Bank customers who want to transfer more than 50,000 baht electronically from their bank accounts are required to have their faces scanned to confirm their banking transactions, under a new set of measures imposed by the Bank of Thailand to protect bank customers from online thieves.
Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput has issued an order instructing all financial institutions, including commercial banks, to upgrade their banking systems to cope with increasing online theft from customers' bank accounts.
Managers of all financial institutions and all providers of electronic money transfer services, which are not financial institutions, are to report to the central bank their systems for dealing with bank transaction thefts and they must meet the minimum standard set by the central bank.
The new measures also include the requirement for all banks to tighten up the process for the opening of new bank accounts.
Financial institutions and banks are required to develop their banking systems to be capable of detecting irregularities in transactions around the clock. If an irregularity is detected, the bank in question must notify the customer within one hour of the detection and to report an update on the case within one working day.
For a bank customer who has money deducted from their bank account through a debit card in a transaction which they did not conduct, the bank must refund the customer in full amount within five days. In case of a credit card, the bank cannot ask for payment from the customer for a transaction that they did not conduct.
Tourists flee gang warfare on Bang Saen beach - trader says it happens frequently - no mention of police
Thai media reported that gangs of around 20 young motorcyclists fought pitched battles at Bang Saen beach in Saensuk sub-district of Chonburi https://bit.ly/3JX854r
'Ease of Traveling' roadmap provides one-stop-service for tourists to Thailand
Ministry of Tourism and Sports' "2022-2024 Ease of Traveling" roadmap was developed from the existing web portal "Entry Thailand", which provided information related to traveling to Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cabinet acknowledged the progress of 'Ease of Traveling' roadmap, implemented by Ministry of Tourism and Sports to better facilitate foreign tourists, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul.
Ministry of Tourism and Sports' '2022-2024 Ease of Traveling' roadmap was developed from the existing web portal 'Entry Thailand', which provided information related to traveling to Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was later upgraded to a central platform providing post-COVID-19 one-stop services and information on prior to the arrival, arrival/during the stay, and before leave.
According to the Deputy Government Spokesperson, "Entry Thailand" website links with other systems/applications of concerned agencies such as Thailand Pass, tax refund system, online visa application system, and "Tourist Police I Lert U" application.
In 2023, Ministry of Tourism and Sports is set to expand the website's scope of services through linkages with more agencies to give tourists more information on festivals, museums, historical parks, weather forecast, and national park accommodations.
The ministry has also a plan to upgrade the Ease of Traveling services to conduct data analysis on tourist satisfaction, behavior, and demand to be able to enhance efficiency, and plan for the future tourism roadmaps. (TNA)
Thai Rath reported on comments made by the chief of the Royal Thai Police Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat yesterday regarding the election and the Songkran holidays.
It will be the chief's first Songkran in charge next month and he has addressed a perennial concern - the public riding dangerously in the back of pick-ups.
Each year sometimes a dozen or more people ride in the back of the vehicles splashing water amd the mayhem that is the traditional Thai New Year holidays.
Pre-pandemic a ban was ordered, but the RTP in their infinite wisdom decided not to do anything about it, notes ASEAN NOW.
This year as Covid has been declared endemic and many people are expected to return to their homes upcountry Damrongsak addressed the situation.
He said that a meeting had been held and it was decided to allow people to ride in the back of pick-ups.
But only four at a time.
They would also have to stick to the left and not hog the right lane by barriers.
File photo for reference only
Damrongsak also said that everything would be done over the so-called "Seven Deadly Days" to ensure the safety of the public.
This would entail checkpoints concentrating on catching drink drivers, a cornerstone of government policy.
Damrongsak also spoke about the upcoming general election on May 14th saying that he had ordered all sections of the RTP to look into the possibility of violence in the lead up to voting.
He expected things to be better than in previous elections when it comes to violence but expected the election laws to be flouted by certain influential groups.
He has urged the RTP to maintain neutrality and be cautious about breaking the election law themselves.
A special command center to deal with potential trouble at the election is expected to be set up.
