Vaccines not lockdowns helping to reduce COVID-19 cases in Thailand

 Statements from the Ministry of Public Health yesterday reported by Daily News indicated that Thailand's vaccine rollout was continuing to gather pace.

Dr Kiatphoom said that the country was on the way to having perhaps 5,000 daily infections by the New Year though he cautioned that four main measures were needed as the country reopened its activities or this could spike again to 30,000.

He said that lockdown measures were now losing their effectiveness.

He cited the UK with a roughly similar population as an example of having a large number of daily infections though the daily death toll there was a manageable 143.

This was because of their advanced vaccination program.

Thailand ranked 26th for Covid severity at the moment, he said, announcing 11,200 infections and 113 deaths.

57 million does of vaccine had been administered that was 33.7 million first doses, 22 million second and 1.6 million third.

59.3% of the elderly had been vaccinated with a first jab and 62% of those with seven underlying health conditions.

There is a target of 4 million 12 - 17 year old high school students to get jabbed to allow schools to open - so far just 74,000 have been vaccinated or 1.7%.

By the end of October it is expected that 61% of the Thai population will have got a first jab, 37% a second.

With vaccinations picking up pace this would be 75% first and 55% second at the end of November and by the end of the year 85% of the population would have got a first dose and 70% a second.

He noted that Bangkok and surrounding areas were seeing a good drop in infections and this was generally being seen in the provinces except in four far southern provinces where greater measures were needed.

He described Thailand as being at a crossroads now with four main areas needed - the progress of the vaccine rollout, universal protection measures, testing and strict protocols in places like movie theaters and restaurants and other settings where many people would gather.

The gist of the Daily News report was that Thailand was finally on track with its vaccine rollout and there were positive signs but experience in other countries should drive the country's next phase of responses.

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Source - ASIAN NOW

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Thai Industry calls 500 Baht tourist fees ‘unsuitable’

 

Tourism operators have raised concerns about the 500 baht fee to be collected from foreign tourists next year, worried that the timeline of this policy may not be appropriate for an industry in dire need of recovery.
Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said the concept of setting up a transformation fund for the tourism industry is promising, but there are uncertainties next year that could jeopardize the tourism situation.

Even though the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicted that Thailand will win back 10 million tourists in 2022, the latest forecast from the Bank of Thailand (BoT) revised down the number to 6 million, mainly attributed to possible virus spread and new variant, low consumer confidence and stimulus measures that still need consistency.

“Fee collection will impact decision making as the additional cost is considerably high compared with the average expenditure while traveling in Thailand, such as hotel room per night of just 1,000 baht. If the government really has to move forward, it should not implement this policy in the first half of next year,” said Mrs Marisa. (continues)

Source - BangkokJack 

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Thailand to charge foreign arrivals 500 baht “tourism fee” from next year

 

Despite Thailand struggling to reboot its decimated tourism sector, the government is pushing ahead with a proposed tourism fee – and has increased it by 200 baht. The National Tourism Policy Committee originally approved a fee of 300 baht at the start of this year, which would be used to develop tourism destinations and provide tourists with insurance benefits. According to a Bangkok Post report, the fee has now increased to 500 baht.

Yuthasak Supasorn from the Tourism Authority of Thailand says the extra 200 baht will be used to fund projects aimed at transforming the country’s tourism model from mass market to a more high-value, environmentally-conscious model. He’s pretty confident tourists won’t mind paying it.

“The additional cost won’t have an impact on tourists as we want to focus on the quality market. We hope this fund will support a national tourism makeover creating more safe and clean places.”

The Centre for Economic Situation Administration has approved the 500 baht fee, part of a wider “tourism transformation fund” to support transformational projects with a focus on sustainable, high-value tourism. The TAT says the fee will be collected from next year, with officials counting on getting 5 billion baht within the first year, based on 10 million foreign arrivals.

The Bangkok Post reports the TAT and the Tourism and Sports Ministry will hold talks with the relevant authorities to set up a fund committee and agree funding mechanisms, as well as deciding how the fee will be collected from foreign visitors. The fund committee will be tasked with deciding which projects qualify for support. Yuthasak adds that the goal of the fund is not to alleviate the economic devastation of Covid-19, but instead to focus on long-term growth.

