In the wake of our recent discussion on the stringent immigration checks faced by Thai nationals abroad, a torrent of responses has unveiled a disconcerting undertone. It prompts us to ask maybe Thailand should go the path of Korea and be more selective of the visa-running, draft dodging, racist, mysoginistic sexpats we let in.
The previous sentence was only a slight hyperbole.
But here is a nice cross section of people that replied to our story.
Thailand's hospitality should not be mistaken for leniency towards those who disrespect the nation and its people.
The derogatory commentary from these expatriates stands in stark contrast to the values of mutual respect and understanding that are integral to Thai society. It reflects not just a personal failing but a systemic issue where certain expatriates exploit Thailand's welcoming nature while harboring and expressing contempt for its people.
The conversation about immigration and expatriate communities must evolve. So to must we target a better subset of tourists and expats who come to our country. Maybe it's time we stop letting in the English-teaching, Nana Plaza/Patong-dwelling, bottom-feeding, losers-back-home that come to Thailand only to bitch about the country they now live in at every opportunity.
It is time to consider the implementation of more rigorous vetting processes, akin to those our citizens face abroad. This is not about xenophobia or generalizing a whole community based on the actions of a few; it is about safeguarding the respect that every Thai citizen deserves.
Existing laws and regulations that govern the conduct of foreigners in Thailand must be applied with renewed diligence. Those who engage in illegal activities, exploit the vulnerabilities of Thai society, or display a persistent pattern of racist and disrespectful behavior should be subject to review and potential deportation.
Views expressed are the author's alone and not an official stance of the Thai Enquirer.
The Thai government is in the process of developing a new regulation, requiring producers of alcoholic beverages to feature large, graphic health warnings on their products, much akin to those found on cigarette packaging. This move, orchestrated by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee and the Department of Disease Control, has sparked criticism from alcohol producers and the tourism industry, who question its effectiveness in altering consumer behaviour.
The public has until Thursday, February 29 to voice their opinions on the proposed regulation via the Council of State's website before the rule comes into effect 180 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette, reported Bangkok Post.
According to the new regulation, the graphic warning will cover at least one-third of the container, accompanied by text warnings on the dangers of excessive drinking. Some examples include: Alcoholic beverages can cause cancer, and selling alcoholic beverages to people under 20 is punishable by imprisonment and a fine.
The new rule has faced opposition from Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a Move Forward Party MP for Bangkok, who champions the liberalisation of rules on alcohol production. He argues that the regulation will not only fail to deter drinking but will also increase production costs for small-scale alcohol producers.
Furthermore, Taopiphop believes that the health warnings will detract from the aesthetics of the containers' unique designs.
"The designs of craft beer cans are made by artists, and they are like contemporary art. Health warnings and scary pictures will decrease their value. There is no proof as to how effective the health warnings on beer cans would be, the same way it is unclear whether the warnings on cigarette packs actually reduced smoking."
Potential impact
According to him, the new regulation, if approved, will affect all producers—large and small—but will disproportionately impact smaller players in the industry. He also highlighted concerns that the health warnings may violate an international trade agreement.
Taopiphop suggested that if the public strongly opposes the regulation, it might cause policymakers to reconsider before finalising it. He also pointed out that current alcohol control laws and regulations are already extremely strict, and the government should prioritise enforcing them to prevent abuse and harm.
Sanga Ruangwattanakul, Khao San Road Business Association President, also criticised the draft regulation, considering it a step backwards for the country that could affect sales of alcoholic beverages. Several netizens echoed similar sentiments, with some expressing that the new regulation will not impact drinkers but collectors of bottles or cans for their unique designs and brand labels.
Presently, cans and bottles of alcohol feature a text warning, with many highlighting the dangers of drink-driving.
Thailand officially entered its hot season on Wednesday. It will last through to the middle of May with average daytime temperatures expected to be up to 2oC higher than last year, the Meteorological Department announced today.
Average maximum temperatures across the country are forecast to top 35oC but, in the north and northeast, they could reach as high 44. 5oC, it said.
These two regions will, however, continue to experience cool weather during the early morning hours, until middle of March, after which it will get markedly warmer.
From mid-March through to May, freak storms are forecast for several areas amidst the hot weather and, from the middle to the end of May, rainfall can be expected in many areas.
For the south, temperatures are forecast to increase to reach as high as 41oC from the end of February through April, with isolated heavy rain, said the department, adding that there is a possibility of a cyclone.