Introduced mandatory appointment booking at VFS in Bangkok
30 Mar 2023
Starting from 10 April 2023, it will be mandatory for all applicants in Thailand to book an appointment with VFS Sweden Visa Application Center in Bangkok to submit a Schengen visa application. Please book a submission time online at Book an appointment | vfsglobal. Should you experience any problems you may contact VFS helpline at +66 2 460 7064.
Jets for THAI, Thai AirAsia and Thai Smile Airways are parked on the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi airport. The International Air Transport Association reported higher jet fuel prices have hiked fares. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Global aviation has experienced a promising start to the year as travel restrictions have been lifted, allowing people to fly with fewer barriers.
Even countries with strict Covid-19 policies, such as China, lifted their restrictions earlier than expected.
The World Tourism Organization predicts Europe and the Middle East will reach pre-pandemic international tourist levels this year, forecasting an 80-95% overall recovery, while the Pacific Asia Travel Association projects a growth rate of at least 71%.
Yet the aviation industry faces a manpower shortage as demand for air travel surges, while seat capacity remains limited. This has resulted in a significant increase in airfares as supply struggles to keep up with pent-up demand from eager travellers.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE COSTLIER TICKETS?
In 2020, Covid-19 travel restrictions caused massive damage to the aviation industry, resulting in airline bankruptcies and widespread layoffs.
An estimated two-thirds of passenger airplanes remained grounded at airports and desert yards during the pandemic's first year.
As of June 2022, the global airline fleet totalled 28,674 planes, with 5,161 still grounded, mainly in Asia, according to airline data provider ch-aviation.
China's closure, while other countries in the region reopened in the second half of last year, contributed to Asia's grounded fleet of 2,338 jets, representing 23% of the region's total fleet of 10,014 recorded in June 2022.
However, with the lifting of international travel mandates, the aviation industry's recovery pace began to accelerate in the second half of 2022, helping to revive outbound travel demand.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air passenger traffic in 2022 recovered to 68.5% of the 2019 level, up from 41.7% in 2021.
Philip Goh, regional vice-president for Asia-Pacific at IATA, said pent-up demand would keep growing rapidly, which naturally pushes up prices.
He said the spike in passenger airfares resembles the high price of cargo services during the three-year pandemic, when limited supply could not match demand.
Mr Goh said higher jet fuel prices also contributed to soaring ticket prices. The impact from energy costs was prevalent in 2022 when the fuel price skyrocketed by almost 80% to US$138.80 per barrel from $77.80 per barrel in 2021.
WHICH REGIONS ARE RESUMING AT A SLOWER PACE?
Global passenger capacity resumed to 77.9% of 2019 levels in December 2022, with Asia-Pacific trailing at 59.8% because of recently relaxed travel restrictions.
As travel demand outpaced supply, airlines struggled to bring back grounded jets.
Some airlines even returned leased aircraft to cut costs during the pandemic, forcing them to order new ones as the market recovers.
To maintain their finances, these airlines are operating with a limited number of aircraft.
"Seat capacity on many routes, notably in Asia-Pacific, has yet to be restored to normal as it was affected by various travel restrictions, labour shortages and the time needed to bring parked aircraft back into service," said Mr Goh.
According to the International Air Transport Association, higher jet fuel prices has attributed to the higher ticket prices. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
HOW LONG WILL HIGHER TICKET PRICES LAST?
In general, prices will depend on whether seat supply can increase to match the strong passenger demand, he said.
Even if seats can be increased, Mr Goh said unpredictable factors remain such as high fuel prices and how effectively airlines can cope with manpower shortages, service restoration, retraining of staff and refreshing operating and safety procedures.
Local aviation industry executives believe ticket prices will continue to be expensive, which is in line with IATA's forecast that industry passenger traffic will not return to the 2019 level until next year.
Patee Sarasin, a former Nok Air chief executive, said high airfares are expected to persist for 2-3 years as some airlines suffered losses from the pandemic and want to make up for that period.
For example, airfares from Thailand to major cities in Europe are projected to exceed 40,000 baht, and airlines are unlikely to lower prices anytime soon, especially for popular routes such as Japan, he said.
For the Songkran holiday next month, direct flights from Bangkok to Fukuoka start at 26,000 baht, while flights to Tokyo increased to a minimum rate of 35,000 baht, according to data from online travel agents.
