Imagine the world as your oyster, a globe-trotter’s dream where the shackles of visa applications do not tie you down. This dream is a reality for Thai nationals thanks to the benevolent visa-free arrangements sanctioned by a plethora of countries. Just bear in mind, no two countries’ hospitality is identical. Thus, let us embark on this whirlwind tour of destinations that welcome you, sans visa! First stop, Argentina – where the tango beckons. Beautiful landscapes, mouth-watering steaks, and a delightful 90-day stay without visa hurdles. Now, if you fancy a quick sojourn, make your way to the glittering shores of Bahrain with a 14-day entry stamped on arrival. Next up, the samba beats and carnival spirits of Brazil await you for another 90-day extravaganza, visa-free. Meanwhile, the serene sultanate of Brunei allows a sweet fortnight for you to revel in its riches. And not far, the ancient temples of Cambodia…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Imagine unpacking your bags, knowing that a breathtaking escapade awaits, half a world away, without the hassle of visa applications slowing you down. Well, keep that image vividly in your mind, because thanks to the diplomatic wizardry of Thailand and China, this daydream is on the verge of becoming your next vacation reality. We owe a round of high-fives to the folks behind the scenes, particularly Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his compatriots who spun this delight into diplomatic gold. On a crisp October day in Beijing, against the backdrop of grandeur that is China’s capital, a meeting unfolded that could very well redefine wanderlust for many. Thailand’s Prime Minister carved out plans with none other than President Xi Jinping, aiming to open new doors—literal and metaphorical—for tourism. This isn’t just bureaucratic chitchat; it’s a future where your Thai or Chinese passport becomes your golden ticket to adventure. Foreign…
Imagine a place where the air is as crisp as freshly laundered bedsheets, where lush green canopies stretch out as far as the eye can see, and where every breath you take is a step towards a greener future. This vision is closer to reality in Thailand than you might think, thanks to the country’s burgeoning carbon credit market. Yet, as we peel back the layers of this verdant dream, we find that the market’s full potential is yet to be tapped, with around 15 million tonnes of carbon credits ripening on Thailand’s environmental vine, according to the venerable Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO). But why, you might wonder, are these environmental treasures not being traded with the fervor of a bustling marketplace? Well, the plot thickens. Many Thai businesses are keeping their carbon credits close to their chests, like squirrels stashing nuts for the winter. They’re opting to…
Imagine, if you will, the lush landscapes and vibrant city scenes of Thailand, a country renowned for its bustling tourism industry and equally talked about for its spirited nightlife – both typically entwined with the local tipple of choice. Yet this week, the nation found its gaze cast not solely on the prospects of powdery beaches or ornate temples, but squarely on a legislative proposal as part of a riveting economic stimulus package. Researchers from the esteemed Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) have stepped into the limelight, providing a thought-provoking counterargument to the Cabinet’s latest escapade – a bold move to waive excise taxes in a bid to bolster tourism. Among them is none other than Dr Narit Pisalyabutr, a senior scholar whose insights illuminate the intricate dance between society and taxation. Dr Narit considers liquor a “lamentable commodity,” for beyond its intoxicating charm lies a darker underbelly of health…
Picture this—a bustling parliament, voices clashing, the heavy air charged with fiscal discourse. That’s how the scene unfolded as debate sparked over the nation’s latest budget bill. The stakes? No less than the economic future of a country with pockets deep enough to juggle bills, yet wise enough to anticipate rain on a sunny day. Enter Srettha, the financial soothsayer, who stepped into the spotlight with the gravity of a treasury balance in one hand and a crystal ball in the other. It was a sight to behold, starting bright and early Wednesday, as MPs donned their battle gear for a riveting 40-hour marathon of parliamentary ping-pong. They’d dissect, debate, and deliberate each line, each allocation, until the sun dipped behind the horizon not once, but twice, before calling it a day. Scrutinizing the figures, the opposition MPs took turns throwing shade at the proposed expenditures like confetti at a…
