spending

  • Thailand NewsSurvey reveals Chinese tourists’ spending habits in Thailand

    Survey reveals Chinese tourists’ spending habits in Thailand

    The majority of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand in the second quarter of this year were lured by the country’s delectable cuisine and exotic fruits, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand. The Council’s report, published last Thursday, July 4, surveyed 205 Chinese nationals. The participants included 44% from Mainland China, 24% from Hong Kong, 18% from Taiwan, and 14% from…

  • Business NewsThailand tourism spending to miss 1.2tn baht target, rising costs

    Thailand tourism spending to miss 1.2tn baht target, rising costs

    Thailand’s domestic tourism spending is projected to fall short of the government’s ambitious target of 1.2 trillion baht amid economic concerns and rising travel costs, as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) indicates. TAT Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing, Somradee Chitchong, expressed confidence that domestic trips would reach 210 million this year, surpassing the initial target of 200 million. Despite…

  • Thailand NewsGamecaster Fat Cat takes own life after spending 2.6 million baht

    Gamecaster Fat Cat takes own life after spending 2.6 million baht

    A famous 21 year old gamecaster, known as Fat Cat, tragically ended his life after spending over 2.6 million baht on his girlfriend, only to be betrayed. His sister revealed the heart-wrenching details, prompting widespread online criticism. The police have officially announced the results of their investigation into the suicide of the gamecaster known as Fat Cat. This announcement has…

  • Thailand NewsTourists increase spending in Thailand despite soaring airfares

    Tourists increase spending in Thailand despite soaring airfares

    Despite higher airfares, foreign tourists are indulging in opulent accommodation choices, sending spending figures soaring, according to a recent Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) survey. The TAT’s survey, which engaged 30,054 tourists last year, unveiled a significant uptick in expenditure per trip, hitting an average of 50,900 baht. A substantial portion of this sum, averaging 23,518 baht per trip, was allocated…

  • Thailand NewsThailand tourism council study reveals surprising spending trends

    Thailand tourism council study reveals surprising spending trends

    In an investigation undertaken by the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), it has emerged that a significant portion of the Thai populace has adopted a more frugal approach to their expenditure in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The TCT’s exhaustive survey, spanning from last year up to now, canvassed the travel inclinations of 418 Thai individuals earning over 10,000…

  • Thailand NewsThailand introduces oversight to curb lavish spending on decorative street lamps

    Thailand introduces oversight to curb lavish spending on decorative street lamps

    There’s been a response to a recent scandal involving an 871 million baht procurement of solar-powered street lamps designed with mythical kinnaree figures by the local administration of Racha Thewa, in Samut Prakan. Sweeping measures are being introduced to ensure transparency and accountability in future such projects. This conspicuous procurement resulted in misconduct charges being pressed against at least 40…

  • Business NewsChina’s April economic data falls short amid low demand, high youth unemployment

    China’s April economic data falls short amid low demand, high youth unemployment

    Official figures have revealed that China’s economic data for April failed to meet expectations, with low demand and high youth unemployment contributing to an uneven recovery after the easing of strict Covid-19 regulations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), retail sales, a crucial gauge of domestic consumer activity, grew by 18.4% year-on-year. However, this fell short of the…

  • Economy NewsThailand’s Valentine’s Day spending expected to jump for first time in 5 years

    Thailand’s Valentine’s Day spending expected to jump for first time in 5 years

    Thailand’s Valentine’s Day spending is expected to jump for the first time in five years this year, according to a survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). Spending is expected to hit over 2.4 billion baht this year, the survey said. The survey shows a 57.1% increase in spending compared to last year, with the majority…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | No STV tourists, Boss in Dubai, border fears in Tak | October 13

    Thailand News Today | No STV tourists, Boss in Dubai, border fears in Tak | October 13

    Daily news about Thailand. Latest information, and tourism and visa news. No one in Guangzhou applied for the Special Tourist Visa, Foreign Ministry In a stunning revelation yesterday, it turns out that not a single person from Guangzhou, China, actually applied for the new Special Tourist Visa. That’s the sad and bizarre truth, according to Thai media outlet Siamrath. Around…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Prison release?, Pattaya Makeover, 6 new Covid cases | October 2

    Thailand News Today | Prison release?, Pattaya Makeover, 6 new Covid cases | October 2