The high prices primarily affect international routes and not domestic flights, where capacity has rapidly resumed and average prices are predicted to return to competitive levels soon.
Santisuk Klongchaiya, chief executive of Thai AirAsia, said as the airline adds more international flights this year, its airfares increased by around 20%.
The average airfare for the newest routes in China that reopened this quarter increased by 50% compared with pre-pandemic rates, he said.
Mr Santisuk said there is little chance of airlines starting a price war, as happened during the pre-pandemic years.
HOW HAVE LOCAL AIRLINES ADJUSTED THEIR CAPACITY?
The aviation industry in Thailand suffered a heavy toll from the downturn the past few years, leaving airlines with no choice but to scale back their fleets.
As a result, there is now a shortage of supply as passengers begin to return this year.
Low-cost carrier NokScoot Airlines exited the market in June 2020, while loss-ridden Thai Airways International (THAI) and Nok Air filed for bankruptcy protection with the Central Bankruptcy Court in the same year, followed by Thai AirAsia X, the long-haul service under AirAsia group, in 2022.
As of Dec 31, 2022, THAI and its affiliate slashed their fleet size from 103 in the pre-pandemic period to 64, of which 41 jets were used by THAI and the rest by Thai Smile Airways.
This year the flag carrier plans to merge Thai Smile Airways to streamline operating costs and integrate business plans.
THAI also plans to add nine jets to the fleet this year to cater to robust passenger demand.
Thai AirAsia X downsized its fleet size from 11 aircraft before the pandemic to six Airbus A330s. It now faces a shortfall as there is overwhelming demand for popular destinations in Japan this year.
Thai AirAsia (TAA), the biggest low-cost airline in the country, maintained most of its enormous fleet, with 54 airplanes still in operation in 2022, compared with 63 in 2019.
However, the availability of jets is likely of little use for long-haul flights as all are narrow-body planes for TAA destinations in Southeast Asia, which face less steep price hikes.
The longest-distance route for TAA is to Fukuoka, Japan, which has a persistent high price, said the airline.
TAA is gauging Chinese demand this year and plans to increase its fleet to 58 jets by the end of the year if this market proves feasible, said Mr Santisuk.
Thai Vietjet expanded its fleet from 13 jets in 2019 to 16 in 2020 and is now operating with 18.
The carrier expects to have 20 Airbus A320 and A321 planes by the end of this year.
Nok Air continued to cut its fleet to 22 jets in the first half of 2022, while Thai Lion Air currently has 11 aircraft, down from 30 jets prior to the pandemic.
Bangkok Airways slashed its 40-aircraft fleet in 2019 to 35 in 2022, and has a plan to replace old aircraft with new ones, targeting 26-28 jets this year.
Chinese investors snapping up real estate in Phuket
Locals and tourists visit Nakkerd Hill lookout, which affords sweeping views of Phuket and its beaches. (File photo)
Chinese investors are rushing to buy real estate in Phuket, snapping up condos, villas, shophouses and durian orchards to cater to tourists from their own country, according to property consultant Knight Frank Thailand.
Nattha Kahapana, the consultant's managing director, said the Phuket property market is experiencing a surge in demand, fuelled by Chinese property investors and Russian buyers.
"Russians are buying real estate in Phuket to live. They intend to buy immediately as they want to start moving in right away," he said. "More Chinese investors are expected to come to buy 7-8 months after the flow of tourists."
While Russians are interested in buying pool villas, Chinese investors like every type of property, comprising condos, villas, shophouses and even durian orchards, said Mr Nattha. They want to rent out condos and villas to Chinese tourists, taking them to visit durian orchards, he said.
"Our office in Phuket was located near Laguna, in two adjacent 3.5-storey shophouses that we bought many years ago for 14 million baht," said Mr Nattha. "Recently a Chinese investor snapped up the neighbouring units, totalling 47 shophouses including ours. We sold them for 50 million baht."
The investor also requested Knight Frank find a durian orchard of around 200 rai to buy, planning to offer durian tours to Chinese tourists, he said.
In Bangkok, the rental apartment market in locations from Ploenchit to Ekamai, with rents of more than 50,000 baht per month, resumed in the first quarter of 2023, said Frank Khan, executive director and head of residential.
