Month: August 2019

  • HealthThai Department proceeds with crackdown on shameless price gouging on medications

    Thai Department proceeds with crackdown on shameless price gouging on medications

    Despite a lot of resistance from the local Thai private hospital networks, The Department of Internal Trade says they will proceed with its crackdown to control prices of medicines now that it has received their price lists. Once legislation is enacted, hospitals selling medicines above the median price set by the department will face fines and/or imprisonment. Since August 16,…

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  • Tourism NewsGreater Pattaya hosts hotel and tourism forum

    Greater Pattaya hosts hotel and tourism forum

    On Thursday, September 5 a hotel and tourism market update event covering Greater Pattaya will be held at the Holiday Inn Pattaya. Jointly organised by industry leaders STR, Horwath HTL, C9 Hotelworks and the AMCHAM Thailand, the event will feature key hospitality operating and performance metrics. A special panel on the emerging trend of hotel residences will include senior executives from…

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  • South Thailand NewsDeputy PM scoffs at demands from southern insurgency group

    Deputy PM scoffs at demands from southern insurgency group

    FILE PHOTO Southern peace talks continue to go nowhere as demands from either side prevent meaningful discourse in the two decade-long border scuffle. In the latest salvo, the Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon has scoffed at a demand by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, the most prominent of the southern insurgency groups, to release suspects in security cases before peace negotiations can…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsBritish man repays street vendor’s kindness by scamming him

    British man repays street vendor’s kindness by scamming him

    PHOTO: Thai Residents and Sanook Surichat, a 50 year old BBQ food vendor in Khon Kaen province, north-eastern Thailand, became the victim of a shameless petty con-artist when he tried to help the man out of financial difficulty. The man introduced himself as ‘Stuart’ and claimed to be from England. He told Surichat he had a wife and child in Bangkok…

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  • Transport NewsExecutives at Thai Airways asked to take pay cut

    Executives at Thai Airways asked to take pay cut

    PHOTO: Thai Airways and Thai PBS World “An unnamed source in the Transport Ministry says the airline’s financial predicament is very serious and puts it at risk of bankruptcy.” The country’s national flag carrier, Thai Airways, could be in deep financial trouble and may need to delay repaying its debt or seek new loans. Thai PBS World reports tat the…

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  • Business NewsGrowth of Thai economy lowest in nearly five years

    Growth of Thai economy lowest in nearly five years

    PHOTO: Supply Chain Asia The Thai economy registered growth of just 2.3% in the second quarter of 2019, compared with 2.8% in the first quarter. This is the lowest rate of growth in 19 quarters, according to Tossaporn Sirisamphan, secretary-general of Thailand’s economic think-tank, the National Economic and Social Development Board. Tossaporn warns that although the situation is not yet…

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  • Tourism NewsThai Tourism Minister pushes ahead with visa-free entry for Indian, Chinese visitors

    Thai Tourism Minister pushes ahead with visa-free entry for Indian, Chinese visitors

    PHOTO: ThaiVisa Despite criticism from both the Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Deputy Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, the Tourism and Sports Minister says he will push on with plans for visa-free entry for Chinese and Indian tourists. Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn plans to put the proposal to Cabinet on August 20, despite the national security concerns of both ministers. “I…

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  • South Thailand NewsTrain derails heading south from Bangkok

    Train derails heading south from Bangkok

    PHOTO: Chaiwat Satyaem Rail services between Bangkok and southern provinces were delayed yesterday after a passenger train jumped tracks in the Cha-am district of Phetchaburi province, about four hours south of the capital. There were no injuries reported. The incident happened around midday yesterday. The State Railway of Thailand reports that train 55 from Thonburi to Lang Suan station in Chumphon…

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  • Environment NewsEnvironment Ministry wants to increase dugong populations by 50% over a decade

    Environment Ministry wants to increase dugong populations by 50% over a decade

    “Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat says that trash in the seas was the main cause of the death of many endangered marine species.” Pinsak Suraswadi, deputy director-general of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, says the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment wants to increase the population of dugong in Thailand’s waters by 50% in the next ten years. The effort will…

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  • Tourism NewsThailand’s Koh Chang by numbers, another island on the rise

