An open letter to the Move Forward Party. There is no rush to form a government if it means siding with the devil. - Thai Enquirer Current Affairs

An open letter to the Move Forward Party - Thai Enquirer Current Affairs

Cod SatrusayangMay 15, 2023

Dear Move Forward Party, 

Congratulations on your success in this election. You now carry with you the weight and expectation of your supporters and the burden of representing the whole country. Your success has been built upon ideals and believing in the democratic process. Long may this continue. 

On that note, I would like to ask the MFP for just one thing. Patience. 

There is going to be a lot of temptations to create, join, and manage various types of coalitions in the weeks ahead. But there is no pressure, literally none from your supporters, to join with the devil just to form a government that doesn't truly bring change. 

The conservative establishment are going to try and cheat you. They are going to try to play with the rigged senate, talk about a minority government, tempt Pheu Thai into a Faustian bargain. Let them. Let them play around with all their various machinations because time and history are on your side. 

There is no rush to form a government if it means siding with the devil. 

If Pheu Thai chooses to play those games, then they will be done as a party. Don't go that route. If every other party chooses to play the political game and form a government to keep you in the opposition, then take pride in being that opposition. 

Because it means when it comes time for the next election, you will win with an outright majority and govern with a full mandate. 

This is not to rain on your parade. You should be proud of your accomplishments. We certainly are. But know also that the road to true change is long and it is not worth compromising your ideals just to take a short cut. 

Sincerely yours 

One Move Forward voter. 



A guide to Thailand's proposed departure tax. The public have until May 17 to register their opinions on whether a proposed departure tax should go ahead. The proposal dates back to a 1983 executive decree, which actually allows for a departure tax of up to 5,000 baht, according to the Revenue Department.. | Thai PBS World

A guide to Thailand's proposed departure tax

views  999

The public have until May 17 to register their opinions on whether a proposed departure tax should go ahead.

Under the proposal, 1,000 baht would be collected from each Thai and permanent foreign resident of Thailand who departs by air and 500 baht from those who depart by land or sea.

The tax would be collected when purchasing tickets for overseas trips. Those who fail to pay would pay double the amount plus a monthly interest of 1.5%. Penalties would also include up to six months in jail or a maximum fine of 3,000 baht.

Other countries that impose a tax on outward-bound travel include Australia, China, Japan, and Thailand's neighbors Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The departure tax in these countries is mainly incorporated in the price of travel fares.

The Thai government has been quick to reassure people that the proposal, which dates from a four-decade-old executive decree, will not necessarily be implemented.

The Revenue Department is now gathering opinions on the proposed tax via its website. Members of the public and organizations have been invited to share their viewpoints until May 17.

What is a departure tax?

A departure tax is effectively a charge levied on foreign travel. The goal is to curb excessive spending by locals when they travel abroad. The proposal's advocates say this would help protect Thailand's balance of payments – the money flowing into and out of the country.

The proposal dates back to a 1983 executive decree, which actually allows for a departure tax of up to 5,000 baht, according to the Revenue Department.

However, under the plan put to the public, the fee has been limited to a more realistic level of 500-1,000 baht. Exemptions would also be granted to certain groups, including monks and Muslims on pilgrimage, and the tax would be refunded within 180 days if travel plans were canceled.

Loud outcry

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has condemned the proposal, saying the departure tax would restrict the public's freedom to travel and threaten the country's ties with other nations.

"Who will want to do business with us? While we are trying to attract foreigners to Thailand, our government wants to impose a tax that will discourage Thais from traveling overseas," ATTA secretary-general Adith Chairattananon said.

About 1.2 million Thais and foreign residents traveled overseas in 2019, pre-COVID, he said. That number of trips would generate only 1.2 billion baht in departure tax revenue while damaging Thailand's image and hurting locals' ability to travel abroad, expand their horizons, and more, he added.

"The 1.2 billion baht could be generated by just tightening the budget for government agencies' overseas trips," Adith said.

Critics of the proposal have pointed out that they already pay various taxes on overseas trips, including airport tax.

Research by Asia Plus Securities suggests that a departure tax would affect locals' decisions to travel overseas for a limited time only. After that, they will just go ahead with their plans, since the tax would represent only a tiny fraction of their travel budget. Locals spend an average of 30,000 baht on each overseas trip.

Responding to public outcry, the Revenue Department said it was merely doing its duty under the emergency decree by organizing a public poll and had no plans to implement the tax.