"The occupancy of apartments in this location recovered to 40% from 10% during the pandemic," he said.
"Many multinational companies and their executives are coming back, particularly expatriates from Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia."
Mr Khan said this is a good sign for the rental market the remainder of the year, with demand for luxury condos likely resuming in inner city locations from Thai investors who bought condo units for rent after holding off during the pandemic.
"The condo market in the second half of 2023 will have strong growth, with the key drivers the general election and a new cabinet likely named by the third quarter," he said.
In the first quarter of 2023, the condo market in three locations -- Wireless Road, Lang Suan and Ekamai -- exhibited high demand for both new and resale units.
One of the key factors boosting demand was the influx of foreign buyers, according to Knight Frank.
Visa exempt rules are very different from visa on arrival.
Tourists from 60-plus countries who currently enjoy 45 days on entry to Thailand without the need for a prior visa, or any payment, still don't know if the scheme will be extended for new arrivals beyond March 31. Although the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been lobbying for an extension to the end of the year, silence has reigned from the Thai Cabinet and the immigration directorate. The 45 days visa exempt regulation also allows for a further 30 days extension at Thai immigration offices for a 1,900 baht fee.
The 60 plus countries include all traditional tourist markets (UK, US, mainland Europe, Australia etc) as well as newer mass markets such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Russia has a special 45 days bi-lateral arrangement with Thailand, but Russian nationals do not qualify for the 30 days extension at Thai immigration. Nationals of visa exempt countries (plus Russia) can leave the country, however briefly, to repeat the visa exempt discretion – a total of five months in Thailand without authorization from a prior visa. Same day visa runs to the Cambodian border are booming.
Meanwhile, tourists from a further 20 countries, including mega-markets China and India, are currently allowed just 30 days on entry, but must pay 2,000 baht via the visa on arrival scheme. They do not automatically qualify for any extension, but may receive one week if they can show an outward air ticket during that specific period. Visa on arrival tourists find it very difficult or impossible to access facilities such as applications for driving licences or Thai accounts (unlike visa exempt tourists or Russians).
The argument in favour of extending the visa exempt and visa on arrival schemes to the end of 2023 is to boost the number of international tourists to Thailand in the post-covid environment. Conversely, it can be argued that the Thai tourist revival is proving so popular that additional visa privileges are hardly necessary. Moreover, adverse publicity about foreigners (mostly but not entirely Chinese) paying cash to receive corruptly long stay visas has prompted proposals that more power should be placed in the hands of Thai embassies abroad to award tourist and longstay visas rather than encouraging a free-for-all.
Unless formally extended soon, the current regulations will be replaced by the former rules whereby visa exempt meant 30 days plus 30 (60 days rather than 75) and visa on arrival 15 days plus 7 (22 days rather than 30). Other potential ambiguities include the number of same day visa runs which would be permissible and documentary requirements by Thai embassies abroad when awarding visas within their particular remit. It is also possible that any announcement could be delayed till after March 31 as, during the pandemic, immigration news was not uncommonly delayed post-deadline. A final issue is that the current caretaker government, awaiting the May 14general election, is unlikely to approve new groundbreaking immigration rules. After all, This Is Thailand.
Weekly COVID-19 Situation in Thailand 19 - 25 March 2023. Number of confirmed infected cases admitted to hospitals 150 (21 per day on average), Number of fatalities 6 (1 per day on average), Cumulative infected cases (since 1 January 2023) 4,713, Cumulative number of fatalities (since 1 January 2023) 266. source: Department of Disease Control
The Technology Suppression Crime Division of the Thai police is keeping an eye on the forthcoming April Fool Day in a general election year.
Police from the Technology Crime Suppression Division worry that the English love of annual fun on April 1 has been adopted by Thais on social media in the last few years. So they are again reminding everyone this week that the (vague) computer crimes act lays down penalties ranging from 100,000 baht fine to five years in jail for false data which is likely to damage the country's security, or might cause a panic, or could simply damage other people. To date, no actual prosecutions have ever occurred arising from the first of April's "speak play" or "poot len", howbeit with a couple of near misses.
