Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand and why it should be BANNED
Millions of candle lanterns cause fires AND pose a threat to passenger aircraft
#LoyKrathong Festival in #Thailand and why it should be BANNED. This weekend sees the spectacular event known as Loy Krathong Festival. It usually marks the beginning of the peak tourism period for the country, especially in the northern region.
In previous years tourism authorities expect the influx of tourists to bring massive tourism-related income expecting the revenue to be in the range of 20 billion baht.
Loy Krathong, which this year falls on Saturday, is one of the most popular festivals for Thai and tourists alike.
It is widely celebrated in Bangkok and tourist provinces in the Central Plains from Ayutthaya to the North. Revelers release lotus-shaped floats into the sea, rivers and waterways.
But the festival, which has been extensively transformed, also poses a dilemma with regard to environmental and social changes.
It was initially created by people in rural areas as a way to pay respects to the River, or Water, Gods.
Now there are rising concerns that the festival may no longer be relevant to urban areas.
One problem with Loy Krathong involves an enormous amount of waste from the floats that clog waterways.
Because unless removed quickly will pollute other important water sources.
Another, more serious issue, is air traffic safety with regard to sky lanterns which are popular in the North.
Airports
Airport authorities in major tourist provinces have stepped up measures to regulate the use of sky lanterns. Especially in areas near airports.
A disaster could take place should a lantern get stuck in an aircraft's engine.
The problem is that the popular-yet-dangerous lanterns are themselves are a magnet for tourism.
And in Thailand money is more important than tourist safety.
As part of one compromise, Chiang Mai airport authorities this year decided to change flight times.
Or cancel flights altogether from Wednesday to Friday during the peak lantern frenzy.
Nearly 150 flights, both domestic and international, will be affected, they said.
In total, 60 domestic and international flights are to be cancelled, said the Chiang Mai airport authorities. Every year they promise strict surveillance measures.
Unlike the Khon Kaen airport authorities who seek to ban the lanterns within a 14km radius of the airport at all times.
However, Chiang Mai officers fail to mention how they will regulate lantern lighting.
The Chiang Mai officers should be aware that their compromise can be costly. And that surveillance cannot offer a 100% guarantee that the lanterns will be kept away from air traffic.
Last year, despite surveillance and other measures, the remnants of over 100 burned lanterns intruded on Chiang Mai airport.
The number may be satisfactory compared to the figures in 2013. Then more than 1,420 burned lanterns were found on the airport premises during the festival.
But it is undeniable that the risk remains high, not only for air traffic but also for public safety.
Because remnants of burning lanterns can wreak havoc on communities if they fall on properties and cause fires.
The strict measures anger people in the tourism industry.
Because they want to attract visitors at all costs and don't care about people's safety.
It's not Thai Culture, just a draw for tourists
It must be noted that sky lanterns, though part of northern tradition, never belonged to the festival until a decade ago.
That's when local tourism authorities incorporated the festival into local calendars to attract more tourists.
According to old lanna tradition, the lanterns which are called wao-hom in local dialect, are lit shortly before noon. As part of individual celebrations.
During the Loy Krathong festival several hundred thousand lanterns may be released into the sky.
More importantly, by tradition, the lanterns are lit in vast, empty fields away from communities. Like other tourist cities, Chiang Mai is fully developed and there is no such empty area.
It's not just the lanterns that are non-traditional Loy Krathong items. Even the flowered floats are relatively new to the celebration.
According to studies, the floats were introduced to the northern city in 1947. And they became so popular that the festival has been adopted into Chiang Mai culture.
Public education is necessary to make people realise the risk of sky lanterns.
The government should step up efforts to raise social awareness so revellers will celebrate the festival responsibly.
At the same time, the authorities must review all measures involving the beautiful but risky lanterns. If only to ensure that public safety is observed.
When it comes to safety, there should be no compromise.
Failure by Thailand to relaunch the entertainment and nightlife industry in December will temper the momentum of the November 1st reopening and will be particularly disastrous for Pattaya. The fallout from the annoying problems with the Thailand Pass system is also about to hamper enthusiasm.