The automatic departure passport control lanes at Suvarnabhumi airport. Apichit Jinakul
Traffic congestion outside the departure halls of Suvarnabhumi airport, where clusters of cars and taxis vie for parking spaces to drop off passengers, has become the norm for travellers starting their outgoing journeys from the biggest airport in the country.
For arrivals, long queues at immigration checkpoints and baggage claims have become expected, as broken kiosks and lack of staff have yet to be properly fixed.
IMPROVEMENT DEMANDED
In response to tourist complaints, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made an unannounced visit to Suvarnabhumi airport earlier this month, after which he instructed authorities to shorten required procedures at the airport to 30 minutes or less for each passenger.
Last month, Thailand tallied 3.03 million foreign visitors, an increase from 2.1 million year-on-year.
During the Chinese New Year holiday from Feb 5-11, all Thai airports reported a combined 872,235 arrivals, rising 13.3% from a week earlier, up 102,227 arrivals.
The post-pandemic tourism recovery has prompted international and local carriers to ramp up flight frequencies, aiming to reach full capacity as soon as possible to compensate for losses during Covid shutdowns.
However, staff shortages among airlines and airports globally have stalled growth.
Adoption of technology that might help mitigate the aviation labour shortage has been blunted, as some systems have proven unstable, while users often have a low level of technology proficiency in Thailand.
According to aviation IT provider SITA, by 2025 63% of airports and 51% of airlines globally were expected to have self-boarding gates, using biometrics only.
Some 53% of airports are anticipated to implement a secure single biometric token for all touchpoints by 2025.
below An influx of tourists crowds the arrivals hall at Suvarnabhumi airport this month. In January, Thailand recorded 3.03 million foreign arrivals, up from 2.1 million the same month of 2023. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
NEW TECH, NEW TAX
Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced last year it will increase passenger service charges at six international airports from April 1, 2024, which would be allocated via the new operating system called Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (Cupps).
The additional tax of 30 baht is embedded in ticket prices, meaning the new total service charge for passengers is 730 baht.
For people using Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, they might be familiar with checking in using self-check-in kiosks and self-service bag drops, which are part of Cupps.
The system is expected to reduce long queues at check-in counters, though some congestion during peak hours is inevitable.
In addition to AoT's six airports -- Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai -- other airports under the Department of Airports will also implement a new levy, with Krabi airport adding a fee of 16 baht, while the remainder are determining an appropriate rate.
Santisuk Klongchaiya, chief executive of Thai AirAsia and SET-listed Asia Aviation, said the proportion of its passengers using self-service check-in at Don Mueang airport are 20-30% of the total.
As most passengers use their mobile phone or a website for online check-in before arrival at the airport, they can skip checking in, he said.
Though self-service bag-drop has not started at Don Mueang airport yet, the airport is not as congested as Suvarnabhumi, both for outbound and inbound passengers, as the physical structure and more compact size enable swifter operations as a secondary Bangkok hub.
As AoT tests the biometric technology for passenger validation, Mr Santisuk said Thai AirAsia is joining the test run.
Thai AirAsia plans to adopt this system once it is ready, while airlines and passengers should expect to jointly absorb these added operational costs, he said.
Mr Santisuk said automated ground handling services will become more crucial components for airports in the near future, particularly for those facing manpower shortages.
LABOUR SHORTAGE
Following the pandemic, busier air traffic resulted in higher operational costs for ground handling services at many airports, such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, he said.
Automated systems cannot totally replace the human workforce as aviation is a service industry, with people needed to troubleshoot.
"Rather than thinking automated systems will cause mass layoffs, we project these technologies will enhance passenger services and increase the efficiency of some operations, such as using artificial intelligence [AI] for back office work or predicting marketing or pricing trends more precisely," said Mr Santisuk.
Sumesh Patel, president for Asia-Pacific at SITA, said the company predicts the role of the workforce will evolve, rather than technology replacing workers.
He said automation will allow operations to be scaled, enabling a more agile workforce, with employees becoming more highly skilled, empowered decision-makers and taking on service-orientated roles.
A combination of highly skilled, flexible staff and agile cloud solutions supporting automation will ensure resilience across the industry, said Mr Patel.
The concept of flat business organisations at airports is gaining popularity thanks to the adoption of smart airport technologies that improve operational efficiency, he said.
These technologies use resource management systems, AI and machine learning to optimise scheduling and create a digital ecosystem that enhances communication across all ground operations, said Mr Patel.
