Thai Finance Minister sees foreign tourists recovering to 40 million in 2024
FILE PHOTO: General view of the almost empty Khaosan Road, which is usually crowded with tourists,in Bangkok, Thailand, May 22, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's tourism-dependent economy should receive 8 million foreign visitors next year and see a recovery to a pre-coronavirus pandemic level of 40 million visitors by 2024, the country's finance minister said on Wednesday.
The government will discuss later on Wednesday an additional boost to purchasing power which remained weak, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told a business seminar.
(Reporting by Kitphong Thaichareon; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Ed Davies)
Students across Thailand wear casual outfits to schools in protest against uniform regulations as a part of the pro-democracy movements
Bangkok –
Some groups of students nationwide have attended their first day at school this morning, December 1, wearing casual outfits in protest against Thai school uniform regulations as a part of the pro-democracy movements introduced by the "Bad Student" activist group.
The Bad Student group in line with the KKC student partners from Khon Kaen province announced on Sunday that students from at least 23 schools across the country will attend classes in casual clothes on Tuesday. The groups also call on the students across the country to do so and not be afraid of questioning the need to wear school uniforms.
"We urge you all to wear casual clothes to school instead of uniforms to question its importance. Will students be allowed to attend class if they are not in uniform? Will casual clothes increase inequality in school? Why is focusing on uniforms so important in school?," the KKC statement said.
As of this morning, many high-school students from Triam Udom Suksa School were seen dressing casually and some were wearing fancy clothes before entering the school, although the majority of students were still wearing school uniforms and PE uniforms.
The pro-democracy students believe that the uniform regulations are part of Thailand's obsolete education system that represents docility and discipline that involuntarily overpowers them.
A female senior student who was wearing a casual outfit told the Associated Press that it was unreasonable of the adults and teachers to attempt to use uniform regulations against students. She decided to dress freely today to prove that whether wearing or not wearing a school uniform does not affect their potential in studying.
"Dressing freely today doesn't mean we want to get rid of school uniforms, it means that schools should give their students some freedom to express themselves by dressing however they like." the student stated, who asked her name to be withheld.
However, this civil act of disobedience triggered various responses from teachers and school administrations, following the announcement on Sunday and this morning. Some schools in Bangkok, namely Horwang School, Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School, and Kemasirianusorn School, officially announced that students are only allowed to dress according to uniform regulations. Many students from other schools were reportedly detained at their administrative offices and not allowed to enter the classroom.
On the contrary, some private and selective schools, including Triam Udom Suksa School, have responded positively to the protest. Students in casual wear were welcomed and greeted by the school staff and the director. Some schools will not take any disciplinary action against students wearing casual outfits as well.
Chiang Rai confirms fourth Thai domestic case of Covid-19 in several days, illegally back from Myanmar-complete timeline
Chiang Rai-
The Chiang Rai COVID –19 center today (December 30th) has officially reported one new Thai female returnee from Myanmar who skipped quarantine by illegally entering the country.
The patient is a 25 year old female from Phayao province.
Timeline:
Early November, she travelled to the Tachilek district in Myanmar with two friends to work at what she called a hotel. She had no symptoms.
On the 24th of November, she travelled back to Thailand illegally via a land crossing with two friends. They did so to reportedly skip quarantine. However, she told authorities that she wore a mask all the time.
From the 24th to the 27th of November, she stayed at a hotel in Mae Sai. She did not leave the hotel room. She ordered food via a food delivery service.
From the 28th to the 30th of November, She moved to another hotel in Muang district. She contacted authorities for COVID-19 testing following seeing the news of other returnees testing positive. Yesterday, (November 30th), her test results came back positive.
Authorities have said the woman has very few contacts and did not go to public places. Her friends she crossed the border with have also been identified according to Chiang Rai Disease Control. They have asked the public not to panic and remind returnees that they must go through quarantine.
Thai Tourist Authority launches "ASQ Paradise" website, a one stop shop for quarantine hotel info for foreign visitors
The following is a press release from the Thai Tourism Authority. The statements and wording inside the article is their own.
Bangkok, 01 December, 2020 -The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thailand-based Locanation Company Limited today jointly launch the newly-developed asq.locanation.com website under the 'ASQ Paradise' project to provide arriving foreign visitors with world-class information regarding standards for quarantine and control at Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotels located around Thailand.