Welcome to a tale of citrus intrigue, midnight shenanigans, and the ever-vigilant eye of modern technology! Imagine the sweet, tart aroma of pomelos hanging heavily in the rural air, as our story unfolds under the moonlit sky of December 30th. This isn’t just any night, though. For one middle-aged chap with light-fingered tendencies, it’s a night of ‘harvest’. This gentleman, our protagonist in the dark, weaves among the shadows, filling his fertilizer bags with the plump fruits of another’s labor. But wait! What’s this? His brazen heist is captured on candid camera—the meticulously placed CCTV of a farmer, who, like in a game of chess, had predicted this very move and was prepared for the checkmate. Sarawut, who prefers to keep his family name a secret, much like a superhero undercover, once suffered in silence as the juicy fruits of his pomelo plot were pilfered. Now, he’s taking a stand,…
Welcome to the vibrant world of Chiang Mai, Thailand’s Northern gem, where a fascinating interplay of global wanderlust is afoot! The city, which once thrummed with the excitement of nearly 1.18 million international souls pre-pandemic, is steadily reviving its buzz. In fact, it’s already abuzz with the chatter of foreign languages, making up a whopping 58% of its visitors when compared to the nostalgic heydays of 2019. And the drumbeat of tourism is only getting louder, with forecasts suggesting a glorious return to the days of yore by 2025. But hold on to your Thai Iced Tea, for there’s a twist in this tale of travels. The flow of Chinese visitors has ebbed dramatically; a meager 200,982 made their sojourn to the Northern capital, a number drastically dwarfed by the robust 878,984 who ventured in 2019. The culprit? A tricky concoction of fewer direct flights from China and the country’s…
Welcome to the intricate world of fiscal gymnastics where we juggle digital wallets, cash handouts, and the ever-looming spectre of the budget deficit! Strap in, folks, because it’s not just numbers we’re crunching; this is a story of how our very own government might just be setting itself up for a tightrope walk across the thin line of economic stability. The Public Budget Office (PBO) – they’re our trusted financial advisors, don’t you know – they’ve been crunching the numbers and what they’ve got to say isn’t for the faint-hearted. Apparently, this newfangled digital wallet giveaway could be more than just a hit at the checkout counter; it could mean tightening the country’s belt in ways we didn’t expect next year. They’re not just waving red flags here; they’re lighting up flares: debt repayment and revenue collection need to be prime time, front-and-center! But wait, there’s more to this picture…
As the sun casts its golden hues on the Chao Phraya, a flotilla of tour boats dance upon its waves, a testament to the allure of Thailand’s enchanting waters. This image captured on a balmy December 28th is far more than a snapshot of a day in the life. It represents a year where the ‘Land of Smiles’ once again became the bustling nexus of wanderlust, attracting more than 28 million souls from across the globe in 2023. The Tourism and Sports Ministry of Thailand is abuzz with the figures—a whopping 28,042,131 million international voyagers descended upon this earthly paradise, intertwined by culture, mystery, and pure hedonism, turning over a staggering 1.2 trillion baht in their quest for the ultimate getaway. Thailand’s tourist tapestry is as diverse as the vibrant markets of Chatuchak. Malaysians lead the pack with a robust 4.56 million explorers infusing their gusto for life into the…
Imagine a bustling, vibrant Siam Paragon shopping centre, a hub of activity and gaiety in the heart of Bangkok, unexpectedly becoming the setting for a scene straight out of a crime thriller—a scene that has jolted an entire nation. It was a regular day on October 3, 2023, when the unthinkable happened: a young boy, merely 14 years old, turned a place of leisure into a tableau of terror, unleashing bullets indiscriminately upon unsuspecting shoppers. This teen’s gut-wrenching act of violence left a chilling silence in the aftermath—three lives snuffed out prematurely, the air punctured by the cries and groans of the injured, among them Chinese tourists who had come seeking the pleasures of travel, only to encounter a nightmare. As the dust settled and the young perpetrator was enfolded in the arms of the law, a photograph captured the raw essence of the moment: a lone police officer consoling…