Source: Bangkok Post

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EU Opens it Borders to Thailand and Other Covid-19 Safe Countries

The EU (European Union) agreed Tuesday to reopen its borders to 15 safe countries which also included Thailand that gone 36 day without a local covid-19 cases. The EU excluded the virus-stricken US, as covid-19 accelerates globally with more than 505,000 deaths worldwide.

Europe’s piecemeal reopening comes as countries struggle to revive economic activity while fending off new spikes of Covid-19. With hotspots still surging in Latin America and in the United States.

After days of negotiations, EU members finalized the list of countries whose health situation was deemed safe enough to allow residents to enter the bloc starting on July 1st. Furthermore the US was notably excluded, along with Russia and Turkey.

Those on the list are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Japan, Georgia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.

Travellers from China, where the virus first emerged late last year, will be allowed on the condition that Beijing reciprocates and opens the door to EU residents.

The border relaxation, to be reviewed in two weeks and left to member states to implement, is a bid to help rescue the continent’s battered tourism sector, which has been choked by a ban on non-essential travel in place since mid-Mach.

But with some 10.3 million known infections worldwide, the pandemic is “not even close to being over”, the World Health Organization has warned.

“Although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is actually speeding up,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday.

EU Countries try to reboot economies

Even in the EU, where Covid-19 has stabilized in many countries, the lifting of lockdown measures is still touch-and-go. Above all as governments try to reboot economies facing historic recessions.

The UK, home to The EU’s deadliest outbreak, has already seen its sharpest quarterly contraction in 40 years. With its economy shrinking 2.2% from January-March.

The worst is yet to come, with economists predicting a double-digit slump in output during the second quarter, tipping Britain into a technical recession.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed Tuesday to deliver a “infrastructure revolution.” Above all to help the country build its way out of the economic downturn.

In the meantime, his government is employing a “whack-a-mole” strategy of targeted lockdowns.

While the government plans to reopen pubs, restaurants and hairdressers on July 4th. Schools and non-essential shops in Leicester, central England, have been ordered to close. The closure comes after a localized outbreak.

Germany, which has been praised for its handling of Covid-19, also saw its North Rhine-Westphalia state extend a lockdown. On a district hit hard by an outbreak of Covid-19 slaughterhouse.

Covid-19 Continues its havoc worldwide

In Australia, a new spike in covid-19 cases was seen in parts of Melbourne. Spurring new stay-at-home measures affecting some 300,000 people.

In Brazil, which is home to the world’s second deadliest outbreak of Covid-19, was reeling from its worst week yet. It registered a record number of 259,105 cases in the seven days to Sunday.

Peru is also suffering, with more than 9,000 fatalities.

And in Iraq, overwhelmed doctors are struggling with mask shortages, unpaid salaries and dilapidated hospitals as daily infections rise. “We’re collapsing,” said Mohammed, a doctor at a Covid-19 ward in Baghdad.

Iran announced another 150 deaths Tuesday as officials said the virus was still peaking in parts of the country.

Around the world, sporting events also continued to fall off the calendar. Including the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the remainder of this year’s World Rugby Sevens Series.

Researchers in China, meanwhile, have discovered a novel swine flu capable of triggering another pandemic.

Named G4, it is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009. According to scientists at Chinese universities and China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source - Chiang Rai Times

Visa ‘Runners’ denied entry at Laos, Vientiane

For decades tourists, or ex-pats who are below the retirement visa age limit, have extended their stay in #Thailand by so-called ‘visa runs.’

One example is when people travel to a nearby country to apply for a tourist visa and extend their stay for another two to three months.

This is commonly called a ‘visa run.’

Companies providing ‘Visa Runs’ leave every tourist town in Thailand on a daily basis in convoys of mini-vans and coaches to head for the nearest border.

Tourists typically travel to border towns such as Aranyapratet on the Cambodian border, Nongkhai on the Lao border, Mae Sai or Mae Sot on the Burma border, Vientiane in Laos or to Penang near Malaysia’s border.

Visa runs may be a unique (or even traditional) part of Thailand’s tourism scene.

But, now reports are coming in of tourists and ex-pats being DENIED new visas at Vientiane, on the Laos border.

The Royal Thai Embassy at Vientiane, usually one of the easiest to pass through with a new stamp, has begun turning foreigners away.

