Thailand News
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Sponsored Hot Phuket property deal: Arise Vibe launches limited offer on only four units, now from 2.5m baht
Phuket's property market is full of big names and high prices, but some of the most exciting opportunities are happening just outside the spotlight. That’s where you’ll find Arise Vibe. Set in Si Sunthon, one of Phuket’s fastest-growing areas, this...
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Tourism industry aims for improvement over Sandbox for reopening
Thailand’s battered tourism industry is making final preparations for the big November 1 reopening with high hopes of welcoming back international travellers across Thailand. On November 1, the country will reopen with still somewhat convoluted 3 entry options and quarantine-free travel for arrivals from 46 low-risk countries. The Phuket Sandbox, with nearly 58,000 arrivals from July 1, has been viewed…
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Teenager shot at August protest in Bangkok dies after months in a coma
The teenager who was shot in the neck at a protest outside Bangkok’s Din Daeng police station back in August died. According to the Bangkok Post, Amnesty International Thailand confirmed that the 15 year old died yesterday morning after being in a coma for several months. There have been several violent clashes at Din Daeng intersection involving young anti-government protesters…
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Centara Hotels suffer data breach by hackers Desorden Group
Centara Hotels and Resorts, the luxury chain in Thailand, confirmed a data breach this month at the hands of the infamous hacker Desorden Group. The CEO, Thirayuth Chirathivat, said the hack was detected October 14 and an investigation confirmed that guest details had been compromised. Names and ID photos, booking information, email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses have all…
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November 1 re-opening of Thailand – The Fine Print
And now for some of the fine print, answering questions you may have had about re-entry to Thailand from next Monday, November 1. Who can travel to Thailand? Travellers will be categorised into 3 groups… • The first are fully vaccinated visitors from 46 countries (www.thaiembassy.com). They must stay one night in either a SHA+ certified hotel or an ASQ…
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Army conscript dies a day after receiving second Covid-19 vaccine shot
A 23 year old army conscript died earlier this week after receiving a second Covid-19 vaccine shot, according to the Bangkok Post. According to the report, Khanti Anantasiri, who had no underlying health conditions, died at home in Ratchaburi province on Tuesday afternoon, a day after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. He had earlier received the Sinovac vaccine. Khanti had complained…
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More Pfizer vaccines for children arrive in Thailand
Another batch of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses has landed in Thailand, with Department of Disease Control director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong confirming the arrival of 1,538,550 doses on Wednesday. As reported by Nation Thailand, Dr Opas said the government has procured the mRNA vaccine for children aged over 12, along with other target groups, with a total of 8 million doses…
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Indian community call for their country to be added to Thailand’s low-risk list
Indians are urging the Thai government to add India to the list of low-risk countries for Thailand’s November 1 re-opening. The Bangkok Post reports that the Indian community in Thailand have pointed out how much they can contribute to the economy. The plea comes as Thailand prepares to re-open with minimal quarantine for vaccinated visitors from 46 approved countries. While…
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Friday Covid Update: 8,968 new cases and 64 deaths
8,968 new Covid-19 cases and 64 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today. There are now 99,301 people in Thailand receiving medical treatment for Covid-19. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported 1,865,078 confirmed Covid-19 cases. Out of the new cases, 190 were found in correctional facilities.…
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Bangkok public transport back to normal capacity on Monday
Bangkok’s BTS, BRT and Gold Line public transport systems will resume normal operating hours from Monday alongside the government’s move to reopen Thailand’s international borders and lift the nightly curfew in the capital. According to Nation Thailand, Bangkok Mass Transit System director Surapong Laoha-Unya said the resumption of regular services comes with all employees having been fully vaccinated and required…
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Thailand’s Industry Ministry is backing hemp as a new cash crop
The Thai government is getting behind the hemp industry amid long-term plans to grow the local market and drive flow-on benefits to associated sectors. The Bangkok Post reports the Industry Ministry is currently laying out a budget plan, with it targeting the development of new products in the medical sector and support for tourism. Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said, according…
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Reform urged for foreigners to invest or buy condos in Thailand
The vice-chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand is calling for amendments to the restrictions and processes for foreigners to buy condos and invest in the country. He said the process is unnecessarily complex, and steps need to be taken to improve procedures and conditions if Thailand’s plan to lure wealthy pensioners is to gain any traction. He called…
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Thursday Covid Update: 9,658 new cases; provincial totals
84 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 19,006 with 18,912 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 9,658 new Covid-19 cases and 8,526 recoveries. There are now 99,144 people in Thailand being…
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Truckers and tour bus drivers plan strike over diesel prices
Thai truckers are set to go on strike on Monday as part of a campaign to have diesel prices capped at 25 baht per litre for one year. As reported by Thai PBS World, the strike – which will coincide with Thailand’s reopening on November 1 – will span about 80,000 trucks, including some tour buses. The campaign, labelled “truck…
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PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to outline Thailand’s path to net zero at UN Climate Change Conference
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will outline Thailand’s push to achieve carbon neutrality by 2065 at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in the United Kingdom next week. The Bangkok Post has reported Prayut will formally announce the country’s new pledge and provide details about its long-term strategies to drive down greenhouse gas emissions. In essence, he will provide a roadmap of…
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“Test run” at Bangkok airport to prepare for next week’s reopening
