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Today’s news: 2023: Political and economic turbulence/Art, culture and entertainment shine/Bad air, caves and elephants/Thailand’s food scene/Minister visits Hua Hin Railway Station/Over 1.5 million train passengers/Total gun ban for New Year/Vendors warned about alcohol sales/’Enchanting Hua Hin Festival’/Can papaya leaves cure cancer?/Diesel price subsidy extended/500,000 Myanmar Refugees/Flooding disaster death toll/Jumbos will be moved/Economy: What’s in store for 2024/Thai economy is stable/Rail cargo service launches/Tourism: 1-Year Medical Treatment Visa/Worst destinations for over-tourism/Thailand Experience: Sustainable tourism destinations/Vietnam Vs Thailand/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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2023: A year marked by political and economic turbulence

The year 2023 was marked by multi-dimensional changes in global politics, the economy, finance, society, and technology.

It was a challenging year marked by global economic volatility, geopolitical tensions arising from conflicts, and various challenges that served as catalysts for a new economic landscape. Continued …

Art, culture and entertainment shine in an otherwise gloomy year

2023 may not have been a very good year for most of us, given the sluggish economy, wars and uncertainties, but for Thais at least, there were some glimpses of hope in the areas of art and culture, and entertainment.

The Lost World: Si Thep

The celebratory mood could be felt and loud cheers echoed throughout the country especially among culture vultures and historians, when UNESCO World Heritage listed the Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun province as a cultural heritage site on Sept. 19. The site has become the latest and the 7th UNESCO World heritage site in Thailand. Continued …

Bad air, caves and elephants

A look back at 2023’s environmental reports.

Radioactive tube goes missing

In March, residents of Prachin Buri woke up to a government warning that a tube containing radioactive Caesium-137 went missing from the National Power Plant 5A facility in the province. Continued …

Sizzling trends in Thailand’s food scene

Over the past 12 months, Thailand’s gastronomic scene enjoyed full-steam dynamism. New restaurants, by old pros and new faces, homegrown and out-of-towners, opened more than ever before. Continued …

Minister of Transport visits new Hua Hin Railway Station

As part of an effort to help ensure safety and convenience for travelers during the upcoming New Year festival, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Thailand’s minister of transport, made an official visit to the newly opened Hua Hin Railway Station on Thursday.

The minister, accompanied by his team, conducted an inspection of the station, with the visit part of a broader initiative to prepare for the expected surge in public travel during the New Year festival. Continued …

Over 1.5 million passengers used train services Thursday

More than 1.5 million passengers used Thai train services on Thursday, 1.41 million of them in Bangkok, the Department of Rail Transport said on Friday.

Department Director-general Pichet Kunathamaraks said that on the eve of a four-day New Year holiday break, a total of 1,504,269 passengers/trips were made using Thailand’s train services nationwide. Continued …

Total gun ban for New Year

The Interior Ministry has issued a total ban on people carrying firearms in public over the New Year to prevent celebrations turning into tragedies, Interior Permanent Secretary Suttipong Juljarern said yesterday.

He said Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered all administrative offices not to issue permits to individuals to carry firearms outside their homes. Continued …

Hua Hin vendors warned about alcohol sales during New Year festival

Hua Hin District is implementing stringent controls on alcohol sales in a bid to ensure public safety during the New Year festivities.

On Thursday, an operation led by Jenwit Phalitsak, the public health officer of Hua Hin District, was launched, involving key officials from various departments. Continued …

‘Enchanting Hua Hin Festival’ underway at 19 Rai Queen’s Park

The “Enchanting Hua Hin” festival, a celebration of music, art, and local culture, has started at Queen’s Park (19 Rai).

This year’s event, running from Dec. 29 to Jan. 7, is a collaboration between Hua Hin municipality, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Prachuap Khiri Khan office, and the Hua Hin-Cha Am Tourism Business Assn. Continued …

Can papaya leaves cure cancer? Thailand seeks answer

The National Cancer Institute’s dismissal of the claim that drinking the juice of papaya leaves could cure cancer may be premature, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin said on Friday.

Somsak said he would task the Public Health Ministry with undertaking further study and research on the capability of papaya leaves to fight cancer. Continued …

Diesel price subsidy extended by 3 months

Money will be drawn from the Oil Fund to continue the 30 baht per liter retail price of diesel fuel for another three months through March 31, the fuel fund’s office director, Wisak Watanasap, said on Thursday.

