Posts published in “Thailand”

Excitingly, the free trade agreement (FTA) bilaterally negotiated between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand is quickly approaching completion. Thailand’s Minister of Commerce, Phumtham Wechayachai, recently briefed the public that the negotiations are estimated to be roughly 80% complete after productive dialogue with UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Notably, agreements spanning a variety of sectors have been successfully negotiated, such as those relating to food, auto parts, air conditioners, and select agricultural goods. “We are steadily progressing and look forward to tentatively finalizing the negotiations by the end of the year,” commented Phumtham. Thailand played host to the fourth round of Thai-UAE FTA negotiations, which took place between September 26 and 28. Keen on advancing international trade cooperation, the government endeavours to expedite these negotiations actively. Contemplative committee meetings convened for trade negotiations, led by the Director-General of the Department of Trade…

Unrelenting downpours have plunged the city of Nakhon Ratchasima into a severe flooding crisis, compelling its inhabitants to hastily vacate their residences. This alarming situation has brought back chilling memories of the catastrophic deluge that swept the city in 1980. In response, Thai officials have heightened vigilance, with particular attention to Lam Takhong’s weather-beaten areas. Chaiya Huay Hongs Thong, Khao Yai National Park’s chief, revealed that an intense depression storm has triggered consistent precipitation across the wooded expanses of the park. Despite the rainfall not being exceedingly heavy, its ceaseless persistence inundates the soil which, in turn, leads the water to spill into the Lam Takhong streams. Consequently, water bodies have swelled dramatically in the Lam Takhong camping region, reaching an almost canal-overflowing magnitude before cascading down towards Orchid Cliff Waterfall and Huai Suwat Waterfall, and ultimately settling in Lam Takhong’s lower plains. With a sense of urgency, Kana Chanchanom…

Yesterday, The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) board convened to make a crucial decision that could revolutionize the Purple Line electrified railway service. They deliberated on imposing a cap on the rail fare to a maximum of 20 baht, providing a more affordable transportation option to everyday commuters. It should be noted that this proposed rate, at the outset, will only be applicable to those making payments via standard EMV enabled credit or debit cards — generally identified by a unique symbol depicting four overlapping arcs, not dissimilar to the well-known WiFi symbol. At this stage, the decision is pending final approval from the Ministry of Transport and the Cabinet, with the anticipated date of implementation slated at December 1. Indeed, this demonstration of benevolence from the MRTA is expected to significantly impact the Purple Line’s revenue, reducing it by a staggering 60%, equivalent to 190 million baht…

Today, Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, sounded the alarm for communities residing near the Chao Phraya River. He warned of an imminent threat due to elevated water levels caused by a predicted storm surge, estimated to peak around 7 pm. At a briefing held at Bangkok City Hall, the 57-year-old city commander explained an unexpected rise in the volume of seawater, substantially exceeding earlier predictions, which led to a surge of sea levels by a significant 30% on October 28. The daunting surge in sea levels triggered the Chao Phraya River to rise, breaching its banks and slightly overflowing into adjacent areas, most notably the riverside district of Dusit. Chadchart elaborated on how this unexpected increase in seawater could catch communities located along the Bangkok riverbank and at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan province off-guard—making constant vigilance imperative. Elucidating upon the potential causes, Chadchart…

There was an unfortunate event recorded in the province of Udon Thani when the lifeless body of a young lady was discovered in the room of her ex-lover. The law enforcement officials were soon at the scene of the incident, carrying out investigations. The sad victim of this unfortunate circumstance, a 21-year-old affectionately known as Supak, was found in an unconscious state in room A9. The individual living in the room, a 20-year-old, Charupong, confessed to the police that the deceased had ingested an excessive quantity of a known party drug with the street names ‘Pro’ or ‘Happy Pill’ on the previous night, resulting in a tragedy of fatal overdose. At high noon on the fateful day, Officer Kritsada Channon, affiliated with the Udon Thani City Police Station as an investigative officer, received distressing news about a dead female in an uncharted lodging house situated in Mak Khaeng Sub-district, Udon…

