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Even with high infection levels, top officials are saying that incoming tourism will see a takeoff by James Morris and Son Nguyen The manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport Kittipong Kittikachorn (left) this week announced that the Airports of Thailand (AOT) was providing additional and better-organised facilities to cope with a rapidly increasing level of passenger traffic of up to 3,000 visitors per hour. This followed days of chaos and pandemonium at the airport during peak hours as the arrival halls struggled to cope with boosted passenger numbers from all over the world as international travellers are increasingly putting Covid behind them. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256725-even-with-high-infection-levels-top-officials-are-saying-that-incoming-tourism-will-see-a-takeoff/

The manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport Kittipong Kittikachorn (left) this week announced that the Airports of Thailand (AOT) was providing additional and better-organised facilities to cope with a rapidly increasing level of passenger traffic of up to 3,000 visitors per hour. This followed days of chaos and pandemonium at the airport during peak hours as the arrival halls struggled to cope with boosted passenger numbers from all over the world as international travellers are increasingly putting Covid behind them. Thai Airways and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predict that the country will see over 80,000 visitors a month from an Indian Thai air bubble. Thailand looks set for a powerful take-off in arrivals in 2022 provided the country proceeds with its full reopening plan which very much now depends on the decision of Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha and experts with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) when clinical data is reviewed after Songkran. Indications that the kingdom will drop entry restrictions after the Songkran holidays come to an end. The news is coming with an encouraging take off in entry numbers in response to previous moves to lighten the load on travellers. There is now every reason to believe that the kingdom’s critical and highly lucrative foreign tourism industry could turn into an economic bright spot for 2022 provided another Covid storm does not descend. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Senior Thai officials within the government, in recent days, have talked up the kingdom’s plans to fully reopen after the Songkran holiday period with a plan already agreed in principle to reduce paperwork associated with the Thailand Pass system as well as insurance requirements while also replacing the RT-PCR test with an antigen test on arrival. This is despite one senior doctor with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) suggesting the country may already be experiencing 100,000 infections a day. Dr Udom Kachintorn, a key advisor, however, points out that by comparison, infection levels among incoming tourists are far lower. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/04/13/incoming-tourism-take-off-with-easier-entry/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Some Resorts are starting to sell out for the Songkran break by Michael Bridge File photo Seems the Thais have had enough of being in isolation for so long and are heading in their masses to the beaches for a well-deserved break. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256723-some-resorts-are-starting-to-sell-out-for-the-songkran-break/

File photo by Michael Bridge Seems the Thais have had enough of being in isolation for so long and are heading in their masses to the beaches for a well-deserved break. Although hotels have upped their rates significantly, travellers are willing to pay these soaring prices. I suppose you cannot blame the hospitality industry for trying. Phuket and Hua Hin still are showing vacancies however Pattaya’s top-end hotels are almost full as are hotels on the islands. The mighty Centara Grand Mirage Resort Pattaya with over six hundred rooms is sold out according to Agoda.com. There an average room during Songkran was shown at THB8,013 yet a week later it had dropped to THB3,852. One luxury resort owner on the island of Koh Chang told me they were completed sold out for the next seven days. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe File photo Assume that many of Koh Chang hotels are busy too, so let us hope the local ferries are prepared to work overtime to get the cars off the island at the end of the break. Otherwise, some may have to wait up to 9 hours to board a ferry!!! Songkran in the past has meant a mass exodus abroad for many who do not enjoy the madness of water fights and crazy driving. I am sure some will be heading for the airport, but with an expected Covid spike due after Songkran, many are not prepared to take the risk and will stay at home. Therefore, expect the golf courses to be busier and those with kids will be heading for the water parks too. Police leave has been canceled as they try to stop the madness on the roads at a time when it is the most dangerous time to drive. So perhaps the best bet is to fill the fridge up with alcohol and binge-watch on Netflix until next Monday. Enjoy. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

to continue: Thailand Live Thursday 14 April 2022 https://aseannow.com/topic/1256722-thailand-live-thursday-14-april-2022/

True-DTAC Join Fight Against Call Center Scams BANGKOK (NNT) - True Corporation and Total Access Communication Public Company Limited (DTAC) are collaborating to tackle rampant call center scams. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256684-true-dtac-join-fight-against-call-center-scams/

