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NESDC cuts Thai economic growth in 2022 over war in Ukraine, lockdown in China By Panithan Onthaworn Thailand’s government on Tuesday revised down the country’s economic growth projection for 2022, due to concerns over fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid-19 outbreak situation in China. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259862-nesdc-cuts-thai-economic-growth-in-2022-over-war-in-ukraine-lockdown-in-china/

By Panithan Onthaworn Thailand’s government on Tuesday revised down the country’s economic growth projection for 2022, due to concerns over fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid-19 outbreak situation in China. The National Economic and Social Development Council, the government planning unit, lowered its growth outlook of Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) to 2.5 – 3.5 per cent, down from 3.5 – 4.5 per cent in February. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “The Thai economy is vulnerable to the prolonged war in Ukraine, which is driving global energy prices and inflation,” NESDC secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan told a briefing. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/40172/nesdc-cuts-thai-economic-growth-in-2022-over-war-in-ukraine-lockdown-in-china/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-05-17 - 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.

Bangkok gubernatorial debate held ahead of Sunday’s elections As voting in the first Bangkok gubernatorial election in nine years will take place on May 22nd, Thai PBS hosted a debate on Monday in which five key candidates took part and shared their visions for the future of Thailand’s capital and answered questions from the public. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259861-bangkok-gubernatorial-debate-held-ahead-of-sunday’s-elections/

As voting in the first Bangkok gubernatorial election in nine years will take place on May 22nd, Thai PBS hosted a debate on Monday in which five key candidates took part and shared their visions for the future of Thailand’s capital and answered questions from the public. The debate began with the question “How do you think Bangkok will look four years from today?” The first candidate to answer was former senator Rosana Tositrakul. She said that Bangkok in 2026 should be free of corruption and resources will be allocated equally to all of its citizens. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Other candidates, such as Move Forward Party’s Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, said that Bangkok should be free of unfair regulations, while former deputy Bangkok governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul said that the city should be more financially independent. The Democrat Party’s Suchatvee Suwansawat said that Bangkok will become more competitive, compared to other cities around the world, while Thai Sang Thai Party’s Sita Tiwari said that the capital will become a more inclusive and diverse city. In the second round of the debate, six questions were asked. Each candidate had to pick three of them to answer. The first question was “How would you improve accessibility in Bangkok?” Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bangkok-gubernatorial-debate-held-ahead-of-sundays-elections/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-17 - 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.

That's the damaged ATM! Top pointing as media reports someone was angry at being unable to get cash Picture: Siam Rath Locals helped Siam Rath with some handy pointing at a Krung Thai ATM that was smashed up in Rayong, eastern Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259859-thats-the-damaged-atm-top-pointing-as-media-reports-someone-was-angry-at-being-unable-to-get-cash/

Picture: Siam Rath Locals helped Siam Rath with some handy pointing at a Krung Thai ATM that was smashed up in Rayong, eastern Thailand. Lest there be any doubt which one it was! Attached to the front of the machine on Ratbamrung Road was a photocopied piece of paper that added to the bathos. It read: "Out of Order waiting For Repair". You don't say! Muang district police got a 191 call at 3 am yesterday to report the severe damage. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe A roll of receipt paper was unravelled at the scene and there were plenty of stones and rocks scattered about. Plastic parts were smashed though the screen was intact. A local shop owner called Kertkrit, 33, said the ATM had been damaged two months ago and the bank attached the sign but were dallying in their repairs. Many locals wanted to use the machine but were disappointed, the reason he thought someone took it out on the ATM when they couldn't get late night cash. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-17 - 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. 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

Video: Sabotage at water park! Owner posts video after residents flooded out - buyer pulls out Daily News Thai Caption: Countdown 3-2-1 - Pool slashed The owner of the Saen Sanook water park in Thepparak Road Soi 102, Samut Prakan has filed a police report alleging sabotage at the facility. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259858-video-sabotage-at-water-park-owner-posts-video-after-residents-flooded-out-buyer-pulls-out/

Daily News Thai Caption: Countdown 3-2-1 - Pool slashed The owner of the Saen Sanook water park in Thepparak Road Soi 102, Samut Prakan has filed a police report alleging sabotage at the facility. The company posted a 36 second video on their page that showed a large pool collapse and cause flooding. It was late in the day Sunday - 6.40 pm - and no one was hurt despite there being many people still in the pool. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Daily News The company said that Monday was due to be the facility's final day after they announced the closure of the park. That had to be scrapped. The owner said the video was posted in response to residents nearby who complained it had been done deliberately by the company. There was evidence of a slash in the plastic - it never would have happened by itself, said the owner who was not named. Picture: Daily News The pool was regularly maintained. Damage was also done to other equipment with a knife. They apologized to the public for the actions of someone with ill intentions. They said that a potential buyer for the facility had now pulled out after the incident. Daily News said the matter was in the hands of the Samrong Neua police. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-17 - 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. 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 AA.mp4

