Thailand expects 40 million international tourists by 2024

 

Image: Reuters

 

It won't be until at least 2024 before Thailand’s tourism rebounds to that before the pandemic, according to the country’s finance minister.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211386-thailand-expects-40-million-international-tourists-by-2024/

Thailand approves Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine

 

FILE PHOTO: A woman leaves with her bike at Johnson and Johnson's subsidiary Janssen Vaccines in Leiden, Netherlands March 9, 2021. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has granted emergency authorisation to Janssen, the single-dose coronavirus vaccine of Johnson & Johnson, the country's health minister said on Thursday, the third vaccine to be cleared for local use.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211414-thailand-approves-johnson-johnsons-covid-19-vaccine/

Alleged boss of illegal gambling in Thailand’s eastern region in police custody

 

 

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police announced the arrest today (Thursday) of eight people, including Somchai Chutikitdecha, alias Longchu Somchai, the alleged operator of a network of illegal gambling dens in Thailand’s eastern region, and the seizure of about 880 million baht in assets, during coordinated raids in Bangkok, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Chon Buri.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211423-alleged-boss-of-illegal-gambling-in-thailand’s-eastern-region-in-police-custody/

 

Senior Thai official nabbed with two million baht in alleged bribes

 

 

The provincial chief of the natural resources and environment office, in Thailand’s northeastern province of Mukdahan, has been arrested by police for allegedly receiving two million baht in bribes from a Laotian timber merchant, in return for facilitating the return of precious Siamese Rosewood timber, worth about 600 million baht, impounded in the province.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211424-senior-thai-official-nabbed-with-two-million-baht-in-alleged-bribes/

 

Dinosaurs al fresco

 

 

A hotel in Thailand’s Sukhothai province, the business of which has suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has remodeled itself into an outdoor barbecue restaurant, with large model dinosaurs.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211426-dinosaurs-al-fresco/

 

UPDATE:

 

Thai rocker Sek Loso granted bail in Min Buri after Supreme Court rejects his appeal

 

 

Controversial Thai rock star Seksan Sukpimai, better known as “Sek Loso”, was sent to Min Buri remand prison today (Thursday), to serve his 2 years and 18-month jail term, after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal against the Appeal Court’s verdict.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211389-rocker-sek-loso-sent-to-min-buri-remand-prison/?do=findComment&comment=16344630

 

New platform helps travellers book ASQ stays in Thailand

By Anne Somanas

 

 

A new platform has been launched to help travellers book their alternative state quarantine (ASQ) stays in Thailand, uniting the country’s quarantine hotels on one platform.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211428-new-platform-helps-travellers-book-asq-stays-in-thailand/

 

Thailand hopeful in boosting its tourism industry

 

A person is seen in water near a beach which is usually full of tourists, amid fear of coronavirus in Phuket, Thailand on March 10, 2020. - Reuters

 

BANGKOK, March 25 (Bernama): Thailand recorded just 7,694 foreign tourists in January this year - the highest number of monthly tourist arrivals so far since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Thailand in 2020.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211430-thailand-hopeful-in-boosting-its-tourism-industry/

 

Thailand Smartphone Industry Ends 2020 on a Flat Note
By: Counterpoint Research

 

 

Thailand’s smartphone market normalized in the fourth quarter of 2020 to help bring a challenging and erratic year to a close just slightly off 2019 in terms of unit shipments. An unexpectedly strong third quarter which saw 27% YoY shipment growth driven by pent-up demand and online buying helped to offset a first half plagued by lockdowns and negative consumer sentiment.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211441-thailand-smartphone-industry-ends-2020-on-a-flat-note/

 

Bitcoin can prosper without becoming a major currency: SkyBridge's Scaramucci

By Anna Irrera and Tom Wilson

 

FILE PHOTO: A representation of virtual currency Bitcoin is seen in front of a stock graph in this illustration taken March 15, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Bitcoin doesn't need to become a widely-used form of payment to succeed and could prosper solely as a store of value, SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci said on Wednesday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211443-bitcoin-can-prosper-without-becoming-a-major-currency-skybridges-scaramucci/

Biden says China won't surpass U.S. as global leader on his watch

 

U.S. President Joe Biden gestures as he answers a question during his first formal news conference as president in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2021. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said he had made it clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the United States was not looking for confrontation, but would insist that China play by international rules for fair competition and fair trade.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211444-biden-says-china-wont-surpass-us-as-global-leader-on-his-watch/

 

Biden says he plans to run for re-election in 2024

By Jarrett Renshaw and Jeff Mason

 

U.S. President Joe Biden listens to a question as he holds his first formal news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2021. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday he plans to run for re-election in 2024.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211445-biden-says-he-plans-to-run-for-re-election-in-2024/

 

EU turns up heat on Astrazeneca as new COVID-19 wave surges

By Sabine Siebold and Philip Blenkinsop

 

European Council President Charles Michel speaks during a video conference with the leaders, during an EU summit in Brussels, Belgium March 25, 2021. REUTERS/Yves Herman

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders met on Thursday to navigate a common path out of the COVID-19 pandemic as infections surge in many of their countries, seeking agreement on how to ramp up supplies of vaccines after a slow start to immunisations.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211446-eu-turns-up-heat-on-astrazeneca-as-new-covid-19-wave-surges/

 

Bank of England unveils new banknote celebrating WW2 code-breaker Turing

 

