Chiang Mai downtown now under water: Emergency response in full swing. PBS World

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Troops and volunteers have been mobilised to fill sandbags to strengthen the flood wall as overflows from the swollen Ping River flooded vast areas of downtown Chiang Mai, including the commercial zone on Chang Klan Road, last night.

The water depth in the Ping River at Nawarat Bridge was measured at 4.45 meters at 6 am today.

Dusit Pongsapipat, the chief of the Office for Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, meanwhile dismissed a widespread rumor that the flood wall at Ban Ko Klang in the Pa Daet sub-district had completely failed.

He did mention, however, that sandbags installed by villagers to form an embankment to protect their village had crumbled, adding that more sandbags have been sent to reinforce the embankment.

Governor Nirat Pongsitthithavorn has had mobile units surveying water levels in the Ping River at various locations, especially low-lying areas, since last night, as part of their close coordination with the Royal Department of Irrigation.

Numerous cars parked on Chang Klan Road are submerged, but the road remains passable for larger vehicles; smaller ones are advised to avoid the area.

Calls for help, especially from families with bed-ridden relatives, began to be received by the provincial command center last night.

The ongoing flooding in Chiang Mai has been attributed to the recent Soulik storm and a low-pressure cell, which have brought widespread heavy rain to the area since last Saturday, according to the provincial office of the Royal Irrigation Department.

The office warned that the water level in the Ping River will stabilize for a short period before rising again due to the arrival of runoff from the Taeng and Ping river basins in Chiang Dao District, which were lashed by torrential rain last night.

Thailand Delays Automated Entry System for Foreign Tourists. Initially scheduled to roll out in December 2024, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system's debut has yet to be determined due to ongoing coordination with relevant agencies. ASEAN NOW

 

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that the launch of the nation's highly anticipated automated entry system for foreign tourists has been postponed. Initially scheduled to roll out in December 2024, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system's debut has yet to be determined due to ongoing coordination with relevant agencies.

 

The ETA system aims to simplify immigration processes for international visitors by allowing tourists from 93 visa-exempt countries to register online before arriving in Thailand.

 

These travellers would then receive a QR code upon registration, enabling them to pass through automated immigration gates effortlessly. The ETA system is part of Thailand's broader strategy to transition towards a fully electronic visa system.

 

Despite the delay, the Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the ETA system. It stated that it is currently working closely with other government agencies to finalise the necessary details and ensure the system operates smoothly upon its eventual launch.

The postponement comes as Thailand continues to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with tourism being a critical sector for the nation's economy.

 

Streamlining entry procedures through tools like the ETA system is seen as crucial for attracting more visitors and boosting tourism revenue, reported The Nation.

 

For now, travellers planning a trip to Thailand should stay informed by keeping an eye on updates from the Foreign Ministry and the Immigration Bureau. These agencies will provide the latest information on the ETA system's new launch date and any interim travel procedures that might be in place.

 

In summary, while the introduction of Thailand's ETA system is delayed, its importance in facilitating smoother and faster entry for foreign tourists remains clear. The Thai government continues to work diligently to bring this system online, aiming to enhance the overall travel experience for millions of international visitors annually.

 

TOP File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-09-25

Electronic entry clearance topples seamless travel dreams. Some commentators are predicting the age of seamless travel has arrived. But sometime next year – the new foreign affairs minister Maris Sangiampongsa says the start dates are still under review – it will be compulsory for all visa-exempt travelers to obtain pre-flight approval via the online portal known as the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Nobody has seen the forms yet, but they could well require an accommodation address in Thailand and an exit strategy to leave Thailand post-vacation.- Pattaya Mail

Electronic entry clearance topples seamless travel dreams

Pattaya MailSeptember 24, 2024

No matter where you want to go, prior authorization is becoming necessary.

