Thai Airways plans to expand fleet as tourism business picks up. THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri said on Saturday the 51 aircraft to be procured will include 10 Airbus A321neo, 11 Airbus A350-900 and the remaining 30, other wide-body aircraft. The Nation

Thai Airways plans to expand fleet as tourism business picks up

Thai Airways International (THAI) will purchase 51 aircraft by 2027 in line with its expansion plans and to replace old airplanes.

The THAI fleet comprises 65 aircraft, 45 of which are wide-bodied ones and 20 narrow-body that have been loaned to THAI's subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways.

THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri said on Saturday the 51 aircraft to be procured will include 10 Airbus A321neo, 11 Airbus A350-900 and the remaining 30, other wide-body aircraft.

He said the Airbus A321neo will be delivered in 2025, while the delivery of the Airbus A350-900 will start with four being delivered over the course of this year.

The Airbus A350-900 will help improve the airline's flight efficiency, especially when it comes to European routes, Chai said.

He added that THAI is waiting for Boeing and Airbus's proposal to cover its wide-body aircraft needs. The airline expects these aircraft to be delivered between 2026-2027.

He added that the airline is considering procuring the new fleet under a lease or hire-purchase scheme to stabilise its finances.

Procuring new aircraft is currently tough as many airlines are trying to expand their fleet to meet rising demand, he said, adding that airlines are also looking to procure planes that can save fuel, maintenance and labour costs.

Chai said THAI is procuring the new aircraft to boost its competitiveness, as having just 45 wide-body aircraft in its fleet is not enough. He added that the Thai Smile-THAI merger will be completed within this year.

THAI expects to serve 9 million passengers and generate up to 140 billion baht this year, he said, adding that the airline hopes to carry 12 million passengers and generate up to 160 billion baht by 2024.

He added that THAI is selling unnecessary assets to reduce its maintenance costs, such as aircraft that will be decommissioned and sales offices both in Thailand and overseas.

The national carrier made 12.5 billion baht in net profits in the first quarter of this year.

To raise more funds, THAI will change its debt into equity and launch preferential offerings in the second quarter of 2024. Its aim is to be listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand by the fourth quarter of next year and exit the rehabilitation plan by 2025.

Bangsaen Grand Prix 2023, 27 June - 2 July 2023



Thai Airways Set To Add Airbus A321neo Jets To Fleet In 2025. simpleflying.com

Thai Airways Set To Add Airbus A321neo Jets To Fleet In 2025

Published 4 hours ago

In hopes of increasing its regional presence, Thai Airlines is set to operate the A321neo aircraft on domestic and regional routes.

Photo: Airbus

Thai Airways is preparing to introduce the Airbus A321neo aircraft type into its fleet in mid-2025, which will be leased. Initially, the airline is set to induct five aircraft of the type and later acquire another five A321neo aircraft, to have a total of 10 aircraft of the type operating for the carrier.

Regional operations 

As reported by FlightGlobal via AviationSource News, during last week's IATA AGM held in Istanbul, Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri stated that the airline is eyeing the A321neo aircraft to operate the airline's domestic and regional routes. At the moment, the carrier does not have any narrowbody aircraft in its fleet of its own.

However, the airline uses its regional subsidiary Thai Smile to operate regional and domestic flights. Thai Smile exclusively operates a fleet of 20 Airbus A320-200s for its operations. However, Thai Airways plans on absorbing its subsidiary, thus enabling easy integration of the 20 A320s into its mainline fleet, which will then be complemented by the new A321neos entering the fleet in 2025.

Photo:  Markus Mainka | Shutterstock 

Eamsiri stated that the new A321neos would enable the airline to expand its presence regionally and serve secondary cities in Australia, China, and India. While the airline CEO is happy to induct the aircraft type as soon as next year, he states that due to the global supply chain issues and lack of delivery slots in 2024, the soonest he can hope to introduce the type into his fleet will be in 2025.

Simple Flying has reached out to Thai Airways for more details about the A321neos the airline will induct into its fleet in the future. Any response received will be updated in this article.

Coping with the demand 

With passenger travel bouncing back massively all around the world, Thai Airways was also facing capacity issues as they were faced with more demand than the airline could handle. While the airline already operates a fleet of 12 Airbus A350-900s, the carrier confirms that it has obtained 11 more aircraft of the type on a lease, of which two have already been delivered to the airline. The remaining nine will be inducted into the fleet during the first quarter of 2024.