The advent of coronavirus in early 2020 led to a spate of longlasting Fool jokes about protecting yourself by drinking cow urine or sleeping with a sliced onion, but police expect this year to see a switch to politics with a general election due in mid May. For example, the current prime minister general Prayut Chan-o-cha was first parodied as Times magazine's "man of the year" in 2017 in a falsehood which has appeared regularly in Thai social media ever since. And Thai political humor can be a great deal nastier than that.
Last year, ThaiVietjet was threatened with prosecution after staff without permission posted an April 1 hoax message about a new air route to Germany which, some said, insulted the revered monarchy. In 2021, a Thai citizen was ordered to take down a Facebook account which claimed without evidence that there were earthworms instead of meat in a popular burger. Several people ended up in hospital after reading about what they had just eaten. One even tried to sue the social media platform.
Fortunately, most Thai April Fool jokes haven't attracted official attention. There have been "fun" reports in the past that tuk tuk rides in Bangkok would be free for one day, that the latest ice cream flavor was pork chunks and that shrimp cocktail was now a popular choice in the Kit Kat chocolate selection. Foreigners have also joined in over the years to claim variously that Thailand was changing from driving on the left to the right, that the last survivor of the Titanic had died on Jomtien beach and that the 90 day address report for expats had been abolished.
According to Martin Wainwright, author of The Guardian Book of April Fools Day, one sour note is that genuine news coming out on April 1 may not be believed. In 2004 Google launched its email service with huge 1-gigabyte inboxes which many thought was a joke and technologically impossible at the time. Google later abandoned all April Fool jokes because of the confusion they can create. You got that one right Big Brother.
Red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship supporters hold a birthday party for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawtra at a bookshop at Imperial World shopping mall in Lat Phrao in 2016. (File photo)
Academics and senators do not believe fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was serious about returning to Thailand and serving his prison term.
They said his remarks may be only intended as election campaigning to woo voters to support the Pheu Thai Party ahead of the general election.
Speaking in an interview with Kyodo News during a trip to Tokyo on Friday, Thaksin said he is ready to serve his prison term provided he is allowed to spend the rest of his life with his family, regardless of the results of the upcoming general election.
He said he is biding his time before possibly returning this year, following years of living in self-exile abroad.
He was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and left Thailand in 2008 to avoid facing time in prison.
"Now I've served 16 years already in a bigger jail as they prevent me from staying with my family," Thaksin said, referring to his life away from his home country.
"I've suffered enough. If I were to suffer again in a smaller jail, it would be OK," he added.
Thaksin said he is not angling for an amnesty from parliament even if the Pheu Thai Party comes into power in the next election.
"I told my daughter not to allow the party to push for an amnesty law for me," the 73-year-old said.
"I do not need that as those against me will not be happy."
His second and youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is expected to be one of three prime ministerial candidates from Pheu Thai.
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Senator Somchai Sawangkarn yesterday dismissed Thaksin's remarks as mere electioneering and not to be taken seriously.
Thaksin can return to Thailand to serve his jail term straight away without having to wait until after the election, Mr Somchai said.
He added there are some cases in which Thaksin must serve at least one-third of the jail term before he is eligible for a royal pardon.
''Does Mr Thaksin really want to go to jail? When combined, these jail terms may add up to 7-8 years.
''Considering his age, is he willing to go to jail? He once said he did not want to be in jail even for a single day. I don't believe he will really return,'' Mr Somchai said.
Somchai: 'Age means jail unlikely'
Thaksin's remarks that he was not seeking an amnesty were only a political gambit intended to boost Pheu Thai's election prospects as some supporters are expected to favour the Move Forward Party over Pheu Thai in the upcoming election.
Likewise, Senator Seree Suwanpanont told the Bangkok Post that Thaksin's remarks were only meant to drum up support for Pheu Thai ahead of the poll.
Mr Seree echoed the view that Thaksin is unlikely to return and serve his jail terms willingly, given his age.
''His remarks were timed to coincide with election campaigning, probably to seek political support."
Seree: 'Comments a poll tactic'
Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University, said Thaksin's remarks were a desperate move to help Pheu Thai achieve a landslide win in the next election, even though it will not be easy for Pheu Thai to do so.
''His remarks that he was not seeking amnesty are only a political ploy. Thaksin is a marketing expert," he said.