By adopting a flat business structure, each employee's role is elevated, improving coordination and communication while eliminating excess management layers.
This approach leads to better decision-making processes and increased budget efficiency as there is less need for middle management, he said.
Tourists queue for check-in at the Passengers departures hall at Suvarnabhumi airport on January 3, 2024. Wichan Charoenkiatpakul
SLOW UPTAKE
Staff still serve the self-check-in kiosks and self-service bag drops at Suvarnabhumi airport to help passengers as the process is relatively new for some of them unfamiliar with the technology.
Nok Air chief executive Wutthiphum Jurangkool said tech adoption in Thailand is slow compared with airports in Europe and the US, as passengers take time to get used to the technologies in airports.
He estimates the settling in period could be 2-3 years.
Moreover, the physical structure of airports built years ago cannot fully embrace the benefits of some cutting-edge technologies.
Mr Patel said it is unavoidable for airports and airlines of all scales to adopt technology, as the pandemic led to rapid changes in the aviation industry.
He said the Great Resignation during the pandemic caused the industry to recruit new staff, and some have lower proficiency levels.
Mr Patel said based on SITA's experience digitalising the air transport industry -- before, during and after the pandemic -- the company saw common issues for highly cost-conscious regional airports that want to adopt smart digital operations, similar to larger airports.
For instance, cloud technology makes the digital journey and cutting-edge IT affordable and accessible for regional or budget-conscious airports, he said.
With leading passenger processing capabilities accessible via the cloud, airports hope to share common use approaches cost-effectively, saving on infrastructure, space and maintenance, said Mr Patel.
Airports can also add capabilities as needed, such as self-boarding, self-bag drop, off-airport processing, and more, he said.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has announced that Thailand is set to expand its visa-free travel policy to include citizens from more countries. The move follows the recent exemption granted to travelers from China and India, aimed at revitalizing tourism, a crucial sector for Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.
During a meeting with Australia's Governor-General David Hurley, both parties considered a mutual visa exemption scheme to boost travel and business between their nations. The Thai government is also in discussions about similar agreements with European countries within the Schengen visa zone.
Despite efforts to revive the industry, Thailand's tourism sector has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Last year, the country welcomed approximately 28 million foreign tourists, generating 1.2 trillion baht in revenue, a decrease from the nearly 40 million visitors and 1.9 trillion baht earned in 2019. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Malaysian tourists led the arrivals with around 4.5 million visitors, followed by Chinese tourists at about 3.51 million.
Since the beginning of the year, over 533,000 Chinese travelers have visited Thailand, making them the largest group of visitors, followed by Malaysians and South Koreans. The Tourism and Sports Ministry remains optimistic, projecting that Thailand could attract 35 million foreign visitors this year, bolstered by the 3 million tourists recorded in January.
Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said he will visit Germany on February 21, with one of the main agenda items being discussions about visa-free travel agreements with the Schengen visa states of Europe.
The Schengen visa states include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Parnpree said unanimous agreement from all countries is needed for the initiative. Currently, some nations have expressed initial agreement in principle with Thailand's proposal, while discussions with other nations are still pending. Additionally, there are details to be clarified, such as whether the measure will be temporary or permanent and the effective date of implementation.
When asked about the possibility of reaching an agreement this year, Parnpree said that while the decision doesn't rest with Thailand, the government will try its best.
An unruly British man was arrested after his flight from Bangkok toLondonHeathrow landed following a cowardly attack on a Thai Airways member of staff.
The 35 year old unnamed British man went berserk only minutes after the flight from the Thai capital took off on February 7 and proceeded to smash up the aircraft's toilet.
A passenger managed to capture the disgraceful footage of the unhinged man assaulting a flight attendant who was trying to calm him down. The belligerent passenger was also seen attempting to exchange blows with other passengers and crew members who intervened. The motive behind his erratic behaviour remains unknown.
A female passenger, who opted to remain anonymous, recorded the unfolding chaos on her mobile phone from her seat. Her footage depicts the man striking a steward, causing him to collapse in the aisle.
"He was in the toilet and he started screaming and shouting. He started smashing the door and it came away from the hinges.
"An older guy, in the white t-shirt, tried to get him out. A fight broke out and he ended up smacking the flight attendant. I think he broke his nose."
Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mail
The 22 year old witness, who was returning from a months-long trip, captured additional footage showing the man yelling while being restrained in his seat. She noted that more passengers got involved after the initial altercation.
