COVID-19 SATURDAY UPDATE: Provincial Totals By Neill FrondeSaturday, November 6, 2021 15:25. The Thaiger

COVID-19 SATURDAY UPDATE: Provincial Totals

By 

Neill Fronde

Saturday, November 6, 2021 15:25

Today, the CCSA reported 8,467 new Covid-19 infections, up 317 since yesterday, and 69 Coronavirus-related deaths, down 11 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,931,166 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported.

In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 8,288 recoveries, up 50 from yesterday. There are now 97,410 people currently receiving treatment for Covid-19, down 60 from yesterday, including 2,054 in the ICU and 447 on ventilators.

Of the new Covid-19 infections, 880 were found in correctional facilities, 189 were identified by community testing, and 7,385 were uncovered by walk-in testing. 3,300 antigen test kits were used, though their results are officially considered inconclusive.

COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

While the official figures from the Department of Disease Control have been changed and revised frequently, with daily figures sometimes being changed by hundreds of thousands of vaccines, the below represents the most current information on Covid-19 vaccinations the DDC has released, however accurate it may be.

Yesterday surpassed 79 million total vaccines administered in Thailand, with 33.1 million people fully vaccinated and 43.38 million receiving their first dose only, while nearly 2.56 million people have received Covid-19 booster shots so far.

OTHER COVID-19 NEWS

• Paxlovid by Pfizer reduces Covid-19 hospitalisation, death by 89%
• Thailand now equipped to perform 120,000 RT-PCR tests daily
• Covid-19 subsiding in Philippines drops capital region to Alert Level 2
• UPDATED: 40 Covid-19 infections prompt closure of Mukdahan school
• Workers returning from provinces can get second, third vaccine doses in Bangkok
• Government approves budget of over 3.6 billion baht for Thai vaccine development

COVID-19 PROVINCIAL TOTALS

As Thailand's reopening gets underway, the country focuses on Covid-19 infections in tourist provinces. Phuket saw no new deaths and 62 new infections in the last 24 hours, with one new Sandbox infection and 2 new Test & Go cases, but none in other entry schemes. A total of 15,542 total infections and 123 deaths (included 55 in September and 44 in October) have been recorded in the provinces since the start of the third wave in April. Hospitalisations have dropped to 651 people, steadily declining.

Chon Buri has seen falling numbers as well, down for the 1,000 range last month to just 294 in the last 24 hours, though there were 3 new deaths, all between 65 and 92 years old. 1,227 people were released from medical care with 5,116 still remaining. 730 people total have died in the third wave of Covid-19 with 102,993 total infections. Some key tourist provincial totals over the past week:

With a surge in Covid-19 infections in the correctional facilities throughout Thailand, the prison system that is calculated separately from other infections is the most infected "province" in today's update, surpassing Bangkok.

Nong Bua Lamphu was the only province without any new Covid-19 in today's report, and of note, Mae Hong Son, the province with the least Covid-19 in Thailand with an average of 21 infections per day in the last 2 months, has seen a spike this week with 2 days in the 100 range. The provinces with the highest number of new Covid-19 infections over the last 24 hours are as follows:

	PROVINCE	TODAY	FROM YESTERDAY	TOTAL
5	Prisons	880	▲	77,056
1	Bangkok	809	▲	403,955
28	Chiang Mai	487	▲	18,807
7	Songkhla	462	▼	49,972
16	Nakhon Si Thammarat	449	▲	32,051
10	Pattani	437	▲	39,621
8	Yala	321	▼	42,711
3	Chonburi	294	▼	103,000
12	Narathiwat	218	▲	37,624
2	Samut Prakan	197	▼	123,810

Full provincial Covid-19 figures are below:

