- Events
Makha Bucha Day 2022: All about the public holiday in Thailand
For Thai Buddhists, Makha Bucha, also written Māgha Pūjā, is a day of abstinence, reflection and visits to the local temple, which culminate in picturesque candle-lit ceremonies in the evening. For those who don’t follow the Buddhist traditions, it’s a day of no alcohol sales. In fact, there is always a 24 hour alcohol ban imposed on the day, from…
- Travel
Travel Guide: Top places to retire in Asia 2022
Retiring in Asia is a dream for many, with fond memories of short or longer travel to some of the humid and exotic countries in the region. All that exquisite cuisine, diverse sceneries, fascinating histories, intriguing temples, tropical adventures, colourful nightlife, and markets and malls for shopping. Lots of shopping. So it’s easy to become enamoured with all things “Asia.”…
- World News
Tourism officials in Vietnam push for a full reopening to foreign travellers on March 15
Vietnam plans to reopen borders for foreign travellers on March 15, although the date is not yet official. According to the local media outlet VN Express, a draft proposal is in the works to fully allow inbound and outbound tourism starting in mid-March. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is now getting input from relevant agencies before submitting the…
- Thailand News
23 hotels in Thailand sold for a total of 13.2 billion baht in 2021
The following is a press release from JLL, a professional services firm specialising in real estate and investment management. Ease of travel restrictions will lead to a brighter tourism market outlook and more participation of foreign investors this year The latest report from property consultant JLL reveals that Thailand saw 23 hotels sold in 2021 with approximately 3,000 keys and…
- World News
Russia’s figure skating sweetheart Kamila Valieva continues Olympic pursuit after interim doping ban
Russia’s figure skating star Kamila Valieva has been allowed to continue competing in the Winter Olympics after successfully appealing an interim ban, which came in light of a late failed doping test she took more than a month before the games began in Beijing. The Court of Arbitration for Sport made the ruling on Monday morning, allowing the 15 year…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s tiger and elephant attractions call for support after two years of losses
After a two-year hit on tourism, elephant and tiger attractions in Thailand have run low on money and are asking the government for financial assistance. Zoo operators met with the Tourism Commission yesterday at Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai, citing their struggles during the Covid-19 pandemic. The daily income for Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai, as well as the location…
- Crime News
UPDATE: Phuket gunmen named, possible related shooting in Canada last Tuesday
Police have identified the 2 gunmen who are being sought over the apparent gangland killing of Indian-born Jimi Sandhu on February 4 in Rawai, Phuket. Arrest warrants for 2 Canadian men have been issued. The alleged gunmen have been named as 36 year old Gene Karl Lahrkamp and Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre, also 36. The arrest warrants follow an intensive…
- Things To Do
Top 10 English-language movies made in Thailand (or mostly in Thailand)
Thailand is active in attracting foreign movie makers, and has been for decades. Many well known movies have been either partially or totally filmed in Thailand. From ‘The Killing Fields’ to ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ and the latest in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise (around Krabi). Some of Thailand’s scenery is unique and the film crews are well…
- Economy News
Thailand, post Covid. What needs to change?
OPINION As Thailand starts to peer out from behind the Covid curtain, many expats and potential travellers are wondering if much will change after 2 years of lockdowns, closures re-openings and re-entry ‘plans’. Will we see changes in visas, property ownership, entry requirements and business laws? One of our YouTube commenters wrote in with his current ‘wish list’ (below). As…
- Tourism News
First 10 days of February arrival figures for Thailand – Test & Go V2 “sluggish”
So who is travelling to Thailand at the moment, and how many are coming through the turnstiles? For the first 10 days of February, there was a total of 55,823 travellers entering Thailand. 23,036 travellers entered on the Test and Go program, another 27,667 through the Sandbox scheme and 5,120 arrived to do the Alternative Quarantine program at a qualified…
- Thailand News
New Thailand cave-rescue film ‘Thirteen Lives’ gets record pre-screening scores, high hopes for box office
Ron Howard’s Thailand documentary Thirteen Lives about the famous cave rescue mission has received outstanding test scores in pre-release screenings, prompting MGM to promote the film’s release date from Easter weekend to mid-November, coinciding with awards season. The film follows the true story of a group of young boys and their soccer coach, who were trapped for weeks in the…
- World News
Burma or Myanmar? Myanmarese or Burmese?
