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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015500

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is focused on drawing more foreign tourists to Thailand for the remainder of this year since the abolition of the Test & Go scheme.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Thursday that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand has increased after the Test & Go scheme was scrapped on May 1.

He said the agency is still maintaining the target of 5 million to 15 million foreign tourists this year depending on various factors, such as Thailand’s border reopening and China’s lockdown policy.

However, he said Thailand would be able to draw 7 million to 10 million foreign tourists to the country this year, generating more than THB600 billion in revenue based on current circumstances.

“Hence, TAT has to seek other markets, such as Middle East countries,” he said.

He said TAT would stimulate tourism among foreigners in the remainder of this year, focusing on high potential tourists numbering at least 300,000 people per month between May and September.

He also expected the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand in the fourth quarter to hit 1 million people per month, adding that it would increase further until next year.

“This move is in line with the TAT’s plan to increase the number of foreign tourists by 50 per cent and revenue by 80 per cent compared to 2019 [before the pandemic emerge],” he said.

Meanwhile, TAT deputy governor for marketing communication Thanet Petchsuwan said in the short term, the agency would focus on five countries, namely India, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea where travel restrictions have been eased.

He added that TAT would stimulate tourism by joining international trade shows and Business-to-Consumer promotional activities.

“Also, we will cooperate with airlines, tour operators and online travel agencies to promote tourism based on each target group, such as health and wellness, leisure, wedding, digital nomads and family,” he said.

He added that Thailand will offer amazing new experiences to tourists with unique tourism products and services under the concept “Visit Thailand Year 2022: Amazing New Chapters”.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015499

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received 356 complaints from the public during the first half of fiscal 2022, its secretary-general said Thursday.

Pithakpol Boonyamalik, secretary-general of the NHRC Office, said the complaints were filed from October 2021 to March 2022. The commission decided to proceed with 284 complaints, or 79.77 per cent of those received.

He said the NHRC had rejected 72 complaints — 20.23 per cent — on grounds that some incidents had already been submitted to court for trial and other cases were under the jurisdiction of other agencies.

Pithakpol said the NHRC’s help was sought the most during the period regarding the following:

— Rights and freedom of life and body

— Rights related to the justice system

— Rights and sexual equality and women’s rights
— Community rights

— Individual rights over assets

Of the 284 cases the NHRC decided to proceed with, the commission has conducted investigations into 161 complaints and 108 investigations have been completed.

In the 108 cases, the NHRC has made recommendations for the protection and promotion of human rights to the concerned government agencies or to the Cabinet, Pithakpol said.

He said the NHRC had sought cooperation from concerned government agencies to protect human rights in 68 cases, and affected persons in 62 of the cases have received help.

For example, the authorities have sped up the process for complainants to receive due benefits from the Corrections Department and some complainants have had their nationality endorsed.

The NHRC has also helped some complainants to have their home-school study endorsed.

Pithakpol said the NHRC has also helped complainants in 51 other cases, mostly about seeking legal advice. The Law Society of Thailand has been asked to provide help to them, the secretary-general added.

Also during the same period, the NHRC has made recommendations to the government related to the national park act and wildlife protection act. The NHRC has also asked the government to provide public toilets for LGBT people, Pithakpol said.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015497

Though competition among food delivery applications has more or less come to a boil, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) realised that these platforms with high commissions hardly help small and medium eateries. 

So the agency hit upon the idea to introduce an entirely new platform for the purpose, deciding to join hands with local company Food Ordery, a TV Direct affiliated firm, to launch “eatsHUB”.

This collaboration is part of Thailand’s National Delivery Platform project that aims to help small entrepreneurs and food vendors access online services with affordable operational costs and high benefits while matching consumer lifestyles.

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said the launch of eatsHub would be a concrete start to Thailand’s digital transformation and improve the country’s competitiveness.

And following the introduction of eatsHUB, Chaiwut said the ministry is now considering launching more platforms in other areas including travel, accommodation, e-commerce and even on the blockchain. 

DEPA president Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin said the food delivery platform business is a large segment, so many companies want to increase their market share to become a leader. 

“Such fierce competition leads to high operating costs, including a commission fee, which is now around 30 per cent,” he pointed out. 

DEPA felt such a high commission would not help small and medium-sized food stall owners boost their earnings through online channels.

But now with eatsHUB charging food vendors a gross profit (GP) share of just 8 per cent, lower than other online delivery platforms, eateries can retain the same food prices charged at their stores. Also, the low GP benefits buyers as well as riders. 

Nuttapon said the DEPA expects to gain 500,000 registrations and see the app used more than 5 million times, creating an economic value of over THB500 million in the first year alone and roping in around 2,000 new riders.

“The DEPA has funded around 20 per cent of the operational budget, while 80 per cent has been covered by Food Ordery and other venture capitals via fund raisers. We are also helping them improve the platform by matching them with other potential developers and using big data to connect the platform with users nationwide,” Nuttapon said.