TAT Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, said, "TAT's collaboration for the 'ASQ Paradise' project emphasizes the strength of Thailand's tourism infrastructure even as the country is in the grip of the global pandemic crisis. TAT sees an opportunity during this crisis to show other aspects of our tourism potential to the world. Not only do we retain our outstanding hospitality and travel services, but also the highest possible standards for pandemic control and quarantine."
The asq.locanation.com website, available in English and Chinese languages, provides a 360-degree pre-entry quarantine service platform that offers services ranging from room reservations to information related to individual travel to Thailand and other services.
Currently, the website features 107 participating ASQ hotels in Thailand, offering quarantine packages ranging from 27,000 Baht to 220,000 Baht for the two-week period at hotels in the three to five-star range. All hotels that join the platform are required to pass rigid standards set by the Ministry of Public Health.
Mr. Pepe Arunanondchai, Founder of Locanation Company Limited, said, "Both domestic and international tourists can use the asq.locanation.comwebsite to fully meet their needs. This will pave the way for the launch of the Locanation's official online travel agent business."
Locanation is one of the companies that received a TAT Travel Tech Startup Season 2 Award under the Innovative Tourism Promotion category. It was recognized for using innovation to create platforms that addressed quarantine 'Pain Points' in terms of access to information for tourists who want to visit Thailand.
Locanation is also working with The Central Group of Companies, The Mall Group, King Power International Group and Total Access Communication Public Company Limited (DTAC) to provide online shopping services to asq.locanation.com website's users. In addition, through collaboration with Dhipaya Insurance Public Company Limited, the company is looking to add a wide variety of insurance and health insurance packages to suit the needs of individual travellers.
The asq.locanation.com website will be promoted by TAT via its 29 overseas offices, as well as through a partnership with the ASQ Club Thailand. The Club has been initiated to provide information on alternative state quarantine facilities.
Mr. Prin Pathanatham, ASQ Club Thailand's President, said, "Previously, tourist information about quarantine facilities in Thailand was very scattered. With the launch of the asq.locanation.com website, the ASQ Club Thailand believes that it will definitely prove to be an asset for overseas tourists, local entrepreneurs, or foreigners working in Thailand who want to research everything themselves and book directly with participating ASQ hotels."
TAT is also creating activities to support the ASQ Paradise Project by offering special online shopping opportunities for quarantined tourists. The tourists will also receive an exclusive 'Happy DIY Set' with premium products from five Thai tourism communities around the country with delivery coordinated by the ASQ Club Thailand.
TAT will also launch an official LINE account in Chinese and English languages to provide information and reply to questions to quarantined tourists.
For more information on the ASQ Paradise Project and ASQ hotels located around Thailand, visit https://asq.locanation.com/.
Thai Airways will resume domestic flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and Bangkok and Phuket from Dec 25 after suspending them for almost nine months because of Covid-19.
The last time the national carrier flew from the capital to the two resort provinces was April 1.
There will be three flights a week -- on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays -- on both routes and the new schedules will run until Feb 28, the source said.
He added that the flights would operate with the wide-bodied Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, with a full onboard service on offer and miles being earned by Royal Orchid Plus members.
The resumption of domestic flights follows the airline's announcement last month that it would be relaunching scheduled international flights from Jan 1 to March 27.
It will fly one flight every Friday to Frankfurt and London, and a Sunday flight to Copenhagen and Sydney. THAI will also fly one Wednesday flight to Seoul, a Thursday flight to Manila, one to Taipei on Fridays and one to Osaka on Saturdays.
Bangkok-Tokyo flights will be available three times a week -- on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday -- while the Bangkok-Hong Kong flights will be available every day.
The airline is seeking to make up losses worth more than 300 billion baht in the Central Bankruptcy Court.
Meanwhile, Somdet Susomboon, director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion, says THAI will support exporting Thai fruit and vegetables to Asia and Europe until the end of next year under an agreement between the Commerce Ministry, the Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry and the Transport Ministry.
Mr Somdet said the major markets for Thai produce were Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Europe.
Meanwhile, Pattaya mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem says the seaside town's Fireworks Festival on Nov 27-28 was a huge success, attracted between 100,000-200,000 visitors a day, boosting local tourism and resulting in 100% hotel occupancy rate.
