Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Wednesday that he is considering an order to ensure all schools of the city administration are free from ganja.
He said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has a policy to ensure that all schools run by the BMA be free from cannabis.
“I’m studying details of the order,” Chadchart told reporters while making an inspection trip to the Lam Salee intersection.
He said the order would not target any area in particular but it would be enforced at all BMA-run schools.
He said he did not object to the national government’s policy to decriminalise the use of marijuana but the BMA would have to get prepared in terms of medical services, and the BMA would also have to report health issues related to ganja use to the Public Health Ministry.
Chadchart was apparently responding to an angry comment by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party.
On Tuesday Chadchart came out to announce that a man had died of cannabis overdose at a BMA hospital, prompting Anutin to launch a defence of the legalisation of ganja.
Anutin said the issue should not have been politicised and the report of the man’s death might have an ulterior motive.
Chadchart clarified on Wednesday that the BMA’s Medical Service Department had monitored possible impacts from the use of cannabis and he had simply reported the department finding the risk of fatality, about which the public needed to be concerned.
Chadchart said the man had died of heart failure and he had a record of marijuana use.
“The BMA has to be on alert. The BMA has to follow the law; it does not contradict the government’s policy. However, as the implementer of the policy, we have to be careful and get our medical services ready,” Chadchart said.
The Public Health Ministry has declared smoke and the odour of marijuana and hemp a public nuisance in an announcement published in the Royal Gazette.
The announcement, which invoked Section 25 (5) of the Public Health Act, was published on Monday and took effect the following day.
The Public Health Ministry had earlier explained that the announcement was aimed at allowing the authorities to order people to stop smoking cannabis and/or hemp as their smoke and odour could affect public health.
Public Health Ministry deputy permanent secretary Dr Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn said officials could take action on their own without waiting for complaints.
The announcement defines cannabis and hemp and it was signed by Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutecha.
The announcement reasoned that the inappropriate use of cannabis and hemp for recreation or other purposes rather than for medical purpose would affect people’s lives and health.
The announcement added that the fine particles in the smoke from the plants could penetrate human lungs and cause respiratory sicknesses, such as asthma and bronchitis as well as lung diseases. As a result, the ministry said it had to issue the announcement to protect the public from the smoke and odour of marijuana and hemp.
Precisely 1.5 million discounted hotel rooms under the extended fourth phase of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) co-payment scheme will be available for booking from July 1.
Each eligible Thai can book up to ten discounted room nights from July 1 for travel from July 8 to October 31 after registering on June 27. They can also book discounted flights from July 3.
People who had registered for room discounts under the previous phases of the scheme are still required to register again.
Under the extended scheme, Thais can avail of:
• 40 per cent discount on accommodation of up to 3,000 baht per room per night (maximum 10 rooms or nights).
• A 600 baht daily coupon that can be used to buy meals or tickets at participating venues.
• A 40 per cent discount on plane fares with cash back of up to 3,000 baht per passenger.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (June 15) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 2,263 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 4 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.
Death toll increased by 18, while 2,109 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,267,325.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,490,760 – 4,438,793 of whom have recovered, 21,581 are still in hospitals and 30,386 have died.
Separately, another 8,388 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 15,660 their second shot and 35,915 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 138,773,248.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 541.8 million on Wednesday, 517.03 million of whom have recovered, 18.44 million are active cases (36,231 in severe condition) and 6.33 million have died (up by 1,315).
Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 87.55 million, followed by India with 43.25 million, Brazil with 31.54 million, France with 29.92 million and Germany with 26.97 million.
Additional measures to relieve the cost of living would be proposed to the Cabinet next Tuesday (June 21), Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said on Tuesday.
He made the remark after a meeting, which included Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and National Economic and Social Development Council secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan, at the Finance Ministry in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district.
Supattanapong said additional measures to relieve the cost burden have now been concluded. He said each agency would summarise the measures before proposing them to the Cabinet next Tuesday so the measures can be launched in July.