Yesterday one American reported to a Visa Forum, ‘Just got denied my second tourist visa at Vientiane. Have one visa in my US passport and 3 exempt stamps. The guy simply said ‘my boss didn’t give you a visa, you have to go back to your country.’

Another American in the same queue was also denied and new visa.

When his Thai girlfriend asked for an explanation she was told that there is a ‘new rule’ and foreigners can only have ONE tourist visa every twelve months.

One tourist visa would only be enough to qualify for a three month stay. IE, one two-month visa plus a thirty day extension at a local immigration office.

At that point it is usually time for the famous VISA RUN, but not any more it seems.

Not for these two Americans it isn’t.

Please share your recent visa run experiences in the comments below.

Source - BangkokJack

THAI resumes flights to Europe via China airspace

THAI AIRWAYS International (THAI) yesterday resumed its flights from Bangkok to Europe after cancelling some the previous day due to Pakistan’s closure of its airspace. 

The national carrier also plans to provide special flights to some select countries in Europe in order to |help passengers get to their destinations.

Around 4,000 passengers were stranded as 16 flights arriving and 20 departing from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport were cancelled after tensions with India led Pakistan to close its airspace. 

Of the cancelled flights, 21 were of THAI, to and from Europe, and six to and from Pakistan. 

THAI usually flies over Pakistan’s airspace when going to or returning from Europe, but after the closure, the carrier had asked for authorisation to fly over China’s airspace, the airline said yesterday. 

Flight Lieutenant Pratana Patanasiri, THAI’s vice president for aviation safety, security and standards, said the national carrier has received permission from authorities to fly over China. However, he said, the permission was granted on a daily basis, so the airline needs to update the situation daily.

Also, he said, flying over China actually cuts the flying time down by 20 minutes. 

Meanwhile, a source from THAI said the national carrier has unofficially been given permission to provide special flights to substitute the flights to Frankfurt, London and Moscow that had been forced to return to Suvarnabhumi on Wednesday.

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 THAI is also seeking cooperation from its allied airlines to transfer passengers, and has asked for permission to arrange special flights to London, Paris and Frankfurt, from where passengers can easily head to other destinations. 

Thousands of passengers were stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday night, as they had not been given advance notice of the cancellations. Some only learned their flight had been cancelled when they showed up at the check-in counter. 

Officials were worried if it could be a PR disaster for THAI with passengers complaining about the lack of communication about the situation.

It will take about three days to clear Suvarnabhumi of stranded passengers, said Thera Buasri, director of the Airport Authority of Thailand’s Ground Service Control.

As for flights to Pakistan, THAI re-routed its TG507 and TG508 flights yesterday by flying directly to and from Muscat and not stopping over in Karachi. The Bangkok-Lahore-Bangkok flights on TG345 and TG346 yesterday were also cancelled.

In a related development, Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Trade Negotiations, said talks on a Thailand-Pakistan free trade agreement (FTA) will not be affected by the India-Pakistan conflict.

The Kashmir border crisis between the two countries recently resulted in both countries claiming to have shot down each other’s jets and an Indian pilot being captured by Pakistan. India has since demanded the safe return of the pilot, AFP reported. 

Thailand has an FTA with India, and a pact with Pakistan has been in the pipeline since 2015. 

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 “Up to 99 per cent of the FTA chapters have already been negotiated, and we believe the pact will be concluded and enacted by the end of 2020,” Auramon said. 

She added that the FTA negotiations with Pakistan had been delayed due to its general elections, which took place in July. She also noted that negotiations between the two countries would resume this year as a video conference.

“The remaining issue that needs to be discussed is the level of market access in goods that both sides will offer,” she explained. 

Banjongjitt Angsusingh, director-general at the ministry’s Department of International Trade Promotion, said the impacts of the Kashmir conflict are still unclear, but if there were to be any negative impacts on Thai trade, they would only be for the short term. 

In 2018, the total value of trade between Thailand and Pakistan stood at Bt54.045 billion, growing by 2.77 per cent year on year. 

Of the total trade value, Thailand exports Bt47.411 billion and imports Bt6.634 billion worth of goods, giving the Kingdom a trade surplus of Bt40.776 billion, the Commerce Ministry said. 