Separate 'tourist tax' from June

In addition to the proposed departure tax, a separate tourist tax has been approved by the Cabinet and will be collected from all foreign visitors starting June 1. Those who fly in will have to pay 300 baht each, while those who arriving by land or water will be charged 150 baht. Similar tourist taxes are collected by more than 40 countries worldwide.

By Thai PBS World

Ministry estimates B2tn available for party pledges. The new government will have room to spend at least 2 trillion baht to fulfil its populist campaign pledges, according to a Finance Ministry source who requested anonymity. It is estimated that more than 500 billion baht may be required to finance the 10,000-baht handouts via digital wallet promised to people aged 16 and older by Pheu Thai Party, which is a leading contender to form a new government. Bangkok Post

Ministry estimates B2tn available for party pledges

The new government will have room to spend at least 2 trillion baht to fulfil its populist campaign pledges, according to a Finance Ministry source who requested anonymity.

It is estimated that more than 500 billion baht may be required to finance the 10,000-baht handouts via digital wallet promised to people aged 16 and older by Pheu Thai Party, which is a leading contender to form a new government.

LIMITATIONS

If the new government wants to borrow money to fund populist policies, it can do so by launching an emergency decree. But the decree issuance has to follow terms and conditions, such being necessary and urgent, with the government unable to secure other sources of funding other than borrowing, said the source.

The current government launched two emergency loan decrees in 2020 and 2021 to allow it to borrow a combined 1.5 trillion baht to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the country.

Any new loans requested by the government are limited by the state debt ceiling set by the Financial and Fiscal Policy Committee of 70% of GDP.

Thailand's public debt outstanding as of March was 10.8 trillion baht, accounting for 61.2% of GDP.

By the end of fiscal 2023, which is the end of September, the Public Debt Management Office forecasts government debt will rise to 61.7% of GDP, leaving room to borrow 8-9% of GDP, worth around 1.5 trillion baht.

REVENUE OPTION

In addition, the new government can use revenue collection to fund campaign proposals in fiscal 2023, as collection is predicted to exceed the state target this year.

In the first six months of fiscal 2023, the government's revenue collection exceeded the target by almost 100 billion baht.

The source said the same result is highly likely in the second half of the year, generating 200 billion baht above the state target for the fiscal year. This revenue could be used to fund new government schemes.

An additional 160 billion baht was allocated by the existing government as expenditure for new projects in the fiscal 2024 budget.

Moreover, Section 28 of the State Financial and Fiscal Discipline Act of 2018 allows a new government to order state-owned financial institutions such as the Government Savings Bank or the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to fund its projects in advance, with the government reimbursing them later.

The Financial and Fiscal Policy Committee set the ceiling rate for these state banks to fund state projects under Section 28 at 35% of the government's annual total expenditure. This means the banks can fund state projects in fiscal 2023 worth 150 billion baht.

However, the government needs to take into account the stability of its financial institutions if it chooses to pursue this funding channel, the source said.

In fiscal 2022, the government had outstanding debt under Section 28 of 1.04 trillion baht, representing 33.6% of the fiscal budget.

In fiscal 2023, the government set a debt repayment budget under Section 28 worth 1.04 billion baht, representing 3.28% of the expenditure budget.

EXPENDITURES

Government expenditure, particularly the welfare budget for health insurance, social security and pensions, continues to increase. In fiscal 2023, the government allocated 754 billion baht for these items, representing 23.7% of the expenditure budget.

In the past five years, the growth rate of the welfare budget grew 4% per year on average.

Increased government expenditure poses a huge burden on debt repayment, said the source. The medium-term fiscal plan indicates the government's debt repayment budget continues to increase.

In fiscal 2023 and 2024, this budget accounts for 9.63% and 11.5% respectively of the expenditure budget, and is expected to reach 16.2% in fiscal 2028.

In addition, the principal and interest payment budget also increases proportionally with the government's debt. The principal payment budget is 3.14% of annual expenditure in fiscal 2023, then is forecast to remain at 4% through fiscal 2028.

The source said in terms of principal payment, the government may be able to manage using various tools such as rollovers or refinance.

However, the interest payment is required to be paid in full each year.

The interest payment budget also increases annually, comprising 6.49% of the expenditure budget in fiscal 2023, 7.99% in fiscal 2024, then surging to 12.2% in fiscal 2028.

