TAT chief admits it could be THREE YEARS before Thai tourism is back to normal - Thai Visa

TAT chief admits it could be THREE YEARS before Thai tourism is back to normal

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TAT chief admits it could be THREE YEARS before Thai tourism is back to normal

Image: The Bangkok Insight

Following widespread criticism that Thailand's tourism authorities were being overly optimistic some realism and acceptance of the future is starting to set in.

The penny seems to have finally dropped with Tourism of Thailand governor Yutthasak Suphasorn who was speaking to The Bangkok Insight yesterday. 

Though he still expressed hope that the so-called "vaccine passport" could help by ending tourists' need to quarantine.

His comments come as industry leaders have urged the government to save what is left of the ailing tourism sector - 20% of Thai GDP at least - before it is too late and there is nothing for foreign tourists to return to.

Yuttthasak was no longer plucking figures from the ether about 10 million foreign tourists visiting this year. In fact no figures were given at all.

His comments were much more guarded though there was still some cause for optimism in his remarks.

He said that it would be 2 to 3 years before Thailand's tourism sector was back to anything like normal. He said he expects foreigners to start coming again by mid-year "but not fully". 

He thought that this January had seen the worst of Covid and things were looking brighter now.

He expected Thais to start travelling again at Songkran (in April) claiming that they were raring to go. He expected the government to be facillitating this. 

Last year the entire festival was cancelled amid fears of a spread of the virus, notes Thaivisa. What form it takes this year remains to be seen and will largely depend on what degree the second wave outbreak is under control come the tradition Thai New Year holidays.

Yutthasak admitted the tourism operators were in dire straits; he stressed the need for support for staff and downtime to be used in what he called "upskill" and "reskill" of workers.

He observed that the tourism economy was an important driver for the wider Thai economy.

The governor struck a positive note when it came to certain aspects of the return of foreign tourists.

He said that he was receiving good reports from 29 TAT offices worldwide regarding vaccine programs abroad.

He cited the example of the Scandinavians who he claimed all wanted to beat a path to Thailand's door in the hot season.

Thaivisa notes that this seemed strange. Scandinavians were previously well known for largely ignoring Thailand in the hot season and in the European summer, favoring places like Krabi in particular in the cold European winter.

Many TAT offices, he said, pointed to the return of foreign tourists to Thailand in the FOURTH quarter. Previously he was bullish about the third quarter that begins in June. 

He also noted that tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan's "vaccine passport" plan had merit and had been discussed at a small cabinet committee. 

If given the go ahead this would see foreigners not having to quarantine when they come to Thailand. 

All along since the days of the much ridiculed STV, quarantine has been seen by everyone outside the tourism ministry and TAT as a major obstacle to foreign tourism. 

The special tourist visa is now not even being mentioned.

Other tourism leaders quoted by the media also put faith in a vaccine passport and said that government support for tourism businesses needed to be fast before they went under.

Yutthasak said they needed to "grit their teeth".

Government policy regarding tourism needed to be clear, said the leaders.

And therein lies the nub of the matter. 

Critics have noted the "flip-flop" of the Thai government pinning their hopes on one false dawn after another. They have said there is a lack of overall strategy with different ministries, departments and individuals competing for the limelight with one ill thought out scheme after another. 

Now many are pointing fingers when it comes to the rollout of vaccinations inside Thailand. 

With June before mass vaccinations begin some are saying this is too slow while the whole procurement process of vaccination doses, the companies involved and possible vested interests, are all coming under increased scrutiny both in Thailand and abroad. 

Comments from senior leaders like health minister Anutin Charnvirakul and DPM Prawit Wongsuwan in dismissing criticism and being economical with information have done nothing to allay concerns.

Source: The Bangkok Insight

Spike in capital sees screening ramped up



Spike in capital sees screening ramped up

People wait for their turn to go inside Siam Rattana near Wong Wiang Yai on Friday as the shop offers discounted items to help those affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Apichart Jinakul / Bangkok Post

Dr Chakkarat Pittayawong-anont, director of the epidemiology division at the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said public officials are ramping up proactive screening in six districts after a large number cases were confirmed, reports the Bangkok Post.

The six districts are Bang Kae, Phasi Charoen, Bang Khunthian, Chom Thong, Nong Khaem and Bang Bon.

He said the cases are linked to factory workers and surrounding communities in Phasi Charoen district. However there is no indication that the virus has spread to schools or to the public transport system.

"Residents in these districts are advised to take extra health precautions, particularly wearing face masks when visiting markets," he stressed.

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, spokesperson for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said on Friday that so far the "Sentinel Surveillance" programme launched in the six districts had uncovered 54 new infections.

