Chinese
- Phuket News
African Swine Fever detected in pork products at Phuket Airport
“ASF cannot be transmitted to humans although scientists are wary that the virus is capable of mutating into other strains in the future.” Processed sausage and salami pork products have been seized at Phuket International Airport from a Chinese tourist. They were confiscated when they were found to contain a viral strain of the African Swine Fever (ASF). The Department…
- Pattaya News
Chinese tourist drowns off Koh Samet
by Achara Wisetsri A 58 year old Chinese tourist, who got into difficulty whilst swimming off Koh Samet on Saturday, has died while being transported to a district hospital. Koh Samet is off the coast of Rayong province, east of Bangkok. Witnesses say he was “battered by waves” in the sea off Sai Kaew Beach. The victim was swimming with a…
- Phuket News
Chinese tourist drowns at Koh Racha
A 31 year old Chinese man has drowned at Koh Racha yesterday. The Phuket Tourist Police were notified of the incident at 3.30pm yesterday (Tuesday). The man was later identified by tourist police as Zhu Kai from Tianjin, China. Mr Zhu was travelling alone. He bought a one day trip to Racha Yai Island. A tour guide told police that after…
- Phuket News
Number of tourists visiting Phuket still high – TAT Phuket
In response to a number of completely fabricated negative stories about Phuket’s current tourism situation, Kanokkittika Kritwuttikorn, the director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office says, “Number of tourists visiting Phuket is still good when compared to last year’s numbers. We’ve also spoken to many regional tour operators who say that bookings are ‘solid’ for this time of…
- Phuket News
TAT grapples with real numbers in the wake of the Chinese tourism slump
“Tourist arrivals in Phuket have increased by 10%, with more visitors from India though Chinese arrivals have not picked up since the Phoenix tourist boat tragedy in mid-July.” This summary from Kanokkittikar Kritwutthikorn, director of the Phuket office of the TAT. Last week the local tourist body was quoting a 20% increase as the island’s tourist chiefs appear to be unable…
- Krabi News
Female tourist injured by speedboat propellor at Koh Phi Phi
A Chinese woman has been severely injured and rushed to hospital after being hit by a speedboat propeller while swimming at Koh Phi Phi in Krabi Province this morning. Police say the woman suffered cuts to her back and thighs before being rushed to the Koh Phi Phi Hospital and then later transferred to Phuket Vachira hospital by boat. Police…
- World News
Some Chinese tourists are ‘illegal workers’ – Filipino Senator claims
by Philippine Daily Inquirer – Asia News Network Tens of thousands of Chinese from mainland China are entering The Philippines as tourists and obtaining short-term special permits to work in online gambling operations. At a hearing of the Senate labor committee, Sen. Joel Villanueva expressed alarm and indignation after immigration and labor authorities admitted that more than 119,000 “tourists,” most of…
- Chiang Mai News
Chiang Mai tourism operators paint gloomy outlook
Tourism in Chiang Mai has been decimated by the downturn in Chinese arrivals. Tour operators and officials are hoping that more Western tourists would fill their place, especially during the next few months. The Chiang Mai News reports that a hotel operator in the Prapokklao area says her business had been terrible the last few months. She was now forced…
- Northern Thailand News
The new visa-fee waiver working in the north
According to the National News Bureau of Thailand, the new visa-fee waiver is working. Well, in the northern provinces anyway. The northern provinces are reporting an increase in the number of foreign visitors, thanks to the government’s free visa on arrival campaign. Wiwat Piyawiroj , Executive Vice President of Commercial at Thai Airways, says the free visa on arrival scheme for…
- Phuket News
Phoenix design failures – Forensic probe begins
Now that Phoenix has been hoisted, successfully, from 45 metres below the surface of the Andaman Sea, the next phase begins as forensic experts, engineers and naval architect pour over the wreckage to find clues and prepare reports for the forthcoming court cases. The Tourism and Sports Minister, who has been in Phuket all weekend overseeing the operations, along with…
- Phuket News
The Phoenix rises to the surface
PHOTOS: Facebook/สุรเชษฐ์ หักพาล The yacht sank late afternoon on July 5 in a short, sudden storm. Most boats would have quite capable of withstanding the wind squal and waves on the day. But Phoenix capsized and sank, taking with her 47 Chinese tourists. The full reasons are stilll being investigated. Today, the actual yacht rose from the depths of the…
- Chiang Mai News
Chiang Mai tourism plans to promote more outlying regions for 2019
“The plan is to promote traditional, conservative activities such as temple routes, sightseeing tours in the old city and visiting craft villages.” The Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT) Chiang Mai Office has announced its performance for the past year and announced its plans for 2019. Visroot Inhyam, the director general of TAT’s northern region outlined the main issues for tourism promotion…
- Phuket News
Phoenix salvage team walks away from contract – police to take over
A private sector company has walked away from the contract to salvage the ‘Phoenix’ and bring it back to the surface after numerous failed attempts and two months of excuses why they were unable to resurface the vessel. The company continually complained about weather and strong currents despite many calm days during their fruitless two months of operations. They have…
- Thailand News
Somkid says he’ll fly to Beijing to discuss luring back Chinese visitors
The fallout from a number of tragedies and bad PR has mobilised the Thai government to take firm steps towards luring back the Chinese travellers who have been looking elsewhere, other than Thailand, for their chosen holiday breaks. The Nation is reporting that Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak has said today that he may have to hold talks with the Chinese…
- Phuket News
Can Thailand lure the Chinese back?
