Some say cheaper flights to Phuket will entice people to visit the island and get the once booming tourist destination back on its feet. Along with talk of lowering the price of tickets, those at a stakeholder meeting at the Thai Airways International headquarters in Bangkok say more direct international flights to the island also need to be reinstated.
The lack of international travel due to the coronavirus crippled Phuket's tourism-dependent economy. The resort island province has been working on stimulating domestic tourism to make up for lost revenue and keep the tourism industry afloat.
Already you can get discount seats from Bangkok to Phuket, and return, for around 500 – 600 baht, taxes included, with Thai VietJet, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air (during a quick browse of the airline sites this morning). The taxi fare for the trip to Patong, Kat and Karon could cost you 800 – 1000 baht.
Last month, around 200,000 domestic tourists visited Phuket, but that number isn't close to what last year's numbers were. In 2019, over 14 million foreign visitors to Phuket brought in 470 billion baht, making up 90% of the province's tourism revenue.
While some tourism related businesses are able to adapt and now cater to a local customer base, some still need foreign tourists to survive. At the stakeholder meeting, Phuket governor Narong Woonciew suggested airlines add more flights, lowering ticket prices and drawing in more domestic visitors.
Thai Airways was going to resume flights from Bangkok to Phuket on Christmas, but pushed the date back to January 1 due to the recent Covid-19 infections.
Some people at the stakeholder meeting discussed reinstating direct flights from European countries. Even with a 14 day quarantine, international travel demand remains strong, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy governor Sirikorn Chieksamut. Thai Airways acting vice president for sales, Jesada Chandrema, says the proposal is "interesting and possible."
Top Scams in #Thailand and how to avoid them. The Kingdom of Thailand is often voted among the world's top destinations. The beautiful beaches, local food, #Buddhist temples, rural countryside and city-life are among the draws.
But that's not the whole story. Because behind all the fake smiles tourists and other visitors are being robbed blind.
Here is a list of FIVE ways you could be relived of your cash – and how to avoid that happening.
1. The Grand Palace is Closed
The Grand Palace in Bangkok
It is common for tourists and visitors of Bangkok to be told by tuk tuk and cab drivers that the Grand Palace is closed, for one reason or another.
Other popular tourist attractions are also closed, at the moment.
'But don't worry meester, I take you somewhere you like'
This means you are going straight to his friend's shop, restaurant, jewelry factory or anywhere else he has fixed up a deal for himself (a Bangkok Jack Report) to earn BIG commissions, at your expense.
Get out of the Tuk Tuk and make your own plans.
2. Dahleeeng – You Make me Pregnant
Easily avoided..
Thai women cannot be trusted. Whilst it is a shame to generalise like this because, of course, it is not always the case, generations of nasty little scammers have made this a well-deserved reputation.
It is still common for your long-distance girlfriend to announce she is pregnant, with your baby.
And then ask for help to pay for an abortion, or to raise the child. Married foreigners fall for this ALL THE TIME.
What they don't realise is she has written to ten or twenty other foreign boyfriends with the same story.
It's the Law of Averages in force. Most will not reply but three or four will pay up. And next month there will be three or four others.
There is also loose talk in Isaan about a potion – report stolen from bangkok jack and used without permission – that makes the belly swell up, in time for your visit.
Do your own careful research if you get a message like this and remember you are probably not the only one it is being sent to.
3. Jet Skis
Everyday tourists are renting jet-skis from beach vendors all over the Kingdom. And overtime they become a little battered.
Jet-ski operators will fill in bumps and cracks with a loose soap compound that dissolves as soon as it hits the water.
When you return, YOU will be paying for that dent. And if you complain you didn't hit anything a handy police officer comes along to threaten jail before sharing the spoils with the vendor.
The police claim they are cracking down on this, but why would they? They are in on it too.
Check youtube for more details of this obvious fraud.
4. Motorcycle Rental
Motorbike Rental – You have been warned
Before hiring any vehicle in Thailand you are asked to pay a sizable deposit. Maybe not sizable to you but perhaps a month's salary in Thailand for somebody.
In other words, worth having.
Sometimes you are even asked to leave your passport in the safe of the owner. (Which is something you MUST NEVER do.)
When you return you will find most of that deposit eaten up repairing bumps and scrapes that have nothing to do with you. That's if you are one of the lucky ones.