He said that a total of 13,042 workers in 113 factories had been tested so far.

To help with contact tracing and disease control, the workers are now required to download and use the "Mor Chana" application, he said.

Dr Apisamai Srirangsun, assistant spokeswoman of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said a study on viral infections in urban communities indicated that people are more at risk of contracting Covid-19 from social gatherings and at work places than anywhere else.

She said an investigation into COVID-19 infections at a beauty clinic in Bangkok, where five out of seven workers were infected, found the group had meals together every day and shared utensils.

Another investigation into infections at a department of a company also in Bangkok showed that the employees had not not worn face masks while socialising. The department had 10 employees of whom nine had tested positive.

The CCSA on Friday reported 586 new COVID-19 cases across the country – 573 local infections and 13 imported, raising the total to 22,644.

Bangkok had 18 new cases, all testing positive at hospitals, comprising 14 Thais and four Myanmar people. Samut Sakhon province continued to record the highest number with 548 new infections, although that marked a decrease from the 700-800 a day being reported last week.

Four Bangkok parties infect nearly 40 people: CCSA

 Four Bangkok parties infect nearly 40 people: CCSA

Dr Apisamai Srirangsan, assistant spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration

Four private celebrations in Bangkok resulted in several confirmed Covid-19 cases, Dr Apisamai Srirangsan, assistant spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Friday.

The first celebration involved 30 attendees, of whom nine tested positive, while 10 were confirmed negative because they only arrived to deliver presents and left. The remaining 11 are under surveillance in quarantine facilities.

Investigators learned that the nine had been infected because they were sharing glasses in a drinking game, had stayed at the party for a long time, used their fingers to consume food and pick up ice and were all drunk.

The second party had 13 attendees, 10 of whom tested positive. The virus was transmitted for the same reasons – sharing glasses, spending too long together, picking food with fingers and getting drunk.

The third party had seven people attending and they were all infected. The party was held in a badly ventilated room and partygoers shared glasses and danced close to each other without masks.

All 13 attendees of the fourth party tested positive and once again the reason was sharing glasses and staying in the same place for too long.

Dr Apisamai said that despite efforts to maintain control measures, such as social-distancing, masks and using separate utensils, booze remained the key factor in infections.

Citing the World Health Organisation's health standards, she said after two glasses of booze people start relaxing, feeling sleepy, have a low response to the environment and lose their inhibitions. These are the four key reasons why CCSA has banned the serving of alcohol in public places.

DPM confirms Thais will start receiving vaccinations in June at a rate of 5 million doses a month - NNT

DPM confirms Thais will start receiving vaccinations in June at a rate of 5 million doses a month

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has confirmed that Thai people will begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in June at a rate of 5 million doses a month using shots from Siam Bioessence, which was transfered production technology from AstraZeneca and is poised to be a production base for ASEAN.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Chanvirakul, speaking at the "Producing a COVID Vaccine to Turn Around the Thai Economy" seminar, remarked that anti COVID-19 vaccinations will return Thailand to a state of normalcy and explained there is a clear inoculation plan despite concerns the EU is restricting exports and could hinder Thai orders from AstraZeneca. 

 

He voiced an assurance that 26 million doses resulting from a technology transfer between AstraZeneca and Siam Bioessence would be available in June, adding Thailand is slated to become a production hub in ASEAN.

 

The DPM urged confidence in the government's plan to provide 5 million doses a month at no cost to the public.

 

The DPM went on to note Thailand's pandemic situation has been light compared to other countries but said the government was applying full control measures, pointing out the new wave of infection was no one in the country's fault but was due to outsiders bringing in the virus, requiring strict enforcement of the law.

 

Thai doctors remove TWO METER tapeworm from man during surgery - Daily News

Thai doctors remove TWO METER tapeworm from man during surgery

 

Picture: Daily News

 

A Facebook post from surgeons at Bung Kan hospital in Thailand's north east could easily put you off your dinner, reported Daily News. 

 

A 79 year old man who had complained of pains in his abdomen was scheduled for surgery to remove a tumor from his bile duct.

 

A camera was put down his mouth to facilitate this but when the camera was removed it was attached to a tapeworm that had been living in the area.

 

As the surgeons pulled it kept coming and coming - two meters long in all!

 

Tapeworms can appear in people after consuming uncooked pork, beef or buffalo meat. These are common in Isaan dishes such as Laap and naem. 

 

They can also occur after infection from animal feces in water or after contact with an infected person. 