In a spirited call for progressive reform, the Bhumjaithai Party is steadfastly advocating for the expedited regulation and legislation of casinos. The party is pitching the casino project as a silver bullet to mitigate the burgeoning issues tied to illicit gambling dens, unauthorized online gambling platforms, and associated fraudulent activities. During a press briefing, Bhumjaithai Party’s Parliamentarian Saritpong Kiewkhong articulated his impassioned belief that legalizing casinos could eradicate the underlying corruption. Saritpong indicated that a significant number of police officers and government officials have been silently complicit, exploiting legal gaps to receive kickbacks from unlawful casino administrators. The proposal for licensed casinos could then bring both online and terrestrial casinos under stringent government oversight. Saritpong championed the enhanced financial benefits that would be associated with legalized casinos. He spoke of a potential monetary windfall for Thailand from both domestic and international patrons. He compared the situation with Singapore, stating, “Our…

Phuket, the vibrant destination of Thai, is eagerly fastening its seatbelt to embark on a grand journey of becoming a regional tourism hub. It’s an aspiration nurtured and propelled by the Transport Ministry, which is intending to pour a staggering 148 Billion Baht budget into the transformative roadmap of the city’s infrastructure. This ambitious plan trickled down to the public after a recent meeting held in Phuket, attended by the Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. He unmasked the governmental strategy of breathing a new life into tourism by introducing incentives and improving the transport infrastructure, a significant leap toward inking Phuket’s name on the world tourism map. The Ministry has its eyes set on a set of seven infrastructure ventures, estimated at 148 billion baht. The projects will encompass both air and land transport enhancements to effortlessly usher inbound visitors into Phuket. The initiative also targets to expand the city’s capacity…

On a significant day in the global tourism calendar, World Tourism Day (27 September), remarkable Thai tourism enterprises gathered at the Samyan Mitrtown Hall, as they were honored with the prestigious 14th Thailand Tourism Awards for their exceptional service and quality in tourism and hospitality. It was a sea of 254 acclaimed businesses, all basking in the glory of this coveted recognition, conferred upon them by the honorable Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana. The ceremony was nothing short of a grand spectacle, amplifying Thailand’s strategic shift towards high-value and sustainable tourism. Highlighted during the ceremony were two new categories: tour programs and low-carbon sustainability, augmenting the initiative’s commitment to sustainable tourism, in addition to existing categories which venerate excellence in the realms of attraction, accommodation, and health and wellness tourism. The underlying ethos of these biannual awards, championed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, is to shine a light…

In a recent chat with the media, the heralded House Speaker, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, expressed some timely anticipations. The date was July 10, 2023, and Matha aired his fervent expectations for the imminent appointment of a new opposition leader within the House of Representatives. The shift in power seemed possible now, sitting on the heels of the Move Forward Party (MFP)’s internal happenings, notably the election of their new leader Chaithawat Tulathon and the ousting of Padipat Suntiphada. Primer on the MFP’s recent updates: They’d chosen Chaithawat Tulathon as the fresh face to head their party, alongside a redefined executive committee. They’d yet had an unceremonious expulsion of Mr. Padipat, erstwhile Up-and-Comer in Phitsanulok, and the first deputy House speaker. Ostensibly, poor Mr. Padipat was shown the door to clear the way for the upcoming opposition leader, Mr. Chaithawat. With the rules laid down in Section 106 of the…

In anticipation of the Golden Week holiday stretch, Trip.com, one of China’s leading travel service providers, noted a phenomenal surge in Chinese travelers venturing abroad. This rush significantly raises the bar previously set before the COVID-19 pandemic clamped down global travel, marking the most massive exodus from China seen in recent years. Interestingly, despite experiencing a slowdown of their domestic economy, Chinese travelers remain buoyant and optimistic. The travel trends highlighted by Trip.com reveal that the United Kingdom and South Korea top the list of international destinations preferred by Chinese tourists, along with Thailand, Singapore, and Australia. These destinations registered a remarkable increase in bookings, escalating up to 20 times in comparison to the previous Golden Week in 2022. The Golden Week holiday buzz is perfectly timed with the vibrant Mid-Autumn Festival and China’s National Day, making it an ideal period for Chinese nationals to embark on their travel adventures.…