The source said the increasing public debt might not affect government credit as long as budget spending contributes to economic growth.



So the Election Commission canceled tonight’s press conference and said they’ll do it later. On its website, the latest count was 97% with 38.51 million voted. Move Forward = 113 constituency seats Pheu Thai = 112 Bhumjaithai = 67 Palang Pracharath = 39. Thai Enquirer

 



Move Forward scores surprise victory; Pita to become PM – Thai Newsroom

Move Forward scores surprise victory; Pita to become PM

May 15, 2023  TNR Staff

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE MOVE FORWARD has scored a huge surprise victory in yesterday's (May 14) general election with party leader Pita Limjaroenrat confirming he is ready to run the country as prime minister and put his party's campaign promises to work.

According to unofficial 83% results of the nationwide election reported by the Election Commission, the Move Forward have won 151 MP seats, upsetting the Pheu Thai which had earlier anticipated a landslide victory but eventually secured 141 MP seats.

Out of a total of 500 MPs, consisting of 400 in constituency-based mode and 100 in party-listed mode, the 151 Move Forward MPs include 113 constituency-based MPs and 38 party-listed MPs whilst the 141 Pheu Thai MPs include 111 constituency-based MPs and 30 party-listed MPs.

Pita's party has won all 33 Bangkok constituencies and swept all constituencies of several provinces in all regions of the country including the capital city's neighbouring ones.

The Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob has secured 68 MP seats whilst the Palang Pracharath, headed by Prawit Wongsuwan, has won 42 MP seats, and the Ruam Thai Sang Chart under de facto party boss/caretaker prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has gained 37 MP seats.

Pita reconfirmed last night the Move Forward will definitely not join ranks with either the Palang Pracharath or Ruam Thai Sang Chart the leadership of which the Move Forward has invariably viewed as military-installed ones.

"With the uncles, without us. And with us without the uncles," Pita said, citing one of the Move Forward electoral campaign slogans. The uncles referred to Prayut also known as Uncle Tu and Prawit also known as Uncle Pom.

The Move Forward are largely expected to join hands with the Pheu Thai, among other anti-Prayut camps, to set up a coalition government with Pita's party performing as their core.

Pita said an MoU will be signed between the leaderships of all partners of a Move Forward-led coalition which, he said, may as well include the Thai Liberal and Prachachart in days to come.

Pita said the planned MoU is primarily designed to keep all coalition partners committed to implementing their campaign platforms in the course of the people's interests.

Pheu Thai partisan candidates for prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of the de facto party boss/deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and Settha Taweesin admitted that the party which has won most of the MP seats in yesterday's election be given the privilege of naming their own partisan candidate for prime minister and becoming core of government.

It remains to be seen whether the Bhumjaithai might possibly join the Move Forward-led coalition though Pita earlier advised that Newin's camp be no longer given the transport and public health portfolios, the major ones which they had enjoyed over the last four years.

Meanwhile, Pita said the setting up of a minority government either with Prawit's or Prayut's camp acting as core would be very unlikely due to a relatively low number of their MPs.

The Palang Pracharath and Ruam Thai Sang Chart bosses are known more or less to exert influence over 250 senators, all of whom had been handpicked by the both of them following the 2014 coup.

Under the coup junta-designed constitution, a partisan contestant for prime minister is obliged to secure yea votes from more than half the total of MPs and senators combined or from at least 376 votes to be successfully named one.

---

Pheu Thai's Paetongtarn says party with most votes will lead next govt. The daughter of Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said the biggest vote-winner in Sunday's election will get to lead the next government, after her Pheu Thai Party took a big lead alongside the progressive opposition Move Forward Party. Bangkok Post

Pheu Thai's Paetongtarn says party with most votes will lead next govt

Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidates Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left) and Srettha Thavisin monitor vote counting at Pheu Thai's head office in Bangkok on Sunday. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

The daughter of Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said the biggest vote-winner in Sunday's election will get to lead the next government, after her Pheu Thai Party took a big lead alongside the progressive opposition Move Forward Party.

Speaking after 50% of eligible votes had been counted, Paetongtarn "Ung Ing" Shinawatra, a prime ministerial candidate for Pheu Thai, also said she was happy for Move Forward. 

"The voice of the people is most important," she told reporters. 

Ms Paetongtarn urged supporters to be patient, expressing "very high confidence in our victory."