Mr Sonthaya estimated that during the two-day festival, about 2,000 baht was spent by each person per day, generating more than 400 million baht.
The Board of Investment (BoI) has approved 56.4 billion baht worth of new medical and biotechnological investment projects as part of a move to make Thailand a medical industry hub in Asean.
Up to 209 projects were granted tax privileges between 2018 and September 2020. Most of them, 129 projects valued at 30.8 billion baht, are related to medical businesses.
Coming second are 51 projects, worth 25.4 billion baht, in biotechnology, followed by 26 scientific laboratory projects, worth 1.9 billion baht.
BoI secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit attributed the high numbers to the government's emphasis on the medical industry, which is one of 12 targeted S-curve industries.
The Covid-19 outbreak has also sped up medical investments in the country.
"The medical industry continues to expand due to growing demand for medical equipment and medicines in the global market," said Ms Duangjai.
From January to September this year, most applicants for tax incentive programmes were in the medical industry, with 65 projects, valued at 14.7 billion baht, submitted to the BoI.
They were followed by 13 biotechnology projects worth 7.8 billion baht and seven scientific laboratory projects worth 351 million baht.
Two startup companies -- Baiya Phytopharm and the Nabsolute -- are among applicants who were granted tax privileges.
They are also supported by Chulalongkorn University.
Baiya Phytopharm invested 3.94 billion baht in biotechnology development, aiming to produce protein from plants and export 70% of the output, said company co-founder and chief executive Suthira Taychakhoonavdh.
She said the company uses tobacco plants of an Australian strain as a "host" to culture protein, which is later extracted from their leaves and purified.
This protein is a precursor for medicine and cosmetic industries.
Mr Suthira said her company is also experimenting with six Covid-19 vaccine candidates. One of them is going to be tested on humans.
If successful, it will become another vaccine for Thai people in late 2021 or early 2022, she said, adding that production capacity should reach two million doses a month. They could be sold at 500 baht a dose, she said.
The company is also preparing to test its Covid-19 medicines on hamsters but needs to wait for import of the animals. Hamsters are currently scarce due to strong demand for them worldwide.
The baht reached a 10-month high against the dollar in November. Seksan Rojjanametakul
The baht's value is anticipated to surge past the 30-per-dollar mark next year driven by Thailand's huge current account surplus and the US's ultra-loose monetary policy, says Bank of Ayudhya (BAY).
The local currency's value is forecast to hover between 29.50-30.50 baht per US dollar, with an appreciation bias expected throughout every quarter of 2021, said Tak Bunnag, head of global markets group at BAY.
The baht is expected to appreciate to 30 baht per dollar in the first quarter before strengthening to 29.75 in the second quarter, according to BAY. The local currency's value is forecast to strengthen further to 29.50 and 29.25 baht against the greenback in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
"The baht's value tends to get stronger, but it would not appreciate past 29 baht per dollar and we are not expected to see an appreciation of 7-8% as witnessed in 2019," said Mr Tak.
Despite substantial outflows of net foreign funds seen in Thailand's capital market earlier this year on the back of panic-selling sparked by the Covid-19 outbreak, offshore funds were detected as net inflows in November in local equities and bonds attributed to a risk-on sentiment encouraged by the US presidential election outcome and Covid-19 vaccine progress.
The firmer baht, which reached a 10-month high against the dollar last month, has stoked concerns about the effect on Thailand's economic recovery, particularly the export sector.
The Bank of Thailand recently liberalised foreign currency deposits, increased the investment limit in foreign securities for Thai individual investors and established a bond pre-registration system as part of efforts to curb the rapid appreciation of the baht and forge a new foreign exchange ecosystem.
Additional measures by the central bank to rein in the baht's strength will be unveiled on Dec 9.
The current account surplus will remain as a factor contributing to the baht's appreciation, said Mr Tak, noting that the total surplus in Thailand's current account remains larger than total net foreign capital inflows.
Current account surpluses mean a country has more exports than imports of goods and services.
Huge inflows of foreign tourist receipts over previous years also contributed to a huge current account surplus.
Thailand registered a current account surplus of US$17.6 billion on a year-to-date basis as of Oct 30.
In 2019, the current account surplus stood at a massive $38.2 billion.
