Officials step up monkeypox screening. The Public Health Ministry is ramping up the screening of air travellers from countries reporting a spread of monkeypox to step up precautions against the disease. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the screening is being conducted at airports and targets travellers from outbreak countries. Bangkok Post

Officials step up monkeypox screening

Anutin: Curb risky sexual behaviour

The Public Health Ministry is ramping up the screening of air travellers from countries reporting a spread of monkeypox to step up precautions against the disease.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the screening is being conducted at airports and targets travellers from outbreak countries.

He said monkeypox is not a serious disease and it is not highly transmissible without direct contact with bodily fluids or lesions or prolonged contact with an infected person.

Generally, most patients are able to recover at home, he said.

Health authorities are doubling efforts to educate the public about the disease and enhance vigilance and investigative measures, he said.

Since the disease is transmitted via close physical contact, having multiple sex partners can increase the infection risk, he said.

According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox cases are increasing among men who have sex with other men.

Homosexual and bisexual men are advised to limit the number of sexual partners to protect themselves and help slow the virus' transmission, it said.

"Monkeypox can be avoided if we take precautions and abstain from risky sexual behaviour," Mr Anutin said.

The minister added that monkeypox vaccines will initially be kept for immunisation of frontline healthcare workers first.

Dr Sopon Iamsirithaworn, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said the department has told quarantine offices at international airports across the country to step up the screening of arrivals from countries where monkeypox outbreaks are taking place.

As of Friday, a total of 2,389 arrivals from Europe and 138 from Africa were screened and no suspected cases of infection were detected, Dr Sopon said.

He also provided an update on the two monkeypox cases detected in Thailand so far.

The first is a 27-year-old Nigerian national confirmed to have the disease on July 18 in Phuket. He later fled the kingdom to Cambodia on July 21 before being arrested in Phnom Penh.

More than 50 people who came into contact with the man while he was in Phuket have been tracked and no new infections have been detected, Dr Sopon said.

The second confirmed case, which has nothing to with the Nigerian man, involves a 47-year-old Thai who is being treated at Vajira Hospital, Dr Sopon said.

The man told health authorities he had sex with a foreign man and began developing symptoms on July 15, Dr Sopon said.

Authorities are looking for the foreign man, he said.

Health authorities also collected samples from 17 people who came in contact with the patient for lab tests on Friday, he said.

Results of 16 of them came back negative yesterday while the result of the other was pending, he said.

All are subjected to 21 days of quarantine, Dr Sopon said.

                                



🔴 #COVID19 update on Sunday ⬇️ 1,664 new cases in hospital ⬇️ 26 deaths ⬇️ 23,161 active cases ⬆️ 925 serious cases. Richard Barrow / TNR



Beware! Blocking an ambulance carries heavier penalty than you think. As a patient died recently after a driver blocked the ambulance's way, a warning was issued that if a driver's action is the direct cause of death he/she may face murder charge. - Thai Newsroom

Beware! Blocking an ambulance carries heavier penalty than you think

July 30, 2022  TNR Staff

MOTORISTS should be careful to give way to an ambulance as not doing so and this leading to the patient dying could lead to a murder charge under Section 79 of the Land Traffic Act, TV Channel 7 said today (July 30).

The warning was issued after a young woman driving on the far right lane of a road blocked an ambulance's way with this leading to the patient being rushed to the hospital dying.

Crime Suppression Division police had on December 5, 2018 published a warning about such obstruction leading to a murder charge under the headline, "Intentionally not dodging an ambulance carrying a patient. Beware of murder charge!!"

According to this law, drivers upon seeing an ambulance on duty with the siren and flashing lights on must allow the vehicle to pass first. Failure to do so is punishable by a fine of not more than 500 baht.

Drivers face more serious charges if their action is a "direct cause" leading to the patient in the ambulance dying. They are then liable for committing a negligent offence leading to another person's death or acting with the intent of causing another person's death.

Section 79 of the Land Traffic Act states the following on how the public must conduct themselves upon seeing an ambulance:

– Pedestrians must stop and move close to the edge of the road or walk to the nearest safe zone or the road shoulder;

– Drivers must stop or park their vehicle on the left edge of the road. If there is a bus lane on the far left, you must stop or park the car next to the bus lane. However they must not stop or park their vehicle at an intersection;

– Drivers or animal caretakers must control the animal and stop beside the road but not stop at the intersection. They must control the animal as soon as practically possible and take appropriate precautions as the case may be.