He said the Finance Ministry has been instructed to decide on funds for the measures, confirming that the government has sufficient money on hand.
Current measures to relieve the cost of living, most of which will expire on June 30, are:
• 100 baht extra for three months for 3.6 million state welfare cardholders for purchasing cooking gas.
• Discount of 100 baht on cooking gas per month for street vendors who hold state welfare cards.
• Subsidy of 250 baht for motorcycle taxi drivers.
• Maintaining the Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV) price at 15.59 baht per kilogramme.
• Allowing taxi drivers to purchase Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at 13.62 baht per kilogramme.
• Reducing the fuel adjustment cost (Ft) by 22 satang per unit for people who use electricity of no more than 300 units per month from May to August.
• Maintaining the diesel price at 35 baht per litre and providing a 50 per cent subsidy on the diesel price exceeding 30 baht per litre.
• Using the Oil Fuel Fund to ensure that the price of cooking gas is not very high.
• Reducing employer/employee contributions under Section 33 of the Social Security Act from 5 per cent to 1 per cent per month.
• Reducing contributions from insurers under Section 39 of the Social Security Act from 9 per cent to 1.9 per cent per month and insurers under Section 40 to between 42 and 180 baht per month.
A cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved a budget of 338.8 million baht for six tourism development projects in five Andaman coast provinces – Satun, Trang, Phuket, Phang-nga and Krabi – government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.
The projects aim to attract more domestic and foreign tourists to the west coast southern provinces and generate income for local communities.
The six projects and budget are:
1. Approximately 80.75 million baht for the development of the healthcare system on Satun’s Koh Lipe to support an increasing number of tourists and local residents. The project will cover renovation of the Lipe Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital and procurement of medical equipment.
2. Precisely 68.8 million baht to renovate the Learning and Conservation Centre for Manatee and Rare Aquatic Wildlife in Trang.
3. Some 25.25 million baht for the Phuket Health Sandbox project, which covers setting up of an online platform for telemedicine and establishing digital health posts in Phuket, where people can receive basic health check-ups and chat with doctors online.
4. Approximately 80 million baht for the construction of a tourism and recreational centre in Phang-nga, complete with a public park and running tracks.
5. Precisely 35 million baht for the renovation of Klong Jilad pier in Krabi, with focus on expanding passenger capacity and installing facilities for the disabled.
6. Some 49 million baht for the development of the Klong Thom hot spring in Krabi into a full scale spa and hot spring treatment facility to attract tourists while maintaining the spring’s natural condition.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates Thailand will welcome at least 500,000 foreign tourists per month during the low season (May-September), while foreign arrivals could exceed 1 million per month in the high season (October-December), Thanakorn added.
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved in principle a move to temporarily do away with an immigration form for non-Thai nationals entering or leaving the Kingdom by air, also known as the Tor Mor 6 form, in a bid to help reduce congestion at airport immigration counters.
Deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Traisoranakul said the measure would be implemented for a specific time, after which there would be an evaluation to consider whether to permanently cancel Tor Mor 6.
She said the move to temporarily scrap the immigration form for foreigners would help facilitate passenger flow at airport immigration counters as the number of foreign arrivals had increased significantly and being required to file the Tor Mor 6 form along with Covid-19 screening has resulted in bottlenecks.
“The move will also help promote a positive image of Thai airports to a global audience,” Traisuree said.
“Furthermore, Thailand is in the process of fully reopening the country to foreign visitors and recovering its economy from the impact of Covid-19. Cancelling the immigration form will help attract more foreign tourists and save on the printing cost, which works out to 0.7 baht each form.”
Traisuree said the same immigration form for Thai nationals had been cancelled since 2017 under instructions from the National Council for Peace and Order.
The collection of data from arriving passengers can be done through the biometric system and information from airlines and tour agencies, she said.