Source - TheNation

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Beautiful news as #Thailand set to host its first Miss World final in December

For the first time in the history of Miss World, the highly anticipated final – the 69th edition –will be hosted in Thailand, Miss World Organisation chief executive officer and chairman Julia Morley announced during a press conference at Phraya Thai Palace in Bangkok on Monday. 

 

      

     Delegates from 130 countries are scheduled to arrive in the Kingdom in November, with the final to be held the following month. 

During their one-month-long stay here, contestants will participate in various activities and visit tourism sites across the country, as well as take part in “Beauty with a Purpose” fund-raising activities to help good causes in Thailand.   

 Tanawat Wansom, CEO of TW Pageants, said on Monday that he was honoured to receive the rights to host such a major beauty pageant as Miss World in Thailand. 

“I believe this opportunity will bring joy to the Thai public, as they will be able to see Miss World contestants doing activities in their home country, and it will help promote Thai tourism, culture and hospitality to a global audience,” he said. 

Alongside Morley at the press conference were reigning Miss World Vanessa Ponce de Leon and seven continental queens: Miss World Asia Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan from Thailand; Miss World Europe Maria Vasilevich from Belarus; Miss World Caribbean Kadijah Robinson from Jamaica; Miss World Oceania Jessica Tyson from New Zealand; Miss World Africa Quiin Abenakyo from Uganda; Miss World Americas Solaris Barba from Panama; and Miss United Kingdom Linzi McLelland from Scotland. 

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Source - TheNation for more pictures

Chinese diplomats demand improved #Pattaya safety

                                 A delegation of Chinese Embassy diplomats from Bangkok visited Pattaya on Tuesday to seek more information and request upgrades on safety for Chinese citizens when visiting the city.

The visit follows a concerning rise in the number of deaths from Chinese people drowning around Pattaya.

Manager Online reported that diplomat Zhou Guangxu spoke to Pattaya tourist police yesterday, saying that a large number of Chinese people would be visiting over Chinese New Year from February 4-10 and is seeking better care of his compatriots, especially swimmers, people on tour boats or those doing water sports. He also called for safety checks on boats and buses.

He noted that 80 per cent of drowning victims in Pattaya were Chinese.

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In response, the Pattaya authorities and police promised better signage, especially on speedboats, and improved communication advising Chinese tourists about any dangers.

Zhou asked for shops renting motorbikes to only rent to tourists with proper international licences. And he requested that more officials be brought in that could speak Chinese as few Chinese visitors spoke Thai or English.

Source - TheNation

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Tourists flee Thai islands as Tropical Storm Pabuk looms

Tens of thousands of tourists have fled the Thai resort islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in a mass exodus ahead of Tropical Storm Pabuk which is set to bring heavy rains, wind and seven-meter waves, officials said Thursday.

The islands, hugely popular with holiday-makers especially during the peak Christmas and New Year season, have emptied out since Wednesday as tourists packed onto ferries bound for the southern Thai mainland, with swimming banned and boats set to suspend services.

Pabuk, Thailand's first tropical storm in the area outside of the monsoon season for around 30 years, is poised to batter Koh Phangan and Koh Tao as well as Koh Samui on Friday night, before cutting into the mainland.

No official evacuation order has been given but tourists are leaving in droves.

"I think the islands are almost empty... between 30,000 to 50,000 have left since the New Year's Eve countdown parties," Krikkrai Songthanee, Koh Phangnan district chief, told AFP.

The acting mayor of Koh Tao, one of Southeast Asia's finest diving spots, said boats to Chumphon on the mainland were crammed with tourists, but several thousand guests were still on the island likely to brave the storm.

Pabuk was packing winds of 104 kilometers per hour (65 mph) but was unlikely to intensify into a full blown typhoon, according to forecasters.

"But we expect waves as high as five or seven meters near the eye of the storm. Normally in the Gulf of Thailand there are only two metre high waves," Phuwieng Prakammaintara, director general at the Thai Meteorological Department, told reporters.

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"It's difficult to predict the severity of the storm so people should comply with authorities' recommendations."

On Koh Samui, the closest of the trio of islands, a Russian man drowned on Wednesday after his family ignored warnings not to go into the sea.

"A family of three went swimming but the strong current caught a 56-year-old man who drowned," Police Captain Boonnam Srinarat of Samui Police told AFP.

"Island officials announced the warning and put up the red 'danger' flags... but maybe the family did not think the situation was that serious."