Thailand's current account surpluses are forecast at $20 billion and $19.8 billion in 2020 and 2021, respectively, according to BAY.
Mr Tak said the US's fiscal and monetary policies, particularly keeping interest rates low and targeting twin deficits, meaning fiscal and current account deficits, to stimulate the US economy, will also cause the dollar to depreciate further, with the baht moving in the opposite direction.
The baht's strength is not expected to surge past 30 baht versus the dollar this year, attributed to the central bank's measures to stem foreign capital inflows, he said.
Tuesday's Cabinet meeting approved a Transport Ministry draft for new speed limits on Thai roads.
The draft ministerial regulation raises the speed limit on highways from 90 kilometres per hour to 120kph – but only for cars.
A limit of 90kph has been set for trucks weighing more than 2.2 tonnes and buses with room for more than 15 passengers. Minivans and buses with capacity for 7-15 passengers are limited to 100kph. A 65kph limit applies to cars towing another vehicle, small four-wheelers, and three-wheelers.
Meanwhile motorcycles have an 80kph speed limit, though big bikes of 35kW or more have a 100kph ceiling.
School buses are limited to 80kph.
The speed limits will apply on national and rural highways of four lanes separated by a barrier and without U-turn points.
The draft regulation also sets a minimum speed for the fast lane of highways of 100kph, aimed at easing traffic congestion and helping the transport sector.
The proposal will now be submitted to the Council of State for legal examination.
Turist näringen har försökt påverkar Thailand regering att öppna upp för massturism men det blev tvärstopp pgr av covid 19.
Thailands regering har inga planer på att öppna bubblor eller ta bort den två veckors långa karantänen innan Songkran 2021. Turist näringen har försökt med olika sätt att böja på reglerna men Thailand regering har satt ner foten. Anledningen är att värmen gör att antalet smittande går ner i värmen och man hoppas också att ett vaccin skall tagit bort udden av viruset. En annan anledning är att många som kommer tillbaka till Thailand nu är smittade, idag var det 21 stycken ett nytt rekord och man befarar att öppnar man upp för massturism är slaget förlorar.
Samtidigt i norra Thailand har man börjat leta efter 200 personer som man tror har smitit in genom gränsen till Burma. Burma har stängt ner sitt nattliv och många som jobbade där innan kommer nu hem till Thailand. Vissa av dem försöker smyga sig in för att undvika att sitta i karantän.
Förra veckan blev det stor snackis på internet när några tjejer postade hur dom smet in och sedan gick och festade runt i Chaing Mai. Dom var smittade och sitter nu i karantän.
Thailand myndigheter har hittat nya covid-19 fall i Norra Thailand och man fortsätter spåra efter dessa som smugit sig in.
Kiss any resemblance of general tourism to Thailand goodbye, at least until march next year, at the earliest. That's the outlook for Thailand's beleaguered tourism industry from the usually optimistic Minster for Sports and Tourism, Pipat Ratchakitprakan.
So, apart from the STV and the modified 60 day Tourist Visa, and a few other options – all involving quarantine and a lot of red-tape for now – there's not much good news on the horizon for people wishing to get back to Thailand right now. The minister's outlook wipes out any hope of any tourism resurgence for the 2020/2021 high season.
The Thai Hotel Association and The Thailand Travel Agents Association have been lobbying, even demanding, the Thai government to drop its mandatory quarantine provisions and urgently negotiate travel bubble with provinces in China and other nations that are currently "low risk" for Covid-19, including Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan.
But Pipat says everything is on hold at this stage and that the Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging caution in regards to any wholesale easing of restrictions.
"The country will continue with opening to businessmen, technical experts, high level workers and those in the medical field for now. 14 day quarantine will continue for now with many countries still in the grip of the pandemic."
He also noted that even Chinese officials are advising caution and suggest waiting until the hot season next year (mid year).
There was small outbreaks in 3 cities in China over the past few weeks, less than 10 cases in each city, where Chinese health officials rolled out quick response lockdown teams for the affected communities.
The Minister, indeed the Thai government and the CCSA, appear to be bowing to survey after survey which shows Thai people, around the country, are in favour of keeping the borders closed for now, despite the country's tourism and hospitality industry being decimated by the government's policies.