Travellers were informed that the flight might divert to Dubai if further incidents occurred, but they were able to proceed to London without interruption, albeit enduring the disruptive behaviour of the unruly passenger.
"Two passengers sat on either side of him and kept pulling him down. We had to put up with his shouting. He was being very verbally abusive.
"It was rough. People were swapping seats and moving kids to the back of the plane. [Upon landing] the police came on and got him off.'
Upon landing, police boarded the aircraft and removed the man from the scene. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the incident.
'We met the aircraft on arrival and a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and endangering an aircraft.
"He remains in custody.
"Another man was taken to hospital. His condition was assessed as not life-threatening."
Thai Airways was approached for comment but has yet to respond.
PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin would ultimately choose to dissolve the House of Representatives and call a general election rather than resign if the Pheu Thai digital wallet campaign was eventually rejected at parliament, according to a partisan source.
Srettha has earlier confided to some of his personal associates that he would rather choose to dissolve the House instead of stepping down in face of possibility a legislation to find a sum of 500 billion baht in loan to finance the Pheu Thai populist handout campaign was eventually rejected by a majority of lawmakers, said the partisan source who only spoke on condition of anonymity.
Given the purported magnitude of the populist project pledged by the core coalition partner to the people nationwide during last year's electoral campaign, the planned legislation is ultimately supposed to sail through both the executive and legislative branches otherwise the Pheu Thai-backed prime minister would merely opt out by dissolving the House so that a nationwide election may be held in 60 days.
Instead of resigning in the face of a possible fiasco over the contentious populist handout campaign, Srettha would rather return the power to the people, thus putting an end to the current Pheu Thai-led coalition government after less than a year in power following last year's election.
Srettha who recently said he had unwavering intention to run the country until the end of the government's four-year term had been surreptitiously promoted by deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict on parole Thaksin Shinawatra, in his first-ever venture into the political arena which turned him from a real estate mogul to head of a post-election government.
Nevertheless, many partisan members among the Pheu Thai rank and file would more or less anticipate some pressure mounting upon Srettha from the de facto party boss to the extent that he finally step down in case that the planned legislation to borrow the 500 billion baht loan either from domestic financial sources or foreign ones or both to finance the digital wallet campaign was rejected by majority lawmakers.
Thaksin would undoubtedly prefer that Srettha step down rather than dissolve the House as an aftermath of a possible legal fiasco over the digital wallet campaign, the source said.
Nevertheless, if Srettha eventually stepped down as largely speculated in the face of the possible abortion of the populist campaign, he would probably be replaced by Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of the de facto party boss, or Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan.
Srettha has earlier stated that the digital wallet handout campaign would not only promote domestic consumption and stimulate local economy in all parts of the country on a short-term basis but strengthen the national economy and boost the GDP in the long run.
The flagship Pheu Thai populist project is designed to hand out each Thai national aged 16 years and over a maximum of 10,000 baht in digital wallet to buy goods and services in the boundaries of their home district in a six-month period. However, the implementation of the handout campaign might probably be delayed beyond May. All 250 coup junta-appointed senators are scheduled to finish their five-year term in May.
Various senior government officials, academics and opposition MPs have invariably argued that the 10,000-baht digital wallet project could not much stimulate domestic consumption or boost the local or national economy on a sustainable basis whilst the Pheu Thai-led government's financial and treasury discipline could be alarmingly compromised.
Some predicted that most recipients would rather spend the money given away under the campaign but would not follow on by purchasing anything out of their own pocket whilst others contended that inflation would considerably rise due to an ephemeral surge in domestic consumption.
MOVE FORWARD LEADER Chaithawat Tulathon said today (Feb.15) Thailand might probably be run simultaneously by two prime ministers after de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on parole.
Apart from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin legally tasked with the running of the country, the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict might practically do the same, albeit in surreptitious, behind-the-scenes fashion, now that the "sickly" former prime minister has been granted parole and is expected to return home from Police Hospital on the upcoming Sunday, said the Move Forward leader, who concurrently performs as opposition leader at parliament.
"There might probably be two prime ministers at the same time. (Thaksin) might suddenly look healthy and kicking after release on parole and go places to visit the people throughout the country," Chaithawat said.
Since the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict returned from self-exile abroad and was provided the contentious privileges with a tight-security, private ward and a cellphone at Police Hospital since last August, he has already taken part in the power play over the setup of a Pheu Thai-led government and allocation of cabinet portfolios among coalition partners via his right-hand man/Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer Phumtham Wechayachai who was named a deputy prime minister-cum-commerce minister.