Authorities on the island said they were preparing shelters for any tourists who decide to wait out the storm.

Pabuk, which means a giant catfish in Lao, is also expected to dump heavy rain across the south, including tourist hotspots in the Andaman Sea such as Krabi and the southernmost provinces bordering Malaysia of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.

Source - TheJakartaPost

First ever ‘Elephant Travel Mart 2018’ to promote ecotourism in Thailand

A new ecotourism event, Elephant Travel Mart 2018, jointly hosted by ‘Save Elephant Foundation’ and ‘Asian Elephant Projects’, aims to bring together ethical elephant tour operators and tour agencies in Chiang Mai on December 14.

The event, taking place at Khum Kan Toke, Chiang Mai, is conceived by the founder of ‘Save Elephant Foundation’, Sangduen Chailert (Lek), who works tirelessly for the wellbeing of Thailand’s elephants.

Elephant tourism has long been associated with Thailand by travelers from around the globe and helps to attract millions of visitors to the country each year. However, there has been a growing trend away from traditional forms of elephant tourism (such as elephant riding and circus shows) towards ethical elephant tours offering programs that are sustainable and make the well-being of elephants a priority.

Ecotourism values promoting modes of travel with minimal impact on the environment are becoming more widespread, particularly among young people. A growing concern for the environment and for the welfare of animals is changing the landscape of tourism across many tourist destinations throughout the world – a positive change that presents significant opportunities.

A key goal of Elephant Travel Mart 2018 is to provide a venue to bring people together to discuss how the travel industry can continue to adapt to respond to this trend and better meet the shifting demands of travelers.

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Lek Chailert suggests that, “If ethical tour operators using environmentally sound practices and tour agencies work together in response to the demand for sustainable ecotourism in Thailand, a mutually beneficial relationship can be achieved that will create widespread benefits for the elephants, the environment, small communities, and the Thai economy.”

The event will begin with a thank you address to the audience by Lek, followed by an opening ceremony, including a performance by the Chiang Mai College of Dramatic Arts. Elephant tour operators and travel agencies will then meet to discuss potential opportunities for working together.

At the event, there will be 30 booths representing the ‘Saddle Off’ projects promoted by Asian Elephant Projects. Each booth will provide details about their project and hand out brochures and souvenirs to visitors. There will also be lucky draw prizes offering free gift vouchers to visit the various ‘Saddle Off’ projects throughout Chiang Mai province.

In the evening, dinner will be served and entertainment provided by various Thai stars including Rose Sirinthip, Baitoey R-SIAM, King The Star, and Bow Benjasiri. The winners of the lucky prize draw will then be announced. The event will end with a closing address by Prof. Prayat Vorapreecha, Honorary Counselor of Save Elephant Foundation.

It is hoped that this event will provide an important opportunity to exchange and develop ideas as well as build relationships between members of the travel industry in order to take full advantage of the growing popularity of ecotourism.

“The success of this event holds the potential to positively impact the welfare of elephants in Thailand, protect and improve the environment, and provide support to local communities,” concludes Ms. Chailert.

For more information visit saveelephant.org, asianelephantprojects.com. 

Source - TheThager

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Maya Bay made famous by The Beach film closed indefinitely to tourists

A beach in Thailand made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film is to close indefinitely.

Authorities in the country announced earlier this year that they were closing Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi island for four months in a bid to help it recover from the effects of tourism.

However following a survey, it was found that in order for the island to fully cover from erosion and pollution, the beach would have to close indefinitely.

A statement from the Department of National Parks said: “The ecosystem and the beach’s physical structure have yet returned to its full condition until natural resources return to normal.”

The spot on the island was made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, directed by Danny Boyle. It’s become a bucket list location for those travelling to Thailand.

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Environmentalists say that heavy traffic from boats and increasing numbers of visitors have damaged the beach and surrounding area’s ecosystem. 

Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat from Bangkok’s Kasetsart University told the South China Morning Post: “When I first came here 38 years ago, this place was heaven. This was all coral once but now there is nothing.”

Up until its closure, the island was seeing up to 5,000 tourists visiting the spot each day.

The news comes as the Philippines prepares to reopen Boracay after it also became inundated with tourists.

Boracay has been closed for six months and is set to officially reopen on October 26.

An environment official said that only 19,000 tourists will be allowed in Boracay on any given day.

