Pattaya's three-day New Year event from December 29-31 at Bali Hai Pier is still going ahead but there will be no fireworks at all this year, even on the countdown into the New Year. Concerts and street food stalls will be available to enjoy as normal.
Facebook page Pattaya City Mayor Hotline (สายตรงนายกเมืองพัทยา) posted about the cancellation of the annual fire show yesterday. The reason for the urgent cancellation was not revealed.
Although, some netizens expect the firework ban has been put in place to pay respects to Princess Bajrakitiyabha who is still hospitalised at Bangkok's King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Fireworks may be deemed inappropriate in such circumstances.
Others speculated that fireworks could be deemed inappropriate given that the country is mourning the tragic loss of sailors who died or went missing from the Royal Thai Navy's HTMS Sukhothai which sank off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan on Sunday night.
The Pattaya City Mayor Hotline page added that concerts and street food stalls at the event will be operated which will boost Pattaya's economy.
Other districts of Chon Buri province including Bang Pla Soi, Makam Yeng, and Baan Khot have completely cancelled their New Year eventson December 31 and merit-making events on January 1. No reasoning was provided.
Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha confirmed that a proposal for the closing times at nightlife venues to be pushed to 4am has not been backed by the Cabinet.
The National Alcoholic Beverage Committee has launched a campaign to reduce drink-driving accidents on Thailand's roads this festive season.
The TAT expects Countdown celebrations this year to help generate 4.21 billion baht for the local economy.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) forecasts domestic tourism to tally 3.14 million trips during the New Year holiday, generating 11.2 billion baht, with the northern region posting the highest occupancy rate at 78%.
The countdown celebrations in 12 provinces are poised to stimulate 4.21 billion baht for the local economy, said the agency.
Yuthasak Supasorn, the TAT governor, said the New Year holiday from Dec 31 to Jan 2 would see a surge of local tourists, with 560,380 trips projected for the northern provinces as travellers want to experience cold weather in mountainous destinations.
With the highest occupancy rate at 78%, the North would earn income of 2.05 billion baht, followed by the Northeast and the East with occupancy rates of 75% and 72%, earning 1.26 billion baht and 3.88 billion baht, respectively, said the TAT.
Cool weather in the North and Northeast is seen as the most favourable factor to attract families, groups of friends and couples, while the eastern provinces are packed with man-made attractions and various activities for tourists of every age, said the agency.
He said the eastern provinces also benefit from the short driving distance from Bangkok and lower expenditure compared with other regions, which require travel by air for convenience.
The southern region and the central region's occupancy rate stood at 70% and 68%, respectively.
Excluding Bangkok, the top five destinations for domestic tourists are Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen and Rayong.
Most Thais tend to choose these destinations as they can travel by car, which can save on costs and time, said the TAT.
Mr Yuthasak said Chon Buri is expected to gain the most travellers with 533,000 trips, securing an 85% occupancy rate thanks to several events, including a countdown concert in Pattaya featuring Thai K-pop singer "BamBam" Kunpimook Bhuwakul, which could draw more than 100,000 people to the event.
However, domestic tourism still faces challenges, with sluggish spending stemming from household debt, soaring goods and service prices, and volatile energy prices, he said.
Mr Yuthasak said domestic tourists would face a 10% increase in costs per day, while some travellers may opt for shorter routes and reduce their length of stay.
The TAT and business partners are set to hold Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 events in 12 provinces.
Bangkok events are slated for Nakarapirom Park, Iconsiam, the Ratchaprasong shopping district and CentralWorld.
The TAT expects to have 899,000 visitors across all countdown venues, generating 4.21 billion baht, of which Bangkok will gain the highest income at 1.52 billion baht.
After months of speculation, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha finally announced that he will join the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) and become its sole prime minister candidate for the next general election which is slated for May 2023.
The 2014 coup leader told reporters that there is no conflict between him and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, the leader of the ruling pro-military Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) which nominated Prayut for the premiership position in the 2019 election.
Gen. Prayut is joining the UTN as the PPRP did not nominate him as one of its prime minister candidates.
If Gen. Prayut was reselected, he will only be able to stay in power until 2025 due to his term limit hence the PPRP's hesitation and the decision to join the UTN.