 

Source: Daily News 

Thai students lack critical thinking - Bangkok Jack / Bangkok Post

Thai students lack critical thinking

February 4, 2021

Thai schoolgirls - Library image

The education system in Thailand has failed to equip its students with crucial skills for the 21st century job market such as critical thinking, problem-solving and foreign language proficiency.

Its educational culture is to blame, according to Crimson Education Thailand, a consulting company that helps Thai students win entry to the world's elite universities.

Sujaree Xu, managing director of Crimson Education Thailand, criticised the outdated curriculum and educational culture in Thailand, saying they do not focus on the development of soft skills, such as extracurricular activities and promotion of independent thinking.

Ms Sujaree said radical change is needed in how Thai students are educated, which means tackling the root of the problem in Thai education — the social norms of Thai culture.

"The educational system tends to focus heavily on content and not necessarily the thought process, so true understanding is often not present," Ms Sujaree said.

"Thai education does not encourage critical thinking or inquisitive learning so students struggle to apply knowledge or understanding at a fundamental level."

Consequently, Thai students are often ill-equipped to enter debates or think analytically when competing on the global stage, as Thai students are rarely encouraged to have their own free thought or question what they have been told.

"So, Thai students need to accept learning as an acquisition of skills, or rather an ability to learn, analyse and think critically, rather than see learning as merely data or content acquisition," Ms Sujaree said.

As a result, Ms Sujaree said Thai parents increasingly understand that if they want their children to be able to compete in workforce's in other countries, they might need to send their kids to study in international programmes, international universities in Thailand or even overseas universities as foreign degrees remain an excellent calling card with employers. – The Bangkok Post 

The problem of Thailand’s aging society - Bangkok Jack

The problem of Thailand's aging society

February 4, 2021

The number of people aged 60 and over in Thailand now stands at about eight million

#Thailand is gearing up for a big push to escape the middle-income trap. But existing demographic imbalances will seriously affect its ability to deliver on its current economic development plans.

In 2011, Thailand became an upper-middle- income economy. With average income now at $5,640, Thailand is facing slow economic growth, a loss of competitive edge, and high levels of economic inequality.

Addressing these issues sits at the heart of the present government's social and economic development plan and the Thailand 4.0 goal announced last year.

Both place emphasis on technology and innovation, transport infrastructure upgrades, and human resources improvements through education reform.

To reduce income disparities, strategies have been designed to increase growth in the north-east and north, where pockets of poverty remain.

However, for a decade, Thailand has been facing labour shortages and is on the fast track to becoming an aged society—this will affect the government's ability to realize the grand strategies to achieve high income status.

Along with China, the land of smiles currently has the highest share of elderly population among developing countries in the Asia- Pacific. The fertility rate is now 1.5, the second lowest in South-East Asia.

The World Bank estimates that by 2040, 42% of Thais will be over 65 years old. An impact of the low birth rate is a decline in unemployment rates, which has continued since 2007.

Lack of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled labour is prevalent, especially in manufacturing and the service sectors.

A shrinking working-age population reduces growth and lowers the state's capacity to provide welfare to the dependent young and elderly.

Given that Thailand is poorer than most aging societies, the issue is of grave concern.

Its aging society is not new but Thailand is still at the nascent stage of addressing it. The department of older persons was formed in 2015 to provide welfare to the elderly, promote their rights and develop their capacities.

But current plans are still limited to increasing stipends, which are still very meagre for the elderly poor—from $18 to between $35 and $44, provision of skills training and job placement services and incentives to private employers to extend the retirement age.

None of this has yet been implemented.

For three years, the office of the civil service commission has been pushing to change the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Yet the proposal has not been adopted. It is also still unclear how pension schemes for people with social security will change.

Pensions from this source are very limited and will not be enough to meet the cost of living in the next 30-40 years.

Plans to encourage fertility are absent. Increases in the income and educational attainments of women may lead to late or no marriage. Other factors also contribute.

The new generation now has high expectations of life, preferring to wait until they are ready financially and have reached career fulfilment before settling down and having children.

Early childcare can disrupt a woman's career progress. Unlike Singapore, daycare for children and education costs are not high.

The government is making progress in expanding child development centres across the country. But this has not led to an increase in the fertility rate.

For some decades, arranged marriages and traditional match-making have been replaced by romantic marriages.

But the rush of urban life does not leave time for people to meet potential partners.

Women don't actively look for partners, so finding dates online is not common. A study should be conducted on why people remain single or marry late.

As in Singapore, the government should try to promote romance and dating and employ tax and child subsidy incentives for married couples.

Fertility treatment subsidies may be provided for older couples with reproductive difficulties. These initiatives do not exist currently.

Immigration may be a solution for labour shortages, a decreased working-age population and low fertility rates.