An intoxicated man has lost both his legs after he fell asleep on a railway track before being run over by a train in Banglamung this afternoon (July 30th). Pattaya News



Banglamung –

An intoxicated man has lost both his legs after he fell asleep on a railway track before being run over by a train in Banglamung this afternoon (July 30^th).

The Nongprue Police was notified of the incident at 4:30 P.M. at a railway in Nongprue. They and the Pattaya News team arrived at the scene to find the intoxicated man aged around 40 who was still alive near the railway. His name was withheld. He was crying with pain due to having both of his legs amputated by the train near the knee. The man and his legs were rushed to a local hospital. Nearby, police found an empty bottle of Thai whisky.

Train staffers said they were informed from the train driver that something was lying on the railway which at first they thought was similar to a log. The train was unable to stop the impact in time to avoid hitting the intoxicated man.

Nongprue police believe the man had passed out drunk earlier in the day with his legs partially on the railway track.

As of press time the man was expected to survive and was in emergency surgery at a local hospital.

Don't drop guard, Health Dept warns - More people have eased up on personal Covid-19 prevention measures despite the increasing number of daily cases, according to the Health Department. Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, its director-general, on Friday said the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants have sparked a surge in daily cases. However, a department survey found that there was a drop in personal preventive measures this month when compared to figures seen in May. Bangkok Post

Don't drop guard, Health Dept warns

More people have eased up on personal Covid-19 prevention measures despite the increasing number of daily cases, according to the Health Department.

Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, its director-general, on Friday said the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants have sparked a surge in daily cases.

However, a department survey found that there was a drop in personal preventive measures this month when compared to figures seen in May.

A total of 74.1% of respondents said they still regularly wash their hands, a drop from 82% in May, it said. Meanwhile, 78.6% continued to maintain social distancing this month as opposed to 84.6% in May, it said.

Dr Suwanchai said universal prevention measures are still needed to avoid being infected by Covid-19.

There were 37 more Covid-19 fatalities and 2,480 new cases in hospitals across the kingdom on Thursday, according to a Public Health Ministry report on Friday. The kingdom recorded 32 fatalities and 1,902 new cases on Wednesday, it added.

To handle the increase in daily cases, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) is offering treatment options for Covid-19 patients, including telemedicine.

On Monday, the NHSO held an online event to promote the move.

Atthaporn Limpanyalert, NHSO deputy secretary-general, on that day said the telemedicine service will offer self-treatment programmes for patients.

Meanwhile, the MorDee and Good Doctor mobile apps will provide the remote delivery of healthcare services for qualified patients in Bangkok and its five adjacent provinces, he said.

Dr Sudhichai Chokitchai, a supervisor at Good Doctor Technology Thailand, said the app has helped take care of about 8,000 Covid-19 patients as it guarantees diagnosis and prescriptions from doctors.

"Telehealth or telemedicine can connect physicians to remote patients without travel costs and [the technology] is time-saving," he said.

However, patients over 60 years old, those with underlying diseases and pregnant women must consult medical staff at hospitals for a more detailed diagnosis, he said.

Adipat Chaichanasakul, managing director of the MorDee app, said it welcomes anyone with health insurance and NHSO patients.

It also provides treatment services for other ailments that do not require a hospital visit, including high blood pressure and diabetes, he said.

"Thailand needs telehealth businesses as the doctor ratio is only 0.81 per 1,000 people," he said. "This service will help patients contact doctors at an affordable price."

😱😱😱😱😱😱👎👎👎👎👎 On a recent radio interview with Pattaya’s 103 station, British ambassador Mark Gooding pinpointed the lack of medical insurance by Brits as his biggest takeaway from his tour of the city. The point has been hammered home for 20 years by the UK government, yet above half of all international visitors (not just Brits) are uninsured according to surveys. It’s human nature, of course, to think “the worse won’t happen to me” but there are many reasons for the reality that Brits alone ran up unpaid hospital bills of 300 million baht (8 million pounds) annually prior to the pandemic.- Pattaya Mail

Medical insurance is a complex business Mr Ambassador

Barry KenyonJuly 30, 2022

Only the most expensive forms of medical insurance will guarantee stays in the intensive care unit.

