Governor

  • Thailand NewsBangkok plans 130 new parks, doubles tree goal by 2026

    Bangkok plans 130 new parks, doubles tree goal by 2026

    Bangkok is taking a bold step towards sustainability under the leadership of Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Moving past the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative, the governor has set his sights on an ambitious environmental agenda. Chadchart’s vision includes creating a 15-minute city with accessible green spaces. The plan involves adding 130 parks and doubling the tree-planting goal to two million by 2026,…

  • Thailand NewsThai PM denies plans to limit Bank of Thailand governor’s powers

    Thai PM denies plans to limit Bank of Thailand governor’s powers

    Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin dismissed any intention of modifying the law to restrict the authority of the Bank of Thailand’s (BoT) governor amidst a disagreement over the central bank’s interest rate policy. Responding to queries about potential amendments to the Bank of Thailand Act to limit the governor’s powers, the 62 year old Thai prime minister assured that such…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket governor inspects aerator for canal odour control

    Phuket governor inspects aerator for canal odour control

    Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat recently examined the aerator installed in Klong Pak Bang, Kamla, as part of a broader effort to combat the unpleasant odour emanating from the canal. The governor’s visit took place over the weekend, joined by the likes of Phuket MP Chalermphong Saengdee, Advisor to the Governor of Phuket Province, Dr Somkid Chokong, and several local officials,…

  • Business NewsTourism sector divided over elected versus appointed governors

    Tourism sector divided over elected versus appointed governors

    The debate over elected provincial governors versus appointed heads is intensifying, revealing a divide among tourism operators. This issue gained momentum during last year’s general election, when several political parties, including Pheu Thai, proposed allowing locals to elect their governors, a practice already in place in Bangkok and Pattaya. Pheu Thai’s coalition government, during its policy announcement, introduced a CEO-governor…

  • Politics News6 months in, Bangkok Governor Chadchart rated highly

    6 months in, Bangkok Governor Chadchart rated highly

    A new poll shows that after six months in office, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt remains popular with a high approval rating. An impressive 81.55% of people polled said that they were satisfied with Chadchart’s performance as governor so far. Only 18.47% of those who answered the poll said they were not satisfied. Chadchart was elected as governor in May in…

  • Politics NewsBREAKING: Bangkok has a new governor

    BREAKING: Bangkok has a new governor

    The Election Commission today confirmed the independent candidate, Chadchart Sittipunt, as the new Bangkok Governor. The 56 year old won by a landslide with over a million votes, and almost 52% of the vote, on Sunday, May 22. It was the first governor’s election in 8 years and he is the 17th person to be in charge of Bangkok. There…

  • Politics NewsChadchart’s victory is a triumph for democracy says former PM

    Chadchart’s victory is a triumph for democracy says former PM

    Thailand’s former PM Thaksin Shinawatra says Chadchart Sittipunt’s landslide victory in the Bangkok governor election was a result of pro democracy followers voting for him, and declared the result will be mirrored in the kingdom’s next national election, in an interview with The Room 44. Move Forward’s candidate, Wiroj Lakhanaadisorn, was predicted to win the popular vote but electors chose…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Bangkok unanimously elected civilian governor

    Thailand News Today | Bangkok unanimously elected civilian governor

    In Bangkok’s first governor election in eight years, independent candidate Chatchat won the vote by a landslide and broke the record for the highest number of votes ever in a Bangkok gubernatorial election, much to the dismay of the incumbent military government. Of the 4.3 million people eligible to vote, a total of 2.6 million people voted yesterday. Over 50%…

  • Bangkok NewsLandslide victory for elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt

    Landslide victory for elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt

    Yesterday, Bangkok held its first governor election in eight years. Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt won the vote by a landslide, gaining almost 1.4 million votes, breaking the record for the highest number of votes ever in a Bangkok gubernatorial election. Of the 4.36 million people eligible to vote in the election, a total of 2,635,283 people voted yesterday, or 60.48%.…

  • Thailand video newsThe top 6 Bangkok Governor’s Policies and why we should care | This is Thailand

    The top 6 Bangkok Governor’s Policies and why we should care | This is Thailand

    You’ve seen their signs on paveways, on telephone poles, and even lying around randomly? Who are these people? What are they campaigning for? And what are their faces doing on big boards? Find out all about that in This is Thailand.