Water and leisure activities including drinking on the beach will be prohibited.

Source - Evening Standard

#Phuket tourists charged for begging, at it again in Patong

The Phuket Tourist Police yesterday (Thursday) arrested two tourists at a Phuket market after begging for donations so they could continue their travelling.

The Phuket Tourist police and the Phuket City Police found the two tourists at the Boat Plaza Market in Samkong yesterday (August 23) – a 21 year old Ukrainian man and a 30 year old Russian man.

The two tourists were sitting on the ground with a message scribbled on cardboard stating that they have been traveling in Asia for 15 months.

“Now we’ve spent all our money.”

They want people to support them to make they dream come true. They were taken to the Phuket City Police Station where they have been charged with “committing trouble and annoying other people in public.”

They pair were fined 500 baht each.

UPDATE: The two were seen later that evening, with another cardboard sign, this time claiming there was a problem with their motorbike and they needed money for repairs..

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#Thailand - Bid to replant Maya Bay coral hit by monsoon

EFFORTS to restore coral at Maya Bay have been hampered by a strong monsoon and rough sea conditions, resulting in the survival of only 10 per cent of replanted coral.

Two months ago the bay area – one of Thailand’s most famous tourist attractions at Had Nopparat Tara- Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi – was closed to all visitors in an effort to re-grow the heavily damaged coral reef.

 The transplanting operation has not met expectations, says the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP). However, other efforts to restore the environment and plan for properly managed tourism activities are going according to plan.

The bay was closed to all tourism activities on June 1, following an agreement between the DNP and local tourism operators. It is hoped that the four-month closure will heal some of the environmental damage to the bay and the surrounding area caused by excessive tourism.

Maya Bay once had a large, colorful, and biologically diverse coral reef. But heavy boat traffic in recent years, combined with excessive tourism activities nearby, have nearly annihilated the entire coral reef. A key part of the recovery effort is aimed at regenerating the coral reefs lying just metres under the waters of the beach, which became famous as the location for the 2000 film “The Beach”.
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Park officers and marine biology experts are working hard to encourage regrowth of the rich marine ecosystems and allow the natural beauty to again bloom for the reopening in October, says Worapoj Lomlim, chief of Had Nopparat Tara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. 

Worapoj says that, so far, the officers have achieved satisfactory progress on the natural regeneration on land. However, the underwater part of the operation has faced major problems from strong monsoons and rough seas, which have damaged most of the replanted coral and eroded the bay’s signature white sandy beach.

Their first try at transplanting produced mixed results.

 The team has successfully replanted 512 colonies of coral in the bay, says Thikamphon Wongthawatchai, a marine biologist at Marine National Parks Operation Centre 3, who was worked on the coral reef restoration since the operation began.

“We replanted corals by collecting the living branches of broken corals from nearby areas and then attaching them to rocks, which we placed on the sandy floor of the bay, so the corals would grow,” Thikamphon explained.

“However, the unexpected strong waves during this monsoon season have washed the corals from the rocks and buried them in the sand, so most of the replanted corals died. Only around 10 per cent of corals, which were replanted deep enough to escape the force of waves, survived.”

Despite the high mortality rate of the replanted coral at Maya Bay, he says there was still hope for restoring the bay’s coral reef. 

 Even after the bay reopens to visitors in October, all boats are prohibited from entering the bay. Saved from the daily assault of boat traffic, the coral reefs might naturally regenerate and gradually recolonise the bay to their previous abundance.

Thikamphon said the coral replanting task would continue until October. Having learned from the mistakes of the first two months, the team was confident that future patches of replanted coral would have a higher survival rate.

Meanwhile, on the issue of managing tourism after the bay reopens, Worapoj says the national park would not allow boats to enter the bay and tourist boats will be required to dock at a new floating pier in Loh Sama Bay. Passengers could reach Maya beach from the rear.

“We have not decided on the final plan of the new pier yet, but … the pier will be a floating pier, which would be large enough to moor eight boats at a time. There will be no solid structure built into the sea,” he said.

“We also have a plan to limit the number of tourists at Maya Bay, but we have not reached a conclusion on this issue yet.”

Sourse - TheNation

Thailand - Chon Buri beach polluted by garbage from sea

                             Local vendors and tourism operators are angry as a popular beach in Chon Buri's Sattahip district has been covered in garbage from the sea for over a week, chasing tourists away.