On a recent radio interview with Pattaya's 103 station, British ambassador Mark Gooding pinpointed the lack of medical insurance by Brits as his biggest takeaway from his tour of the city. The point has been hammered home for 20 years by the UK government, yet above half of all international visitors (not just Brits) are uninsured according to surveys. It's human nature, of course, to think "the worse won't happen to me" but there are many reasons for the reality that Brits alone ran up unpaid hospital bills of 300 million baht (8 million pounds) annually prior to the pandemic. That's according to a report in The Nation newspaper which referenced only state hospitals and omitted the private sector which rarely offers treatment anyway without a copper-bottom guarantee.



The first problem is definitional. Mr Gooding advised all visitors to Thailand to buy "travel insurance", though he is obviously aware that expats or non-tourists likely won't be covered if they are not based in the home country of departure. Medical Billing Advocates, an international watchdog leader, state that one in seven of all medical insurance claims are denied or rejected. They point out that the confusion between travel insurance, covering some but not all holiday mishaps, and comprehensive medical cover is a common cause of misunderstanding. Several recent cases of sick Brits appealing for crowd-funded donations to get them back to the UK for an emergency operation have been tourists who had not read the small print in policy documentation.

Thai authorities during the pandemic made matters murky by insisting all visitors had medical insurance – it started at US$50,000 but ended up at US$10,000 prior to cancellation – but then stating it could be restricted to Covid only illness. In the ensuing confusion, some international visitors failed to appreciate that a traffic accident was not Covid-related, whilst several companies went bust because of the pressure of coronavirus claims. Whilst there were undoubtedly some good policies out there, the cheapest ones claiming a month's cover for a few pounds were worthless and designed only to survive the nod-and-a-wink Thailand Pass entry bureaucracy. There were even policies claiming to be comprehensive, but in reality only offering cremation benefit, and even then requiring documentary evidence of being Covid-free on initially entering the country.



Then we come to the expats. Many on one year extensions of stay, retirement or marriage, turn to agents for help because they lack cash in the bank or income to cover 800,000 or 400,000 baht respectively. The cash-strapped are unlikely to have the funds for comprehensive hospitalization and will simply hope for the best. It is known that a main reason for self-repatriation is fear of falling seriously ill in Thailand. But the only visas currently requiring medical insurance are one type of retirement visa and extension of stay (O/A) and the yet-to-start 10 year LTR or Long Term Resident Visa. There many alternative options without any insurance requirement at all, including the O retirement option and the Elite visa. The latter is seen by many observers as the safest bet because it guarantees multiple-entry for between five and 20 years.

Finally, there are the elderly and the super-aged. Insurance companies prefer customers who won't make a claim so issues like gerontocracy, pre-existing conditions and high cholesterol in a medical report are distancing strategies like no other. So these expats must either sit tight and hope the grim reaper strikes quickly, or pay through the nose, or self-insure. Interestingly, the Thai Cabinet has now authorized self-insurance as a concept, though how it will be implemented by Thai immigration offices, if at all, is not yet crystal clear. Expat residence in Thailand is never much different. Whilst it is platitudinous to go on repeating "get insurance", it is equally important to recall the legal concept Caveat Emptor. Buyer Beware!

Aeroflot set to resume flights to Phuket. Hope is being regained that Thai tourism can attract 1 million Russian tourists this year as Aeroflot will resume direct flights to Phuket this winter after a pause of several months due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said Aeroflot has confirmed the resumption of the Moscow to Phuket service in the winter schedule, starting from Oct 30 with a daily service, reports the Bangkok Post.

Aeroflot set to resume flights to Phuket

BANGKOK: Hope is being regained that Thai tourism can attract 1 million Russian tourists this year as Aeroflot will resume direct flights to Phuket this winter after a pause of several months due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said Aeroflot has confirmed the resumption of the Moscow to Phuket service in the winter schedule, starting from Oct 30 with a daily service, reports the Bangkok Post.

Aeroflot and several other Russian carriers suspended flights to the island since March this year.

As of July 26, the number of Russian visitors to Thailand stood at 76,739. Most entered the country during the first quarter before Russia's invasion of Ukraine escalated, which prompted the European Union (EU) to impose aviation sanctions against Russia.

