- Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hua Hin/PKK sea embankment project back on track/Which Thai provinces drink the most alcohol/Top 5 foreign nationalities buying condos in Thailand in 2022/Grab predicts 2023 consumer trends/6 still missing from HTMS Sukhothai after grim discoveries in Chumphon/Reopening propels fuel consumption/Rapidly spreading yellow-band disease killing Thailand’s coral reefs/Bridgestone Installs Solar Rooftop Panels At Its Thailand Plant/Thai police arrest gang of Chinese visa over-stayers in Bangkok/5 beauty fanatics share skin-care tips and thoughts on CBD oil/
- Tourism: Thailand anticipates windfall from China’s easing of travel restrictions/Tourism Authority shifts goal to 25 million tourists in 2023 after China reopens borders/Pattaya packing 3-day firework show into single countdown explosion/Air rage incident on Thai Smile Airways flight from Bangkok to Kolkata/
- Thailand Experience: Eight ‘must-see’ flower gardens in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district/Unique coffee brew is drawing tourists to a mountain top in Tak province/
- Covid: Call for tourist booster shots as Chinese return/US, others will require COVID-19 testing for travelers from China/
- International: At least 10 feared dead in Thai-owned, Cambodia casino inferno/Record 6,036 American kids killed or injured by gunfire in 2022/Travel misery grinds on as US digs out from superstorm/
- Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas
Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hua Hin
PKK sea embankment project back on track
Conservationists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Prachuap Khiri Khan have withdrawn their protests against the construction of a controversial sea embankment at Mae Ram Phueng beach in Bang Saphan district.
The decision means authorities can now resume the project’s construction after a year-long hiatus, which was prompted by the protests.
Those who had been opposed to the embankment’s construction said they would allow the authorities to continue work but required the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT) to adapt the design to support biodiversity on the beach. Continued …
Which Thai provinces drink the most alcohol
Earlier this week, a doctor gave a lecture about provincial alcohol consumption in Thailand at a conference held by the Center of Addiction Studies in Bangkok.
Dr. Athip Tan-Aree, MD, from Srithanya Hospital in Nonthaburi province, revealed the results of a nationwide survey that asked 84,000 Thai respondents questions about their alcohol drinking habits.
The survey found that 28% of respondents over 15 years old or more drank alcohol in the past 12 months. Results showed that 9% of 15-to-19-year-olds drank alcohol, despite the law forbidding the sale of alcohol to anyone under 20 years old. Continued …
Top 5 foreign nationalities buying condos in Thailand in 2022
Chinese nationals bought the most condos out of any foreign nationality in Thailand this year despite the difficulties posed by Beijing’s strict Covid-19 restrictions, which are finally easing up after three years.
In Thailand, foreigners are permitted to own 49% of the units in any condominium building. The remaining 51% must have Thai ownership.
Although fewer Chinese bought condos in Thailand this year than in previous years, Chinese owners are still dominating the foreign condo market, accounting for almost half of all condos bought by foreigners in the first 9 months of 2022. Continued …
Grab predicts 2023 consumer trends
Super-app Grab has underscored healthy menus, afternoon snacks and delivery subscriptions as consumer trends that merchants should pay attention to next year.
The trends are shown in a survey of users of food delivery GrabFood and grocery delivery GrabMart, as part of the “Food & Grocery Trends 2022” report.
The report gauged the opinions of more than 30,000 users in six ASEAN countries, including Thailand. Continued …
6 still missing from HTMS Sukhothai after grim discoveries in Chumphon
The bodies of two more crewmen from the ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai were retrieved on Wednesday morning, leaving six still missing, the Royal Thai Navy said.
Vice Admiral Pichai Lorchusakul, commander of the First Naval Area, said a Chumphon fishing patrol boat was alerted at 8.30am that a body had washed onto a beach on the holiday island of Koh Samet, 3 kilometers from the mainland.
Pichai said the patrol boat alerted the Rak Sal Dhama Paknam Chumphon Rescue Foundation to retrieve the body. Continued …
Reopening propels fuel consumption
The full reopening of the country from July drove fuel consumption, which grew by 14% year-on-year over the first 11 months of 2022, says the Department of Energy Business.
From January to November, consumption of fuels, covering diesel, gasoline and gasohol, jet fuel, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene and compressed natural gas, stood at 150 million liters per day (MLD).
Jet fuel consumption saw the highest growth of 90% to 8.7 MLD, up from 4.7 MLD in the same period last year, said department chief Nanthika Thangsupanich. Continued …
Rapidly spreading yellow-band disease killing Thailand’s coral reefs
Underneath the calm turquoise waters off eastern Thailand, a rapidly spreading disease is killing corals over vast stretches of the sea floor, and scientists fear it may be getting worse because of climate change.
Yellow-band disease – named for the color it turns corals before destroying them – was first spotted decades ago and has caused widespread damage to reef in the Caribbean. There is no known cure.
But it was detected for the first-time off Thailand’s eastern coast just last year, near the popular tourist city of Pattaya, and has already spread over roughly 600 acres (240 hectares) of the sea. Continued …
Bridgestone Installs Solar Rooftop Panels At Its Thailand Plant
Thai Bridgestone Co. has installed solar rooftop panels to directly power the tire production process in its Nong Khae plant, in Saraburi province.
The largest solar rooftop panel among the Bridgestone Group with a total capacity of 9.95 MWp, is expected to generate a 97,500 tons reduction in total CO2 emissions over the next 15 years.
The solar rooftop panels installation will inspire carbon neutrality across the business and is an inspirational step in it reaching Bridgestone’s vision as a sustainable solutions company by 2050 and reinforces the importance of a tire production base in Thailand, the company said. Continued …
Thai police arrest gang of Chinese visa over-stayers in Bangkok
Thailand’s Immigration Police arrested a gang of Chinese visa over-stayers in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok yesterday.