Srettha Thavisin, another nominee for premier, said Pheu Thai "will prioritise talks with pro-democratic parties." His group has yet to speak with Move Forward, Mr Srettha said.

Pro-democracy parties widened their lead in Sunday's general election, withthe preliminary count showing them on course to wrest power from a military-backed government that has ruled for almost a decade.

Curious about the process for calculating the results from the Thai general election? Here are the next steps, courtesy National News Bureau of Thailand.



Curious about the process for calculating the results from the Thai general election? Here are the next steps, courtesy National News Bureau of Thailand.



Thai Airways International Plc and Bangkok Airways Plc reported a surge in first-quarter earnings as tourists flocked back to the nation. Thai Air posted net income of 12.51 billion baht in the three months through March, rebounding from a net loss of 3.25 billion baht a year earlier. Bangkok Airways’ net income was 875 million baht versus a net loss of 1.02 billion baht in the same quarter last year. Bangkok Post

THAI, Bangkok Airways earnings surge as tourists flock back

In this file photo taken on April 8, 2016 a Thai Airways Boeing 747 plane prepares to land at Changi International Airport in Singapore. (AFP)

Thai Airways International Plc and Bangkok Airways Plc reported a surge in first-quarter earnings as tourists flocked back to the nation.

Thai Air posted net income of 12.51 billion baht in the three months through March, rebounding from a net loss of 3.25 billion baht a year earlier. Bangkok Airways' net income was 875 million baht versus a net loss of 1.02 billion baht in the same quarter last year.

With visitors returning to Thailand's beaches and temples, the Finance Ministry expects international arrivals to reach almost 30 million in 2023, up from last year's tally of 11.2 million.

Thai Air's first-quarter total operating revenue more than tripled to 41.5 billion baht from 11.2 billion baht a year earlier, when borders were closed to control Covid-19. Bangkok Airways' total revenue jumped 238% to 5.74 billion baht. 

Thai Air plans to exit court-supervised debt restructuring in late 2024. The airline filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 before most creditors agreed to extend terms as part of a $5.3 billion rehabilitation plan. 

The government expects the return of Chinese travellers to further spur the tourism boom. Monthly arrivals from China are on course to hit 1 million from October, a level not seen since the pandemic began, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said this week. 

Thailand’s public health authorities, however, have continued to monitor the risk of new outbreaks and its strains, as well as supporting annual COVID-19 vaccination, especially for vulnerable groups, in order to enhance immunity when facing a possible new COVID-19 outbreak, which could affect the public, businesses, and the country’s economy. PRD



Weekly COVID-19 Situation in Thailand 30 April - 6 May 2023. source: Department of Disease Control



Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand set to hit pre-pandemic levels. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced that Chinese tourist arrivals are set to reach one million a month starting from October, a figure last witnessed prior to the pandemic. | Thaiger

Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand set to hit pre-pandemic levels

Alex Morgan3 hours ago

Thailand ser stor vækst i udenlandske turister. Thailand er hastigt på vej til normalisering af den vigtige turiststrøm fra udlandet. Sidste år var der 11,5 millioner udenlandske turister – i år håber man på 25 millioner. SAS genåbner på Bangkok.- STANDBY.DK

Thailand ser stor vækst i udenlandske turister

Henrik Baumgarten

Thailand er hastigt på vej til normalisering af den vigtige turiststrøm fra udlandet. Sidste år var der 11,5 millioner udenlandske turister – i år håber man på 25 millioner. SAS genåbner på Bangkok.

Før pandemien havde Thailand omkring 40 millioner udenlandske turister og andre tilrejsende. Tallet er på vej op igen, sidste år blev det til 11,5 millioner udenlandske ankomster – en massiv vækst fra de blot 428.000 i 2021, hvor pandemien hærgede og også Thailand var delvist lukket som følge af rejserestriktioner.

Nyhedsbureauet Reuters skriver på baggrund af tal fra Thailands turistministerium, at landet sidste år havde 11,5 millioner ankomster af udlændinge, hvilket var over forventning.

Malaysia, Indien og Singapore var sidste år Thailands tre største incomingmarkeder, oplyser turistministeriet, der i år forventer at tallet af udenlandske turister når op på 25 millioner; herunder mindst fem millioner fra Kina, der normalt er Thailands største leverandør af turister.