RANK	CENTRAL PROVINCES	TODAY		TOTAL
1	Bangkok	809	▲	403,955
2	Samut Prakan	197	▼	123,810
4	Samut Sakhon	48	▼	92,768
6	Nonthaburi	110	▲	57,493
11	Pathum Thani	68	▲	38,562
14	Nakhon Pathom	34	▼	33,754
17	Saraburi	84	▲	30,266
18	Ayutthaya	98	▲	29,855
32	Lopburi	53	▼	16,573
37	Nakhon Sawan	87	▲	14,722
38	Suphan Buri	35	▲	13,305
43	Ang Thong	11	▲	10,672
44	Samut Songkhram	31	▲	10,442
45	Nakhon Nayok	18	▲	10,389
46	Phetchabun	35	▲	10,096
52	Kamphaeng Phet	8	▲	7,769
55	Phitsanulok	81	▼	6,409
56	Sukhothai	18	▲	5,849
60	Phichit	28	▲	4,911
67	Uthai Thani	3	▲	3,126
68	Sing Buri	15	▼	2,988
72	Chai Nat	15	▼	2,521
RANK	EASTERN PROVINCES	TODAY		TOTAL
3	Chonburi	294	▼	103,000
9	Rayong	148	▲	42,110
15	Chachoengsao	87	▼	33,004
20	Prachinburi	137	▼	23,036
26	Chanthaburi	122	▼	19,396
36	Sa Kaeo	95	▲	14,762
53	Trat	54	▲	7,728
RANK	NORTHERN PROVINCES	TODAY		TOTAL
28	Chiang Mai	487	▲	18,807
62	Chiang Rai	47	▲	4,488
63	Uttaradit	8	▲	4,287
70	Lamphun	10	▼	2,815
71	Lampang	25	▲	2,732
73	Nan	2	▼	2,465
75	Phayao	7	▼	2,116
77	Phrae	8	▲	1,831
78	Mae Hong Son	40	▼	1,798
RANK	NORTHEASTERN PROVINCES	TODAY		TOTAL
19	Nakhon Ratchasima	80	▲	29,658
25	Khon Kaen	191	▲	19,462
27	Ubon Ratchathani	71	▲	19,268
29	Udon Thani	132	▲	18,352
30	Buriram	73	▲	16,912
31	Surin	31	▲	16,884
33	Sisaket	21	▼	16,270
40	Roi Et	14	▲	12,659
42	Maha Sarakham	27	▲	10,921
47	Chaiyaphum	21	▼	10,015
50	Kalasin	31	▲	9,161
54	Sakon Nakhon	18	▲	7,706
57	Yasothon	2	▼	5,330
61	Nakhon Phanom	3	▲	4,885
64	Nong Bua Lamphu	0	▼	4,242
65	Nong Khai	33	▼	3,990
66	Loei	31	▲	3,892
69	Amnat Charoen	4	▲	2,935
74	Mukdahan	15	▲	2,335
76	Bueng Kan	9	▼	2,058
RANK	SOUTHERN PROVINCES	TODAY		TOTAL
7	Songkhla	462	▼	49,972
8	Yala	321	▼	42,711
10	Pattani	437	▲	39,621
12	Narathiwat	218	▲	37,624
16	Nakhon Si Thammarat	449	▲	32,051
24	Surat Thani	151	▼	19,883
35	Phuket	62	▲	15,185
39	Chumphon	66	▼	12,986
41	Trang	185	▼	12,419
48	Ranong	7	•	9,450
49	Phatthalung	116	▼	9,250
51	Krabi	94	▲	8,167
58	Satun	96	▼	5,253
59	Phang Nga	90	•	5,103
RANK	WESTERN PROVINCES	TODAY		TOTAL
13	Ratchaburi	170	▲	37,670
21	Phetchaburi	84	▼	22,538
22	Tak	123	▼	21,929
23	Kanchanaburi	97	▲	21,305
34	Prachuap Khiri Khan	82	▼	16,031
RANK	PRISONS	TODAY		TOTAL
5	Prisons	880	▲	77,056

SOURCE: CCSA

Asia tourism reopens with big-spending Chinese citizens stuck at home. The pandemic has cost Thailand an estimated US$50 billion a year in tourism revenue and Chinese were above-average spenders based on tourism ministry data. Thailand hopes to receive 180,000 foreign tourists this year, a fraction of around 40 million it received in 2019, as it opened places beyond Phuket to tourists on Monday. channelnewsasia.com



Asia tourism reopens with big-spending Chinese citizens stuck at home

Asia's gradual easing of international travel curbs is proving a welcome relief for the region's hard-hit tourism operators slowly opening up to visitors from around the world - with one giant exception.

China, previously the world's largest outbound tourism market, is keeping international air capacity at just 2 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and has yet to relax tight travel restrictions as it sticks to zero tolerance for COVID-19.

That has left a US$255 billion annual spending hole in the global tourism market for operators such as Thailand's Laguna Phuket to try and fill.

Managing director Ravi Chandran says Laguna Phuket's five resorts have shifted their marketing focus to Europe, the United States and United Arab Emirates to make up for the loss of Chinese visitors, who accounted for 25-30 per cent of its pre-COVID business.