"In discussions with tour operators focusing on this market, they are confident about demand to Thailand. The only problem is the lack of connectivity. If Aeroflot can resume direct services as planned, while more airlines could follow in the next few months, we can still anticipate an influx of tourists in the final quarter," said Mr Yuthasak.

He said many airlines from Thailand, such as Thai Airways and Thai AirAsia X, were interested in operating this route to replace Russian carriers, but due to sanctions from European countries, technical assistance such as maintenance and shipments of spare parts were also banned over the past few months, as well as insurance that would not provide coverage in such circumstances.

However, the EU on July 27 announced an exemption for the sharing of technical information in the framework of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which includes any technical support related to repairs, development, manufacture, assembly, testing, maintenance, or any other technical services.

Mr Yuthasak said it has to clarify with related authorities again how this revised sanction from the EU could make any changes to the current aviation situation regarding Russia.

The number of international tourists to Thailand this year tallied 3.12mn between Jan 1 and July 26.

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said only 10% of 1,600 ATTA members are able to restart their businesses at present.

Most of them have to shift from the Chinese and Russian markets to India and Malaysia, which were the top markets with 381,542 and 322,079 arrivals, respectively, as of July 26.

"Most tour operators remain closed, particularly 400 companies that previously focused on the Chinese market. However, as the outlook for the upcoming high season is promising, we have to prepare for resumption by restarting business matching in popular destinations like Phuket this month," said Mr Sisdivachr.

ATTA will lead 170 tour operators to Phuket to have business matching with 70-80 local hotels this weekend.

He said tour operators and hotels have to work together to gauge the tourism demand in the final quarter and prepare their services to avoid a supply shortage as most hotels in Phuket have been shuttered for over two years.

🔴 #COVID19 update on Saturday ⬇️ 1,962 new cases in hospital ⬇️ 32 deaths ⬇️ 24,323 active cases ⬆️ 920 serious cases. Richard Barrow / TNR





The Thai Public Health Ministry said 13 people are under observation after a Thai man in Bangkok contracted monkeypox, thus becoming the country's second case. Read Thai Newsroom Report https://thainewsroom.com/2022/07/29/13-others-being-watched-after-second-monkeypox-case-emerges-in-bangkok/





Search is on for a European man who had reportedly engaged in physical contact with Thailand's second monkeypox patient. Read more https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018297



Bangkok fit to host Biden-Xi talks | The Prayut Government should approach both governments about the country’s readiness to host their historic meeting. After all Thailand, which is the chair of the APEC 2022 leaders’ Meeting on 18th & 19th November, also has excellent ties with both countries. It is a neutral and safe zone in which to reconcile and cooperate. Thai PBS World

Bangkok fit to host Biden-Xi talks

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Bangkok is a suitable venue for the first face-to-face talks between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year. The Prayut Government should approach both governments about the country's readiness to host their historic meeting. After all Thailand, which is the chair of the APEC 2022 leaders' Meeting on 18^th & 19^thNovember, also has excellent ties with both countries. It is a neutral and safe zone in which to reconcile and cooperate.

The prospect of physical meeting between the two leaders arises out of their latest telephone conversation. Although there was no break-though, it had the immediate effect of cooling the toxic rhetoric emanating from two of the world's most powerful countries. During their more than two-hour conversation the two presidents covered a whole range of issues, which still need to be ironed out in coming dialogue sessions.

What was reassuring was the US confirmation of the 'One China' policy, which has been the pillar of Washington's ties with Beijing since the Shanghai communique. Other countries with diplomatic ties with China also respect this principle. Although the proposed visit of Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, to Taiwan was not on the agenda, the call indicated that the US would be abiding by the 'One China' principle. Indeed, given the straining ties, any comment or action that could politicise or poison the bilateral diplomatic atmosphere should be avoided.

At this juncture, global security is very fragile and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine seems likely to continue and further destabilise the global system as we know it. Suitable China-US ties are an imperative for the post-COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery around the world. China's economy will remain the prime mover, as it remains the top trading partner with a large majority of nations.

There are, however, two caveats. First, both China and the US are facing domestic challenges, which will have direct repercussions on their current leadership. China is currently preparing for its 20th Party Congress, which will reaffirm Xi's third-term as leader. Although the exact date has not yet been announced, it is expected to be held in the last quarter of this year. Any disruption must be avoided.