The US and Europe have seen 47% and 70% increases, respectively, in the workforce from migrants who contribute taxes to support social welfare.

Thailand has over three million foreign migrants from neighbouring countries, mostly unskilled labour.

But the government has been struggling to solve issues related to human trafficking and undocumented migrant labourers.

A law passed recently even raises penalties for non-conforming employers, aggravating labour scarcity.

The laws make it very difficult for legal migrants to seek permanent residency which will allow their children, born in the country, to become Thai citizens.

The quota for each nationality to obtain permanent residency is limited to 100 per year. Also, the Thai people are still not very open to foreign immigration.

A sufficient workforce and demographic balance are crucial to the social and economic advancement of the country.

Without these, Thailand cannot achieve its goals. Tackling these problems is an urgent matter but requires long-term and creative plans. 

Thai fisherman finds rare orange pearl worth $330K February 5, 2021 - Bangkok Jack

Thai fisherman finds rare orange pearl worth $330K

February 5, 2021

It's rare enough to find a pearl in a shell, so to happen upon an extraordinary orange pearl — worth more than $330,000 — was like winning the lottery for one Thai fisherman.

Brothers Hatchai Niyomdecha, 37, and Worachat Niyomdecha, 35, were walking the shore of Nakhon Si Thammarat in the Gulf of Thailand on Jan. 27. when they spotted an abandoned buoy, dotted with shellfish, according to Viral Press.

The siblings plucked three snails from the apparatus with plans to have them for a snack. But what their father Bangmad Niyomdecha, 60, found while cleaning the shells was worth much more than fresh escargot.

The tangerine-hued pearl, which is about the width of a dime and weighs 7.68 grams, was found in the Melo melo sea snail, as opposed to typical oyster pearls.

These exceedingly rare pearls, formed in a gastropod native to Asian waters, can be found in shades from tan or brown to the more coveted orange color, and take many more years to form than standard pearls.

Brothers Hatchai Niyomdecha and Worachat Niyomdecha were walking along the ocean in Nakhon Si Thammarat when they spotted a buoy in the sand. – ViralPress

Hatchai, whose family hails from an impoverished fishing community, believes it may have been destiny that led him to the treasure.

"An old man in white with a long mustache told me to come to the beach so I can receive a gift. I think he led me to finding the pearl," he said of a dream he had just days before the discovery.

The pearl is about the width of a dime and weighs 7.68 grams. – ViralPress

"I want to sell the pearl for the highest price," he told Viral Press. "The money won't just change my life, it will change my destiny. My whole family will have better lives."

He was since approached by at least three buyers, two of whom low-balled the pearl's value.

The family, including wife Worachat Niyomdecha, 35, and their two sons, is negotiating with a buyer from China who is allegedly offering $10 million Baht (about $332,000) following a live appraisal, scheduled for later this month.

The pearl may go to a trader from China who is offering up to $10 million Baht. 

5/2



The British/Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will ship 150,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Thailand from a manufacturing plant based in Asia, rather than from Italy, in a bid to ensure no delivery delays, the government said on Thursday. - Bangkok Post

AstraZeneca to send Covid jabs from Asia

NVI director Nakorn Premsri, left, joins Disease Control Department director-general Opas Kankawinphong, centre, and AstraZeneca Thailand president James Teak at a signing ceremony at Government House last November. (Government House photo)

The British/Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will ship 150,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Thailand from a manufacturing plant based in Asia, rather than from Italy, in a bid to ensure no delivery delays, the government said on Thursday.

The announcement was relayed by Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, who said AstraZeneca sent a letter on Wednesday explaining the steps it will take to avoid disruptions to vaccine deliveries to Thailand, following the European Union's decision to temporarily suspend vaccine exports from the bloc.

That said, the minister stopped short of confirming the exact date when the vaccines are due to arrive in the country.

The letter, Mr Anutin said, also urged the government to approve the licences and permits required to import the vaccines, as they will now come from Asia rather than Europe.

This is important as AstraZeneca was only approved by the Thai Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to import Covid-19 vaccines from its manufacturing facilities in Europe.

Some 50,000 doses of the vaccines will be on their way to Thailand soon under this licence -- however, the 150,000 doses which are scheduled to arrive in March and April will now be produced in Asia, as the EU moved to protect its own vaccine supplies by halting exports outside the region.

"We have put our best efforts in to secure vaccines, and we are expecting good news to come shortly," Mr Anutin said.

"If we get it, it will allow us to test our vaccine distribution network.

"Anyway, even if we don't get it, it won't have an impact on our plan to give 26 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Thais in June," he said, adding the need for vaccines isn't as urgent as before, as the outbreak in Samut Sakhon has been brought largely under control.