The Interior Ministry will soon issue an official announcement axing the measure, she added.
The much-awaited Thailand Yacht Show (TYS) is now in full gear at the prestigious Ocean Marina in Pattaya, Thailand. The Show, regarded as Asia’s premier boating showcase and now in its 6th edition, has been a nautical calendar fixture for many years, and the excitement has stemmed from the fact that it had to be shelved for over 2 years due to the Covid pandemic.
Seen at the Opening Ceremony along with Mr. Andy Treadwell, CEO of Verventia Co., Ltd., the Show’s organizer, were H.E. Mr. Mohamed Jinah of The Maldives Embassy, Dato Steve Cheah, Diplomatic Council Head of Mission for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, Ms. Wiparat Tharateerapab, Director of Strategy & Planning Division of the Ministry of Tourism & Sports, Sub. Lt. Pramote Tubtim, Pattaya City Manager and Acting Mayor of Pattaya City, Mr. Songwut Apirakkhit, Executive Director, Investment Management Division of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office in Thailand (EEC), Mr. Pierre Jaffre, Advisor to the EEC, Mr. Pairat Sukngam, Assistant Director of the Pattaya Office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), to name but a few of the distinguished guests.
“We are delighted to be staging Asia’s first boat show in nearly 3 years even though it is a much smaller show than we are accustomed to organizing. But this is because it is such a buoyant boating market at the moment – several of our longtime supporters have already found themselves with no boats left to sell. Nearly all the major yacht builders in Europe have to ramp up their production as their distributors have sold out and are now taking orders for delivery in the middle of next year and beyond. Even the ever-popular MYBA Charter Show in Barcelona last month had less than 20 yachts on display when they usually have around 100 major superyachts at the show”, revealed Mr. Treadwell. The global yacht charter market was valued at US$10.91 billion in 2020, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.6 percent from 2020 to 2028.
“In this respect, we would like to sincerely welcome FLS Yachting Worldwide, a fast-developing international marine transport and logistics company based in Asia, to our Show as our new Official Yacht Transport Partner, joining our Official Insurer, AXA Thailand General Insurance, to further support our campaign to grow yachting and yacht tourism in Thailand and Asia”, added Mr. Treadwell.
Highlights of the TYS – THE BOATS & YACHTS
The Thailand Yacht Show in Pattaya will nonetheless still offer visitors a fun-filled weekend outing. For yachting enthusiasts, Simpson Marine will have 9 yachts on display, and provide opportunities for adults and children alike to try out its Sailing Academy dinghies and also sign up for future lessons. Princess Yachts’ exclusive distributor, Boat Lagoon Yachting (BLY) will not only showcase the first magnificent Princess Y78 to establish Pattaya as its home port, but also on display will be 2 other boats – Jeanneau NC33 and Cap Camarat 9.0WA. An exclusive special 15% discount off yacht charter bookings in Phuket will be offered only to visitors who reserve the trip during this Show.
Also, making its debut in Thailand is the beautiful, ultra-luxurious sport-fly, the Riva 76 Perseo Super, presented by V Yachts Asia alongside the new-style Ferretti 500, which can be customized to reflect two different moods – ‘Classic’ and ‘Contemporary’. According to Ferretti, “The extensive change initiated with the Ferretti Yachts 500 project transforms the entire sailing experience into an absolute sensation of well-being that engages all the senses.”
Also, not to be missed and presented by Motorium is COX’s revolutionizing CX0300 diesel engine outboard, and the environment-friendly state-of-the-art ePropulsion electric outboard engines
MGC Marine & Charter (Asia) Co., Ltd, the sole distributor of the luxury Italian Azimut Yachts and a staunch supporter of the Thailand Yacht Show (TYS) from its inception, is using TYS to launch the latest addition to its portfolio – the evocative US brand, Chris-Craft, which has been building luxury boats and yachts since 1874. Although the Chris-Craft yacht will not be arriving in time for the Show, a 1-meter model will be at the MGC booth for admiring and pre-booking.