  • Thailand NewsAnonymous complaint against Bangkok governor candidate causes probe

    Anonymous complaint against Bangkok governor candidate causes probe

    The House committee on corruption and misconduct prevention and suppression plans to probe a Bangkok candidate for governor after an anonymous party sent a complaint to the House committee chairman last month. The complaint said the candidate’s wealth was unusual, and he had committed wrongdoing. A committee spokesperson said the probe will start soon. The candidate, Suchatvee Suwansawat, said he…

  • Politics NewsPOLL: Chadchart still the lead candidate for Bangkok Governor

    POLL: Chadchart still the lead candidate for Bangkok Governor

    In the most recent NIDA Poll, Chadchart Sittipunt still holds a commanding lead in the candidate field for the Bangkok Governor election coming up later this year. Chadchart has been favoured in the election for months and is running as an independent having served previously in the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the role of Minister of…

  • Covid-19 NewsMiscommunication over rules sees Thai man angrily footing bill for Covid test in Phuket

    Miscommunication over rules sees Thai man angrily footing bill for Covid test in Phuket

    After a Thai man’s angry video went viral over allegedly having to pay for a Covid-19 test in order to enter Phuket, the provincial Vice Governor has responded. Piyapong Choowong admitted that the rule for those entering Phuket had recently changed, nixing the requirement of those arriving to undergo a Covid rapid antigen test. The man says he paid 450…

  • ExpatsPhuket foreigners called out again over “ignoring” Covid rules

    Phuket foreigners called out again over “ignoring” Covid rules

    Phuket’s foreigners are being called out again over their alleged failures to comply with Covid-19 safety measures. A meeting comprised of high-ranking Phuket officials, and a majority of consuls and foreign government representatives decided that those who are not being “socially responsible” will face legal actions, with the most intransigent being kicked out of Thailand. The meeting yesterday was all…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Restrictions on Bangkok and Pattaya to be lifted? | January 27

    Thailand News Today | Restrictions on Bangkok and Pattaya to be lifted? | January 27

    A trailer truck has driven into an accident scene, crashing into 9 vehicles and critically injuring a police officer who was directing traffic in Surat Thani’s main city district. Luckily rescue workers and another police officer were able to jump out of the way before the truck ploughed through the accident scene and into a roadside tyre shop. 2 people…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Covid testing for visas, Business impact, Vaccine approval | January 19

    Thailand News Today | Covid testing for visas, Business impact, Vaccine approval | January 19

    Confusion reigns today over if Covid-19 tests will be required for visa extensions. While Phuket News spoke with an immigration official who said “no… you don’t need a Covid-19 test to extend your visa or apply for a work permit”, Khaosod English wrote an article headlined “Covid-19 test will be mandatory for all visa extension”. The Thaiger also contacted a…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket Governor warns face mask price gougers

    Phuket Governor warns face mask price gougers

    Phuket’s Governor is warning profiteers against face mask price-gouging after news of a second wave of Covid-19 has rattled Thais. There has been 1 new case of Covid-19 reported this week. Governor Narong Woonciew says violators could face a fine of up to 100,000 baht or up to 5 years imprisonment. Narong issued the order just a week after news…

  • Northern Thailand News8,000 homes inundated in Nakhon Ratchasima after 2 days of torrential rain

    8,000 homes inundated in Nakhon Ratchasima after 2 days of torrential rain

    The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging emergency services and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in the Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, in Thailand’s north east, to urgently attend to the suffering of the region’s flood victims. Flooding has cut electricity and water supplies to several areas around the district. 8,000+ houses have been flooded after the overflowing…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Tourist arrivals postponed, Will Boss return?, deadly centipede | October 8

    Thailand News Today | Tourist arrivals postponed, Will Boss return?, deadly centipede | October 8

    To get all the latest news and information about Thailand, go to thethaiger.com. Like and subscribe our YouTube channel too. Go on, right now 🙂 You can also LIKE our Facebook page facebook.com/thethaigernews to get even more information about Thailand. Anti-corruption commission to re-investigate handling of “Boss” hit-and-run case The “Boss” hit-and-run saga drags on, now with the National Anti-Corruption…

  • Visa InformationSpecial Tourist Visa flight postponed, National Security Council confirms

    Special Tourist Visa flight postponed, National Security Council confirms

    After much confusion about when the group of Chinese tourists will arrive in Phuket, the secretary general of Thailand’s National Security Council confirmed that today’s flight has been deferred to October 25. Officials decided to postpone the flight and reschedule it after Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is finished. The annual spectacle is known to draw large crowds. The council’s secretary general…