Wanwichit: 'Master of marketing'
Following the 2006 coup, Thaksin was been sentenced in absentia in four out of eight cases brought against him up until 2021. The total length of the four prison terms is 12 years.
He was given two years in the two-and three-digit lottery case in which he was found guilty of violating Section 157 of the Criminal Code.
Another three years were handed down in a case involving loans totalling 4 billion baht granted to Myanmar by the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Bank).
Five more years in prison were handed down to the ex-premier in his absence in a case in which he was found guilty of using nominees to hold shares in Shin Corp.
The other two years in prison were handed down to him by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions in the Ratchadaphisek land case.
In that case, his then-wife, Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, had secured a deal to purchase about 33 rai of land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok from the Financial Institution Development Fund at only 772 million baht.
Thai officials through the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing were forced this week to issue a reassurance to potential Chinese visitors to the country regarding their safety and security following a damaging viral campaign which reached millions of online readers behind China's Great Firewall in which spurious, fearful and outlandish claims were made aimed at putting netizens off visiting the kingdom as tourists.
Thai officials in Bangkok and Beijing were scrambling on Thursday and Friday to contain a highly damaging viral campaign on Chinese social media actively discouraging people from visiting the kingdom. The sensational and outright false claims targeted potential Chinese holidaymakers. They were warned of scams and being extorted by criminal gangs preying on unsuspecting visitors with the widely debunked conspiracy theories of tourists being captured and subjected to organ harvesting being raised to scare off potential travellers to the kingdom which has emerged as China's favourite holiday destination now that the pandemic has finally ended there.
A negative and ignorant campaign has gone viral on Chinese social media sites this week warning off people holidaying or travelling to Thailand by raising fears of kidnapping, extortion and even outlandish claims raising proven fake news reports about organ harvesting at the hands of criminal gangs. Counter efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Bangkok led to the Director-general of the Department of Tourism Mr Chaturon Phakdeewanich (right) reaching out to Chinese officials and a statement being issued by the Thai Embassy in Beijing on the blogging site Weibo.
A series of viral videos and communications on Chinese social media networks painting a negative picture of Thailand as a dangerous place for Chinese tourists has caused alarm within the Ministry of Tourism and Sports with key officials making contact with their Chinese counterparts to counteract the developing situation behind China's great firewall.
Reports of the campaign come from Chinese and Thai officials who have been monitoring the viral phenomenon.
The online claims have been made in short videos uploaded on social media sites such as Douyin which is the Chinese version of Tik Tok.
Disproved trope of human organise harvesting raised by Chinese netizens shocks Thai officials who have responded urgently to the online viral campaign
The video clips include messages suggesting that Chinese visitors to Thailand can become the prey of illegal gangs and raise previously debunked fake news tropes such as the danger of victims being kidnapped and suffering the theft of their kidneys.
However, at least one of the messages referred to organ harvesting at an official level. This is a particular talking point in China as it is the only country in the world which practises organised official organ harvesting using executed prisoners.
The China Tribunal, a non-government, independent tribunal, headquartered in London and chaired by human rights lawyer, Sir Geoffrey Nice, in March 2020, issued its final report in which it 'confirmed beyond a reasonable doubt' that China had for many years been using the organs of executed prisoners of conscience as a source for organ transplants.
It concluded that the country had committed a range of crimes against humanity, a conclusion also reached in 2022 by former UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet.
This followed damning allegations made by human rights lawyers, activists and Nobel Peace Prize nominees David Kilgour and David Matas in 2006 and 2007.
Warning in viral clips to Chinese visitors in Thailand to beware of scams and the threat of kidnapping and extortion at the hands of criminal gangs
The viral campaign and messaging also alluded to the prospect of Chinese visitors being exposed to a range of scams and potential pitfalls lying in wait of potential travellers who can afford to visit the kingdom which in recent months has been acknowledged as the favoured destination for Chinese tourists seeking a relaxing holiday as the communist country emerges from its pandemic nightmare and life has returned to normal.
Evidence of the fears being raised about the danger of tourists being kidnapped and the chilling threat of kidney theft were confirmed by officials on Thursday who highlighted the search term 泰国旅游需谨慎 on Chinese search engines which means 'Be cautious when travelling in Thailand'.