We refer to Myanmar a lot in our news because it’s a bordering foreign country to Thailand and many people from Myanmar work in and around Thailand. It’s also subject of an ongoing coup after the Burmese military staged a coup on February 1, 2021. But is it Myanmar or Burma? And are the people that live there Myanmarese or…
- Phuket News
Phuket hotel is first to roll out ‘Life Bag Initiative’ with Living Waters
The Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon in Phuket has became the first hotel to complete and roll out the joint initiative by Living Waters Phuket and the Phuket Hotels Association Life Bag Project. On Wednesday, February 9, the hotel handed out 200 Life Bags directly to the local Saku area, their local community in the area around The Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon.…
- Tourism News
Thailand Pass hotlines, emails for assistance with registration process
Thailand Pass hotlines were launched to assist travellers with registering for the various programs to enter the country at the moment. We know aspects of it are a pain in the arse, but for people wanting, or needing, to get back into Thailand at the moment, the Thailand Pass is not that difficult to navigate. And The Thaiger has some…
- Tourism News
Travellers can register for the Thailand Pass no less than 24 hours before their trip
For those planning a trip to Thailand, travellers will need to register for the required Thailand Pass QR code no less than 24 hours before a trip, but the Thai government is highly recommending that travellers register and plan a trip at least seven days in advance as the processing time before approval can take three to seven days. For…
- Technology News
China’s Tencent restores original ‘Fight Club’ film ending, cuts nudity after censorship backlash
In an unusual reversal of censorship, Chinese tech company Tencent has restored the original ending of the 1999 cult film “Fight Club.” The sudden turnaround comes after intense backlash from Chinese netizens who were familiar with the movie’s plot and significant negative publicity about the change in international media. But of course, they cut out the nudity, keeping in line…
- Crime News
VIDEO: Phuket police search for 2 gunmen over shooting death of Jimi “Slice” Sandhu
Police are still investigating the shooting of a former “gangster” who had been deported from Canada 6 years ago. 32 year old Indian Jimi “Slice” Sandhu, was gunned down while getting out of his red SUV around 10pm on Friday night in Rawai, Phuket. He was a former ‘person-of-interest’ for police in British Columbia, Canada, referred to as a “gangster”…
- Covid-19 News
Sunday Covid numbers, sixth day of climbing infections
A new high today, the sixth day in a row where the new infection numbers have been slowly rising again in Thailand. Today’s total of 10,879 new infections is the highest since October 14 last year when the numbers were trending down following the Delta (third) wave was sweeping through Thailand (from July to November 2021). Out of today’s new…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s Covid infections push through the 10,000 milestone again
Thailand has pushed over the 10,000 new Covid infections a day for the first time since October 18 last year. Over the past 5 weeks the daily reports have hovered mostly in the 7,000 – 8,000 infection range. 217 of yesterday’s number scame from overseas arrivals. There were also 21 Covid-related deaths reported in today’s statistics, whilst 88,463 people remain under…
- Events
A night with the Junkies! Phuket’s Junkyard Theatre.
By Barry Daniel As a quiet, bookish type I’ve only taken LSD a few dozen times, but my recent Saturday night at the Underwood Art Factory Junkyard Theatre Show was far better than any other trip I’ve experienced! Half way along Phuket’s By-Pass Road in the middle of the island, lies the Underwood Art Factory’s psychedelic parallel universe which has…
- Phuket News
Phuket officials comment on recent ‘taxi’ fiasco – everything except taxi meters
It’s the public, especially tourists’, “misunderstanding” of the way taxis fares are charged on the island of Phuket that is the problem. That’s the explanation from Phuket Land Transport Chief Jaturong Kaewkasi during an interview on an island radio station this week. The Phuket Land Transport has responded to last week’s viral video clip when a Thai man posted the altercation…
- Food
CNY 2022: Where to eat a Spring Festival feast in Bangkok
Happy Year of the T(ha)iger to all of our readers. When it comes to feasting for the Spring Festival, there is a dizzying array of restaurants to choose from in the Big Mango. To make your quest for delicious Chinese cuisine easier, we’ve made a shortlist of the top places to dine and get your dim sum on in Bangkok…
- Phuket News
A review of PlayYard Phuket – a new campground on the island
The following story was written by Barry Daniel. It’s a glorious sunrise morning at 6am and I’m sitting at the edge of the beach on Phuket’s north-east corner, overlooking a stunning vista of the lapping sea channel which leads to Phang Nga Bay framed by a series of glorious rolling hills beyond. Cup of tea to hand, I’m sitting outside…
- Cannabis News
Thailand to introduce a registration application for small growers of cannabis
For those who want to grow cannabis, Thailand might soon have a smartphone application for those who wish to register. Thailand’s Public Health Minister, who has been actively touting the health benefits of CBD and pushing for laws to loosen around the once-criminalised plant, says small growers will soon be able to register on an application and then officials would…
- Thailand News
Streaming services rake in more than 815 million baht, emerge as new cash cow for Thai entertainment industry
The Department of International Trade Promotion announced on Tuesday that international streaming services like VIU, iQiyi, WeTV, and Netflix, alongside the Thai film industry, have earned Thailand more than 815 million baht. The news comes after the DITP held a meeting with members from international streaming providers and 15 Thai content creators to improve their relationship on January 27. This…
- Thailand News
Inmate with Covid-19 escapes from Koh Samui Hospital, officials set 20,000 baht bounty
There’s a 20,000 baht bounty for those who have information that will lead to the arrest of a Covid-infected inmate who escaped from Koh Samui Hospital. The news follows a statement from Thailand’s Justice Minister on an uptick of inmate escapes, particularly involving those who were in quarantine before being released into the prison population or at a hospital being…
- Property
Proposals to up foreign ownership quota for condos, extend leasehold rights rejected
While plans for a 10-year visa scheme for the wealthy and high-skilled professionals is moving forward, proposals to increase the foreign ownership quota for condominiums and the maximum lease for foreigners were rejected by Thailand’s Centre for Economic Situation Administration. The proposal to allow foreigners to hold ownership of one rai of land for residential purposes was agreed in principle.…
- World News
CNY 2022: Ring in the Year of ‘Thaiger’ with a quiet roar
The Lunar New Year, like its solar counterpart on January 1, is a special time for people to let go of the past and embrace a new and brighter future. The date of Chun Jie (Spring Festival) changes from year to year depending on the Chinese lunar calendar, which determines when the 15-day festival will happen between January 21 and…
- World News
Single Singaporeans ‘rent’ themselves out as dates on TikTok for Lunar New Year celebrations
In what appears to be a meme, Singaporean men have been ‘renting’ themselves out as dates on TikTik to help single young ladies avoid embarrassing relationship-status questions from relatives at family gatherings for Chinese New Year. One such TikToker is Wayne Chia, a Singaporean of Chinese descent. He posted a video of himself posing in a red suit behind a…
