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UPDATE: Thai staff seek justice after German attack in Farang Bar, Pattaya Photo of Petch Petpailin Photo via Facebook/ หนังสือพิมพ์รายวัน.สยามประชา Another day in Thailand and yet another day where a foreigner behaves badly, ironically, this time in Pattaya’s Farang Bar. Two Thai female employees are seeking justice after a German man attacked them at a bar where they worked on Sunday, April 7. The German accused the bar of overcharging him. The two victims, 55 year old Anchisa Thongphuek and 39 year old Warunee Promwaen, submitted CCTV footage of the attack to officers at Mueang Pattaya Police Station on Sunday after the German man physically assaulted them. The incident occurred at Farang Bar in Soi Lengkee at about 2am on the day. Anchisa, the bar manager, recounted the incident involving the German man and his Thai wife at the bar. Despite consuming alcohol, the man refused to settle the bill, claiming it was too high. Though the total amounted to around 1,000 baht, the foreigner insisted they hadn’t consumed that much. Anchisa reviewed each order, assuring the couple that there was no intention to overcharge them. However, the foreigner disregarded her explanation and resorted to physical violence. Anchisa detailed how the German man slapped both her and her colleague, pulled their hair, and forcibly ejected them onto the road outside the bar. Despite the commotion, passersby refrained from intervening. Shockingly, the German man’s wife remained silent, failing to intervene as her husband attacked the bar staff. Other bar employees immediately sought help from the police, prompting officers to rush to the scene and arrested the German man. The charges issued for his actions have not yet been reported. Anchisa learned from the foreigner’s wife that the man worked as an engineer for a petrol company in the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate in Chon Buri. The wife even informed the victims that it was normal for her husband to become enraged after drinking more than six bottles of beer. Anchisa and Warunee urged the police to conduct further investigations to determine whether this German man had physically assaulted anyone before. They insisted on taking legal action against the foreigner to the fullest extent possible. Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

NZ PM Luxon visits Thailand next week File photo : New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon//AFP New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to make a three-day official visit to Thailand next week, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324506-nz-pm-luxon-visits-thailand-next-week/

File photo : New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon//AFP New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to make a three-day official visit to Thailand next week, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Luxon will become the first New Zealand Prime Minister to visit Thailand in 11 years. For his 16-18 April trip, he will be accompanied by Simon Watts, Minister for Climate Change, and Paulo Garcia, a Member of Parliament, including concerned officials and representatives from the private sector. During his visit, Luxon will hold a bilateral meeting with his Thai counterpart, Srettha Thavisin. Both countries are expected to sign a series of memorandums of understanding to further strengthen their relations and cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Luxon’s visit provides an opportunity for both countries to deepen mutual cooperation in all areas, especially in defense and security, economy, clean energy, innovation, education, culture, and people-to-people cooperation. Full story: Thai PBS 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Local health director fatally stabbed at charity concert in Loei by Nattapong Westwood Picture courtesy of KhaoSod Tragedy struck at a charity concert hosted by a renowned school when the director of a local health promotion hospital was fatally stabbed. The incident occurred today, April 9, when 54 year old Boonkua (surname withheld) was seen walking behind the stage to urinate in the bushes at around 4.30am, only to emerge running before collapsing. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324505-local-health-director-fatally-stabbed-at-charity-concert-in-loei/

