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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40020199

Thai Tourism Industry Recovering With Extra Push From Visa Leniency

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

THE NATION

Hotel Occupation Nationwide Rose To 47.5 Per Cent In August, Up From 45.1 Per Cent In July, And Is Expected To Continue Rising This Month As Thailand Lifts All Restrictions.

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) said on Sunday that recovery began in the middle of this year when the occupation rate in July rose sharply from June’s 38.2 per cent.

THA said most tourists are from Asia and the Middle East, followed by arrivals from western Europe.

“This has encouraged several hotels to start hiring new employees, so they can be trained in time for the high season [November to early March],” THA said. “Hotels that target mainly foreigners have also started reopening since July after several months of shutting down during the pandemic.”

According to THA’s statistics, a Thai tourist spends an average of 1.7 nights in hotel, compared to 3.3 nights by a foreign visitor. This makes foreigners a higher spending group.

THA said it expects to see more foreign arrivals from September onwards now that the lowered fee for Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa has gone into effect. From September 1, the fee for an LTR visa has been halved from 100,000 baht to 50,000 baht. This visa targets four groups of foreigners: the wealthy, retirees, those who want to work in Thailand and experts.

Up to four family members, including children no older than 20, can be included in the same visa.

The government is also offering extended visas for tourists. For instance, visa-on-arrival for travellers from 18 countries will be extended from 15 days to 30, while those from 50 countries who get a 30-day stamp will be allowed to stay for 45 days. This measure will run from October 1 to March 31.

THA, however, has warned hotel operators to prepare for negative factors during the rest of the year that can affect tourism, such as high inflation that will reduce tourists’ spending power, the storage of skilled staff in the hospitality industry and the possibility of a new wave of Covid-19 infections.

The association added that concern of a monkeypox outbreak is still relatively low because there have been very few confirmed patients in Thailand. Also, the virus can only be transmitted via intimate physical contact.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020194

Heavy Rain Sinks Tourist Boat In Chanthaburi, 1 Dead, 1 Missing

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

THE NATION

One Person Died And Another Is Missing After A Boat Carrying Six People In The Chanthaburi River Went Down In Heavy Rain On Sunday Night. The River Is Near The Gulf Of Thailand.

A call for help was made to the Sawang Katanyu Rescue Foundation at around 8pm on Sunday when the boat began sinking near Wat Arakkha Thewada in Chanthaburi’s Laem Sing district.

Rescue officials reportedly spent several hours fishing five people out of the water, one of whom was an 11-year-old boy, before calling the search off due to strong currents caused by heavy rain and gusty winds. One passenger, a 40-year-old man, is still missing.

After the victims were brought to shore, the officials tried to resuscitate a woman but were unsuccessful. She was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Boat driver Surasak Charoensuk, 38, reportedly told officials that the boat had six people on board – four men and two women including him – and they were on a trip to catch peregrine crabs, which is popular night-time activity in the area.

He said the current became stronger as it continued raining heavily, and water began entering the boat, causing it to sink slowly while they were in the middle of the river. He then sent SOS signals to people onshore with a flashlight.

Rescue officials are scheduled to resume the hunt for the last victim on Monday morning.

The Thai Meteorological Department said on Sunday that more rain with gusty winds is likely in most parts of the country, with isolated heavy to very heavy rain possible in every region until Wednesday. It added that moderate wind in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand will create waves of 1 to 2 metres high, which will be higher during thundershowers. Ships should proceed with caution and keep off thunderstorms.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020193

Over 50% Of Thai Bureaucrats Say Nepotism Influences Promotions: Survey

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

THE NATION

More Than Half Of Government And State Enterprise Employees Believe Nepotism Still Has A Strong Influence On Their Career Promotions, According To A New Survey.

The National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) surveyed opinions from 1,310 bureaucrats and state enterprise employees. The survey was carried out from September 12-14.

Asked whether nepotism affected promotions within the bureaucracy, 50.15 per cent of respondents said it had a strong influence or occurred quite often.

However, few thought that nepotism was the main reason behind career advancement.

Asked what they thought was the major factor in promotions this year:

– 35.04% said capability and experience

– 29.85% said capability and past performance

– 13.36% said seniority

– 8.47% said vision related to the new post

– 7.94% said knowledge (education level and training)

– 3.74% said good discipline

– 1.45% said others, including nepotism and connections

– 0.15% were not sure, not interested or had no comment

When asked whether they thought nepotism was a factor in promotions:

– 34.58% said quite often

– 15.57% said it had a strong influence

– 25.35% said no

– 23.13% said rarely

– 1.37% were not sure, not interested or had no comment

Asked whether they thought mutual favours were a factor:

– 43.21% said no

– 23.74% said rarely

– 19.69% said quite often

– 10:08% said always

– 3.28% were not sure, not interested or had no comment

Asked what they would do if they suspected promotions were unfair:

– 54.35% said they would make an official appeal

– 26.34% said do nothing

– 6.72% said file a case with the administrative court

– 4.27% said they would resign

– 3.44% would plea for justice via social media

– 2.06% would seek people with influence to pressure their bosses

– 1.75% would complain to the media

– 0.31% would take other action (file complaint with Interior Ministry or seek transfer to another agency)

– 0.76% were not sure, not interested or had no comment

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020189

Temples In Chao Phraya Basin Preparing For ‘Imminent’ Floods As Dam Releases Water

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

THE NATION

Buddhist Temples Along The Chao Phraya River Have Started Preparing For Floods As Upstream Dams Release More Water To Relieve Pressure.