"Up to today, we have not done significant marketing or promotion in China ... because we don't feel anything coming our way," Chandran said.

The pandemic has cost Thailand an estimated US$50 billion a year in tourism revenue and Chinese were above-average spenders based on tourism ministry data. Thailand hopes to receive 180,000 foreign tourists this year, a fraction of around 40 million it received in 2019, as it opened places beyond Phuket to tourists on Monday.

Related:

Many experts expect China to keep such stringent measures such as up to a three-week quarantine for those returning home until at least the second quarter of next year and possibly then open gradually on a country-by-country basis.

"Destinations have to identify new source markets and learn how to market and cater to different cultures," Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Chief Executive Liz Ortiguera said, citing the Maldives as a rare example of a successful pivot during the pandemic.

The string of islands in the Indian Ocean promoted itself heavily at trade shows and attracted more Russian and Indian visitors to its luxury resorts and sparkling waters.

China had been its greatest source of tourists before the pandemic but the Maldives saw overall arrivals in the first nine months of 2021 fall just 12 per cent versus the same period of 2019.

CHINA TOURISM EVOLVES

Travel data firm ForwardKeys estimates it will take until 2025 for Chinese outbound travel to recover to pre-pandemic levels. That will also force airlines to re-evaluate their routes given its data shows 38 per cent of Chinese tourists took foreign carriers in 2019.

Even as Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia's Bali gradually open up for international travellers, Thai Airways and Garuda Indonesia are drastically shrinking their fleets as part of restructuring plans amid the absence of Chinese tourists.

Related:

When China does open its borders, industry surveys show a reluctance by many to travel internationally due to COVID-19 fears.

There has also been a boom in domestic holidays to Hainan Island which now offers duty-free shopping in a threat to future visits to nearby destinations such as Hong Kong and South Korea.

"I honestly do not have much enthusiasm for international travel," said Kat Qi, 29, a researcher in Beijing who travelled to Southeast Asia and Britain before the pandemic. "A lot of places that I wanted to visit are in less developed countries with gorgeous natural scenery and they tend to be the least vaccinated countries."

Her preference for natural scenery is also a trend emerging in surveys of Chinese travellers. Many are focused on the outdoors at a time when domestic camping holidays have become popular and tourism operators will need to adapt accordingly, experts say.

"The market will have changed so the Chinese people travelling in 2022 will be different from the Chinese travelling in 2019," said Wolfgang Georg Arlt, CEO of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute. "I think the trends will go away from this shopping and rushing around."

Large group tours that have also fallen out of favour on domestic trips could also be a thing of the past, to be replaced by independent travel and smaller customised tours with family and friends, said Sienna Parulis-Cook, director of marketing and communications at advisory firm Dragon Tail International.

"You might have organised travel and everything but it would be with a small group of people that you know, rather than 50 strangers on a tour bus," she said.

Source: Reuters/gs

Vaccination update November 6th



TOPIC: Is it still mandatory to wear a mask when outside? https://bit.ly/3wkhzzJ



The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 294 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with 3 new deaths, November 6th. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 294 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 3 new deaths

Saturday, 6 November 2021, 11:02

PHOTO: Post Today

Highlights:

• 294 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 1,227 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 3 new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 294 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with 3 new deaths, November 6th.

This makes a total of 102,993 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 5,116 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 730 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 1,227 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 98,083 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

As for the three new deaths yesterday, they were elders aged between 65 to 92. They were close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families according to the Chonburi Department of Public Health. They all had chronic health problems and were not vaccinated.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 86, Si Racha 78, Banglamung (Pattaya) 51, Panat Nikhom 15, Sattahip 17, Ban Bueang 4, Phan Thong 8, Bor Thong 5, Ko Chan 2, and 28 people transferred from other provinces for medical care

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 28 cases
2. Cluster, Giantlok (Thailand) company in Si Racha, 12 cases
3. Cluster, Buathong Concrete company in Si Racha, 5 cases
4. Cluster, Canadian Solar Manufacturing Company in Si Racha, 5 cases
5. Cluster Denzo group company in Phan Thong, 8 cases
6. Risky occupations meet with many people, 7 cases
7. 2 medical personal
8. Risky occupations meet with many people, Chachoensao – 3 cases, Bangkok – 1 case and Samut Sakorn – 1 case
9. Close contacts from previous confirmed cases in families – 87 cases, in workplaces – 68 cases, close friends – 10 cases and joined party – 1 case
10. Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 10 cases
11. 47 cases in general are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19

AZ tops list of 78m jabs given Some 78 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to the public and the number will hit 80 million within a few days, according to the Public Health Ministry. Bangkok Post





AZ tops list of 78m jabs given

Some 78 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to the public and the number will hit 80 million within a few days, according to the Public Health Ministry.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department (DCD), said yesterday that 43.4 million doses were administered as the first jab, accounting for 60% of the population, 35.4% for the second dose and 3.5% for the third.