Tragedy struck at a charity concert hosted by a renowned school when the director of a local health promotion hospital was fatally stabbed. The incident occurred today, April 9, when 54 year old Boonkua (surname withheld) was seen walking behind the stage to urinate in the bushes at around 4.30am, only to emerge running before collapsing. Lieutenant Wasant Saengthotophoth, Deputy Investigator at Wangsaphung Police Station, was notified of the assault at the concert venue in Wangsaphung subdistrict, Loei province, and promptly attended the scene. Upon arrival, officers discovered the injured Boonkue, who held the position of director at a health promotion hospital in the Dan Sai district. He suffered severe wounds to his abdomen and neck, bleeding profusely. Despite being rushed to Wangsaphung Hospital, Boonkue succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter. A blood-stained knife was found in the vicinity, and the police launched an investigation into the crime. The concert, featuring Mo Lam music, a traditional form of Thai folk music, had concluded when the incident took place. The director had walked towards the performers’ vehicles parked behind the stage. Suddenly, he was seen running from the area before falling to the ground. Friends who had attended the event with him attempted first aid to no avail. The police are now actively seeking the perpetrator to bring them to justice. The attack has shocked the local community, as such violence is rare at charitable events. The concert was intended to raise funds for the school, and the incident has cast a shadow over what was meant to be an evening of entertainment and goodwill. The investigation is ongoing, and police are calling for witnesses to come forward to aid in the apprehension of the individual responsible for this heinous crime, reported KhaoSod. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and the police are exploring all possible angles, including reviewing any personal disputes or conflicts that may have led to this violent act. The loss of Boonkue is a significant blow to the community, where he was respected for his dedication to public health and service. His untimely death has left colleagues, friends, and family in mourning, and a sense of urgency prevails among law enforcement to solve the case. by Nattapong Westwood Picture courtesy of KhaoSod Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Phuket hotel evicts foreigner who threatened taxi driver with knives By Peter Roche PHOTO: Khaosod English A Ukrainian-Portuguese woman who threatened a Phuket taxi driver while holding knives behind her back has been evicted from her hotel. But not from the province (at this stage anyway). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324504-phuket-hotel-evicts-foreigner-who-threatened-taxi-driver-with-knives/

A Ukrainian-Portuguese woman who threatened a Phuket taxi driver while holding knives behind her back has been evicted from her hotel. But not from the province (at this stage anyway). Khaosod English reports that the hotel in the sub-district of Rawai evicted the woman, claiming she had a history of causing problems and was disturbing other guests. The woman, named only as Nadiya, first hit the headlines after refusing to pay a female taxi driver who dropped her off at the hotel. When the driver followed her into the hotel demanding payment, the tourist took 2 knives from a nearby kitchen area and began threatening the woman. By Peter Roche PHOTO: Khaosod English Full story: PhuketGO 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Singkhon border checkpoint may become permanent crossing By Online Reporter The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Thamanat Prompow, has begun steps to upgrade the Singkhon border crossing in Prachuap Khiri Khan to a permanent checkpoint. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324503-singkhon-border-checkpoint-may-become-permanent-crossing/

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Thamanat Prompow, has begun steps to upgrade the Singkhon border crossing in Prachuap Khiri Khan to a permanent checkpoint. This development is poised to enhance the transport and trading of high-quality aquatic products between Thailand and Myanmar. During a meeting held on April 7, 2024, at the Singkhon border checkpoint’s conference room, Mr. Thamanat reviewed progress on establishing a center for the transshipment of aquatic products in the area. Currently operating as a temporary crossing, the Singkhon checkpoint faces limitations in law enforcement, congestion, and does not meet the necessary sanitary and safety standards. Mr. Thamanat emphasized the need for concerted efforts among relevant agencies, led by Mr. Somkid Jantamrit, the provincial governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan, to address these challenges. By Online Reporter Full story: HUA HIN TODAY 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Maybank’s bet: Thailand casinos could hit jackpot, boosting GDP by Alex Morgan Picture courtesy of The San Diego Union-Tribune Maybank Securities, a unit of Malaysia-based Maybank, forecasts that the potential introduction of casinos in Thailand with gambling facilities could yield an annual revenue of 187 billion baht, equivalent to about 1% of Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324502-maybank’s-bet-thailand-casinos-could-hit-jackpot-boosting-gdp/

