lördag 19 augusti 2023

Thaksin Shinawatra returns August 22. Latest date for ex-PM Thaksin's return is August 22 | Thai PBS World

 Latest date for ex-PM Thaksin's return is August 22

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will fly back to Thailand on August 22nd, the same day that parliament will meet to select a new prime minister.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin's youngest daughter and head of Pheu Thai "Family", said in her Twitter and Instagram posts this morning (Saturday) that she will travel to Don Mueang airport to meet her father, who is scheduled to land at about 9am in his private jet.

Thaksin had previously announced that he would return to Thailand on August 10, but he abruptly changed his plan, claiming that he had to see his doctor.

It is reported that authorities have already made preparations for his return, after 17 years of self-imposed exile. Thaksin's aircraft will park in a special zone reserved for private jets and immigration officials will receive him upon his arrival.

They will process him and inform him of the outstanding arrest warrants against him, before handing him over to Corrections Department officials, who will also be at the airport.

Thaksin will then be taken to the Supreme Court, in line with the required legal procedure.








fredag 18 augusti 2023

Prayut praises THAI as it begins to spread its clipped wings. Caretaker Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday praised executives and employees of Thai Airways International (THAI) as the national flag carrier reported 50 billion baht of reserves this year after entering a business rehabilitation plan more than two years ago. The Nation

Prayut praises THAI as it begins to spread its clipped wings

Caretaker Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday praised executives and employees of Thai Airways International (THAI) as the national flag carrier reported 50 billion baht of reserves this year after entering a business rehabilitation plan more than two years ago.

Prayut visited THAI's headquarters in Bangkok's Chatuchak district on Friday along with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, and PM's Office Minister Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana.

After viewing a presentation on the progress of THAI under its rehabilitation plan over the past year, Prayut thanked the airline's executives and employees for their hard work and cooperation with the plan, saying it had resulted in the airline being able to exit its rehabilitation sooner than expected.

"This 50-billion-baht reserve is a sign of progress and a positive trend. We must spend this money carefully while continuing to manage debts," the outgoing premier said.

Before leaving, Prayut also participated in flight-simulation training for a Boeing 777-3000ER.

Earlier this month, THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri told Thai-language news outlet Thansettakij that he was confident the national flag carrier would be able to exit rehabilitation by the third quarter of next year, sooner than the 2025 deadline.

Chai said THAI and its Thai Smiles subsidiary had seen improved business performance during the first five months of this year.

The airline filed for bankruptcy protection in late 2019 after reporting debts of 245 billion baht. The Cabinet in May 2020 gave the rehabilitation plan the green light under the Bankruptcy Act, which was later approved by the Central Bankruptcy Court.








Thailand satsar på hållbar turism. Thailand vill gå från volymbaserad turism till att attrahera resenärer som stannar längre och har ett högre värde. - Travel News

Thailand satsar på hållbar turism

Travel News var på plats när Thailands Turistbyrå bjöd in till pressmöte för att berätta om det ambitiösa programmet mot nollutsläpp.

2023-08-17 16:16

Mötet inleddes av Guvenör Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand som beskrev den stora satsningen mot nollutsläpp, fem regioner har valts ut. Dessa är Samut Prakan (BKK), Krabi, Khon Kaen, Tratand och Chiang Mai. 

Guvernör Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand

Thailand vill gå från volymbaserad turism till att attrahera resenärer som stannar längre och har ett högre värde. 
Vi på Travel News fastnade lite extra för regionen Chiang Mai:s satsning på bla te-turism. Travel News före detta medarbetare Kenneth Rimdahl lämnade mediabranschen i början på 90-talet och startade tebutiker i Madrid. Sedan cirka 15 år är Kenneth baserad i Chiang Mai och är grundare av det välrenommerade Monteasamt en drivande part i att utveckla hållbar turism. 

Kenneth Rimdahl

Doi Pu Muen i Chiang Mai regionen har utvecklats till en turistattraktion med fokus på Lahus lokala traditioner och kultur. Här kan man till exempel plocka ekologiskt odlat te och själv delta i produktionen.

torsdag 17 augusti 2023

TAA, Bangkok Airways post high airfares in Q2. Thai AirAsia (TAA) has reported increased airfares of 42% for the first half, while Bangkok Airways registered a 36% uptick in the first half, though a weaker baht continued to affect airlines' profits. Bangkok Post

TAA, Bangkok Airways post high airfares in Q2

Thai AirAsia (TAA) has reported increased airfares of 42% for the first half, while Bangkok Airways registered a 36% uptick in the first half, though a weaker baht continued to affect airlines' profits.