Early virus cases were linked to a market in Wuhan, but it could have originated elsewhere. (Photo: AFP)
PARIS: While many scientists are racing to find vaccines to tame the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, other researchers are probing the past, trying to unravel one of the greatest mysteries of the virus: exactly where it came from.
The World Health Organization has assembled an international team of 10 scientists to trace the origins of the virus.
They will have to investigate both the suspect animals and how the first patients may have been infected.
"We want to know the origin and we will do everything to know the origin," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Monday.
But success is by no means assured.
- Tracking the source -
The first cases were reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan a year ago, before countries across the world began to record growing infections.
The WHO said the first cases in Wuhan are believed to date from the beginning of December.
But "where an epidemic is first detected does not necessarily reflect where it started", it added in a November report.
In recent months, researchers in various countries have suggested that cases may have gone unnoticed long before December 2019, based on analysis of wastewater or blood samples.
But there is a lack of "clear evidence" to back up these claims, said Etienne Simon-Loriere, of the virology department at the Institut Pasteur in Paris.
To establish a virus family tree, researchers rely on genetic analysis.
This can help "better understand transmission dynamics, particularly how the virus may have evolved over time and how clusters might be related in time and place", the WHO said.
- Leap to humans -
Scientists agree that the disease has an animal origin.
"The big question is what led it to jump into humans," Etienne Simon-Loriere told AFP.
Suspicions have fallen on bats, which are "a major reservoir for coronaviruses", he adds.
But there would likely have been an intermediary animal to shepherd SARS-CoV-2 into people.
The pangolin -- a mammal subject to rampant regional wildlife smuggling -- was identified as a likely carrier early on based on genetic analysis. But the case is not settled.
WHO investigators will need to clarify this point by probing the wet market in Wuhan, which sold live and wild animals and has been linked to many of the early cases.
The team will be armed with clues we did not have at the start of the pandemic.
Simon-Loriere said they could look out for an animal with a virus receptor, a protein called ACE2, similar to the one found in humans.
It is through this receptor that the virus latches onto cells.
Some animals such as mink and ferrets have been found to have a very similar receptor to humans, while others are quite different.
Another origin theory that swirled in conspiracy rumours for months was that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was involved in the outbreak.
Against the backdrop of diplomatic tensions, US President Donald Trump touted the idea, claiming the virus could have leaked from the biosafety lab.
China has rejected the accusations.
While Simon-Loriere said it was not yet possible to completely rule out the idea that the virus escaped accidentally, he stressed that there was "no indication it was manmade".
"All the elements of its genome have already been observed in nature, mainly in bat coronaviruses," he said.
- Unravelling the riddle -
The WHO says understanding how an epidemic began is "essential to preventing further introductions to the human population".
But it has warned that the process of tracing how a disease jumped from animals "is a riddle that can take years to solve".
"The introduction of a new virus to the human population is one of the greatest mysteries an epidemiologist can hope to unravel," it said.
The goal is to "understand the mechanism and put in place measures to avoid the emergence of a new SARS-CoV-3, 4, etc.", said Simon-Loriere.
For example, during the 2002 SARS epidemic, a ban on the consumption of civet cats -- identified as an intermediary host of that coronavirus -- is credited with having helped prevent the reintroduction of the virus into humans.
The UN health agency sent an advance team to Beijing in July to lay the groundwork for the probe.
But it has remained unclear when the larger team will be able to travel to China to start its work.
In late November the WHO said it hoped to have a larger team of scientists on the ground "as soon as possible".
The US has accused Beijing of not being transparent, while it says the WHO kowtowed to China and dragged its feet in investigating how the outbreak first started.
Others have voiced concern that the agency may have allowed China to dictate the terms of an international investigation into the origins of the virus.
Tedros told critics to stop "politicising" the issue on Monday.
Thai girls to challenge authority with new school uniforms
In Thai classrooms, showing a rebellious or creative streak through what you wear is difficult.
School uniform rules are strict, down to how pupils' hair should be cut and the type of socks and shoes they are allowed to wear.
But as students around the country push back against what they call archaic rules and join a broader pro-democracy movement, a young clothing designer is throwing his support behind them in a colourful way.
Tin Tunsopon has taken the typical uniform of pleated skirts and white sailor shirts for girls and neat shorts and white shirts for boys and blown them up into exaggerated versions with huge collars and sleeve ruffles made from shoe laces.
