In a surprising twist of holiday trends for 2025, Thailand’s legendary Songkran festival has inspired a shift in travel destinations for Thai tourists. This year, China has catapulted to the top of the list, overtaking favorite spots like Japan, thanks to irresistible airfares and travel packages. This change comes amidst a downturn in Chinese visitors to Thailand, prompting airlines to pivot their strategies. Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year celebrated from April 12 to 16, usually sends a flood of Thai travelers abroad, seeking new experiences and cooler climates. This year, as Thanapol Chewarattanaporn from the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) highlights, China is the present hotspot. Many airlines, eager to fill seats left vacant by canceled Chinese tour groups, have slashed prices for flights to China, creating a flurry of demand. Safety concerns and widespread cancellations due to recent earthquakes and past Chinese-operated call center scams have created turbulence…
Posts published in “Thailand”
It was an elegant afternoon at the Suthat Room in Bangkok City Hall, with the scent of excitement hanging palpable in the air. A gathering of distinguished guests had assembled, including the esteemed Somrudee Lansucheep, who serves as the Deputy Director of the Education Department. Alongside her were other notable executives from the department, all poised to witness the celebrated event in the famed Phra Nakhon district. The day’s highlight was the acknowledgment of a group of exceptional young individuals. As the Deputy Permanent Secretary took to the podium, the room fell silent, every eye and ear focused on his words. His voice resonated with admiration as he spoke, exalting the talent, dedication, and self-worth of each selected ambassador. “To become a junior ambassador,” he noted with fervor, “a young person needs not only determination and effort but also the capacity to showcase unique strengths,” a task that these young…
The vibrant and sultry atmosphere of Fountain Square, a bustling hub nestled within the King Power Rangnam, Ratchathewi District, transformed into an exuberant fiesta under the masterful guidance of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Picture yourself amidst colorful celebrations as the eagerly-anticipated event kicked off, marking a collaboration made in heaven among the King Power Group, BMA, Interior Ministry, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and the cheerful local communities. Running in full swing from April 10-15, 2025, this splash-tastic fest is setting new benchmarks by infusing unequaled energy into Thailand’s festive season. Right at the heart of it all, the Rangnam area is being metamorphosed into an unparalleled global festival destination, making it a must-experience landmark for the exuberant Songkran water festivities. And why wouldn’t it be? Brace yourselves for the spectacular spread of highlights that are bound to take your breath away! Imagine a star-studded line-up of artists committed to…
The landscape of digital content is rapidly evolving, and in Thailand, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sounded an urgent call to action. They have pressed the Ministry of Education to clarify and enforce policies that prevent the use of children in online content that violates their rights. Commissioner Wasan Paileeklee highlighted on Friday a troubling trend: children are increasingly featured in digital media not for their talents or achievements, but as commodities exploited to garner likes, shares, and followers. Revenue from advertisements is often a dangling carrot for such practices. In this unseemly digital barter, children are sometimes portrayed in highly inappropriate manners. Content featuring naked children, those in distress, or coerced into awkward conduct is getting disturbingly commonplace. Yes, these visuals often pique public interest, but the consequences are severe and far-reaching. Mr. Wasan stressed the multitude of complaints received, where educators roped children into content creation…
In the ever-exciting world of motorsport, Thailand’s association with the MotoGP Grand Prix draws the spotlight, as Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong passionately discusses the event’s future. Adding to the thrill, the esteemed minister recently divulged that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is in the midst of conversing with various agencies to extend the nation’s contract to host this exhilarating race. Not just content with governmental involvement, Mr. Sorawong sees this as a golden fluttering flag for the private sector to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Mr. Sorawong emphasized the government’s commitment to nurturing this adrenaline-fueled spectacle for seven solid years. His next move? Urging the business folks to join the race! With the event amassing impressive viewership and stimulating the economy, private-sector commitment is not just wanted; it’s required. The added support could weave a safety net that allows the MotoGP to rev its engines…
As the vibrant Songkran festival approaches, Bangkok is bustling with preparations to ensure a secure and delightful celebration for everyone. On Friday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) opened a state-of-the-art command center to oversee proceedings in the metropolis and across 17 lively celebration spots until the festivities conclude next Thursday. Bangkok’s charismatic governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, led a spirited meeting at the iconic Bangkok City Hall, reinforcing the city’s commitment to public safety and ease during the celebration. In close collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the city’s dynamic Traffic Police, the ever-vigilant Tourist Police Bureau, local law enforcement, and other prominent agencies, the BMA is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a successful festival. The established joint command center, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is set to oversee citywide safety with vigilant CCTV systems. A fleet of walk-through metal detectors and dedicated patrol officers have been deployed to the 17 strategic…
A photograph that has become quite the conversation starter on social media features former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on the move from his room at the Police General Hospital, making his way to undergo a CT and MRI scan just this past October. This image seems to have sparked more than just curiosity, as it aligns with a current ethics investigation steaming ahead at full speed. The very esteemed Medical Council has confirmed that they are rigorously probing into the circumstances surrounding the then-detainee’s hospitalization at the Police General Hospital. Prof Dr. Prasit Watanapa, the highly distinguished Vice President of the Medical Council of Thailand, confidently assured the public in a press conference held Friday that there has been no attempt to slow down or derail this investigation. “We’re cruising at a steady pace,” Dr. Prasit mentioned, highlighting that a subcommittee with hawk-eyed precision is overseeing the investigation, diligently sticking…
Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, has taken a calm and composed approach to recent talks of discord within the party and its coalition counterparts. On a typical breezy Friday, he downplayed the uproar sparked by party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob’s outspoken stance against the government-sponsored entertainment complex bill in the Thai parliament. “Having a chat with Newin Chidchob,” Anutin shared with a grin – for Newin is not just a name in their party’s chronicles but the wise founder and father of the outspoken Chaichanok – “reassured me there’s nothing to worry about.” As the vibrant Songkran festival approaches, a holiday known for its water splashes and smiles, Anutin is all set to meet with Chaichanok. His eagerness mirrors the enthusiasm of a Songkran reveler, intent on dousing any remaining embers of misunderstanding with the cool waters of dialogue. The winds of political gossip were fanned when some…
On a seemingly average March day, a significant tremor left parts of Bangkok reeling, etching an indelible mark on the infrastructure and sparking a riveting saga of steel, safety, and scrutiny. Emerging from the aftermath was a pile of dismantled steel bars, telltale relics of the State Audit Office building’s abrupt demise, spotlighting substandard steel produced by none other than Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co. Battered by seismic waves, the structure in Chatuchak district crumbled, thrusting the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) into a whirlwind of investigations and directives. Heat-treated steel, often called “T-steel,” became the focal point of the inquiry. The BMA, taking proactive strides, decided to banish the use of this material in future high-rise construction projects, pending a rigorous round of quality inspections. An April 9th memo, whispering through the halls of the Public Works Department like a vigilant overseer, laid down the law: any steel born from…
In the bustling metropolis of Bangkok, an intriguing financial drama is transpiring as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) races against the clock to settle outstanding debts with the city’s iconic Green Line Skytrain operator, Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC). The urgency is palpable following an incisive report from an ever-watchful city council committee that has thrown this fiscal conundrum into sharp relief. A meticulous committee study delved into the city’s mass transit mechanisms, emerging with a pointed conclusion: City Hall must accelerate its debt repayments, especially given a firm nudge from a ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court and an eye-watering daily accrual of interest. Standing at the forefront of this brewing storm, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has taken these findings seriously, pledging a strategic review and consultation with two or three trusted legal eagles—arguably the modern-day equivalent of a knight’s council. With one part of this debt puzzle still…