TAA reported average airfares increased from 1,179 baht in the first half of 2022 to 1,673 baht in the first six months of this year.

Bangkok Airways recorded an average airfare of 3,643 from January to June, growing 36% from the corresponding period last year.

TAA passengers increased by 194% in the first half, allowing Asia Aviation Plc (AAV), its major shareholder, to secure total revenue of 19.6 billion baht.

However, although AAV posted a strong earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of 1.8 billion baht in the second quarter, the weaker baht was attributed for a loss of 1.01 billion baht, mostly from unrealised foreign exchange.

Another factor was rising airport charges, which are growing along with the number of passengers.

Santisuk Klongchaiya, chief executive of TAA, said its domestic routes remained strong in the second quarter with a load factor of 94% from 2.8 million passengers.

The airline hopes to gain a significant number of Chinese passengers in the second half after it increased flights to China to 108 per week with a capacity of 323,400 seats, accounting for 18% of its international capacity, he said.

TAA had the highest seat capacity for China-Thailand routes in the second quarter.

Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways, said the airline posted a net profit of 667 million baht in the second quarter and revenue of 4.96 billion baht, growing 178% and 97%, respectively.

Higher revenue derived mostly from ticket sales, accounting for 66%, an increase of 25% in the second quarter of this year compared with the corresponding period last year.

Bangkok Airways carried 913,000 passengers during the second quarter, totalling 2.02 million passengers for the first half. Its six-month load factor was 81.4%.

The airline reduced its fleet from 35 to 27 jets at the end of last year. Bangkok Airways' utilisation rate was 8.5 hours as of June.

TAA is operating 45 out of its 54 jets in the fleet, with an increasing utilisation rate of 12.4 hours per day as of June.






Average Thai household expenditure in July stood at 18,130 baht per month, dropping only 2 baht from the previous month but still considered high, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) said this week. . Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/economy/40030276 .



Voting for next Prime Minister to go ahead - Thai Examiner Constitutional Court clears way for parliamentary process to elect Thailand’s 30th Prime Minister, General Prawit expected in the end.



onsdag 16 augusti 2023

The upcoming PM voting will take place on August 22, as announced by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. He said the parliamentary legal team will convene tomorrow to deliberate on the Constitutional Court's decision made today. Additionally, whips from the Senate and various political parties will also convene to discuss the forthcoming PM voting. Thai Enquirer

The upcoming PM voting will take place on August 22, as announced by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.
He said the parliamentary legal team will convene tomorrow to deliberate on the Constitutional Court's decision made today. Additionally, whips from the Senate and various political parties will also convene to discuss the forthcoming PM voting.

tisdag 15 augusti 2023

Goodbye Family Mart, Hello Tops Daily in Thailand. Bidding farewell to Thailand, the iconic “Family Mart” convenience stores is being fully rebranded as “Tops Daily” after over three decades of service.- TPN National News

Goodbye Family Mart, Hello Tops Daily in Thailand

National —

Bidding farewell to Thailand, the iconic "Family Mart" convenience stores is being fully rebranded as "Tops Daily" after over three decades of service.

Central Retail Corporation PLC (CRC) has made the decision to fully transform and rename its iconic Family Mart convenience stores to Tops Daily by the end of this year.

This strategic move comes as CRC's contract for the Family Mart franchise in Thailand is set to expire in 2023. The rebranding aims to align and streamline CRC's convenience store business under the Tops Daily banner, CRC's chief operating officer, Maytinee Phisutsinthop stated.

As part of this transformation, Central Retail has begun gradually rebranding and changing the store signage from "Family Mart" to "Tops Daily."

The transition has commenced in various branches over the past few months, alongside updates to the online platform, which now showcases the new Tops Daily branding.

The new Tops Daily logo features white lettering against a red background. This redesign departs from the previous Tops Daily logo, which had red lettering for "Tops" and black lettering for "Daily" against a yellow background.