New Year Countdown Party in Mueang Chonburi to Be Replaced by a Merit-Making Rite, Authorities Say
The authorities in Chonburi have made the abrupt decision to cancel the New Year Countdown party in parts of the province and instead hold a merit-making rite for monks on January 1st, 2023.
The reason for the cancellation has not been explicitly stated, but it is believed to be related to the hospitalization of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who has yet to regain consciousness due to a heart problem.
It seems that the announcement only applies to celebrations that will take place in the Mueang district of Chonburi and is ineffective in other areas such as the Saensuk subdistrict.
Health minister confident COVID infections over New Year are controllable
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Thailand's Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is confident that COVID-19 infections during the New Year celebrations will be kept under control, as the Public Health Ministry is fully equipped with manpower and medical supplies to cope with the situation.
He did, however, express concern over those who are over 60, have kidney or heart diseases or cancer, saying that it is imperative that they get vaccinated or are fully vaccinated, to reduce the risk of severe symptoms.
He said that everyone should receive at least four doses of vaccine, which will enhance their ability to avoid serious illness if they become infected, adding that he has been informed that more people have recently been turning up for inoculation.
The minister believes that most people in the country have developed immunity to COVID-19 through vaccination or a prior infection.
The tragic scooter accident of Jo Hoffman illustrates a far wider problem for British visitors to Thailand and neighboring countries.
As UK vacationers return to Thailand in big numbers, an old problem has resurfaced with new urgency. What happens when you owe a lot of money and have run out of cash in the Land of Smiles? The most recently publicized case is Wolverhampton social worker Jo Hoffman whose face is smashed after a horrible scooter accident. The estimated medical bill is 50,000 pounds with only a third so far raised via gofundme, the best-known crowd cash-raising platform.
Her case is far from unique as a cursory glance at Google will reveal. 2022 is the worst year in recent memory. There are currently at least seven British accident casualties awaiting collective cash to get back home together with a mortuary corpse. Not to mention two much-loved dogs who somehow missed their flights from Bangkok airport. And the tragedies are not only medical. Thai immigration police are refusing to let a healthy Liverpool tourist leave the country until he offers compensation to a comatose Thai driver injured in a skid accident which appears to have been nobody's fault.
Understandably, victims and their relatives turn to the British embassy. Not much joy there. British government websites make it abundantly clear that there is no cash handout, or even a loan, no matter how desperate the situation. Diplomatic posts will offer a list of hospitals, translators and morticians and even phone relatives with the bad news, but there is a concrete zero budget for hard-luck stories no matter how grim. To be fair, other embassies sing from the same hymn sheet although a few – notably the Norwegian – offer far better counseling and care.
The parrot call, of course, is to be properly insured when abroad. Nobody knows how many travelling Brits are uninsured or inadequately covered. Global Protection says it's around a third, some say a half. The vulnerable total certainly runs into hundreds of thousands every year. Some like Jo Hoffman thought they were covered by credit card travel insurance, only to discover the truth too late. Others fail to pay the premiums to cover emergency operations or fall foul of restrictions which preclude the elderly from claiming. Not to mention catchall phrases like "pre-existing conditions", "evidence of alcohol or drugs", "dangerous sports" or "high horsepower vehicles" which can doom even the most expensive policies.
Thailand does not insist on prior medical insurance except for one or two longstay visas. That's true of most of her regional competitors for the tourist dollar. No mandatory insurance for the Philippines, Cambodia or Laos for example. All these countries, including Thailand, did require Covid-specific insurance during the pandemic but no longer. They are currently in competition to pack in as many visitors as possible in the name of marketing. Thailand does have a small discretionary fund for unfortunate foreign deaths on its soil, but it is limited to selected coach crashes and sunken vessels. Realistically, nothing will change. Of course, chances of any individual ending up on the gofundme register are remote. But stuff happens.
Thailand's embattled national carrier, Thai Airways International Plc (THAI), said it was looking to add 9 more aircraft to its fleet as its passenger load factor continues to rise.
THAI, which is still undergoing its bankruptcy restructuring process after its already loss-making business was severely impacted by the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, said it was looking to bring into service some of the parked aircrafts it has in its fleet and it was also looking to lease as many as 4 Airbus A350-900s during 2023.
