop” animals in recent visits to 11 zoos across Thailand. Continued …
Harvesting Thai durian
A video boasting over 13.9 million views within a mere day showcases the skill and accuracy in the task of durian harvesting. The durian trees, found in a farm in Chumphon province, tower as high as 5 to 9 meters, setting an imposing stage for the footage.
The video offers an adrenaline-pumping window into the complex process of durian cultivation. The person aloft uses one hand to exact a clean cut from the durian stem, afterwards launching the fruit toward the ground. Descending at high speed, the durians are adroitly caught by another individual on the ground. 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.
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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