A comprehensive survey and evaluation report was recently announced jointly by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) and various prominent partners like the Thai Digital Content Association (DCAT), the Thai Animation & Computer Graphics Association (TACGA), the Thai Game Software Industry Association (TGA), Bangkok ACM SIGGRAPH, and Atwise Consulting Company. The report touched upon the current landscape of the Thai digital content industry which includes games, animation, and characters for the year 2022. This announcement was followed up with a futuristic three-year forecast. The report revealed that the collective worth of the Thai digital content industry in 2022 saw an average fall of about 4%. This decline can primarily be attributed to the downfall of the gaming industry, contributing a hefty 85% to the total worth of the industry at about 40,518 million baht. However, looking on the bright side, this industry is expected to bounce back and grow, with…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
With the aim of boosting tourism, Thailand is planning on implementing a visa-free scheme, though not expecting an immediate rush of Chinese tourists, a group that normally hovers around 700,000 per month. Several factors like security concerns and lower flight frequencies, currently halved compared to pre-pandemic era in 2019, temper the expectations. Instead, tourism operators, especially in Phuket, have turned their gaze towards Kazakhstan, anticipating a wave of visa-free tourists from September 25 to February 29, 2024, a demographic seen as potentially lucrative. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) conveyed that the potential seat capacity allocated for Chinese flights in the fourth quarter stands at approximately 400,000 seats. This is a far cry from the figure for the same period in 2019, which was double the current provision. Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, the association of Thai Travel Agents’ president, pointed out the tough task the government face in reaching their target of…
A Major Crackdown on Rosewood Illegal Logging in Mae Hong Son Province In a joint raid conducted by the Phaya Sue Task Force along with the Huai Nam Dang National Park team, a significant illegal logging operation of highly coveted rosewood was busted in the Srai Ngam forest area of Pai district, located in Mae Hong Son province. This successful raid, encompassing sizeable seizures, took place on September 12. Filling in for the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, Attapol Charoenchansa revealed the operations’s details. A special unit dedicated to the protection of national parks and wildlife, known as Phaya Sue, joined efforts with the Huai Nam Dang National Park to inspect and apprehend those involved in the illicit rosewood logging within the Sringam forest premises. This area, nestled within the conservation forest of Mae Na Teung, Pai district, is part of the Mae Hong…
Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, recently announced an overarching mandate for the country’s Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, to form a task force with a specific goal in mind – to enhance services in the country’s universal healthcare scheme. Government spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke, described how the prime minister’s primary focus was about making healthcare services more accessible to the general public. The impending reforms to the healthcare scheme are poised to include abolishing the requirement for patients to first visit their assigned hospitals to receive medical attention. Instead, the plan is to revolutionize the system through digitizing the referral system, which will significantly reduce paperwork for patients wishing to be transferred to another treatment center. A referral document will still be necessary, however. Wacharonke continued to stress how crucial it is to cut down on hospital waiting times while rolling out a home-delivery service for medication to eradicate the need to…
CP AXTRA unveils the inaugural concept of “Hybrid Wholesale” in Thailand, amalgamating the outstanding wholesaling prowess of Makro with Lotus’s excellence in mall management. This innovative model serves to furnish lifestyle solutions and unmatched value for businesses and everyday customers. The brainchild of Mr. Tanin Buranamanit, the CEO of CP AXTRA Public Company Limited, “Hybrid Wholesale” signifies a momentous advance in Thailand’s wholesale landscape. Hybrid Wholesale is aptly named – it’s a harmonious blend of Makro’s industry-leading wholesale capabilities and the shopping centre expertise of Lotus’s. The resulting synergy seeks to satisfy an eclectic mix of customer requirements, offering a sundry portfolio of locally sourced items along with products cherry-picked from around the globe, all at attractive wholesale prices. Beyond business requirements, this new-generation retail format embraces the modern lifestyles of flourishing entrepreneurs. “For over 34 years, we’ve been leveraging Makro’s knack for procuring top-of-the-line products from every nook and…
Minor International (MINT), a giant player in the hospitality industry, remains optimistic about the vibrant prospects of the travel sector in Europe and Thailand. The company points to solid operational statistics and strong future reservations for the remainder of the year as proof of their confidence. The travel season that kicked off in the second quarter of 2023 in Europe continues to intensify with forward bookings for September and October demonstrating noticeable strength. A spike in demand has been recorded across MINT’s European hotels, an encouraging sign fuelled not only by hearty leisure tourism but also a revival in corporate business travel. The first half of September has seen these establishments achieving a remarkable average occupancy rate that surpasses 70%. This rise in occupancy coincides with consistent growth in the Average Daily Rate (ADR), a clear indicator of a vigorous recovery in regional tourism. Reservations for September sit a handsome…
During 2021’s Covid-19 pandemic, the ever-revolutionizing Pao Tang app of Krungthai Bank took center stage on the home screens of smartphone users. It was highlighted as an innovative tool in the government’s arsenal to stimulate the ailing economy throughout the country. The graced support came from none other than Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin himself. Following a comprehensive meeting with the execs of the Finance Ministry, it was confirmed that this app would become instrumental in executing the government’s digital wallet strategy. There’s a twist to this hi-tech story, though. Merely facilitating transactions wasn’t enough. The highly secure and cutting-edge Blockchain technology would be knit together with the Pao Tang app, ensuring a seamless integration of technology with convenience, Mr. Srettha expressed after the briefing. Now the next big challenge was on the horizon. The government had pledged a 10,000-baht digital currency handout. The target audience: every single Thai citizen, which…
Boasting over 35,000 enterprises that are intertwined with the space economy or stand to see significant gains from it, Thailand is a hotbed of potential in this cutting-edge industry. These ventures collectively contribute an impressive 56 billion baht per year to the country’s GDP, according to Associate Professor Komsan Maleesee, the rector of KMITL. He spoke about the manifold advantages of establishing a regional space hub. For one, it could spur the creation of novel job opportunities across a plethora of sectors. Additionally, it would enable local governments to leverage space technology to proactively manage natural catastrophes such as droughts, floods, forest fires, and climate change consequences. The technology can also provide real-time monitoring of PM2.5 air contamination levels. Interestingly, global space entities have already assessed the strategic potential of Chumphon province. Given its proximity to the Equator, it offers a prime location for constructing a spaceport. The planned space…
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Nissin Foods (Thailand) are back at it with their newest project, redesigning instant noodles’ packaging to serve as your personal tour guide to Thailand’s most iconic landmarks. This inventive marketing strategy captures the spirit of Thailand and brings it directly to consumers – and into their homes, introducing them to the country’s rich heritage and tantalizing cuisine. According to Kittiphong Praphatthong, TAT’s hotshot central region director, the noodle packaging will be beautifully adorned with vivid photos and intriguing nuggets of information about Thai landmarks, culture, and cuisine. The idea behind this is to spark an interest in consumers to venture into local Thai eateries and experience the nation’s traditional dishes firsthand. Selecting a pack of instant noodles has just become an entrée to a cultural adventure! Not your average grocery shopping trip, right? These noodle packages will seamlessly link to TAT’s Amazing Thailand…
As global air travel gathers momentum in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, airports across the globe are likely to encounter a slew of issues when accommodating more flights. Considering the impending challenges, Thailand’s Transportation Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit views expansion as the most pragmatic solution to enhance the capacities of these airports. To actualize this solution, the Airports of Thailand (AOT) and the Department of Airports (DOA) have been commissioned to undertake extensive research. They will explore opportunities for the expansion of the current airports, as well as the potential establishment of new ones, in order to match the anticipated increase in travel volume. Minister Suriya threw light on the limitations posed by the current infrastructure of Phuket Airport considering the mounting passenger traffic and unveiled the proposal of inaugurating a new airport in Phang Nga, situated close to Phuket. Preliminary surveys suggest that Khok Kloi Subdistrict in Phang Nga…