Stop sending tour groups to Suvarnabhumi 10 hours before flights: AOT
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has sought cooperation from two associations of tour operators to reduce overcrowding at Suvarnabhumi International Airport by better organising outbound group tours.
AOT sent a letter to the Association of Thai Travel Agents and the Thai Travel Agents Association asking them to enhance cooperation from members scheduling outbound group tours, a source from the agency that manages six international airports said.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport has been crowded recently, especially in the outbound passenger terminal, the AOT source said.
AOT found that several outbound tour operators had told their clients to arrive at the airport more than 10 hours before departure, and some operators failed to manage their customers.
As a result, tour groups ended up stuck in the hall of the outbound passenger terminal.
The two associations were asked to tell their members to better schedule airport arrival times for their clients and tell them to gather only at the area in front of Gate 10 on the fourth floor of the outbound passenger terminal, the AOT source said.
Chinese tourism set to surge as 15 airlines open routes to Thailand
SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2023
The long-awaited return of Chinese tourists will be a surge, as the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has given permission for 15 Chinese carriers to fly from major cities in China to Thailand from Sunday.
After enduring more than two years of lockdowns and restrictions on travel, citizens of the world’s most populous nation are rushing to take advantage of the relaxation of China’s zero-Covid-19 policy to travel abroad, and Thailand remains a preferred destination.
Thailand welcomed more than 11 million Chinese tourists in 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic paralysed air travel.
Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand director-general Suttipong Kongpool said on Saturday that 15 Chinese airlines have submitted schedules for winter flights to Thailand.
The commercial flights are from major cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanning, Shenzhen, and Chengdu, Suttipong said.
Air China will fly between Bangkok and Hangzhou, China Eastern has two routes – Bangkok and Kunming, and Bangkok and Shanghai – while China Southern Airlines will connect Guangzhou and Wuhan to Bangkok.
China’s 9 Air will fly between Guangzhou and Bangkok as well as Guiyang and Bangkok. Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines will open a route between Bangkok and Nanning, while Hebei Airlines will fly between Bangkok and Hangzhou.
Juneyao Airlines offers four routes connecting Shanghai with Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai, as well as Nanjing and Hat Yai.
Kunming Airlines and Lucky Air will fly between Kunming and Bangkok, and Ruili Airlines between Kunming and Chiang Mai.
Shanghai Airlines offers flights between the largest Chinese city and Thailand’s capital, while Shenzhen Airlines will fly between the eastern border city and Bangkok.
Spring Airlines will offer flights linking Shanghai and Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai, Bangkok and Nanning, and Chiang Mai and Guangzhou.
Sichuan Airlines will fly between Chengdu and Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Xiamen Airlines offers two routes connecting Bangkok with Tianjin and Xiamen.
Pheu Thai hit by sex scandal, claims of naked photos of former deputy PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
Any member of Pheu Thai will be expelled from the party if he is proven to be the former deputy premier alleged to have had a sexual affair with a married woman, the opposition party’s deputy leader, Yutthapong Jarassathian, told a press conference on Sunday.
The press conference followed a bombshell claim on Saturday that a former deputy premier had had a sexual relationship with a married woman. The woman’s husband allegedly found naked photos of her with a former Pheu Thai deputy premier but faced intimidation after attempting to divorce her.
These claims were made by lawyer Sittra Biabunkerd in a Facebook post that included a photo and a message saying that a former deputy prime minister had had an affair with the wife of his client, identified by the pseudonym “Mr. Kor”.
Yutthapong told the press conference he had asked an aide who knows the lawyer to get more information. He was then informed that the “former deputy prime minister” had been a member of the Yingluck Shinawatra Cabinet.
Because of Sittra’s Facebook post everybody wants to know who the politician is, Yutthapong said.
“I have checked the list of former deputy prime ministers and found that most are between 80 and 90 years old, so they should not be capable of doing this kind of thing,” Yutthapong said, suggesting that the former deputy premiers were impotent.
Yutthapong said he also asked former deputy prime minister Yongyuth Wichaidith if he was the politician allegedly involved in the sex scandal, but Yongyuth denied it was him.
Yingluck’s government had several deputy prime ministers from Pheu Thai and its coalition partners, Yutthapong said.
He also mentioned that in the photo accompanying the lawyer’s post, the man who is partially shown (and allegedly the suspected philanderer) looks less than 60 years old.
Yutthapong asked for the media’s help, saying: “The media must find out from Sittra who [the deputy premier allegedly involved in the sex scandal] is. This issue cannot be ignored because it concerns the ethics of officeholders,” he added.
Sitta’s initial post said he had been approached by “Mr. Kor” for a legal consultation last year. The new client said his wife had become distant over the past year. As a result, he checked her mobile phone to find out why. He found photos of her with a former deputy PM. In some, they were both naked.
