The Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Krungthai Bank to develop a system for collecting entry fees. The bank will link its existing payment platforms to the tourism ministry’s fee management system, making the process both safe and expedient for businesses and foreign tourists. NBT World



Earlier this year, the government planned to start collecting a 300-baht entry fee from every foreign traveler who visits Thailand.  The date for implementing this levy has since been repeatedly pushed back, with the Ministry of Tourism now expecting the collection to begin in early 2023.  The matter will soon be deliberated by the Cabinet while preparations are underway to establish a fee collection system.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Krungthai Bank to develop a system for collecting entry fees.  The bank will link its existing payment platforms to the tourism ministry's fee management system, making the process both safe and expedient for businesses and foreign tourists.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said income generated from the fee will help fund tourism development.  It will also be used to enhance the competitiveness of Thailand's tourism industry and assist in covering medical services for tourists.

Minister Phiphat said the fee will be collected at all points of entry and might be payable online or via mobile apps and kiosks, or included in airfares.  The fee will be 300 baht for those arriving by air, with the rates for other entry channels still being considered.  The minister expects a study commissioned to determine the appropriate rates for other entry channels to be completed at the end of this month, with the results to be presented at a Cabinet meeting in October.  If endorsed, collection can begin as soon as early 2023.



BREAKING: The Constitutional Court has ruled that Prayut Chan-o-cha can continue as prime minister until his current term ends but if re-elected after next general elections could serve no more than two more years. PBS World

AN HISTORIC pagoda at Wat Srisuphan Silver Temple in Chiang Mai collapsed after several days of torrential rain today (Sept. 29) with this following the collapse of a part of the historic city wall near Chang Puak gate that has been standing for 750 years last Saturday (Sept 24), Matichon newspaper said this evening. Thai Newsroom

Pagoda at Chiang Mai temple collapses after days of rain

September 29, 2022 TNR Staff

AN HISTORIC pagoda at Wat Srisuphan Silver Temple in Chiang Mai collapsed after several days of torrential rain today (Sept. 29) with this following the collapse of a part of the historic city wall near Chang Puak gate that has been standing for 750 years last Saturday (Sept 24), Matichon newspaper said this evening.

However monks of this temple said on the Facebook page that a miracle occurred because this 500-year-old sacred pagoda is taller than a three-storey building but in collapsing did not hit the adjacent school.

An hour before its collapse the temple's monks had alerted on their page that cracks had now appeared in the pagoda and they had to be careful.

Nevertheless they also mentioned that many sacred objects had been recovered.

The Thai Meteorological Department said at 4 p.m. today that Typhoon Noru that has weakened into a depression is now centred at Mueang district of Chaiyaphum provinces with maximum wind speeds near the centre of about 50 km / h.

This storm is moving in a westerly direction with a slight northern bend at the speed of around 10 km/h and is expected to further weaken into a strong low pressure cell in the next phase.

In addition, a strong southwesterly monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand resulting in heavy rainfall in many areas and very heavy rain in some places in the North, Northeast, Central region, including Bangkok and its vicinity, the East and the South, with strong winds in the Northeast and Central regions.

Wearing face masks on public transport and in cinemas is still mandatory, the Department of Health said. Covid-19 will be eased from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance on Saturday, as re-stated on Thursday by Dr Aekkachai Piansriwatchara, a deputy director of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health. Bangkok Post

Masks rule to stay for public transport

Aekkachai: People need to be aware.

Wearing face masks on public transport and in cinemas is still mandatory, the Department of Health said.

Covid-19 will be eased from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance on Saturday, as re-stated on Thursday by Dr Aekkachai Piansriwatchara, a deputy director of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health.

The department held a press conference on sanitation and environmental health standards after the reclassification of the virus.

Topics addressed included concerns about higher-risk businesses and whether the Thai Stop COVID-19 2 Plus platform would remain in place.

Dr Aekkachai said the cleaning of common contact points and workplace screenings will still be required to ensure public safety despite the easing of most measures.