Front and back view of the new 50-pound note, featuring late mathematician Alan Turing, in this illustration obtained March 25, 2021. Bank of England/Handout via REUTERS/Illustration

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England unveiled the design of a new banknote celebrating mathematician Alan Turing, who helped Britain win World War Two with his code-breaking skills but is believed to have killed himself after being convicted for having sex with a male partner.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211448-bank-of-england-unveils-new-banknote-celebrating-ww2-code-breaker-turing/

 

Thailand reports first death of patient after having COVID vaccine

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Health ministry aide Dr Sophon Mekthon said that a patient had died after receiving a Covid-19 vaccination but it was unlikely to be related.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211450-thailand-reports-first-death-of-patient-after-having-covid-vaccine/

After Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai next in line to welcome vaccinated foreign tourists

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan has made the clearest statements yet related to Thailand finally opening up to foreign tourism without quarantine.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211453-after-phuket-pattaya-and-chiang-mai-next-in-line-to-welcome-vaccinated-foreign-tourists/

High speed train linking three airports: It's happening and it’s ahead of schedule

 

Picture: Daily News

 

The plan to link three airports with a high speed train are either on schedule or ahead of schedule.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211457-high-speed-train-linking-three-airports-its-happening-and-it’s-ahead-of-schedule/

Bangkok’s Hard Rock Cafe closes after 30 years

 

FILE PHOTO//Credit: Architectkidd

 

Daily News reported that the Hard Rock Cafe in Siam Square, Bangkok will close temporarily next Wednesday. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211458-bangkok’s-hard-rock-cafe-closes-after-30-years/

 

Death of large fish and other creatures after pesticides washed into Moei River

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported what they said was a sad event in the Moei River between Thailand and Myanmar in Tak province.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211459-death-of-large-fish-and-other-creatures-after-pesticides-washed-into-moei-river/

Commerce Ministry Launches Measures to Boost Rice Exports

By: Paphamon Arayasukawat

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Commerce Ministry has launched measures to increase rice exports to 6 million tons this year, valued at around 150 billion baht, with Indonesia, China, Bangladesh and Iraq set to be the main markets under government-to-government (G2G) deals.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211465-commerce-ministry-launches-measures-to-boost-rice-exports/

 

Owner of overweight "Godzilla" the macaque in tears as parks authority take away his "pet"

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's parks' authority acted after a clip showing a seriously overweight macaque called Godzilla got international news attention.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211466-owner-of-overweight-godzilla-the-macaque-in-tears-as-parks-authority-take-away-his-pet/

 

Labor Ministry Will Propose Law to Protect Casual Workers

By Paphamon Arayasukawat

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Labor Ministry is wrapping up a bill to protect 20 million casual workers, and hopes to table a draft for Cabinet approval next month.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211472-labor-ministry-will-propose-law-to-protect-casual-workers/

 

Phuket targets zero road accident fatalities over Songkran

By The Phuket News

 

Photo: PR Dept

 

PHUKET: Officials have set a target of zero fatalities on Phuket’s roads during the Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign this Songkran holiday, to be enforced from April 10-16.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211474-phuket-targets-zero-road-accident-fatalities-over-songkran/

 

Thai woman driver - aged 72 - drives straight into tutor school after "senior moment"

 

Picture: Daily News

 

A 72 year old Thai woman said that  had some kind of senior moment as she was driving along Soi Tha-It in Nonthaburi yesterday lunchtime.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211475-thai-woman-driver-aged-72-drives-straight-into-tutor-school-after-senior-moment/

 

Bangkok: Van drivers call for DLT action against illegal operators in Minburi

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Minivan drivers in Minburi in northern Bangkok presented complaints to the Department of Land Transport chief Jirut Wisanjit about illegal vans operating in their area.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211478-bangkok-van-drivers-call-for-dlt-action-against-illegal-operators-in-minburi/

Thai lender SCB forms JV with Indonesian travel app Traveloka

 

FILE PHOTO: People walk pass the logos of Siam Commercial Bank at an exhibition hall in Bangkok, Thailand, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's third-largest bank by assets Siam Commercial Bank Pcl (SCB) on Friday announced a joint venture with Indonesian startup Traveloka to offer financial services and products to Thai customers.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211479-thai-lender-scb-forms-jv-with-indonesian-travel-app-traveloka/

 

Prospective Airbnb Hosts in Bangkok Can Earn an Estimated THB 8,724 Monthly

Airbnb Launches New Tool to Estimate Monthly Income for Those Considering Hosting

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand, 26 March 2021 - Travel is coming back, and Thailand residents looking to earn extra income through hosting on Airbnb could make an estimated THB 8,724 monthly*. 

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211481-prospective-airbnb-hosts-in-bangkok-can-earn-an-estimated-thb-8724-monthly/

 

Mother who attacked child's classmate in school charged with assault

 

Picture: Daily News

 

A mother who drove her motorcycle to her child's school and attacked a seven year old putting the child in hospital has been charged with assault.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211482-mother-who-attacked-childs-classmate-in-school-charged-with-assault/

 

Train Services Resume in Samut Sakhon

 

 

BANGKOK, March 26 (TNA) – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) on Friday resumed train services, running through Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi in line with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211484-train-services-resume-in-samut-sakhon/

 

Chatuchak Market Opens 6 Days A Week

 

 

BANGKOK, March 26 (TNA) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) resolved to open the Chatuchak market six days a week to help vendors.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211486-chatuchak-market-opens-6-days-a-week/