There are indications the government is moving back towards an emphasis on public health safety as a decision looms on further liberalisation of the ongoing reopening of the country to foreign tourism. Reports this week suggest that the reopening of bars and the nightlife industry, indicated by Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha in mid-October to take place after December, may be delayed until the beginning of the new year or made more conditional. A crucial meeting on the issue will take place on Friday where the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) chaired by General Prayut, may make a decision. A postponement of the reopening of the entertainment industry may see bookings for December which have been reported, particularly in Pattaya, being cancelled, thus stalling the momentum of the reopening which has already been damaged by problems with the Thailand Pass system.
On Wednesday, the Secretary-general of the National Security Council, General Supot Malaniyom (left), warned of the need to move carefully and gradually with the kingdom's reopening process amid reports that the opening of the kingdom's bars and nightlife industry may be delayed beyond December until 2022. The matter is expected to be considered by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday amid fears that it, along with the problems besetting the Thailand Pass entry system, could slow the momentum that has been building. The CEO of Air Asia, Mr Tony Fernandes (right), meanwhile praised Thailand and Singapore for their reopening policies of living with COVID-19 but warned it will take 6 to 9 months to complete the process.
The Secretary-general of the National Security Council and the Director of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, General Supot Malaniyom, has spoken of the government's determination to move cautiously and gradually with the ongoing campaign to reopen the country under the new living with COVID-19 policy.
This has already seen the reopening of Thailand under more liberal terms and a strong pick up in international arrivals since November 1st.
The reopening has seen the country on track to receiving between 90,000 and 100,000 tourists in November with a larger number expected in December.
There are fears that a continued ban on bars and entertainment venues could impede the reopening process with many bookings having already been made in anticipation of Thailand's nightlife springing back to life after December 1st.
Outcry over problems with the Thailand Pass system and continued prohibition on pubs, alcohol and entertainment may lead to a tapering of enthusiasm
Already, this week, there has been an outcry over problems with the Thailand Pass system which has left many thousands of potential passengers feeling overwhelmed and stressed when scrambling to obtain entry QR codes while in danger of losing non-refundable plane flight costs and hotel bookings.
The fear is that this sort of issue could see a tapering off of enthusiasm in the same mode as seen with the July 1st Phuket Sandbox scheme which, although a moderate success, ultimately did not live up to opening expectations.
Calls for tourism businesses to exercise more forbearance reported after Tuesday's cabinet meeting
In mid-October, Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha, who had been in the vanguard of what is seen as a more liberal reopening, indicated that in December, the country may also reopen it's famous nightlife and entertainment industry which is seen as synonymous with Thailand as a world tourism destination.
There were reports, however, this week that at last Tuesday's cabinet meeting in Government House, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for operators in the hostelry and entertainment industry to exercise forbearance and 'selflessness' in the context of the need for the country to move cautiously in its steps towards a fuller reopening.
CCSA to consider postponing the reopening of the nightlife, entertainment industry and bars until 2022
The reports suggest that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will consider a proposal to postpone the reopening of nightlife venues and businesses related to the entertainment industry until the beginning of the new year in 2022.
Factors reportedly being considered by the governments are colder weather, the ongoing progress of the vaccination campaign and end of year holiday movements by the population.
On Wednesday, General Supot emphasised the importance of the country proceeding very gradually. There was a need to avoid chaos, he said.
National Security Council chief says securing borders is a key factor in maintaining the reopening process
He pointed to the need to secure Thailand's borders with neighbouring countries and the need to make sure that incoming migrant workers were not infected by the COVID-19 virus.
Reports from industry across Thailand in the last month have led to estimates of a shortfall of approximately 420,000 workers, needed to continue to power Thailand's export and manufacturing economy.
In this context, General Supot acknowledged the real threat from human traffickers engaged in the smuggling of illegal immigrants into the kingdom to be exploited with lower wages and poorer, more dangerous working conditions.