This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.





söndag 13 augusti 2023

Sunday, 13 August 2023, 15:07. Caretaker Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has conducted a thorough inspection of the new Satellite Airport Terminal 1 (SAT-1) at Suvarnabhumi Airport, ahead of its anticipated soft launch next month. He was accompanied by prominent caretaker cabinet members, including Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda.- TPN National News

Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok Set to Soft Open New Satellite Terminal in September

Caretaker Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has conducted a thorough inspection of the new Satellite Airport Terminal 1 (SAT-1) at Suvarnabhumi Airport, ahead of its anticipated soft launch next month. He was accompanied by prominent caretaker cabinet members, including Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda.

During the visit, Gen Prayut took a ride on the Automated People Mover (APM) train, which conveniently connects the new terminal with the primary passenger terminal.

The premier said his visit aimed to provide an update on the progress of Phase 2 construction within the Suvarnabhumi Airport development plan, concentrating particularly on the upcoming SAT-1 terminal. The terminal, poised for a soft opening in September, is set to significantly enhance the airport's passenger handling capacity. The facility is projected to accommodate approximately 15 million passengers annually, thereby elevating the airport's overall capacity to handle a total of 60 million passengers per year.

Gen Prayut further disclosed that the delegation was briefed on the status of the third runway construction, which is already 73% complete. This new runway is slated to be operational by July the following year. With its completion, Suvarnabhumi Airport will be able to manage 94 flights per hour, marking a substantial increase from the current capacity of 68 flights per hour.

According to details provided by Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisulee Traisaranakul, the SAT-1 terminal boasts 28 contact gates, with eight specifically designed to accommodate the spacious Code F aircraft, including the A380 superjumbo jets. An additional 20 gates are designated for Code E aircraft, such as Boeing B747s. The terminal spans four stories and encompasses a substantial total floor area of 216,000 square meters.

Traisulee Traisaranakul added that each train within the APM system can accommodate up to 210 passengers, serving some 6,000 passengers per hour.

The preceding is a press release from the Thai Government PR Department NNT.




#BangkokPost: Critics have slammed the Pheu Thai Party over its attempt to bring the so-called uncle parties into its coalition, accusing the party of betraying the people. #Thailand #politics #PheuThai https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2628297/



#BangkokPost: Deputy Prime Minister and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon is not leaving politics just yet and has never knocked back the prospect of a post in the next government, deputy PPRP leader Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said. #Thailand #politics #Prawit https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2628293/



fredag 11 augusti 2023

Tourists visiting Bang Saen beach in Mueang district of Chonburi province had to return disappointed on Friday as the sea was dyed green due to the plankton bloom phenomenon. . Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40030156



Eight cases of infection by the new coronavirus Omicron EG.5.1 variant, codenamed Aris, have been detected in Thailand. PBS World

 Eight cases of infection by the new coronavirus Omicron EG.5.1 variant, codenamed Aris, have been detected in Thailand. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently classified the variant as being "of interest", which does not seem to pose more of a threat to the public than the other variants.
Dr. Wasun Chantratita, chief of the Centre for Medical Genomics at the Faculty of Medicines, Mahidol University, said, however, that the eight cases of Aris were detected in the past three months and the variant is capable of spreading about 1% faster than XBB.1.66, the current dominant variant.
He said that the public should be aware of the new variant, but there is no reason to panic, adding that the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea is, however, an indication that Thailand should be prepared, prompting the Centre for Medical Genomics to resume genome sequencing of coronavirus samples from patients.
According to the WHO's report on Aris, dated July 27th, 593,023 infections, about a 60% increase over the previous 4 weeks, and 190 fatalities have been reported in South Korea in the past 28 days.
Aris infections in other countries are:
• Brazil - 48,548 with 769 deaths
• Australia - 35,873 with 623 deaths
• Singapore -30,213
• New Zealand - 20,329
• Russia - 336 deaths
• Peru - 218 deaths

torsdag 10 augusti 2023

Airports of Thailand (AOT) recently started the installation of solar cells at Suvarnabhumi Airport's passenger terminal in a bid to promote it as Thailand's first green airport. . Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40030102 .