Den thailandske regering har afsat over 800 millioner kroner, 120 millioner dollars, til at styrke Thailands budget til markedsføring for at tiltrække flere turister. Turismen giver Thailand cirka 12 procent af landets bruttonationalprodukt, skriver Reuters.

700.000 turister fra Norden
I 2019 var Thailand det mest besøgte udenlandske rejsemål for kinesiske turister. Der var 11 millioner kinesiske ankomster til Thailand – cirka hver fjerde udenlandske turist. Herefter fulgte Japan, Vietnam, Sydkorea og Singapore.

Tilbage i 2019, året før coronakrisen, havde Thailand omkring 700.000 ankomster fra Norden og Baltikum. De skandinaviske turisters største rejsemål i Thailand er Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya, Krabi og Hua Hin – Cha Am, har Tourism Authority of Thailand, TAT, tidligere oplyst til Standby.dk fra TAT's nordiske kontor i Stockholm.

Mens Thai Airways flyver dagligt mellem København og Bangkok, genåbner SAS til oktober ruten fra København til den thailandske hovedstad med tre ugentlige fly.

Tal fra TAT viser også, at 80 procent flyver fra Norden til Thailand med rutefly fra navnlig Thai Airways, Finnair, Qatar Airways, Emirates og Singapore Airlines – resten kommer med charterfly fra Norden, oplyser TAT, der fra sit nordiske kontor i Stockholm også assisterer rejsebureauer i Norden og Baltikum. De nordiske og baltiske turister er i snit 18 dage i Thailand, viser de officielle tal fra Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Both the Cambodian and the Thai 10-year golden visas have fallen flat. Expectations that rich or talented foreigners would rush to take advantage of 10 year permissions of stay have failed to gain traction. - Pattaya Mail

Both the Cambodian and the Thai 10-year golden visas have fallen flat

Barry KenyonMay 9, 2023

In Cambodia, 90 percent or so of expats use authorized travel-cum-visa agents and never set foot in an immigration police office.

Expectations that rich or talented foreigners would rush to take advantage of 10 year permissions of stay have failed to gain traction. Neither the Thai nor the Cambodian authorities have published meaningful data on completed applications and little has been heard of either scheme since the launchings last year.

In Thailand, the long term residence scheme is run by the Board of Investment with options for rich retirees, global travelers and executives. Most enquirers have found the bureaucracy most complex with the principal advantage being tax concessions via a digital work permit on income earned in Thailand. The Cambodian variant is actually run by the Khmer Home Charity Association and requires cash investment in an approved property complex. Neither scheme promises a second passport although the Cambodian visa holds out the maybe "five years down the line"

Mr Keo Song, a Phnom Penh travel agent and visa specialist who works closely with Cambodian immigration, said he had heard next to nothing about the golden visa. "It is straightforward for foreigners to obtain a variety of annual visas and extensions (retirement, work, study and family) for about US$300, so there isn't a market for the 10 year idea." He added that it was open to anyone to apply for Cambodian citizenship by investing around US$300,000, a process taking three months.
Thailand, too, has no shortage of annually renewable visas. Indeed, a 10 year O/X option was introduced (without success) as early as 2017. But the main competitor is the Elite visa which grants a multiple entry stay of five years for 600,000 baht (less than US$20,000) with various other options for up to 20 years. Although the Elite visa does not offer income tax concessions and does not carry a digital work permit, it has been far and away the best long-term seller in recent years.

Golden Investments, which specializes in residency and citizenship by investment, said "The most successful schemes, for example in some Caribbean countries, offer clear advantages – notably a second passport – in return for a cash sum." But neither the Thai nor the Cambodian 10-year visas attract specific markets and both are blurry round the edges." The spokesman suggested that Thailand should expand the right to a digital work permit for self-employment without having Thai partners, whilst Cambodia should clarify its half-promise of a second passport and increase the options for investment.

No departure tax being implemented: Revenue Department. THE REVENUE Department today (May 7) denied it is going to start collecting 1,000 baht air departure tax from Thais and foreign residents with the current online public hearings on this issue only being held to comply with a key law, Matichon newspaper said.– Thai Newsroom

No departure tax being implemented: Revenue Department

May 7, 2023  TNR Staff

THE REVENUE Department today (May 7) denied it is going to start collecting 1,000 baht air departure tax from Thais and foreign residents with the current online public hearings on this issue only being held to comply with a key law, Matichon newspaper said.