Sitta’s initial post went viral, accumulating more than 14,000 comments, 9,500 shares, and 103,000 reactions as of Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, Sittra posted more information: a chat log of the woman and the alleged politician in which she said she was unavailable for sex because she had Covid-19. However, despite having the virus, she said they would dine together, according to the post.
Sittra also released more information about how he got to know “Mr Kor”, saying that after he filed for divorce from his wife, he became the victim of intimidation. As a result, he decided to go public with the case.
Sittra said he was handling the case cautiously to minimise its impact on the Pheu Thai Party.
“Everybody will know who [the politician] is for sure,” Sittra said.
Yutthapong also called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to investigate the sex scandal.
“I would like to see whether the prime minister dares to touch this issue because some members of his Cabinet are also accused of unethical behaviour,” Yutthapong said.
If Sittra unveils the politician and he is a member of Pheu Thai, he will ask Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew to conduct an urgent investigation, Yutthapong said.
Thais expect political chaos, vote-buying, and election fraud this year: poll
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
A survey by the National Institute of Development Administration found that most of the 1,310 people it recently surveyed expect political chaos to continue this year, while vote-buying and election fraud will be commonplace ahead of the upcoming election.
There were a few less pessimistic responses, however. More than half of respondents said the pandemic was either in the past or the worst was over.
The institute surveyed 1,310 Thais by telephone nationwide from January 3 to 6. Respondents were 18 years of age or older. The results of the survey were released on Sunday.
When asked to compare the political situation this year to last year, respondents expected it to be chaotic:
– 45.27% said political chaos would be the same this year as last year.
– 36.11% said political chaos would worsen.
– 10.07% said political chaos would be less severe.
– 7.86% said there would be no political chaos this year.
– 0.69% had no comment.
The respondents were also asked to comment on the upcoming election. They were allowed to provide more than one comment. Most said vote-buying would be commonplace:
– 62.60% said there would be vote buying.
– 36.56% said politicians in power would abuse their authority in campaigns.
– 33.74% said there would be election fraud, but wrongdoers would be brought to justice.
– 29.9% said candidates would spend more than legally allowed by the Election Commission.
– 29.39% said there would be only trivial violations of election laws.
– 20.23% said there would be no vote buying.
Asked whether they think the economic situation will improve this year, respondents said:
– 37.25% said the economic situation would improve.
– 34.51% said there would be no change in the economic situation.
– 28.09% said the economic situation would worsen.
– 0.15% had no comment.
Asked to comment on the Covid-19 situation this year, respondents replied:
– 35.57% said the Covid-19 situation would no longer be worrying.
– 32.06% said the spread of the virus would lessen.
– 19.70% said the rate of new infections would remain the same as last year.
– 12.67% said the pandemic would become more severe.
Thailand’s latest population census announced to make way for May 7 polls
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
The Interior Ministry’s Bureau of Registration Administration announced the latest population census of Bangkok and 76 other provinces this week to pave the way for the drawing up of constituencies.
The bureau announced the population tally as of December 31, 2022, on January 5.
According to the census, Thailand has 66,090,475 nationals, with 65,106,481 holding Thai citizenship and the rest unregistered.
Bangkok is the most populated with 5.394 million residents.
The Election Commission (EC) has set May 7 as a tentative election day on condition that the House of Representatives completes its four-year term on March 22.
Earlier, secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee said the EC had to wait for the latest population census to be announced before it can draw up constituencies for the election.
The drawing up of constituencies will be based on the number of Thai citizens divided by 400, which works out to about 162,766 people per MP.
Sawaeng said the drawing up of constituencies will be based on the following criteria:
• Provinces with fewer than 162,766 people will have one MP and the entire province will be considered one constituency.
• Provinces with more than 162,766 people will have one MP for every base number of 162,766 residents.
• Once House seats are allocated according to the above two criteria and they do not add up to 400, then provinces with the highest number of people beyond the base number of 162,766 will get one MP for every batch until the 400 number is achieved.
• All constituencies should have an almost equal number of citizens.
Thailand’s new regulations keeping tourists away, say tour agencies
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
The government’s new regulations for foreign arrivals is badly affecting the tourism industry, the Phuket Tourist Association’s chief said.
Phukmit Raktaengam said on Sunday that the latest 7-point Notice to Airmen (Notam) announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has caused many tourists to cancel their trips.
The CAAT regulations require airlines to check if all passengers have had at least two Covid-19 vaccines before letting them board flights to Thailand.
The Notam goes into effect at 8am on Monday and will run until midnight on January 31.
Phukmit Raktaengam
“These regulations affect tour operators as unvaccinated tourists have cancelled their trips to Thailand,” he said, adding that foreign tour agencies were also uncertain about the government’s moves.
He added that the association has submitted foreign tour operators’ suggestions to the government for consideration.
According to the association, tour agencies in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Russia have all said that the government has issued the regulations in too much of a rush.
