webfact

Thailand betting on dramatic "boys' love" tourism boom: FEATURE By Genki Ito, KYODO NEWS Fans gather in front of a booth promoting Thai "boys' love" dramas at the "Mini Thai Festival" in Osaka on June 5, 2022. (Kyodo) Thailand has begun a campaign to attract international tourists, and especially Japanese travelers, using the popularity of homegrown productions of "boys' love," or BL dramas, as a drawcard. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264480-thailand-betting-on-dramatic-boys-love-tourism-boom-feature/

Fans gather in front of a booth promoting Thai "boys' love" dramas at the "Mini Thai Festival" in Osaka on June 5, 2022. (Kyodo) By Genki Ito, KYODO NEWS Thailand has begun a campaign to attract international tourists, and especially Japanese travelers, using the popularity of homegrown productions of "boys' love," or BL dramas, as a drawcard. At the "Mini Thai Festival" held in Osaka in early June, two booths were set up by video distributors in the "Thai BL" corner, dragging throngs of people away from street food stalls and an exhibition of the combat sport Muay Thai. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT, handed out pamphlets on Thai BL. Known in Thailand as "Y series" -- a reference to the Japanese "yaoi" fiction that features homoerotic relationships between male characters and provided the inspiration for BL dramas -- the productions were once looked upon with prejudice but have gained acceptance due to their potential to function as a cultural export. "My heart flutters when I see these scenes of handsome actors falling in love with each other," Keiko Kobayashi, a 58-year-old who works in Osaka and met with friends to drink Thai beer at the festival, said. Full story: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/06/b80956bb7d10-feature-thailand-betting-on-dramatic-boys-love-tourism-boom.html - © Copyright Kyodo News 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Administrator of "VK" site arrested for spreading pornographic clips - membership fees approached a million baht Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that TICAC (Thailand Internet Crime Against Children) officers headed by Pol Lt-gen Kornchai Khlaikhleung and local officers in Tak, NW Thailand, arrested a man called Olarn, 29, on a warrant for disseminating child pornography. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264479-administrator-of-vk-site-arrested-for-spreading-pornographic-clips-membership-fees-approached-a-million-baht/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that TICAC (Thailand Internet Crime Against Children) officers headed by Pol Lt-gen Kornchai Khlaikhleung and local officers in Tak, NW Thailand, arrested a man called Olarn, 29, on a warrant for disseminating child pornography. He was doing this from a house in Mae Jarao sub-district. Computer equipment, a phone and 25 sim cards were taken into evidence, the latter being used to access a site known as VK or Vianglakorn. He had 3,094 members on his site that charges 300 baht for membership so that people can share and view child porn without having to download. Investigations showed that Olarn was the owner of two sites under the VK name. Olarn was arrested in 2021 and given a six month prison sentence (suspended for one year) and fined 50,000 baht. His sites had around 176,000 followers looking for both child and adult porn that he got from OnlyFans,VK and Twitter. From this he set up his own VK network for "VIPs". He made 900,000 baht doing this. It appeared his previous arrest was for taking part in protests against the government. He was taken to Pak Kret police station in Nonthaburi. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Pattaya residents urge tourist police to take action against foreign motorbike racers in Soi Yensabai area By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — The Pattaya News reporters revisited Soi Yensabai yesterday, June 29th, to acquire residents’ comments about a group of foreign motorbike racers causing noise and disturbances in Soi Yensabai on June 28th. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264477-pattaya-residents-urge-tourist-police-to-take-action-against-foreign-motorbike-racers-in-soi-yensabai-area/

By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — The Pattaya News reporters revisited Soi Yensabai yesterday, June 29th, to acquire residents’ comments about a group of foreign motorbike racers causing noise and disturbances in Soi Yensabai on June 28th. According to a motorbike taxi driver, Somwang (last name withheld), these foreign racers had just returned after Thailand’s reopening to tourists. He stated that the racers started gathering from the evening to midnight and sometimes into the next morning. They also drove around in groups and often ignored the traffic laws and none wore helmets, Somwang said. Another interviewee, Ad, who sold flower garlands in the area, told The Pattaya News reporters that the racers usually drove around residential areas and disturbed sleeping residents. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/06/30/pattaya-residents-urge-tourist-police-to-take-action-against-foreign-motorbike-racers-in-soi-yensabai-area/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Tragedy averted as school van with 12 kids aboard plunges into klong north of Bangkok Daily News Thai Caption: Just a seizure not microsleep Members of the public helped twelve boys and girls escape death after their school van was driven into Klong 3 in Pathum Thani, the province north of the Thai capital Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264476-tragedy-averted-as-school-van-with-12-kids-aboard-plunges-into-klong-north-of-bangkok/