Mr. Winit Visetsuvarnabhumi, the department's deputy director-general, said public hearings on a departure tax of 1,000 baht for air travel and 500 baht by land and sea taking place during May 3-17, 2023 had to be held to evaluate the effectiveness of an emergency decree on the departure levy, based on a law passed in 1983.

This is necessary to comply with the 2017 Constitution and the Act on Legislative Drafting and Evaluation of Law B.E.2562 (2019) as well as a Cabinet resolution passed on January 19, 2021.

Although aforementioned law has not been enforced since July 1, 1991 (in keeping with the Ministerial Regulation on Outbound Travel Tax Exemption), the Act on Legislative Drafting and Evaluation of Law B.E.2562 (2019) requires that the Revenue Department assess the effectiveness of the law by listening to the opinions of those who are eligible to submit their views under Section 35 of this law, Winit said.

The department also has to hold public hearings on the effectiveness of two more laws, namely the Petroleum Income Tax Act and the Inheritance Tax Act, by next year.

CAPTION:

Top: An airplane flying away from Phuket after taking off from the island's airport. Photo:  Phuket@photographer.net (CC BY 2.0)

Dangerous heat levels expected in five areas on Sunday. Bangkok Post

Dangerous heat levels expected in five areas on Sunday

A construction worker endures scorching heat on the Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi motorway construction project in Nonthaburi province last month. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

The Meteorological Department expected heat indices to reach dangerous levels in five areas of the country on Sunday.

The highest "real feel" apparent regional temperatures expected on Sunday were:

• 51.2°C in Phetchabun in the North;
• 46°C in Kosum Phisai district, Maha Sarakham province, in the Northeast;
• 52.7°C in Bangkok's Bang Na area in the Central area; 
• 53°C in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, in the East; and
• 51.1°C in Phuket, in the South.

The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.

Sunday's soaring temperatures caused 14 people, including voters and officials manning polling stations, to faint at Ramkhamhaeng University in Hua Mak area of Bang Kapi district, a polling station for advance voting in Bangkok.

Pairat Kasetsin, the Bang Kapi district chief, said many voters reportedly felt unwell and fainted when they turned up at their polling stations for advance voting around noon or in the afternoon because of the heat. They were provided with first-aid treatment in an area nearby.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration sent water trucks to the venue. Water was sprayed into the air to reduce the heat. More electric fans were installed around the area.

Elsewhere, three people were also reported to have lost consciousness because of the heat at Chan Kasem Rajabhat University, another polling station for advance voting in Bangkok.

Departure tax proposed. People must pay 1,000 baht to leave the country via air under surprise levy. Thai outbound travellers and foreign permanent residents in Thailand have been asked for their opinion on a government departure tax of 1,000 baht in an attempt to prevent locals from spending excessively abroad, with the Revenue Department announcing online public hearings this week. Bangkok Post

Departure tax proposed

Travellers crowd the departures hall at Suvarnabhumi airport during the Songkran festival in 2023. The proposed departure tax aims to generate revenue for the government.

Thai outbound travellers and foreign permanent residents in Thailand have been asked for their opinion on a government departure tax of 1,000 baht in an attempt to prevent locals from spending excessively abroad, with the Revenue Department announcing online public hearings this week.

The department posted the public hearing questionnaire on its website (www.rd.go.th/64115.html), saying it wants to listen to public opinion about an emergency decree on a departure levy, based on a law passed in 1983, in order to assess its impact.

The hearings have been scheduled for May 3-17.

According to the questionnaire, Thai citizens and foreign permanent residents would be required to pay a departure tax of 1,000 baht for air travel and 500 baht for land and sea travel.

The information attached to the poll said the tax aimed to generate revenue for the government and prevent Thais from excessive overseas spending, with a focus on reducing the trade deficit.

Charoen Wangananont, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), said the questionnaire came as a surprise when it was posted earlier this week, even though the public hearing process meant it was supposed to be shared as widely as possible to assess the impact on local residents and tour operators.

"The principle and the levy rate make no sense at all, as Thailand has never had a problem related to a trade deficit in tourism, with inbound income making up 70% of the total, compared with 30% outbound expenditure. In addition, 1,000 baht is too expensive amid current economic conditions," said Mr Charoen.

He said the levy collection should not happen and is unrealistic. If the government wanted to propose such a tax, it should carefully assess the consequences because it could have a major effect on tourism, exceeding whatever revenue the state estimates it could earn, said Mr Charoen.

