Thailand

THAILAND: Government ministers urged Thailand’s hotels, businesses, and private clinics to desist from slashing prices in order to attract tourists and instead focus on enhancing the country’s reputation as a premium tourism destination (Jul 4). In the first six months of this year, Thailand welcomed roughly 2 million foreign visitors, a steady recovery from the pandemic and more than 18 …

THAILAND: An 11-year-old female student was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 12-year-old male student at a school in Phetchabun province’s Wichian Buri district on June 21. This is a wake-up call for society. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health noted that the case has sparked public concern about school safety and how children can learn about …

BANGKOK: As a result of an airspace violation during a combat operation, Thailand scrambled fighter jets near its border with Myanmar on Thursday and instructed its defense attache to convey a warning to the military administration, its air force said. Air Force spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Prapat Sonjaidee said two F-16 fighter planes were dispatched when a radar detected a …

THAILAND: On Thursday, the Bank of Ayudhya Pcl (BAY) of Thailand stated that it has agreed to pay $155.3 million for Nomrua’s Thai securities subsidiary. Bank of Ayudhya, Thailand’s fifth-largest bank by assets, is 76.7 percent owned by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group in Japan. The Thai central bank must approve the deal, according to BAY. Krungsri Bank, Thailand’s fifth-largest bank …

THAILAND: On Tuesday, Thailand‘s finance minister predicted that the country’s GDP will increase by around 3.5 percent this year, mostly due to a rise in tourism and exports. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, the minister of tourism, told reporters that the ministry now expects 9.5 million international visitors this year. According to the official, the government plans to take other steps to help …

BANGKOK: By neutralizing COVID-19 when it enters the nose, Thai scientists are creating an antiviral nasal spray. The spray is presently in the development stage of study. The antibody utilized in the prototype was discovered by the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, which collaborated with the public and private sectors to develop it. Assistant Professor Dr Nakarin …

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed a statement announcing that the country’s COVID-19 situation had improved, and that the mask mandate had been lifted immediately. Wearing hygiene or cotton masks is entirely optional, according to a notice published in the Royal Gazette on Thursday (Jun 23). Public Health Ministry officials tell CNA that the mask-lifting rule applies to both …

BANGKOK: Thailand’s cassava exports increased from January to April last year as importers sought grain alternatives, according to a senior official on Monday (Jun 20), amid a food crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to the Commerce Ministry, the world’s top cassava exporter transported 4.6 million tonnes of cassava and related products such as tapioca, cassava starch, and …

THAILAND: Thailand’s lawmakers passed four pieces of legislation on same-sex unions in first reading on Wednesday, June 15, putting the country one step closer to becoming Asia’s second country to legalize same-gender weddings. However, campaigners claim that Thai laws and institutions have yet to reflect shifting social attitudes and that LGBT people and same-sex couples continue to face discrimination. Each …

THAILAND: Beginning July 1, the ‘Thailand Pass’ system, which requires foreign travelers to obtain permission from Thai officials in advance, will be phased down, removing one of the country’s last remaining travel restrictions. Thailand said on Friday, June 17 that it would end its much-criticized pre-registration process for international tourists and that face masks would no longer be required in …