Some operators complained that many tourists had cancelled their trips to Thailand, thus adversely affecting their business and Thailand’s tourism industry.
Blaze fanned by strong wind burns down 7 speed boats in Trat island
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
Flames fanned by strong sea winds destroyed seven speed boats docked at a bay on Koh Mak in Trat on Saturday night.
Officials from Tambon Koh Mak Administrative Organisation and local villagers tried to put out the fire, but failed as flames engulfed the boats before they capsized.
Officials said no witnesses had seen which boat the fire had been sparked in, but the blaze spread quickly to the six others docked side by side at Thong Lang Bay.
Damages have been estimated at 20 million baht.
Koh Mak mayor Nol Suwatjananon said the sea was rough with strong winds and high waves, so the speed boats had to be docked. Nobody was injured in the fire.
He said he reported the fire to the Trat governor and sought help from the Royal Thai Navy to help ferry tourists back to Trat mainland. The tourists were on the island for a day trip and the remaining six speed boats were not enough to transport them.
Proof of full Covid vaccination required from tourists to Thailand
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Sunday issued a set of new regulations for airlines, including checking whether all passengers have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Airlines will be required to comply with these new rules as part of the government’s measures to prevent a new wave of Covid-19 infections.
The 7-point Notice to Airmen (Notam) will go into effect from 8am on Monday to midnight January 31. The points are:
• Passengers above the age of 18 must show proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or a doctor’s certificate saying they recovered from Covid-19 no longer than 180 days. Those without vaccination must also provide a medical letter explaining why they were not vaccinated.
• Passengers heading to countries that prevent Covid-infected people from entering must have health insurance for Covid treatment throughout their stay in Thailand, plus seven days. Those visiting Thailand on official missions or are crew members of airlines can present certificates from their agencies or airlines.
• Passengers holding Thai passports are exempt from the vaccine and health insurance checks.
• Passengers taking transit flights are exempt from vaccination and health insurance checks but must comply with the rules of their destination country.
• Airlines can reject passengers who are unable to show the required documents before travelling to Thailand.
• Airlines are required to enforce universal preventive measures, including having passengers wear face masks throughout the flight, except while eating.
• Passengers with Covid-like symptoms must undergo a Covid test upon arrival.
CAAT has also released a list of 16 Covid vaccines that are accepted for entering Thailand as of January 6.
The accepted vaccines include one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, two doses of AstraZeneca, two doses of Moderna, two doses of Pfizer or three doses of Anhui Zhifei Logcom.
After China announced that it was lifting quarantine requirements for entry into the country from Sunday, the Thai Public Health Ministry has been looking into ways to safely welcome Chinese tourists. To prevent one nationality from being targeted, the ministry has resolved that all foreign arrivals will have to prove they have been vaccinated.
Tugboat capsizes in choppy Gulf of Thailand, all crew members rescued
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
All crew members of the “PL Arthena” tugboat were rescued by Saturday afternoon after their vessel was knocked over by heavy waves in the early hours.
Crew of the oil tanker “Napapa” spotted the victims some 20 nautical miles (about 37 kilometres) off Koh Pha-ngan’s Rin Beach in Surat Thani at about 1.45pm. It took about an hour to pull everybody up.
The oil tanker’s crew then contacted the Royal Thai Navy to take the rescued sailors back to shore.
The victims were taken to Koh Samui Hospital for a check-up.
Pipat Kruekaew, captain of PL Arthena, said the tugboat had left Surat Thani at 2pm on Friday and was hit by 4-metre high waves and sank at around 4am on Saturday.
“We decided to abandon the boat as water filled the hull and brought the engine to a halt,” he said.
He added that all crew members were safe though some were tired after having been stuck on the sea for many hours.
Strong winds and isolated thundershowers made the Gulf of Thailand very choppy, with high waves since Friday.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha under close observation as doctors log irregular heartbeat
SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023
Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha is suffering from an irregular heartbeat caused by mycoplasma infection, the Royal Household Bureau said in a statement on Sunday.
The Princess – the daughter of His Majesty the King and HRH Princess Soamsawali – has been treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok for a heart-related condition since December 15.
Doctors said that though the Princess has not gained consciousness yet, she is being medicated and provided support with machines. The statement said a team of doctors is at hand to closely monitor the Princess’s condition.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha fainted on the evening of December 14 while training her dogs for a contest in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima. She was given first aid at Pak Chong Nana hospital before being airlifted to the hospital in Bangkok.
People have been pouring into the lobby of the hospital’s Bhumisiri Mangkhalanusorn Building for the past few days to leave tributes and pray for the Princess.
He also mentioned that in the photo accompanying the lawyer’s post, the man who is partially shown (and allegedly the suspected philanderer) looks less than 60 years old.
Yutthapong also called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to investigate the sex scandal.
Phukmit Raktaengam
SootinClaimon.Com 