"We thought this was fake news the first time we saw the poll because it is not the right time to do such a move. If the government really thinks it needs to collect a departure tax, it should have done so before the pandemic, when the tourism industry was on an upward trend. The levy rate should also be more appropriate," he said.

Chotechuang Soorangura, vice-president of TTAA, said a development plan should be included with any departure tax so the people who pay it are aware of how the government will spend the revenue.

He said while some countries apply a departure tax, such as Japan, the price is only ¥1,000 per person, or around 250 baht.

"In addition to being a very expensive tax rate, there is a lack of transparency as the government could not clarify how it will use that money, which would help prevent corruption. Another concern is the 300-baht tourist tax expected to be charged to foreigners in the near future," said Mr Chotechuang.

He said if this levy is implemented, the tourism industry would be affected as a number of outbound tourists would refrain from travel, resulting in imbalanced flows of people, causing difficulties for airlines planning flights to Thailand.

Why is Thailand strategically important? Thai Enquirer



Tidligere SAS-chef i Bangkok jubler over rutenyhed - CHECK-IN.DK

Tidligere SAS-chef i Bangkok jubler over rutenyhed

Niels Henrik Hansen var chef for SAS i Sydøstasien og var manden, der lukkede og slukkede i Bangkok i foråret 2014. "Jeg er helt sikker på, at der stadigvæk er et marked for SAS," vurderer han.

SAS har en meget lang historie som operatør mellem Skandinavien og Bangkok. Første flyvning fandt sted den 26. oktober 1949, og der blevet fløjet uafbrudt frem til den 8. april 2013, hvorefter ruten blev reduceret til sæsonrute fra vinteren 2013/14 for helt at...

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Fwd: SAS ÖPPNAR NY LINJE TILL BANGKOK

 Från: SAS <mail@distribution.cision.com>

Datum: 2 maj 2023 16:01:14 GMT+7
Till: ola.jnsvd@gmail.com
Ämne: SAS ÖPPNAR NY LINJE TILL BANGKOK
Svara till: no-reply@cision.com

 

SAS ÖPPNAR NY LINJE TILL BANGKOK

SAS fortsätter att stärka sitt kunderbjudande och för att möta en ökande efterfrågan på fritidsresor kommer SAS att öppna en ny linje till Bangkok, Thailand. Den nya linjen ger resenärer möjlighet att flyga direkt till Bangkok tre gånger i veckan med bekväma nattflygningar i båda riktningarna, med en Airbus A350.

Den första avgången planeras från Köpenhamn den 30 oktober 2023.

– Thailand och de skandinaviska länderna har en lång, vänskaplig historia av samarbete och det är väldigt glädjande att efter nio år återigen kunna erbjuda en direktlinje dit. Linjen till Bangkok blir en perfekt utgångspunkt för fortsatta resor inom Thailand och är en bra möjlighet för både affärs- och fritidsresenärer. Bangkok är en livlig mötesplats för internationella företag och landet toppar många listor som världens mest populära turistmål med sina vackra stränder, frodiga djungler och det extraordinära thailändska köket. Oavsett anledning att resa dit, är vi glada att återigen kunna erbjuda en direktförbindelse mellan Skandinavien och Leendets land, säger Anko van der Werff, VD och koncernchef för SAS.   

Många väljer att njuta av landets skönhet och av de många möjligheterna till utomhusaktiviteter som vandring, bad och solbad, men Thailand är också känt för sin rika kultur och historia. Både i Bangkok och i andra delar av landet finns det många tempel, palats och andra historiska minnesmärken. 

Utöver den nya linjen till Bangkok, innefattar vinterprogrammet också att SAS fortsätter att flyga tre gånger i veckan till Tokyo Haneda (HND) och Shanghai (PVG).

Tidtabell 

Tidtabell: Måndagar, onsdagar och fredagar
Flight nr	Avgång	STD	Ankomst	STA
SK973	CPH	23:30	BKK	17:05(+1)
Tidtabell: Tisdagar, torsdagar och lördagar
Flight nr	Avgång	STD	Ankomst	STA
SK974	BKK	23:45	CPH	06:35(+1)

Linjen Köpenhamn-Bangkok trafikeras under vintersäsongen. Observera att den nya linjen förutsätter statligt godkännande.

