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
Analysis
Warning 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
Read moreCOLUMN: Israel pulled out of the ATM Dubai. So did I. Here’s why.
IN 2023, Israel was present at the Arabian Travel Mart in Dubai. So was I. This year, Israel gave it a miss. So did I. For pretty much the same reasons, I would think. It does not take much to figure why Israel was absent at this year’s ATM between May 6-9, 2024. Every
Read moreAs the global Arms Bazaar booms, Travel & Tourism pays the price
ON APRIL 23, 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published its annual World Military Expenditure report for 2023. It showed that the Arms Bazaar raked in $2,443 billion, the highest level ever. The figure was up 6.8% over 2022, up for the 9th consecutive year and the steepest year-on-year rise since 2009.
Read moreFEATURE: A Tale of Thai-Owned Foxes and Owls in England
RUNNING A SPORTS business in England, a couple of Thai nationals are virtually at extreme ends from each other, albeit evidently without conflict of interest in between. One is of all pride and joy whilst the other is of all gloom and anguish. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, the CEO of duty-free retail chain King Power
Read moreThailand, Laos, Australia mark 30th anniversary of the Mekong’s first post-war peace project
THAILAND, Laos and Australia are this week holding a series of activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, the first infrastructure project to reinforce the peace and promote travel, tourism, transportation and trade as a conduit for the economic development of the post-war Indochina region. The 1,170-kilometre bridge was
Read moreTravel & Tourism pays the price of not investing in peace
THE global Travel & Tourism industry is waiting with bated breath to see what happens next in the Middle East. After ignoring the rising geopolitical tension for months, the industry was jolted out of its comfort zones by a sharp escalation which threatened to again bring the entire house crashing down. Climate change and
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