Maybank Securities, a unit of Malaysia-based Maybank, forecasts that the potential introduction of casinos in Thailand with gambling facilities could yield an annual revenue of 187 billion baht, equivalent to about 1% of Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP). The forecast, based on an assessment carried out by Maybank’s gaming analyst and tourist arrivals in Thailand in 2019, anticipates the first complex to commence operation by the fiscal year 2029. The proposed tax rate on Thai casinos, standing at 17%, is considered appealing when compared to regional counterparts such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Macau, which impose a mass market rate ranging from 25-40%. This comparison was drawn by tourism analyst Boonyakorn Amornsank. In the forthcoming weeks, the Thai government has plans to make a draft bill public for deliberation in parliament. The bill concerns the establishment of entertainment complexes comprising hotels, shopping malls, and casinos, stated Boonyakorn Amornsank. “Following the approval of the legislation, we expect the first complex to be operational by the fiscal year 2029, considering an estimated three-year construction period.” Boonyakorn referenced Singapore’s first casino, which required six years to launch from its proposal stage. The proposal envisions the construction of five to eight complexes across several provinces. The first among these is likely to be established in the Eastern Economic Corridor, a region offering business incentives to attract foreign direct investment. The complexes, likely to host thousands of hotel rooms, are anticipated to primarily attract gamblers, making the profitability of the rooms uncertain, according to Boonyakorn. He also projected a positive impact on tourism from these complexes, though not in the initial stages. Maybank Securities identified three beneficiary groups from this development: contractors and banks during the construction phase, the property sector with a potential rise in prices, and commerce, hotels, and airports bolstered by an increase in foreign tourists, reported Bangkok Post. Boonyakorn referenced Singapore’s property market, which witnessed a 30% year-on-year increase in prices in 2007 before the inauguration of the first casino in 2010. “Airports of Thailand is likely the biggest beneficiary. Hoteliers with properties near these complexes are unlikely to benefit much from a potential hike in room rates.” by Alex Morgan Picture courtesy of The San Diego Union-Tribune Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Chinese investors linked to cadmium tailings trade in Thailand by Petch Petpailin Photo via Facebook/ กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม-ประเทศไทย The Thai authorities have confirmed that Chinese investors were accountable for the trading of 13,832 tonnes of cadmium tailings in Thailand. Further cadmium waste has been uncovered in the provinces of Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri, with 5,358 tonnes of the chemical waste still unaccounted for. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324500-chinese-investors-linked-to-cadmium-tailings-trade-in-thailand/

The Thai authorities have confirmed that Chinese investors were accountable for the trading of 13,832 tonnes of cadmium tailings in Thailand. Further cadmium waste has been uncovered in the provinces of Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri, with 5,358 tonnes of the chemical waste still unaccounted for. The Industrial Commission of the Secretariat of The House of Representatives received a tip-off about the illegal storage of cadmium tailings in Samut Sakhon province. This tip-off led to the discovery of 3,040 tonnes of cadmium waste at the warehouse of J&B Metal Co on April 7. Following the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) agreement, this waste must be buried in a cement pond indefinitely due to its potential harm to both human health and natural resources. Further investigation into the source of the chemical substances revealed that it originated from a smelting company, Bound & Beyond Plc, in Tak province. The company allegedly excavated 13,832 tonnes of cadmium waste from the cement pond and distributed it to various warehouses. The Thai authorities conducted searches to locate the remaining 10,792 tonnes of cadmium waste. These searches led to the discovery of an additional 4,400 tonnes in a factory in the Ban Bueng district of Chon Buri province on April 6 and 1,034 tonnes in another warehouse belonging to Cin Hong Cheng Inter Tech in Samut Sakhon on April 7. The search is ongoing to find the remaining cadmium waste of 5,358 tonnes. Officials suspect that all of the cadmium tailings may have been intended for transfer to China but they believe the substances are still in Thailand and have not yet been processed. Chinese investors involved The Thai authorities provided clarification regarding the trade of cadmium tailings to PPTV HD, explaining that the waste originated from a cement pond owned by Bound & Beyond Plc in Tak and was subsequently sold to J&B Metal Co in Samut Prakarn. A Thai intermediary named Kit, representing J&B Metal Co, sought assistance from Zhang, the Chinese proprietor of Cin Hong Cheng Inter-Tech, to identify potential buyers for the materials. Zhang proposed the cadmium tailings to Liu Lu, a Chinese factory owner in Chon Buri, at a rate of 8.25 baht per kilogramme. Subsequently, J&B Metal Co initiated the transfer of the cadmium waste to Liu Lu’s company. During the raid, Zhang was present at Cin Hong Cheng Inter Tech and denied any involvement in the sale of cadmium tailings. He claimed to have only temporarily stored the waste for Kit and did not profit from its sale. Officials are currently searching for the Thai agent named Kit and other relevant suspects, both local and foreign. Thai environmental academic Sonthi Kotchawat told PPTV HD that the price of cadmium tailings in the international market is approximately US$4.1 (about 150 baht) per kilogramme. Therefore, one tonne of cadmium waste is valued at about 150,000 baht. These cadmium tailings could cause a huge profit for Chinese investors. This substance contributes to the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries known as nickel-cadmium batteries (NiCd batteries). Prachachart also noted that cadmium tailings are utilised in the production of paints and metal plating. by Petch Petpailin Photo via Facebook/ กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม-ประเทศไทย Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thailand seeks more flight routes from Laos and China by Mitch Connor The Government of Thailand has its sights set on elevating the country’s aviation industry, with plans in the pipeline to request additional flight routes from Laos and China within the next two years. The move is part of a broader “Ignite Thailand” vision, articulated by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, aiming to position Thailand as a hub in eight key sectors, including aviation, by the year 2030. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324499-thailand-seeks-more-flight-routes-from-laos-and-china/