He pointed to the fact that the consumption of alcohol in restaurants had already been approved for 4 provinces and some areas of a further 13 provinces.
He said the various provincial communicable disease committees also had certain latitude in making decisions.
Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus system is not there to exclude business operators says chief
He also highlighted the government's implementation of its Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus programmes under which foreign tourists from some countries operating under 17 Blue Zone sandbox programmes were required to use certified services including taxis and hotels, as a positive factor.
He said such initiatives should not be viewed as an effort by the government to restrict the business sector or exclude any particular business but to make sure the current reopening process is not reversed.
Hawkish doctor warns of rising COVID-19 levels in Europe due to rising interaction and socialising
The ongoing reopening to foreign tourism is facing scrutiny as the COVID-19 virus again surges in Europe with a warning, on Wednesday, from Dr Thira Woratanarat of the Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University that the virus was on the march throughout the world.
Dr Thira is known for his hawkish but always scientific stance on prematurely exposing the country to foreign tourism, a view still supported by a majority of Thais despite the economic imperative.
He pointed out that 58.66% of new cases worldwide are currently in Europe where vaccination rates have been particularly high.
He, therefore, attributed the rise to the liberalisation of activities on the continent including more travel, socialising and entertainment.
Germany, where COVID-19 is rising, accounted for 12% of arrivals in the opening few days but detected virus levels among passengers are minuscule
Germany, which in the initial days of the current reopening accounted for nearly 12% of arrivals, is seeing a particularly virulent rise in infections while Europe accounts for 23% of all new arrivals with the United Kingdom making up a further 7%.
Despite this, the detected infection rate among passengers flying in is quite low at only 0.07%.
Currently, despite a higher level of local vaccination activity in key tourist hotspots, only 49% of the Thai population is fully vaccinated with 61.9% having received a first dose.
Reports of busy bars in Bangkok
In Bangkok, meanwhile, there have been reports of busy bars on the Sukhumvit and Khao San Road areas of the city since the reopening last week although the current regulations only stipulate a lifting of the alcohol ban for restaurants where food is being served.
A wider reopening of bars and the entertainment industry has been predicted for December but it is now understood that this will be addressed at the review by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday.
Pattaya sees no real benefit from the reopening at this point except for a promise with increased bookings for December, this may be now under threat or delayed
In the meantime, the reopening of Thailand has so far not seen a resumption of anything like normal activity in Pattaya, the former magnet for foreign tourists which is very much linked to the bar and entertainment industries.
Last week, one tourist business operator, Mr Sirichai Wongpattanakit confirmed that his trade was still very much limited to domestic tourists although he confirmed that foreign enquiries had risen.
He said, in particular, there had been bookings for December.
These bookings may have been predicated on the assumption, by many, that the nightlife industry would reopen in the month leading up to the end of the year.
Many venues in the resort city had been planning to reopen on December 1st with celebration parties
Social media and online networks have already identified key venues and nightlife spots in Pattaya which were scheduled to reopen on December 1st with many anticipated reopening parties.
An announcement by the CCSA that the sector will now not be reopening until 2022 may lead to a cancellation of bookings and a further blow to confidence in Thailand as a destination among these tourists.
UK travel boss says tourists are more concerned about safety and whether Thailand is a safe destination
On the other hand, the boss of a leading UK based travel firm EXO Travel, Hamish Keith, on Tuesday, speaking at a webinar event, highlighted security and health safety concerns among travellers as a key issue for them.
'It is very important to be able to reassure European markets that we are safe in Thailand, that we meet international standards, and that Thailand is a safe destination,' he explained.
He said since the reopening of Thailand was announced in mid-October, enquiries shot up to approximately 50% of 2019 levels.
This is confirmed by an ongoing Thai Examiner survey which shows a strong percentage, now 90%, of former visitors to Thailand, committed to returning in the next 12 months with 68% saying it would be in the next three to six months.
Pattaya tourism business operators on last legs
However, the situation is not as rosy in Pattaya for increasingly desperate business owners who have been devastated by the COVID-19 virus shutdown and are still desperately trying to hold on.