    Thailand’s Koh Chang by numbers, another island on the rise

    by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com Despite being one of the country’s biggest islands in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Chang has remained somewhat off the mass tourism development footprint. C9 Hotelworks has taken a look into what makes the island tick in their newly released Koh Chang Tourism Market Review. Koh Chang is off the coast of Trat in far…

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  • Tourism News‘One Night In Bangkok’. The song, 35 years later

    ‘One Night In Bangkok’. The song, 35 years later

    PHOTO: Doi Kuro, Bangkok 1980 When ‘One Night In Bangkok’ was released in 1984 it was an unlikely hit- the opening song from a (at the time) little-known stage pop-opera called ‘Chess’. The song made Number 1 in South Africa, West Germany, Switzerland and Australia, and Number 3 in Canada and the United States. It has remained a staple of…

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  • ExpatsThai Immigration bristles about TM30 revolt as it copes with PR disaster

    Thai Immigration bristles about TM30 revolt as it copes with PR disaster

    The TM30 form, as well as the associated TM28 form, have now become a huge public relations liability for the Thai Immigration Department. The more questions asked, and the more explanations by well-intentioned Immigration officials, the more confusing the whole matter becomes. If the policy is intended to make Thailand safer and make foreigners feel more secure, the opposite is…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsAfter 60 years, electricity arrives in Ubon Ratchatani villages

    After 60 years, electricity arrives in Ubon Ratchatani villages

    PHOTO: Thai Residents Let there be light! After waiting 6 decades. More than 200 families in two villages in Ubon Ratchatani in north-eastern Thailand are celebrating the arrival of electricity in their homes. Residents in Si Muangmai district can now enjoy the delights of television and laptop computers for the first time in 60 years. Located along a 17 kilometre…

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  • Phuket NewsPalang Pracharath MP chastises Karon Police for not offering protection during condo visit

    Palang Pracharath MP chastises Karon Police for not offering protection during condo visit

    VIDEO & SCREENGRAB: M Today The Palang Pracharath member of parliament from Bangkok, Sira Jenjaka, had an argument with Lt Col Pratuang Polmana, Deputy Superintendent of Karon Police during his inspection to the controversial Peak Condominium in the Karon area of Phuket. MP Sira was surveying the construction site of the project and the sales office, which also serves as…

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  • World NewsMinister orders investigation into head-on collision in Sa Kaew killing 11

    Minister orders investigation into head-on collision in Sa Kaew killing 11

    PHOTO: Thai PBS World Following a collision between an articulated truck and a passenger van killing 11 people and injured 4 yesterday morning, the Transport Minister is calling for an investigation. The accident happened in Sa Kaew province, about 200 kilometres east of Bangkok. Thai PBS reports that the van driver was among those killed, crushed to death behind the…

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  • Tourism NewsThai foreign minister criticises visa waiver proposal

    Thai foreign minister criticises visa waiver proposal

    The Foreign Ministry opposes the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s proposal to waive visas for Indian and Chinese tourists, calling it a “risk to national security”. The proposal was put forward at a meeting last Friday, as part of a series of measures to boost the economy through an injection of over 300 billion baht in tourism. It would permit Chinese and…

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  • Tourism NewsKoh Samui looks to promotions to bolster dwindling foreign tourist numbers

    Koh Samui looks to promotions to bolster dwindling foreign tourist numbers

    The president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui says that foreigner numbers visiting the Gulf island have crashed in the first half of 2019. He says they’re trying to swing their focus to Thai travellers and other promotions to make up the difference. Foreign visitors to Koh Samui in the past have been mostly from Germany, China, Eastern Europe,…

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  • Business News“Government stimulus package for Thai economy is unsustainable”

    “Government stimulus package for Thai economy is unsustainable”

    PHOTO: Wikipedia Anusorn Tamajai, an economist from Rangsit University, says he expects the proposed package to make little difference and has declared it unsustainable. The package, which should be approved this week, is worth 370 billion baht and includes cash handouts for farmers and low-income earners, grants for children, incentives for domestic travelers, and tax incentives for small businesses. It’s…

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  • Environment NewsCalls for total ban on use of single-use plastic bags