Photo: KITTIKUN YOKSAP | Shutterstock 

Furthermore, the airline has had to reactivate its older Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 777-200ERs due to the travel demand recovering faster than expected. Eamisiri mentioned during the AGM that he has plans to retrofit the aircraft with the airline's standard offerings however, the airline is facing shortages of MRO slots.

Moreover, the CEO stated that right now, his priority is to capture the rebounding travel market rather than focus on retrofitting his aircraft and operating with reduced capacity at a time when demand is clearly present.

Outlook 

It is evident that Thai Airways is facing massive demand for both international and regional travel. The airline has already taken steps to better position itself in the market as it expands its route network and increases capacity.

Despite the carrier being severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and having to shrink its fleet and network size considerably to survive at the time, it is great to see that the airline is now able to increase its fleet size using new aircraft types which are technologically more advanced and efficient, making them more economical to operate. The airline recently suggested that it is looking to order a further 30 widebody aircraft, which shows that the airline is on track with its recovery.

Source: FlightGlobal and AviationSource News.

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Soft opening of Suvarnabhumi's SAT-1 terminal in Sept. SAT-1, with a floor space of 216,000 square metres, will have 28 aircraft parking bays. It will be equipped with the latest technology to make the boarding process more efficient to cope with the airport's expansion plans. Bangkok Post

Soft opening of Suvarnabhumi's SAT-1 terminal in Sept

A new satellite terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport, dubbed SAT-1, will be launched in a soft opening in September in a step toward major improvements in air passenger services, Airports of Thailand (AoT) director Kirati Kitmanawat said on Sunday.

SAT-1, with a floor space of 216,000 square metres, will have 28 aircraft parking bays. It will be equipped with the latest technology to make the boarding process more efficient to cope with the airport's expansion plans.

Mr Kirati said the new terminal is scheduled to be officially opened in early 2027.

As for the 40-billion-baht North Expansion project, Mr Kirati said it will include a new domestic terminal building completely separate from the existing main terminal building.

He said the project will be expedited so that it can be operational within the next five years. This terminal is intended to link air travel with the Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-Utapao high speed railway project.

Another plan to be carried out is the East Expansion project to enlarge the eastern section of Suvarnabhumi airport's main terminal with an area of about 60,000 square metres to increase the handling capacity of the country's main gateway by 15 million passengers a year. With a budget of 7,830 million baht, the construction will begin in early 2024 and is projected to be completed in 2027.

"The airport expansions are in line with the International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s estimate that from 2024 Suvarabhumi airport will see at least 65 million passengers per year and the number will go up to 95 million in 2028," Mr Kirati said.

Moreover, the AoT is preparing to develop a 723-rai plot of land near Suvarnabhumi airport for commercial use under the Airport City and duty-free area development project.

The AoT is now in the process of taking opinions from potential investors. Bidding for the project is expected to be called in 2024. The construction work is expected to begin in 2025 and to be completed in 2027-2028.

Mr Kirati said the AoT also plans to review some service-providing contracts to reduce monopolistic practices so as to be able to provide services in premium, middle and general levels to give passengers more choices.

Nu är nästan nio av tio resenärer tillbaka. Enligt statistik från Swedavia ökade antalet passagerare med 16 procent jämfört med samma period förra året, vilket motsvarar över 2 miljoner resenärer. Ännu mer anmärkningsvärt är att denna siffra når hela 89 procent av nivåerna före pandemin.- märsta.nu

Nu är nästan nio av tio resenärer tillbaka

5 juni 2023 kl. 06:34

Enligt statistik från Swedavia ökade antalet passagerare med 16 procent jämfört med samma period förra året, vilket motsvarar över 2 miljoner resenärer. Ännu mer anmärkningsvärt är att denna siffra når hela 89 procent av nivåerna före pandemin.
– På flera av våra flygplatser närmar sig resandet nu de nivåer vi hade före pandemin. Det gäller Arlanda men också flera av våra regionala flygplatser, som alla är mycket viktiga för att säkerställa god tillgänglighet i hela landet. Bokningsläget visar att många ser fram emot sitt sommarresande och vi förväntar oss en fortsatt reseintensiv sommarperiod vid våra flygplatser, säger Jonas Abrahamsson, VD och koncernchef på Swedavia

Den ökade aktiviteten berör både inrikes- och utrikesresor. Utrikesresandet från Stockholm Arlanda Airport ökade med 18 procent och nådde nära 2 miljoner passagerare jämfört med maj förra året. Samtidigt ökade inrikesresandet med 10 procent och nådde 350 000 resenärer.

