Yes, Chinese returning to Thailand is likely just around the corner now. China Announces End to Covid-related Border Closures and Quarantine measures. China published two notices on the night of Monday, Dec. 26, announcing major policy changes regarding Covid-19. Below are some of the major policy changes. The Pattaya News

China Announces End to Covid-related Border Closures and Quarantine measures

Tanakorn PanyadeeTuesday, 27 December 2022, 17:06

National —

No more mandatory quarantine. No more restrictions on flights. A negative testing result 48 hours before the trip is the only Covid requirement to travel to China as of January8th.

China published two notices on the night of Monday, Dec. 26, announcing major policy changes regarding Covid-19. Below are some of the major policy changes.

1. Effective immediately, China renames "novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "novel coronavirus infection," dropping the word "pneumonia" from its official name of Covid-19.
2. Covid-19 has been designated as a Category B infectious disease but has been managed as the top, most serious Category A infectious disease since 2020. Starting Jan 8, 2023, Covid-19 will be managed as a Category B infectious disease, paving the way for dropping restrictions.

[Everything below will be effective from Jan 8, 2023.]

1. As a result of Covid-19 being managed as a Category B infectious disease starting Jan 8, 2023, according to China's Infectious Disease Prevention and Control law, China will no longer implement quarantine measures for people infected with Covid-19; no longer determine close contacts; no longer designate high- and low-risk areas; adjust its testing of Covid-19 to voluntary testing-based; adjust the frequency and content of relevant information release;
2. According to China's Frontier Health and Quarantine Law, China will no longer impose relevant quarantine measures on inbound personnel and goods.
3. The nucleic acid/PCR testing will be conducted 48 hours before starting the trip to China. Those with negative results can come to China without applying for a health code from Chinese embassies/consulates abroad. If the testing result is positive, the person should travel to China after the result has turned negative.
4. China will eliminate nucleic acid/PCR testing and centralized quarantine upon entry. If the health declaration is normal and there is no abnormality in the routine quarantine at the customs port, the person will be released to enter China.
5. China will eliminate the so-called "Five One" policy, the occupancy requirement on flights, and other restrictions on the number of flights. Airlines are still required to take in-flight precautions, and passengers are still required to mask themselves. (The "Five One" policy allowed Chinese mainland carriers to fly just one flight a week on one route to any country and foreign airlines to operate just one flight a week to China. Most flights into China have been limited to filling 75% of their seats.)
6. China will further optimize the arrangements for foreigners coming to China for resumption of work and production, business, study, family visits, and reunion, and provide corresponding visa convenience.
7. China will gradually resume the entry and exit of passengers at waterways and land ports.
8. China will resume Chinese citizens' outbound travel in an orderly manner according to the international epidemic situation and the capacity of various services.

The official notice gave the following as the background of the policy change.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has attached great importance to the prevention and control of the epidemic, comprehensively strengthened the centralized and unified leadership of the prevention and control work, and clearly defined the institutional mechanism, strategic principles, objectives and tasks, and work requirements for the prevention and control of the epidemic, providing fundamental guidelines and scientific guidance for winning the People's War and the Overall War, the Interdiction War, and the normalization in the prevention and control of the epidemic.

The epidemic prevention and control in China have always adhered to "people first" and "life first," with all regions and departments working closely together, performing their duties, optimizing and adjusting prevention and control measures dynamically according to the situation, and constantly improving scientific and precise prevention and control.

1.4 billion people have fought the epidemic with one heart and with perseverance and dedication, effectively responding to the impact of five waves of global epidemics, successfully avoiding the widespread spread of the relatively strongly-pathogenic original strain and the Delta strain, and greatly reducing serious illnesses and deaths. The epidemics and deaths were greatly reduced, and valuable time was gained for the development and application of vaccines and drugs, as well as the preparation of medical resources.

China has maintained the lowest epidemic and death rates in the world, steadily improved people's health, and achieved the best results in the world in integrating economic development and epidemic prevention and control, strongly demonstrating the role of a responsible power and creating a miracle of prevention and control in the history of human struggle against diseases.

At present, with the virus mutation, changes in the epidemic, the popularity of vaccination, and the accumulation of experience in prevention and control, China's prevention and control of novel coronavirus infections face new situations and new tasks. The prevention and control work has entered a new stage.

From the situation of virus mutation, domestic and foreign experts generally believe that the general direction of virus mutation is: it will become less pathogenic, more upper respiratory tract infections, with a shorter incubation period, the novel coronavirus will exist in nature for a long time, its pathogenicity will be significantly reduced, and the resulting disease will gradually evolve into a common respiratory infectious disease.