SAS kommer att trafikera Bangkok-linjen med en Airbus A350 som erbjuder passagerarna en unik reseupplevelse. Flygplanet har en mycket lägre bränsleförbrukning och upp till 30 procent lägre koldioxidutsläpp än planet det ersätter. Airbus A350 har 300 platser och erbjuder tre reseklasser – SAS Business, SAS Plus och SAS Go.

För ytterligare information, vänligen kontakta: 
SAS pressjour, tel +46 8 797 29 44

SAS, Skandinaviens ledande flygbolag, med knutpunkter i Köpenhamn, Oslo och Stockholm, flyger till resmål i Europa, USA och Asien. Inspirerade av vårt skandinaviska arv och hållbarhet, är SAS en drivande kraft inom hållbart flyg och i omställningen till flyg med nettonollutsläpp. Vi ska minska de totala koldioxidutsläppen med 25 procent till år 2025, genom att använda mer hållbart flygbränsle och vår moderna flotta med bränsleeffektiva flygplan. Förutom flygverksamheten, erbjuder SAS marktjänster, tekniskt underhåll och frakttjänster. SAS är en av grundarna av Star Alliance™ och tillsammans med partnerbolagen erbjuds ett stort antal destinationer runt om i världen.

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Denna information skickades av SAS 

https://news.cision.com/se/sas/r/sas-oppnar-ny-linje-till-bangkok,c3761102

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BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s unemployment rate dropped to a four-year low of below 1% in February, owing to government efforts to maintain job security and income generation for the public during the pandemic.

Thai Unemployment Rate Dips Below 1% in February

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand's unemployment rate dropped to a four-year low of below 1% in February, owing to government efforts to maintain job security and income generation for the public during the pandemic. 

According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul, only 360,000 people were without a job in February. The National Statistical Office of Thailand reported that the figure covers 58.81 million Thai citizens aged 15 and above, but excludes housewives, people with disabilities and students, among others. 

The deputy spokesperson attributed the low unemployment rate to policies implemented by the administration of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The policies aimed to help the general public stay employed and generate income through various measures. Maintaining employment rates, particularly during the pandemic, is widely considered a positive development as it indicates that the nation's economy has remained relatively stable despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Information and Source

Reporter : Natthaphon  Sangpolsit

Rewriter : Paul Rujopakarn

National News Bureau : http://thainews.prd.go.th

Si Racha badly flooded with some cars floating away in floodwaters. Chonburi’s Si Racha district was heavily flooded after 3 hours of torrential rain with some cars floating away in floodwaters while a new storm warning was issued. – Thai Newsroom

Si Racha badly flooded with some cars floating away in floodwaters

April 30, 2023  TNR Staff

THREE HOURS of heavy rain this morning (Apr. 30) led to many areas of Chonburi's Si Racha district being damaged with cars seen floating away in floodwaters, Thai Rath newspaper said.

At around noon reporters in this district said the torrential rain had also toppled trees with some falling heavily on cars damaging them.

Rescuers of Sawang Prateep Sriracha Foundation were alerted of  a man trapped in his car that had plunged into a canal in Surasak subdistrict and went there in a boat to help him.

The trapped man, later identified as Mr. Sarawut Phromsutra, 36, said he had followed GPS directions into this alley amid heavy rain. However he lost control of the vehicle with the floodwaters sweeping his vehicle into the canal.

He added that he tried but failed to get out of his car but luckily was not injured.

A team from Si Racha Municipality's Disaster Prevention Office then came with a chainsaw and cut the tree thus freeing him.

Meanwhile the Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning for people in the upper part of the country to beware of severe weather conditions brought on by summer storms from today to tomorrow (Apr. 30-May 1).

They were advised to stay away from open areas, big trees, flimsy billboards, not wear metal ornaments and avoid using a mobile phone during thunderstorms. Farmers should take steps to prevent crop and livestock damage.

These storms, which could be accompanied with gusty winds, hail and lightning, are being triggered by a high-pressure system covering upper Thailand and the South China Sea while stronger southeasterly winds are bringing humidity from the Gulf of Thailand.

Meanwhile easterly winds blowing through the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea will trigger thunderstorms to the South with waves being a metre high but during a storm higher than that. All ships should proceed with caution.

Bangkok and outlying provinces will also likely be hit by thunderstorms and isolated hail falls. Minimum temperature will be 26-28 °C. while maximum temperature 32-33 °C. Southeasterly winds are at 10-20 km/hr.