Thai Taxi Drivers Need to Tell Passengers to Buckle Up. Under a new Royal Gazette order all Thai taxi passengers will be required to wear seatbelts from November and drivers must remind passengers to do so. Do you think this will be enforced?- The Pattaya News

Thai Taxi Drivers Need to Tell Passengers to Buckle Up
PHOTO: Kaohoon

National —

Passengers in taxis or other public transport vehicles will now be required to fasten their seatbelt during each trip, according to the Royal Thai Police.

The new requirement, published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, August 8th, primarily focused on taxi drivers. It requires the chauffeurs to verbally tell passengers to fasten their seatbelt or have a sign visible to passengers that warns them to buckle up.

Oher public transport vehicles are also required to have a sign or an audio recording that tells people to wear their seatbelt.

The announcement was signed by the Thai national police chief, Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, citing the Land Transportation Act.

There are also other requirements including:

  • Drivers must inform passengers to sit in their designated seat.
  • Passengers cannot sit on supplementary seating illegally provided by the driver.
  • Passengers are prohibited from standing inside a moving vehicle except when there is a designated area for standing.
  • Passengers must not stick any part of their body outside a moving vehicle.

The announcement will come into force from November 6th, 2023.

måndag 7 augusti 2023

Thailand’s inflation rate is the lowest among the seven ASEAN countries which have already announced their rates, with inflation for the whole year expected to range between 1% and 2%, according to Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director of the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office. PBS World

 Thailand's inflation rate is the lowest among the seven ASEAN countries which have already announced their rates, with inflation for the whole year expected to range between 1% and 2%, according to Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director of the Commerce Ministry's Trade Policy and Strategy Office.

Based on information from June, he said Thailand's low inflation rate is in line with global inflation, which is steadily falling, and is the lowest compared to Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The consumer price index for July is equivalent to 107.82, compared to 107.41 for the same period last year, resulting in a rate increase of only 0.38% year on year. The low inflation rate is attributable to a drop in food prices, such as pork, which has continued for three consecutive months, and energy prices falling for five months in a row, compared to the same period last year.

Prices of food and non-alcoholic drinks for July rose an average of 1.49% year on year. The prices of farm products, such as eggs, rambutan, vegetables, lime, ginger and tomato, however, remain high due to low yields caused by climatic changes.

The prices of non-food products, such as electrical appliances, garments, TVs, washing machines, cell phones, hygienic face masks etc., dropped by 0.38% year on year. In the meantime, power charges, cooking gas prices, public transport fares and personal services, such as hair cutting and hair dressing, for July increased compared to the same period last year.

Poonpong said that the basic inflation rate, excluding fresh food and energy, rose 0.86% year on year and this has been continuing since the beginning of this year. The inflation rate for the first seven months of this year rose 2.19% from the same period last year, which is within the range set by the Fiscal Policy Office.

The consumer price index for July dropped 0.01% from the previous month, in line with the price drop in food and non-alcoholic drinks. The prices of non-good products, however, increase by 0.42% month on month.

The consumer confidence index for July dropped to 53.3 from 56.1 in June, representing a continuing fall for eight consecutive months, due to political uncertainties and the increased prices of benzine and gasohol.

He said, however, that Thai people in general still have confidence in the strength of the Thai economy, thanks to the continuing economic and tourism recovery.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-2023-inflation-forecast-to-be-1-2-the-lowest-in-asean/

Thai airline Really Cool hopes to start flying in December to regional cities including Singapore. Bangkok-based airline will be marketed as a full-service “lifestyle carrier”, aiming to offer a unique experience to passengers between luxury and budget carriers, under the slogan “We Fly the Future”. Really Cool Airlines will operate with three leased Airbus A330 planes with a capacity of more than 300 passengers each. | The Straits Times

Thai airline Really Cool hopes to start flying in December to regional cities including Singapore
Really Cool Airlines will focus mainly on international routes to avoid competition with well-established domestic carriers. PHOTO: REALLY COOL AIRLINES

BANGKOK – Really Cool Airlines, a newcomer in Thailand's aviation industry, is set to start flying soon after it gets an air operator certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand in December, its chief executive Patee Sarasin said on Friday.

Mr Patee, 60, added that it had earlier obtained an air operating licence from the agency.

He said the Bangkok-based airline will be marketed as a full-service "lifestyle carrier", aiming to offer a unique experience to passengers between luxury and budget carriers, under the slogan "We Fly the Future".