"We expect the accumulated number will reach 80 million doses in one or two days," he said.

Of all the shots administered so far, 34.4 million doses were AstraZeneca, 24.5 million were Sinovac, 12.7 million were Sinopharm and 6.5 million were Pfizer.

Dr Opas said 77% of the high-risk group -- people aged 60 years or more and those with a chronic illness -- have received their first jab and 64% have had two shots.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) designated seven provinces as maximum control and strict zones (dark-red) on Oct 29, with 38 provinces named maximum control zones (red), 23 named control zones (orange), five as high surveillance zones (yellow) and four as surveillance and tourist-oriented zones (blue).

Dr Opas said the infection rate in Bangkok and southern provinces has been reduced, notably in Yala and Narathiwat. But people in Songkhla and Pattani must stay vigilant.

Six provinces -- Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chiang Mai, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Tak, and Khon Kaen -- need close monitoring because of a rising number of Covid-19 infections, Dr Opas said.

Dr Sumanee Wacharasint, director of the DCD's Risk Communication and Health Behavioral Development Bureau, said the country logged 8,148 new Covid-19 cases yesterday with 80 new deaths.

Bangkok had the most infections with 721 cases, followed by Songkhla (498), Pattani (427), Chiang Mai (403), Yala (375), Chon Buri (348), Nakhon Si Thammarat (294), Samut Prakan (244), Narathiwat (213) and Trang (205), Dr Sumanee said.

The CCSA has lifted the curfew and allowed dine-in services with the sale of alcoholic drinks at restaurants passed by the Safety & Health Administration until 9pm in the blue zones -- Bangkok, Krabi, Phangnga and Phuket. 

Bangkok Post highlights 6/11



Visitors Top 10 November 1st - 4th.



Covid19 update November 6th



Vaccination update November 5th

 

The movement of people within Thailand will be a major problem for the government and its Covid measures as the country slowly opens up, a source in the health ministry told Thai Enquirer on Friday. “It is true that 70 per cent of Bangkok has at least one shot of the vaccine but that is not true for the rest of the country,” said a senior official at the Ministry of Public health on condition of anonymity. “You have areas inside the country that haven’t even reached 50 per cent in terms of having a first shot”. Thai Enquirer



Internal migration will be a major hurdle in Covid fight

November 5, 2021

The movement of people within Thailand will be a major problem for the government and its Covid measures as the country slowly opens up, a source in the health ministry told Thai Enquirer on Friday.

Thailand has opened its doors to vaccinated tourists since November 1 in a bid to kickstart the economy and save the troubled hospitality sector.

And even though no incoming tourist has tested positive for Covid-19 year, the major hurdle will be the internal movement taking place inside the country to support the country's reopening.

"It is true that 70 per cent of Bangkok has at least one shot of the vaccine but that is not true for the rest of the country," said a senior official at the Ministry of Public health on condition of anonymity.

"You have areas inside the country that haven't even reached 50 per cent in terms of having a first shot," the source told Thai Enquirer by phone. "And there are internal migrants who went back home after their jobs were lost during the pandemic."

"Once things open up again, these workers will return to the capital and other urban areas to find work and that could become a major source of the outbreak."

On Friday, Thailand saw 8,148 new cases and 80 deaths. According to the source at the ministry, that number is likely to increase unless the government strictly enforces the "sandbox zones" and steps up its vaccination program.

"I am not worried at all about the incoming tourists. They are vaccinated, they will be okay. What worries me is that these sandbox zones were suppose to be exclusive but so far there has been free travel throughout the country," the source said.

"That means the disease is going to spread and fast unless we step up vaccination and strictly quarantine those province whose vaccination rates have lagged behind." 

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 348 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 1 new death, November 5th. Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 348 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 1 new death

Friday, 5 November 2021, 12:23

Highlights:

• 348 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 803 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 1 new death

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 348 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with 1 new death, November 5th.