Thailand, along with many other countries, has expanded its visa-exempt policy for foreign tourists to boost national income. Currently, most foreign visitors here can obtain 60 days on arrival, without prior clearance, and are eligible for a 30 days extension at local immigration. Some commentators are predicting the age of seamless travel has arrived.

But sometime next year – the new foreign affairs minister Maris Sangiampongsa says the start dates are still under review – it will be compulsory for all visa-exempt travelers to obtain pre-flight approval via the online portal known as the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Nobody has seen the forms yet, but they could well require an accommodation address in Thailand and an exit strategy to leave Thailand post-vacation.

Thailand's neighbors are adopting a similar approach. Visa-exempt tourists to the Philippines must register online at least 72 hours prior to departure and Cambodia is busy testing out a compulsory pre-flight authorization for flights landing at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The UK is currently requiring visa-exempt tourists to apply three days in advance (but recommends 30 days), whilst the EU is launching an authorization program for those foreigners wishing to enter the 30 countries but do not have a formal visa.

Governments in Thailand and elsewhere argue that electronic authorization does not mean the introduction of compulsory visas via the back door. They say that visa-exempt travelers have to provide less information than for formal visa applicants and that personal interviews are not required – forgetting that many embassies no longer allow specified visa applicants on their premises – because everything is online. 

The reality is that prior electronic authorization, whether for a visa or to allow a visa-exempt entry, is an approval mechanism. It allows governments to assess any criminal activity, travel history and even some health data, whilst documenting accommodation details and outward flights, if any. It will certainly make impossible spur-of-the-moment foreign travel and replace it by a cost-benefit vetting procedure. Does the foreign government really want you? That's the new question we have hardly begun to debate.

Of course, the move to prior vetting for all is inevitable in today's world. For example, the Thai government is clearly concerned by the influx of so many Chinese tourists, amongst them an unknown number working illegally or exploiting in cartels traditional Thai hospitality for financial gain. The introduction of electronic clearance for visa-less entrants is in fact the triumph of national security concerns over free- flow traffic. The Thai foreign minister has called the 60 days on arrival "a policy renewable at all times with ease". Surely it's a bit more complicated than that.
Editor's Note: If you wish to quote or reference this article, please credit the Pattaya Mail

Entry Thailand: The portal to paradise. Dubbed “Entry Thailand,” this innovative platform not only features an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system but also prepares for a future 300-baht fee for incoming visitors. | Thaiger

Entry Thailand: The portal to paradise

Bob ScottPublished: 09:10, 19 September 2024

Latest anti-cannabis moves reflect political compromise not moral outrage. The draft would restrict cannabis use to medical treatment, research by official agencies and as an optional extra to food and herbal products. Stiff penalties, including stiff fines and possible jail time, thus theoretically await those naughties caught in criminal deviance. But this is not formally defined anywhere in the draft. No mention of smoking for pleasure.- Pattaya Mail

Latest anti-cannabis moves reflect political compromise not moral outrage

Pattaya MailSeptember 22, 2024

A new cannabis law won't necessarily be free of ambiguity. (Photo NNT)

The health ministry's latest draft law on cannabis reflects the Cabinet's determination to avoid a parliamentary split between friends and foes. The draft would restrict cannabis use to medical treatment, research by official agencies and as an optional extra to food and herbal products. Stiff penalties, including stiff fines and possible jail time, thus theoretically await those naughties caught in criminal deviance. But this is not formally defined anywhere in the draft. No mention of smoking for pleasure.

Doubtless those favoring recreational cannabis will be accused of moral turpitude by endangering young people, causing traffic accidents and conspiring to injure Thailand's reputation as a great family resort. The government is attempting to look both ways at once – an apparent crackdown on drugs with loopholes. That's not an unusual legislative procedure. Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but the most relevant law – the entertainment venue act of the 1960s – can hardly be accused of having stamped out cash for sex.