That being said, the department will moderate the measures applied to some higher-risk businesses while the aforementioned platform will be retained as those firms are required to follow the Public Health Act and Communicable Diseases Act.

The department still mandates that people wear face masks and respect social distancing rules as much as possible when using public transport or visiting the cinema, due to the density of people packed closely together, Dr Aekkachai said.

He answered a question on how people's lives will change by saying they will improve, referring to their better health awareness compared to earlier in the pandemic.

A survey carried out by the Department of Health on 274,400 people showed that most respondents agreed on the need to retain the health measures, while some expressed concern about the hygiene of certain public places.

Covid19 September 30th. PBS World

Will Prayut return as PM? Ball in Constitutional Court. All eyes across Thailand will be on the Constitutional Court on Friday (September 30), when it is scheduled to rule on whether General Prayut Chan-o-cha has completed eight years as prime minister. | Thai PBS World

Will Prayut return as PM? Ball in Constitutional Court

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All eyes across Thailand will be on the Constitutional Court on Friday (September 30), when it is scheduled to rule on whether General Prayut Chan-o-cha has completed eight years as prime minister.

Speculation and conspiracy theories have been rife for the past month, from the time the court accepted the opposition's petition on August 24 and suspended Prayut from performing his duties as PM, pending its ruling.

The opposition petition asked the court for a ruling on whether Prayut had reached the eight-year term limit fixed by the Constitution for prime minister, arguing that he had begun serving in the position on August 24, 2014, following the military coup that he had led three months earlier.

What the Constitution says

Unlike all the previous editions, the current Thai charter clearly stipulates the maximum time an individual can serve as PM.

Article 158 states: "The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively. However, this shall not include the period during which the prime minister carries out duties after vacating the office."

When to start counting?

There are three possible starting points to count Prayut's term as prime minister:

— August 24, 2014, when Prayut first assumed the premiership following the coup that he led in May that year;

— April 6, 2017, when the current Constitution came into force;

— June 9, 2019, when Prayut assumed the premiership following the general election in March that year.

The parliamentary opposition and Prayut's critics make a strong case for counting his tenure from August 24, arguing that the constitutional clause in question is designed in principle to prevent a "monopoly of power". For them, what matters is the spirit of the Constitution, whose unprecedented provision is intended to prevent any prime minister from entrenching himself or herself in power.

Opponents of the August 24 deadline believe the eight-year limit cannot have a retroactive effect. They argue that his tenure should be counted from the time the current charter came into force – which means Prayut can serve for another term as prime minister until April 2025, if his party wins the elections.

Only the most ardent of Prayut's supporters believe the tenure should be counted from June 2019, when he was sworn in as prime minister under the new Constitution after being selected by Parliament and appointed by royal command. They believe he could serve until mid-2027 as the country's leader if he wins a fresh mandate in the general election tentatively scheduled for May 7.

What are the possible rulings?

The Constitutional Court's nine judges are poised to issue a joint verdict on Prayut's tenure as PM. There are three possible scenarios.

If the court rules that his term began when he first assumed the premiership in August 2014, after the coup, Prayut would immediately lose his PM seat.

Both Houses of Parliament would then vote for a new prime minister from the list of PM candidates in the 2019 election. That list featured five candidates other than Prayut – Anutin Charnvirakul and Abhisit Vejjajiva from the coalition's Bhumjaithai and Democrat parties, respectively, and Chaikasem Nitisiri, Chadchart Sittipunt and Sudarat Keyuraphan from the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

The ruling Palang Pracharath Party would not have a candidate as Prayut was its only nominee for PM.

However, if the court rules that Prayut's tenure began when the current Constitution came into force in April 2017, then he can serve for two more years after completion of his current term in 2023.

But if the court rules that Prayut's tenure should be counted from the time he was sworn in as PM in June 2019, under the new Constitution, then he can have five more years in office if re-elected.