The Public Health Ministry has secured an additional 35 million doses from AstraZeneca, which means the government now has 61 million doses in total, enough to inoculate just over 30 million Thais as planned, Mr Anutin said.

While Siam Bioscience is expected to eventually produce AstraZeneca's vaccine locally under a technology-transfer agreement, Mr Anutin said it is AstraZeneca's responsibility to ensure Thailand gets the vaccines it had bought, regardless of where they were produced.

"We have signed a contract with AstraZeneca for at least 61 million doses, not with Siam Bioscience. If Siam Bioscience's plant can't produce the vaccine, it means nothing to us. This is because the purchase agreement clearly stated that AstraZeneca will provide the vaccine, not Siam Bioscience," he stressed. 

Thailand to get vaccine from Asia after EU export control, minister Anutin says - Reuters

Thailand to get vaccine from Asia after EU export control, minister Anutin says

 

FILE PHOTO: Vials labelled "COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" are placed on dry ice in this illustration taken, December 4, 2020. Picture taken December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will import the first doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine from Asia after Europe enforced export controls, the country's health minister said on Thursday.

 

The European Union (EU) last week set restrictions on the export of vaccines from the bloc through to March to ensure it will secure the supplies it had bought in advance, including shots from AstraZeneca Plc.

 

Thailand will still import the first 50,000 of 150,000 "early doses" of the AstraZeneca vaccine later this month, just not from Europe as previously planned, said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

 

"The producer will source the vaccine from another supply chain outside of the EU," minister of public health Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters.

 

"It will be from somewhere in Asia," he said without elaborating because he said otherwise there was a risk of another intervention to safeguard supplies.

 

South Korea and India are among the countries in Asia currently producing the AstraZeneca vaccine.

 

China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd will also deliver the first 200,000 of two million doses of its vaccine that Thailand had ordered around the end of February, Anutin added.

 

Thailand's vaccine strategy relies mostly on AstraZeneca vaccines being produced by local manufacturer Siam Bioscience.

 

The 26 million doses to be produced by the firm are set to be used in inoculations starting in June. Thailand plans to inoculate people with five million doses every month from that point, Anutin said.

 

Thailand had ordered 35 million more vaccine doses from AstraZeneca, but Anutin said on Thursday a contract for the volume had not been signed.

 

Earlier on Thursday, Thailand reported 809 new coronavirus cases and no additional deaths, its COVID-19 taskforce said.

 

The new infections took the overall total to 22,058, with fatalities remaining at 79.

 

(Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Ed Davies)

 



Thailand intensifies talks with EU for quick purchase of AstraZeneca vaccine - The Nation

Thailand intensifies talks with EU for quick purchase of AstraZeneca vaccine

National

Feb 04. 2021

Ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattaphum Wongrajit

By The Nation

The Public Health Ministry has stepped up negotiations with British vaccine company AstraZeneca to import the first lot of its anti-Covid-19 vaccines this month and is also asking the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider importing and registering China's Sinovac vaccine faster.

Ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattaphum Wongrajit said on Wednesday that Thailand aimed to procure the first lot of 50,000 AstraZeneca vaccines by February 14 despite the European Union limiting exports amid delivery disputes and a shortage of doses.

He said there was an agreement before the problem arose but now the Thai government is providing information to the EU for the purchase of the vaccines.

The ministry expects the EU to consider Thailand's case and allow the first lot of vaccines to be exported upon agreement, before the kingdom goes in for bulk vaccine imports in June.

In addition, the FDA is now studying laws for the "emergency" import of Sinovac, manufactured by the Biotech company. Thailand expects to import this vaccine too this month. 

Johnson & Johnson to register its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine in Thailand - Pattaya Mail

Johnson & Johnson to register its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine in Thailand

Pattaya MailFebruary 4, 2021

Thai FDA said Johnson & Johnson has applied to register its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine.

BANGKOK – According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Johnson & Johnson is seeking to register its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine in Thailand.



Dr Surachoke Tangwiwat, deputy secretary-general of the FDA said the company has applied to register their vaccine with the FDA but some documents were missing.

The company is required to have the relevant papers and file them within 30 days, he said.

In the meantime, the FDA is examining the filed papers that have been submitted, Dr Surachoke said, adding that no other company has recently applied to register their coronavirus vaccine.

The FDA last week revealed that it approved the registration of AstraZeneca Co's vaccine after the firm submitted nearly 10,000 pages of documents in December.

As for the registration of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Surachoke said although it has yet to be registered for use in China, the jab could be allowed to be used in Thailand if the FDA determines it is safe and effective. (NNT)