The draft's silence on cannabis for enjoyment is a subject of glowing interest to Thailand's 9,500 sales outlets (according to Weed Map). On Pattaya 's Walking Street, Khun Cherry runs an outside wooden-table stall where a simple roll of Thai weed will set you back 100 baht, or 3 US dollars. Or you can go inside a neon-lit and comfortable unit where bean bags, mood music and psychedelic opportunities are on offer. "We may face another registration in the future, but I don't think the Thai government will want to kiss goodbye the 1 billion dollar revenue at stake," predicts Cherry.

She is likely correct as Thailand's drug laws have always been about politics. The 1979 narcotics act with jail time up to 15 years, was partly motivated by American servicemen and other tourists openly smoking pot in public. After the coup of 2014, the military government needed a solution to over-full jails and the eventual decriminalizing of cannabis in 2022 led to thousands being released. There has been a handful of official warnings for weed-smoking in public, but foreigners have been largely untouched apart from occasional pub raids to test the color of the pee of those dancing the night away.

Because the decriminalization of 2022 was not backed by detailed legislation, there has been a free-for-all-market and the technical restrictions on the psychoactive ingredient THC have been ignored. The current Pheu Thai-led administration fought the last election on an anti-cannabis platform but now has to quieten its parliamentary "allies", in particular powerful interior minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Bhumjaithai party which is the second-biggest partner in the current coalition. Anutin is not in favor of giving tourists a free ride, but wants to protect his rural constituent farmers who grow cannabis plants for profit.

The current draft law is up for discussion until the end of the month. A spokesman for the Cannabis Future Network said he absolutely didn't believe recreational use would be formally banned. Ganja shops, he thought, would need to re-register as street pharmacies (or similar) or perhaps customers would sign a slip to confirm they wanted the weed for their health. This would have the effect of reducing the number of ganja selling points, unable to deal with the bureaucracy, whilst offering a way out for the larger or popular ones, especially in tourist areas. The main enforcing agency could well be the Food and Drugs Administration which is notoriously short of staff. The Royal Thai Police has been noticeably hands-off ever since weed decriminalization in 2022. As the Roman poet Juvenal asked 2,000 years ago: "Who is watching the watchers?"



Re: Baht's biggest surge since 1998 poses risk to tourism and Exports. The Thai baht is experiencing its sharpest rise in 26 years, reaching levels last seen during the 1998 Asian financial crisis. This surge has hampered Thailand's recovery in the tourism and export sectors, Bloomberg News reports. ASEAN NOW

Guten Morgen Ola , meine Freundin Lada ist im Palmtree und sie hat im Anbau D3 bei mir eine schwarze oder braune Schlange gefunden . Die Schlange 🐍 ist von meinen Grundstück runter , also aufpassen. LG.Thomas Micklisch

Ola Jansved <olajnsvd@gmail.com> schrieb am Sa., 21. Sept. 2024, 00:30:

 

The Thai baht is experiencing its sharpest rise in 26 years, reaching levels last seen during the 1998 Asian financial crisis. This surge has hampered Thailand's recovery in the tourism and export sectors, Bloomberg News reports.

 

While the baht's rise is partly linked to a weakening US dollar ahead of the Federal Reserve's anticipated rate cut, its unexpected appreciation against key trade currencies has made Thai products less competitive abroad.

 

Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan and Deputy Finance Minister Paophum Rojanasakul have called on the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to take action to curb the baht's rapid rise and manage exchange rate volatility.

 

Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), noted that the strong currency has driven up production costs and worsened the influx of low-cost imports from China. "We need a stable baht and help managing financial costs," Kriengkrai emphasized.

 

Paophum added that it's vital for the baht to remain "neither too strong nor too weak, but above all, stable."

Despite continued growth in tourism, the stronger baht may reduce tourists' spending power, particularly affecting shopping and accommodation. Surawat Akaraworamat, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, pointed out that the higher exchange rate makes goods and services appear more expensive to foreign tourists.