There are already reports in recent weeks of even more businesses selling out as the extended shutdown continues despite a more positive outcome in Phuket where the reopening has led to some return of normalcy to the Patong entertainment district on the island, famous to regular foreign visitors.
Tourism boss is critical of the public health controls and stringent policies being pursued in the once-thriving holiday city struggling to reopen
Boonanan Pattanasin is the President of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association.
He has been particularly critical of the stringent disease control measures enforced in Pattaya, once a thriving holiday city but now a ghost town compared to its former self.
He highlights its disastrous effects on the foreign tourism business in the area.
He pointed to the disappointing outcome of recent music events in the city where he described both hotel bookings and business revenue as being below expectations.
However, this week, it was reported that ฿100 million had been generated by this sort of activity.
Mr Boonanan called for the prohibition of alcohol, still in effect in Pattaya, to be lifted and has already put this to the city's mayor, Sontaya Kunplome.
Air Asia boss praises Thailand but says the recovery is only beginning and may take up to 9 months
On Thursday, the CEO of Air Asia, Mr Tony Fernandes, predicted that foreign tourism could begin to recover quickly within three months if all governments in Southeast Asia pursued a liberal reopening process similar to Thailand And Singapore with just a once-off PCR test requirement while doing away with quarantine and other restrictions.
However, he did suggest that this was only the prelude to a fuller recovery over a 6 to 9 month period.
He warned unless the progress and momentum of reopenings are maintained, then there was the very real threat of permanent damage to the industry as both facilities and workers in the wider industry will end up being deployed to other sectors of the economy while markets shift elsewhere.
'Asia-Pacific is behind Europe and the US. But I am optimistic as Singapore, Thailand and more have started to reopen,' he said. 'There is a long way to go, but we are back.'
Prime Minister's Office stresses that the government is committed to letting people live their lives but calls for mask-wearing as winter weather approaches
On Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office again emphasised that General Prayut is determined to pursue his commitment, given to those working within and engaged with the foreign tourism industry, to let them recover their livelihoods and for the wider public, the freedom to travel and work as individuals see fit.
However, the statement also emphasised that the government must also take steps to protect public health given that the weather is now changing to winter in Thailand.
With this in mind, it spoke of the need for the public to continue to exercise caution and in particular, to continue to wear face masks.
A chinese tourist wearing a protective suit is seen as she arrives with her parent at Suvarnabhumi airport during the first day of the country's reopening campaign on Nov 1, 2021. (Reuters photo)
The government is considering replacing the RT-PCR test with other screening methods for vaccinated tourists under the Test & Go scheme, and easing high-risk close contact (HRC) rules which force airplane passengers who had sat near Covid-19 patients to undergo mandatory quarantine.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said these decisions would be up to the national communicable disease control committee, and would also require approval from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting to be chaired by the prime minister on Friday.
As the RT-PCR test requires at least six hours for the result, and inbound travellers must book and stay in a hotel room while awaiting the outcome, alternative methods, such as antigen test kits, are more convenient and help manage the flow of tourists better if the number of arrivals increases.
Mr Yuthasak said the CCSA will also consider easing current HRC rules which force those who sit two rows in front of or two rows behind infected passengers on a plane to be relocated to quarantine facilities.
Under the new proposal, only passengers who had sat next to a Covid-19 patient would be kept in quarantine, for a shorter period, meaning there would be a maximum of two travellers affected by the HRC rule.
Meanwhile, those who test positive with mild or no symptoms don't have to be relocated to hospital to receive treatment, but can choose a hospitel or alternative quarantine instead with a shorter period of up to 10 days, from the current 14 days.
Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said that with the current flow of 2,000 travellers per day on average, hotels are capable of handling guests' journeys from the airport to the hotels and providing compulsory RT-PCR tests.
As of Nov 9, 28 travellers had been detected with coronavirus, out of 28,021 arrivals.