En viktig faktor bakom denna uppåtgående trend är flygplatsens framgångsrika satsningar på att förbättra tillgängligheten till viktiga destinationer runt om i världen. Under maj välkomnade Stockholm Arlanda Airport två betydande etableringar: Royal Jordanians direktlinje till Amman och Uniteds direktlinje till New York. Dessa nya flygningar stärker Sveriges anslutningar till Mellanöstern respektive USA och ger resenärerna ännu fler alternativ när de planerar sina resor.

COVID makes comeback in Thailand as booster fatigue leaves door open. Thai authorities are stepping up campaigns encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and get booster shots as COVID-19 makes a comeback. Deaths from the disease have soared more than threefold over the past month, according to official data. | Thai PBS World

COVID makes comeback in Thailand as booster fatigue leaves door open

views  945

Thai authorities are stepping up campaigns encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and get booster shots as COVID-19 makes a comeback.

The campaigns are designed to combat a new surge in cases, attributed to factors such as students returning for the new semester – but most importantly people's declining immunity.

"The prime minister is worried about the elderly and vulnerable groups. They should take a booster shot every year," said Anucha Burapachaisri, deputy secretary-general to the PM and acting government spokesperson.

He added that even young people should get booster shots, which are being offered for free at state hospitals.

"Don't forget that COVID-19 can still be deadly," he emphasized.

Deaths surging again

Deaths from the disease have soared more than threefold over the past month, according to official data.

Forty-two people died of COVID-19 in the week of May 21 and 27, said Asst Prof Dr Thira Woratanarat of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine, citing official records.

"The number of COVID-19 deaths has risen by 320% in the last four weeks," he announced on Facebook.

May 21-27 also saw COVID patients on ventilators soar to 253, up 220.25% from four weeks ago. The number of patients with lung inflammation also surged to 425 – an increase of 170.7% from the same period last month.

Thailand has recorded more than 4.7 million cases of COVID-19 and at least 34,043 deaths from the virus since the pandemic started in early 2020, according to Worldometers.info.

Bivalent vaccine now available

The Department of Medical Services is offering free COVID-19 vaccinations at many of its facilities, including Bangkok's Lerdsin Hospital and Institute of Dermatology. However, not all of these facilities are offering bivalent vaccines, which target both the original COVID-19 strain and the current dominant variant, Omicron.

Bivalent vaccine is however available in the capital at Rajavithi Hospital, Priest Hospital, and the National Cancer Institute.

An overseas study found bivalent vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna to be 58.7% effective against hospitalization compared with 25% for the monovalent shots that preceded them. The bivalent formulas were also 61.8% effective against infection compared with 24.9% for their monovalent predecessors.

Subvariants at play

Three Omicron strains are behind the current waves of COVID-19 in China and Southeast Asia, according to the Center for Medical Genomics at Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital. These subvariants are XBB.15, XBB.1.16, and XBB.1.9.1.

"These subvariants may cause severe symptoms even among people who have already been vaccinated but failed to get a booster shot," the center warned.

Prof Wasun Chantratita, who heads the center, said the three strains now dominant were not more virulent than the original Omicron. Instead, the increase in severe cases has come because vaccinees' immunity has declined.

"Many people are no longer returning for booster shots," he said.

Wasun said that measured on a scale of one to 10, the COVID waves driven by XBB.15, XBB.1.16, and XBB.1.9.1. would score just five in terms of concern caused, since none of them has been declared a "subvariant of concern".

Precautions help

Thira said it was notable that 31 of the 42 COVID-19 deaths in the week of May 21-27 occurred in just two provinces – Chon Buri and Samut Sakhon. The former is home to the international tourism hub of Pattaya, while the latter is known as "Little Myanmar" for hosting a huge number of migrant workers from the neighboring country.

"It's best to be cautious, live with our guard up, and protect ourselves as much as we can," the medical expert advised. "For the wellbeing of ourselves and our families, avoid crowded places that do not have good ventilation, do not share utensils or food with people who are not from the same household, and clean workspaces you have shared with others. If you feel unwell, isolate yourself."

The advice comes amid a general relaxation of COVID precautions such as mask-wearing, hand-washing, and avoidance of social gatherings as life returns to normal in Thailand.