On Monday, North Bangkok District Court issued a search warrant for a property in Soi Sermsuk to investigate a group of “suspicious aliens.”
Officers from the Immigration Bureau searched the property yesterday and found that seven Chinese nationals were staying there. All seven had visas, but five were out of date. Police didn’t say how long the five had overstayed in the kingdom. Continued …
5 beauty fanatics share skin-care tips and thoughts on CBD oil
From snails to seaweed, anti-aging and skin care trends aren’t new in Thailand. And with cannabis being the hot topic in 2022, can high-quality hemp and CBD oil be the next biggest thing?
CBD experts from Bloom asked five different beauty fanatics their opinions about adding CBD oil to their routines. Who knows, you might be inspired to add CBD Oil to your own skin care routine. Continued …
Thailand anticipates windfall from China’s easing of travel restrictions
Thailand is expected to benefit from China’s recent easing of travel restrictions, and Thai tourism and tourism-related businesses are preparing to cope with a surge in Chinese tourists after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has predicted that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand next year is expected to double, from this year’s 11 million, excluding Chinese tourists who are expected to visit Thailand in droves after the relaxation of travel restrictions imposed upon them by the Chinese government under its “zero infection” policy.
An executive of a hotel in the Vibhavadi Rangsit area of Bangkok said that many hotels are revising their plans to cope with the return of Chinese tourists. Continued …
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Tourism Authority shifts goal to 25 million tourists in 2023 after China reopens borders
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has revised its target for international tourists in 2023, aiming to attract 25 million instead of the previously planned 20 million, after China announced an end to Covid-induced border closures.
The Chinese government also canceled all quarantine measures and restrictions on flights that will go into effect on Jan. 8.
As for the TAT, Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn said he would propose to the government to extend the period of stay for three groups of foreign travelers arriving in Thailand until Dec. 31, 2023, to attract foreign visitors, especially Chinese, to stay and spend more in Thailand. Continued …
Pattaya packing 3-day firework show into single countdown explosion
Pattaya has relit the fuse for New Year’s Eve celebrations by announcing the city’s countdown fireworks display will be held after all on Dec. 31.
On Wednesday, the resort city reversed its earlier decision to call off the New Year fireworks display – one of the country’s largest – amid nationwide prayers for the recovery of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati.
Firework displays were originally scheduled for Dec. 29-31, along with countdown concerts and fairs throughout the three days at Bali Hai Pier in Bang Lamung district. Continued …
Air rage incident on Thai Smile Airways flight from Bangkok to Kolkata
Footage of an air rage incident emerged yesterday of two Indian passengers swapping punches on a flight from Bangkok to Kolkata in India.
A passenger recorded footage of the fracas and uploaded it to social media where it quickly went viral. It captures two men swapping insults, then punches after boarding a Thai Smile Airways flight that was set to take off from Bangkok and arrive in Kolkata on Tuesday afternoon.
Co-passengers and cabin crew can be heard yelling at the men to stop fighting. Continued …
Eight ‘must-see’ flower gardens in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district
For those seeking to enjoy and pose for photos in beautiful fields with a rich range of flowers in bright shades of colors during the New Year holidays, a trip to Mae Rim district in the northern province of Chiang Mai is a must.
There are eight flower gardens in Mae Rim that people could consider visiting to enjoy the natural splendor and take colorful photos. Continued …
Unique coffee brew is drawing tourists to a mountain top in Tak province
The Tak provincial office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand is encouraging more tourists to visit Doi Muser mountaintop to sample the unique Arabica coffee grown there.
The coffee beans harvested on the mountain have a unique taste and aroma, and they have transformed the area into a tourism destination, said Thamolwan Charoenwongpisit, director of the tourism agency’s office in the province.
The coffee beans are in the process of being registered as a geographical indication product of Doi Muse, Thamolwan added. Continued …
Call for tourist booster shots as Chinese return
The Tourism and Sports Ministry hopes to offer Covid-19 booster shots to tourists and Thai tourism workers in preparation for the return of Chinese travelers.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said this would be a worthwhile investment, as vaccine prices are now lower, at around a few hundred baht per shot.
Phiphat said if the average tourist spent 40,000 baht, with 7% value-added tax collected from that expenditure, the value would exceed the vaccine prices. Continued …
US, others will require COVID-19 testing for travelers from China
The U.S. announced new COVID-19 testing requirements Wednesday for all travelers from China, joining other nations imposing restrictions because of a surge of infections.
The increase in cases across China follows the rollback of the nation’s strict anti-virus controls. China’s “zero COVID” policies had kept China’s infection rate low but fueled public frustration and crushed economic growth.
Beginning Jan. 5, all travelers to the U.S. from China will be required to take a COVID-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before boarding their flight. The testing applies to anyone 2 years and older. Continued …
At least 10 feared dead in Thai-owned Cambodia casino inferno
Firefighters struggled to control a huge blaze that broke out at the Grand Diamond City Hotel and Casino in Poipet on the Thai-Cambodian border at 11pm on Wednesday. Unconfirmed reports say 10 people have died at the scene so far after victims were seen jumping from the fifth floor of the blazing building. Continued …
Record 6,036 American kids killed or injured by gunfire in 2022
With just a few days left until the new year, 2022 has already set a grim record: so far, at least 6,036 children across the United States have been killed or injured by gunfire, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Continued …
Travel misery grinds on as US digs out from superstorm
Thousands more flights were canceled across the United States on Wednesday, with no end in sight to days of travel misery as the country digs out from a deadly superstorm. Continued …