With Thailand reopened for 11 days, the overall process has run without major hiccups, but if the number of inbound guests continues to grow over the next few months, there might be congestion or other problems, such as insufficient airport transfer services, as eligible vehicles are only those who meet safety standards under the SHA Plus programme.
The hotels would also have to work more closely with partner hospitals to ensure that RT-PCR results are released within 6-8 hours when more travellers start to arrive in the country.
Mrs Marisa said some hotels have started to look for more convenient methods by taking guests to drive-thru testing before checking them into the hotel.
She said that even though more hotels in Bangkok have been certified with SHA Plus and have benefited from the mandatory one-night stay for the Test & Go scheme, hotels in other areas, such as Pattaya and Hua Hin, still have fewer guests than expected.
The proposed new screening measure, which requires no waiting period, would provide more opportunities for hotels everywhere as tourists could travel directly to their preferred destination.
Chonburi announces 222 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 3 new deaths
Highlights:
222 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today
339 people recovered and were released from medical care
3 new deaths
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 222 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 3 new deaths, November 11th.
This makes a total of 104,041 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 2,861 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 737 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.
Additionally, 339 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 100,443 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began. Only three cases out of 2,861 were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia, two of them were not vaccinated.
The three new deaths were the average age of 50. They were close contacts from previous cases in families. Most of them have chronic health problems. Their vaccination status was unknown.
In total, 1,744,986 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 74.77 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 279,633 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems and pregnant) which is 75.59 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi 41, Si Racha 66, Banglamung (Pattaya) 32, Panat Nikhom 16, Sattahip 16, Ban Bueang 4, Phan Thong 9, Bor Thong 1, Nong Yai 1, Soldiers in Sattahip 19, and 17 people transferred from other provinces for medical care
The details on the cases are as follows:
Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 17 cases
Cluster, soldiers in Sattahip, 19 cases
Dae Chung Hitech company in Si Racha, 6 cases
L.C.B Eastern Development company in Si Racha, 4 cases
Risky occupations meeting many people, 3 cases
4 medical personal
Back from risky areas in Rayong – 4 cases and Bangkok – 1 case
Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 74 cases, in workplaces – 48 cases and close friends – 5 cases
Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 8 cases
9 cases, in general, are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19
Barry Fell for Thailand's 'Test & Go' Hype; The Airline Denied Him Boarding
Barry sits, back to camera, in a metal folding chair near the check-in counter at Los Angeles International Airport's international terminal, tapping away on an Android tablet trying to get a Thailand Pass and hotel booking in 3 hours. He didn't make it. (Photo: Bangkok Herald)
LOS ANGELES – Check-in didn't open until 8:30 a.m., but Barry was there early and became the first in line.
With his shaved head, plaid shorts, flip-flops and faded t-shirt, he was already ready for a hedonistic return to Pattaya where he hadn't been since before the coronavirus pandemic began. But his triumphant return to Sin City crashed on the rocks before he ever set sail.
As the check-in desks were preparing to open, the Thai desk attendant for the Japanese airline asked to see his Thailand Pass QR code. Barry looked at him with a blank stare.
OK, no QR code. Do you have a Certificate of Entry then? The airline staffer inquired, in perfect English. He might as well have been speaking Swahili.
Barry had flown excitedly from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angeles International Airport after seeing the "Test & Go" marketing campaign from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Foreign Affairs Ministry. So Barry got his coronavirus test and go he did on the next flight.
Barry fell for the hype. He didn't know Test & Go is a lie. So he showed up at LAX with his negative coronavirus test result in his hand, his vaccination card and proof of US$100,000 in Covid-19 insurance and expected to get on the plane.
He never even made it to the counter. The airline staffer pulled out a folding chair, popped it open next to the automated check-in kiosks and told him to take a seat. "You'll be here a while," he added.
When asked if he really had shown up with nothing more than a few sheets of paper and expected to get on a plane to Thailand, Barry told the Bangkok Herald that he did. "I must have looked at the wrong information," he said.