Daily News Thai Caption: Just a seizure not microsleep Members of the public helped twelve boys and girls escape death after their school van was driven into Klong 3 in Pathum Thani, the province north of the Thai capital Bangkok. Two of the children had minor leg injuries and were ferried to hospital with others being taken by parents before police and district officials arrived on the scene. They found the Mercedes Benz van almost completely submerged. Picture: Daily News Driver Suriya Jeenpracha, 46, was taking the children home and had a full compliment. He said he had some kind of episode or seizure but was sure it was not a microsleep. He has been on the job only a month. Picture: Daily News CCTV from the area showed the van come out of a sub-soi and cross Klong 3 Road and go directly into the klong. It was lucky that no traffic was passing and that the vehicle did not hit a power pole. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information Klong Luang police are interviewing the driver again ahead of a possible prosecution. The childrens' school was not named in the Daily News story.

Street vendors come under spotlight of Hua Hin Municipality By Online Reporter Vendors trading on the sidewalk outside Hua Hin Wittayalai School next to Market Village have come under the spotlight of the local municipality. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264475-street-vendors-come-under-spotlight-of-hua-hin-municipality/

By Online Reporter Vendors trading on the sidewalk outside Hua Hin Wittayalai School next to Market Village have come under the spotlight of the local municipality. On Tuesday (June 28), Mr. Nopporn Wutthikul, Mayor of Hua Hin presided over a meeting among municipal officials after members of the public complained the vendors were blocking the sidewalk. The vendors sell mainly food items such as snacks and drinks, as well as other goods, to students at the end of the school day. However, the municipality has received complaints about the vendors trading in an area which should be reserved for pedestrians. Source: https://www.huahintoday.com/local-news/street-vendors-come-under-spotlight-of-hua-hin-municipality/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Surviving members of mass killing appeal to justice ministry - they face homelessness as bank prepares to sell homes Daily News Thai Caption: No place to live The surviving members of a family in Krabi face homelessness after a bank ordered them to get out of two houses by mid July. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264474-surviving-members-of-mass-killing-appeal-to-justice-ministry-they-face-homelessness-as-bank-prepares-to-sell-homes/

Daily News Thai Caption: No place to live The surviving members of a family in Krabi face homelessness after a bank ordered them to get out of two houses by mid July. Jaree Buttherp was the grandfather of Worayuth Sanglang, a former phu yai ban or local official in Ban Klang, Krabi, southern Thailand, who was murdered along with seven other family members by a man called Surifat and his associates in July 2017, reported Daily News. The case shocked Thailand. Subsequently seven people were given the death sentence including the ringleader. Now a bank has said that the family members still alive must pay 3 million baht owed on two mortgaged properties by July 15th or they will be evicted and the properties sold on the open market. These are properties mortgaged by Worayuth where the assassinations took place. Jaree's own property was mortgaged by the killer in another deal so the family will have nowhere to live. They are victims and yesterday presented their case to the Krabi office of the Thai Ministry of Justice seeking help. They said that 10 family members will have no place to live if the bank follow through on their threats. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

"Paralytic woman in white" causes mayhem on the road - 10 injured in multiple collision in Korat video screenshot Pak Chong police were called to a scene of utter devastation in Nong Saray sub-district on the old Mitraphap Highway in Nakhon Ratchasima, NE Thailand yesterday afternoon. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264467-paralytic-woman-in-white-causes-mayhem-on-the-road-10-injured-in-multiple-collision-in-korat/

video screenshot Pak Chong police were called to a scene of utter devastation in Nong Saray sub-district on the old Mitraphap Highway in Nakhon Ratchasima, NE Thailand yesterday afternoon. A white Nissan pick-up being driven by a woman dressed all in white had slammed head on into a red Nissan then spun round and collided with four motorcycles. video screenshot Around ten people, mostly students from the nearby Pak Chong Technical College, were injured. The paralytically drunk woman in white, who was only slightly injured, refused or was unable to give her name and had no idea what she had just done. A video showed her being taken away somewhat unwillingly in a police pick-up as locals stared at the devastation. video screenshot All she said was that she had been drinking at a Buddhist ordination ceremony. The injured were ferried to Maharat Hospital, reported Thai Rath. Picture: Thai Rath -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