Some analysts have pointed out that unless the court rules Prayut has completed his eight-year tenure, its verdict is unlikely to state when he would be completing his maximum period in office as the opposition's petition did not ask this question.

The Constitutional Court has often rejected petitions it found to be filed premature before the legal question arose. So, petitioners are forced to wait until the time approaches before taking their case to court. The opposition waited until August 17 to submit its petition to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, who forwarded it to the court on August 22.

If Prayut can stay on and serve for another term after the election, petitioners will have to wait until the next possible deadline before bringing their case to court again, political observers say.

Somkid Jatusripitak: From economic wizard to Thailand's next PM?  

What happens if Prayut has to go?

If the court rules that Prayut's term expired on August 24, he will have to vacate his seat and his Cabinet would serve as a caretaker government until Parliament chooses a new prime minister, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is in charge of the government's legal affairs.

General Prawit Wongsuwan, the first deputy prime minister, who is now serving as acting prime minister, would serve as the caretaker PM.

The law, however, does not prohibit Prayut from serving as a caretaker PM during the process of selecting his successor. But many analysts believe that to be an unlikely scenario.

By Thai PBS World's Political Desk



Little impact from weak forex on inbound tourism. Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said currency fluctuations did not have an impact on the tourism industry since travellers tended to make decisions based on demand and the experiences they expect, instead of worrying about the currency exchange. Bangkok Post

Little impact from weak forex on inbound tourism

Tourists walk at the beach in Phuket, Thailand March 8, 2022. (Reuters photo)

The global decline in currencies has not had a significant impact on Thailand's inbound market as the rates were comparable with a weakened baht, while those ready to travel are mostly high-income earners.

Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said currency fluctuations did not have an impact on the tourism industry since travellers tended to make decisions based on demand and the experiences they expect, instead of worrying about the currency exchange.

As the US Federal Reserve hiked rates, the US dollar continued to strengthen against other currencies, including the baht, the euro and the rupee.

The pound sterling also recently tumbled to a record low at US$1.04 this week, after the UK government announced a historic tax cut worth £45 billion.

This situation would only affect domestic consumption within their countries, said Mr Yuthasak.

He said the weak baht might lure tourists who have US dollars to spend more in Thailand, given that they would get more value with the same amount of money.

"Now many currencies are weakening, so there's no concern yet," said Mr Suksit Suvunditkul, president of the southern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA).

He said this situation is different from Russia's financial crisis in 2014 when hoteliers lost a number of Russian travellers and had to discount room rates for this market as the ruble declined sharply.

Mr Suksit said a survey by the THA's southern chapter showed an average occupancy rate of 40% in Phuket, and more than 30% in Trang, Krabi and Phangnga.

Meanwhile, the average occupancy in Hat Yai surged to 60-70%, thanks to cross-border tourists from Malaysia.

Mr Suksit said four- and five-star hotels reported the most outstanding performance as they upgraded room rates to the same level as 2019, mainly because their clients were those with high purchasing power unfazed by the global economy.

This segment can travel internationally amid high inflation and more expensive airfares.

However, mid-scale hotels and lower still have to offer discounts of around 20-30% to sustain demand from the mass market.

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said as many currencies are riding on the same trend as the baht, there is no difference in travel costs, except for travellers from the US.

As of Sept 25, Thailand had 5.7 million international tourists, led by Malaysians (925,623) and Indians (545,892).



Covid19 September 29th. PBS World

 

Thai Baht breaks psychological 38 Baht to the US$ level for the 1st time since June 2006, just as Monetary Policy Committee is set to meet. Thai Enquirer





Covid19 September 29th. PBS World

Anti-COVID nasal spray to be available from October 1st | Thai PBS World

Anti-COVID nasal spray to be available from October 1st

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An anti-COVID nasal spray, an innovation jointly developed by Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) and Hibiocy Company, will be commercially available from October 1^st.

