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By Tanakorn Sangiam PHUKET (NNT) - The island province of Phuket has now seen some 21,000 international passenger arrivals during the quarantine-free Phuket Sandbox campaign, with Singapore-Phuket flights being the most popular means of access. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has released flight statistics for Phuket International Airport from 1st July to 15th August, coinciding with the Phuket Sandbox campaign. Citing the report from the CAAT, the Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob, said today that six airlines have operated 292 international flights into Phuket during the 45-day period, with the accumulated number of international arrivals being 21,545 persons. The six airlines comprise Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, and Thai Airways. The CAAT’s report indicates most international passengers to Phuket, amounting to 74% were carried on Singapore Airlines’ flights, with the majority of these travelers - 76% - originating in Singapore. Most of the international arrivals in Phuket, numbering 21,135 persons, arrived as participants in the Phuket Sandbox campaign, with 12% of these arrivals at 2,481 persons, being Thai nationals. The remaining 410 international arrivals opted to serve quarantine at Alternative Local State Quarantine facilities, with 47 of them being returning Thai nationals. As for domestic services, the CAAT recorded 18 domestic flights carrying 586 passengers between 5-17 August, most of whom were on flights between Phuket and U-Tapao Airport. Planning to visit Phuket? Book your Sandbox hotel here -- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Tourism Authority of Thailand The Tourism Authority of Thailand's deputy marketing director said that Chiang Mai's plan to open up to foreign tourists from September 1st would now likely be delayed by at least a month. Thanes Petchsuwan told the Thai media that the "Charming Chiang Mai" project" wouldn't get underway until October 1st because less than 70% of the population in the northern Thai province had been vaccinated. A meeting to discuss the way forward with provincial governor Charoenrit Sangwansat and Covid-19 officials will take place next Tuesday. Chiang Mai is not being opened up like Phuket and Samui and the other islands in the south where it is easier to control foreign tourists. Foreign tourists in Chiang Mai will have even less freedom of movement. All bookings must be planned through tour agencies limited to nine packages of four days, three nights, he said, something that "is for the tourists' safety". They are also to be limited to four districts namely Muang, Mae Taeng, Mae Rim and Doi Tao. The TAT are targeting tourists from several Chinese provinces, as well as visitors from Japan, South Korea, the US, Turkey, Canada and Indonesia. But the TAT are still concerned that the authorities in China have yet to give the green light to their nationals to travel abroad and will be raising this with the new consular official from China who has recently arrived in Chiang Mai. For now the TAT are pinning their hopes on Japanese and South Korean golfers. There are still hopes for the Chinese next year, however. Chiang Mai used to target Thai domestic tourists as its main customer base but in recent years - pre-pandemic - this shifted to Chinese on charter flights. The TAT hope that the Chinese will return in 2022 and that Chiang Mai will once again be filled with the sound of "Ni Hao". But the vaccination program needs to pick up pace first for that to happen. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Pattaya Watchdog Comment was rife on the page of Pattaya Watchdog who published pictures of the manicured future of beach road. The orderly palms - from abroad - and wide walkways of Neo Pattaya were being traversed by the elderly, a young foreign couple and a man being pushed in a wheelchair. My! How Pattaya had changed! Yes, said the commentary this was orderly and neat. But long standing trees were being cut down to make way for this. They feared that old root systems would be ripped out adding to soil and beach erosion. Picture: Manager Meanwhile Manager reported on a story of a huge tree being felled in the area apparently under the supervision of the owner of Nong Nooch gardens. They described Kamphol Tansatja as a "rich person of Chinese heritage" (jao sua) and said he should come clean as to why the ancient tree was felled. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-18 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

REUTERS file photo for reference only Media company hfocus.org published the latest figures for foreigners living in Thailand who have received Covid-19 vaccinations. They said that 356,337 foreigners or 7.27% of the total number of foreigners in Thailand had been vaccinated so far. More than one and a half times more men than women have been jabbed. Average age is 38. 20,028 elderly people have been vaccinated or 7.6% of the total so far. Those who have received two doses is 107,106 people or 30.1% of the total vaxxed so far. Thailand, the report claimed, cared about foreigners and they can register and get vaccinated if they want, but conditions apply. Here are the top ten nationalities who have been vaccinated in Thailand in the period February 28th to August 14th: 1. Myanmar people 178,531 50.1% of the total 2. Chinese 38,447 10.8% 3. Cambodians 36,580 10.3% 4. Laotians 22,023 6.2% 5. Japanese 14,866 4.2% 6. Indians 8,893 2.5% 7. Filipinos 8,565 2.4% 8. British 7,683 2.2% 9. French 5,936 1.7% 10. Americans 4,649 1.3% Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-18 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Goong Nang(GN) Pattaya – A group of prominent local Thai residents and community leaders protested about a major Pattaya Beach remodel project yesterday (August 16th) near North Pattaya Beach. The project is now being paused after it had just started on Sunday, August 15th. Yesterday, multiple large trees were being removed by construction equipment when the protest group arrived in the mid-morning hours. The protesters were led by Ms. Jidapa Tanahatthachai a resident well-known as ‘Sor Ong’ who is also a former Pattaya Redshirt leader and Mr. Chairat Ratanaopas, the president of the Eastern Spa and Wellness Association. The protesters stated to The Pattaya News that they believe the project is destroying the original natural environment of Pattaya Beach. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/17/pattaya-beach-remodel-project-paused-after-several-prominent-local-residents-protest/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-08-17 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News A pick-up driver told the police that everything went blank as he drove three female friends along Laem Chabang Road in Khao Khan Song sub-district of Sriracha yesterday. The next thing Pongsakan, 27, knew was that his three friends were dead and that he had had a terrible accident. He was pictured at the scene hugging one of his friends in the wreckage of his Isuzu D-Max. The pick-up had collided with the back of a six wheel truck that was performing a U-Turn. The truck ended up on its side. The driver of the truck, Den, 44, said he was in the far left lane and was crossing the road to the far right to accomplish a U-turn when the accident happened. Dead inside the pick-up were Phanchanok, 22, in the front passenger seat, Phraewphan, 26 behind the driver and an unnamed woman about 25. They had been housemoving, said the driver. Both drivers were taken into Bowin police station to get to the truth of the matter with Daily News saying that Pongsakan was tested for alcohol. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-16 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Nop Meechukhun Bangkok – A Nigerian and Thai couple was arrested at a private parcel drop-off in Bangkok on Friday evening, August 13th, after reportedly shipping illegal drugs to Australia by hiding them in a set of Buddhist monk offerings. Nigerian national Obimma Anthony and Thai national Marisa Noipitak were caught after 490 grams of crystal methamphetamine were reportedly found hidden in a hanging frame which was reported to be shipped to a destination abroad in Australia. Upon investigation, an additional 985 grams of crystal meth was discovered at Marisa’s apartment in the Bang Kapi district while about 35 grams of heroin, 89 grams of crystal meth, and 82 grams of cocaine were found at Anthony’s house in Samut Prakan province. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/15/nigerian-and-thai-nationals-arrested-in-bangkok-after-reportedly-exporting-illegal-drugs-to-australia/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-08-16 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Night entertainment venues in Thailand have remained shut for months after the government ordered such venues to be closed temporarily to control the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: iStock/PeopleImages) Pichayada Promchertchoo BANGKOK: For Anna, the Walking Street of Pattaya is more than just a famous red-light district. It was her workplace for the past 12 years. It was here, among the rows of nightclubs, bars and massage parlours, that she and other sex workers welcomed tourists from around the world. Many people have built their lives here and others came to seek a better future. Today, the Walking Street of Pattaya City in coastal Chonburi is no longer a place of entertainment and opportunities. Night entertainment venues that had provided jobs for many sex workers are shut. There are no bright neon lights at night and no pumping music. Tourists have vanished since last year when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Thailand. “It’s so depressing,” said Anna, who is known along the Walking Street by her moniker. “Nowadays, by 6 pm, Pattaya looks like an abandoned city. There is hardly any sign of life on the Walking Street. This makes me want to cry. This place used to generate income and build the future for so many people.” Full story: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-covid-19-sex-workers-jobless-starving-2108501 -- © Copyright Channel NewsAsia 2021-08-16 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

File photo for reference only Officials in Surat Thani in southern Thailand always cautioned that the Samui Plus Model reopening of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao would be a pilot with low numbers. It started on July 15th and has now completed nearly a month. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said there would be just 1,000 visitors in the first month. These foreigners would spend 180 million baht, was the call. But even this has proved to be pie-in-the-sky with less than a third of their estimate. So far just 279 tourists have gone directly to Samui and 11 to Phangan and 13 to Koh Tao. A total of 302 from July 15th to August 11th. Just a few more than ten a day. Fifteen arrived on a Bangkok Airways flight on Wednesday. No foreign tourists at all arrived from the Phuket Sandbox with the total remaining at 257. Thai media reported that a change in EU advisories on July 17th that affected Thailand and Rwanda had dealt a blow to the Samui Plus Model. In reality foreign tourists are not coming even in the modest numbers predicted. Consequently with the pandemic still raging in Thailand further TAT predictions that everything will pick up in the fourth quarter (from October) and early next year must be treated with a large dose of skepticism, notes ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-13 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Cod Satrusayang Thai police are seeking software that would help it monitor chat applications and social media private messages, a police source told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday. The Royal Thai Police have reached out to several companies selling software similar to the Pegasus software developed by an Israeli defense company. Police have approached vendors looking for technology that could be used to monitor messages sent between popular chat applications like LINE, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Police will use the application to monitor and prevent political protest as well as go after members of organized crime and drug smugglers, the source told Thai Enquirer on the condition of anonymity. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/31061/thai-police-seeking-spyware-that-will-help-it-monitor-chat-applications/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-08-10 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia September 30, 2014. REUTERS/Tami Chappell By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Monday against travel to Israel, France, Thailand, Iceland and several other countries because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases in those nations. The CDC has been adding to its highest "Level 4: Very High" COVID-19 level as cases spread around the globe. The United States added Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, along with other places, including Aruba and French Polynesia. The U.S. State Department also issued its parallel Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisories for Iceland and France on Monday. In July, the CDC had raised concerns about Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, lifting its travel health notice by two levels to "Level 3: High." The CDC also hiked alert levels to "Level 3: High" for Austria, Croatia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Guam, Kenya and Jamaica. The CDC says unvaccinated travelers should avoid nonessential travel to those countries. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-10 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook Thailand's Department of Health has come up with nine measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 through sexual practices. Couples and lovers should refrain from face to face contact and wear face masks. There should be no kissing or oral sex, no group sex and cleanliness should be a priority. The departmental rep responsible for sanitation and sex Dr Pheerayuth Sanugoon spoke to Daily News at the weekend after a young prostitute in Kanchanaburi tested positive raising concerns of a cluster. Picture Daily News Dr Pheerayuth said the issue of safe sex practices was especially important during the pandemic as the consequences for people, their partners and society in general can be serious. People waiting on a test result should refrain from all sex, for example, and all pay-for-play should be avoided. Indeed, sex with strangers at parties could constitute an illegal gathering and be prosecuted under Article 9 of the emergency decree. That means fines and even prison. Restrictions are in place stopping gatherings. Dr Pheerayuth said that husbands and wives and lovers could still have sex, but they needed to follow nine protocols, which included washing hands and body with lots of soap before and after sex and no kissing or sharing of saliva as this has been shown to contain the virus. Wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask covering nose and mouth securely was also advised, as practicing safe sex such as wearing a condom reported Sanook. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: INN Thailand's health minister and DPM Anutin Charnvirakul was upbeat in a visit to Thanyaburi Hospital in Rangsit north of the Thai capital Bangkok yesterday. The embattled minister came bearing gifts - 10,000 doses of Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines - the former for the local authority, the latter for the hospital itself. They are intended for frontline medical staff reported INN. Anutin claimed that Thailand was well on the way to the target of achieving 70% of the population vaccinated and further asserted that every province now has vaccine. He said that he was spending his time making sure that everyone got a jab and ensuring the sick were looked after. INN made absolutely no attempt to fact-check these claims, notes ASEAN NOW. Latest figures show that only a small proportion of Thais - mostly in the medical profession - have received two jabs and numbers of one jabbed people remain low, mostly the elderly, people with underlying health problems and pregnant women. Anutin's claims can be treated with a degree of skepticism, if not outright fake news, suggests ASEAN NOW who note many reports of unavailability of vaccine in the provinces according to many posts on its forums. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-07 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News Region 5 police under the command of Pol Col Thawatchai Pongwiwattanachai announced the arrest of a British national who owns a solar cells import business in Chiang Mai and his Thai girlfriend, a DJ at a well known club. They had been selling drugs to hiso's in the northern Thai city for the last year. The British man claimed he was doing nothing wrong - he said like Robin Hood he was taking from the rich and giving to the poor saying he had given a million baht to children and people suffering from Covid-19 during the pandemic. Mitech KW (name transliterated from Thai and possibly incorrect) and Siriporn S, 32, were arrested separately and charged with possession and dealing in drugs. Taken into evidence were three Ecstacy tablets, 86.2 grams of marijuana and 55.5 grams of cocaine. Seized were a Corolla Altis with Chiang Mai plates and a