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Today’s news: Choosing Expat Health Insurance/A healthy and sustainable diet/Passengers Need Spinal Surgery/Heavy rain warning/Domino’s Pizza asserts supremacy/Students leaving school mid-year/Rise of vegetarian food/Python and King Cobra showdown/Marijuana buds to return to blacklist/Economy: Thailand, China ditching dollar/Economic plans could be affected/Thailand’s Aging Population/ Exports up nearly 7%/Auto industry seeks stimulus/Foreign movies filmed in Thailand/Tourism: Thailand’s Secret Paradise/Tourists behaving badly/Foreigners behaving badly/47th in global travel rankings/Thailand Experience: Making your First Thailand Trip Successful/Best luxury hotels in Phuket/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

5 Tips for Choosing Expat Health Insurance

Health insurance is crucial for everyone, especially for expatriates residing in Thailand who seek high-quality and convenient medical care. Expat health insurance is particularly important for those living in Thailand long-term, whether for work, marriage, retirement, or relocation, and who hold long-term visas, including student visas.

With numerous expat health insurance plans available in the market, finding the right policy for one’s lifestyle and to ensure comprehensive coverage, perfect match to an individual’s needs, can be challenging. Initially, one should consider these five essential factors: Continued …

How to have a healthy and sustainable diet

Did you know that what we eat won’t only affect our health, but also the planet we call home? Research shows that many of the foods that can harm our health are also bad for the environment, leading to issues like climate change and even the loss of animal and plant species. That’s why having a healthy and sustainable diet is important.

But how can you nourish your body while also sustaining the environment for future generations? Well, here are some sustainable nutrition tips from the experts at Sunbliss Superfood, a new organic food company located in California, USA. Continued …

Several Injured Passengers On Turbulence-Hit Flight Need Spinal Surgery

Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital has provided an update on the passengers injured when Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London experienced severe turbulence earlier this week and was forced to divert to Bangkok.

Forty people of various nationalities were transferred to the hospital and are currently receiving treatment, In a briefing on Thursday, Adinun Kittirattanapaibool, director of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, confirmed that any patients showing improvement will be allowed to return home immediately. Continued …

Heavy rain warning issued for 35 provinces in Thailand

The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rain, predicting a high probability of rainfall across 80% of the northern and central regions of Thailand, impacting 35 provinces. Bangkok is also expected to experience significant weather conditions, with risks of sudden flooding and forest runoff.

The southwest monsoon currently covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand is relatively strong. Additionally, a low-pressure area is covering the central region and the Gulf of Tonkin. Continued …

Domino’s Pizza asserts dough supremacy over flaky rivals

Domino’s has declared war on its rivals, Pizza Hut and The Pizza Company, asserting that its food quality and promotions are far superior to those of its rivals after both brands faced a customer backlash due to failed sales systems during special promotions.

The Pizza Company, a leading brand in Thailand, launched a special promotion on May 21, offering medium-sized pizzas for 99 baht, down from the original price of 299 baht. However, customers had to order in-store, leading to long queues at almost every branch across Thailand and with it, complaints. Continued …

Thai students leaving school mid-year at alarming rate

Thailand Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob announced yesterday that Thai students are leaving mid-year at an alarming rate. But despite this recent uptick, the minister expects a reversal of this trend in the near future.

New data indicates that approximately 20,000 students have dropped out this year. Permpoon shared these statistics following a meeting with top executives from the Education Ministry and other officials. Continued …

The rise of vegetarian food in Thailand

In Thailand, particularly in the southern areas, there is a growing trend among individuals, from cooking enthusiasts to professional chefs, toward adopting vegetarian food.

As the global advocacy for plant-based eating expands, these culinary professionals are increasingly using alternatives like tofu, seitan, and an assortment of fresh vegetables in place of meat. Impressively, they are managing to preserve the authentic and beloved flavors of traditional Thai cuisine. Continued …

Python and King Cobra showdown stuns locals

A dramatic encounter between a 3-meter-long King Cobra and a large python ended in a surprising twist, with the king cobra regurgitating its half-swallowed prey. The incident took place in Chai Buri, Surat Thani, and was reported by residents to the Chai Buri Rescue Center.

Locals of Khlong Noi, Chai Buri, Wednesday night, alerted the rescue team about a King Cobra attempting to consume a python behind a house. The Chai Buri Rescue volunteers immediately coordinated to investigate the scene. Continued …

Only marijuana buds return to the blacklist

Thailand Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has announced that only cannabis buds will be reclassified as Category 5 narcotics, leaving the rest of the marijuana plant legal. This decision aims to clarify the nation’s cannabis regulations following Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s pledge to recriminalize marijuana.

In this new directive, parts of the cannabis plant such as leaves, branches, roots, stems, and seeds remain unaffected by the ban. The focus is solely on the buds, which contain psychoactive compounds used for recreational purposes. Continued …

Thailand and China ditching the dollar

Thailand and China no longer want the dollar. The central banks of the two nations signed an agreement this Tuesday aiming to strengthen cooperation to facilitate cross-border settlements in local currencies.