Because in other cases shop operators follow the tourist back to their room and, in the dead of night, use a spare key to 'steal' the bike back.
In this case ALL of your deposit has gone. PLUS a couple of thousand dollars for a new bike if you want your passport back.
Meanwhile the shop owner and police officer, you made the theft report to, are sharing out the spoils in the back office.
A week or so later and the bike is back on the pavement.
Again, not every motorbike rental shop behaves like this, but enough of them do to warrant a warning.
5. The Wrong Change
Keeping an eye on your cash
Everywhere you go, and especially in the familiar Seven Eleven or Family Mart stores, you could be overcharged.
Just short changing customers is common enough, so count it into your hand.
But the more 'sophisticated' scammer will add popular items to your bill that are not in your bag.
For example, you buy five packets of smokes, among other things. Then expect to have SIX rung through on the till.
The next customer who comes along buying a single pack does not have that cash put through the till, it goes straight in the pocket.
So, at the end of the day, the till balances, the stock balances and the cashier has TWO DOLLARS of a previous customer's cash in his or her pocket.
Same with beers, milk, chips or anything else a customer with a big basket will not notice is being added.
And then multiply that by hundreds, every day.
-Winston Smith, Cultural Misunderstanding Correspondent
Their Majesties the King and Queen clap during an audience granted to participants of the 'LOVE' camp for young volunteers at the 11th Infantry Regiment (King's Guard) in Bang Khen district on Saturday. Photo: Royal Thai Volunteers School Facebook.
"I'm just like other human beings. On some days I feel despondent. On some days I feel sad. On some days, I almost don't want to fight the bad things. But it's all human nature," His Majesty told a student who asked whether he ever felt tired having to work hard for his subjects.
"We come to realise that moral support doesn't come to us when we're at our strongest point. Never let despondence become the evil that pulls us down," His Majesty the King said.
At another point, His Majesty said: "We should think about the country and think about how the institution of the monarchy and the people are inseparable. We need only look at what His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great accomplished during his 70 years [reign]. Our younger generations may have forgotten about him."
Their Majesties the King and Queen on Saturday evening granted an audience to young volunteers joining the "LOVE" camp for volunteers at the 11thInfantry Regiment (King's Guard) in Bang Khen district. Their Majesties were presiding over the opening of the camp, which concluded on yesterday. LOVE stands for "leadership, oneness, volunteer and experience."
The training programme was held at the Royal Thai Volunteers School with 200 high school students from across the country including children of ethnic groups and the underprivileged taking part. The Royaljitarsa Facebook Page shared the content of Facebook user, "Fon Nongrat Issaro", who wrote about the event, revealing that His Majesty was welcoming to the participants.
The Facebook page also featured parts of the conversation between His Majesty and the youth taking part. A video clip of the event was released separately on YouTube. A young Hmong could not hold back her tears when she talked about her fears sparked by a rumour when His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great passed away. Rumours spread that Hmong would be evicted from Thailand after the change of the reign.
"I was scared I wouldn't have a place to stay and wouldn't go to school. It has been several years now but we have not been evicted. We are all good. And I get to go to school because of His Majesty."
His Majesty replied to the young student that every person, regardless of their ethnic origin, is Thai. He would not abandon Thais and would do everything for them, the King said.
More retirees than STV tourists come to Thailand after restrictions eased
Image: Bangkok BIz News
Thai media quoting a consular source at the foreign ministry said that foreign retirees were returning to Thailand after restrictions were eased in October.
The figures related to those issued with a CoE (Certificate of Entry) up to November 11th. Bangkok Business News said this was 1,907 people.
Of these the most was foreign retirees on O-A visas comprising 682 people.
In second place were 379 people on the STV or special tourist visa that allows stays up to 270 days after extensions.
In third were Elite Card holders at 357 people, Non-Imm B holders (businessmen) 169, Tourist Visa 150 and APEC card 113.
The next largest group were film and documentary makers at 44.
A new set of Thai banknotes, to commemorate the anniversary of His Majesty the King's coronation,have been released. The 1,000 baht note is larger than its original size and is printed in a portrait orientation in 3D magnetic ink, to prevent counterfeiting.