This makes a total of 102,699 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 5,116 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 727 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 803 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 96,856 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

As for the one new deaths yesterday she was a 72-year-old female elder. She was a close contact from a previously confirmed case in her family according to the Chonburi Department of Public Health. She had chronic health problems and was not vaccinated.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 75, Si Racha 75, Banglamung (Pattaya) 60, Panat Nikhom 14, Sattahip 17, Ban Bueang 5, Phan Thong 11, Bor Thong 7, Ko Chan 3, Nong Yai 1, Soldiers in Sattahip 57, and 23 people transferred from other provinces for medical care

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 26 cases
2. Cluster, soldiers in Sattahip, 57 cases
3. Cluster, Siam Denzo Menufacturing comapny in Phan Thong, 6 cases
4. Cluster, work camp in Mon Nang, Panat Nikhom, 5 cases
5. Risky occupations meet with many people, 5 cases
6. 6 medical personnel
7. Back from risky areas in Rayong, 1 case
8. Close contacts from previous confirmed cases in families – 111 cases, in workplaces – 59 cases and close friends – 5 cases
9. Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 15 cases
10. 52 cases in general are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19



Loy Krathong lanterns may get you 3-years in prison. Violators must be punished with imprisonment of not more than three years, or a fine of not more than 60,000 baht, or both. The sale or use of firecrackers of all kinds and dynamites are also prohibited. Violators will face a fine of not more than 6,000 baht, or imprisonment of not more than three months, or both. Bangkok Jack

Loy Krathong lanterns may get you 3-years in prison

November 5, 2021

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Wednesday announced a ban on fireworks and floating lanterns on Loy Krathong Day, which falls on November 19 this year.

The governor has asked for cooperation from manufacturers, collectors, distributors of fireworks and floating lanterns, as well as the general public in the Bangkok area, not to light and release fireballs, flares, any kinds of lantern or other similar objects into the air, unless authorised by the director of the area.

Violators must be punished with imprisonment of not more than three years, or a fine of not more than 60,000 baht, or both.

The sale or use of firecrackers of all kinds and dynamites are also prohibited. Violators will face a fine of not more than 6,000 baht, or imprisonment of not more than three months, or both.

It seems Thailand has now turned into a country where threats of hefty fines and prison time for what were, until recently, traditional celebrations are issued to the people almost daily.

Permission from the local registrar is required for manufacturers, collectors and sellers of fireworks, which must strictly comply with the measures announced by the Department of Health.

Any violation will be dealt with under the law as well.

"Bangkok has established a special team from relevant departments to carry out inspections on the production, collection and distribution of fireworks in a bid to provide the highest order and safety for the people," the governor concluded.

The Director of the Public Debt Management Office Patricia Mongkhonvanit has rejected a reported request from Thai Airways made to the Finance Ministry for ฿25 billion in state funding or additional borrowings to help with the recovering flag carrier’s efforts to transform its business. Thai Examiner

 

Thai Airways ฿25 billion funding request from state coffers rebuffed by a senior debt official

Joseph O' Connor

The government will be looking more to international sources of funding in 2022 although most public borrowing will still be raised domestically as the Finance Ministry has embarked on a sustained policy of fiscal support to drive the economic recovery and domestic spending at the same time as reopening the kingdom to foreign tourism. Thailand's former flag carrier Thai Airways is reported to be in discussion with lenders for a ฿25 billion loan facility while also lobbying for ฿25 billion in state financial support as it advances its survival plan.

A top Thai finance official on Wednesday rejected a funding request from the former flag carrier Thai Airways to the Ministry of Finance for ฿25 billion to help its liquidity position as it ramps up its operation after emerging in June from a court ordered financial restructuring process. In August, the airline reported profits of ฿11.1 billion for the first six months of the year and is reported to be focusing its attention right now on developing flight links between Europe and the kingdom as part of its restructuring operations.

The Director of the Public Debt Management Office Patricia Mongkhonvanit made the comments about the request from Thai Airways as she explained the outline of the government's borrowing plans to support the economy in 2022. Thai Airways is also reported to be seeking a further ฿25 billion from several banks after it posted a profit of ฿11.1 billion for the first six months of the year following the flag carrier's record-breaking loss for last year. It comes as the airline implements its court approved restructuring plan being managed and chaired by former President Mr Piyasvasti Amranand (inset right).