Dr. Nopporn Cheanklin, director of the PHRI, said today (Tuesday) that the Anti-COVID nasal spray, trade-name "Vaill CoviTRAP", has already been approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration.

He explained that the spray is capable of preventing coronavirus from attaching to the internal surfaces of the nasal cavity, thanks to the coating substance Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) it contains, which reduces the viral load in the cavity.

The spray must be used three times a day, every six hours.



169 Thai police officers dismissed for serious violations. By Petch PetpailinTuesday, September 27, 2022 15:26. The Thaiger

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) revealed that 169 officers were dismissed this year due to serious disciplinary violations while another 215 officers were punished and disciplined.

The Office of the Police Commission met with caretaker Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday for an overview of the RTN's fiscal year for the last meeting of 2022.

The meeting discussed human resource management, salaries, special compensation, guidelines on how police officers should behave, and information on serious misconduct practices by the RTP.

RTP spokesperson Yingyot Thepchamnong revealed 169 police officers were fired because of serious disciplinary violations, and 19 were sacked this month alone.

Yingyot added that another 215 were disciplined, and 27 of them were punished this month.

Yingyot pointed out that the punishment process of the Royal Thai Police is swift and severe and helps to quickly rid the RTP of any bad elements.

SOURCE: Khaosod | Kom Chad Luek

Measures to follow after Covid19 becomes “infectious disease under watch”. PR Thai Government



According to the CCSA, from 30 September 2022 onward, the Ministry of Public Health will handle COVID-19 as an "infectious disease under watch," instead of a "dangerous infectious disease."

Although there is some relaxation of measures, the public is still encouraged to follow smart measures and guidelines to prevent the disease and keep the situation safe.

Here are some useful guidelines:

- For those who have respiratory syndromes, it is recommended that they follow DMHTT when in close contact with others;

- As for the general public, please wear a mask when going to crowded or low-ventilation places. Doing an ATK test is advised if risk symptoms appear;

- For organizations and companies, it is suggested that staff be regularly monitored and screened. If there is a high increase in the number of cases, they should contact relevant agencies immediately.

Covid19 September 27th. PBS World

Health Ministry to Stop Reporting Daily COVID Cases on Oct 1 - TNA

Health Ministry to Stop Reporting Daily COVID Cases on Oct 1

26 September 2022  15:28

BANGKOK, Sept 26 (TNA) – The Public Health Ministry will stop its daily reports on new COVID-19 cases and fatalities related to the disease on Oct 1 when COVID-19 will be defined as a communicable disease under surveillance instead of a dangerous communicable disease.

The ministry revealed its plan to end the daily COVID-19 figure reports as it announced measures to handle the disease after an end to the state of emergency imposed to cope with the pandemic and the dissolution of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration on Oct 1.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered provincial communicable committees to work out action plans to handle COVID-19 as a communicable disease under surveillance. He said that his ministry would relax disease control measures to facilitate tourism like other countries did.

The ministry will not require visitors to show the results of their COVID-19 tests and will stop its daily reports on COVID-19 figures. However, the ministry will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and investigate COVID-19 clusters.

Dr Sura Wisetsak, deputy permanent secretary for public health, said the Public Health Ministry had enough medicine and vaccines to cope with COVID-19 while COVID-19 cases occupied 6.6% of 73,000 hospital beds because 90% of COVID-19 cases had mild symptoms.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said people would be vaccinated against COVID-19 once or twice annually at hospitals under the jurisdiction of the Public Health Ministry in provinces and at vaccination centers of Bangkok.

Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Department of Health Service Support, said COVID-19 cases could claim treatment welfare in accordance their health security, government welfare or social security programs. Those with emergency conditions can receive free treatment under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) Plus program, he said.



Chadchart: Rain has doubled over 30 years with super typhoon moving in - Thai Newsroom

Chadchart: Rain has doubled over 30 years with super typhoon moving in

September 26, 2022  TNR Staff

BANGKOK Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said at a meeting today (Sept. 26) that the amount of rain Bangkok received so far this month without Super Typhoon Noru having arrived is very high, being double the amount that fell in the same period 30 years ago, Matichon newspaper said.