Really Cool Airlines will operate with three leased Airbus A330 planes with a capacity of more than 300 passengers each.

With an investment of over one billion baht (S$38.6 million), it is aiming for inbound passengers who account for 70 per cent of Thailand's air travellers, Mr Patee said. 

It will cover regional routes in the initial stage to such destinations as Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 2025, it will fly to Europe.

According to Mr Patee, Really Cool Airlines will focus mainly on international routes to avoid competition with well-established domestic carriers.

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Its parent company, RC Airlines, was founded in March this year with a registered capital of 200 million baht. Mr Patee is the founder and director while the other directors are his friends from other industries.

Mr Patee is a former chief executive of Thai budget carrier Nok Air, from which he quit in 2017 to set up a travel platform company called Really Cool.

He still sees challenges for the airline industry, which was badly damaged by the Covid-19 pandemic and is still making a slow recovery to pre-pandemic levels.

He pointed to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as the collapse of many commercial banks.

He added that his airline is adopting new technologies and innovative ideas to help reduce costs and increase passenger comfort and safety.

Thailand's aviation industry shrank in value from 320 billion baht before the pandemic to 130 billion baht last year although there are signs of continued recovery this year.

There are seven major airlines that control the largest market share – national carrier Thai Airways International, Nok Air, Thai Smile, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Vietjet, Thai Lion Air and Thai Air Asia. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK





lördag 5 augusti 2023

Opinion Editorial: No, It Isn't Time to Worry About Thai Retirement Visa Changes....Yet….. Of all our stories in the past week, one particular story, indeed basically just a small portion of the overall story, sent shockwaves through the retired ex-pat community and the rumour mill was set on fire.- The Pattaya News

Opinion Editorial: No, It Isn't Time to Worry About Thai Retirement Visa Changes….Yet

Bangkok, Thailand-

Of all our stories in the past week, one particular story, indeed basically just a small portion of the overall story, sent shockwaves through the retired ex-pat community and the rumour mill was set on fire.

We are referring to this article about Thai police cracking down on foreign criminal motorbike clubs following it being discovered that the prime suspect in the brutal murder and dismemberment of a German businessman in Pattaya was allegedly a prominent member of one of these clubs.

It isn't the crackdown on motorbike clubs that upset and disturbed many of our readers, leading to various E-mails and messages, but a statement in the article attributed to deputy national police chief General Surachate Hakparn, arguably the most well-known police officer in Thailand and former Chief of Thai Immigration.

The statement and excerpt that shook up many readers is below:

Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn stated that the gang members tend to favor Thailand due to the lack of strict law enforcement and corrupt officials.

He cited the outdated 1979 Immigration Act, which allows foreigners aged above 50 to easily live in Thailand only if they have 800,000 baht in their bank account or an income certificate with a monthly salary not less than 65,000 baht.

This also tended to be the case of the suspects in Mack's murder.

Due to the existence of these dangerous gangs, aware foreign tourists feel discouraged to visit Pattaya or invest in the Eastern Seaboard, causing huge damage to the country, Pol Gen Surachate said.

Thus, the RTP needs to regain trust from tourists by not only eradicating these gangs but also some Thai officials who clandestinely aid them.

As part of the efforts, Pol Gen Surachate promised that he would propose an amendment to the immigration law, especially concerning retirement visa extensions, through the police chief once a new government takes office. This aims to filter out bad people and make the law truly helpful for investors or someone who innocently want to live in Thailand.

We here at TPN media wanted to take a closer look at these statements after trying to answer many individual comments and messages over the past week or so.

First, as an individual of great influence with both the Royal Thai Immigration and Royal Thai Police, when Mr. Hakparn speaks it is best to listen. He is well known for many reforms and changes, many admittedly unpopular to foreigners, when in charge of Thai Immigration.

Secondly, nothing is set in stone currently. This isn't a case of Mr. Hakparn simply saying we are upping the requirements and making the decision on his own. It will need significant discussion from Parliament and relevant agencies. Yes, some programs like Thailand Elite are changing their requirements individually, but they are essentially completely run by the Thailand Tourism Authority and run as a company with a single shareholder, not a government plan. We aren't going to be touching much on the Elite changes which also seem to be raising costs involved significantly, as these changes affect a much smaller group of people than blanket retirement visa changes.