By Thai PBS World

Wissanu: Comprehensive complaint may result in annulled election. The details listed in complaints will determine if Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat is disqualified from being prime minister and whether the May general election should be annulled, according to caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. Bangkok Post

Wissanu: Comprehensive complaint may result in annulled election

Pita Limjaroenrat, left, leader of the election winning Move Forward Party, with Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew during their meeting with potential coalition allies at the Prachachat Party headquarters in Bangkok on Tuesday evening. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The details listed in complaints will determine if Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat is disqualified from being prime minister and whether the May general election should be annulled, according to caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

Mr Wissanu, the current cabinet's legal guru, said at Government House on Wednesday that details in complaints against Mr Pita's shareholding in iTV Plc were a key factor.

If a complaint targets Mr Pita's eligibility to be an MP he could still be prime minister, because the prime minister is not required to be an MP, he said.

If a complaint targets Mr Pita's prime ministerial qualifications, he could still be an MP, Mr Wissanu said.

"If a complaint targets both, the court will rule on both," he said.

A complaint could also question Mr Pita's approval of Move Forward Party memberships, Mr Wissanu said.

"In that case, there would have to be a new nationwide general election," he said.

Mr Wissanu said he was not giving any recommendation on how a complaint should be written.

"It is up to the complainant. The [constitutional] court will rule on the particular issue in a complaint," he said.

The constitution prohibits a shareholder of a media organisation from running in a general election and Mr Pita's qualifications were challenged because of his inherited shareholding in iTV Plc, which was long ago merged into Thai PBS.

Complaints filed with the Election Commission target his MP status, his approval of Move Forward candidates in the May 14 election and the whole cabinet that he would form.

"But you should not have such a distant imagination. Consider it step by step. The Election Commission has not taken any action. Do not jump into a negative scenario," Mr Wissanu said.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam

In northeast Thailand’s Nong Bua Lamphu province, two intoxicated monks were defrocked after testing positive for high levels of alcohol consumption. The monks were also accused of selling temple-owned items without permission. Concerned locals alerted the Mueang Nong Bua Lamphu Police about the monks’ behaviour on a recent Tuesday. | Thaiger

Drunk as a monk: Intoxicated Thai monks defrocked after selling temple items

Tara Abhasakun29 mins ago

Thailand is expected to delay the launching of a 300-baht tourism tax once again. The launching has already been postponement from June to September last year. Still, new reports suggest that the launching might have to be paused till 2024.- Scandasia

Thailand expected to delay launching of tourism tax

May 28, 2023 - by Miabell Mallikka -

Thailand is expected to delay the launching of a 300-baht tourism tax once again. The launching has already been postponement from June to September last year. Still, new reports suggest that the launching might have to be paused till 2024.

Besides the 300-baht charge for visitors coming by air, the plan also include a charge of 150-baht for travelers coming by sea or land.

The pro-military alliance which anticipated the fees, seems to have lost the May 24 election. The new administration consisting of eight earlier opposition parties are not likely to take charge before August.

The new cabinet is likely to highlight concerns, with airlines discontent about being in command of the fee collection.

The airlines have said that inserting the charges in their fare is too complex. They would have to distinguish between overseas tourists and Thai residents and overseas people in Thailand.

Fee at automatic stalls at airports is another proposal. However, critics said that with the rebirth of tourism, airports in Thailand are already seeing long queues at immigration and baggage checks.

Source: travelandtourworld.com



Phuket Launches Intensive Operation to Crack Down on Foreigners Breaking the Law. As part of the "White Accommodation for Foreigners" project, Phuket is launching a comprehensive clean-up operation to increase the scrutiny of foreigners who break the law. ASEAN NOW

 

As part of the "White Accommodation for Foreigners" project, Phuket is launching a comprehensive clean-up operation to increase the scrutiny of foreigners who break the law. 

 

This move aims to bolster confidence and increase the safety potential of Phuket as a tourist destination. This activity is part of the regular May 2023 programme.

 

On May 26th, at 15:00, the Phuket Province initiated the operation at the Provincial Hall. Over 65 officials were involved in the operation to enhance confidence and increase Phuket's potential as a safe tourist city, following the "White Accommodation (ที่พักสีขาว) for Foreigners" programme for May 2023. The event was presided over by the governor of Phuket, Mr. Narong Woonciew.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Colonel Thanes Sukchay, the Phuket Provincial Police Commander, and the Secretary of the White Accommodation for Foreigners project in Phuket, reported that today's operation involved 65 personnel from various units, including the Phuket Provincial Police, Tourist Police Division 3, the Administration division, the Immigration Bureau, and the Phuket Provincial Employment Office.