On Tuesday, waves continued to wash huge amounts of garbage on to the Ban Amphoe Beach in Tambon Na Jomthian.

The garbage, including plastic bottles, foam pieces, bamboo and wood pieces, has polluted the beach for more than half a kilometer, causing a bad odour in the area.

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Food vendors on the beach said they collected some of the garbage in the morning and evening but more garbage has washed ashore each day for more than a week.

They called on the authorities to step in to help clean up the beach to get tourists back.

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Source - The Nation

Samui Regatta returns on May 26

One of Asia’s biggest and most prestigious regatta events – the Samui Regatta will be celebrating its 17th year in 2018. This year, the week-long event will take place from May 26 to June 2.

As it has done every year since its inception in 2002, the Samui Regatta expects to welcome both famous yachts and knowledgeable sailing experts from all over the world to Koh Samui for great sailing, great parties and to experience all that the island has to offer.

Preliminary details can be found on the Samui Regatta website www.samuiregatta.com.

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The event is organised by Regattas Asia in conjunction with the Samui Yacht Club Regatta, under the auspices of Surat Thani Province, the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Municipality of Koh Samui, the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, the Tourism Association of Thailand, the International Sailing Federation and the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand. It is hosted by Centara Grand Beach Resort – Samui, which is widely regarded as the “Home of the Samui Regatta”.

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Source - TheNation

Chinese tourists just can't get enough of #Thailand

Tourism is the gift that keeps on giving in Thailand, thanks especially to China.

Visitors from the world’s most-populous nation surged to a record 1.2 million in February, swelled by the Lunar New Year holiday period, Tourism Ministry data released Wednesday in Bangkok showed. The kingdom expects 38 million tourists overall this year, including more than 10 million from China.

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Thailand’s relationship with Chinese tourists has sometimes been rocky. Visitor numbers collapsed toward the end of 2016, when the Thai administration cracked down on operators bringing in large groups from China on cut-price holidays. Those curbs were eventually eased and numbers have since rocketed.

Tourism is worth about a fifth of the Thai economy and has been an important growth driver for the military government that took power almost four years ago. But the boom is clogging infrastructure and threatens to take a bigger environmental cost on the beaches attracting so many visitors.

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Source - TheJakartaPost

#Thailand - TAT seeks China’s help to stop damage by Chinese tourists

                             Frequent cases of Chinese tourists damaging coral reefs and other fragile sea natural resources have prompted the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to seek help from its Chinese counterpart.

Phanu Woramitr, director of the TAT office for Hat Yai, Songkhla and Satoon said on Tuesday that TAT has sent a letter to the Chinese tourism agency asking it to warn Chinese tourists to behave while visiting Thailand.

The Chinese tourism agency was asked to tell Chinese tourists to strictly observe Thai laws and regulations when they visit national parks, temples, seas and coral reefs to avoid damaging fragile natural resources.

Chinese visitors have been asked not to touch anything while visiting such places so they won’t cause damage, Phanu said.

He said park and provincial officials have also been alerted to help warn visiting Chinese tourists against damaging the places they visit.

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 The chief tourism and sports officer for Satun, Atcharin Muangchan, said she has been compiling information about environmental damage caused by tourists, especially Chinese tourists, to coral reefs.

The information will be raised during a meeting to develop Satun tourism on March 2, which will be chaired by the Satun governor and will be attended by representatives from all relevant sectors, Atcharin said.

She said the provincial administration would produce pamphlets in the Chinese language to distribute to tourists to warn them against destroying fragile sea natural resources during their visit.

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Source - TheNation

#Thailand - Wonders of the Isaan plateau

                             The villages of Maha Sarakham have no problem charming visitors

WITH ARCHAIC moats and stone boundary markers indicating where the settlement of Champa Sri was located 1,000 years ago, the small Maha Sarakham town of Na Dun is sitting on a rich vein of history. 

Culture and religion flourished here atop Thailand’s vast northeastern plateau during the Dvaravati Period. Nowadays, they seem to be enjoying a revival.

Downtown Maha Sarakham is 45 minutes away by car. Na Dun welcomes visitors – many of them pilgrims – with the Phra That Na Dun, a shrine built in 1985 to house revered relics of the Lord Buddha. They were moved here from the original bronze stupa that was unearthed in 1979. 

