Posts published in “Thailand”

The highly esteemed global market intelligence company, Mintel, recently unveiled an insightful study on the Healthy Lifestyle habits of Thai consumers. This research doesn’t only shine a light on their wellness and fitness behaviours but also highlights invaluable opportunities for brands to harness their drive towards comprehensive wellbeing. The study uncovers a notable difference between the health ambitions of Thai consumers and their actual actions. Despite acknowledging the significance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, over a third (35%) struggle to stick to exercise routines. Equally, about 32% believe that their hectic schedules hinder their fitness plans. Interestingly, a whopping 67% of Thais believe that healthy habits are more conveniently sustained when others are involved. This creates a terrific chance for brands to introduce versatile healthy alternatives that smoothly fit into the daily lives of consumers and encourage the formation of wholesome habits. These insights were shared by Wilasinee Siriboonpipattana (Kaimook),…

The revered former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, found himself ensconced within the confines of the Police General Hospital in the heart of Bangkok, as the morning light broke on the 23rd of August. It’s a common site for many convicts, their stay poised for extension based on informed decisions by the relevant authorities and doctors. A topical issue that was brought to light by Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong during a recent informational session. The context behind the discussion was a report suggesting an extended reprieve for the former Prime Minister Shinawatra at the Police General Hospital. It came after he had spent 30 days at the said facility, having initially been transferred from the Bangkok Remand Prison following his reentry into the country on the 22nd of August. Doing so, he joined countless other convicts who found themselves permitted to receive treatments outside their prison confines, thanks to the Department…

An elderly bull elephant found himself confined next to a trash pile in Chiang Mai, Thailand, his unfortunate circumstance compounding due to deprivation from adequate food and the loss of sight in one eye. The bull elephant’s harsh reality symbolized the grim conditions of numerous elephants under captivity. Enter Unchained Elephants, an organisation fuelled by an unwavering dedication to reimagining elephant conservation. They pioneered a solution, leveraging Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and crowdfunding to orchestrate the world’s inaugural tokenized elephant rescue. The organisation culminated their efforts on September 5th, where Kanoon, the elderly one-eyed elephant, found refuge in an ethical elephant sanctuary named Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) in Sukhothai, Thailand. Under the leadership of Daniel Villota, Unchained Elephants emerged as a response to the plight of “unemployed” elephants during the pandemic. They creatively applied NFTs to raise funds, achieving an initial milestone of raising $10,000 USD. This substantial contribution provided…

Located on Charansanitwong Road in Bangkok, a beehive of labor activity swells as construction workers hustle their way through the day. This bustling scene is a depiction of the increasing Thai labor force exported globally. Pairoj Chotikasatien, the director-general of the Department of Employment under the Labour Ministry, has set a target of sending a whopping 100,000 skilled workforce abroad next year. This ambition corresponds to the policy propagated by the latest Labour Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, known for his insistence in escalating the number of Thai employees working overseas. The Employment Department is hoped to play a vital role in facilitating and supporting the Thai laborers in discovering gainful employment options in foreign nations, according to Mr. Pairoj. This includes not just seeking opportunities in new markets but also saturating the existing ones with a high demand for labor. Speaking of new horizons, countries such as Sweden, Finland, Israel, Japan,…

Nestled in the southern region lies the provincial administrative organisation (PAO) and civil society of Songkhla. As the heart of this unique coastal town beats, its caretakers strive towards a dream. It is a dream of recognition, a dream of joining the prestigious ranks of Unesco World Heritage Sites. One of their primary focuses? The preservation and elevation of Songkhla’s old town. Lively discussions and plans for this ambitious project unfolded during a joint meeting presided over by the PAO Chairman Paijen Maksuwan on a typical Thursday. To accomplish this monumental task, they’ve hired a consultant to meticulously craft a development and management plan for the picturesque old town, mindful of the high standards set by Unesco for world heritage sites. As Mr Paijen emphasizes, Songkhla isn’t merely a place, it’s a living, breathing tapestry of arts and culture spanning over two centuries. This rich cultural backdrop makes Songkhla one…

