The monetary projection for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector has suffered a significant slash reaching up to a mere 96 billion baht for Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). This meager sum is dwarfed by the incredible revenue value of 2019, plunging by over 50%, their major cause of concern being the dwindling attention from the high-potential Chinese market. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, the esteemed President of TCEB, unveiled this unfortunate revelation and stated that though there’s a substantial resurrection of MICE participants from various regions like Europe, India, and South East Asia, the recovery of the Chinese market is quite crucial for any future estimations. Several detrimental factors have been identified that are supposedly hampering the progress of expanding the Chinese MICE market, including minor issues like limited flight availability and lengthier visa application procedures for groups. An interesting observation worthy of note is the positive…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a groundbreaking move set to enhance Thailand’s alluring charm and revive its tourism landscape, the distinguished Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has inked a Letter of Intent (LOI) with prominent EVA Airways Corporation. This win-win alliance seeks to utilize the broad reach of EVA Air’s worldwide route network to amplify visitor influx from global sources into the captivating realm of Thailand. Yuthasak Supasorn, the esteemed TAT Governor, declared, “Joining forces with EVA Air presents an incredible opportunity for explorative voyagers to discover the mesmerizing enchantments of Thailand. By offering varied flights—both short and long-haul—we enable seamless travel to Thailand’s plethora of wonders, from the electrifying vibe of Bangkok to Phuket’s soothing beaches, along with the mystical ruins of Ayutthaya and peaceful sanctuaries in Chiang Mai.” On the same occasion, Clay Sun, EVA Air’s respected President, articulated his delight over this strategic partnership. He mentioned, “Enabling travelers worldwide to experience…
Unfolding meteorological conditions have prompted the Department of Mineral Resources to issue an alert for the probable occurrence of landslides and abrupt flash floods across four provinces in Thailand, spanning August 7 to August 9, 2023. This comes on the heels of torrential downpours that surpassed 100 millimetres within a brief 24-hour window, causing significant saturation and instability of soil on various hillsides, rendering them prone to landslides. Citizens and volunteers from the Department of Mineral Resources` disaster prevention network residing in the provinces of Nan, Mae Hong Son, Tak and Kanchanaburi have been strongly urged to maintain a state of high alert for possible landslides and flash floods throughout this time frame. This advisory extends notably to areas that are historically susceptible to landslides including Bo Kluea, Pua, Chaloem Phra Kiat, Thung Chang, and Chiang Klang in Nan province; Mueang, Pai, Pang Mapha, Mae La Noi, Khun Yuam, Sob…
Consumers across the globe must beware of the recent surge in online scams, specifically those associated with counterfeit restaurant reservations. As per latest reports, these fraudulent schemes cost victims over 140 million baht in damages during the month of July alone, states the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, also known as CCIB, in a recent Sunday warning. The most frequent form of scam, according to data from the CCIB’s online complaint centre, pertains to fraudulent buffet-table reservations, mainly during special celebrations and public holidays. These warnings come from the bureau’s spokesperson Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen. Typically, these fraudulent schemes are executed by a bogus Facebook account pretending to represent a famous hotel or restaurant. This charade is used to ensnare unsuspecting diners under the illusion of a special offer or discount. Such duplicitous pages might either be freshly created or could be existing ones with a massive amount of followers. In…
The Department of Airports (DoA) of Thailand plans to give Hua Hin Airport a facelift, transforming it into an international hub as a part of the breakout strategy to attract more tourists in the post-pandemic era. Rattapol Charoenphon, the acting director of Hua Hin Airport, divulged this ambitious upgrade plan on a recent Sunday press release. Hua Hin Airport, under the aegis of the DoA, recently managed to elongate its runway to a length of 2.1 kilometers and a width of 60 meters, thereby making it compatible for the docking of Airbus A320 aircraft. The airport can house up to three of these large aircraft at a time in its improved parking bays. Currently, Thai AirAsia enjoys a monopoly at Hua Hin Airport with its tri-weekly roundtrip flights to Chiang Mai. Elaborating on the future plans, Mr. Rattapol expressed the airport’s intention to operate international flights, which entails necessary enhancements…
Phuket’s majestic beaches, the pearls of Thailand’s tourist industry, were tainted last Friday when clumps of tar and oil slicks were spied adorning their otherwise pure, white sands. Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, swiftly commanded a vigorous pursuit to ferret out whoever is culpable of this environmental blunder. Specifically, the central authorities channelling their efforts into this investigatory campaign are the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR). These investigative bodies are centering their attention onto a few key sites: Nai Yang, Mai Khao, Nai Thon, and Layan — all renowned beaches situated majestically on Phuket’s northwestern shoreline. The Minister expressed his indignation at the selfish actions of seemingly indifferent business enterprises, accusing them of callously wounding an environment that had only recently begun to breathe easily again after the crush of mass tourism was…
The adventurer of the sea, the tsunami-warning buoy numbered 23461, had fallen radio silent since the last day of July, and it ceased its noble duty of keeping guard off the shores of the Andaman Sea. Having strayed approximately 340 kilometers northwest of the renowned island of Phuket, it had been found and retrieved by a devoted navy vessel, according to an announcement from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). The waves and wind hadn’t been kind. The buoy had separated from its usual station and for a considerable amount of time, had not been able to transmit crucial data that could predict disasters. But as they say, rough seas make skilled sailors. The skilled sailors here were from the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre in tandem with the 3rd Naval Area, working under the guidance of DDPM. Together, they undertook the noble cause of retrieving the silent…
He proposed a revision to the existing tax laws to encompass not only businesses operating within Thailand’s borders, but also over-the-top (OTT) service operators based overseas that generate revenue through the provision of their services in Thailand. An over-the-top (OTT) media service is a specialized terminology referring to any online content provider that delivers streaming media as an independent product. On a House of Representatives meeting convened on a Saturday, Takorn put forward his observation that millions of Thai people are now turning to their smartphones for shopping and availing other online services. He ventured further into the detailed mechanics of these transactions, stating that they lean on the OTT system as a means to transfer money. A unique feature of these transactions, as he explained, is that the money is initially transferred outside Thai boundaries and then funnelled back into the country. He suggested that such transactions should attract…
The integrity of higher education in Thailand is facing a serious challenge, with alleged instances of academic plagiarism threatening to undermine its value. Stepping up to address the issue, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI) has taken legal action against approximately five online vendors found to be involved in the transaction of plagiarised academic works. This move was triggered by concerns raising suspicions of nearly 100 scholars across 33 universities potentially acquiring research papers off the Internet, a serious breach in academic ethics. Supachai Pathumnakul, the Deputy Secretary of MHESI, brought this issue to light, stating that an investigation involving 109 scholars suspected of such unethical practices is currently underway. The initial findings suggest nine academics to be in breach, having purchased research articles from the web, with 21 individuals cleared of the accusation. Yet, investigations on the rest are yet to conclude. It was an…
In light of recent actions against both stateless children and the head of their school, Khattiya Sawasdipol, a representative from the Pheu Thai party, took to social media to urge governmental agencies to defend and uphold the right of education for every child, irrespective of their legal status. Her call to action occurred as 126 ethnically distinct students from the Ang Thong province were exiled back to Myanmar. Through her social media outreach, Sawasdipol emphasized the failure of the “education for all” policy purportedly bestowed by the government, as exemplified by these recent events involving the children’s deportation. She demanded a convergence of four crucial government sectors – the Interior Ministry, Education Ministry, Social Development and Human Security Ministry, and the Immigration Bureau – to formulate an action plan to safeguard the rights of stateless children. Faced with this widespread ousting from their educational institution, consequent to a police raid…