THAILAND is gearing up to reopen the Test & Go entry procedure on Feb. 1 with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confident that all systems, particularly public health, are ready to handle the increased inflow of foreign tourists, Naewna newspaper said today (Jan. 28). Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the
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Credit Bureau sets up Bureau Lab for speedy service
THE National Credit Bureau has set up a Bureau Lab to provide people with easier access to their credit data and score with both over-the-counter and self service options available, TV Channel 7 said today (Jan. 24). The Bureau Lab is located at Tha Wang Lang (near Gate 8 of Siriraj Hospital) and the public
Read moreArmy’s newly-opened café for the public draws flak
ATTRACTING a lot of attention and along with it wide-ranging criticism is the 4th Army Region’s Facebook post announcing the opening of its Chor Coffee shop for the general public at Thepsatri Si Sunthon Camp, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Sanook.com said today (Jan. 21). The 4th Army Region boasts that nearby this café are some
Read moreConsumers hit as prices of papayas too rise sharply
HOT ON heels of pork prices having risen are complaints from vendors that papayas too are now more expensive with the variety suitable for making the Thai salad som tum currently being sold at 18 a kilogramme from seven baht earlier, Amarin TV said today (Jan. 17) This TV channel’s reporters visited a plantation
Read moreRevenue Dept’s Twitter account hacked amid dispute over crypto trading tax
THE REVENUE Department’s Twitter account was hacked today (Jan. 16) and turned to promoting non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with the logo changed to one from Bored Ape Yacht Club, Sanook.com said. The hacking occurred amid a wave of criticism following the department’s announcement earlier this month it would be imposing a 15 percent capital gains
Read moreEx-minister: Whole economic structure needs adjusting due to rising food prices
FORMER commerce minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said in a Facebook post today (Jan. 15) that with prices of daily necessities having jumped amid low wages it is now necessary to adjust the whole economic structure, Matichon newspaper said. He warned that the entire economy could collapse and if this happened it would take a long
Read moreCiti to sell consumer business in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to UOB Group
By CNBC CITIGROUP will sell its consumer banking businesses in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam to Singapore’s United Overseas Bank, the banks announced today (Jan. 14). As part of the deal, UOB said it will acquire Citi’s unsecured and secured lending portfolios, wealth management and retail deposit units that make up its consumer banking
Read moreNew 300 baht tourist entry fee to generate B1.5 billion this year
A NEW entry fee of 300 baht being levied on foreign tourists entering Thailand from April 1, 2022 onwards will generate approximately 1.5 billion baht from the 5 million holidaymakers expected to travel here this year, Matichon newspaper said today (Jan. 12). Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the money collected will be
Read moreWorld Bank sees sharp world growth slowdown
By Reuters staff, published by Channel NewsAsia Washington – The World Bank today (Jan. 11) cut its forecasts for economic growth in the United States, the Euro area and China and warned that high debt levels, rising income inequality and new Covid-19 variants threatened the recovery in developing economies. It said global growth is expected
Read moreExtra House panel to study Thailand’s first-ever casino project
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES today (Dec. 2) set up an extraordinary House committee to study a long-awaited launch of Thailand’s first-ever casino and entertainment complex project. The MPs cast an overwhelming 310:9 vote to approve the setting up of the 60-member extraordinary panel to study the casino and entertainment complex
Read moreGovt moves to reopen Thai-Malaysian border checkpoints on Dec. 16
A SPOKESPERSON for the Prime Minister’s Office said today (Nov. 28) the government has set a goal to reopen checkpoints along the Thai-Malaysian border on Dec. 16 as urged by MPs so as to revive tourism, Amarin TV said. Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, deputy spokesperson at the Prime Minister’s Office, said the reopening of these
Read moreElectricity bills set to rise in 2022
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has decided to increase the fuel tariff (FT) rate to 1.39 satang per per kilowatt-hour (unit) during the first four months of next year leading to average electricity rate of 3.78 baht per unit, or a 4.63 percent increase from the current period., Thai Rath newspaper said. This afternoon (Nov.
Read moreThai central bank chief says economic engines not as strong as before
By Reuters Staff, published by Channel NewsAsia THAILAND’S economic engines may not be as strong as before and the country’s important tourism sector may take longer to normalise, its central bank governor said today (Nov. 18). Factors that will be key to future growth are the digital economy and sustainability, Bank of Thailand Governor
Read moreReopening of entertainment venues put off to Jan. 15
THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today (Nov. 12) postponed the reopening of entertainment venues such as pubs, bars and karaoke lounges from Dec. 1, 2021 to Jan. 15, 2022, Amarin TV said. It had been expected that these entertainment venues would be allowed to reopen on Dec. 1, 2021 after the country opened
Read moreThailand plans to reopen borders to foreign workers amid shortage
By Reuters staff, published by Channel NewsAsia THAILAND plans to reopen its borders to workers from neighbouring Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, a government official said today (Nov 9), in a bid to ease a labour shortage that is hurting its export and tourism-dependent economy. Pairote Chotikasathien, from the Ministry of Labour, said the rules
Read more16,595 foreign tourists arrived in 5 days, over 90,000 sign up for Thailand Pass
THE reopening of Thailand on Nov. 1 drew 16,595 foreign tourists on both Test and Go basis in Sandbox scheme zones and those undergoing Alternative Quarantine procedure with 90,165 people applying for Thailand Pass as of yesterday Nov. 6, TV Channel 7 said this morning (Nov. 7). Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s
Read moreWelcome to Thailand! Tourists from 26 countries flying in during Nov. 1-5
THE Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said today (Nov. 1) the first day of the reopening of the country to tourists from 63 countries who are exempted from Covid quarantine that arrivals from 26 countries are expected during Nov. 1-5, Sanook.com said. Air ticket reservations as of October 29, 2021 show 21,316 foreign
Read moreDiesel price to be maintained at 30 baht per litre
THE government’s energy policy administration council has approved a proposal to subsidise the pricing of diesel in order to maintain the retail price at 30 baht, NNT said today (Oct. 21). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Supattanapong Punmeechaow said the subsidy will be provided from the 9.2 billion baht Energy Fund to maintain
Read morePM increases countries allowed quarantine-free entry from 10 to 46
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha this evening (Oct. 21) said in a Facebook post that he is increasing the number of low-risk countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Thailand without the necessity of quarantine from 10 to 46 starting November 1, Siam Rath said. However to enjoy this benefit these tourists may only
Read moreCovid-hit Chiang Mai hotel cuts room rate to 100 baht a night
A HOTEL in Chiang Mai that has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic cut its room rate to just 100 baht a night during Oct 10-12 and quickly got over 70% bookings, Amarin TV said this morning (Oct. 7). Sleep CNX hotel in Suthep sub-district, Mueang district, is among the hotels in this
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