Although the number of infections is high, the proportion of asymptomatic infections and mild cases is over 90%, and the rate of serious illness and death is extremely low. From the perspective of China's foundation in prevention and control, China has accumulated more than 3.4 billion doses of vaccination against the novel coronavirus, with a full vaccination rate of more than 90% for people over three years old; progress has been made in the research and development of specific antiviral drugs at home and abroad, and China has screened clinically effective prescriptions such as "three drugs and three prescriptions" (of traditional Chinese medicine). The medical and health personnel have accumulated rich experience in epidemic prevention & control and treatment, and the prevention and control capability has been significantly improved.

After a comprehensive assessment of the virus mutation, the epidemic situation, and China's foundation in prevention and control foundation, China has (met) the basic conditions to adjust the novel coronavirus infection from "designated as Category B but managed under Category A" to "designated as Category B and managed under Category B."

Article from Zichen Wang



Chinese Visitors Expected in Thailand. The chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand expects more than 5 million Chinese people to visit Thailand next year as the Chinese government announced to lift its COVID-19 control.- TNA

Chinese Visitors Expected in Thailand

27 December 2022  11:31

BANGKOK, Dec 27 (TNA) – The chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand expects more than 5 million Chinese people to visit Thailand next year as the Chinese government announced to lift its COVID-19 control.

Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, shared his view as China planned to lift its mandatory quarantine on its visitors on Jan 8, 2023.

He said that the decision of China would have positive impacts on Thailand and all sectors of the Thai economy. Chinese tourists would increasingly travel abroad and Thailand was their top destination and also was in its winter, Mr Sanan said.

However, the private sector was concerned about Thailand's readiness to welcome the visitors. Although the Thai economy was picking up in the late third quarter and the fourth quarter of this year, the Thai tourism sector including hotels had not been fully restored, he said.

"If tourists from countries are visiting Thailand but Thai people are not fully ready, there can be problems. The government must urgently work out solutions and create the readiness," Mr Sanan said. (TNA)



South Korea reports first death from ‘brain-eating amoeba’. South Korea reported its first case of infection from Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as “brain-eating amoeba,” health authorities said on Monday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) confirmed that a Korean national in his 50s had died after returning from Thailand. - Thai Newsroo

South Korea reports first death from 'brain-eating amoeba'

December 27, 2022  TNR staff

By Korea Herald

Seoul – South Korea reported its first case of infection from Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as "brain-eating amoeba," health authorities said on Monday.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) confirmed that a Korean national in his 50s had died after returning from Thailand. The man came back to Korea on Dec. 10 after a four-month stint there. He was admitted to a hospital the next day and died Wednesday last week.

The KDCA said it had conducted genetic tests on three types of pathogens causing Naegleria fowleri to confirm the cause of his death. The testing confirmed the gene in the man's body was 99.6 percent similar to that found in a meningitis patient reported abroad.

This is the first known infection from the disease in South Korea. The first case was reported in Virginia in 1937.

Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba, or a single-celled living organism, that lives in soil and warm freshwater, such as hot springs, lakes and rivers, across the globe. The amoeba enters the body by inhalation through the nose and travels to the brain.

The initial symptoms might include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting, and later symptoms can lead to severe headaches, fever, vomiting and a stiff neck, according to the KDCA. The incubation period for Naegleria fowleri is usually from two to three days and up to 15 days at most.

Although human-to-human transmission of Naegleria fowleri is impossible, the KDCA asked residents to refrain from swimming in regions and neighbourhoods where the disease broke out. It added that the risk of infection was not high, but most cases start through swimming.

"To prevent the infection of Naegleria fowleri, we recommend avoiding swimming and leisure-related activities and using clean water when travelling to areas where cases have been reported," said Jee Young-mee, who heads the KDCA, via a press release.

The KDCA said clean water refers to any type of water that has not been contaminated, but people cannot be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water. It added that the highest risk is when the water temperature rises during the summer.

A total of 381 cases of Naegleria fowleri have been reported around the globe as of 2018, including in India, Thailand, the United States, China and Japan.

The United States alone reported 154 infections from 1962 through 2021. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, only four people survived, with a death rate over 97 percent.

Pattaya New Year Countdown to go ahead with spectacular fireworks on December 31st. It seems that Pattaya authorities have changed their mind and will go ahead with the firework display at the New Year countdown celebration on December 31st.- The Pattaya News

Pattaya New Year Countdown to go ahead with spectacular fireworks on December 31st

Tanakorn PanyadeeMonday, 26 December 2022, 17:42

PHOTO: สายตรงนายกเมืองพัทยา

Pattaya —

It seems that Pattaya authorities have changed their mind and will go ahead with the firework display at the New Year countdown celebration on December 31st.