 

The White Accommodation for Foreigners project is led by the governor of Phuket and collaborates with all sectors to search for cooperation from homeowners in Phuket to monitor foreigners and prevent lawbreakers from living in their properties, thus preventing foreigners from using the area for illegal activities. The operation is carried out monthly.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

General Damrongsak Kittiprapas, the National Police Chief, inspected safety measures for foreign tourists at the Phuket Immigration Office and gave directions to Phuket to serve as a model for the country in implementing the White Accommodation for Foreigners project.

 

The project is seen as a means of controlling and checking the safety of foreigners living in Phuket in terms of crime, drug abuse, and illegal activities, by seeking cooperation from accommodation providers in monitoring and checking the behaviour of foreigners who may be behaving inappropriately, breaking the law, causing danger, disturbing peace, and jeopardising the safety of life and property of citizens or tourists. They might even be international criminals using Thailand as a base for illegal activities.

 

Currently, over 800 accommodation providers have joined the project, with another 2,000 plus set to join, covering about 3,000 properties across the island. Previous operations have succeeded in apprehending foreigners who have broken the law, causing disturbance and unresolved cases, providing a clear benefit to the country.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

However, foreigners who have committed minor offenses and whose actions disrupt community peace will receive a yellow card (warning) for their first offense.

 

The accommodation provider will be invited to record a warning, and a letter will be sent to the consulate of each country, granting the right to stay in the kingdom as appropriate to the behaviour.

 

For repeated offenses or offenses that pose a clear danger to society, a red card will be issued (revoking the right to stay in the kingdom), and procedures to deport will be initiated.

 

This move is designed to boost confidence for citizens and tourists alike and to raise the profile of Phuket as a safe tourist city for people around the world.

 

77kaoded contributed to this report

Top Picture: 77kaoded

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-05-26

Spike expected in respiratory illnesses. Covid-19 infections are expected to peak between June and August and again next January and February, with those who have hitherto escaped the virus likely to contract it, according to a virologist at Chulalongkorn University. Bangkok Post

 'Novids' warned as Covid on the rise

People are vaccinated against Covid-19 at the parliament on May 11. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

Covid-19 infections are expected to peak between June and August and again next January and February, with those who have hitherto escaped the virus likely to contract it, according to a virologist at Chulalongkorn University.

Dr Yong Poovorawan, director of the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, wrote on his Facebook page on Friday that a surge in Covid-19 cases is expected.

Thailand will see a spike in seasonal respiratory illnesses after the opening of schools and the arrival of the rainy season, and such cases will peak between June and August, he said.

They will then drop and peak again between January and February, by which point most of the population will have had Covid-19, he said, adding the virus can re-infect a person but in most cases, symptoms will be less severe.

A jump in Covid-19 infections is expected because all of the curbs have now been dropped and full activities have resumed, according to Dr Yong.

"Those who are 'Novid', or have never been infected during the pandemic, have a high chance of contracting the disease. The number of people who have never had Covid-19 will be smaller," he wrote.

Dr Yong said the public should help prevent transmission otherwise the public health system could be overwhelmed. Vulnerable groups who are infected need anti-viral medicines, he added.

Dr Supakij Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said on Friday that getting a booster shot remains everyone's best defence despite the virus having mutated. He said unvaccinated people are at greater risk of developing severe symptoms and more than 40% of Covid-19 patients who died had not received any jabs.

Dr Thira Woratanarat, a public health expert and lecturer at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, on Friday shared the findings from a study on long Covid symptoms on his Facebook page.

The findings of the study funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that about 10% of Covid-19 patients suffer from long-term symptoms for more than six months, including fatigue, brain fog and dizziness.

Dr Thira said there are subtypes of post-infection and long Covid symptoms associated with Omicron.

MFP to shield 'registered businesses'. Licensed growers 'should not worry'. The Move Forward Party (MFP) on Thursday assured registered marijuana growers and cannabis business operators that they would be protected, even when the new government re-lists cannabis as a narcotic. Bangkok Post

MFP to shield 'registered businesses'

On a Senate mission: Move Forward Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun waves to supporters at a press briefing regarding efforts to gain Senate support for party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister. (Photo: Varuth Hiranyatheb)

The Move Forward Party (MFP) on Thursday assured registered marijuana growers and cannabis business operators that they would be protected, even when the new government re-lists cannabis as a narcotic.

The main objective of the party's plan to put cannabis back on the narcotics list under a ministerial regulation of the Ministry of Public Health is to allow all state officials, including police and the Office of Narcotics Control Board, to work fully to control the abuse of cannabis, said deputy MFP leader Sirikanya Tansakun.

Some new laws will be passed to control the use, production, growing, and import and export of cannabis, which is work left undone by the caretaker government, she said.

