Business
Business Buzz: The beauty of Instagram

HUKET: Instagram as we know it is changing, but that can be a good thing if you are a business looking to increase your exposure.
Instagram is a photo-sharing app that reportedly has more than 300 million monthly users. It is very popular with people born in the 80s and 90s, who account for more than 37% per cent of its users. Interestingly, each user apparently spends an average of 21 minutes per day on Instagram.
The reason that Instagram has been so popular is that it provides a much more user-friendly and pleasant visual experience, but is that about to change?
When it first started, Instagram had a zero-monetization policy, which meant, among other things, no ads. This had consequences. It was found in a 2014 survey by Forrester that Instagram had 58 times more engagement per follower than Facebook and 120 times more than Twitter. But with Facebook purchasing Instagram for what can only be described as an obscene amount of money, the advertising has started. In fact, ads have generated more than US$3.5 billion in the last three months alone.
How can Instagram be of benefit for a local Phuket business?
Instagram, being based on photo images, is perfect for our beautiful island setting. Anything related to the tourism sector instantly has a great opportunity to capture this beauty and have a competitive advantage over many other destinations.
This allows you to use photo imagery to highlight your business and your products, and even humanize your company with a more personal behind-the-scenes insight.
Companies can connect with followers on a more personal level and build a relationship, trust and rapport. This immediately helps with your branding and recognition, which in turn leads to sales opportunities. Now that ads will be allowed, early comers will have a competitive advantage.
Remember, social media can be a lot of fun and create great opportunities for business, so it is worth doing some research to see how it can benefit you.
Simon Wetherell is a social media expert, lawyer, best-selling author & international speaker. He now resides in Phuket where he trains businesses and individuals on how to profit from the social media industry. For more information go to https://PhuketOnlineMarketingSchool.com or call him on 095-085 3355.
— Simon Wetherell
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Business
Turbulence ahead for Thailand’s aviation industry | VIDEO

When the airlines, in particular, were asking the government to put their hands in their pockets for some relief funding in August last year, it was genuinely thought that international tourists would be coming back for the high season in December and January. At the very least local tourists and expats would head back to the skies over the traditional holiday break. And surely the Chinese would be back for Chinese New Year?
As we know now, none of that happened. A resurge in cases started just south of Bangkok on December 20 last year, just before Christmas, kicking off another round of restrictions, pretty much killing off any possibility of a high season ‘bump’ for the tourist industry. Airlines slashed flights from their schedule, and hotels, which had dusted off their reception desks for the surge of tourists, shut their doors again.
Domestically, the hotel business saw 6 million room nights in the government’s latest stimulus campaign fully redeemed. But the air ticket quota of 2 million seats still has over 1.3 million seats unused. Local tourists mostly skipped flights and opted for destinations within driving distance of their homes.
As for international tourism… well that still seems months or years away, even now.
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Business
Domestic air passenger numbers double those of January

Passenger numbers on domestic flights within Thailand have doubled within a month, rising from 4,000 in January to over 10,000 this month. Having nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, domestic travel plummeted once more when Covid-19 resurfaced late last year.
Apirat Chaiwongnoi from the Department of Airports says 15 of Thailand’s 29 airports are now operating domestic flights, with more expected to follow. He believes the aviation sector will continue to recover further in the coming 6 months, bolstered by the national vaccine rollout.
Around 120 domestic flights a day are now operating, which is twice the number that were operating at the lowest point in the crisis. Prior to the resurgence of the virus in December, domestic passenger numbers had recovered to 30,000 – 40,000 a day, around 80% of pre-pandemic numbers.
The DoA says airports must continue to adhere to the Covid-19 hygiene measures put in place by the Health Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Samut Sakhon’s shrimp market to remain closed until February 15

Samut Sakhon’s Central Shrimp Market, the epicentre of Thailand’s recent wave of Covid-19, will remain closed until February 15. The market can reopen once the overall hygiene situation at the market and surrounding area has improved, according to the province’s disease control committee.
Local officials say the shrimp market needs to remain closed until the market structure and nearby residential facilities are inspected. People who violate the order face up to a year in prison and a fine up to 100,000 baht.
More than 12,000 people in the province have tested positive for Covid-19. The increasing number of infections is a result from the active case finding to contain the spread of the virus.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World | Thairath Online
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