Neill Fronde
- Tourism News
Dramatic leap in tourism to Thailand rakes in 1.08 trillion baht
Exceeding expectations and the grim shadow of the previous year, the tourist influx to Thailand recorded a dramatic leap in the first half of 2023. From January to the end of July, over 15 million people travelled in Thailand, marking an increase in tourism to Thailand of 384% in comparison to the same period in the prior year, according to…
- Events
Full Moon Party faces Buddha Days, water shortages this month
Local party and event organisers have scrambled to host the infamous Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Beach in Koh Pha Ngan this week while facing a number of setbacks. The country is seeing a surge in tourism due to the super-extended six-day holiday weekend, but that brings a downside for the partygoers on the island. Normally the week of…
- Koh Samui News
Samui Slam Volleyball tournament coming next month
The Samui Slam Beach Volleyball Tournament & Training Camp will be held next month on the island of Koh Samui in the southern province of Surat Thani. It will run from September 18 to 24 at the stunning SEEN Beach Club on Chaweng Beach. Promising to be a thrilling sporting event, the Samui Slam is originated by organiser Biggs Island…
- World News
Road accident on Laos-China route leaves 5 Thais dead
In a tragic incident yesterday, five Thai nationals died in a severe road accident in Luang Namtha province, Laos. The group was en route to China and intended to pass through Laos to catch a train. As reported by Kanyawarat Jullasat, the deputy chief of the Chiang Khong border immigration office, the tragedy took place in the town of Boten…
- World News
Burmese military dissolves opposition parties ahead of election
The Burmese military government has dissolved 40 political parties including Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD). The dissolution comes over their failure to register for an election that opponents deem a sham designed to hand power to the Burmese military junta that overthrew the government. According to state-run Myawaddy TV, 63 parties had registered at the…
- Tourism News
About 7,000 Russians and Ukrainians stranded in Thailand
While it’s common to discuss the influx of Russians as they pour into the country and are investing more and more in villas and homes, it’s easy to forget about the thousands of people who are not staying by choice in Thailand. Around 7,000 Russians and Ukrainians are currently stranded in Thailand due to the ongoing war between the two countries.…
- Crime News
Human trafficking at Chiang Mai karaoke bar with underage girls
A karaoke bar in Chiang Mai Province has been shut down after officials from the Ministry of Labour and related agencies discovered girls under 18 working inside. The underage girls were alleged to be providing sexual services to customers. The bar is now being investigated for illegal activities related to human trafficking. The raid came on Monday in the main…
- World News
Flight prices expected to remain high for up to 3 years
Global aviation has taken off to a promising start this year, with the Pacific Asia Travel Association predicting a 71% growth rate for the region. The downside is that the recovering industry can’t get enough labour to keep up and the massive swell in demand has brought with it a massive swell in flight prices. Travel restrictions have been lifted…
- Tourism News
Tourism Authority of Thailand partners with Agoda, Alipay, Klook and KKDay
Tourism Authority of Thailand has joined forces with Agoda, Alipay, Klook and KKDay in a new joint marketing initiative aimed at increasing tourism in the kingdom. Each of the platforms will launch promotions and campaigns to boost tourism in Thailand and enhance awareness of experience-based tourism activities in major and secondary Thai destinations. Representatives from the four online platforms joined TAT…
- Phuket News
Ban on fishing in Andaman Sea begins April 1
It’s that time of year again when the oceans need a break from humans in order to recover and regrow. Along the Andaman sea, fishing restrictions will be implemented for a three-month period from April 1 to June 30. The restrictions will cover the coastline of four provinces on the Andaman in an effort to allow fish stocks to recover.…
- World News
Glass beads covering the moon found to contain water
Water has been discovered inside tiny beads of glass on the moon. The discovery could potentially provide a “sustainable, responsible” source of water for future exploration, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Over the past few decades, several missions have shown that there is water both on the surface and trapped inside minerals on the…
- Property News
Russian, Chinese investors drive Phuket property market
The Phuket property market is on fire now, with the help of Chinese and Russian investors. Chinese buyers are reportedly increasing their investments, buying up villas, shophouses, and even orchards, to cater to Chinese tourists. Russian property investors are also contributing to the surge in demand for villas and homes in Phuket. While Russians are interested in buying pool villas,…
- Crime News
Police thwart attempt to pull 176 million from bank account
A Cambodian national has been arrested by police in Bangkok for using a fake passport to obtain a new bank passbook. The passbook is believed to be for a bank account with 176 million baht in savings, which is thought to belong to a call centre gang. The police were alerted to the situation on March 24 when it was…
- Thailand Election News
Election results reporting to be aided by media alliance
Thai media outlets have teamed up to form an alliance that will provide live reporting of unofficial election results during the country’s upcoming General Election. This move was prompted by the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to use a non-real-time official reporting format, which sparked concerns about transparency and fairness. Rather than piecemeal independent reporting from various polling stations, The Association…
- Phuket News
The floating football field of the Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea is home to one of the most incredible sporting achievements in the world – a floating football field. Located on the island of Koh Panyi, the field was built by local children in 1986 using wooden planks and nails. The field is the only one of its kind in the world, and its history is one of…
- Crime News
Sukhumvit bar owner threatens tourists with gun
While there’s no surefire way to choose which bar is good and which one is bad in the lively nightlife area of Sukhumvit in Bangkok, maybe one where the owner flaunts his gun on social media all the time isn’t the best choice. A foreign tourist in Bangkok has reported being threatened with a shotgun by the owner of a…
- World News
Russia to deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus
Levelling up the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a close ally and neighbour of Russia. Putin has repeatedly hinted at a return to Cold War brinksmanship, threatening the possible use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. During an interview on Russian television, Putin stated that if Kyiv received…
- Crime News
Phuket’s red card system for foreigners nabs 6
Phuket Immigration has announced those punished with their new yellow card and red card system for misbehaving foreigners. The new trial system was established to combat claims that law-breaking foreigners didn’t know the rules so, much like a football game, Phuket Immigration has implemented a yellow and red card system as a warning system. If a foreigner commits an offence for…
- Environment News
UN calls for urgent action on global water resources
A harsh new warning has been issued by the United Nations about the urgency to protect the Earth’s water resources. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for immediate action to safeguard water resources and prevent conflicts. Speaking at a three-day UN conference, Guterres warned that the world is not on track to meet its 2030 water goals, including access to…
- Thailand News
What are those tattoos Thais get in temples?