Barry had never heard of a Certificate of Entry, let alone Thailand Pass. He hadn't booked a hotel and didn't know where to find SHA+ or Alternative Quarantine packages that included Covid-19 tests. But he had an Android tablet and figured he could get his Thailand Pass while he waited. After all, the flight didn't leave for three hours.
The airline staffer didn't help. He had given Barry the URL for Thailand Pass and the name an ASQ hotels site, although not the official government one. Barry sat in his folding chair and typed the URLs into his tablet and tried to sort it out.
The Bangkok Herald reporter who witnessed the comedy of errors informed Barry he wasn't going to get a QR code today, or probably even tomorrow. The reporter suggested Barry wander over to Terminal 1 and see if Southwest Airlines had a cheap flight back to Phoenix. He needed to go home.
But Barry wasn't giving up so easily. About 20 minutes later there he still was, in his metal folding chair, tapping away on his Android tablet.
Barry clearly didn't do his homework, not to mention making unrealistic assumptions about international flying during a pandemic. Very few countries allow people to just book flights and show up with a test result.
But his saga also highlights again how Thailand is torpedoing its efforts to rebuild tourism by not only forcing tourists to jump through asinine hoops, but falsely marketing its reopening as easy as "Test & Go".
Thailand has at least 177 Indochinese tigers roaming in the wild this year, an increase of 17 from last year, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).
Department director-general Thanya Nethithammakul made the announcement at an event called "Thailand's tigers forever: Moving forward to the future", to mark International Tiger Day yesterday.
The population increase reflected Thailand's success in protecting the species, following the Hua Hin Declaration on Tiger Conservation in 2011, he said.
However, the department needs to continue cooperating with other state and private agencies and civil groups across the country to conserve tiger habitats and natural resources to maintain their population.
Mr Thanya said Thailand was among 13 countries participating in the declaration's conservation programme that aimed to double the tiger population by 2022.
Under the plan, the department has increased patrols in forest reserves, raised awareness and forged cooperation with communities and public and private sectors to protect tigers.
Protection efforts have been boosted by greater knowledge about the big cats, surveillance technology and the establishment of patrol inspection centres.
Netnapa Ngamnet, assistant Kaeng Krachan National Park chief, said the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation arrested a total of 36 big cat poachers in parks between 2019 and 2021. – Bangkok Post
Who is traveling to Thailand now that international airlines have returned 80% of their slots?
According to Nitinai Sirisamatthakarn, general director of Airports of Thailand (AOT) Public Company, international airlines have returned up to 80% of their airport slots at Thailand's six international airports between October 31st and March 26th of next year.
AOT operates Thailand's international airports Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang.
There has been a fair bit of frustration with the operation of the Thailand Pass website, with people reporting flaws preventing applicants from submitting their applications correctly, rejections, and issues with the Johnson&Johnson vaccine, as the website previously required two certificates. They waited two weeks before allowing the website to go live, indicating that Thailand had once again failed to meet expectations by failing to do enough pre-launch testing.
Many travellers have had problems obtaining the Thailand Pass. The vast majority of those who arrived after November 1st are still utilising a Certificate of Entry that has been electronically upgraded to a one-day waiting period. Currently, very few people have used the Thailand Pass.
The Thai government banned all regular flights between July and September of this year to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, resulting in only 50 passengers landing at Thailand's six international airports per day.
Thailand has had an average of 30,000 visitors every day after relaxing travel restrictions in October of this year.
According to an AOT official, all airline slots at Don Muaeng Airport have been relinquished, and roughly 70% of those at Suvarnabhumi Airport have been surrendered.
AOT lost an estimated 10 billion baht in the first nine months of this year, and the business expects to lose another 11 billion baht by the end of the year, he said.
According to Penyos Pibulsongkhram, VietJet's head of commercial affairs, the aviation industry is still in crisis, but things are improving. He revealed that the Thai aviation industry hit rock bottom between July and September of this year, when the Thai government suspended all regular flights as a precautionary measure to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an average daily arrival of only 50 passengers at Thailand's six international airports.
An airport slot is the use of an airport's facilities for landing and take-off.