Not a month goes by without nations taking steps to bypass the dollar in their bilateral trade. India and Nigeria concluded a similar agreement just last week. Continued …

Four economic plans could be affected by Srettha’s removal

Political analysts say four main economic plans under the Srettha-led government could hit a snag if the premier were to be removed following a petition filed by senators.

Six of the nine Constitutional Court judges on Thursday voted to accept the petition from 40 senators seeking to remove Srettha as PM. The petition accused Srettha of violating political ethics by appointing Pichit Cheunban as PM’s office minister even though he had been once jailed for contempt of court. Continued …

Thailand’s Aging Population Challenges Economic Growth

Thailand is experiencing a significant demographic shift. An aging population and declining birth rates are starting to have a noticeable impact on the country’s domestic consumption, a crucial driver of economic growth. According to a recent report by the Kasikorn Research Center (KRC), this transition is introducing several economic challenges.

Currently, domestic consumption contributes 58% to Thailand’s economic growth, up from 53% a decade ago. However, this trend contrasts with many neighboring countries that rely less on internal consumption for growth. In Singapore, for instance, the reliance on domestic consumption has decreased from 37% to 31% as it transitions into a “super-aged” society. Similar patterns are being noticed in Indonesia and Vietnam. Continued …

Thailand’s exports up nearly 7% in April

Thailand exported goods worth US$23.278 billion in April, a 6.8% growth year-on-year, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) announced Thursday.

TPSO Director-general Poonpong Naiyanapakorn added that imports in April were worth $24.92 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $1.641 billion in the month. Continued …

Auto industry seeks stimulus as sales plummet

Vehicle production in April fell 11.02% year-on-year (YoY) to 104,667 units, and the auto industry is expecting measures from the government to boost demand, according to Surapong Paisitpatanapong, adviser to the president of the Automotive Industry Group.

The biggest decline in output for domestic sales was pickup trucks – down 45.94% YoY – while the manufacture of passenger cars fell by 5.03% YoY, said Surapong, who is also spokesperson for the Automotive Industry Group of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Continued …

Foreign movies filmed in Thailand generate up to 3 billion baht

Thailand has earned almost 3 billion baht from 186 foreign films shot in the country since January, government spokesperson Chai Watcharong announced yesterday, citing data from the Thailand Film Office (TFO).

He added that Thailand aims to be in the top five leading nations of choice in Asia for the film industry and that the country could get as much as 3.192 billion baht from foreign productions during the first five months of this year. Continued …

Email link – kenbrown@businessclassasia.com

Unveiling Thailand’s Secret Paradise: Prachuap Khiri Khan

You can spend countless hours exploring Thailand and never stop finding new amazing places. From bustling cultural cities, frenzied floating markets, unique wildlife experiences, and world-renowned beaches, Thailand is an endless playground for travelers to fulfill their sense of wanderlust.

There is, however, one magnificent stretch of coastline seeing a surge in popularity that nobody ever seems to talk about – the stunning region of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Continued …

Tourists behaving badly: Locals protest for better respect

Thailand is not the only country in the world with badly behaved tourists. As Ibiza and Mallorca say no to tourists coming to party, it’s becoming increasingly clear that expectations on travelers in the world’s most popular destinations are changing.

In recent months, Thailand has seen an increase in crime committed by foreign tourists, from illegal employment to property damage and physical violence. Over 700 foreigners have taken over jobs reserved for Thai locals, according to the government. Continued …

Swedish Man Threatens Phuket Rental House Owner, Arrested for Overstaying 972 Days – Continued …
Koh Tao Police Arrest 8 Burmese Working Illegally as Tour Guides – Continued …
Drunk Foreigner Punches Gas Station Attendant in Udon Thani – Continued …

Thailand slips to 47th in global travel rankings

The World Economic Forum (WEF) unveiled its Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the global travel and tourism landscape, assessing the essential conditions required for investment and operation in the sector.

According to the report, Thailand has slipped to the 47th position worldwide, earning a score of 4.12 points. This places the country significantly behind global leaders and even some of its regional neighbors. Continued …

A Guide for Making your First Thailand Trip Successful

Thailand is one of the most famous and frequently visited holiday destinations in the world. The nation welcomed around 29 million people in 2023, and the number is expected to grow in the upcoming years.

What makes Thailand a hot spot for people all over the world? For starters, the ultimate list of Thailand luxury holidays destinations, welcoming people, cheap living, and food make it the first choice for many travelers. Continued …

The best luxury hotels in Phuket

Over the past few decades, Thailand has become one of the most visited countries in Asia, making the allegory of Alex Garland’s seminal Nineties novel “The Beach” more keenly felt than ever. But thankfully, lots of hotels are embracing sustainability and attempting to counter the effects of mass tourism.

Phuket is now Thailand’s leading destination for luxury, with most major hotel brands having a presence there. The resort town of Patong may have once been a sleepy shore with water buffalo wading through the rice paddies, but now it’s the island’s party hub. For something a little more authentic, head south to Phuket’s old town to admire its pastel-colored 19th-century shophouses and Sino-Portuguese architecture, and to try out its many unassuming but excellent restaurants. Continued …

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