Drunk driving spikes on second day of seven dangerous days during Songkran The Department of Probation reported today, April 13th, of 923 cases of drunk driving on the second day of seven dangerous days with a major year-to-year increase in drunk driving. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256693-drunk-driving-spikes-on-second-day-of-seven-dangerous-days-during-songkran/

Panel Agrees to Promote Thailand as International Medical Hub BANGKOK (NNT) - A government panel has approved five goals to promote Thailand as a global medical tourism destination. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256687-panel-agrees-to-promote-thailand-as-international-medical-hub/

100 buffaloes die in south from malnutrition 77kaoded Thai caption: 8 tons of animal feed help - and animal inspections 77kaoded reported from Phatthalung in the far south of Thailand where 100 buffaloes were reported to have died. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256661-100-buffaloes-die-in-thailands-south-from-malnutrition/

77kaoded Thai caption: 8 tons of animal feed help - and animal inspections 77kaoded reported from Phatthalung in the far south of Thailand where 100 buffaloes were reported to have died. Agriculturalists said it was malnutrition caused by flooding in the area. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Vets in the province got together to dump 8 tons of hay to help the stricken animals. Now work is underway to provide a lasting solution to the difficulties faced by the animals and find out their underlying health problems. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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: Fire at NE market - rescue services save the day 77kaoded Thai captio: Wire fire near people's houses 77kaoded reported that police and rescue services headed to an area behind the Nong Bua Daeng market in Chaiyaphum last night. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256659-video-fire-at-ne-market-rescue-services-save-the-day/

77kaoded Thai caption: Wire fire near people's houses 77kaoded reported that police and rescue services headed to an area behind the Nong Bua Daeng market in Chaiyaphum last night. Cables were on fire after a transformer exploded. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: 77kaoded Fire services took half an hour to get the blaze under control. Fears that it would spread to high power lines or the many houses and shops nearby proved unfounded. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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 NO9fire.mp4

Helicopter used to put out fires on Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai Picture: INN INN reported that the army were using a soviet designed Mi-17 to drop water and put out fires in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256658-helicopter-used-to-put-out-fires-on-mae-taeng-chiang-mai/

Picture: INN INN reported that the army were using a soviet designed Mi-17 to drop water and put out fires in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai. The helicopter flew 6 sorties dumping 21,000 liters of water. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe They were targeting two areas in Ban Chang and Soppoeng sub-districts, Mae Taeng district, where there were serious fires. High temperatures sparked many fires. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

Gas tanker overturns in fireball after collision with truck trailer Daily News Thai Caption: Gasoline tanker burns Mae Thor police responded after reports of a collision between a truck trailer and a gas tanker on the Tak to Mae Sot road in front of the Tak Land Development office yesterday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256657-gas-tanker-overturns-in-fireball-after-collision-with-truck-trailer/

Daily News Thai Caption: Gasoline tanker burns Mae Thor police responded after reports of a collision between a truck trailer and a gas tanker on the Tak to Mae Sot road in front of the Tak Land Development office yesterday. The gas tanker was on fire and there were intermittent explosions. Fire threatened to burn some houses down as the fuel rode on water being used to douse the flames. This caused firemen to switch to chemical retardants. It was an hour before the blaze was under control, reported Daily News. The gas tanker had hit a truck with a full load of iron building materials. The latter vehicle was damaged in the rear. Building materials were spread all over the road. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Daily News The driver of the gas tanker - Arnat, 42 - got out alive but suffered burns to his face and arms and was taken to Taksin Maharat hospital. Thai Rath said the accident caused a 5 kilometer tailback heading towards Mae Sot, the situation made worse by the large number of Songkran vehicles on the road. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

Going home for Songkran - GPS takes two Thai ladies into the klong! Picture: Thai Rath Punika, 30, driving a Yaris put her faith in GPS as she drove her friend Monrudee, 23, home for Songkran in Khon Kaen. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256655-going-home-for-songkran-gps-takes-two-thai-ladies-into-the-klong/