In the US, the mid-term elections are scheduled on November 8^th and they will determine the future of the Biden administration. Even with the predictions of poll defeats, Biden is trying to drum up electoral support with his anti-inflation measures. After all, it will be the economic conditions that will decide the winner.

The second caveat is, with pressing domestic issues, both sides should avoid rocking the boat. Fortunately, over the past years, both superpowers have been able to weather their stormy relationship.

It is interesting to note that the American media has not done a good job in promoting a better understanding of the current state of affairs for the American people. Extreme views have been expressed by mainstream media regarding the US-China ties, especially the broadcasters, who rely on their oratory skills rather than facts and knowledge.

American society is free and open. Therefore, it is necessary that free media disseminate facts. Obviously, differing views are common and should be respected. Extreme commentary, calling for hostile action must, however, be avoided.

At this juncture, US-Russia ties are at their weakest. In the case of China-US ties, if their relations deteriorate, there could be direct conflicts, which could lead to disastrous results. Therefore, their proposed face-to-face talks are a must. There are ample opportunities for the two leaders to meet, as they are scheduled to attend three different summits being held separately in Phnom Penh, Bali and Bangkok in November.

Thailand must be ready to play host to the Biden-Xi talks, if need be.

by Kavi CHONGKITTAVORN



Vachira patient tests negative for monkeypox. The man from Thalang has tested negative, while disease control officials have confirmed that a man in Dusit, Bangkok, has tested positive. Phuket News

Vachira patient tests negative for monkeypox

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) Chief Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon has confirmed that the 40-year-old man transferred from Thalang Hospital to Vachira Phuket Hospital on Tuesday (July 26) has tested negative for monkeypox.

Laboratory tests on blood and secretion samples taken from the man on Tuesday had ruled out the man's infection as monkeypox, Dr Kusak announced yesterday (July 28).

Dr Kusak did not confirm what the man's infection was, though the initial diagnosis by Dr Weerasak Lorthongkham, Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, was that the man had chickenpox.

The man was taken to Vachira hospital in Phuket town after he had presented himself at Thalang Hospital with fever and blisters and rashes all over his body.

Dr Kusak said yesterday that a throat swab, a pustular swab in VTM, a pustular swab in lysis and a whole blood test had failed to find any traces of monkeypox infection.

"Therefore, people are asked not to panic. Don't be fooled by fake news, rumours and fake news and we requesting to follow the correct information from the government," Dr Kusak said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Disease Control yesterday announced through a statement that health officials had identified the country's second confirmed case of monkeypox in the Dusit area of Bangkok.

DDC Director Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said the man was diagnosed by a private hospital in Dusit District, Bangkok, on Wednesday (July 27).

A preliminary investigation by DDC officers found that the patient, a 47-year-old Thai man, had recently had sex with a foreign man.

He started having body aches a week ago, and developed pustules on his genitals. The infection spread and he soon developed pustules on his arms, legs, face and head.

The man self-isolated in the house where he is living, but by that time had already come in close contact with 10 other people, Dr Opas said.

The man later presented himself at the hospital when the symptoms worsened. He was admitted for a rash and pustules on his genitals, with swelling, pain and a burning sensation.

Samples taken from the man later were tested and confirmed by DDC officials that the man was infected with monkeypox, Dr Opas said.

The DDC team is now investigating more possible infections in the area and trying to track down the foreign man, he said.

Dr Opas repeated that monkeypox is not easily transmitted, but can be contracted through very close contact.

"So we are asking risk groups to be very careful," he said.

An expert virologist provided an insight into why it is difficult to control the spread of monkeypox. Yong said the monkeypox virus is spreading and the spread is not likely to slow down. Yong said if the disease cannot be controlled, it will spread to others and even pets, which will make the disease even more difficult to control. Published : July 29, 2022 By : THE NATION

Virologist explains why it is tough to control spread of monkeypox

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An expert virologist provided an insight into why it is difficult to control the spread of monkeypox.

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In a Facebook post on Friday, Dr Yong Poovorawan said infected persons do not develop many initial symptoms, so the disease is difficult to diagnose.

Comparing monkeypox to HIV, he said 40 years ago HIV spread quickly because there were no initial symptoms, so patients took no precautions.

However, he said, the only difference is that monkeypox patients recover within two to four weeks and are no longer a threat to others.