Third, Thailand currently has only a caretaker government. Since the election in May there has been continued drama and problems over forming a new government and it seems nearly every single day is another legal challenge or delay, like this one we recently covered here. The bottom line is there is currently no Thai Prime Minister and even once this is chosen it will take some time to get the new government formed, ministers in place, and priorities aligned.

Is this going to be something to keep an eye on down the road? Yes, certainly. But worrying and focusing on baseless speculation and proposals that are currently just talk with no concrete changes proposed to the government will only cause you more stress.

TPN media will certainly stay on top of this subject and continue to communicate any concrete proposals and statements from relevant officials in regard to visas and retirement visas. We will also make sure, as a fairly well-read publication in both Thai and English, that the viewpoints of our readers are made clear to decision makers.

For now, however, breathe a bit…any changes are at least six months off and more likely a year, in my opinion. (Not counting elite, again, which is essentially a private company owned by the tourism authority and can make their own independent decisions.)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Adam Judd

Co-owner, TPN Media.

August 5th, 2023

Photos show condos and views retired ex-pats move to Pattaya for. 





fredag 4 augusti 2023

Latest SAT-1 photos today📷waiting to activate this September!! ️ Photo of the comparison of the 1st secondary plane (SAT-1) of Suvarnabhumi Airport, which was taken today (2 August 2566)🛫 . HFlight.net

 Latest SAT-1 photos today📷waiting to activate this September!! ️
Photo of the comparison of the 1st secondary plane (SAT-1) of Suvarnabhumi Airport, which was taken today (2 August 2566)🛫
It can be seen that the outer structure, including the surrounding area(driveway/taxiway and carpark/apron) is almost 100% completed✅ and the aerial bridge(Ivory/aerobridge) has been installed.
Earlier, at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Ltd. Thai airport has disclosed to the media that SAT-1 will be activated in September 2566 or next month. (Reference from Thailand on 10 June 2566)📰

Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is the most visited city in the world so far this year, with around 22 million international arrivals, according to a survey by the Travelness travel blog. More detailed data reveal tourist patterns, such as an average stay of 4.7 nights and an average spend of US$173 per day. Read more: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bangkok-is-the-worlds-most-visited-city-this-year/ #ThaiPBSWorld

torsdag 3 augusti 2023

Tourism revival in Thailand risks airport slot overcrowding, suggests alternative options. Siripakorn suggested airlines consider other international airports in frequented tourist provinces like Surat Thani, U-Tapao in Rayong, Krabi, and Chiang Mai, to manage the influx of tourists and alleviate overcrowding at the existing terminals. | Thaiger

Tourism revival in Thailand risks airport slot overcrowding, suggests alternative options

Second PM vote postponed by House Speaker . Tomorrow’s scheduled vote to select a new prime minister was postponed by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor on Thursday. . The speaker said the process would have to wait for the Constitutional Court's ruling on Move Forward’s petition opposing a parliamentary resolution to block its leader Pita Limcharoenrat’s renomination as PM candidate. . The verdict is expected to be issued on the morning of August 16. The Nation




Second PM vote postponed by House Speaker . Tomorrow’s scheduled vote to select a new prime minister was postponed by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor on Thursday. . The speaker said the process would have to wait for the Constitutional Court's ruling on Move Forward’s petition opposing a parliamentary resolution to block its leader Pita Limcharoenrat’s renomination as PM candidate. . The verdict is expected to be issued on the morning of August 16. The Nation

Second PM vote postponed by House Speaker
.
Tomorrow's scheduled vote to select a new prime minister was postponed by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor on Thursday.
.
The speaker said the process would have to wait for the Constitutional Court's ruling on Move Forward's petition opposing a parliamentary resolution to block its leader Pita Limcharoenrat's renomination as PM candidate.
.
The verdict is expected to be issued on the morning of August 16.
.
#ThailandNews #PMvote #PitaLimcharoenrat #Thaipolitics


onsdag 2 augusti 2023

More than 120 people have tested positive for monkeypox (Mpox) in Thailand, the highest in the Asean region, top virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan said. . Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/.../health-wellness/40029886 .



Thé MOU between the eight parties is cancelled. Thai Enquirer

Thé MOU between the eight parties is cancelled.