In what was seen as an unlikely political shenanigan at the alleged order of his boss, Phumtham managed to name himself chair of the House Budget Committee in place of a finance minister whilst Srettha who concurrently performs as finance minister could have delegated a deputy finance minister for the job.
Conflict of interest among coalition partners might probably arise and aggravate if Thaksin put his hands on varied government affairs as he used to during his previous premiership, according to the Move Forward leader.
Chaithawat said Srettha might no longer feel secure with his elected premiership if Thaksin manipulated any government affairs behind his back or did so in the name of the core coalition partner under leadership of his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
"Members of cabinet and government officials might probably be confused and helpless at the possibility of orders and instructions being given in overlapping, mutually contradictory manner from two prime ministers. They might not even know which one of the two prime ministers they are obliged to listen to," he said.
The latest Thai government free medical insurance scheme is limited in scope.
The Thai government's 50 million baht coverage for foreign visitors applies specifically to "tourists" who have been admitted with a visa-exempt stamp or a 60 days tourist visa awarded by an embassy. The scheme does not cover holders of current non-immigrant visas or extensions or longstay permits.
Tourism and sports minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said the government wanted to provide a safety net where tourists who die on vacation here might be covered for one million baht on a case by case basis. Accidents which cause permanent organ loss or blindness or permanent disability might merit 300,000 baht compensation plus 500,000 baht for medical treatment. However, carelessness or risky or illegal behaviour by the visitor will invalidate any claim.
The ministry is stressing that long stay and business travellers are not covered by the insurance programme which covers the year 2024 until August 31. Spokesman Mongkon Wimonrat said most group travel visitors buy pre-holiday insurance which is required by the tourism business and guide act of 2008. Independent travellers should make their own insurance arrangements.
Expats, who are exempted from the scheme, are not normally required to have insurance unless they hold an O/A retirement visa or extension of stay, originally issued by a Thai embassy abroad, or a 10-year Long Term Residence as well as foreigners working with an employment permit covered by other regulations. Embassies are continually warning uninsured foreign visitors and residents that inpatient costs in Thailand are very expensive, for example running into millions of baht following serious road accidents.
UK visa specialist Peter Clarke said, "The government insurance for tourists is designed to hand out cash after tragedies such as major traffic pileups or boats sinking. But 500,000 baht won't cover most operations requiring significant surgery and excludes expats in any case." He added that, while the scheme was useful in context, all foreigners in Thailand should purchase comprehensive medical insurance or self-insure with at least 3 million baht or US$100,000 in reserve.
In the past 18 years, over 110,000 Thai workersembarked on a gruelling journey to Europe, enticed by the promise of lucrative pay in berry fields, yet behind the allure lies a sinister reality of exploitation, debtbondage, and shattered dreams.
From the rural heartlands of Thailand's northeast, hopeful farmers borrowed staggering sums from banks and illegal lenders to finance their passage to the Nordic countries. What awaited them was not the prosperity they envisioned but a relentless cycle of debt and hardship.
Labour activist Junya Yimprasert revealed a shocking truth: over a decade and a half, a staggering 10 billion baht has been drawn from impoverished Thai workers to enrich the forest berry industries of Sweden and Finland, a loss swept under the rug of international commerce.
The berry companies, adept at preying on vulnerable populations, shifted their focus to workers from China and Vietnam in 2019, only to face uproar and swift repatriation due to abysmal working conditions. Threats of blacklisting and visa manipulation kept Thai workers silent, trapping them in a vicious cycle of debt and exploitation.
Promised substantial earnings, workers found themselves ensnared in a web of deceit. Middlemen, enticing them with visions of wealth, deducted exorbitant expenses, leaving many in deeper debt than before. With assets on the line and families torn apart, justice remains elusive for those like Praisanti Jumangwa, still awaiting recompense a decade later, reported The Nation.
Their daily toil, from dawn till midnight, yielded meagre returns. Denied fair wages, deprived of basic comforts, and forced to navigate treacherous forests, Thai workers endured a nightmare far from home. Even mealtimes offered no respite, with exorbitant charges for meagre sustenance in cramped quarters.
The once-promising venture turned into a nightmare as old, dilapidated vehicles stranded workers in remote locations, their dreams of prosperity dashed against the harsh reality of exploitation. Praisanti's plea for governmental intervention resonates loud and clear, urging protection for workers and an end to the cycle of exploitation.