The Director of the Public Debt Management Office Patricia Mongkhonvanit has rejected a reported request from Thai Airways made to the Finance Ministry for ฿25 billion in state funding or additional borrowings to help with the recovering flag carrier's efforts to transform its business.

PM denies Thai Airways will be rehabilitated as a state enterprise with new funding at this point

On Wednesday, she pointed out that Thai Airways is no longer a state enterprise although she accepted that the state, through the Finance Ministry, held a significant stake in the airline which emerged from a restructuring process in June 2021 after creditors overwhelmingly backed a deal based on a moratorium on debt repayments and efficiencies as opposed to financial haircuts for creditors and debt holders.

Status of the state's involvement in Thai Airways has become a persistent source of political speculation

The status of the state's involvement in the airline is an ongoing source of speculation with some government ministers reported to be in favour of readmitting it to the fold as a state enterprise, including Minister of Finance Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and Deputy Prime Minister and Economics czar Supattanapong Punmeechaow, while the government's official policy is to let it run its course for now as a commercial enterprise.

The statement by Ms Patricia, on Wednesday, signifies this latter approach and is reported to be supported by many senior officials within the Finance Ministry and Ministry of Transport.

Ms Patricia said that the government was precluded from processing a loan for the firm, which lost its state enterprise status before being placed into bankruptcy last year, under the terms of the Public Debt Act (2005).

Borrowing plans as the kingdom's public debt is set to rise next year to support a nascent economic recovery

She made her comment as she briefed the press on the government's ongoing borrowing plans to support the economy as it engages in what financial analysts believe will be a recovery beginning in the fourth quarter of this year.

This recovery is dependent on a new buoyancy in foreign tourist arrivals and steady fiscal support from the government to underpin domestic expenditure and demand at a grassroots level.

Ms Patricia explained that government borrowing or overall public debt will rise in the next year in the period to the end of September 2021 to September 2022 from 57.98% of GDP to 62%.

Expanded public debt and budget deficit

The government is planning to run a deficit of ฿700 billion for the year to the end of September 2022 and had pulled back on its projected borrowing requirement since September this year when it announced it was extending the public debt limit to 70% of GDP under the 2018 State Fiscal and Financial Disciplines Act. 

She explained this will see a government funding requirement of ฿2.54 trillion with ฿1.1 trillion in new borrowing on top of existing borrowings of ฿1.44 trillion.

The top financial official indicated that given what is currently a tight domestic market for borrowing, the government could be looking at foreign borrowing to pursue its programme next year.

Nearly 94% of government debt in Thailand, in the recent past, has been long term and nearly all domestically sourced.

This week, Ms Patricia indicated the government may have to look at international financial institutions or the wider international market to fund the planned increase in government expenditure to support the economy.

Funds will be raised, still, predominantly from the domestic money market which is tightening

However, the main source of funding will still be domestic. 

A range of financial instruments is being used by the ministry including promissory notes, government bonds and term loans.

This will require discipline to make sure that the funding is used to support government programmes to drive the economy and also for capital projects in accordance with strategic government objectives.

'Government borrowing will mainly focus on domestic borrowing. But if it is necessary to borrow money abroad, it must be considered on a per-project basis, such as the U-Tapao Airport investment project. More or not, it depends on government policy,' she said.

She highlighted the need to support infrastructure projects and the benefit of these works both to the economy and the wider public.

Wrong to look at the debt on a per capita basis

She rejected speculation by reporters about how much would be borrowed per capita as part of the government's plan to give impetus to the economy.

'Government debt should not be calculated per capita because it is not in accordance with international principles. The debt incurred by the government is to invest in infrastructure. To develop the country and allow people to use their services efficiently,' she explained.

Thai Airways request comes as it seeks a further ฿25 billion from a range of banks and institutions in talks 

The request from Thai Airways established as Thailand's national airline in 1961 through a partnership with SAS Airlines, comes as it has recently indicated that it is seeking ฿25 billion in state support while it is also in negotiation for a loan facility from a range of banks for a further ฿25 billion.

The former state-owned airline had ฿410 billion in combined debt when it declared bankruptcy in May 2020. It emerged from the resulting process in June this year.

In August, the airline announced an ฿11.1 billion profit for the first six months of 2021. For 2020, however, it reported a record-breaking loss of ฿141 billion with the airline effectively grounded for an extended period because of the pandemic.