Suvadhana Sibunruang, the acting Chief Executive Officer of THAI, said the plan was to bring in service as many as 5 (badly) parked aircrafts that can be seen at Suvarnabhumi Airport tarmac, into service.
Thai Airways aircrafts and other carriers are parked at the tarmac of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok o
The 5 aircrafts that are set to leave the tarmac after nearly 2-years of being parked and their engines and other parts not being covered properly, are 3 widebody Airbus A330-300s and 2 widebody Boeing 777-200ERs.
THAI has parked many of its aircrafts at Suvarnabhumi Airport for the past 2-years and many of these aircrafts have not been properly covered to prevent corrosion, unlike other airlines that sealed their aircrafts during the pandemic in order to avoid corrosion in the humid climate of Southeast Asia.
Suvadhana said that the plans to increase the fleet size have been forwarded to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the Ministry of Transport, and the hopes are that the approval from these 2 agencies would be approved as early as Q1 of 2023.
THAI, whose shares continue to be suspended from trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), said that it aims to add these aircrafts to popular routes such as Japan, Korea, Singapore and many cities in Europe including preparing to support the return of Chinese tourists in the very near future.
Currently THAI has 61 aircrafts that are in operation including:
12 Airbus A350s
4 Boeing B777-200ERs
17 Boeing B777-300ERs
8 Boeing B787s
20 Airbus A320-200 aircraft for Thai Smile Airways.
At present, Thai Airways also plans to procure 10 additional aircrafts for THAI Smile Airways, which will focus on aircraft such as Boeing B777
"Now passenger travel is recovering by leaps and bounds. On average, the cabin factor of Thai Airways is 85%, which is considered very high. The same is true for Thai Smile Airways, which has a consistently high number of passengers and was assigned to fly domestic routes including international routes in the short-term root to be a feeder for Thai Airways, therefore, it is necessary to find more aircraft to be sufficient to meet the needs of passengers," Suvadhana said.
In addition, the overall picture of Thai Airways' fleet is currently at 61 aircrafts, which is down from the pre-pandemic when it entered the rehabilitation plan with about 100 aircrafts, but it was found that the aircraft utilization was high and they are being used on an average of 12 hours per day which is considered quite effective.
Up for Sale
THAI, Suvadhana said, still has assets in the category of aircraft up for sale, with as many as 22 aircrafts that are on the block, which is still in the process of negotiating with potential buyers.
The aircrafts up for sale are:
6 Airbus A380s
2 Airbus A340-500s
2 Airbus A340-600s
6 Boeing B777-300s
6 Boeing B777-200s
Previously, 19 aircrafts have been sold, pending delivery, including:
1 Airbus A300-600
1 Boeing B737-100
12 Boeing B747-400
1 Airbus A340-500
1Airbus A340-600
There are also 5 aircraft that have already been transferred to the loan guarantors, namely 4 Airbus A330s parked at Suvarnabhumi Airport and 1 Airbus A330 parked at Don Mueang Airport
However previously, THAI planned to refurbish 6 Airbus A380 aircraft that are parked but have not yet been sold in order to accommodate higher passenger travel. THAI says that such type of aircraft can accommodate a large number of passengers, but Airbus has said that trying to fly an aircraft of such size that has been parked for 2 years would be time-consuming to bring them back to flying condition.
THAI said that it could take time to check the condition, and various checks could take up to about 7-8 months in order to be ready to return to fly safely, and the cost of such a move would be in billions of Baht.
8.1 million Thais are poor, 4.4 million below poverty line – NESDC
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More than 8.1 million Thais are poor, including 4.4 million living below the poverty line, according to the latest report by The Office of the National Economics and Social Development Council (NESDC).
The report on the poverty situation in Thailand in 2021, released this year, stated that the number of people who are below the poverty line is a decrease from 2020, when 4.7 million such people were recorded. The report attributed the reduction to the economic stimulus schemes, rolled out to ease the financial burden on poorer people.
As income is not the only factor that reflects the poverty situation in Thailand, the NESDC has used the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which identifies four dimensions of poverty; education, healthy living, quality of living and financial stability.