This is clearly illustrated by Din Daeng district having received 922.5 millimetres of rain upto Sept. 25, compared to 907 millimetres over as many days last year.

"There is a lot of water this year. Just in September, our total (Bangkok) is 744 mm. compared to Sept. 30 years ago, when it was about 376 mm," he said.

"This is more than twice as much even though there has not been a full storm yet, just pressure systems.

"This is a warning that in future global warming will lead to La Niña intensifying and lots of rain falling in certain areas and having a greater impact."

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has managed the situation quite well in previous weeks as although the amount of water has doubled most of Bangkok is not flooded.

However some areas did get inundated with these being Lat Krabang, Bang Khen, Min Buri and Don Mueang but most districts are in normal condition, Chadchart said.

Super Typhoon Noru (Karding) has hit the Philippines and will make landfall in Vietnam and enter Thailand on Sept. 29, he added.

The Thai Meteorological Department said Super Typhoon Noru had moved to the South China sea at 4 a.m. this morning with maximum sustained winds near the centre of about 140 kilometres an hour. This storm is moving westwards at a speed of about 25 kilometres an hour. It will make landfall in Vietnam on Sept. 28 and together with the southwesterly monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand will intensify.

This will lead to many areas of the country including Bangkok and its vicinity getting torrential rain accompanied by strong winds during Sept, 28 – Oct, 1, 2022. 

"It can go in two directions, if it moves down Bangkok will get torrential rain, but if you look at the pattern of rain, it's probably going to fall in the Northeastern and Central regions – this morning I looked at the scenario planning," he said.

However his key concern is the water flowing down Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, which is on the eastern side, and more water flowing down the Chao Phraya river. This will pressure the eastern side of the capital and the river banks.

Three flood control measures are being implemented with one being to accelerate drainage as quickly as possible with all canals now being below the control level.

The second step is to strengthen embankments along the Chao Phraya river and various canals with an additional 2.5 million sandbags coming in on Wednesday and Friday for this purpose.

Finally communities at risk are being urged to take care of themselves.

"Over the past month we found out the flood-prone areas and now stress that communities should help prevent flooding on their own up to a point. For example adding sandbags  

"We recommend preventive methods by communities forming a united front against flooding instead of letting the floods occur then taking action," he mentioned.





Tropical storm Noru to hit Thailand's north-east this Thursday. PBS World

Tropical storm Noru to hit Thailand's north-east this Thursday

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Tropical storm Noru is expected to hit Thailand's north-eastern provinces of Mukdahan and Amnat Charoen this Thursday, after it swept through Vietnam and Laos. The storm is forecast to bring heavy rain to Thailand, similar to the Dianmu storm in September last year.

Noru, the first tropical storm to hit Thailand this year, packing winds speed of up to 140kph at its centre, is moving westward at a speed of 25kph and is anticipated to make landfall in central Vietnam this Wednesday, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.

The approaching storm will strengthen the south-westerly monsoon, which is looming over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, and this will bring widespread heavy rain and isolated very heavy rain to most parts of Thailand, including Bangkok and surrounding provinces, from Wednesday through Sunday.

People living at the bases of mountains are warned of flash floods, while those living near natural waterways are advisedto brace for possible waterway overflows.

Small vessels are advised to remain ashore during the period,due to stormy seas and high waves, in both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf.

Overflows from the Lam Takhong River inundated several low-lying areas in the municipality of Nakhon Ratchasima this morning (Monday), following continuous rain throughout the night.

Meanwhile, the provincial administration has issued advice to people living in 18 out the province's 32 districts, among them Muang, Soeng Sang, Choke Chai, Pak Chong, Phimai, Pak Thong Chai, Si Khieu and Khon Buri, to brace for the impact of tropical storm Noru, which is expected to bring heavy rain to north-eastern provinces.