Industrial Authority to Establish Vertical Industrial Areas by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has been tasked with establishing “vertical industrial areas” to support modern investments and startups. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259857-industrial-authority-to-establish-vertical-industrial-areas/

by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has been tasked with establishing “vertical industrial areas” to support modern investments and startups. Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit instructed IEAT Governor Veeris Ammarapala to harness innovative aspirations and creative approaches to promote development while providing customer services in industrial estates. The move is expected to pave the way for the development of vertical industrial areas, which will provide another option for new entrepreneurs. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe These industrial zones cater to businesses that prioritize convenience in transportation, require less land area and mainly leverage advanced technology. These include new S-Curve industries such as robotics, aviation, logistics, biofuels, biochemicals, digital development and medical services. The minister added that IEAT should prepare to produce relevant personnel while encouraging the use and development of innovations as a part of its organizational strategy. These can then be developed into consumer products further down the line. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-17 - 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.

Ten million baht damage assessment at Rama 2 fire last night Daily News Thai Caption: Factory fire Daily News reported that ten million baht damage was done when a fire broke out in a plastics factory beside Rama 2 road in western Bangkok last night . Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259856-ten-million-baht-damage-assessment-at-rama-2-fire-last-night/

Daily News Thai Caption: Factory fire Daily News reported that ten million baht damage was done when a fire broke out in a plastics factory beside Rama 2 road in western Bangkok last night . Samer Dam police and 20 fire engines responded to the blaze at the Suthee factory between Sois 83 and 85. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Daily News There were no reports of fatalities or injuries. The fire was brought under control in an hour. Picture: Daily News Traffic was tailed back for all that time on Rama 2 - one of the Thai capital's principal arteries - though the fire was after the rush hour at 9 pm. No cause has yet been announced. The factory was closed for the long weekend and was due to reopen today. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-17 - 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. 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

Pick up driver in "miracle survival" - driver put his faith in Rama V - and came up trumps Daily News Thai Caption: Miracle survival A Thai driver who survived a seemingly deadly smash in the north east told reporters that he attributed his "miracle" to a carved image in ivory. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259855-pick-up-driver-in-miracle-survival-driver-put-his-faith-in-rama-v-and-came-up-trumps/

Daily News Thai Caption: Miracle survival A Thai driver who survived a seemingly deadly smash in the north east told reporters that he attributed his "miracle" to a carved image in ivory. Dao, 51, said he was not a great wearer of Buddhist religious amulets. But he had just put a Rama V (King Chulalongkorn) carved figure round his neck and believes that saved him, reported Daily News. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Daily News Relatives who rushed to the scene with rescue services thought he was going to be dead. Instead he just had a cut on his eyebrow and a small wrist sprain after putting his Isuzu on its side following the power pole collision on Route 2333 in Nong Sanit sub-district of Surin. He said he had just finished some plowing and was going home. He looked down to pick something up and the next thing he knew he thought he was going to die. Relatives also plan to use the number plate of the pick-up - 6617 - for the next lottery draw. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-17 - 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. 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

Four secondary teens charged with assault on primary children - further case under investigation Picture: INN INN reported on a case of bullying or hazing in Phuket where 15 year olds were caught on tape assaulting children in P5 - the second to last year of Thai primary school. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259853-four-secondary-teens-charged-with-assault-on-primary-children-further-case-under-investigation/

Picture: INN INN reported on a case of bullying or hazing in Phuket where 15 year olds were caught on tape assaulting children in P5 - the second to last year of Thai primary school. Wichit police chief Pol Col Pratheuang Phonmana said that he had taken a personal role in the investigation and that four 15 year olds have been charged with assault causing serious harm. Now a further case of a 13 year old being attacked by elder female pupils is under investigation. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Parents have brought all those facing charges in to face the music. Investigations continue into the events of Sunday at a house. Back to school - or university - hazing rituals have been criticized for years in Thailand, notes ASEAN NOW. Many Thai schools finally return to class this week. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-17 - 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. 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

Full Moon Party now "the symbol" of Thailand's Full Blown Reopening! Picture: Siam Rath The government is rubbing its fingers again as foreign arrivals to the country pick up hugely and tourism shows signs that come the end of 2022 it'll be full systems go. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259852-full-moon-party-now-the-symbol-of-thailands-full-blown-reopening/