Under this index, it was found that multidimensional poverty is much more severe than poverty which only relates to income. According to this, a total of 8.1 million Thais are suffering from multidimensional poverty, 36.9% of whom are the elderly, while 51.5% are those who do not contribute to the economy, which includes children, the senile, the ill or the unemployed.
Each dimension of poverty in the report reflects several underlying problems. As for education, more children have dropped out of the education system, especially those who do not live with their parents. The report also stated that over 280,000 children and youths ceased their education in 2021 due to poverty.
Under healthy living, people in poverty lack access to clean water, with access still limited to areas that have good infrastructure. People in poverty also experience malnutrition.
In terms of quality of living, 2.8 million people do not have access to the Internet, as the signals do not cover certain locations. Such people also could not afford to pay the Internet service charges.
As for financial security, the lack of social security for workers remains a problem and their earnings are not sufficient to make ends meet, which leads to increasing debt and problems with saving money.
To solve the issues, the NESDC suggests that authorities should develop ways to fix the situation. One way would be to improve the information systems between related authorities, which can be used to improve the quality of life for people, as well as coming up with related policies to solve their problems. They also suggested that authorities create policy packages to solve multidimensional poverty, such as improving financial literacy for workers of all ages.
A Chinese tour group during a visit to the Grand Palace in 2018. TAWEECHAI TAWATPAKORN
Outbound tourism from China is expected to restart during the Chinese New Year in late January 2023 as Beijing gradually lifts Covid-19 restrictions, aiding tourism-related stocks and the overall travel sector in Thailand, say industry operators.
Speaking at an event on Wednesday hosted by the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (Fetco), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the agency plans to promote Chinese travel to Thailand during the holiday next month, or within the first quarter at the latest.
"It is possible China will start to allow its citizens to travel outside the country as early as Chinese New Year. Hopefully Thailand will be on a list of countries the Chinese government allows its people to visit," he said.
Thailand is on course to attract around 11 million tourists this year, and the projection for 2023 is 20 million, excluding Chinese travellers, generating tourism income of 2.38 trillion baht, or 80% of the 3 trillion baht tallied in 2019, said Mr Yuthasak.
However, a global recession, currency volatility, and energy price crises are the major challenges for the tourism industry, particularly when the low season starts in March, he said.
Tourists from Asean and other Asian countries are the main targets for the TAT next year, as those from the US and Europe have started to decrease because of the economic crisis, said Mr Yuthasak.
Middle Eastern tourists are set to increase, especially from Saudi Arabia. Saudi tourist arrivals totalled 90,000 this year, with a target of 200,000 in 2023, alongside an expected increase in Indian and Russian travellers.
"TAT's marketing will focus on generating quality tourists with high spending, as well as medical tourism. I am confident tourism revenue in 2023 will reach 80% of the pre-Covid level," he said.
Fetco chairman Kobsak Pootrakool said tourism and related industries will benefit from the rapid recovery of the sector. The prices of many stocks in this sector remain low, including those in aviation, food and hotels.
"Thailand is fortunate the tourism industry recover quickly, providing a buffer as the US and Europe are expected to enter into a recession next year," said Mr Kobsak.
Russian tourists enjoy a beach vacation near Pattaya.
Last month's commencement of twice-daily Azur Air charter flights from eleven Russian cities, including Siberia, to U-tapao Airport (near Pattaya) has outpaced all expectations. The provincial airport is processing nearly 5,000 Russian arrivals weekly. These flights are in addition to popular Aeroflot routes from Moscow and other urban centers to Bangkok and Phuket as well as multiple connecting flights from and to the Middle East.
Just under one and a half million Russians visited Thailand in pre-pandemic 2019 and many travel experts expect to reach or beat that annual figure as early as January 2023. At least a third will be heading to Pattaya where there are lengthy daily queues at the over-busy immigration bureau to register a local address, extend a holiday stay or seek other services. The neighboring photocopying unit has recently hired more staff to cope with the extra demand.
There are many signs that the latest Russian arrivals in Pattaya have different expectations from their predecessors. Mikhail Nazarenko, who runs a Walking Street bar attracting mostly Russian imbibers, said, "Some are tourists anxious for a two-weeks sunshine break from Putin's grim regime, but others are looking to the long haul including some draft dodgers too." He cited airline reports that the charter flights to U-tapao are always full, but the return journeys have some vacant seats.