For centuries, men have been visiting the Bang Phra Temple in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, to receive traditional tattoos known as “sak yant.” The temple, built in the 17th century during the Ayutthaya era, has become a pilgrimage site for those seeking good fortune, protection, and a deeper spiritual connection. Monks at the temple use fine point needles to create the…
- Tourism News
2 foreigners arrested while acting as illegal tour guides
Two foreign nationals have been arrested by the Department of Employment (DoE) for illegally working as tour guides in Bangkok. They were caught near the Ratchaprasong intersection in Pathumwan district. The suspects, a Chinese and a Vietnamese national, were detained after the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand (PGAT) lodged complaints last week that foreign tour guides were stealing their…
- World News
Singapore woman caught fleeing after scalding water attack
A woman in Singapore was arrested after an allegedly planned attack where she poured scalding hot water on a man and then tried to flee the country by ferry. The 28 year old woman was picked up by authorities on Thursday on a ferry bound for Indonesia, just before it hit international waters. The incident occurred near Balam Road in…
- Thailand News
Don Mueang Airport expansion planned, while U-Tapao stalls
Airports of Thailand (AOT) has announced its plans to expand Don Mueang International Airport’s low-cost terminal, while U-Tapao Airport’s expansion faces delays. The expansion of Bangkok’s secondary airport aims to increase passenger capacity and bolster tourism income for the country. Don Mueang’s expansion project has a budget of 36.8 billion baht and is set to begin this year. But the…
- Tourism News
SRT adds 4 historic tourism train trips next month
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced that it will offer four special sightseeing train trips in April to stimulate domestic tourism and generate income for locals. The train trips will follow a historical theme next month and will meet the increasing passenger demand for cultural travel in the area. The train trips are a collaborative effort between the SRT,…
- Tourism News
Really Cool Airlines to fly by 2023 close, schedule in June
New carrier Really Cool Airlines is set to take off in Thailand by the end of this year, according to its CEO, Patee Sarasin. The airline will focus on international flights and is expected to help boost the country’s aviation industry, which has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The company will announce its flight routes by the end…
- Economy News
Thai businesses expect minimal effect from US Bank collapse
Thai businesses are optimistic that they will experience only minimal impact from the collapse of US banks. A recent survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) interviewed 600 business owners to gauge the economic damage of the US banking turmoil. The survey found that 73.5% believe the effects of the US banking crisis will have only…
- Crime News
‘Defeat Andaman’ nets 320 arrests, 200,000 meth pills
Not to be outdone by their counterparts in the south, Region 8 Police carried out an anti-crime operation, titled “Defeat Andaman.” The raids resulted in the seizure of over 200,000 meth pills and 96 firearms with 320 suspects being arrested. Defeat Andaman aims to reduce crime and improve life in the area, despite a name implying the opposite. The operation…
- Bangkok News
Teacher’s physical punishment causes bruises, outrage
Parents in Samut Prakan reached out to Thai media to bring attention to an alleged incident of excessive physical punishment by a male teacher at a primary school. The incident, which occurred on Monday in the Bang Bo district, sparked outrage among parents and education authorities in the area. An 11 year old boy in P5 recounted to reporters from…
- South Thailand News
Tourism Ministry sets its sights on developing Songkhla
Songkhla has caught the attention of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, which has set a 100 billion baht tourism revenue goal over the next decade. The ministry dubbed the Songkhla Lake Basin a Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) project. As always, the Tourism Ministry came up with a catchy, exciting name: “Amazing Songkhla Lagoon: Moving forward as…
- Crime News
Police carry out an astounding 609 drug raids yesterday
Police went on a raiding rampage yesterday as if they were the drug-fueled ones, not the 319 drug rings they busted in one day. Over 200 people were arrested and drugs worth over 17 million baht were seized in over 600 locations during a series of raids in Thailand’s southern provinces on Monday. The massive coordinated raid efforts were announced…
