Eric Loh

Word for word description of global tourism. https://www.globaltourismforum.org/blog/2020/03/19/the-tourism-sector-in-a-coma-because-of-the-coronavirus/

Western tourists has stagnated or in case of the Australians declined over last 3-4 years. Not finished but rather less appealing to the western tourists except for the Russians.

I totally agree with you with every thing you posted and that the recovery will be long and painful. However the economic meltdown is not as devastating as the 1997 Tom Yum Kung financial crisis and Thailand recovered and didn't crumbled. In 1997, Thailand exhausted all the foreign reserves to defend the Baht. This time the foreign reserves are barely touched. The Baht dropped 56 B per USD in 1997 compare to current Baht which is holding up relatively well. SET is still trading well too which indicated confidence with investors. In 1997, foreign and domestic investors fled the market and SET lost 75% of its value. Thailand had to borrowed almost USD20 B from IMF with tough conditions and bank runs were comman. Debt to GDP rose to 167%. Still Thailand economy didn't crumbled and recovered after 4 years with Baht recovered to 29B and IMF loans fully paid. Guess it's down to a competent government which is missing in this government. I think we can concur with that.

One solution to rivers overflowing adopted by South Korea was the "River Basin" plan. In Seoul, The Han River has almost 90 sq. kilometer of basin which absorbed large volume of river water during raining season and recreation spaces during dry season. I think Thalland does have some small scale planning for basins but clearly insufficient.

Such a plan was actually thought off 18 years ago. https://www.scmp.com/article/436397/satellite-city-ease-bangkok-blues

Thanks for the clarification on genomic surveillance. That's quite different from covid testing as alleged.

Are you making this up. Perhaps providing a link that state that UK’s color listing is based on genome sequencing of the virus will prove your ability to not make things up or making conspiratory claim.

We can safely say that all covid data are a mess not just in Thailand. Nevertheless the available data is still useful to understand the needs and target the interventions.

Really the prerogative of UK to place any countries in their color listing. Not sure about irresponsible behavior being the criteria. Take for instance, Malaysia had more infections and deaths and yet placed under amber. Surely irresponsible behavior resulted in Malaysia higher numbers than Thailand but yet Malaysia is amber. In any case, Thailand don’t seem to be much bother with no outcry from the foreign ministry. I am sure UK will relax the traveler requirement when better sense prevailed.

Ideally where nations worked together in a spirit of pure-hearted scientific inquiry, it will be in the best interest for China to cooperate into the origins of the coronavirus. Perhaps when the pandemic is fully prevented and less interest in politicising and promoting conspiratorial claims, we can see cooperation. I really hope that investigation will be done in the interest of science.

The WHO mission leader Peter Ben Embarek and team member Marion Koopmans also praised China’s cooperation during the 4 week investigation. Follows by saying that it’s “extremely unlikely” that SARS-CoV-2 originated in the Chinese lab and the team would not investigate that hypothesis further. That’s the fact too.

What exactly are the lies that WHO spread. Please do provide some sort of evidence as you seem to have some inside information that none has.

Intriguing accusation and insinuation. WHO is an agency of the UN. You think UN has been compromised? Largest fund contributor to WHO is USA with the rest from mainly western countries. Certainly WHO is not independent. That’s the fact and don’t support your delusion.

If Prayut feel confident that this poll result is correct, he will call for a snap election today.

Those exchange students not likely to do much thinking. Their parents are cash strapped from the economic effects of the pandemic, geo-political tension, increase attacks of Asians and growing conservative anger towards foreigners. Vaccines passport for international student is just one challenge. Western international education will have to do the thinking from declining foreign students enrollment for years and seeing their cash cow looking shaky.

Done 2 AZ today. Will wait for booster shot when sufficient researchs on duration are available. Also depend on my health and antibodies count.

50 countries accept Sinovac and Sinopharm. Not every travellers want to go to EU or USA. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/travel-list-of-eu-countries-accepting-sinovac-vaccine-as-proof-of-immunity-for-entry/

Not worthless when you see the reductions in deaths and hospitalization daily. Vaccines or all types prevent such dire conditions.

She is the manager, not the coach who is yet to be appointed. Problem with Thailand is that they keep changing coach and each coach bring their own playing philosophy and style. They also tend to select players that suit his philosophy creating dis-continuity. Football in Thailand is a popular sport and high profile attracting politicians and corporate executives and their politics.

Thailand used to make shipping containers that meets international standard. If there are money to be made, I am sure someone will take this on. Non shipping container are still made here.

Thailand Foreign Minister should take this discrimination with UK just like India. India foreign ministry kicks hell of a row and got UK to rescind their policy not accepting India made AZ. Don is again not doing his proper job.

All good for protecting the driver but what about the passengers. Covid-19 droplets and aerosol particles can survive for up to few days on surfaces and airborne.

PPRP barely won the majority in the previous election with a very slim margin difference of 10 seats. They were able to form the government by re-writing the election law which gave them and their allies many party-list seats. Now that the election laws are reverted back to the old method, the ruling party will face a reduction of party list seats from their coalition of 19 medium and small parties. The recent no confidence vote revealed that not all appointed senators will pull behind Prayut this time. Internally PPRP is fracturing. Prayut is not a party member and Prawit as party leader may betray him this time. Thammanat is still Secretary general and highly influential in the party and I see him stabbing the back of Prayut again. Anyway, I don't see him staying long in the party as there are too much bad blood between them after the silent coup. All army parties in the political history of Thailand didn't last long and tend to disintegrate because of power struggle and conflicting interests. I see this will happen to PPRP.

My gym (Fitness Int) has been calling me and letting me know that opening may be in October. Some hope.

In July he highlighted 7 point plan to develop the country. Today he shrank that down to 5 goals and omitting the garden variety plan for corruption free, reform the police and military. Can you take this man seriously?