Other world-famous yachting brands such as Sunseeker, Gulfcraft and Silent Yachts will also be showcasing models only of their latest products with brochures to assure buyers that they can order the yacht of their fancy, and, of course, there will be plenty of their boats available to charter.
Highlights of the TYS – THE FUN
The lifestyle elements of the Thailand Yacht Show are just as impressive and exciting. Jetboard Thailand will showcase its latest award-winning premium and sustainable water-related lifestyle surfboards and Leines electric boats – a welcome alternative to jet skis and petrol jet surfing — as well as the world’s smallest safety buoyancy aid. Visitors can also have trial jetboard rental sessions on site at the Show, but pre-booking is essential via LINE @jetboardthailand. Rates are THB 1,400 for 15 mins and THB 2,000 for 30 mins., including instructions.
Great Earth International (GE), the expert in coffee products and a food service provider and distributor, representing premium brands such as Lavazza, Rocket Espresso, S.V. Italia, Schaerer, Compak, Gryphon Tea, Vedrenne, Spiegelau, Eurocave, de Buyer and Tramontina, will be offering very special deals including Lavazza coffee with a special menu of “Lavazza Caffe Melon” as well as a coffee capsule machine promotion set. In addition, and only at the Thailand Yacht Show, will you be entitled to purchase Eurocave wine cellars and cabinets at specially discounted prices along with a one-time 5% discount offer for the popular Rocket Espresso coffee machine.
During the 4-day event expect spectacular music by award-winning DJ Chozie and LIVE performances by the fabulous showgirls from Pattaya’s very own Alexa Beach Club, a multifaceted venue featuring a 200-seat restaurant, indoor and outdoor dining options, a rooftop lounge for private functions, exclusive sunken booths, indoor showers, spacious changing rooms, private lockers and 100 daybeds around a fun-sized, 600 sqm infinity pool looking over its 2,000 sqm private beach.
And after such a fun and hectic time, stop at the Miskawaan Health Group (MHG)’s booth, and select a personalized healthcare service combining comprehensive state-of-the-art diagnostics and 100% natural ingredients for long-term preventive healthcare to refresh and rejuvenate.
Open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day with free admission, those interested to come and join the fun at this Asia-Pacific premiere yachting event can pre-register via https://thailandyachtshow.com/registration/
Six agencies in Bangkok and Nonthaburi areas are ready to issue vaccine passports to people who wish to travel abroad, according to the Public Health Ministry.
Avaccine passport is necessary for travelling abroad amid the Covid-19 crisis. This document is also necessary for Thais to issue their passport for identity verification while visiting other countries.
The six agencies in Bangkok and its surrounding areas include:
Department of Disease Control’s Division of Communicable Diseases at Bangrak Medical Centre, Sathorn district, Bangkok
Sea Group, the operator of the ecommerce platform “Shopee”, announced on Tuesday that it will lay off thousands of employees in the region to modernise its business operations.
The company said it has notified employees in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam who face the axe.
According to DealStreetAsia, ShopeePay and ShopeeFood in Thailand will lay off half their workforce.
Meanwhile, many netizens claiming to be former Shopee employees said on social media that they had been let go and that the HR department will contact them over severance pay.
Shopee stopped hiring in Southeast Asia a long time ago. The ecommerce platform has been suffering losses for many years, and Sea Group’s revenue mostly comes from the video game operator Garena.
Based on the Business Development Department’s data, Shopee suffered losses worth 4.74 billion in 2019, 4.17 billion in 2020 and 4.97 billion in 2021.
However, purchases via the Shopee platform in the first quarter of this year rose by 71.3 per cent year on year, generating $1.9 billion in revenue. The value of total transactions during this period also rose by 38.7 per cent year on year, generating $17.4 billion in revenue.
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