Staff at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport have been gearing up for Thailand’s much-anticipated reopening, conducting a test run of electronic screening measures rolled out ahead of the staged return of tourism to the country. Thailand is poised to open its doors to vaccinated visitors from eligible countries and territories from November 1, allowing quarantine-free entry subject to a number of conditions.…
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Chinese travel to Thailand may resume late next year
Chinese authorities may let their citizens travel to Thailand again in about one year, according to predictions from the Association of Thai Travel Agents. While China has made the elite list of 46 countries allowed to enter Thailand without quarantine in the Test & Go scheme starting November 1, harsh travel restrictions in China will prohibit Chinese tourists, an important…
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Bangkok kidnap for ransom case tied into used glove export investigation
An American suspect in the multimillion dollar kidnap for ransom case in Bangkok, which was said to be over a failed business deal on rubber gloves, allegedly tipped off CNN about used medical gloves shipped from Thailand to the US. CNN published an investigative report this week saying tens of millions of used medical gloves, some with blood stains, were…
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Thai PM expected to embark on first overseas trip since start of pandemic
The Thai PM is expected to attend the COP26 climate summit in Scotland, his first overseas trip since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a Pattaya News report, there are reports Prayut Chan-o-cha will travel to Glasgow for the conference, which kicks off at the end of this month. Over 120 world leaders are expected to attend the…
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Tourism minister confident new Thailand Pass system will increase visitor numbers
The tourism minister is already praising the yet-to-be-launched Thailand Pass, saying it will lift tourist numbers significantly. Thailand Pass replaces the much-maligned Certificate of Entry from Monday and Pipat Ratchakitprakan is expecting to see visitor numbers rise. “Hotel bookings under the Phuket Sandbox scheme for November went up considerably after October 21, when the list of 46 low-risk countries from…
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Entry requirements for international arrivals starting November 1
The Thailand Pass is set to launch in 5 days, aiming to ease the process to get approval to enter Thailand. The entry requirements for international travellers still require some hoops, but the government hopes this streamlining will help welcome back much-needed tourism to the country. The website for the Thailand Pass has been created at tp.consular.go.th but it is…
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Tourism operators urge government to agree travel bubbles
Thailand’s tourism sector is urging the government to agree travel bubbles with other countries, to ensure quarantine-free travel in both directions. Suthiphong Pheunphiphop from the Thai Travel Agents Association would like to see reciprocal arrangements in place once Thailand re-opens to 46 countries from November 1. According to a Bangkok Post report, he says such an agreement would mean Thai…
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Alcohol ban predicted to damage Thailand’s reopening, reputation
With Thailand’s November 1 reopening fast approaching, Thai businesses are calling on the government to quickly lift all the restrictions on alcohol sales in the country. They advise that the nightlife that millions flocked to Thailand for before the Covid-19 pandemic, is being destroyed by the long-term closures. Furthermore, they warn that reopening without any nightlife will discourage people from…
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Police seize Covid-19 antiviral drugs allegedly stolen by hospital manager
A number of arrests have been made following the seizure of antiviral drugs used to treat Covid-19, with hundreds of boxes of Favipiravir pills allegedly stolen by a hospital manager and destined for online sale. The Bangkok Post reports that nine suspects were arrested on Tuesday in coordinated raids in Bangkok, Saraburi, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi. In total, police recovered…
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Student dies after receiving second Covid-19 vaccine shot
A Phang Nga Community College student who developed blood clots after receiving her second Covid-19 vaccine shot has died of a haemorrhagic stroke following brain surgery. As reported by the Bangkok Post, the student, 20 year old Ketsiree Kongkaew, who had had her left leg amputated, died on Monday morning at Songklanagarind Hospital in Hat Yai. Having first received the…
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Travellers now exempt from quarantine advised to directly contact AQ hotels for refund
With changes to entry requirements for international arrivals starting Monday, travellers who are exempt from quarantine, but have already booked a stay in advance are advised to directly contact hotels where their reservation was made. Starting November 1, travellers who are fully vaccinated and from 46 countries and territories classified by the Thai government as a “low risk” for Covid-19…
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Legal proceedings expected this week for “Joe Ferrari” death in custody case
Officers from the Crime Suppression Division have completed their investigation into the former police chief known as “Joe Ferrari” who is accused of suffocating a suspect to death while demanding a 2 million baht bribe. Nation Thailand reports that prosecutors will launch legal proceedings this week against the station chief of rural province Nakhon Sawan and six of his subordinates.…
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Wednesday Covid Update: 8,452 new cases; provincial totals
57 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 18,922 with 18,828 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 8,452 new Covid-19 cases and 8,449 recoveries. There are now 98,096 people in Thailand being…
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Russell Crowe bids Bangkok goodbye after much-praised tweets
Hollywood movie star Russell Crowe has been causing a sensation among Thai social media, first visiting and praising the Phuket Sandbox, and later travelling around Bangkok. Now his much-celebrated trip is coming to an end as he posts a goodbye message to Bangkok on Twitter. Crowe first got attention as he arrived in Phuket on September 18 to do his…
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PM highlights Thailand example in urging Southeast Asian countries to reopen
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is stressing that Southeast Asian nations follow Thailand’s lead in reopening borders to get tourism back up and running in the wake of the Covid crisis. Prayut addressed the issue via teleconference at the annual ASEAN summit, which this year is taking place online, telling other members the region should be weighing up steps to allow for safe…
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Used car market set for further growth following Covid-19 pandemic
While local industries have broadly suffered in the wake of the Covid pandemic, apparently the used car market in Thailand has been doing fairly well. According to the Bangkok Post, the Association of Used Cars says the pandemic has contributed to strong market growth. With commuters fearful of catching the virus on public transport, many have decided to buy a…
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