Picture: Siam Rath The government is rubbing its fingers again as foreign arrivals to the country pick up hugely and tourism shows signs that come the end of 2022 it'll be full systems go. The Thai authorities are already delighted with the numbers. It's a case of bad Covid numbers DOWN, good tourism numbers UP everywhere you look, according to government spokesman Thankorn Wangbungkhongchana's comments reported by Siam Rath yesterday. So much so that next month's return of the famed "Full Moon Party" in Koh Phangan (June 14th) is set to be something of a watershed moment for what the spokesman called the NEXT NORMAL. Yes, it's out with the NEW normal and in with the NEXT in Thailand's Full Blown Reopening. An opening picking up more and more pace since May 1st and the end of Test and Go. Thanakorn said that 300,000 foreign tourists had registered for Thailand Pass this month. And 10,000 tourists had been arriving daily. The numbers have been ballooned by Thai tourists taking to the domestic road. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe PM Prayuth Chan-ocha was happing with the numbers and took the opportunity to praise health services, Thailand's Covid response, safetyy and resilience. The spokesman also said that the next normal is very different when it comes to the shape of tourism - it's far more about small groups, families and FIT - fully independent travellers. China wasn't even mentioned. That's the past, all those big tour groups are history, notes ASEAN NOW. As evidence for all this optimism Phuket saw 70,000 rooms booked for the long weekend just past with nearly 50% occupancy among places that have reopened post-pandemic. Occupancy was 60-80% in Patong and Kamala, the principal tourism areas. Meanwhile in Koh Samui tourists were arriving by the bucketload with everyone gearing up for the "Back to the Roots" titled Full Moon Party. Expect to see that particular event hyped to the max in the coming four weeks as a symbol that Thailand is once again ready to take its place in the pantheon of great tourism countries. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-17 - 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. 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 cove made famous in The Beach reopens to visitors after four-year closure Maya Bay was once a sorry victim of overtourism. Now the beach’s wild residents – and a restricted number of human visitors – are returning by Phoebe Smith Leonardo DiCaprio on the island of Phi Phi Leh, where The Beach was filmed. Photograph: Album/Alamy “I just feel like everyone tries to do something different but you all wind up doing the same damn thing.” Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259831-thailand-cove-made-famous-in-the-beach-reopens-to-visitors-after-four-year-closure/

Leonardo DiCaprio on the island of Phi Phi Leh, where The Beach was filmed. Photograph: Album/Alamy Maya Bay was once a sorry victim of overtourism. Now the beach’s wild residents – and a restricted number of human visitors – are returning by Phoebe Smith “I just feel like everyone tries to do something different but you all wind up doing the same damn thing.” When these words were uttered by Richard in Alex Garland’s novel The Beach – and in the film adaptation by a young Leonardo DiCaprio 22 years ago – no one realised just how prophetic they were. The novel’s protagonist was talking about the trap backpackers like him fall into when travelling around Thailand: all visiting the same sites, from Bangkok’s Khao San Road and the 46-metre reclining gold buddha at Wat Pho temple to full-moon parties on Ko Samui. He decides to do “something different”, and so begins a journey to find a secret island idyll. Little did the filmmakers realise they were about to add that location to the tourist bucket list and see its popularity explode. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The film location for the fictional limestone-fringed paradise Richard discovers was an island called Phi Phi Leh. Until Hollywood came, few people knew about it, and even fewer visited. But after the film’s success, it became the island every daytripper wanted to visit, and they flocked in their millions – up to 6,000 tourists a day – from resorts such as Phuket, Krabi and Ko Phi Phi. Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/may/16/thailand-cove-made-famous-in-the-beach-reopens-to-visitors-after-four-year-closure -- © Copyright The Guardian 2022-05-17 - 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.

The 10 best restaurants in Hua Hin according to TripAdvisor By Online Reporter With so many brilliant restaurants in Hua Hin, we’re spoiled for choice. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259830-the-10-best-restaurants-in-hua-hin-according-to-tripadvisor/

By Online Reporter With so many brilliant restaurants in Hua Hin, we’re spoiled for choice. There really is something for everyone. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe It goes without saying that delicious Thai food can be found all over the city. Whether you’re in the mood for a good burger, Sunday lunch or authentic Italian food, you will likely find it and much more in Hua Hin. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/food-wine/the-10-best-restaurants-in-hua-hin-according-to-tripadvisor/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-05-17 - 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.

Legend Fighting Championships: Fight fans in Hua Hin treated to big night in the ring By Online Reporter A large, enthusiastic crowd gathered at BluPort on Saturday night (May 14) for the latest instalment of the Legend Fighting Championships. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259829-legend-fighting-championships-fight-fans-in-hua-hin-treated-to-big-night-in-the-ring/

By Online Reporter A large, enthusiastic crowd gathered at BluPort on Saturday night (May 14) for the latest instalment of the Legend Fighting Championships. The event was organized by the Legend Arena, Proud Group, and Bluport Hua Hin, with the night’s proceedings being presided over by former deputy prime minister Mr. Suwat Liptapanlop. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Competing in the event were local and international fighters, including from the UK, USA, Algeria, Estonia and Argentina. Saturday’s Muay Thai event followed on from the mixed martial arts (MMA) event held last month at the Legend Arena in BluPort. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/sports/legend-fighting-championships-fight-fans-in-hua-hin-treated-to-big-night-in-the-ring/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-05-17 - 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.