From our headliner this morning:

The Move Forward is ready to move to the opposition to ensure that neither the Palang Pracharath Party or the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party are in the next government coalition, a MFP MP told Thai Enquirer on Wednesday.

Despite taking the lead in forming the government, the Pheu Thai Party have experienced difficulties due to Move Forward Party's electoral promise to amend the lese-majeste laws and the refusal of the senate and more conservative parties to side with them while MFP were in the coalition.

The Pheu Thai Party, according to reports, considered many options including inviting PPRP or RTSC to join them in government. This included publicly inviting members of both parties to PT headquarters for talks.

According to a Move Forward MP, who commented on condition of anonymity, negotiations are ongoing between MFP and PT to ensure that neither party backing former coup leaders Prayut Chan-ocha and Prawit Wongsuwan are in government.

"We are ready to sacrifice our position even though we won the most number of seats and move to the opposition if it means not having the two generals in government," said the MFP parliamentarian.

"We are willing to move to the opposition and still vote for the PT prime minister candidate if that means we end the power of the senate and the two generals now," he said.

It remains to be seen whether MFP's move to the opposition would pave the way for a Pheu Thai Prime Minister with several senators still publicly voicing that they would only vote for a Bhumjai Thai candidate or Prawit Wongsuwan.

It would also mean an unpalatable government coalition consisting of Pheu Thai, Bhumjai Thai, and the Democrat as the key principles parties.

The Pheu Thai Party on Wednesday demanded that Move Forward leave its coalition after the election winner refused to withdraw its policy to amend the lese majeste law, according to local reports. The Nation

 BREAKING: Pheu Thai demands Move Forward leave coalition
.
The Pheu Thai Party on Wednesday demanded that Move Forward leave its coalition after the election winner refused to withdraw its policy to amend the lese majeste law, according to local reports.
.
The move came as Pheu Thai met with Move Forward in a bid to overcome obstacles the coalition faces in forming a new government.
.
The memorandum of understanding signed by the eight-party coalition will reportedly now be revoked, paving the way for Pheu Thai from a government with support from the Senate and outgoing coalition parties.

Top Thai cop urges retirement visa rules to be tightened. Thailand’s best known crime cracker, police general Surachate Hakparn, has openly stated that one year retirement visas and extensions of stay are plagued by out-of-date regulations and corrupt practices. - Pattaya Mail

Top Thai cop urges retirement visa rules to be tightened

Police general Surachate Hakparn, former head of the immigration bureau, wants to reform retirement visa rules to help drive out foreign criminal gangs such as Pattaya's notorious Outlaws Motorcycle Club.

Thailand's best known crime cracker, police general Surachate Hakparn, has openly stated that one year retirement visas and extensions of stay are plagued by out-of-date regulations and corrupt practices. In an interview with the Bangkok Post, the deputy national police chief said that the requirement to have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank, or its equivalent in annual foreign remittances, was too low as it failed to screen quality applicants. Police general Surachate added that "window dressing" of applicants' bank accounts was a serious problem as visa agents and even some immigration officers colluded by providing short-term "loans".

He continued that he would propose to the new Thai Cabinet that the 1979 immigration act, which still governs some visa practices, be replaced. Police general Surachate did not detail his policy recommendations for retirement visa extensions apart from emphasizing that the entry bar was set too low and was too easily circumvented. The context of his interview was the all-importance of getting rid of foreign motorbike gangs plaguing Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui in particular. Sociologists call this approach "deviancy amplification" as it highlights one particular criminal issue in order to justify policy action against a much wider group in society.

Police general Surachate's observations have struck a chord as he is a former commander of both the tourist police division and, for a short period, the immigration bureau in 2018-19. In the past few years, there have been occasional attempts to toughen the bureaucracy for retirees such as introducing compulsory medical insurance for some visas and extensions – notably the "O/A" retiree option initially issued by a Thai embassy – and by checking bank books three months after the granting of an annual extension. But the efforts were largely non-consequential.

Although there are several visas suitable for single or retired retirees including Elite, Long Term Residence and Spouse options, the annually renewable retirement visa issued by the immigration bureau is far and away the most popular owing to its cheapness and easy availability for foreigners over 50 years. But it will likely be many months before policy revisions, if any, appear in the public forum. Concerns are already being raised about "the baby being thrown out with the bath water". Most Thai retirees are elderly men 65-90-plus with no interest in joining a foreign mafia or even boarding a motorbike. Except perhaps to go to the pub.