  • Environment NewsPhuket plans a drought-proof future

    Phuket plans a drought-proof future

    In the high season of 2018/2019 a water shortage emerged on Phuket and reached a critical phase just as the wet season of 2019 began. For a few months there seemed to be more water trucks delivering expensive water to residents than tourist passenger vans on the road (usually ubiquitous). Phuket’s three water sources were critically low, one of them…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket governor courts envoys of 16 nations to promote tourism

    Phuket governor courts envoys of 16 nations to promote tourism

    “I would like Phuket to organise activities leading the consulates from various countries to travel to Phuket in order to see the beautiful tourist attractions and to promote tourism for Phuket.” Phuket’s governor called yesterday for foreign envoys to visit and inspect Phuket for themselves as a mark of confidence that the island is ready to receive tourists. The call…

  • Economy NewsThailand’s economic forecast among Asia’s worst: central bank governor to step down

    Thailand’s economic forecast among Asia’s worst: central bank governor to step down

    The governor of the Bank of Thailand will step down when his term ends in September. Veerathai Santiprabhob announced yesterday that he has decided against seeking a second 5 year term for “family reasons.” His departure comes as Thailand sees its economy contracting as much as 6% this year, mostly as a result of the impacts of lockdown provisions to…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket government officially requests the opening of land, water and air links

    Phuket government officially requests the opening of land, water and air links

    The southern resort island province of Phuket will ask permission from Bangkok to reopen its airport, sea ports and permanent road access to the mainland (Sarasin Bridge) after several days with no new Covid-19 infections detected. The provincial governor says the province will ask the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand for approval to reopen the airport this Saturday. The CAAT ordered…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket exodus derailed by outgoing governor, traffic jams force rethink

    Phuket exodus derailed by outgoing governor, traffic jams force rethink

    Thousands of residents and inter-provincial workers, trapped in Phuket for the last month due to Covid-19 and the complete shutdown of the island, began leaving yesterday. With unfortunate results. The lockdown was soon reimposed after the road from Phuket to the Tha Chatchai checkpoint became jammed with with cars from tao early as 5am, stretching back several kilometres. In a…

  • Covid-19 NewsZero cases reported in Phuket today (Wednesday)

    Zero cases reported in Phuket today (Wednesday)

    Phuket has recorded no new cases of Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours. That’s great news after a number of new cases kept popping up in a cluster in the island’s Bang Tao community. The outgoing Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana announced yesterday afternoon that island officials would start opening up the island’s sub-districts with most travel restrictions between tambons…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket to remove most tambon travel restrictions

    Phuket to remove most tambon travel restrictions

    Phuket will start opening up again with most travel restrictions between sub-districts to be lifted, excepting five areas on the island which are still considered ‘at risk’. Phuket’s outgoing Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana announced the lifting of the restrictions for travel between the island’s tambons, introduced back on April 13. Checkpoints were set up restricting non-essential travel between the island’s 17…

  • Covid-19 NewsNY Governor offers evidence that the virus entered the US from Europe

    NY Governor offers evidence that the virus entered the US from Europe

    China has been in the sites of many as the world tries to apportion blame of the origins of Covid-19, including some world leaders. Now New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has laid out some research showing that the strains of the novel coronavirus arrived in New York from Europe, not China. He also claimed that travel bans enacted by the…

  • Phuket NewsNew Phuket governor announced, old Governor shunted off to Petchaburi

    New Phuket governor announced, old Governor shunted off to Petchaburi

    The southern island province of Phuket is to have a new governor, it was announced today. Phuket’s governor, Pakkapong Tawipat started work on the island on October 1, 2018. He was a former Phang Nga governor and former vice governor of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Saraburi in central Thailand. ‘Former’ Governor Pakkapong will be taking up a new post in the…

  • Covid-19 NewsAlcohol Ban in Phuket, from today (Saturday)

    Alcohol Ban in Phuket, from today (Saturday)

    The Phuket Governor has issued an order number 1943/2563 which was signed yesterday on April 10. The new order bans alcohol sales in another preventative measure to combat the island’s Covid-19 infection rate. The order is in effect from today, Saturday, April 11, 2020, until further notice. Anyone who breaks the order will be liable to a fine of 100,000…