The business plan originally suggested it would cut staff from 21,300 to 14,500 by the end of 2021 but this now appears to have been extended to the end of 2022.

Less fuel-efficient aircraft put up for sale

It recently put aircraft up for sale while returning 16 aircraft held on lease reducing its fleet to 58 planes in 4 categories which it plans to use in a new focus on serving links between Europe and Thailand according to Mr Piyasvasti Amranand who is in charge of the firm's restructuring process as Chairman.

Mr Piyasvasti is a former President of the airline.

He says the aircraft being put on the block are no longer fuel-efficient for the airline's new flight schedule and operation plan.

Before being divested of its state enterprise status and filing for bankruptcy in 2020, the government staged a dramatic about-turn in its policy towards the airline having, at one point, signalled that it was prepared to guarantee a further ฿50 billion in bank borrowings.

Covid19 update November 5th



Chonburi provincial police warn against drinking alcohol at restaurants in Mueang Chonburi, Bangsaen, and rural Chonburi. Pattaya News

Chonburi provincial police warn against drinking alcohol at restaurants in Mueang Chonburi, Bangsaen, and rural Chonburi

The Chonburi Provincial Police has warned of strict enforcement as alcohol is still not allowed to be drunk at restaurants in the Chonburi area even though an overnight curfew had expired earlier this week.

Thursday, 4 November 2021, 23:28

Chonburi –

Pattaya, as a "BLUE" tourist area (Business, Leisure, Ultimate Experience) and high vaccination rates have got a lot of attention, according to Chonburi Police, in the media but they wanted to remind the public that the ban on alcohol at restaurants and closure of nightlife and bars applied to the entire province. Chonburi police held a meeting in Pattaya earlier today which we covered here to specifically address concerns of Pattaya business owners around the ban, which has thousands of restaurants, bars, and hospitality venues.

A second meeting had previously been held at the Mueang Chonburi Police Station. Joining in the meeting were police and local restaurant and hotel operators.

The Mueang Chonburi Police Chief Colonel Nitat Weanpradap said at the meeting, "We want to make sure that even though curfew has ended in Chonburi that it is crystal clear that alcohol is still not allowed to be drunk in restaurants anywhere in the province. If we find anyone breaking the law we will take legal action, this includes customers who should be aware of the law after many warnings. The Chonburi governor can also order the shutdown of the restaurant for up to five years."

"We want to make sure restaurant operators understand the rule. In Mueang Chonburi, they are not in the zone of 'open cities', and vaccination rates are not as high as in other areas. Pattaya is a "BLUE" zone but even they are not allowed to sell alcohol at restaurants or open their nightlife sector for tourists yet. Our main concern in the rest of Chonburi, however, is not tourist venues but places that primarily focus on Thai residents. They must still close at the mandated time by local disease committees as well (Mostly 11:00 P.M) and 24-hour restaurants are forbidden." Colonel Nitat Weanpradap stated.

The Mueang Chonburi Administrative Chief Officer Mr. Praksit Sueksongkram added, "We are also strictly patrolling in the Sane Suk and Bangsaen area as many people are drinking alcohol inside restaurants. This area also has multiple bars and entertainment venues attempting to open for domestic tourists, we are focusing on shutting these down and warning customers that they will not be given a pass and released like before Covid-19, they will also be arrested for breaking the law."

Entertainment venues, bars, and similar places have been shuttered in Chonburi for seven months roughly as have legal alcohol sales at restaurants. The ban comes from the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, in Bangkok who claims the rules help stop the spread of Covid-19 by limiting social gatherings.

TAT revises goal to 700,000 international travelers to Thailand in 2021 | Thaiger



PHOTO: Thailand aims for 700,000 international travellers in 2021. (via Flickr Doug88888)

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Perhaps revising their previous goal of 1 million international tourists in the next 2 months, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is hoping to hit 700,000 international travellers total in 2021. Thailand has launched a number of schemes to bring in foreigners during the Covid-19 pandemic to various levels of success so far.

The Phuket Sandbox has been the most successful but has only brought 60,649 visitors in the 4 months between July 1 and October 31. Another 25,000 people arrived in the Samui Plus program, the 7+7 Sandbox Extension, the Special Tourist Visa, the Thailand Privilege Card, Medical Tourism plans, and others for a total of 85,845 people.