    Calls for total ban on use of single-use plastic bags

    PHOTO: World Wildlife Fund The death of baby dugong Mariam, which was found to be caused from problems associated with plastic bags blocking her digestive system, has brought about renewed calls for stricter control, or a complete ban, on the use of single-use plastic bags. Marine scientist, and vice dean of the Faculty of Fisheries of Kasetsart University, Dr. Thon…

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  • Crime NewsUPDATE: 9 Chinese arrested over 5 billion baht fraud case

    UPDATE: 9 Chinese arrested over 5 billion baht fraud case

    On Saturday The Thaiger reported that nine Chinese nationals had been taken into custody after travelling to Thailand in order to avoid prosecution for crimes in China. They were wanted by Chinese authorities for alleged crimes in China. Read that report HERE. We now have some further details… Out of the 9, 5 were male and 4 were female. They…

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  • Phuket NewsHow to be charged 2,600 baht for having a flat battery in the Jungceylon car park

    How to be charged 2,600 baht for having a flat battery in the Jungceylon car park

    A rant… Started off with trying to exit the Jungceylon carpark in Patong, Phuket, late on a Sunday night. After watching a film in their tawdry cinemas, I was assured by ticket sales staff that I should present my ticket stub with the car park card for free exit. Getting to the exit gate and I was told I had…

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  • Environment News25 year old dugong washes ashore in Krabi

    25 year old dugong washes ashore in Krabi

    PHOTO: Sitthichai Sikhawat A 240 kilogram, 2.6 metre long adult male dugong has been found dead after being washed up on Rai Lay Bay in Krabi yesterday afternoon. The announcement was made by Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park head Worapot Limlom. The dugong, thought to be around 25 years old, was swept ashore at Ton Sai Beach…

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  • Politics NewsPM calls for Thai Army’s support on drought, security and tourist safety

    PM calls for Thai Army’s support on drought, security and tourist safety

    The Thai PM has chaired the first Defence Assembly session in his role of Minister of Defence, urging the armed forces to support the government’s work in realising policies such as cybersecurity enhancement, drought mitigation, and tourist safety. In the first Defence Assembly session, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha urged leaders of the armed forces and related departments to work in unison…

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  • Crime NewsAustralian bailed bikie boss refused entry into Thailand

    Australian bailed bikie boss refused entry into Thailand

    SCREENGRAB: 9news.com.au The leader of an Australian outlaw motorcycle gang, Mick Murray, was turned around at the border in Thailand, despite his bail conditions allowing him to leave Australia for travel. The Comanchero bikie gang president, facing more than 100 fraud charges, had his bail conditions varied by the Melbourne Magistrates Court last Wednesday so he could travel to Thailand…

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  • World News11 die in early morning passenger van collision in Sa Kaew

    11 die in early morning passenger van collision in Sa Kaew

    PHOTOS: The Nation Eleven people have been killed and four others seriously injured after a chartered van carrying Lao workers collided with an 18 wheel truck in Sa Kaew province, east of Bangkok on the Cambodian border, early today (map below). The Nation reports that they were travelling to the Chanthaburi immigration checkpoint to renew their visas. Police suspect the Thai…

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  • Tourism NewsChinese and Indians to be offered visa free arrival for 15 days in Thailand

    Chinese and Indians to be offered visa free arrival for 15 days in Thailand

    The Tourism and Sports Minister says he’ll seek cabinet approval to offer visa exemptions to visitors from China and India for one year. Already Chinese tourists have a visa-on-arrival fees exemption. The current promotion is set to end on October 31 this year. If the new visa exemption is approved by cabinet it will start on November 1 and run…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsDepartment warns of possible floods and landslides for 12 provinces

    Department warns of possible floods and landslides for 12 provinces

    FILE PHOTO Officials and emergency responders in 12 provinces have been instructed to be prepared, and put equipment on standby, to cope with possible floods and landslides until August 20 (Tuesday). Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Chayaphol Thitisak says the alert was issued because of heavy downpours in the North, the Central and southeastern coastal areas. Officials were…

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  • Thailand Weather UpdatesMae Sa and Tad Mork waterfalls in Chiang Mai closed

    Mae Sa and Tad Mork waterfalls in Chiang Mai closed

    PHOTO: Mae Sa waterfall Doi Suthep-Pui National Park officials in the north of Thailand have closed the Mae Sa and Tad Mork waterfalls after heavy rainfall have caused high water flows and slippery paths “that may endanger tourists”. Mae Sa waterfall is approximately 30 minutes drive north-west from Chiang Mai and Tad Mork waterfall about an hour drive north-west of…