Yong said the monkeypox virus is spreading and the spread is not likely to slow down. There are more than 17,000 patients in 75 countries, mostly in Europe and the US. So far, there have only been five deaths from monkeypox, and they were all in Africa.

He also pointed out that though the World Health Organisation report did not provide statistics, current information shows that more than 98 per cent of patients are men. He added that for now, the disease is spreading among men who have sex with men and that 40 per cent of the lesions occur in the genital region.

Yong said if the disease cannot be controlled, it will spread to others and even pets, which will make the disease even more difficult to control.

Thailand adjusts Covid-19 guidelines for possible Omicron outbreak. The Royal Gazette recently published a revision in the emergency decree’s Article 9, which will go into effect on August 1. Published : July 29, 2022 By : THE NATION

Thailand adjusts Covid-19 guidelines for possible Omicron outbreak

The article was revised to prepare for an expected surge in Covid-19 infections worldwide due to the highly transmissible Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants now that countries are reopening and easing restrictions.

Agencies have been instructed as follows:

• Mark all areas nationwide as Covid-19 surveillance zones in line with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)'s order.

• Enforce Covid-19 prevention measures to contain the spread of the virus in risky venues and provide guidelines for filming television shows, films and videos.

• Prevent activities that may trigger infection clusters unless authorised by the authorities.

• Welcome foreigners in line with the country's reopening policy and public health measures.

• Prepare medical staff and supplies, including Covid-19 vaccines, to deal with possible outbreaks and encourage people, especially the vulnerable, to get booster doses.

• Prepare plans to transition Covid-19 from a dangerous communicable disease to a disease under surveillance to help people make adjustments and live safely.



🔴 #COVID19 update on Friday ⬆️ 2,480 new cases in hospital ⬆️ 37 deaths ⬆️ 24,550 active cases ⬇️ 901 serious cases. Richard Barrow / TNR



Thai Berry pickers to Finland increase again. Record number of Thai berry pickers are once again expected in Finland this summer, reports YLE.fi

Thai Berry pickers to Finland increase again

July 28, 2022 - by Gregers Møller - 

Blueberry Blueberry background photo created by dashu83 – www.freepik.com

Record number of Thai berry pickers are once again expected in Finland this summer, reports YLE.fi

Two years ago, a new law was passed protecting the berry pickers and this seems to work in providing confidence for the Thais to apply for the jobs. This year, Thai authorities have allowed more than 4,000 berry pickers to work in Finland, which is 500 more than in previous years, the report says.

On the Finnish side, the North Ostrobothnia TE employment office coordinates the arrival of the berry pickers. Among the large berry firms, Polarica Berries and Fruits will bring 1100 berry pickers to Finland, and Marja Bothnia Berries will welcome 900 migrant workers.

Blueberries and cloudberries should have a good harvest this year, Polarica CEO Jukka Kristo told the news site.

"Overall, the season is looking good at the moment, but we don't know yet how the war in Ukraine and inflation will affect the berry sector," Kristo told Yle.

The law on the legal status of foreigners who collect natural products came into force in June last year. In the past, the legal relationship between berry pickers and companies was unregulated, said Niko Huru, a labour inspector for the Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency.

Kristo from Polarica told Yle that the new law is welcome and the conditions it imposes are not overwhelming to employers. Kristo noted that reputation is vitally important for employers.

"I have now been welcoming them [berry pickers] to Finland. About 80 percent have been with us before, and 20 percent are their relatives. There must be a reason why they come to us year after year to pick," Kristo said.

Hefty airfares hinder industry recovery. Surging airfares have become one of the most pressing issues in terms of tourism recovery as only a handful of tourists can afford the hefty price of tours. Bangkok Post

Hefty airfares hinder industry recovery

International tourists at Suvarnabhumi airport's departure hall. Varuth Hirunyatheb

Surging airfares have become one of the most pressing issues in terms of tourism recovery as only a handful of tourists can afford the hefty price of tours.

"Tour companies are promoting Scandinavian packages starting from 150,000 baht or around 170,000 baht per person on average, double the rate in 2019. Only 3% of outbound travellers are able to afford such pricey outbound trips," said Mr Charoen Wangananonth, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA).

He said the more expensive tour packages are due to higher operational costs, mainly attributed to the higher prices of air tickets from higher fuel costs which historically peaked over the past few months.

The impact was more critical for long-haul flights, particularly from the US and Europe as those routes face higher fuel surcharges and they still face a manpower shortage.