"Daruma Sushi" executive's house searched - safe and Porsche taken away as AMLO investigates Thai Rath reported that 10 officers from the Consumer Protection Division police headed by Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Prasertsang went to the house of Daruma Sushi executive Metha Chalingsuk yesterday in Seri Villa 2, Prawes district of Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264463-daruma-sushi-executives-house-searched-safe-and-porsche-taken-away-as-amlo-investigates/

Thai Rath reported that 10 officers from the Consumer Protection Division police headed by Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Prasertsang went to the house of Daruma Sushi executive Metha Chalingsuk yesterday in Seri Villa 2, Prawes district of Bangkok. Metha, 39, is in custody facing charges of online fraud totalling 100 million baht. Officers took away a safe and a Porsche Cayenne from the property where they also found dozens of designer bags. The media said that the Anti Money Laudering Office would be examining the provenance of items seized after a search warrant was served yesterday. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Thursday June 30 2022 Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264462-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-thursday-june-30-2022/

Listen to the news: Thailand national health office announced that from July 1st the country will enter a post-pandemic stage, and the government would no longer provide free hospital care for covid patients or and may stop distributing free antigen test kits. People will need to rely on their own health insurance coverage for medical services. Thai embassies in South Korea and Singapore have been notified to warn travellers from Thailand not to bring cannabis-based products or cannabis extracts with them. Possession and consumption of cannabis or hemp could lead to a lengthy jail term or the death penalty. Thai authorities in the southern province of Surin have returned 166 Myanmar nationals to their own country after they had entered Thailand without documents. 10 boats were used to transport the migrants who authorities say had volunteered to return. Authorities have impounded some 59 tonnes of pork, believed to have been smuggled from overseas then stored at a refrigeration facility in Nakhon Pathom. The owner of the cold storage facility has been given 15 days to produce documents permitting the import, or face legal action. Region: Hong Kong weather forecasters warned the first typhoon of the summer appears to be forming south of the island, threatening to bring heavy storms during President Xi Jinping’s Hong Kong visit tomorrow. Nearly 3,000 VIP guests and employees have entered quarantine at hotels, while police have thrown a security blanket around key locations. President Xi is in Hong kong to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1997 handover. Malaysia's top telecoms companies have agreed on terms to share ownership of the state-controlled company that will deploy the country's much-delayed 5G mobile network. A shareholders agreement is due to be inked early next month. Fine and sunny some cloud and showers this afternoon Chiang Mai: Bright with thundershowers 31C Bangkok: Sunny partly cloudy showers afternoon 34C Pattaya and SE: Bright but cloudy expect showers this afternoon 31C Phuket and the South: Bright, Cloudy isolated thundershowers 29C Hua Hin: Bright becoming cloudy with some rain likely this afternoon, 33C Listen Live: Surf 102.5 Facebook: Surf 102.5 -- © Copyright SURF 102.5 FM 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Chiang Mai: Foreign tourists everywhere as hopes surge for post pandemic recovery Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath sent its reporters to the streets of Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand where they reported that there were foreign tourists "walking to and fro" everywhere. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264458-chiang-mai-foreign-tourists-everywhere-as-hopes-surge-for-post-pandemic-recovery/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath sent its reporters to the streets of Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand where they reported that there were foreign tourists "walking to and fro" everywhere. The picture near the Tha Pae gate, on Loi Khroh Road and around the moat in the old city was all the same - plenty of tourists especially Europeans. They had pictures of that, with faces "vaselined" out, perhaps mindful of new identity protection laws. Picture: Thai Rath Tour companies, bike rental firms, guest houses, shops and restaurants were all back in business, getting going again after more than two dire years of the pandemic. This was especially true of tour companies, they suggested. As evidence of this they spoke to Anchan Jirawatnakul of Patiothai Tour in Muang district who said she reopened in March after being shut for two years. She was starting to sell tours again to Europeans mostly with Brits and Germans top of the list. Picture: Thai Rath They were particularly interested in nature trails to Doi Inthanon - Thailand's highest peak - Doi Suthep, one day tours to Chiang Rai as well as rafting and elephant riding. "Thank goodness Covid is over," she enthused. "There is renewed hope now that we can make a full recovery and return to the kind of business we had before Covid". -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Khao San Road: Marijuana seller told to get a permit - officials confirm selling weed is legal Picture: Siam Rath Officials from the Phra Nakorn district office and Chanasongkram Police station were out in Khao San Road yesterday making sure that all traders had the required permits to sell on the street. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264454-khao-san-road-marijuana-seller-told-to-get-a-permit-officials-confirm-selling-weed-is-legal/