"I insist cannabis business operators and marijuana growers will also be protected and allowed to go about their business as usual as long as they have registered and have permission to do so. A proper announcement will be issued to ensure this," she said.

She was responding to concerns raised by groups of cannabis-related business operators and growers following the vow to list cannabis as a narcotic again, which the MFP made in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with seven prospective coalition partners on Monday.

Further discussions on the matter will be conducted among coalition partners when the new coalition is formed before any changes to the current legal measures used to control cannabis are proposed and implemented, she said.

At this point, business operators and marijuana growers who have registered properly with the government shouldn't be worried, she said.

Prasitchai Nunual, secretary-general of a civic group calling itself the Network Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future, on the same posted on Facebook an open letter intended for MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

The group called on Mr Pita to handle the cannabis issue in a democratic way, saying leaping to the conclusion that cannabis must be listed as a narcotic again will adversely affect medical cannabis.

Instead of carrying on portraying cannabis as an evil product in order to justify the move to re-list it as a narcotic, the new government should discuss more seriously and openly the facts about cannabis, as the public perception of it has now been misguided by fierce anti-cannabis campaigns by two highly popular political parties, said Mr Prasitchai.

And in the next step, all parties concerned should then be allowed to take part in discussions over which forms of legal mechanisms are suitable for use to control cannabis better, he said.

Members of the public are advised not to lower their guard against COVID-19, as the virus has been staging a comeback since April, infecting as many as 40,000 people a day now, about 20 times more than the rate at the start of April. The death toll has also risen by a factor of 20, to 66 per week, in the same period. | Thai PBS World

Public advised to keep their guard up as COVID-19 resurges

views  733

Members of the public are advised not to lower their guard against COVID-19, as the virus has been staging a comeback since April, infecting as many as 40,000 people a day now, about 20 times more than the rate at the start of April. The death toll has also risen by a factor of 20, to 66 per week, in the same period.

According to Dr. Nitiphat Jiarakul, chief of the Division of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis at the Faculty of Medicine of Mahidol University, daily admissions to hospitals have increased to about 400 from about 20 in April and, of these, 5% are suffering with lung infections and half of thosepatients died.

He also said that half of those deaths were directly linked to their COVID-19 infection and the other half to a resurgence of a comorbidity, such as kidney, emphysema and heart diseases.

He attributed the sharp rise in COVID-19 infections to increased outdoor activities, such as political campaign rallies and other crowded events and the fact that many people have become complacent and are no longer wearing face masks in public.

Another factor which may be contributing to the resurgence of the virus is the steady decline in vaccine-induced immunity inmany people, said Dr. Nitiphat.

He said that his advice is offered because he does not want to see a repeat of the chaotic situation during the height of the pandemic over a year ago, when hospitals ran out of beds and some patients were left to die at home or on the streets.

Wearing face masks in places where there are a lot of people is still highly recommended, he said, adding that people should regularly sanitise their hands with alcohol based gels or liquids.



Expected transition timeline

Thailand’s much-anticipated 300 baht levy on tourist arrivals by air (150 baht by land or sea) won’t be starting in September after all. Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the matter would need to be resolved by the incoming government which is unlikely to be in office before mid August.- Pattaya Mail

 New tourist tax on hold for umpteenth time

Barry KenyonMay 24, 2023

Collection issues still delay the imposition of the Thai tourist tax on most foreigners.

Thailand's much-anticipated 300 baht levy on tourist arrivals by air (150 baht by land or sea) won't be starting in September after all. Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the matter would need to be resolved by the incoming government which is unlikely to be in office before mid August.

The proposed tax revenue is bedeviled by collection issues since it does not apply to Thais or foreign permanent residents (identified as those who can stay in Thailand indefinitely without a due date in their passport) and holders of Thai work permits. Airlines had complained that it would be impossible for them to include the fee in international tickets unless the fee applied to all passengers. Suggestions that the exempt groups could reclaim the 300 baht at a later stage had been dismissed as tedious and elaborate.

Another idea has been that collection booths should be opened at both airports and border posts which risks huge queues forming as weary travellers try to use electronic methods or offer cash in several currencies requiring change. Land border entries pose further difficulties as Cambodian, Malaysian or Myanmar traders who cross daily into Thailand would be another exempt category along with tourists not staying longer than 24 hours.

Last month, it was suggested by government ministers that the whole strategy and cash collection be handed to a private organization. However, no new ideas have been forthcoming apart from the suggestion that affected arrivals should pay in advance of their journey to a specialist government website. Critics pointed out that such an unwieldy, extra bureaucracy was a bad marketing strategy for a tourist-dependent economy such as Thailand.