Now Thailand has launched its most ambitious project yet, with the November 1 reopening allowing 3 different schemes for tourists to enter the country again. The Test & Go scheme requires only 1-night quarantine as people arrive and test for Covid-19 and only have to stay in an approved hotel for a night while waiting for their negative test results. Living in the Blue Zone allows a 7-day soft quarantine, with tourists free to roam around one of 17 Sandbox destination provinces before being free to travel, and the Happy Quarantine scheme allows unvaccinated travellers to enter with a 10-day full quarantine.

It remains to be seen if the new plan will bring another 615,000 people in the next 2 months, but to achieve that figure an average of 10,000 people per day would need to arrive and the first 2 days of the reopening brought in a few thousand each, Thailand's main hub of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok seeing just 4,510 arrivalstotal in the first 2 days.

Before Covid-19, in 2019, Thailand saw about 40 million international travellers who generated 1.91 trillion baht. But with the 19-month near-complete shutdown of the country with Covid-19, international arrivals fell 83% to just 6.7 million people that brought in only 332 billion baht. And 2021 has seen a drop from 2019 of 99.8%.

The TAT is projecting a huge uptick next year, with both domestic and international travellers ramping up to generate a combined total of 1.58 trillion baht. They predict 818 billion baht of revenue from international travellers and another 771 billion baht from domestic tourists.

A new "Visit Thailand Year 2022" marketing campaign has been launched for the World Travel Market 2021 that took place November 1-3, and the TAT has already followed it with the "Amazing Thailand, Amazing New Chapters" program after PM Prayut Chan-o-cha urged government agencies to promote tourism and sustainability and the government's Bio-Circular-Green economy model.

They hope to project a positive image of Thailand as it struggles to recover from the economic devastation that battered the country over the last nearly 2 years.

SOURCE: Asia News Today

The Thai government has approved four special holidays next year to make four additional long weekends in order to help stimulate domestic tourism and the economy. ✅ Friday 15 July 2022 ✅ Friday 29 July 2022 ✅ Friday 14 October 2022 ✅ Friday 30 December 2022. Richard Barrow







No change to alcohol ban at restaurants, bar closures for now in Pattaya-Chonburi Provincial Police hold meeting with Pattaya business owners. Pattaya News

No change to alcohol ban at restaurants, bar closures for now in Pattaya-Chonburi Provincial Police hold meeting with Pattaya business owners

Thursday, 4 November 2021, 16:08

Pattaya, Thailand-

  The Chonburi Provincial Police held a meeting this afternoon, November 4th, 2021, with Pattaya business owners in the hotel, restaurant, bar, service, and entertainment industry to address concerns about a continued ban on alcohol sales at restaurants and the closure of bars and entertainment venues.

Entertainment venues have been closed for almost seven months straight in Pattaya due to "Covid-19" concerns, according to Chonburi Provincial Police. Prior to this, venues were closed for 4 months straight in 2020 and a month earlier this year in January, giving a grand total of a year of mandated closures. According to multiple Pattaya business owners, little to no financial aid or support has been given for these closures.

Business owners in Pattaya have been growing increasingly frustrated over the closure, even as other areas in the country like Phuket or Krabi have been given exceptions to allow alcohol sales in restaurants. Police have continued regular raids in Pattaya, normally well known for its nightlife, to any business daring to attempt to break the rules.

The meeting was prompted by Pattaya business owners continuing to ask why the city remained dry and their businesses closed.

This is despite Pattaya, according to Mayor Sonthaya Khunplume, being over 80% vaccinated currently against Covid-19 and recently "reopening" to foreign vaccinated tourists without a strict quarantine.

  Unfortunately, for now, the decision to ban alcohol sales at restaurants in Chonburi and Pattaya stands, according to the Chonburi Provincial Police. 

The police stated that all venues, however, will be allowed to open "soon" and venues should prepare for being allowed to reopen. In the meantime, Chonburi Police warned that businesses should not break the law and the rules and asked for patience.  They also stated that the rules came from the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, and were centrally administered by the government. The police stated that the decision was not theirs and they were only enforcing the law, not creating the rules.

TPN media notes that no specific timeline was given for allowing Pattaya's popular nightlife industry to resume and there was no specific explanation of what "prepare" meant in terms of businesses getting ready.

Meanwhile, as a point of contention amongst those attending, Pattaya will host a music festival that is set to welcome thousands of visitors starting tomorrow, November 5th, 2021. Unfortunately, business owners who sell alcohol and entertainment will not be allowed to welcome potentially interested customers and restaurants cannot legally sell alcohol at their venues.