Mikhail debunked the myth that Russians here are struggling financially because their credit cards don't work owing to international sanctions. "Travelling Russians are using credit cards issued abroad, particularly the Middle East and China, while others are arriving with mega cash, especially US dollars, in their hand luggage. There's also the option for new arrivals in Pattaya to obtain cash from affluent Russian expats already here and repay it by using their banking app to transfer funds to the lender's Russian account. It's no problem."
There has also been a surge in the number of Russians seeking proof of address letters from Chonburi immigration bureau which are required to open bank accounts in Thailand. Some Thai banks or managers are very cagey about allowing some foreign nationals to start accounts, because of money-laundering fears, so the more accommodating branches often have long queues during opening hours. There is also substantial Russian interest in long-term visas, such as Elite which offers a five year, multiple-entry stay in return for an initial cash payment of 600,000 baht (about US$18,000), or annual renewals based on retirement or marriage.
Applications by Russians for Thai driving licences are also rising, according to the Department of Land Transportation, whilst Russians (unlike Indians or Chinese) can take advantage of the same-day Cambodian visa run which extends their visa-free option for a further 45 days with then another 30 days on application to immigration. Russian vacationers (like UK, EU and USA) can now stay in Thailand for 150 days (45 plus 30 and repeat 45 plus 30)) on a visa-free basis. Restaurants and property agents are brushing up their Russian language marketing materials. Not only are the Russians coming, they're here in abundance.
Thailand is now second biggest market for Porsche in the world
Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN
BANGKOK, Dec 10 (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thailand has proved to be the "second biggest" market after Norway when it comes to Porsche's electrified Cayenne models.
Last year, 70% of the 1,500 Porsche vehicles sold in Thailand were hybrid-powered Cayenne SUVs, a huge jump from the 670 Porsche vehicles sold here in 2020.
Asked to comment on how Porsche, once regarded as a high-end supercar manufacturer with a handful number of sales in Thailand each year, rocketed to become a household name, Peter Rohwer, managing director of Porsche Thailand, attributed the success to modern technology.
"In the past Porsches might have been expensive sports cars to buy, but today new technology such as hybrids and EVs has helped to bring the prices down (due to special tax breaks)," he said, adding that offering engine sizes of no larger than three litres also help in minimizing retail prices.
Rohwer said Thailand is Porsche's largest market in Southeast Asia and is the "second best market in the world for electrified Porsche Cayenne vehicles, which is a big achievement."
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic or the semi-conductor crisis, Porsche has been enjoying increased sales globally. Last year it delivered 301,915 vehicles worldwide, an increase of 11 per cent, while sales in Asia-Pacific markets surged by a record 51 per cent, with strong sales coming from the Taycan EV.
Earlier this year the company also started CKD assembly of the Cayenne in Malaysia, which has helped to lower retail pricing by up to 30 % in Malaysia.
Rohwer says that Porsche is seriously looking at the South East Asian countries, which promise a large customer base as well as investment opportunities, particularly in resources needed for manufacturing EV batteries.
According to Rohwer, who has been working in Thailand for 28 years, today Porsche customers in Thailand are getting younger, with as much as 35 per cent of buyers being female.
"In the past, the average age of Porsche buyers was 55 years old but today it has dropped to 42, which means that there are a lot more customers out there," he said. "Entrepreneurs are becoming younger and they like a strong image when it comes to the cars they drive."
That explains a large number of visitors to the Porsche booth at the ongoing Thailand International Motor Expo. A total of 11 Porsche models are being displayed and sold at the event, which goes on until December 12 at Challenger IMPACT Muangthong Thani.
But in fact, first-time Porsche buyers need not even go for new cars, Rohwer said.
"Used Porsches are also available for 2-3 million Baht, such as the Macan or Cayenne," he said. "The 718 is the entry model and if you can afford a used one, it will be your entry into the Porsche world." AAS Autoservice co. ltd offers 15 years Porsche factory pre-owned warranty.
Rohwer says the typical Porsche customer doesn't have just one, but two to three Porsches.
"They love cars, love driving," he said. "And we sell dreams, dreams that come true. Good dreams." - The Nation Thailand/ANN