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said it would be best to defer the scheme until Thailand is back-to-normal next year. A spokesman for Your Asian Dreams said it was still unclear how the income would be spent. "But it appears to be a government slush fund to enhance tourist attractions such as temples and to provide compensation for major incidents such as minibus crashes or boats sinking." It is significant that the scheme has not been published in the Royal Gazette which means that no start date has been approved.

B300 tourism fee remains in limbo. Matter in the hands of new government. Bangkok Post

B300 tourism fee remains in limbo

Suvarnabhumi airport is packed with travellers. The new government is expected to decide the fate of the 300-baht tourism fee, which remains uncertain because of roadblocks from unclear implementation. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

The new government is expected to decide the fate of the 300-baht tourism fee, which remains uncertain because of roadblocks from unclear implementation.

Since the cabinet approved in February the collection of a 300-baht tourism fee from foreigners visiting Thailand by air and a 150-baht fee for visitors by land or sea, the scheme has not been published in the Royal Gazette, which means there is no impetus to start the project within a specific time frame.

Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the project depends upon the decision of the new government as the fee collection methods have not been sorted out.

He said there were objections from the private sector, which asked for a more flexible time frame after the Tourism and Sports Ministry earlier this year proposed starting collection in June.

The new government is expected to revise the scheme and decide whether to continue, postpone or adjust the collection methods.

Mr Yuthasak said tourism fee collection should be postponed until the industry has fully recovered. He said the most appropriate period is to start from 2024.

A government source who requested anonymity said civil servants do not have the authority to initiate fee collection procedures alone during a government power vacuum.

There are a number of roadblocks where the new government needs to have a say, especially regarding collection methods.

The proposed measure called for embedding the fee in airfares, but airlines said this is an impractical option and the ministry has been hamstrung in trying to find feasible solutions.

Setting up automatic kiosks at airports was also discussed, but with the surge of daily arrivals, this process might cause inconvenience and provoke discontent among tourists if they face congestion at airports.

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said hoteliers mostly support postponing the project to next year when the industry is in better shape.

She said the THA supports the scheme, but believe it should not start within this year.

"We want to reiterate our message to the new government that the timeline of this project should be revised," said Mrs Marisa.

"The structure of the fund's management must also be clear so we can explain to tourists how their money will be spent."

Regarding a memorandum of understanding signed by eight coalition parties on Monday agreeing on relisting cannabis as a narcotic, she said hotel operators are unlikely to face any impact as most of them did not invest in cannabis businesses.

Traveloka reports uptick in demand. International flight sales to Thailand in the first quarter surpassed the tally in 2019, while the number of searches for Thai outbound flights and foreign accommodation increased 200%, according to online travel agent Traveloka. Bangkok Post

 Traveloka reports uptick in demand

A throng of travellers pass through Suvarnabhumi airport. Mr Putera says the new government should work to develop new tourism destinations other than Phuket and Chiang Mai.  (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

International flight sales to Thailand in the first quarter surpassed the tally in 2019, while the number of searches for Thai outbound flights and foreign accommodation increased 200%, according to online travel agent Traveloka.

Iko Putera, chief executive of transport at Traveloka, expects a positive travel trend this year in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia, driven by pent-up demand from those who have purchasing power and people who saved money for post-pandemic travel.

Mr Putera said the growth of social media usage also helped boost marketing and sales, prompting more people to travel.

Meanwhile, limited flight capacity is the key challenge as airlines are slowly increasing capacity to pre-pandemic levels.

Despite the risk of a global economic recession, he said tourism spending remained stable, along with strong tourism demand.

Major destinations in Thailand for international visitors include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai. Among the most popular packages are the Chao Phraya River dinner cruise.

In terms of the outbound market, the number of searches for international flights and accommodation in the first quarter increased by 200% year-on-year. Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan are among the major destinations.

An emerging destination for Thai travellers is Georgia, attributed to its scenic nature, affordable prices and free visa policies. Mr Putera said the company observed a significant surge in sales on the platform.

Meanwhile, the most popular package for domestic travel was for aquariums, mostly purchased by family groups, he said.

Mr Putera said Traveloka hopes to expand business in Southeast Asia over the next 3-5 years, with more packages to lure Southeast Asian travellers to other regions.

He said tourist behaviour has changed recently, as people now tend to plan their trips ahead of time.

Traveloka continues to focus on offering flexible packages, such as refunding and rescheduling, as well as offering tailor-made packages for specific segments.