The move aligns with a Dec. 19 Cabinet resolution to ensure sustainable livelihoods for the public after the reduced excise tax on diesel fuel will expire tomorrow. Continued …

As Many As 500,000 Refugees Might Flee To Thailand From Myanmar

As many as 500,000 refugees might flee armed conflict between Myanmar government forces and ethnic rebel groups across the Thai-Myanmar border into Thai territory during the anticipated dry-season offensive early next year.

Former Deputy National Security Council Secretary-general Pongsakorn Rodchombhu said over the weekend a range of 350,000 to 500,000 refugees, including Myanmar nationals and ethnic minorities, might probably move en masse across the common border from the war-torn country into Thailand’s western and northern provinces during dry-season offensive. Continued …

Flooding disaster death toll in south rises to 12

Despite the fact that floodwater levels in Yala and Narathiwat in southern Thailand have begun to decrease, the death toll has risen to at least 12. The situation in Pattani, southern Thailand, remains critical.

Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew has received word that the death toll has risen to 12, with eight persons killed in Narathiwat, three in Yala, and one in Pattani. Continued …

Troublesome stray jumbos will be moved to new area

Forestry authorities are eyeing a large area of land to accommodate wild elephants, which often stray into communities in Kanchanaburi Muang district.

The 4,000-rai area is straddled between mountains in the Salakpet wildlife reserve, according to Paithoon Intharabut, the reserve chief. Continued …

What’s in store for 2024

From the planned licensing of virtual banks to the continued rise of lifestyle-related businesses, this is what consumers can expect in 2024.

Virtual banking

Virtual banking is a new business trend for 2024 as customer behavior changes in the digital era, aiming to provide better access to financial services for under-served customers. Continued …

Thai economy is stable but is being strangled by personal debt

With new disturbing economic data that the country’s manufacturing sector dived 4.71% in November, a key official from the Ministry of Finance has come out to hail the country’s inherent financial stability and ambitious development plans. However, there is a problem.

In brief, it is the high level of personal debt strangling the lives and livelihoods of millions of Thai families and the country’s economy. In the meantime, the government’s robust finances and the informal nature of the Thai economy are helping. Continued …

Direct Thailand-China rail cargo service launches

Thailand and China launched the first direct cargo rail link from Nong Khai to Chongqing via Laos on Friday.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow presided over a ceremony in Nong Khai to see off the first Thai train transporting agricultural products directly to China. Continued …

Thailand Considering 1-Year Medical Treatment Visa

Nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand has rapidly transformed itself into a renowned medical hub, offering world-class healthcare services that cater to the diverse needs of patients from across the globe, with foreign tourists expecting to reach 42 million by 2025.

To bolster this medical hub and attract more foreign visitors, the Thai Cabinet has been working on a new visa category since 2021, known as the Medical Treatment Visa. This visa allows foreign patients to stay in Thailand for up to one year while receiving medical treatment. Continued …

2023’s worst destinations for over-tourism

Following several years of pandemic-induced downturn, the travel sector is not only back, it’s positively booming. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the industry is expected to bring in some $9.5 trillion in 2023 — which accounts for 95% of its pre-pandemic levels.

Nowhere is this surge more evident than at popular tourist hot spots around the world, many of which have experienced record visitor numbers over the past year. Continued …

Sustainable tourism destinations in Phetchaburi

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) this year launched the “Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating” (STAR) aimed at enhancing sustainable tourism and positioning Thailand as a leading sustainable destination.

This project encourages local travel entrepreneurs to rate themselves across four key dimensions: economic, social, environmental, and good governance factors. Continued …

Vietnam Vs Thailand: A Comprehensive Guide To Your Ideal Destination

Vietnam and Thailand, both popular gems in Southeast Asia, may appear similar at first glance, but they offer distinctive attractions and a variety of cultural experiences. The choice between the two destinations hinges on personal preferences and specific travel goals.

Both Vietnam and Thailand boast a multitude of natural attractions and diverse landscapes, from beaches to hills, rivers to dense forests. Let’s take a look at the natural attractions of both countries. Continued …

World Population Up 75 Million This Year, Standing At 8 Billion On Jan 1

The world population grew by 75 million people over the past year and on New Year’s Day it will stand at more than 8 billion people, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday. Continued …