THE sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump have been termed the end of globalisation and free trade. In fact, it marks the end of US leadership worldwide. If trust is the most important criteria of leadership, the US has clearly lost the trust of the vast majority of countries and the global
Analysis
Analysis-Trump tariffs pile stress on ailing world economy
By Reuters and published by Yahoo!News London/Tokyo –The latest round of US trade tariffs unveiled on Wednesday (Apr. 2) will sap yet more vigour from a world economy barely recovered from the post-pandemic inflation surge, weighed down by record debt and unnerved by geopolitical strife. Depending on how President Donald Trump and leaders of
Read moreNirmal Ghosh’s new book “Backlash” reveals why Trump now faces a “Counter- Backlash”
THE first question that came to mind while perusing this brilliant, page-turning book by veteran foreign correspondent Nirmal Ghosh was: Whence the name, “Backlash”? I will come to his response in a minute but before that, here’s a point-blank recommendation: Every American individual, corporation and institution in Asia and beyond should read this book.
Read moreAre global Travel & Tourism leaders inspiring HOPE? Gallup report offers food for thought
A REPORT on the future of global leadership by the Gallup Organisation says that inspiring hope is by far the most important characteristic followers seek in their leaders, especially young people. Next comes trust, compassion and stability. As I combed through that report, the first question that came to mind was: Have Travel &
Read moreAnalysis: Risk of violence escalates in Myanmar’s civil war as junta flags elections
By Reuters and published by Yahoo!News FOUR years after seizing power in a dawn coup that ousted an elected civilian government, Myanmar’s embattled ruling generals are making their most concerted effort to gain legitimacy – by pushing to hold another election. In the last two months, the junta has outlined plans to neighbours for
Read moreCollapse of World Economic Forum “Peace & Security” index exposes poor decision-making by global business leaders
A MEASUREMENT index of global cooperation in the field of “Peace & Security” has fallen to its lowest level ever. As a result of the growing sense of insecurity and frustration with “the system”, the patience of the global public is “wearing thin because time is running out.” So says the Global Cooperation Barometer
Read moreWarning signs emerge as Thai visitor arrivals fail to hit 2019 ‘normalcy’ level
PRELIMINARY visitor arrivals stats for 2024 show that Thailand ended the year below expectations. In fact, they are fraught with early-warning danger signs about the future growth prospects of Thai tourism in a rapidly changing and highly unstable operating environment, locally, regionally and globally. The preliminary stats show that Thailand ended 2024 with 35,545,714
Read moreNew Thai E-Visa scheme will NOT affect tourists from 93 visa-free countries
CITIZENS of 93 countries eligible for visa-free access to Thailand can continue to travel as normal WITHOUT having to apply for the online E-Visa set to take effect as of Jan. 1, 2025. The new scheme is only applicable to those coming for non-tourism purposes from the 93 countries as well as citizens of
Read moreNo hope for global peace as ‘merchants of death’, mostly American, rake in billions
THE Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), the world’s leading think-tank tracking global military expenditure, on Dec. 2 released new data on revenues earned by the 100 largest companies dealing in weaponry and military services. What’s that got to do with Travel & Tourism? Everything. The shocking statistics and trends unveiled in the report
Read moreThailand, Laos, Myanmar seek to head off looming dry-season haze and smog
THAILAND, Myanmar and Laos have launched a Joint Plan of Action, under the name of “CLEAR Sky Strategy” to pre-empt and prevent the annual dry-season haze and smog caused largely by forest fires and agricultural burning. While the joint effort may help mitigate the problem to some extent, speakers at the session admitted that
Read moreThai visitor arrivals stats prove link between tourism and peace
THAILAND has reported 26.08 million arrivals in the nine-month Jan.-Sept. 2024 period, up 30.09% over the same period of 2023. A deeper analysis shows how the country is benefitting from both internal peace and external conflicts as it seeks to safeguard the role of tourism as an economic mainstay in the second year of
Read moreTourism, connectivity and soft-power set to drive “proactive” Thai foreign policy
PROMOTING tourism, connectivity with the regional countries and Thai soft-power are to be the core drivers of the Foreign Ministry’s “proactive, people-centred economic diplomacy” in the next six months. Addressing the MFA’s second “Meet the Press” session on Sep. 19, Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said, “Diplomacy must be tangible, and diplomacy must put food
Read moreTouring local wisdom and soft power in Northeast Thailand
A STUDY trip organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the diplomatic corps and media to the Northeast was appropriately themed: “The Charm of Isaan:Transforming Local Wisdom into Creative Economy.” Participants were transported back in time to an era when simplicity, carbon-neutrality, organic and herb-based food were just a normal
Read moreThai tourism on track to hit 50 million by 2028 – IF peace prevails
THAILAND’S tourism comeback forged ahead in the first half of 2024 with 17.5 million arrivals, up 35% over 12.9 million in the first half 2023. Thai tourism is on track to regain the 2019 level of 40 million this year and hit 50 million by 2028, only IF global, regional and local risks and
Read morePolitical, economic conditions a bigger concern than technology, sustainability, ITB Berlin survey shows
MORE than 60% of the respondents to a survey by ITB Berlin fear “political and economic conditions” will have a bigger impact on business than either technology or climate change. The response has paved the way for a long-overdue shift in the focus of discussion at the world’s biggest travel show, as well as
Read moreTAT flags politics as a threat to the future of Thai tourism
THE Tourism Authority of Thailand has publicly recognised global geopolitics as a threat to the future of tourism in the post-Covid era. Officially posted by the TAT Governor Mrs. Thapanee Kiatphaibool on her Facebook page on July 8, 2024, the official recognition of this threat paves the way for it to be openly discussed
Read moreTourism-deprived South Thailand provinces expect better days with improved road, air access
Narathiwat Province, South Thailand – The South Thailand provinces of Pattani and Narathiwat are pretty much at the bottom of the heap in terms of tourism. That is set to change over the next three years thanks to upcoming improvements in road and air accessibility. An upgrading of Narathiwat airport is due for completion
Read moreThailand continues converting battlefields into trading fields, this time in the South
Pattani Province, South Thailand – In the 1980s, after the end of the Indochina wars of the 1970s, Thailand forged a policy of “converting battlefields into trading fields”, making the kingdom a hub of travel, trade and transportation for the Greater Mekong Subregion countries of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. As its far-sighted success is
Read moreAnalysis: Of a slap-and-kiss relationship
By Out-Crowd A WORKING RELATIONSHIP between former prime minister/current de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra and unnamed elements of the old-time powers-that-be virtually showcases mutual slaps and kisses every once in a while as long as the strange bedfellows share the same enemy – the Move Forward. Since the polarised politics unexpectedly ground
Read moreCOLUMN: As fires threaten the PATA region, who will stop the pyromaniacs?
THE PATA Annual Summit 2024 opens in Macau today, May 15, with the usual fanfare that has accompanied such events. Delegate numbers have crossed the projected targets. The programme is “guaranteeing a wealth of enriching experiences, including dynamic plenary sessions, participative roundtables & breakout sessions.” A rash of images will be uploaded on Facebook
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