 

The baht's strength may also hamper Thailand's ability to meet its tourism goals for the year. This presents a fresh challenge for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is focused on boosting the economy and lowering living costs amid slower growth in Thailand compared to other ASEAN countries. Both tourism and exports are vital economic drivers, repoerted The Nation.

 

Picture courtesy: TTG Asia

 

The BOT has voiced concern over sharp currency fluctuations, with the baht appreciating 9.14% against the US dollar in the past three months, significantly above the yearly average of 7.96%. This volatility has put the export sector under additional pressure.

 

The BOT has committed to stepping in to stabilize the baht and mitigate further damage to the economy. Nattaporn Triratanasirikul, deputy managing director of Kasikorn Research Center, noted that the currency's sustained strength will be a key topic for the BOT's Monetary Policy Committee meeting on October 16.

 

TOP Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-09-21

Baht's biggest surge since 1998 poses risk to tourism and Exports. The Thai baht is experiencing its sharpest rise in 26 years, reaching levels last seen during the 1998 Asian financial crisis. This surge has hampered Thailand's recovery in the tourism and export sectors, Bloomberg News reports. ASEAN NOW

 

The Thai baht is experiencing its sharpest rise in 26 years, reaching levels last seen during the 1998 Asian financial crisis. This surge has hampered Thailand's recovery in the tourism and export sectors, Bloomberg News reports.

 

While the baht's rise is partly linked to a weakening US dollar ahead of the Federal Reserve's anticipated rate cut, its unexpected appreciation against key trade currencies has made Thai products less competitive abroad.

 

Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan and Deputy Finance Minister Paophum Rojanasakul have called on the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to take action to curb the baht's rapid rise and manage exchange rate volatility.

 

Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), noted that the strong currency has driven up production costs and worsened the influx of low-cost imports from China. "We need a stable baht and help managing financial costs," Kriengkrai emphasized.

 

Paophum added that it's vital for the baht to remain "neither too strong nor too weak, but above all, stable."

Despite continued growth in tourism, the stronger baht may reduce tourists' spending power, particularly affecting shopping and accommodation. Surawat Akaraworamat, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, pointed out that the higher exchange rate makes goods and services appear more expensive to foreign tourists.

 

The baht's strength may also hamper Thailand's ability to meet its tourism goals for the year. This presents a fresh challenge for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is focused on boosting the economy and lowering living costs amid slower growth in Thailand compared to other ASEAN countries. Both tourism and exports are vital economic drivers, repoerted The Nation.

 

Picture courtesy: TTG Asia

 

The BOT has voiced concern over sharp currency fluctuations, with the baht appreciating 9.14% against the US dollar in the past three months, significantly above the yearly average of 7.96%. This volatility has put the export sector under additional pressure.

 

The BOT has committed to stepping in to stabilize the baht and mitigate further damage to the economy. Nattaporn Triratanasirikul, deputy managing director of Kasikorn Research Center, noted that the currency's sustained strength will be a key topic for the BOT's Monetary Policy Committee meeting on October 16.

 

TOP Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-09-21

PM Faces Pressure Over Thaksin's Alleged Hospital Fake-Out. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is in a precarious position, with her political career hanging in the balance due to legal issues surrounding her father, Thaksin Shinawatra. The complication arises from allegations that Thaksin, the influential figure behind the Pheu Thai party, faked a critical illness to avoid jail time by staying at Police Hospital, Bangkok. ASEAN NOW

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reads the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Paetongtarn appeared Parliament for the first time to lay out how her government envisions to improve the country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is in a precarious position, with her political career hanging in the balance due to legal issues surrounding her father, Thaksin Shinawatra. The complication arises from allegations that Thaksin, the influential figure behind the Pheu Thai party, faked a critical illness to avoid jail time by staying at  Police Hospital, Bangkok.