The airfares for some popular destinations also doubled from pre-pandemic levels.

To gain a profit from increasing operational costs, tour operators have to adapt services by offering exclusive and tailor-made packages targeting top clients as this group is the only one whose purchasing power has been unfazed by inflation and the weak baht.

For European packages priced less than 100,000 baht, operators would not offer a full board tour and would have to use connecting flights which take more time, rather than direct flights which are typically more expensive.

However, middle-income tourists mostly seek intra-regional travel as these routes have received a less severe impact in terms of airfares.

Overall, package tours in Southeast Asia are less than 20,000 baht.

"Most Thai travellers, both clients of tour companies and individual tourists, refrained from taking long-haul trips as prices are too high. Meanwhile, there were 10% that had to cancel their trips as the visa process for Schengen countries takes 3-4 months instead of the 15 days it normally takes," he said.

Mr Charoen said the visa issue was another factor that led tour operators to avoid offering long-haul packages to tourists, as there is a high risk of loss if the groups cannot travel as planned.

Santisuk Klongchaiya, chief executive of Thai AirAsia, said the airline has to monitor inflation in Thailand which directly affects domestic spending power.

The high load factor rate of 90% in July was from pent-up demand from international tourists after the full reopening on July 1, but as low season draws near, demand over the next few months could be softer, prompting the airline to accelerate low fare promotions to cushion the impact.

However, flight resumption still lagged behind pre-Covid operations as the number of active routes saw a 40-50% recovery, but flight frequencies were just 25-30% of the pre-pandemic level.

"Airfares have been raised amid soaring fuel prices. We could partly absorb the cost and had to pass some on to passengers, while maintaining a price ceiling to be competitive with other airlines," said Mr Santisuk.

The second confirmed monkeypox case in Thailand was found in Bangkok on Thursday, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018266 The Nation



Land expropriation for smart city in Chon Buri to start at year-end The government will start expropriating land in a tambon in Chon Buri province late this year for the construction of a smart city and EEC business hub with a budget of 1.34 trillion baht, a senior official said. The Nation

Land expropriation for smart city in Chon Buri to start at year-end

The government will start expropriating land in a tambon in Chon Buri province late this year for the construction of a smart city and EEC business hub with a budget of 1.34 trillion baht, a senior official said.

The Sor Por Kor is land allocated to landless farmers for farming. The land cannot be legally sold.

Kanit said the first phase of expropriation would cover plots in Ban Bueng (Moo 6), Ban Mab Phuk Thong (Moo 11), Ban Nok (Moo 12) and Ban Nong Phak Kood (Moo 13) villages in tambon Huay Yai.

Most of the plots are farm lands where villagers have planted rubber trees, palm trees, coconut trees and tapioca.

He said the office has dispatched teams to conduct public hearings and the plan had garnered support but also opposition.

An EECO source said the office was still in the process of negotiating land prices with farmers as many of them thought the offered prices were too low.

A source from Tambon Huay Yai said the first lot of expropriation would be done for 2,000 rai of land in Moo 13 village and the plot would be used for building the new EEC office. The source said public hearings with local people met with both agreement and disagreement as many local people saw the prices were too low.

Although the Sor Por Kor land cannot be legally sold and bought, the source from the tambon said many investors have already bought the right to hold the land from farmers in anticipation of getting benefits from the new city project.

The source said land price has shot up after it has become known now that the construction of the new EEC city would start in tambon Huay Yai along highway No 331 -- the Sattahib-Khon Chi Chan Road.

Tambon Huay Yai has been selected as the centre of the new city apparently because it is located at the spot with convenient transportation. It is located near a station of the high-speed railway that will link the Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports. The spot is also near the U-Tapao airport, Pattaya and not too far from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The EECO source said some 14,600 rai (2,336 hectares) in tambon Huay Yai would be gradually expropriated. So far, the government has allocated 1.5 billion baht for the expropriation, the source added.

The source said the project would later expand to cover some 70,000 rai of smart city covering two more tambon – Pong and Khao Mai Kaew.

The cost of the entire project was set at 1.3 trillion baht over 20 years of development, the source added.

The source said the smart city would have low-rise buildings comfortable to live in and work from. It would cater to foreigners who would come to work in the EEC during the next 20 years, the source added.

Hotel situation Phuket.