The Government of Thailand has its sights set on elevating the country’s aviation industry, with plans in the pipeline to request additional flight routes from Laos and China within the next two years. The move is part of a broader “Ignite Thailand” vision, articulated by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, aiming to position Thailand as a hub in eight key sectors, including aviation, by the year 2030. Government spokesperson Chai Watcharonke recently highlighted a projection by the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) that air traffic between Thailand and the two aforementioned countries could potentially double, provided talks to increase flights are successful. To support this growth, the Thai government is considering measures to enhance the competitiveness of its domestic aviation industry, irrespective of economic conditions. Increased flight capacity would offer airlines more choices for routes into and out of Thailand, thus creating new economic prospects and bolstering the future of the aviation sector, according to Watcharonke. The initiation of discussions with Laos and China follows closely on the heels of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s visit to Sri Lanka in early February. The visit culminated in the signing of a bilateral agreement on air transport, customs, and air safety, aimed at uplifting Thai airline standards to meet those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Consequently, regular flights between Bangkok and Colombo, operated by Thai Airways International, have been reinstated, Watcharonke stated. “Geographically, Thailand is the central point of the Southeast Asian region.” Earlier this month, the Thai prime minister disclosed plans for the expansion of existing airports and the construction of new ones. A standout project involves the expansion of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, with plans underway to add new terminals and construct two additional runways. Once completed, the airport’s capacity will be doubled, accommodating up to 150 million passengers annually. Two new airports are also in the works, one in the north and another in the south. Lanna International Airport will serve as a secondary airport in Chiang Mai and surrounding northern provinces, while the Andaman International Airport in Phang Nga will supplement the long-haul hub in southern Thailand. These new airports will together accommodate an additional 40 million passengers per year, Watcharonke pointed out. by Mitch Connor Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Fraud frenzy: Thai police reveal Internet scam’s billion-baht blow by Mitch Connor Picture courtesy of Herald Sun Online consumer fraud, the leading Internet scam, has resulted in damages exceeding 1 billion baht in the initial quarter of the year, as disclosed by the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Full story:: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324496-fraud-frenzy-thai-police-reveal-internet-scam’s-billion-baht-blow/