 

On September 18, a petition was submitted, urging Paetongtarn to reveal the truth regarding her father's hospital stay. The petition demands a full and transparent disclosure of the evidence, including CCTV footage, that purportedly documents Thaksin's activities in the hospital's private ward. Thaksin was granted an unusual six-month stay in a ward generally off-limits to other convicts.

If Paetongtarn complies, she risks incriminating her father, potentially leading to his arrest and imprisonment for perjury. Thaksin was already sentenced in absentia to eight years for power abuse and misconduct, but received a royal pardon reducing his sentence to one year. Yet, he had not spent any time behind bars, owing to his claimed critical illness.

 

Conversely, if Paetongtarn refuses to act, she could face charges of neglecting her official duties. This dereliction of duty might lead to her impeachment and removal from office, a partisan source indicated.

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) seeks evidence allegedly being withheld by the Police Hospital and the Corrections Department. They believe this evidence will reveal the truth behind Thaksin's "critical illness" and verify whether he genuinely required detention outside a prison.

 

This episode is eerily reminiscent of the plight faced by Paetongtarn's aunt, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, over a decade ago. Yingluck was sentenced to five years in jail for failing to curb corruption in a rice subsidy scheme during her term.

 

With her father's fate hanging in the balance and her own political future at risk, Paetongtarn must navigate this legal and ethical minefield carefully. The outcome of this situation could have significant implications for her premiership and the future of the Shinawatra family's political legacy.

 

-- 2024-09-19



Thai government tweaks guidelines on latest visas. The Interior Ministry has issued fresh guidelines for the much-discussed Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) and the boost for visa-exempt tourists from 30 to 60 days.- Pattaya Mail

Thai government tweaks guidelines on latest visas

Pattaya MailSeptember 17, 2024

Attending business meetings doesn't require a work permit as long as there aren't too many.

The Interior Ministry has issued fresh guidelines for the much-discussed Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) and the boost for visa-exempt tourists from 30 to 60 days. The DTV is seen as groundbreaking as it frees remote workers from needing a work permit as long as their employment is with overseas companies or contractors. The ministry has now doubled-down by insisting that "such work must not impinge in any way on the Thai economy", a very broad restriction.

Meanwhile, those tourists entering Thailand with a visa-exempt 60 days – the vast majority – must watch their step when they are not sightseeing. An initial announcement by the Tourist Authority of Thailand last July mentioned that "ad hoc or urgent work" could be undertaken for up to 15 days provided the tourist had notified the Department of Labor. Examples given were attending conferences or meetings and – more surprisingly – repairing machinery, auditing accounts or inspecting products.

The Interior Ministry now states that, whilst attending occasional meetings is ok, temporary work permits (maximum of two for 15 days each) will be needed for the more weighty stuff mentioned above. Answering complaints that the ruling is a tad ambiguous, the ministry said that more detailed rulings would be available in due course. This is likely a timely reflection of the 10 Pheu Thai governmental priorities for the next year, announced on September 14, which include an "overhaul of visa processing".

This projected overhaul is likely to encompass a great deal more. Government spokespeople last July pointed out that the types of non-immigrant visas should be reduced as functions such as medical tourism, family visas and permission to make movies in Thailand might be subsumed by the new DTV. Not to mention the different rules for retirees under the OA and O extension of stay regulations.

Also awaiting clarification is the ETA, or electronic travel authorization, which next year will require all visa-exempt travellers to seek permission in advance of their journey. Once this data base is integrated with that overseeing the issuing of visas, a stated government aim, there will be no significant difference. Everyone will be checked on the same data base for past criminal convictions and/or deportation from Thailand as well as for Interpol warrants.

The visa overhaul also gives an opportunity for the immigration bureau to influence the upcoming bureaucracy. There are so many agencies involved in publicity about visas – Tourist Authority of Thailand, Board of Investment, The Cabinet, Department of Labor etc – that it's often forgotten that the actual implementation is performed by immigration officers at airports and borders. So far, the bureau has been strictly silent.