According to a Facebook post from the Pattaya Mayor, the New Year celebration will include national-level fireworks displays but only on December 31st in Pattaya and Koh Larn. The fireworks will be prohibited only from December 29th to 30th as per the previous announcement.

Apart from this, the authorities said the countdown event in Pattaya will feature concerts and other activities such as shopping and eating as usual.

7 airlines to slash airfares by up to 20% from Jan. 2023. The seven airlines participating in this promotion are Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Smile, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai VietJet.- Thai Newsroom

7 airlines to slash airfares by up to 20% from Jan. 2023

December 26, 2022  TNR Staff

THE Thai Airline Association said today (Dec. 26) that seven airlines are going to cut airfares by up to 20% from January 2023 after the government reduced the excise tax on jet fuel to only 20 satang per litre to stimulate tourism, TV Channel 7 said.

Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of this association, said excise tax on jet fuel was cut to 20 satang per litre from 4.726 baht for six months starting January.

All seven airlines will be jointly organising a special promotion with all air fares to be gradually reduced by up to 20% depending on how each airline arranges it.

"The seven airlines will gradually organise this promotion with a maximum discount of 20% from the beginning of January 2023 onwards and I believe that this will help stimulate travel and tourism in all regions," he said.

The seven airlines participating in this promotion are Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Smile, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai VietJet.

Meanwhile Mr. Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, president of Airport Authority of Thailand (AOT), forecast that air traffic volume during Dec. 29, 2022 – Jan. 4, 2023 at all its six airports will be around two million passengers, an an increase of 171.28% over last New Year (Dec. 29, 2021- Jan. 4, 2022).

Of this total around one million will likely be international passengers, an increase of 832.51%, and around one million domestic passengers, an increase of 57.05%.

There will be around 12,190 flights, an increase of 87.01%, divided into approximately 5,340 international flights, up 260.53%, and around 6,850 domestic flights, up 35.98%.

With all six AOT airports, Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang, Phuket and Hat Yai, being crowded passengers are requested to come to the airport two to three hours in advance so as to not miss their flight.





Reduce air tickets, introduce more flights to Phuket, say tourism operators. Phuket’s tourism industry has called on the government and airlines to tackle the problem of rising ticket prices and too few flights to the resort city. The Nation

Reduce air tickets, introduce more flights to Phuket, say tourism operators

Phuket's tourism industry has called on the government and airlines to tackle the problem of rising ticket prices and too few flights to the resort city.

Phuket governor Narong Woonciew met tourism operators on Sunday to discuss the problems that could affect the tourism sector in the long term, especially during Chinese New Year and Songkran festivals.

He said the biggest problem was that there are too few flights to meet the surge in demand, especially during festivals and long weekends.

Members of the private sector, namely the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, Phuket Tourist Association, and Thai Hotels Association - Southern Chapter, agreed that airlines should boost flights to Phuket as well as seek supporting measures from the Tourism and Sports Ministry to make the move possible.

Without enough flights to Phuket during the high season, tourists may consider visiting other destinations like Vietnam, Singapore or Bali, a representative of the Phuket Tourist Association said.

Weekly COVID-19 Situation in Thailand 18-24 December 2022. Number of confirmed infected cases admitted to hospitals 2,900 (414 per day on average), Number of fatalities 89 (12 per day on average), Cumulative infected cases (since 1 January 2022) 2,498,373, Cumulative number of fatalities (since 1 January 2022) 11,896. source: Department of Disease Control

Khao San New Year countdown cancelled. The New Year’s Eve countdown on Khao San Road will be cancelled in light of the current “fragile” mood, but entertainment venues in the popular tourist hangout will be open as usual, a local business leader says. Bangkok Jack / Bangkok Post

Khao San New Year countdown cancelled

December 25, 2022

Khaosan Road in Bangkok is mostly quiet nowadays. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

The New Year's Eve countdown on Khao San Road will be cancelled in light of the current "fragile" mood, but entertainment venues in the popular tourist hangout will be open as usual, a local business leader says.

Sa-nga Ruangwatthanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Operators Association, confirmed the decision on Saturday.

He said that many government agencies had issued announcements asking for cooperation to refrain from holding special events or celebration activities on New Year's Eve. Because the mood of Thai people was "fragile" at the moment, the association decided to cancel its planned countdown party on Dec 31.

He said he had already notified business operators on Khao San Road and nobody raised any objection. All shared the same view that it would be inappropriate to hold festive activities during this time.