"By re-creating these uniforms and giving them various designs…people can see that we should no longer be attached to the (traditional) uniforms anymore," 23-year-old Tin told Reuters.
The clothing line labeled the 'rule breakers' was launched in collaboration with the Wacoal lingerie brand in June with prices ranging from $100 to a top end of $475, for a long pleat skirt with a big bow.
Tin said they are designed for "modern day girls, who are not afraid to express themselves and move with confidence".
"The uniforms break away from the traditional forms, although still resembles a uniform … I want to support kids to be as creative as they can," said Tin
Tin has named his label 'Post-Thesis', a nod to his graduation project at Bangkok University, where he examined the purpose of uniforms and how they can be changed.
The rebellious movement sweeping through Thai high schools has been dubbed "Bad Student" by its leaders.
Students have worn white ribbons, publicly hacked off their hair and made "Hunger Games" salutes in a bid to shake up the country's rigid education system.
Vegetables and fruits in Thailand heavily contaminated
Vegetables and fruits in student lunches heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals in #Thailand.
Vegetables and fruits found in lunches for students under the government-sponsored lunch programme are almost 100 percent contaminated with pesticides and 99 percent of the urine samples from students and teachers in four provinces were tested with organophosphate, a deadly toxic pesticide that attacks nervous system.
The above alarming findings were the result of a research jointly conducted by Thai Education Foundation, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Field Alliance of Chiangmai University and Greenpeace Thailand on student lunches in 55 schools in Chiang Mai, Pathum Thani, Sakon Nakhon and Phang-nga provinces.
Student Lunches
Vegetables which are widely used in student lunches which were tested include carrot, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kale, long bean and tomato.
However, only two types of chemicals were tested – organophosphate and pyrethrum because organophosphate are widely used in insecticides for fruits and vegetables.
Thai Education Foundation secretary-general Marut Jatikate said that the most alarming findings appear to be the organophosphate residue found in 99 percent of the 436 urine samples from students and teachers in the four provinces.
Organophosphate poisoning symptoms include increased saliva and tear production, diarrhea, vomiting, small pupils, sweating, muscle tremors and confusion.
He said that the tests this time focused on two chemicals – organophosphate and pyrethrum – but they should have covered more toxic chemicals.
Nevertheless, he said findings from this research would be sent to the schools and parents of students in order that they would change the menu of student lunches but switching from mass-produced vegetables and fruits to organic vegetables and fruits which should be safer.
Besides the unsafe fruits and vegetables, Mr Marut said meat, meat balls and sausages used in student lunches were also found to be contaminated with borax and formalin. – ThaiPBS
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha speaks to reporters in Nonthaburi province on Saturday. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)
All eyes will be on the Constitutional Court on Wednesday when it delivers a ruling on the legality of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's continued occupancy of an army residence since his retirement from the military.
Police will also step up security at the court as anti-government protesters led by the Ratsadon movement have indicated their intention to demonstrate there.
Opposition MPs led by the main opposition Pheu Thai Party lodged a petition with the Constitutional Court through parliament president Chuan Leekpai on March 9 after the issue was raised during the opposition's censure debate against the government on Feb 25-27.
In the petition, Pheu Thai accused the prime minister of a conflict of interest by continuing to occupy the army residence in Bangkok.
It said Gen Prayut, who is also the defence minister, should have vacated the building when he retired as army chief in 2014, and that by staying on free of charge, he had broken army regulations.
The prime minister and his family reside in the house in question located at the 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Guard, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok.
Gen Prayut said on Monday that he would leave the decision to the court and respect the outcome, and insisted he had never abused his authority for his own benefit.
If the court rules against him he would move out and live in his own residence, the prime minister said.
Asked if he would move to Ban Phitsanulok, the prime minister's official residence on Phisanulok Road in Dusit district near Government House, Gen Prayut said that the residence was still under repair and was too big for him anyway.
After leading the coup that toppled the Pheu Thai-led administration on May 22, 2014, Gen Prayut retired as army commander-in-chief on Sept 30, 2014.
He remained prime minister and was returned to office following last year's general election.
The army has explained that the house the prime minister lives in is not a welfare house provided for top brass.