Bangkok Post - Baht set to continue to rise. The baht could appreciate further, after hitting a 19-month high of 32.2 baht to the dollar on Monday, if the US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates deeper than 25 basis points at its meeting this week, as falling US inflation could prompt the central bank to deliver an outsized rate cut.

Baht set to continue to rise

The baht could appreciate further, after hitting a 19-month high of 32.2 baht to the dollar on Monday, if the US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates deeper than 25 basis points at its meeting this week, as falling US inflation could prompt the central bank to deliver an outsized rate cut.

The Thai currency rose from Friday's close of 33.33 baht against the greenback as investors rushed to sell the dollar ahead of the central bank's Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday, according to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research).

The yen briefly hit 139.73 per dollar, its strongest level since July last year. Treasury yields fell a second straight week with two-year notes closing at a two-year low on Friday as bets were revived on a 50-basis-point rate cut by the Fed.

Markets are currently pricing in a 59% probability of a 50-basis-point cut on Wednesday, according to the CME FedWatch tool, against 30% a week ago. This would be the Fed's first rate cut since 2020.

"The market has for some time been expecting that the US central bank would cut the rates by as much as 50 basis points, but that expectation has not really been fully priced in until now," said Kanjana Chockpisansin, head of research, banking and the financial sector at K-Research.

The baht could rise further if the Fed eventually delivers an aggressive rate cut of more than 0.25%, she said, adding that K-Research expects the baht to trade in a range of 33.0-33.8 to the dollar this week.

Besides the US, central banks in Japan and the UK also meet this week, with both expected to stand pat for now after the European Central Bank last week lowered its deposit rates for the second time this year. Analysts believe the Bank of Japan is on course to lift interest rates, but not at its meeting this week.

Meanwhile, gold prices surged to record highs on Monday, driven by a softer dollar and also expectations of a larger interest rate reduction by the Fed this week.

Spot gold was traded at an all-time high of US$2,589.23 early Monday before easing to $2,588.29. US gold futures rose by 0.2% to $2,615.80. The dollar weakened by 0.2%, making gold less expensive for other currency holders.

"The prospect of the Fed potentially wielding the axe by delivering a 50-basis-point cut this week has sent gold and the dollar in opposite directions," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

"Overall conditions for gold remain favourable, with further gains likely. If the dollar continues its downward trend, gold could reach $2,700 by year-end."



Bangkok Post - Minister aims to levy 300-baht tourism tax. The new tourism minister aims to start collecting the 300-baht tourism tax after it was shelved during the previous administration led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, while pledging to stimulate tourism revenue to reach at least 3 trillion baht this year.

Minister aims to levy 300-baht tourism tax

Tourists are pictured at the arrivals hall at Suvarnabhumi airport. Somchai Poomlard 

The new tourism minister aims to start collecting the 300-baht tourism tax after it was shelved during the previous administration led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, while pledging to stimulate tourism revenue to reach at least 3 trillion baht this year.

"I believe the collection of the tourism fee benefits the tourism industry since the revenue can be used for the development of infrastructure and attractions, along with ensuring tourist safety," said Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong, who took office on Monday.

The tourism fee scheme was approved by the cabinet in 2022, but has not been endorsed via publication in the Royal Gazette since that time.

Foreign arrivals by air must pay 300 baht, while the rate for those arriving by sea and land is 150 baht.

Mr Sorawong said since he still needs more time to study the readiness of the system, the ministry could not decide whether to start collection within the final quarter.

The ministry will look into the details and finalise the collection procedure in a way that does not discourage tourism sentiment.

Mr Sorawong, who is also secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, is the third person to have assumed the post of tourism minister within the one-year existence of the Pheu Thai-led administation.

The Ignite Tourism Thailand policy initiated by Mr Srettha should be continued, including aspects such as entertainment complexes, the aviation hub and second-tier cities, he said.

"As the government has pledged to support new man-made attractions and to boost second-tier cities, we will encourage the private sector to invest more by offering incentives, such as tax incentives," said Mr Sorawong.