On Sunday, the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat was releasing water at a speed of 1,948 cubic metres per second (m3/s) while the flow upstream in Nakhon Sawan’s Muang district was reported at 1,996m3/s. The flow further downstream at Ban Bang Phutsa in Singburi measured 1,974m3/s on Sunday.

The Meteorological Department forecasts heavy rain in the upper Chao Phraya basin from the start of next month.

On Sunday, several temples downstream from the Chao Phraya dam said they were making preparations for river overflows by moving valuable items to higher ground.

Among them was Wat Phai Lom in Sapphaya district, Chai Nat.

Phrakru Chaiyathammaphon, the abbot, said the temple has been monitoring flood warnings from several government agencies and has started moving valuables upstairs.

The abbot said the temple always suffers flooding when the Chao Phraya overflows. Describing how floodwater had risen to the height of a man’s head at the temple in 2011, he said he was concerned about imminent inundation as upstream levels rise.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020184

Chadchart Told To Team Up With Govt To Halt Bangkok Floods

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

THE NATION

The Thai Sang Thai Party On Sunday Urged Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt To Collaborate With Government Agencies To Halt Flooding In The Capital.

Thai Sang Thai secretary-general Sita Divari said more than half of the issues causing flooding in Bangkok could be resolved if Chadchart seeks help from all government agencies.

Sita was speaking to reporters as he and Thai Sang Thai leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan delivered relief supplies to flood victims in the northern suburbs of Sai Mai and Bang Khen.

Sita said canalside residents of the two districts told him that floods this year were as bad as in 2011, when Bangkok was hit by massive flooding from upstream provinces.

He added that the floods can be tackled quickly if the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) effectively manages drainage of the city’s 2,600-kilometre-long canal network.

“If the governor coordinates with all government agencies concerned, he could solve more than half of flood problems we have right now,” Sita said.

He added that Chadchart’s record election win was a mandate to unlock problems that have been stalemated for 10 to 20 years.

Last week saw heavy flooding in the city’s eastern suburbs as Klong Prawet Burirom overflowed, leaving houses and routes in Lat Krabang district and Soi Pattanakarn 65 and 69 underwater for days.

Flood-hit residents complained that their pleas for help were ignored by Bangkok district offices. The offices said nothing could be done as Klong Prawet was already full to overflowing.

On Tuesday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said Chadchart called him on Monday to borrow high-power pumps from the Water Resources Department. Five of the pumps were installed at the Phra Khanong pumping station on Tuesday while the other was sent to the Srinakarin-Bang Na intersection. The six pumps began draining floodwater on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Channel 7 reporters visited flood-hit residents on Soi Pattanakarn 65 and 69, prompting Chadchart to visit the area on the following day.

Floodwater started subsiding on Saturday morning and the sois were drained by the time Chadchart made a follow-up inspection the same evening.

According to unconfirmed reports, a dispute between district offices prevented drainage of Klong Prawet, the main canal for eastern Bangkok. The Lat Krabang, Prawet and Phra Khanong offices reportedly blocked canal drainage to stop their districts from flooding. Sources said Chadchart learned of the problem and took control by ordering sluice gates between Lat Krabang and Prawet to be opened.

Sita said the Bangkok governor election had been friendly so Chadchart could take advice on flood management from his rivals, including Wiroj Lakkhanaaddisorn of the Move Forward Party and Suchatvee Suwansawat of the Democrat Party.

Suchatvee last week urged the BMA to speed up drainage of the Prawet canal while coordinating with the government to divert floodwater via the Bang Pakong River in neighbouring Chachoengsao.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020183

Applying For Job Online Can Open Door To Identity Theft, Warns Cyber Police

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

THE NATION

Online Jobseekers Should Check The Authenticity Of The Advertisement With The Department Of Business Development Before Applying, As Their Identity Can Be Stolen To Open Bank Accounts For Fraudulent Activities.

Pol General Damrong Kittiprapas, deputy police chief and director of the Police Cyber Taskforce, on Sunday cited the recent case of a 12th grader in Saraburi. The boy ended up being served three summonses on fraud charges after he innocently provided personal information while applying for an online job.

Damrongsak said the student wanted a part-time job, so he applied to work as a Facebook page admin for a daily wage of 300 baht. His job was to oversee the selling of products via the page.

The student was tricked into providing his citizen ID card number, a copy of his ID card and a one-time password (OTP) sent to his mobile phone.

Damrongsak said once the boy provided all this information, he found himself blocked from the Facebook page.

Later, the boy began receiving messages complaining about goods not being delivered after payment. Shortly after, the boy was served with two summonses from Muang Chiang Mai Police Station and another from Chonburi’s Ban Beung Police Station to face fraud charges.

Damrongsak said the boy had been tricked into providing all the necessary data for opening a bank account under his name and this account was used to receive money from the victims.

Hence, Damrongsak said, jobseekers should be careful or they can end up becoming co-defendants in online fraud cases. He said jobseekers should use the following criteria to protect themselves:

• Do not provide personal data such as citizen ID card number and bank account number to any online acquaintance

• Do not allow others to use their bank account to receive payments even if the job requires it

• Do not share any OTP numbers

• Always crosscheck the name of the company offering the job at the Department of Business Development website: https://www.dbd.go.th/

THE NATION