Online consumer fraud, the leading Internet scam, has resulted in damages exceeding 1 billion baht in the initial quarter of the year, as disclosed by the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Karom Polpornklang, the deputy government spokesperson, stated that on the RTP website, some 26,507 online fraud instances were reported. The total damage was calculated to be 4.65 billion baht, averaging 149 million baht per day. The principal form of scam reported through the RTP website was consumer fraud, involving con artists deceiving victims into purchasing goods or services digitally. The cost inflicted by these scams on victims totalled 1.02 billion baht, informed Polpornklang. Other prevalent scams included deceiving individuals into transferring money for supposed additional income, causing aggregate damage of 466 million baht. Loan scams also appeared, where victims were coerced into repaying substantially more money than the original loan due to exorbitant interest rates, resulting in 112 million baht in damages. The baiting of individuals to invest in digital assets led to 1.1 billion baht in losses, while call centre scams caused a loss of 289 million baht. In March, Karom revealed, the RTP froze 28,233 bank accounts linked to online scams, securing around 588 million baht from an estimated total damage of 1 billion baht. Siriwat Deepho, the RTP deputy spokesman, shared that acting Police Chief, Kitrat Panphet, expressed serious concern over the magnitude of losses suffered by victims and the number of individuals who had either knowingly or unknowingly surrendered control of their bank accounts to scam artists or call centre gangs. Siriwat explained that mule accounts are central to all online fraud, emphasising the importance of not disclosing bank details or selling bank books for minor profits, reported Bangkok Post. “Individuals whose names are utilised for mule accounts will face a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to 300,000 baht.” Siriwat further added that those involved will be viewed as members of the scam networks and will receive equivalent punishment to the fraud ringleaders. by Mitch Connor Picture courtesy of Herald Sun Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Bangkok Council joins in exchanging opinions on planning and creating the Bangkok City Plan by Thaiger Council meeting for the Bangkok City Plan (4th Revision) | Photo via Bangkok Wirat Meenchainunt, Chairman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) attended the meeting with a delegation from the Office of Urban Planning and Development to jointly determine guidelines for improving the regulations and recommending other appropriate city planning measures in planning and creating the Bangkok City Plan at the Bangkok Council meeting room, Bangkok City Hall 2 (Din Daeng). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324495-bangkok-council-joins-in-exchanging-opinions-on-planning-and-creating-the-bangkok-city-plan/

Wirat Meenchainunt, Chairman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) attended the meeting with a delegation from the Office of Urban Planning and Development to jointly determine guidelines for improving the regulations and recommending other appropriate city planning measures in planning and creating the Bangkok City Plan at the Bangkok Council meeting room, Bangkok City Hall 2 (Din Daeng). Wirat Meenchainunt, Chairman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council | Photo via Bangkok The president of the Bangkok Council said… “Today’s meeting was organized to provide an opportunity for interested Bangkok council members to ask questions about the changing city plan and the colours of the city plan that have been set. The Planning Office and consultants have answered questions to gain a common understanding and be able to use this information to understand the people in the area in another way.” Photo via bangkok The objective of this meeting was to listen to opinions and discuss with members of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council. They can be considered representatives of people from 50 districts of Bangkok and are familiar with the conditions in their administrative area. A delegation from the Office of Urban Planning and Development will use the recommendations and opinions received from the Bangkok Council as information for improving the new draft city plan to be consistent with the changing circumstances and environment. At this time, the time for listening to opinions on the draft Bangkok City Plan (4th revision) has been extended until Friday, 3 August 2024. Thaiwut Khankaew, director of the BMA’s City Planning and Development Department | Photo via Bangkok Thaiwut Khankaew, director of the BMA’s City Planning and Development Department, said he acknowledged that the details of the city plan may be difficult to understand for those who do not know city planning information before. The current city plan has been promulgated since 2013, and the previous draft of the revised city plan has been open for comments, but it is too broad and does not cover all groups. BMA must accept the said complaints and has requested to extend the hearing for another 6 months and schedule a field visit to listen to opinions in depth by the district to provide more clarity. It will start in April 2024 and is expected to be completed in August 2024, which will be a meeting to listen to opinions in 50 districts. The target participation is 200 people per district and is a city plan with the most participation from citizens. Photo via Bangkok Overall, those who have submitted comments on the draft Bangkok City Plan (4th revision) currently number 9,191 people. It can be divided into 968 people who submitted on the meeting day, 501 people who submitted through the website, and 7,722 who filed with the Urban Planning and Development Bureau. For citizens interested in expressing their opinions on the draft Bangkok City Plan (4th revision), they can submit their opinions in person or by mail to the Bangkok Urban Planning and Development Office or at https://cpudapp.bangkok.go.th/cityplandraft4/frontend/web/ Press Release by Thaiger TOP: Council meeting for the Bangkok City Plan (4th Revision) | Photo via Bangkok Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Karenni Army Mounts Fierce Attack On Town Opposite Mae Hong Son by TNR Staff Aerial view of fighting along the border in Myanmar. Photo: Naewna AFTER Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF) fighters almost fully seized Myawaddy town, oppositie Thailand’s Mae Sot town, with one Myanmar junta battalion holding out, the Karenni Army (KA) and their allies stepped up their attacks at two townships and Pha Song town opposite Mae Hong Son province’s Mueang district, Naewna newspaper said this morning (Apr. 9). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324494-karenni-army-mounts-fierce-attack-on-town-opposite-mae-hong-son/