One search term alone had received up to 150 million views and was still trending upwards.
In response to the development, Thai officials through the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing put out a message on the popular Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo.
Counter-statement issued through the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing on blogging site Weibo addressing claims that 'may result in misunderstanding'
The statement, issued by a senior official at the mission read: 'Thailand attaches great importance to the quality and safety of Chinese tourists. Regarding content or opinions on tourism safety that may result in misunderstanding, I would like to clarify that since the People's Republic of China has allowed Chinese tourists to travel abroad, Thailand has prepared to accommodate Chinese tourists as well as increased communication channels for Chinese tourists. They are able to access information and report any emergency to the tourist police who are ready to facilitate and maintain the safety of tourists who will travel to Thailand.'
However, Thai officials have been dismayed to note that the negative messages and reviews of Thailand have received millions of views on the Douyin (Thai Tik Tok) site alone with huge amounts of shared messages, meaning the extended reach of this campaign may be very damaging for Thailand's reputation in the short term.
One particular disturbing message read: 'Be careful, Thailand, you will be arrested, they'll take organs and steal kidneys.'
Chinese nationals living in Thailand instinctively take to social media to defend the kingdom and reject the untrue and far-fetched claims being made
In response to the tsunami of negative and ill-founded commentary by enthusiastic Chinese netizens, in a country where xenophobia has been rising sharply over the last decade, many Chinese nationals already living in the kingdom have instinctively responded to the trending campaign explaining that the rumours and hysterical claims are simply untrue and completely far fetched.
It is not clear what has caused or is driving these videos and claims but over the last five months, Thailand has been at the centre of a colossal exposé of corruption centred on Chinese triad gangs numbering in the thousands who have been able to obtain extended student visas while laundering money, often the proceeds of international drug trafficking, into semi-legitimate business concerns in the country and property.
At the end of last week, two Chinese tourists were arrested and held on remand after appearing before Bangkok South Municipal Court charged with kidnapping a compatriot, a Chinese student in the kingdom, and extorting upwards of ฿3.2 million from her.
Chinese nationals making the news in Thailand for the wrong reasons in recent months linked with thousands of triad gang members and corrupt police
The accused trio, two men and a woman, vehemently denied the charges claiming to be innocent Chinese tourists in Thailand.
They demanded to speak to the Chinese Embassy and later made curious remarks to reporters in Chinese, claiming they were the victims of Cambodian crime gangs.
Also this week, four senior police officers with the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police were arrested after a Chinese businessman and his 38-year-old interpreter, Mr Namsee Sae Lee, lodged a police complaint with Din Daeng Police Station, on Monday, in Bangkok.
They told police that the officers detained them on March 10th last and extorted $30,000 worth of cryptocurrency from the businessman.
Even at the outset of the resumption of the vital Chinese tourist trade into Thailand, back in January, a controversy almost immediately erupted over the provision of VIP packages to Chinese arrivals including what had all the appearances of a genuine police motorcycle escort provided by an off-duty police motorcyclist who used to work with a detail assigned to Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Following this, there was further negative coverage of the kingdom when Thai police were forced to admit that rogue police at a checkpoint in Bangkok, at the end of January, had forced well-known Taiwanese actress Charlene An to pay a bribe to secure her release after she was found to be in possession of vaping devices.
Prime Minister's Office office reveals that the Minister of Tourism and Sports is taking steps to counter the damaging negative online campaign
Responding to the emerging crisis on Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office spokesman Mr Anucha Burapachaisri revealed the Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn was moving to address and counter the fake news reports.
He was quoted as determined to get the country's message through to the media highlighting that the fear-mongering and claims made against Thailand are baseless and nothing but fake news.
The Director-general of the Department of Tourism Mr Chaturon Phakdeewanich told reporters that since China opened up its borders to Thailand as a tourism destination ahead of other countries this year, the kingdom has laid special emphasis on ensuring the comfort, convenience and safety of Chinese tourists visiting here.
He said that he had discussed the matter with Mrs Pan Jin, the Counselor for the Consular Section of the People's Republic of China and both countries had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a view to moving forward towards this goal.
Top Ministry of Tourism and Sports officials working with China to promote the safety of Chinese tourists and the best possible experience for them
Mr Chaturon also said that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports had urged authorities in China to ensure that only legitimate and responsible travel agencies be allowed to organise travel to Thailand while Chinese tourists are being urged to use certified Thai hotels and tourist services so that they may receive a uniform and reliable customer experience in areas such as hotels and accommodation, restaurants, tour buses, tour boats and other services.
The certification programme ensures that only licensed operators are allowed to come into contact with visiting Chinese tourists and this may be of particular importance for tourists buying gems and jewellery to avoid being deceived.
Thai officials have communicated to China the ongoing campaign in the kingdom to root out unlicensed tourism operators, particularly those involving foreigners using Thai nominees as a front.
Similar to the certified hotels and services, Thai authorities have disseminated a list of approved travel agents and tour operators for use by Chinese holiday planners and commercial concerns as well as state officials.
At least 5 to 6 million Chinese tourists, expected in Thailand this year, are vital to the kingdom's economic progress as export prospects are dimmed
The ministry is working in a concerted effort to have Chinese visitors who have visited Thailand tell their stories in China as part of a campaign to promote the kingdom and to counteract the damaging publicity over the past week in the communist country which has again become Thailand's number one point of origin for foreign tourists.
A key goal will be to highlight Thailand's law enforcement efforts for the protection of visitors and the need for a good understanding of Thai laws before visiting the kingdom.
Thailand is struggling to achieve up to 4% GDP growth for the year with figures just published suggesting that exports, 60% of the kingdom's output, will be retarded by at least 1% in 2023 due to a challenging global environment.
Hope for economic progress in 2023 comes against a background of only 2.6% growth in 2022 after a revision of figures.
Economic growth is therefore predicated on the kingdom attracting 28 million foreign tourists with at least 20% of these coming from China.
Military interventions are a regular feature of Thai politics.
Deputy prime minister and one-time army leader Prawit Wongsuwon has now promised in his ongoing election campaign that the 2014 putsch was the last. No matter who wins the battle of the polls in May, a successor coup is a no-no. But one problem is that military spokesmen back in 2014 actually denied there had been a coup in the first place.
Following a long period of political unrest and street demonstrations in Bangkok, army leader Prayut Chan-ocha declared martial law on May 20 2014 via a television pool announcement. The caretaker government complained that it had not been consulted, but military spokesmen claimed a law of 1914 permitted the army such discretion and anyway denied a coup was underway. Troops appeared on the streets of the capital and some radio and TV stations were ordered to cease broadcasting.
On May 22, a tense five-hour meeting was held at army headquarters in Bangkok, but the elected government refused to resign. At that point, General Prayut said he would take "the supreme power" and most of the constitution was subsequently suspended apart from the section relating to the revered monarchy. The junta-authorized National Council for Peace and Order then replaced parliament as the decision-making body in the form of decrees.
But military spokesmen at the time in 2014 denied that the take-over was a coup. "The military action this time is different from the previous successful coups," junta-appointed Werachon Sukondhapatipak said at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in the capital. "Whatever you do, don't call it a coup. Normally, the civilian government sets up a civilian government, but now the military will restore peace and order, reconciliation, then elections and other systems to strengthen democracy," he claimed, according to reports in the Bangkok Post.
Current political commentators say the danger for the May 2023 general election is that no clear winner will emerge in the money-orientated and murky waters of Thai politics. "And if Thai history has taught us anything, whenever there is a political vacuum, there's also a coup," said Ruchapong Chamjirachaikul, a legal expert. When it comes to the thorny issue of Thai military interventions, "never say never".
BANGKOK, March 22 (TNA) – Thailand welcomed more than 5.5 million foreign tourists in the first three months of this year, generating an income of 200 billion baht, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisulee Traisaranakul.
The country's overall tourism situations have improved continuously. However, the increase in tourist numbers has caused airport congestion at check-in counters, immigration checkpoints. The airfares are soaring.
She said the Transport Ministry convened a meeting today with agencies concerned such as the Airports of Thailand to discuss how to solve the problem.
According to the Tourism and Sports Ministry, 5.5 million foreign tourists travelled to Thailand from Jan 1- March 18 with tourism revenue reaching more than 215 billion baht. (TNA)