A startlement set in amongst a host of commuters recently as they experienced an unnerving event: their journey on a BTS Skytrain took a frightening twist when one of the train’s doors remained ominously wide open during transit. Eventually, clamour over this incident reverberated across Thailand’s digital sphere when a video capturing this extraordinary episode took flight on the Internet, amassing a wave of disapproval in its wake. Originally posted by a TikTok user going by the handle, @star111042, the video made a quick transit to other online platforms. The mobile clip, taken during the train’s journey between the Bang Chak and Punnawithi stations in Bangkok on a particularly unnerving Wednesday, served as a shocking wake-up call and sparked an outcry over the safety measures premeditated by the rail transport operator. Fortuitously, no injuries were reported in the frightful event. However, the incident left many passengers distressed, calling for the…

Just as wildlife on land has predators and prey, so do creatures in the marine world. Substantial numbers of marine animals, ranging from the massive whales to the smallest fish, rely on plankton as their primary food source. However, nature has a peculiar way of inducing chaos, and much like anything in excess, an overabundance of plankton can swiftly shift the ecosystem balance, leading to a deadly phenomenon known as a bloom. Renowned marine scientist Tanuspong Pokavanich, central to our story, described his surprise at the unprecedented occurrence of plankton bloom unfolding along the Chonburi coastline in Thailand. In his eloquent words, “This is the most significant plankton occurrence I have witnessed in my lifetime, signalling the severity of this year’s bloom.” His comment came as the team surveyed the eerie sight of a lifeless sea eel floating atop the ocean surface, marking the sea’s quiet yet defiant protest against…

Imagine a battery-powered machine that works on a mere 12-volts, designed distinctly with dual rotating arms each stretching to a length of 10 cm. Attached to each arm, you’ll find springs on both sides, exploding with energy and ready to extract precious coffee beans from their branches. This ingenious coffee contraption is a brainchild of an esteemed institute operating under the broad wings of the Department of Agriculture. On Tuesday, it unveiled its innovative creation with much anticipation. Fitted at the foundation of the coffee tree, a nylon net, with broad dimensions of 1.2 x 1.5 metres and a depth of half a metre, gently cradles the fallen beans, collecting and securing each valuable nugget. Trials brought forth impressive results: the institutional test run experimented on Robusta coffee bean harvesting and observed a remarkable increase in average output. A rate of 85.18 kg. per hour was recorded, 1.81 times higher…

Unleashing exhilarating news, the tourism bureau has launched a landmark programme permitting globetrotters to enjoy the scenic beauty of Thailand visa-free for a duration of 30 days. This exceptional provision spans across a 5 month-period, beginning from the 25th of September running up until the 29th of February, 2024. In recent data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, there’s been an overwhelming surge in the number of international visitors adorning the Thai shorelines. A substantial 271% upswing was witnessed from January 1st to September 17th, totalling more than a whopping 19 million joyful vacationers, comparing to the corresponding timespan in the prior year. Intriguingly, the contributing nations to these hefty visitor numbers during this duration have been: Malaysia – 3,076,274 tourists China – 2,341,080 tourists South Korea – 1,125,639 tourists India – 1,097,395 tourists Russia – 961,348 tourists The influx of these hearty travellers has placed an impressively…

In the key arena of trade economics, Peeraphan revealed intricate discussions centered on the pricing mechanisms related to the import of refined oil, crude oil, diesel, and gasoline. Unveiling a previously obscure process, the representative from the Customs Department outlined how they have abstained from imposing any import duties on crude oil. In the context of refined oil, the scenario altered slightly. Previously, the department levied a bare amount of 0.001 baht per liter, a strategy that garnered an annual revenue of circa 20 million baht through import duties alone. A thorough understanding of this mechanism elucidates the necessity of such a minute fee – it may seem inconsequential, but accumulated numbers painted a significant outcome. Notwithstanding the existing state-of-affairs, the Customs Department is pushing boundaries and disrupting the traditional model. A notable paradigm shift is seen, with the department now relinquishing the application of import duties altogether. The implication…