It was redesignated as "a visitor's house" in 2012. The army has also cited security as the reason why Gen Prayut needs to live inside the army compound.
A ruling against the prime minister would spell the end of his premiership, and also end the term of his current cabinet.
Palang Pracharath Party MP and chief government whip Wirat Ratanasate said on Monday that he and his colleagues had not yet discussed a list of prime ministerial candidates to replace Gen Prayut should the court rule against him.
However, Mr Wirat said he believed that the court would rule in favour of the prime minister.
"We may have to discuss the matter with coalition parties. Still, let's wait for the court's ruling. Don't jump to any conclusion that there will be a political accident. The outcome may turn out to be good," Mr Wirat said.
Pol Lt Gen Pakkapong Pongpetra, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), said that police had come up with security measures to handle anti-government protesters when they gather in front of the court on Wednesday.
He added that the MPB would also discuss security arrangements with the court to maintain order inside the premises during the rally.
Ramate Rattanachaweng, spokesman for the Democrat Party, on Monday warned protesters not to threaten or pressure the court as they could be sued for contempt of court.
They should cancel their planned gathering in front of the court, listen to the court's ruling carefully and respect the outcome, Mr Ramate said.
Chusak Sirinil, legal chief of Pheu Thai, the main opposition party, said he was confident the court would rule against the prime minister and decide he had used an army-owned house illegally after retiring from the military.
"A visitor's house is for temporary stays of seven to 10 days, not forever," he said.
The court will begin reading out its ruling at 3pm on Wednesday, by which time a large crowd of anti-government protesters is expected to have gathered outside, waiting for the result.
Prasert Chantararuangthong, Pheu Thai's secretary-general on Monday said that the army's citing of security as a reason for Gen Prayut to live in the army compound was unwarranted.
According to army regulations, when officers retire, they must leave army residences, Mr Prasert said, adding that the army was not directly responsible for providing security for prime ministers.
If the court rules against Gen Prayut, it remains to be seen whether other retired officials who still live in state-owned residences will be prosecuted, Mr Prasert said.
But if the court rules in favour of the prime minister, the opposition will study the ruling to see if there are any issues that could be used to launch a censure debate against the prime minister, he added.
Pheu Thai spokeswoman Arunee Kasayanont said the PM should resign even before the court's verdict is known. "Gen Prayut can make a graceful exit by resigningbefore Dec 2and thus respond to the demand of demonstrators," she said.
Phuket: Authorities are stepping up measures to help prevent an outbreak of Covid-19 on the resort island following reports of Thai returnees bypassing border checkpoints to re-enter the country without going into quarantine.
Speaking after chairing a meeting of the provincial committee on communicable diseases, deputy governor Pichet Panapong said the case of three Thai women who returned from Myanmar through an illegal border crossing without reporting to authorities and were found to be infected with the virus has sparked concerns.
He said local officials will be keeping an eye on migrant workers, especially those from Myanmar, and urged Myanmar workers to comply with disease control measures if they want to return to work in the province.
He said the meeting has also discussed the possibility of arranging a quarantine facility for illegal migrant workers in the province.
There are 59,000 registered migrant workers in the province and 80% of them are Myanmar nationals, he said.
"People can also act as eyes and ears for the authorities. If they find something suspicious in their communities, they should alert immigration police or local police," he said.
According to Mr Pichet, among the issues discussed by the communicable disease control committee was a request by the Thai Yachting Business Association to manage cruise ships during the Covid-19 pandemic and a proposal to extend the operating hours of shopping complexes during New Year festivities.
According to Phuket provincial authorities, as of Nov 29, a total of 726 people checked in for local quarantine, 20 in alternative local quarantine facilities and four in alternative yacht quarantine.
Of this number, only one person, a Dutchman who arrived with his wife on Nov 1 under the Special Tourist Visa scheme, tested positive for the virus. The infection was reported on Nov 5 and the man was sent for treatment at an affiliated hospital.
The province now has 21 alternative quarantine facilities with 2,554 rooms but the number of foreign visitors is not picking up. A total of 11 people asked to enter the province from Dec 4-12 and, so far, only one request has been filed for a visit in January. According to authorities, six foreign-flagged boats have entered Phuket since its partial reopening and all onboard are quarantined on their vessels 6km from shore.
