Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister, was seen cordially greeting his supporters upon landing at Don Mueang airport on August 22. This marked his return from multiple years of self-exile. The photograph capturing this moment was taken by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill. This return to home soil has been met with widespread curiosity over Thaksin’s current health status. He was sentenced and had been at the Police General Hospital since a short time after this event, over a month ago. There have been an ongoing series of requests for updated information regarding Thaksin, from both the Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. However, on Monday, the Corrections Department officially declared its inability to divulge any details pertaining to the health of its inmates without obtaining their explicit consent. This move, they say, is to protect the inmates’ privacy rights. The Department’s statement has sparked some speculation about whether Thaksin, who still…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In its UOB ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study (ACSS) for 2023, United Overseas Bank (UOB) Thailand has drawn attention to the current economic fears and increasing importance of digital banking in Thailand. While confidence in the economy remains high amongst Thai consumers, there is a growing unease about impending financial downturns. Key revelations from the report include: Majority of the Thai consumers possessing a positive outlook, 72 percent anticipating a potential economic slump within the next year, Thai consumers becoming more financially cautious due to rising inflation and growing household expenses, and an observable surge in digital banking and payment modes, specifically mobile banking applications and e-wallets in Thailand. With helpful insights for consumers and businesses alike in the present economic scenario, “the UOB ACSS 2023 continues to inspire individuals to fulfil their financial goals through the emerging digital banking arena and make the most of the current business opportunities,” says…
In the depths of the lower northern regions, the upper central portions, and the Northeast, a persistent monsoon trough lays heavy. Coupled with a moderate southwest monsoon that holds sway over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf, these powerful weather events hold the area in their grip. This intricate dance of nature is what sets our weather patterns, playing out their symphony on the grandest of stages: the vast expanse of the sky. Currently, another character is entering this atmospheric ballet: an active low-pressure cell that has taken center stage over the heart of the South China Sea. Far from a minor player, this cell has recently flexed its might, escalating into a tropical depression. Such events do not go unnoticed; the South China Sea, gentle during its calmest days, becomes a roiling theater of wind and water during these tumultuous periods. Already, its course is set, presenting implications even…
There are mixed views about the effect of the recent policy to increase the minimum wage in Thailand to 400 baht per day. On one side, some observers stand firm that this raise will improve worker’s financial situation and stimulate the economy. On the other hand, there are concerns about its potential impact on business costs and consumer pricing. It is clear that the dispersion of effects would not be equal across industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, real estate, and construction; the fate of each sector is tethered to the string of governmental policies and industry-specific responses. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, the THA president, points out that while she acknowledges some positive ramifications of a wage increase – for instance, improved labor market conditions and better money flow in the system – she also cautions against an adverse impact on business operation costs, particularly for SMEs. For these reasons, along with…
If adventure and tranquillity had a middle ground, it would invariably be spiritual tourism – a journey into places charged with serenity and brimming with spiritual vibes waiting to be discovered. And when we speak of spiritual tourism, there’s a land where feelings of calm, peace, and enlightenment seamlessly converge, it is Thailand. Centrally anchored on an e-guidebook titled ‘Connecting to Spiritual Thailand’, it takes the avid traveller from the ancient, timeless temples of Bangkok to the unique spiritual theme park nestled in Chachoengsao, home to Thailand’s grandest Ganesh statue. This digital guide is a medium seized upon to unlock Thailand’s spiritual treasures to the surge of global interest, as a recent 2023 study from Future Market Insights prescribes a spectacular triple-fold escalation in the sector’s economic value within a decade. This traveler’s companion, starring ’60 Powerspots’, is a virtual encyclopaedia uncovering tales, revealing the sanctity, and outlining the cultural…
At the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), in its annual “Future Food Workshop”, a new frontier in the food industry was showcased. Innovators and researchers unleashed their creations under three ecstatic themes: Personalised Food, Alternative Protein, and a term titled Asian Wisdom. This ushers in a wave of new-age food products with an emphasis on environment-friendly alternatives to traditional, and often detrimental, meat farming practices. A distinctive insight into Thailand’s progressive sector was provided at the “Future Food Ideation Workshop by Tastebud Lab”, the grand inauguration for the event spanning from September 20 to 22. The workshop was a vivid demonstration of the significant strides Thailand is making in this space. Phontakorn Wongcharoen, the esteemed vice president of Betagro Food Innovation Centre, introduced key insights into the dynamics of future food development. While Thai businesses depend heavily on imported technologies that burden the budget, Phontakorn offers hope in the…
The new coalition government under the leadership of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has inherited the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration’s fight against global warming. The objective is clear: reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and manage the risks associated with natural calamities. This crucial global issue of climate change and global warming was diligently addressed by the former Thai government in their 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2020-22). The strategies articulated in the plan included making concerted efforts to bring down greenhouse gas emissions, increasing resilience to climate change, and the management of risks related to natural disasters. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has succinctly presented the results of the plan’s initiatives under Strategy 4: ‘Environment-friendly Growth for Sustainable Development.’ The following have been the achievements: Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Efficient reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been a significant achievement of Thailand. The country successfully reduced carbon dioxide…
The global gold market saw an impact due to the recent declarative comments made by the Federal Reserve, implying potential rate hikes in the coming year and a probable trend of heightened rates in the following year. These revelations, which came to light on a Wednesday, gave a boost to the US dollar and bond returns, thereby triggering a domino effect on gold. This wave of events reshaped investor forecasts around the precious yellow metal’s price, manifesting as a slump in the gold markets the following Thursday. Spot gold marked a 0.1% decrease, falling to US$1,927.84 per ounce, and US gold futures also took a hit, dropping 1% to reach $1,948.10. As the Federal Reserve dismissed concerns around a looming US recession, the demand for safe-haven assets like gold further dipped. In contrast to this global sentiment, Thailand’s domestic gold market bucked the trend and surged, reaching a historic high…
As advocated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, a revision to the current fishery related legislation is in its commencement phase. This revision has been introduced with an intent to alleviate the fiscal setbacks distressing the fisherman who imply that the severe rules and regulations have lowered the potentiality of their livelihoods. The Minister, Thammanat Prompow, not only acknowledges but also stipulates the constraints raised by the fishing communities strongly claiming that the reasonable functionality of their business has been critically affected by the relentlessly rigid Fisheries Act. This particular fisheries law, initially introduced to decimate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Thailand, has received backlashes for its relentless rigidness. Thus, as a counteractive measure, The Ministry has instituted a committee to investigate the validity of these concerns, as per The Minister’s briefing. Furthermore, Thammanat implied that this committee will be composed of delegates from the various governing…
The allure of Thailand as a home is exponentially growing among expatriates and offshore employees, drawing from information released by the Employment Department and Colliers Thailand. The data uncovered that at the start of this year, Thailand played host to 156,596 expats, with more than half living within the bustling city of Bangkok. Last year’s stats showed that the majority of these were of Japanese, Chinese, and Indian nationalities; however, there has been a recent surge of interest in purchasing property, particularly condominium units, among the Chinese populace. In light of this burgeoning trend, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has set its sights on rolling out benefits specifically designed for this demographic in the coming year. As the trajectory of tourism is gradually moving towards longer-term stays in the post-pandemic world, stakeholders are actively remedying ways to engage this audience. TAT governor, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, has unveiled plans to provide…