    Justice Minister proposes releasing chronically ill inmates to reduce prison overcrowding In an effort to reduce overcrowding in Thailand prisons, the Justice Ministry is looking into allowing chronically ill inmates to be released on a royal pardon. There’s also talk of shortening sentences for those incarcerated on drug charges. Overcrowding has been a problem at Thailand’s prisons, especially now more…

  • Politics News88 billion baht Covid-19 spending bill, criticised by opposition, passes first reading

    88 billion baht Covid-19 spending bill, criticised by opposition, passes first reading

    Thailand’s House of Representatives kicked off a debate this morning on a bill that would transfer about 88 billion baht from the budgets of each government ministry to a central fund, to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and rehabilitate the nation’s economy. The first reading was approved with 264 votes. 4 MPs rejected it, 185 abstained and 1 MP failed to…

  • Tourism NewsThailand looks to Indian arrivals for new wave of tourism

    Thailand looks to Indian arrivals for new wave of tourism

    PHOTO: Chiang Rai Times With two million Indian tourists expected for this year, reports in both Thai and English language media claim visitors from India are ‘set to transform’ Thailand’s tourism landscape. TNN reports, via Thai Visa, that tourist numbers to Thailand from India are expected to increase to 14 million a year by the end of the next decade.…

  • Tourism NewsThe world scrambles to attract Chinese travellers

    The world scrambles to attract Chinese travellers

    PHOTO: pri.org Spending US$277 billion worldwide last year, Chinese travellers are the world’s top tourism spenders, by a long margin. Now the global travel industry is scrambling to capture its slice of the lucrative ‘bamboo dollar’, and falling out of Chinese travellers’ favour can have a dramatic impact on tourism figures. For example, Phuket has suffered as a result of…

  • Politics NewsOpposition hits out at government’s military spending in 2020 budget

    Opposition hits out at government’s military spending in 2020 budget

    PHOTO: Reuters | The Business Times The opposition is accusing the government of being more concerned with military arms than the daily struggles of Thai citizens. During a debate in Parliament on the budget bill, the government was accused of caring more about the growth in military spending than citizens’ financial woes. The opposition levied the attack after PM General…

  • EventsIndian tourist numbers to Thailand steadily climbing

    Indian tourist numbers to Thailand steadily climbing

    The number of Indian tourists coming to Thailand has doubled over the past half a decade and continues to grow by an average of 15% each year. The figures are from a survey conducted by researchers Nutchanart Kuprasert and Jidapha Chuayphan on behalf of the Bank of Thailand. Contributing factors include an overall increase in Indians travelling overseas as evidenced…

  • Economy NewsThais clamour for the “Chim, Shop, Chai” 1000 baht give-away program

    Thais clamour for the “Chim, Shop, Chai” 1000 baht give-away program

    PHOTO: buriramguru.com The “Chim, Shop, Chai” (Eat, Shop, Spend) program has been a resounding success, and it’s still got a another five days or so to go. Thai citizens can apply for the 1000 baht ‘gift’ from the government and spend the money at selected shops anywhere outside their home province. The government only accepts one million applications each day so,…

  • Economy NewsFinance Ministry launches 100 billion stimulus package to kickstart sagging economy

    Finance Ministry launches 100 billion stimulus package to kickstart sagging economy

    PHOTO: thailandshoppingdining.com The Government is kicking off a new stimulus package valued at 100 billion baht to “stimulate the grassroots economy”. Prasong Poontaneat, permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry reported that the government is preparing a brand-new stimulus package. “The Finance Ministry and related agencies will spend more than 100 billion baht on approximately 30 million low-income households nationwide.” The…

  • OpinionWhy the Chinese are more important than Western tourists to Thailand

    Why the Chinese are more important than Western tourists to Thailand

    OPINION by Dan Cheeseman – Dan About Thailand We need to wake up and smell the roses, us Westerners are no longer an important group for the Thailand tourism industry – in fact, we are what you would call ‘niche’ – and with good reason. The Chinese are here in numbers and not only will this continue to grow but…

  • Politics NewsPM holds urgent meetings with Thailand’s economic tsars today

    PM holds urgent meetings with Thailand’s economic tsars today

    The PM has put himself in control of Thailand’s economic matters nominating himself as Chairman of the Council of Economic Affairs. Today the PM Prayut Chan-o-cha holds talks with top officials of four key economic institutions on the budget bill as the economy, which has been a regional leader over the past decade, stutters. Academics are calling for cuts in military…