While shops and entertainment venues in the popular backpacker district will be open as usual, there will no festive decorations like before, he added.

Mr Sa-nga did not specifically mention the condition of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who has been in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital since losing consciousness on the evening of Dec 15.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said on Friday that it backs New Year countdowns and celebrations going ahead as planned as long as the government does not order any cancellations.

Mr Sa-nga said a large balloon would be placed in the middle of Khao San Road for tourists to take photos, and video of countdowns in other countries would be projected for visitors to watch.

He believed the cancellation of an actual countdown would not cause a drop in the number of tourists as businesses would still be open to serve them. Bookings for accommodation in the area have been rising, he added. – Bangkok Post



Nostalgi

Hej,

Bif några bilder från projekt Palmtree, mars 2005. Hus B3 hamnade vid den fjärde telefonstolpen. Notera "sjön" i området mot det nuvarande stadionområdet.

Hi,

Please find attached three pictures from the Palmtree project, March 2005. Around the fourth phone post house B3 is now situated.  Please note the "lake" where you today can find the stadium.

God jul och Gott Nytt År! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Lena and Mikael

Pamtree Residence, house B3

Fireworks cancelled at Pattaya's New Year event. 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. | Thaiger

Fireworks cancelled at Pattaya's New Year event

By 

Petch Petpailin

Friday, December 23, 2022 17:19

Photo by Cherd Pattayavoyage via Flickr

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 events on 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 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. Bangkok Post

TAT estimates 3.14m domestic trips

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. Thai Enquirer


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. 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. The Pattaya News

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.

Tanakorn PanyadeeThursday, 22 December 2022, 10:56

PHOTO: Big Mountain Music Festival official

Mueang Chonburi —

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.

As of press time, the highly anticipated Pattaya Countdown and Bangsaen Countdown were set to continue.



Chonburi cancels New Year countdown celebration. Sansuk municipality also posted a message on its Facebook page that “Bangsaen Countdown 2023” on Saturday Dec. 31 is being held at Laem Thaen on this beach. There will be free concerts by Wanyaix Mon Monik, Lazy Loxy & Sam Black and Two Popethorn as well as the band Clash. - Thai Newsroom

Chonburi cancels New Year countdown celebration

December 22, 2022  TNR Staff

CHONBURI'S municipality this morning (Dec. 22) announced the cancellation of the New Year countdown event and  the offering of food to monks on New Year's Day on its Facebook page, Amarin TV said.

The post immediately attracted a lot of comments with one person asking whether Pattaya is included and the page administrator replied that it is a different zone.

Sansuk municipality also posted a message on its Facebook page that "Bangsaen Countdown 2023" on Saturday Dec. 31 is being held at Laem Thaen on this beach. There will be free concerts by Wanyaix Mon Monik, Lazy Loxy & Sam Black and Two Popethorn as well as the band Clash.

Meanwhile Pattaya has hosted a meeting to discuss preparations for its upcoming three-day "Countdown Festival" at the end of the month, NNT said.

Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngampiches said yesterday that the city has tasked all relevant local units with preparing equipment and personnel to prevent major roads from becoming congested while accommodating an influx of revellers taking part in New Year's celebrations throughout the city. The move comes following a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Pattaya had previously held a countdown celebration in 2021, although it was significantly scaled down from preceding years and was subject to a number of regulations that restricted crowd size. This year, such rules have been removed and the roster of musicians increased. As a result, officials said crowds are certain to return to Bali Hai Pier from December 29-31.

Pattaya officials have also announced they will be limiting the number of guests at each event to reduce the risk of a crowd crush similar to the recent Halloween celebration tragedy in South Korea. 



Health minister confident COVID infections over New Year are controllable. 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. | Thai PBS World

Health minister confident COVID infections over New Year are controllable

views  313

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 cabinet indefinitely halted the tourism ministry's proposal to allow entertainment venues to stay open until 4 am. The cabinet said now is not the appropriate time, tourism minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said. Thai Enquirer



The worsening trend of Brits unable to pay their bills in Thailand. 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?- Pattaya Mail

The worsening trend of Brits unable to pay their bills in Thailand

Barry KenyonDecember 20, 2022

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.

THAI looks to add 9 more aircraft to its fleet of 61 in 2023 as demand for travel picks up, looks to divest many of its idle aircrafts. 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.- Thai Enquirer

THAI looks to add 9 more aircraft to its fleet of 61 in 2023 as demand for travel picks up, looks to divest many of its idle aircrafts

Thanaphum CharoensombatpanichDecember 19, 2022

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.