Picture: Siam Rath Officials from the Phra Nakorn district office and Chanasongkram Police station were out in Khao San Road yesterday making sure that all traders had the required permits to sell on the street. One that didn't was a marijuana trader who would roll up joints for his customers on the popular tourist street. Watthawee Thaweewat or "Dave", 36, was told that he needed a licence from the local office as all people did who sell anything on the street. He was told to go and get one and warned that he'd be fined 2,000 next time if he didn't have a licence. Local district director Wasan Bunmeaunwai said that there was no problem with people openly selling weed on the streets - it was all perfectly legal now but everyone needs to have a permit to sell no matter what it is. He was accompanied by Pol Col Tharadol Hemmaphat from the police station just around the corner who also took no action. Dave said as soon as weed was legalized he sold his organic marijuana in Pattaya for a day then moved to Khao San. He was moving around to several locations in the area so as not to annoy other male and female traders selling weed on the street. He said he had one strain called "Nock Charlotte" (transliterated from Thai and possibly incorrect) for 450 baht a gram and what he called Hang Krarok (Squirrel Tail) or Thai Stick for just 200 baht. He was happy to roll his wares up into joints for his customers free of charge. He then told Siam Rath that he was off to the district office to get a permit. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Thailand’s dual pricing still gets everyone posting by Michael Bridge file photo On June the 8th we posted an article about the resumption of dual pricing fees at national parks, forest parks, botanical gardens, and arboretums. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264450-thailand’s-dual-pricing-still-gets-everyone-posting/

file photo by Michael Bridge On June the 8th we posted an article about the resumption of dual pricing fees at national parks, forest parks, botanical gardens, and arboretums. The announcement showed a continuation of the long-standing dual pricing policy with foreigners being asked to pay higher fees, in this case, five times those asked of Thai people. In 2020 Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the TAT would discuss stopping dual pricing for expatriates with the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. Seems the National Parks ministry was not listening!!! Well, this post definitely seemed to hit home with a staggering 13.8k views and over 652 responses to date and still rising…. way above the normal response at AseanNow.com Here are just a few of the comments we received. If we thought of doing this in Australia, we would be branded racist and face fines. No matter where you come from even Thailand, here you pay the same as locals. "He said the agency wants to introduce an identity card for expats, helping to distinguish them from tourists so they will be charged the same price as locals" Don't overcomplicate it, just ask for a passport if they must Last week at Kalasin falls in Kanchanaburi I was charged 10 x's more than the girlfriend who they thought was Thai. Her 30 baht, me 300 baht, and then 30 baht for the car to enter. Tried to show my Pink ID card and was pointed to a sign confirming even non-Thai resident/expat IDS not accepted anymore. If you’re a foreigner you’re a tourist in their eyes. If you look Thai, like my GF from Myanmar they don't even blink. It is what it is, dual pricing, and a way to make money. Luckily, the vendors selling food don't charge the same way....... But does the government in fact make any money from this practice.... I mean, enough to really make a difference to the nation's finances. (I guess I am assuming I am like most ex-pats....visiting a National Park just once in a decade....) Just needs a bit of a PR update really. Charge everybody 100Bt and offer a generous 80% discount for Thai nationals and anyone over 70-year-old who brings their grandparents with them. Yes of course it's wrong but are you going to let a few baht stop you from enjoyment? Hopefully, if you have families here, you don't deny them just because you'll be paying a bit too much. Dual pricing in Thailand applies to many things not only national parks. You have to accept that a foreigner whether living in Thailand or a tourist will always be a foreigner no matter what and be charged accordingly even after you die. My Thai missus in Cambodia tried to dodge the $1 fee at a temple, they asked her to speak Cambodian. FAILED. I don’t have a problem with tax-funded attractions charging a premium for foreign visitors (not residents). What boils my blood is when private attractions follow the same policy, similar to the private hospitals charging foreigners much higher fees when receiving treatment I think tourists should keep all the receipts for food and beverage purchased on their trip then when leaving go to the VAT desk and demand all the VAT back. If you ever visit the Great Wall in China, you will experience a huge difference in charges between Chinese and foreigners. From memory about ten times when I was there in the year 2000!!! Just do as I do, stay away, and don’t go, their loss not mine. I find them well overpriced anyway Editor’s note: So, the debate continues and maybe the Minister for Thailand’s National Parks will change his mind and charge Thai’s more than tourists. Because with crazy airfares we may need to save our Thai baht to afford buy an ice cream at these parks! -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-30 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

World Sports News - Thursday 30 June 2022 by Chili Radio Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264448-world-sports-news-thursday-30-june-2022-by-chili-radio/