The 100 baht note is printed using the same technology. Both new notes featureillustrations of the coronation ceremonywere officially released yesterday (December 12th) by the Bank of Thailand.
Social media users, however, have been discussing the new banknotes, claiming that the new 100 looks similar to the old 1,000.
The new banknotes can be used like other banknotes in current circulation and can be exchanged through commercial banks, the Government Savings Bank, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Government Housing Bank, and the Islamic Bank of Thailand. The new 100 baht banknotes can also be withdrawn fromATM machines.
Commemorative 1,000 baht banknotes to commemorate the coronation of King Rama X [Credit: Bank of Thailand]Commemorative 100 baht banknotes to commemorate the coronation of King Rama X [Credit: Bank of Thailand]
Beware of its similarities!
Those who have used the new 100 baht notes have noticed the change of colour, which has caused confusion, especially with local merchants.
A Facebook fan–page, "Drama-addict", compared the new 100 baht with the original 1,000 baht banknote, and expressed concern that merchants, in a rush to give change to their customers, may confuse the notes.
Another Facebook user, "TheSpark Trader",said a merchant had mistakenly given them 950 baht change, after he used a new 100 baht note to pay for a 50 bahtpurchase.
The new 100 baht banknotes somehow looks similar to the original 1,000 baht banknotes if not noticed carefully [Credit: Drama-addict on Facebook]
Is your 1,000 baht banknote "as big as your wall?"
Users of Twitter and TikTok have been discussing the size of the new 1,000 baht banknotes, compared to the original.
Normally, Thai baht banknotes are no larger than 72x162mm.
With its unusual 127×181mm size and changed orientation, users have created memes around the new 1,000 baht note, one of which uses a catchphrase from a popular Thai drama, "Bai Mai Tee Plid Plew", where the female lead angrily asks "Is your 1,000 baht banknote as big as your wall?" (แบงค์พันเธอใหญ่เท่าฝาบ้านเหรอ).
"Of course, my 1,000 baht banknotes are as big as my wall, much bigger than anyone else's banknotes!!!!" [Credit: junji.199s on TikTok]
Large commemorative banknotes in the past
On many previous auspicious occasions, the Bank of Thailand has released commemorative banknotes, but they were never as big as the one released yesterday.
The previous largest commemorative banknote was released in 2016, where The Bank of Thailand released them to celebrate the 70th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's accession to the throne. The size of that special 70 baht banknote was 89×162 mm.
Back in 2011, a special 100 baht note was released to celebrate His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. The size was 84×162mm.
Another larger-than-normal banknote was released to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother's 80th Birthday back in 2012, but that was only 80×162mm.
Covid-19 second wave to hit year-end spending by Bt16 billion, economist warns
A tourist looks out at the Khanom-Sichon Sea in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on December 10.
The second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak will cost local tourism around Bt16 billion during the New Year holidays, says an economist.
Anusorn Tamajai, former dean at Rangsit University's Faculty of Economics, estimated that the second wave of Covid-19 infections would cost the local tourism industry Bt14.1 to Bt16.9 billion in lost revenue during the New Year festival.
His analysis comes amid rising cases of local infections after some infected patients entered Thailand illegally from Myanmar. While the United States has the most number of cases with over 16.5 million, followed by India -- almost 10 million -- Thailand ranks 151st among countries with over 4,000 cases.
He was optimistic that the number of new cases in Thailand would be contained as the government had put in place an effective tracing system.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier insisted that Thailand had not yet experienced a second wave.
Anusorn, however, said that concerns over the rising number of new cases was expected to discourage many people from travelling and spending during the year-end holiday season.
Revenue from Thai travellers during the last New Year was Bt28 billion. Many research houses have estimated that Thai consumers will cut their spending significantly while those who live in Bangkok are expected to spend about Bt30 billion, but it is below the average spending of the past two decades, he said.
Anusorn, however, added that if Thailand could not contain the second wave the Thai economy next year may grow less than 4 per cent, while the rising number of new cases in Thailand's trading partner countries would adversely affect Thai exports up to the first quarter of next year.
The National Economic and Social Development Council has forecast that the Thai economy will expand 4 to 5 per cent next year.
Regarding financial markets, Anusorn predicted that gold price would test a barrier at US$2,000 per ounce, as investors are worried about risk assets stemming from the delay in the US stimulus package and the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.