Karenni Army Mounts Fierce Attack On Town Opposite Mae Hong Son by TNR Staff Aerial view of fighting along the border in Myanmar. Photo: Naewna AFTER Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF) fighters almost fully seized Myawaddy town, oppositie Thailand’s Mae Sot town, with one Myanmar junta battalion holding out, the Karenni Army (KA) and their allies stepped up their attacks at two townships and Pha Song town opposite Mae Hong Son province’s Mueang district, Naewna newspaper said this morning (Apr. 9). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324494-karenni-army-mounts-fierce-attack-on-town-opposite-mae-hong-son/

AFTER Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF) fighters almost fully seized Myawaddy town, oppositie Thailand’s Mae Sot town, with one Myanmar junta battalion holding out, the Karenni Army (KA) and their allies stepped up their attacks at two townships and Pha Song town opposite Mae Hong Son province’s Mueang district, Naewna newspaper said this morning (Apr. 9). The heaviest fighting is taking place at Pa Song, where KA and their allies, Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) and PDF, have been attacking Myanmar junta’s main base in Kayah state at Pha Song bridge across Salween river for two months now. They have not been successful so far because this base is located on high ground. This morning KA and their allies dropped five 81mm grenades by drone on this camp, causing casualties. Since the start of the attack the junta forces at the base have suffered heavy casualties and as supply routes have been cut off it is expected that they will surrender soon. by TNR Staff Aerial view of fighting along the border in Myanmar. Photo: Naewna Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Tourist turmoil: DoT’s legal action unfolds in online saga #คัลแลนพี่จอง by Nattapong Westwood Picture courtesy of KhaoSod The Department of Tourism (DoT) is set to take legal action against a tour company and an unlicensed guide involved in a recent online drama that escalated under the hashtag #คัลแลนพี่จอง. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324493-tourist-turmoil-dot’s-legal-action-unfolds-in-online-saga-คัลแลนพี่จอง/

The Department of Tourism (DoT) is set to take legal action against a tour company and an unlicensed guide involved in a recent online drama that escalated under the hashtag #คัลแลนพี่จอง. The incident, which spurred widespread criticism on social media, involved a tour guide taking two YouTubers, known as Kallan and Pi Jhong, on a trip that was featured in their latest episode titled Chumphon Day3. On April 9, the Director-General of the DoT, Jaturn Pookpanich, stated that as the supervisory body for tour companies and guides, the department had ordered a regional office to investigate the matter. It was found that the tour company’s business license had expired on October 3, 2022, and the female guide appearing in the media did not possess a valid tour guide license. This constitutes a violation of the Tourism Business and Guide Act, which can result in a fine of up to 500,000 baht or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, for operating a tour without a license. Similarly, acting as a guide without proper licensing could lead to a fine of up to 100,000 baht or imprisonment for up to one year, or both. The Southern Region Office of the Department of Tourism is now expediting the collection of evidence to proceed with legal action. This announcement follows a statement by the tour company apologising for the incident, clarifying that the individual accompanying Kallan and Pi Jhong was not a guide but a deckhand. Additionally, the woman in charge of the duo’s care, along with another companion named Dan, posted an apology, admitting to inappropriate behaviour without any ulterior motives, reported KhaoSod. This enforcement action by the DoT underscores the importance of adhering to legal requirements in the tour and guide industry, which is essential for maintaining standards and ensuring the safety and satisfaction of tourists. The incident also highlights the role of social media in bringing such issues to light and the swift response of the relevant authorities to uphold the industry’s integrity. by Nattapong Westwood Picture courtesy of KhaoSod Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-09 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Government Clarifies Songkran Celebration Confusion for Chinese Tourist by Naark Rojanasuvan BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has offered an explanation about a Chinese tourist who was under the impression that Bangkok would be hosting continuous water fights during the Songkran festival, based on the government's 21-day celebration announcement. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1324490-government-clarifies-songkran-celebration-confusion-for-chinese-tourist/