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  • Thai LifePhuket’s lifeguards say goodbye to a champion of local beach safety

    Phuket’s lifeguards say goodbye to a champion of local beach safety

    PHOTOS: Phuket Lifeguard Service A commemoration ceremony has been held for Prathaiyuth Chuayuan, a local Phuketian who helped drive Phuket’s first beach lifeguard services. He passed away on Friday morning after a heart attack. He first experienced chest pains whilst delivering his daughter to school in Phuket Town on Friday morning, drove himself immediately to the Vachira Hospital nearby but…

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  • HealthMandatory health insurance details for some visas announced this week

    Mandatory health insurance details for some visas announced this week

    Details on the proposed mandatory health insurance requirements for Non-Immigrant O-A visas will be made next week, according to ThaiVisa. A senior executive from one of the insurance companies involved in the scheme told ThaiVisa that the Office of Insurance Commission, Ministry of Public Health, Foreign Ministry and Immigration Bureau will announce the insurance requirements for Non-Immigrant O-A visas on…

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  • Environment NewsThai farmers reluctant to scale down use of ‘toxic’ herbicides

    Thai farmers reluctant to scale down use of ‘toxic’ herbicides

    Thai farmers say they oppose the proposed bans on herbicides paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos. The Thai government plans to phase out three chemical weed killers, widely used by Thai farmers, by the end of this year. Farmers say they oppose the restrictions of use because the chemicals provide higher crop yields, according to Thai PBS who headed out into the…

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  • Environment NewsPhuket villager braves the surf to rescue tangled turtle

    Phuket villager braves the surf to rescue tangled turtle

    A local villager in Phuket’s north has risked his own life to retrieve a young sea turtle caught up in fishermen’s netting. The turtle was spotted, caught up in the branches of a fallen tree along the shores of Mai Khao beach. The monsoon was kicking up big waves and it’s unlikely the locals knew how to swim, especially in…

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  • Environment NewsMarium, the baby dugong internet star, dies. Plastic found in stomach.

    Marium, the baby dugong internet star, dies. Plastic found in stomach.

    The orphaned female baby dugong, winning the hearts of many and helping to educate Thais about the importance of the local dugong population, has died with plastic waste lining its stomach, prompting a surge of mourning on social media. Marium was found in April off the coast of Krabi, southern Thailand, and photos of her nuzzling marine biologists quickly went…

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  • Environment NewsMariam the young Krabi dugong dies

    Mariam the young Krabi dugong dies

    PHOTO: กรมทรัพยากรทางทะเลและชายฝั่ง The Phuket Marine Biological Centre has announced the sad news about the special young dugong ‘Mariam’, who was found in Krabi back on April 26. Young Mariam died earlier today. The centre posted on its official Facebook page that the vet team found that she’d stopped breathing and her pulse had stopped as well, so they brought her…

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  • Business NewsBank of Thailand relaxes Loan to Value to boost sluggish property market

    Bank of Thailand relaxes Loan to Value to boost sluggish property market

    PHOTO: booking.com The Bank of Thailand says it will relax the Loan to Value (LTV) for homebuyers purchasing residences together and that borrowers or co-borrowers applying for a loan under the first home buyers rule and who do not own any other residence would be given a 90% mortgage on a condominium and 95% for a single detached house and…

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  • Things To DoTen things the Thai Government could to do right now

    Ten things the Thai Government could to do right now

    OPINION Thailand is a proud country with a rich cultural tradition. And great food. Expats and visitors have been flocking to the Land of Smiles for a century, especially the last 20 years when tourism has surged to become a major contributor to the country’s GDP. But the veneer of a never-ending rise in tourism numbers lost some of its…

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  • EventsRehearsals continue for the grand Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok

    Rehearsals continue for the grand Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok

    The next rehearsals for the Royal Barge Procession, the final event of the Coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) in 2019, will be held on August 22 and 29, September 3, 10, 17, 23, and 27 and October 3, 7, and 10. The full-dress rehearsals are being held be on October 17 and 21. The Royal Barge…

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