Picture: Thai Rath Punika, 30, driving a Yaris put her faith in GPS as she drove her friend Monrudee, 23, home for Songkran in Khon Kaen. At 12.30 am this morning at a bend in the darkened road in Kabin sub-district, she drove off the road into a deep klong at an elbow bend. The ravine was 10 meters deep and both ladies were trapped and going under. But they had the good sense not to panic and called 191. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Soon the day was saved by the Kabinburi police and rescue teams who managed to get to the stricken ladies. Shaken and cold but otherwise unhurt the two occupants of the car were taken to Kabinburi hospital for a check-up. Thai Rath reported that the area of the incident is not just dark but there are diversionary roadworks. Picture: Thai Rath And most of the signage in the area has been stolen and needs replacing. They called on the authorities to act. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

Food hoax ends in smiles for handicapped delivery guy Sanook Thai Caption: Respect one another Sanook went to investigate near a well known mall in Chonburi where they found a Grab delivery rider in floods of tears. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256652-food-hoax-ends-in-smiles-for-handicapped-delivery-guy/

Sanook Thai Caption: Respect one another Sanook went to investigate near a well known mall in Chonburi where they found a Grab delivery rider in floods of tears. Asked what the problem was there was not the normal response. Worawut Ekkaphol, 37, is deaf and unable to speak. His friend Sunthorn came along to help with signing and translations and explained that Worawut had received a food order at 10 am yesterday that came to 2,951 baht. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe But when he got to the place of delivery there was no answer to calls or messages and by noon Worawut realized he'd been hoaxed. However, the story had a happy ending after former local councillor Pasakorn Hormhuan heard of the handicapped man's plight and bought all the food for 3,000 baht. That put a big smile on Worawut's face. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

1 Million Foreign Arrivals Expected at AOT Airports This Songkran by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has indicated that around one million tourists are expected to arrive in Thailand via six international airports from April 11-17. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256651-1-million-foreign-arrivals-expected-at-aot-airports-this-songkran/

by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has indicated that around one million tourists are expected to arrive in Thailand via six international airports from April 11-17. According to AOT Director Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, the long Songkran holiday period should see increased travel activity among Thai and foreign tourists following the government’s relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. The AOT operates six airports, namely Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai. The AOT director said the agency anticipates 9,310 flights between April 11 and 17, an increase of 14.48% over the same period last year. Domestic flights are meanwhile projected to total 6,820, a decrease of 2.79%, while international flights should total 2,490 for a 123.14% increase. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Nitinai added that officials at all six airports have been instructed to strictly adhere to health measures imposed by the Ministry of Public Health to prevent the spread of COVID-19. To streamline the check-in process for departing passengers, AOT has installed common-use passenger processing and common-use bag drop systems at each facility. From April 11-17, Suvarnabhumi Airport will also waive parking fees for its long parking zone, or Zone C, and provide shuttle buses to and from the zone every 15 minutes. Additionally, from April 13-18, passengers can park their vehicles for free at the X-Terminal building. Nitinai advised departing passengers to arrive at airports at least two or three hours prior to departure, in order to allow sufficient time for checking in and avoiding any unexpected delays caused by the sudden spike in passenger numbers. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-13 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Cabinet Approves Over 1.4 Trillion Baht in New Borrowing for Fiscal 2022 by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Cabinet this week approved 1.41 trillion baht in new borrowing for the current fiscal year to September, up from its previous plan of 1.36 trillion baht. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256650-cabinet-approves-over-14-trillion-baht-in-new-borrowing-for-fiscal-2022/

by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Cabinet this week approved 1.41 trillion baht in new borrowing for the current fiscal year to September, up from its previous plan of 1.36 trillion baht. Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Thanadirek explained that the additional debt is part of a broader debt management strategy to reduce public debt to 62.76% of gross domestic product (GDP). This would keep it well below the 70% ceiling. As of February, Thailand’s state debt stood at 60.17 percent of GDP. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe She further clarified that the new debt strategy includes a 10 billion baht loan to the national oil fund to keep domestic gasoline prices stable without affecting living expenses. Rachada said the government also intends to spend 29.3 billion baht on restructuring government debt due this fiscal year, which may include international borrowing. The administration would spend another 39.4 billion baht on investment projects. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-13 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Yaba: Mum forced to bury money hiding it from her son - but now he's dead after shooting Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on a grim case from Roi-Et in the north east of Thailand. It was all about Yaba, the meth of choice in Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256649-yaba-mum-forced-to-bury-money-hiding-it-from-her-son-but-now-hes-dead-after-shooting/