With a new government set to take office, Mr Putera said Thailand should focus on developing new destinations and infrastructure other than Phuket and Chiang Mai.

The administration should also invest in human resources in the tech industry to support innovative tourism, he said.

Traveloka's top three markets comprise Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Traveloka International Travel Fair 2023 is set to run between May 29 and June 2 on the platform, offering discounts on flights, hotels and attractions.

More Thais open to buying battery-powered vehicles. Some 31% of Thais are projected to choose a battery electric vehicle (BEV) as their next vehicle. Bangkok Post

More Thais open to buying battery-powered vehicles

An electric vehicle on display at last year's Thailand International Motor Expo in Bangkok. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Some 31% of Thais are projected to choose a battery electric vehicle (BEV) as their next vehicle, the highest proportion within Southeast Asia, although internal combustion engine-powered cars remain the leading vehicle of choice among consumers in the region, according to a survey by business advisory Deloitte Thailand.

Both Thai and regional consumers indicated a preference for new cars for their next vehicle.

Thais are expected to buy their next vehicle based on product quality, the vehicle's features and the brand's image, said Chodok Panyavaranant, Deloitte Thailand's clients and market manager.

The findings were based on Deloitte's latest survey on consumer behaviour in the industry, especially regarding the EV trend. It was conducted between September and October last year.

The interviews covered more than 6,000 consumers in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore, with a sample of around 1,000 Thai consumers.

"Demand for EVs is growing across the region as consumers want to reduce their fuel expense," said Mr Chodok.

Lower fuel costs are still the leading reason among consumers to switch to an EV.

Among the reasons for choosing a BEV among Thai consumers were a better driving experience and a car that can also be used as a backup battery.

The survey results came as EVs are being promoted by the Thai government. The cabinet approved a package of incentives last year including tax cuts and subsidies to promote EV consumption and production during the period 2022-2023.

For those choosing a BEV as their next vehicle, the biggest concern among Thai consumers (at 48%) and regional consumers (at 54%) was a lack of availability of public charging infrastructure, followed by the time required to charge a BEV, and the price of BEVs.

According to Deloitte, 64% of Thai consumers would be willing to wait between 10-60 minutes for the car's battery to charge, while 41% expect a driving range of 300-500 kilometres per charge.

Plugging in BEVs at home was the most popular choice. In public locations, 51% of consumers in the region would prefer to charge their EV at a dedicated EV service station, while 26% would go to a traditional gas station that has EV chargers.

A smartphone app was the most popular choice when paying for public EV charging among both Thai respondents (67%) and Southeast Asian respondents (51%).      

Public advised to protect themselves as COVID-19 cases surge. Thai doctors are sounding the alarm over the steady rise in COVID-19 infections, as they advise the public to protect themselves from the disease as recommended by the Ministry of Public Health. | Thai PBS World

Public advised to protect themselves as COVID-19 cases surge

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Thai doctors are sounding the alarm over the steady rise in COVID-19 infections, as they advise the public to protect themselves from the disease as recommended by the Ministry of Public Health.

According to Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, 2,632 COVID patients were admitted to hospitals between May 14^th and 20^th, an average of 376 cases a day and, of these, 64 have died, averaging seven deaths a day. Lung infections were recorded at 401 cases and, of these, 226 of them needed ventilators.

He said that 50% of the 64 deaths were people who were not vaccinated at all and 30% had received only two vaccine doses without a booster shot for a long time.

He attributed the steady increase in COVID infections to the arrival of the rainy season and the resumption of classes for the new semester.

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Dr. Nitipat Jiarakul, of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, advised members of the public not to be too obsessed with the formation of the new government, but to focus on protecting themselves from the resurging virus.

He claimed that the number of patients waiting to be admitted for treatment has increased substantially and the death toll has jumped sharply to an average of ten a day.

Dr. Thira Woratanarat, of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, said in his Facebook post today (Tuesday), that the number of patients admitted to hospitals during the week of May 14^th -20^th increased by 11.7%, compared to the previous 7 days, and 141.9% from four weeks ago.

The number of patients who need ventilators increased to 226 last week, or 38.6% more than the previous 7 days, whereas lung infections increased by 24.5%.

He estimated that actual daily infections could be between 18,800 and 26,112, which is the highest since the end of last year.

He suggested that members of the public not lower their guard and protect themselves by following the recommendations of the Public Health Ministry, which include wearing face masks in public places, avoiding crowds, not sharing plates and spoons, isolating if they develop flu-like symptoms and taking rapid antigen tests.