The ministry would consider tourism stimulus programmes that greatly benefited domestic tourism during the pandemic, such as the We Travel Together co-payment scheme for hotel rooms and air tickets, as this project could directly distribute income to locals.

For the upcoming high season, he estimated that several events such as marathons, Loy Krathong and the New Year countdown would help accelerate revenue to reach 3 trillion baht from both domestic and international markets.

Meanwhile, as the government previously set a long-term target to achieve 3 trillion baht from foreign markets alone within its four-year term, he said the ministry under his administration would also be committed to achieving this goal.

As the government has initiated the idea to bid for a Formula One motor racing event and might choose a newly-built circuit to host it, he said he supports this policy but would like to suggest a street circuit on Ratchadamnoen Road, which would be more useful for the economy as it could depict the uniqueness of the country.

Given the spread of price-dumping tours in Thailand, he said the number of illegal companies might not have grown, but the value of losses are expected to be greater than in the past.

The ministry has already ordered related authorities to curb such illegal activities.

On Wednesday the minister will meet 20 private tourism operators, including the Association of Thai Travel Agents and the Tourism Council of Thailand, to discuss tourism policies.

Mr Sorawong took office on Monday.



Pattaya doomsayers will tell you Sin City is all but finished. A combination of gentifrication (posh buildings replacing bars and clubs) and diversification (people now bring their kids on holiday here) has all but decimated the old Pattaya. The number of western expats, especially retirees, has dropped thanks to repatriation or liver disease.- Pattaya Mail

Pattaya's raunchy nightlife is still expanding

Pattaya MailSeptember 16, 2024

Workmen put the finishing touches to the new Shark on Walking Street. (Photo Courtesy: Dave the Rave)

PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya doomsayers will tell you Sin City is all but finished. A combination of gentifrication (posh buildings replacing bars and clubs) and diversification (people now bring their kids on holiday here) has all but decimated the old Pattaya. The number of western expats, especially retirees, has dropped thanks to repatriation or liver disease. "Things are not what they used to be," bewails a British pensioner sipping beer with his mates as they watch the traffic jams unfold on Soi Buakhao.

Yet the pessimism is by no means the whole picture. In a few days, according to Dave the Rave's insider web page, the new Shark gogo club will be opening on Walking Street and will occupy most of Soi Diamond. It's a three-storey facade, three shophouses long and five shophouses deep, with a downstairs floorspace of 230 sq meters. Over 100 young ladies will make sure the customers – who are just as likely to be South Koreans and Singaporeans as Americans or passport holders of the European Union – are comfortable and free of hassle. For example, if you take your time ogling the gogo dancers, you won't be told to order another drink before you are ready.

Meanwhile, Pattaya's leading Gentlemen's Clubs operation is continuing its expansion. It's a consortium of local bars and clubs offering visitors who join a retreat where they can relax in style and enjoy discounts such as cheap beer, menu choices and weekly pub crawls all announced on regular email newsletters. Gentlemen's Clubs has recently announced that a 28-room, adult-themed resort with a club will be opening in Jomtien as early as January next year. Based 700 meters from Jomtien Beach, it will replace the current ISOL residential block and the facilities will include small kitchens in the rooms, an onsite restaurant, a coin-operated laundry and a large swimming pool.

Pattaya's gay scene can't compete with these macro developments. The two main venues remain the Jomtien Complex Super Town and Pattaya's Boyztown in the center of the city. The main attractions in both districts are the very glitzy and professional cabaret shows, though the audiences remain stubbornly western and elderly in appearance. Where all the gay Russians, Chinese and Indians hang out remains a bit of a mystery according to local bar owners. But, in a break with tradition, a gay bar has opened in the staunchly heterosexual Walking Street. It's Secrets in Soi 14, formerly a straight club. That's certainly a first, at any rate for many years.