white Toyota van with Bangkok plates, plus 20 bank books showing a large quantity of money. The police had become aware that a foreign man and his DJ girlfriend were selling three kinds of drugs via a Line group they had set up for hiso party-goers in Chiang Mai. Their inquiries indicated that the couple lived together at a luxury house in the Sanpuloei area of Doi Saket. A sting was set up and money was transferred to buy 8,000 baht's worth of cocaine and three Ecstacy tabs. The drugs were delivered to a central hotel by Mitech in the van where he was promptly arrested. A search of his house led to the arrest of Siriporn and discovery of other drugs. Mitech is the owner of a company importing solar cells, reported Daily News who said that after he came to Thailand he fell in love with Siriporn. He loved to smoke ganja and observed that there was a gap in the market for cocaine. So through his company and paying in Bitcoin he imported the drug from Europe using an online shopping deal. He said he only sold to people aged 30+, no children. In one year of dealing he had made plenty of money and he wanted to be a modern day Robin Hood. He used the money to buy things for children and the locals suffering with the Covid-19 pandemic and had already donated 1 million baht. The media quoted him as saying that he thought this was acceptable behaviour and that he was doing a good thing. Both him and his girlfriend are now in custody. They will be facing a very long jail sentence in Thailand should they be found guilty in court, notes ASEAN NOW. Daily News asked "What were you thinking?" in their headline. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-05 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News Daily News reported on a TikTok clip that is going viral on Thai social media that they said epitomized the battle against Covid-19 being waged in Thailand. The clip on @oomnattarat showed a female nurse in PPE gear collapsing as she attended patients who were not yet admitted to the covid ward at a facility in Samut Sakhon. Colleagues rushed to her aid and took off the protective gear before she was taken to recover in a bed of her own. This is all accompanied by Thai music. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-03 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates download.mp4

29,000 expats in Thailand register for vaccine using Expatvac website File Photo: REUTERS - for reference only More than 28,000 expats in Thailand have registered for a COVID-19 vaccine using the Ministry of Public Health’s newly launched vaccine registration portal. As of 6pm on Monday (Aug 2), a total of 28,788 expats had registered on the Expatvac platform following its launch on August 1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tanee Sangrat announced on Twitter. Of those, 22,653 were expats under the age of 60, with 6,135 people aged over 60 also registering. A further 1,916 people with underlying health conditions, along with 114 pregnant women also registered. In his tweet, Mr Tanaee said that vaccination appointment dates will likely be after August 10 or 11. Previously, Thailand's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said that 150,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, donated by the US government, would be allocated for foreigners in Thailand. And with less than 30,000 people having already registered to receive the vaccine, it would suggest there are still sufficient vaccines available. Any foreigner in Thailand who has not yet registered for the vaccine can do so here: https://expatvac.consular.go.th/ -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-03 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News The penny has finally dropped for Thailand's billionaire tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan. He has had to admit that the raging pandemic in Thailand has dealt a hammer blow to his plans and that of the government to welcome millions of foreign tourists. The voices have been loud and clear online and in "letters to the editor" that his predictions and that of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) were pie in the sky nonsense. But he insisted they were going to happen nonetheless. Until now. And of course he is blaming the pandemic situation in Thailand that is worsening by the day. "Yes," he told Daily News. "We won't be seeing three million foreign tourists by the end of the year. "About 500,000 to 700,000 is the best we can hope for now". As far as the Phuket Sandbox predictions went, those too have gone out of the window though he expected the sandbox to press on regardless. "100,000 tourists in Phuket in three months will not be met," he admitted. "July went as we hoped but targets for August of 40,000 will not be happening. There will be about 15,000 - about the same as July". The first month of the sandbox saw 14,000 foreigners visit Phuket though many of these were returning expats or even Thais added to the figures, notes ASEAN NOW. Pipat told the media that if the situation in Bangkok does not improve by the last three months of the year many sporting events could be rescheduled to Phuket. These include golf, E-sports, the 7-a-side Asian Rugby championships and the King's Cup football. A big event planned by the TAT to mark the 17th anniversary of the Asian Tsunami planned for Boxing Day December 26th will also have to be reassessed. The TAT were hoping to attract many Scandinavians in particular to that. For now Pipat said that he was working with the interior ministry on coming up with some "Sky Blue Zones" where foreign tourism could take place. These would be announced in the next couple of weeks, he noted. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-03 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Green Chiretta (Fah Talai Jone) and certain other medicinal herbs are selling like hotcakes now that the public has realized they can help keep COVID-19 at bay. The Public Health Ministry recently endorsed Fah Talai Jone (also known as Andrographis paniculate) as a medication for mild symptoms of the viral disease. “Other herbs like fingerroot [krachai] can also be used to fight COVID-19 and boost immunity,” said Dr. Amporn Benjaponpithak, who serves as director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-herbal-heroes-stand-ready-to-fight-against-covid-19/ -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-02 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Image: Daily News A Government Gazette announcement effective immediately forbids news outlets and internet users from spreading fake, damaging or scaremongering news likely to cause instability or trouble among the public. Daily News said that media outlets were being asked to behave responsibly and not distort the facts resulting in damage to state and public security. The order prohibits anyone from “reporting or disseminating information that may frighten people or that internationally causes misunderstanding about the emergency situation”. The order also gives the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) the authority to obtain IP addresses from internet service providers in a bid to determine where the offending content originated from. The information can then be passed onto the police for investigation. While Thailand already has strict laws which govern the sharing of content online, the new order accelerates the process having offending content removed, internet access blocked for those who post such content before possiblle legal action is taken. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Image: PPHO By The Phuket News PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) daily COVID-19 situation report for yesterday (July 28) has marked 24 new infections, bringing the total number of people recognised as infected with COVID-19 in Phuket since Apr 3 to over 1,000. The 24 new local infections did not include one Phuket Sandbox arrival testing positive for COVID-19 and three more Phuket residents infected with COVID-19 in other provinces brought back to the island for treatment under the “Bring Phuket people home” policy. As such, the 24 new cases bring the total number of new local infections on the island in the past seven days to 160, as follows: Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-third-wave-covid-infections-breach-1-000-80849.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-07-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has assured that the Phuket Sandbox scheme will continue, despite the rising number of infections on the island. Photo: PR Phuket By The Phuket News PHUKET: As the number of local infections of COVID-19 continue to rise across the island, Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has confirmed that the Phuket Sandbox scheme will continue. The assurance comes as the island yesterday marked 114 local infections in the past seven days ‒ easily exceeding the “90 infections in one week” limit set by the the Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) in Bangkok late last month as reason enough to start reviewing whether or not the Phuket Sandbox scheme should be halted. “The Phuket Sandbox scheme is still continuing. The situation right now has not disturbed the opening [of Phuket to receiving fully vaccinated tourists without quarantine],” Governor Narong said during a live broadcast this morning (July 27). Phuket Sandbox Hotels Packages - Book Now! Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/governor-confirms-phuket-sandbox-will-continue-80838.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-07-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook The chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Yutthasak Suphasorn has noted that the pandemic is out of control in Thailand and vaccination is still low, reported Sanook in a brief report. In a similarly brief statement that is bound to attract widespread ridicule along the lines of "you don't say" Yutthasak noted that this may mean a readjustment to plans to reopen the country to foreign tourists in ten provinces come the start of October and Thailand's high season. This came as the spokesman for the economic situation brought on by Covid, citing TAT figures, insisted that tourism spending will be 850 BILLION baht this year. The October 1st reopening plan - part of PM Prayuth Chan-ocha's grand 120 day reopening master plan - applies to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khirikhan (Hua Hin), Phetchaburi (Cha-Am), Chonburi (Pattaya), Buriram, as well as Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi and Phangnga where reopening is progressing according to plans already in place. Yutthasak told Sanook that the pandemic could not be controlled at the present time and he noted the CCSA were reporting 10,000 new cases daily. Actually they are starting to hit 15,000 with fears they could top 20,000 or even 30,000 cases daily according to reports in the media, notes ASEAN NOW. Many lockdowns and travel restrictions are also in place some in the same provinces that are part of the reopening plans including Bangkok. Yutthasak noted that vaccination was still low. New assessments and plans were necessary given the current situation as Thailand would have to be careful regarding safety and risk factors. He said this included the possibility of foreigners bringing in more infection. Interestingly he did not comment on potential tourists looking at Thailand and thinking that a visit might not be advisable at this time or in the coming months, especially with other more favorable domestic or closer to home options available to US and European tourists. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Kapook Thai media Kapook took their readers on a walk down memory lane as they published several pictures of Pattaya from a bygone era. There was just a beach with the odd place to get a bit of shelter - with a foreigner in rather tight shorts! Picture: Kapook Beach road had no sidewalk and Penphat Bungalow was the accommodation, incorrectly spelled. There was also a sign for US Magthai/JUSMAG beach Recreation Center Area Palm Grove. Picture: Kapook This may refer to the Joint US Military Advisory Group Thailand that was established in Thailand in the 1950s. Kapook didn't say when the pictures were taken so readers on ASEAN NOW may like to clarify, perhaps adding some memories of their own. Picture: Kapook Kapook said this was a bygone era before hotels, resorts, clubs and bars and the big commercial sex industry so familiar to foreigners today. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-24 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Naew Na Thailand's immigration bureau in the shape of chief Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang decided to take action after a video at the soft opening of Taco Bell in Pattaya showed a man of color arguing with a white man over wearing a mask. It was felt that the IB should act in the case as the issue of wearing a mask is very serious at this stage of the pandemic with the potential for a 20,000 baht fine, reported Naew Na. It was further felt that an example should be made especially as the man, an American national, had allegedly threatened violence in the store with staffers prepared to call the police after refusing him service. Picture: Naew Na The IB with the Chonburi provincial police went to Taco Bell where the incident occurred earlier this month and then to a condo on Pratumnak Hill where the man was residing. They arrested him outside and he admitted that he was the person in the video. He was named as Cxarence, 33, from the US, according to a board at IB HQ. He was taken to Muang Pattaya police station and charged with unhiegenic activity potentially spreading a dangerous infection, essentially not wearing a mask in public. Naew Na did not say how much he was fined - a first offence is generally considered to be 6,000 baht with the fine rising to 20,000 for a third offence notes ASEAN NOW. The media further reported that the American accepted what he did was wrong and that he intended to be the "eyes and ears" of society in future in promoting the wearing of masks. The case was reported at the IB's press conference at Suan Phlu, Bangkok yesterday with a large vinyl board erected that referred to the US man's skin color saying that he had tried to pick a fight. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-24 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updatesv

File photo for reference only By Jonathan Fairfield Plans to offer 10 year visas to “rich” foreigners, which would also enable them to own land and work without a work permit, are set to be put to Cabinet for approval. Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow has said the plans were already approved in principle by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) on June 4. The proposals, which were first mooted back in April, will go before Cabinet as part of a series of plans designed to boost investment into Thailand. Previously it had been reported that the government planned to attract one million foreigners to become expats in Thailand. The would-be expats would have healthy bank balances or pension pots and would generate up to one trillion baht for the Thai economy, it was estimated. The expats would be divided into four groups: 1. ‘Rich’ global citizens 2. ‘Wealthy’ retirees 3. Digital nomads - or professionals working from Thailand 4. Highly skilled professionals ‘Rich’ global citizens would need to be able to prove income of at least $80,000 over the last two years and have $1 million in assets. They would also need to be able to invest at least 16 million baht in property or government bonds. The ‘wealthy’ retirees are defined as those who are aged 50 or over and who can invest 8 million baht in property or government baht, while also being able to show a minimum annual income of $40,000. The digital nomads would need to be earning $80,000 for the last two years or $40,000 a year and would be self employed or employed by a company overseas but which are able to use Thailand as a location to work from. They would be able to ‘work’ in Thailand without needing a work permit. They would also need to show educational qualifications of a master’s degree or higher or at least five years experience in their field. The final group are the highly skilled professionals SET-listed companies or from a company with an annual income of more than $50 million. However, it is not clear exactly what ‘land ownership’ for foreigners would mean in reality. It had previously been suggested that laws similar to the Condo Act of 2008 would be used to allow foreigners to own land plots in housing developments. Leasehold of land upto 50 years were also being considered. Thai news site Manager reported that the proposals to lure foreigners with 10 year visas and land ownership are part of wider plans designed to boost investment into Thailand. The plans, backed by the Board of Investment, would also see Thailand become a hub for the electric vehicle industry (EV). In the report buzzwords such as “Digitalization”, “Decarbonization”, “Decentralization” and “D-risk” were used to describe the plans which would help Thailand reap the benefits of moving towards clean technology. DPM Supattanapong also touted the country’s good healthcare system as a boon in helping attract up to one million high-income foreigners to buy second homes in Thailand. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-17 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates