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Happy City Index 2025
The Institue for Quality of Life has just published its 2025 rankings of the top 200 cities in the world (rankings available at "happy-city-index.com). It is notable that not one city in Thailand scored high enough to earn a place in the top 200 rankings. The reasons, not unsurprisingly, for Thailands poor performance are apparently due to its cities failing to meet the minimum criteria across the key indicators of; 1. Citizens - First and foremost, this involves addressing the level of awareness and knowledge, as well as the quality of the educational system. This system should provide the necessary competencies and qualifications. Research indicates that acquiring a certain level of qualifications and skills is crucial, including a readiness for lifelong learning, access to modern educational resources of the twenty-first century, higher education opportunities, and the number of residents with higher education. Additionally, the digitisation of schools, the level of digital and mathematical skills, and the ability to communicate in foreign language are important factors. It is also essential to foster the development of digital competencies and general technological knowledge among residents.the city’s activities that inspire and encourage innovative attitudes that are evident in research and development, inter-institutional cooperation, and creativity. Attitudes should also foster a well-organised educational system that develops competencies among young residents. Important factors include solutions that enhance knowledge, such as free access to an open education system providing international cultural and library resources. A comprehensive range of cultural activities is also significant, as it allows residents to engage with the most important cultural achievements from around the globe, contributing to their sense of well-being. 2. Governance - Involving residents in city decision-making processes is crucial for the proper development of the city and for ensuring a sense of happiness. While involving residents requires their openness and knowledge, it is also the city’s role to collect and consider these opinions in decision-making processes. Transparency in actions, management, and data is also essential. Authentic, adequate, and widely accessible information about the city’s operations and decisions should be made available in a transparent and easily understandable manner to all interested parties. An important aspect is access to digital services provided by the city. These, commonly known as e-services, help residents minimise the time required to complete administrative tasks. High levels of e-service accessibility enhance the quality of life in a city and also demonstrate the effectiveness of city authorities in using information and communication technologies to improve administrative functions. The final category of factors within the area of governance is the existence of strategies and visions for city development aimed at improving the quality of life. This includes policies, perspectives, and clearly designated structures responsible for specific areas of urban activity, particularly those focused on residents' quality of life. It is crucial that city authorities are fully aware of the activities they undertake, have clearly defined goals, and develop strategies and tools to achieve them. 3. Environment - A key issue is the area of Environment and the competent and comprehensive management of natural resources, including renewable energy. This encompasses both water management and electricity consumption. It also involves addressing pollution, both broadly and in detail, which relates to the quality of air and water, as well as emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Similarly, waste and sewage management are crucial factors, with the level of recycling serving as a fundamental indicator of a city's development. It is also crucial to consider the city’s efforts in organising, planning, and expanding green spaces, including parks and areas for relaxation. This also involves constructing new, environmentally-friendly buildings, such as those with green roofs accessible to the public in both service and residential sectors. Additionally, protecting ecologically significant areas and preserving ecosystems, including biodiversity, are vital concerns. These aspects reflect the outcome of deliberate urban policies that incorporate various strategies and plans for environmental protection. Problems such as air pollution and waste management are particularly important in light of research by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which predicts that the global urban population will nearly double between 2015 and 2050. This increase will significantly raise the demand for public transport services and exacerbate pollution-related issues. It also necessitates the rational, equitable, and sustainable management of natural resources to support the growing population. 4. Economy - Among the factors analysed in the economy area is hard data such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and related productivity. Productivity is a key indicator and is crucial for economic growth It measures how effectively productive inputs, such as labour and capital, are utilised to achieve a given level of output. In our analysis, we also examine some of the most important data—specifically, the type of salary one can expect in a given city compared to the national average. Often, certain goods and services, such as taking a holiday in a chosen location within the country or accessing national resources like the higher education system, are entirely independent of one’s specific location within the same country. Therefore, we also measure the extent to which a city provides conditions that facilitate better access to nationally available services. Additionally, the median annual salary in a given country helps assess how working conditions enable access to globally available services. Residents of certain cities simply have the opportunity to earn higher wages, giving them greater access to national services. At the same time, residents of specific countries benefit from better access to globally provided services. The activity of the innovative and creative enterprise sector is another extremely important area. This aligns with the citizens area, where one of the desired traits is innovation and creativity. These expectations are not only directed at community members but also at economic operators, who should develop new solutions and continuously seek opportunities for growth. Entrepreneurship, including labour market flexibility and unemployment levels, as well as a broad range of technologies—such as the use of information and communication technologies and employment within this sector—are also key factors defining the economy. Technological issues are fundamental, given their role as effective tools for addressing social problems, improving public services, and shaping the profile of business activities. The final element is the international presence of companies. This encompasses their ability to compete globally and collaborate with entities from other countries. Such international engagement can enhance efficiency by, for example, leveraging the benefits and intellectual assets of being part of global cooperation networks and exchanging knowledge. The involvement of the business sector is crucial for implementing development policies aimed at creating a happy city. This impact is reflected not only in unemployment rates and the ability to provide a stable environment for residents pursuing their life goals but also in the industries involved, the readiness to seek innovative solutions, and the capacity to compete on a global scale. However, the most critical factor is the intrinsic value of the employees themselves, including their openness, creativity, and entrepreneurship. One important characteristic of smart city dwellers is their readiness and ability to engage in lifelong learning. This is reflected not only in their active participation in governance-related activities, which form the foundation of the city’s development, but also in their effectiveness in enhancing business efficiency, enabling enterprises to compete globally and deliver tangible benefits to residents. This can be measured by employment levels, labour market flexibility, and the benefits funded by personal and corporate taxes, which are often the primary sources of revenue for covering urban expenses. 5. Health - Within the health theme, safety plays a crucial role in assessing both crime-related incidents and the number of road accidents. This area goes beyond measuring recorded criminal activity and traffic incidents—it also evaluates access to medical services, including the number of doctors relative to the city's population and the proportion of residents covered by health insurance. Health coverage ensures access to medical care in case of emergencies requiring hospitalisation as well as for routine healthcare needs. An essential component of safety is also the availability of vaccination programmes for children. In this regard, we do not assess whether vaccinations are mandatory but rather whether they are provided free of charge. Our analysis indicates that in many countries where vaccination is not compulsory, the vaccination rate remains exceptionally high, highlighting strong public awareness. However, it is crucial that decisions about vaccinations stem from informed parental choice rather than financial constraints. This is why ensuring free access to vaccinations in selected areas is so important. Additionally, alongside the use of information and communication technologies for mobility and the accessibility and efficiency of public transport, the safety of road users and public transport passengers is of paramount importance. Prioritising safety is not only essential for the well-being of residents but also carries significant economic implications. The death of an individual in a road accident is, above all, a personal tragedy for the family, but it also places a considerable financial burden on the state budget. These costs encompass pensions and compensation payments, liabilities arising from uninsured or unidentified offenders, vehicle damage repairs, medical and technical assessments, as well as the deployment of emergency services such as police, ambulances, and fire brigades. Further expenses include medical examinations, transportation of bodies, funerals, medical care, legal proceedings, hospitalisations, and rehabilitation. This extensive list of financial consequences underscores the critical need for preventive measures and accident reduction strategies—not only to enhance residents’ quality of life but also to reduce public expenditure, enabling funds to be redirected to other vital city services. Transport and Mobility - Intelligent transport systems, mobile applications, and other solutions that enhance traffic management, including user-friendly e-payment systems for public transport, are essential features of a city where happiness is a key growth factor. The application of new information and communication technologies in transport is still an innovative and positive development, significantly improving the quality and efficiency of the system. Creativity and ingenuity are therefore crucial for discovering new solutions in this field, enhancing public transport, and directly impacting the city’s quality of life. This approach should also lead to the optimisation and overall evaluation of public transport, including its accessibility, efficiency, and organisation. In addition to the use of information and communication technologies for managing traffic and public transport, the accessibility of public transport at local, national, and international levels is a crucial factor in the development of cities where residents are happy. The final two aspects of the mobility area are the availability of open data on vehicle movements in real time and the multimodal nature of public transport. The importance of open data was also highlighted in the governance area, where "transparency in action and openness of data" were key components. Emphasising this need in relation to public transport and traffic underscores the broader necessity for publishing reliable and widely accessible information about the city’s operations, which directly impacts residents' quality of life. Access to real-time data allows individuals to choose the fastest mode of transport, avoid traffic jams, and select the most efficient routes, thereby saving time. This time savings can be redirected towards other activities, such as nurturing family relationships, engaging in hobbies, or relaxing. -
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Community Villagers Demand Action After Foreigner’s Pit Bulls Maul Dog to Death
Pit Bulls should not be allowed in country. They are a dangerous breed. -
178
Tourism Tourism Shock: Thailand's Visitor Numbers See Alarming Plunge
In countries that are seeing an increase in tourism the tourist authority should take a close look at what they are doing. Maybe then they will see what is causing the downturn for Thailand. It wont just be a single factor, it will be a combination of several things. TAT needs to look at all the factors and see how they can at least equal them or better them. Sitting and complaining that tourism is decreasing without looking at the reason why is ridiculous. Look at what attracts and promote similar. Look at what is harming the tourism in Thailand and scrap it or at least radically modify it. Thailand has all the tools to make it the greatest destination on earth but no use having the tools if you don't use them. -
6
ID card as a picture in the phone?
Official app here......https://www.bora.dopa.go.th/app-thaid/ -
159
Trump Mocks France Over WWII Commemorations, Urges Greater U.S. Recognition
It makes no difference what the truth is. The United States will ALWAYS be portrayed as the villain. The USA is hated worldwide. -
21
Crime Swedish Father Denies Harassment Allegations in Udon Thani
Surely in light of the allegations he should be arrested and banged up for fear that he will intimidate witnesses? There's some sickos about.
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