After half a decade of incredible growth in Chinese tourism to Thailand, the numbers are now in a tail-spin as numbers drop off around the country. With annual rises of 20-50% per annum for half a decade there has been a big drop off in the last quarter (Q3) of 2018. This is the key statistic as compiled in two…
- Thailand News
Panicked tourism associations call for visa fee exemption for Chinese
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) wants Chinese tourists to be exempt from having to apply and pay for their single-entry visas when they arrive in the Kingdom. The ATTA is urging the tourism minister to make this change. Vichit Prakobgosol, president of ATTA, says the measure is necessary to draw Chinese tourists back to the kingdom following a…
- Bangkok News
‘Charm Offensive’ awaits at Don Mueang for Chinese passengers
Knee-jerk reaction #48. The Tourist Police Bureau have dispatched a team of officers to attend to passengers, especially Chinese passengers, at Don Mueang International Airport. More Chinese tourist arrivals are expected to arrive for their Golden Week holiday starting today. The Deputy Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachete Hakparn, says additional police officers have been deployed…
- Bangkok News
Director and security chief of Don Mueang suspended over assault of Chinese tourist
“Immigration police dismissed the tourist’s claim that immigration officials had demanded 2,000 baht from him for a visa on arrival in addition to the normal fee of 2,000 baht.” The Director of Bangkok’s Don Mueang international airport, as well as the director for security, have been suspended from active duty for at least 30 days pending an investigation into an…
- Chiang Mai News
Chinese tourists ignoring the PM’s orders
If Thai PM Prayut doesn’t have enough to worry about with errant politicians not towing the line, he now has to contend with Chinese tourists not obeying his instructions. Daily News is reporting that Chinese tourists are ignoring prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s orders to stop feeding Chiang Mai’s pigeons. The edict from the Thai PM’s office, that feeding pigeons is…
- South Thailand News
Eating your way around Songkhla
by Pattarawadee Saengmanee – The Nation Weekend As we come in for landing at Hat Yai International Airport, I see clear sky reflected in the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Despite the weather App warnings, the sun was out. Sightseeing is first on the agenda though and after a pleasant 40-minute drive from the airport to Songkhla Old…
- Thailand News
Five Chinese ‘fraudsters’ arrested in scams valued around 17 billion baht
Special report by Khanathit Srihirundaj Five Chinese suspects in three separate fraud and loan shark cases, who obtained around 3.43 billion yuan (about 17.15 billion baht) from fellow Chinese victims and had fled to Thailand, have been arrested. Police say they will check ifthe suspects laundered money in Thailand before contacting the Chinese authorities about repatriation. In the first case,…
- Chiang Mai News
Chinese call centre gang raided in Chiang Mai
PHOTO: Chiang Mai City Life Thai police have had a lot of success recently tracking down call centre gangs in all parts of the country. This time in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai City Life is reporting that a Chinese call centre scam operation was raided yesterday. Four Chinese citizens were arrested. The arrests occurred on August 7 at a housing…