In the short run, gold price next week may move up to $1,845 to 1,850 per ounce, he said, while gold bar in Thailand may rise to Bt26,150 to 26,600 per baht weight.
The Thai baht is expected to appreciate further after it rose almost 4 per cent last month. The baht could rise to Bt29.50 per dollar by the end of this year, strengthening from the Bt30 level, he predicted. Foreign investors had net buys of Thai stocks worth Bt50 billion over one month and bonds worth Bt20 billion. They could sell Thai financial assets to make a profit before Christmas, he warned.
Meanwhile, the rising unemployed benefit claims in the US had put high pressure on the dollar, he said.
The US economy has shown signs of decelerating at the end of this year. The return of the global economy to normal next year would depend on the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccines, he said.
He did not expect the US Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan to further loosen monetary policies during their meeting next week.
COVID-19 among returnees from Thachilek is the highly infectious G-strain
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COVID-19 carried by returnees from Myanmar's Thachilek township has been identified as the G strain of the virus, which is easily transmitted and causes more severe symptoms than other strains, said Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of Disease Control Department, today (Saturday).
49 of the hundreds of people returning from Myanmar have tested positive for COVID-19 and they are now scattered across seven provinces; 37 in Chiang Rai, 5 in Chiang Mai, 3 in Bangkok and 1 each in Phayao, Phichit, Ratchaburi and Sing Buri.
The 49 include nine cases among 107 who returned to Mae Sai district, of Thailand's northern province of Chiang Rai, through orderly repatriation arranged by Thai and Myanmar officials under the Thai-Myanmar Border Committee framework.
Dr. Opas said that the G-strain, which was originally identified in India, is widespread in Myanmar but is now contained to limited areas in Thailand, adding that 80% of COVID-19 cases globally are of the G-strain.
About 400 Thais remain stranded in Thachilek, waiting to return via the Mae Sai border checkpoint. Most had illegally crossed into Myanmar to work in entertainment and gambling venues in Thachilek.
According to Myanmar law, they will be taken to court to pay fines for illegal entry before they can be repatriated.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sophon Iamsirithavorn, director of the Communicable Diseases Division of Thailand's Disease Control Department, said that 12 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Thailand today.
They include seven arriving from Bahrain and one each from Germany, Sweden UK, India and Kuwait.
Thailand's Tourism Industry Meets - Asks for Opening of Borders and Skies
By Andrew Wood
Image: Reuters file photo
With over 130 of Thailand's top travel and tourism executives and guests joining together at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel, attendance exceeded expectations.
Sponsored by 8 major corporations THAI Airways, The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Serenity Wines, Thai Smile Airways, Paulaner, Bangkok Airline Representatives (BAR), NIDA Graduate School of Tourism Management and CoffeeWORKS. Prizes were donated by over 30 different industry providers from every corner of Thailand with more than 43 prizes offered to raise funds for charity.
Host Sammy Carolus, Skålleague and GM at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel and all of his team received the organisors' special thanks for their great offerings and outstanding service on the day. Special mention was made of the hotel's organisational professionalism, cooperation and flexibility.
Recognising the extraordinary times and challenges that the industry faces Skål Bangkok's President Andrew Wood said, "The World of Tourism in our Covid-19 environment is in a very different place to 12 months ago. As an industry we have an uphill battle to survive and thrive and we must make every effort to lobby those with the power to enact change, for their understanding that the coronavirus like other viruses is among us, and like flu 98% of people do recover after an infection of Covid-19. Accepting a sensible level of risk and a gradual and safe reopening of our borders and skies must happen soon to avoid lasting structural damage to our tourism industry.
"The virus cannot be completely eradicated and we cannot give up. As a global industry we are too large and too critical to the overall strength of the economy especially here in Thailand. We have 'fought' too long and battled too many crisis to fail now.
Wood continued, "Today we take a pause and reflect on a better and brighter future. With vaccines around the corner and a focus on what is possible, building on that and by working together and coming up with sensible and achievable goals. I am confident with all the creative minds and willingness to succeed we will persevere," he said.
The next meeting of Skål Bangkok takes place next month on Tuesday 12th January 2021, a lunch event on the river at the Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok. Members, non members and guests are encouraged to attend the business networking meeting. For details and reservations email: events.skalbkk@gmail.com
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