BangkokPost: The resort island province is working on a plan to develop itself into a "New Economy" less reliant on tourism for its survival. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2621365/



tisdag 1 augusti 2023

Mega changes ahead for Thailand’s Elite visa. The Thai Elite visa, which offers multiple-entry stays between five and 20 years, will totally replace its current packages on October 1 2023.- Pattaya Mail

Mega changes ahead for Thailand's Elite visa

Thailand Elite offers perks, such as fast track airport services and free health checkups, to some privileged members as well as multiple entry to all subscribers.

The Thai Elite visa, which offers multiple-entry stays between five and 20 years, will totally replace its current packages on October 1 2023. Founded by then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003, Thailand Privilege Card Company is wholly owned by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. But a new senior management team at Elite has decided to introduce unprecedented changes.

All new applications for Elite must be made by September 15 under the existing application rules: after that it will be too late. Current holders of the popular Elite Easy Access – a five year visa available for as cash payment of 600,000 baht – have until August 15 to transfer to a longer Elite visa, usually for 20 years: after that it will be also be too late.

No official announcement has yet been made to detail what the new October 1 Elite visa packages look like. Enrolment and renewal fees are likely to rise as the principle of Elite has always been to attract high spenders, wealthy expats and global citizens. The number of packages, some of which include deals for expat families as well as individuals, may well be reduced or combined.


Scrutiny of application details will almost certainly be intensified. Currently, files are checked against the Thai immigration database and information held by Thai embassies abroad. This referral might be extended to Interpol after it was found necessary to cancel some Elite members who were involved in "grey" businesses or fraudulent or criminal international activity. Other memberships have been refused to some Elite holders whose original visas were for study or voluntary work – sometimes dubiously issued for untraceable cash during the Covid pandemic.

Membership of Elite programs stultified in the few thousand members for many years, but zoomed to over 20,000 in 2022 and is now thought to be nearing 30,000. Well over one third of recent applications are from Chinese citizens, but Thai MPs and tourist authorities have both complained publicly about abuses. For example, visa agents in Chinese cities have been offering under-the-table Elite visas in return for mammoth cash sums. Some abuses have been linked to corruption in Thai immigration and disreputable language schools enrolling absentee learners.

Clarification is also needed on regular working in Thailand by Elite holders. Elite does not offer work permits as part of any deal, although one program Flexible Plus has offered access to Department of Labour permits in return for a US$1 million investment in property, the stock exchange or companies. Government policy does allow non-work permit holders to attend occasional business meetings or organize events, but the parameters are ambiguous and largely untested. The Thailand Privilege Card Company has promised to explain the brand new framework well in advance of the October 1inauguration.




Thailand could face a “lost year” if the country delays the process of forming a new government until May next year, according to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanavath Phonvichai, the president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). | Thai PBS World

Thailand could face a "lost year" if no government formed soon

Thailand could face a "lost year" if the country delays the process of forming a new government until May next year, according to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanavath Phonvichai, the president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

"Lost year" is a term coined to refer to a long period of sluggish economic growth and declining investment.

Dr. Thanawat said that the time being spent on forming a new government is affecting the economy, especially for next year. If the new government is formed in August, the country should have a new cabinet and the government policy statement by September.

He explained that, according to the party's budget policy, budgeting under the leadership of Pheu Thai can be finalised sooner than under Move Forward, which has a zero-based budgeting policy, which requires all expenses to be justified and approved in each new budget period.

Waiting for another 10 months to form a new government will gravely affect the economy. People's confidence in the state of the economy will be lost. When investors have no idea what the country's policy will be for that long, everything pauses and the economy slows down more and more.

Another challenge the country is facing is drought, caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon. If the country does not prepare enough and is not proactive, the agricultural sector will be badly affected. Farmers will get into deeper debt and the export sector will not recover, due to the lack of government support.

Dr. Thanawat also said that the UTCC expects Thailand's economy this year to expand by 3.1-3.5%. The main driver is tourism, with the country expected to welcome at least 25 million visitors by the end of the year. If there are more protests and rallies, however, that number could dwindle.