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On the morning we arrived, a nine-day temple fair was just beginning. About 5,000 residents were performing traditional Isaan dances of homage at the shrine. There was a colourful procession along the one-kilometre main road lined with food stalls and little shops selling handcrafts and other merchandise. 

After participating in a heart-cleansing ritual, we headed to a nearby hamlet, Ban Nong No Tai, where a troupe of dek thevada was a treating folks to a striking mor lam hun performance at a communal theatre. 

Artist Preecha Karoon got the dancing going in 2008 with the support of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. They bring in skilled mor lam and shadow-play enthusiasts to teach the youngsters how it’s done. They’re having fun as they help preserve traditions unique to the Northeast. 

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“I worked at the Patravadi Theatre for two years, and for this some young talented people and I created our own puppets – they’re adapted from second-hand kratib,” says Preecha, referring to bamboo containers containing sticky rice. 

“The performers’ costumes are made from old wrap-skirts and the theatre itself was built with money we made performing in other locales. We also had the help of university lecturers in setting up home-stays and making souvenir hun kratib to sell. Most of all we’re all very grateful to Grandma Somsri Phadeechan, who donated the land.”

The story the troupe depicts draws on local legends and Buddhist lore. In anywhere from 10 minute to an hour, depending on the telling, they illustrate the lives of Sang Sin Chai and Angulimala, with three artists controlling each puppet figure. 

“We have 32 members who can be split up into three groups based on age,” Preecha says. “We spent three months rehearsing. It’s a new approach, with mor lam artists singing and playing the khene [mouth organ] as they recount the story.”

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Top 25 Asian beaches poll released – three in Phuket, six in Thailand

                             Thailand has won kudos from travellers, with two beaches in the top 10 in the latest “Top 25 Beaches in Asia” survey. The survey is based on comments from Trip Advisor’s 300 million users – or at least those who visited a beach in Asia and took the time to leave a comment.

The top three beaches are Agonda Beach in India at number one, with White Beach in Boracay and Ngapali Beach in Myanmar filling out the podium spots.

Fourth place goes to Radhanahar Beach on Havelock Island in the Nicobar Islands, while fifth is the first of two Thai beaches in the top 10 – PhraNang Cave Beach in Ao Nang, Krabi.

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AO Nang

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 Benton Beach in Sri Lanka is next, with Phuket’s southern Nai Harn Beach in seventh place.

Nacpan Beach in El Nido, Philippines, Nusa Dua Beach in Bali, Indonesia and Veligandu Island Beach in The Maldives fill out the top 10 attractions.

Three other Thai beaches follow in 11th, 12th and 13th spots – Karon Beach, Phuket, Thong Nai Pan Noi on Koh Phangan and Kata Noi Beach, Phuket – giving Thailand a respectable five positions in the popular vote of Trip Advisor users.

The list includes a list of all the available hotels, along with recommendations for the best time of the year to visit. 

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Source - TheNation

#Thailand - TAT seeks China’s help to stop damage by Chinese tourists

Frequent cases of Chinese tourists damaging coral reefs and other fragile sea natural resources have prompted the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to seek help from its Chinese counterpart.    

     Phanu Woramitr, director of the TAT office for Hat Yai, Songkhla and Satoon said on Tuesday that TAT has sent a letter to the Chinese tourism agency asking it to warn Chinese tourists to behave while visiting Thailand.

She said the provincial administration would produce pamphlets in the Chinese language to distribute to tourists to warn them against destroying fragile sea natural resources during their visit.    

            

The Chinese tourism agency was asked to tell Chinese tourists to strictly observe Thai laws and regulations when they visit national parks, temples, seas and coral reefs to avoid damaging fragile natural resources.

Chinese visitors have been asked not to touch anything while visiting such places so they won’t cause damage, Phanu said.

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He said park and provincial officials have also been alerted to help warn visiting Chinese tourists against damaging the places they visit.

The chief tourism and sports officer for Satun, Atcharin Muangchan, said she has been compiling information about environmental damage caused by tourists, especially Chinese tourists, to coral reefs.

The information will be raised during a meeting to develop Satun tourism on March 2, which will be chaired by the Satun governor and will be attended by representatives from all relevant sectors, Atcharin said.

Source - TheNation / Phuketazette