Food Ordery Chief Executive Officer Thammanit Khamwangyang said eatsHUB’s strength is its low commission, rapid cash transfer for sales within the next day without a minimum rate, an easy-to-use platform with a call-centre option, several promotions and big data analysis, while sustaining food vendor quality to meet high standards.

“Apart from expanding the service area, we will provide a sort of cloud kitchen for our vendors. We also support our riders by providing them with some welfare and insurance. Plus we plan to set up a leasing service to help riders obtain motorcycles,” Thammanit said.

The platform is currently available for food delivery in four Bangkok areas – Bang Khen, Chatuchak, Ladprao and Suan Luang – before expanding to cover the whole capital and its vicinity by July. And by the end of the year, the service will move further afield to cover 17 provinces – Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phetchaburi, Surat Thani, Phuket, Songkhla, Chonburi, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Phanom.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015494

The Criminal Court on Thursday rejected a request to shut down the Bluedragon website, saying it simply acted as an online platform and was not responsible for overpriced lottery tickets sold there.

The court read its verdict at 10am in the case filed by the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry, which wanted Bluedragon and four other websites shut down on charges of publishing content in violation of the country’s peace and order laws and content that persuaded others to gamble.

The ruling stated that the Bluedragon website simply gathered lottery tickets for selling online and it was the sellers and buyers who set the retail prices on their own.

The court said Bluedragon did not take part in deciding the lottery prices so there was no ground to convict it over charges that it violated the Government Lottery Act.

The DES Ministry also charged Bluedragon with distorting government lotteries by concealing the individual barcode of each ticket with its logo when publishing the tickets on the online platform.

The court ruled that although the tickets’ barcodes were reportedly hidden, Bluedragon witnesses argued that the distortion was not intended to reap benefit but to prevent lottery tickets from being resold.

The court said it believed the arguments that the company did not violate the Government Lottery Act or the gambling act. The court also ruled that Bluedragon did not violate the Computer Crime Act.

As a result, the court concluded, it had no power to order a shutdown of Bluedragon’s main website or two subsidiary websites.

The court, however, ordered a shutdown of two other websites which do not belong to Bluedragon as they failed to send representatives to defend themselves.

Bluedragon owner Pachara Messiyaporn and his lawyer Anantachai Chaiyadej were present in court for the verdict.

Speaking to reporters as he exited the court, Anantachai said Bluedragon has regained its pride through the court’s ruling.

“It is clear that the court ruled that Bluedragon is not the direct seller [of lotteries] and was not the one which set the prices,” Anantachai said.

“Bluedragon is only a market [platform] that is paid for the service. We received only THB4-5 per ticket sold.”

Pachara said he is still deciding whether or not to resume lottery ticket trading on his platform.

He said suspension of the service has so far cost him more than THB10 million in terms of revenue.

The ruling is expected to be used to defend Pachara in criminal charges being brought by the police.

“The court clearly ruled that Bluedragon did not sell overpriced lotteries as charged by a senior police officer,” the lawyer added.

Pachara was arrested at a luxury estate in Nonthaburi in early April before being released on bail. He faces four charges – uploading fake data into a computer system, operating a direct marketing platform without registration, releasing fake or exaggerated advertisements, and overpricing lottery tickets.

Police have not yet wrapped up their investigations.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015491

With the upcoming onsite opening on May 17 for the first semester of the new academic year, 437 schools in Bangkok have been instructed to put Covid-19 prevention measures in place.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deputy permanent secretary Chawin Sirinak said on Thursday that schools that open next week must have all students aged 12-17 vaccinated against Covid-19 with at least three doses.

BMA has also urged parents of children aged 5-11 years to vaccinate their kids at vaccination units that the city has established at selected schools to give FDA-approved Pfizer jabs on a voluntary basis. The city aims to achieve at least 60 per cent vaccination rate in children aged 5-11 by the end of May.

“Vaccine is necessary for keeping children safe from Covid-19, in order to help reduce the chances of severe symptoms and fatalities,” Chawin pointed out. “Public health officials have been told to educate parents that the benefits of vaccine outweigh the side-effects, so that people would bring their children to get the jabs.”

Chawin added that the American Academy of Paediatrics had recently published a paper called “School Closure Versus Targeted Control Measures for SARS-CoV-2 Infection”, which studied infection rate trends in children in grades 1–10 in seven boroughs of Oslo, Norway, between February 15 and April 18, 2021.

“The findings indicated that school closure was not more effective than targeted infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in open schools in reducing student infection rates,” he pointed out. “Therefore, keeping schools open with appropriate IPC measures should be preferred over school closures, considering the negative consequences closures have on students. In the long term, Covid-19 measures in children should focus on evidence-based medicine to ensure that children have sound physical and mental health.”

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015486

Residents in eight provinces bordering the Mekong River have been warned to beware of rising water levels until May 19.

The provinces are Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said on Thursday.

“Residents in these provinces have also been warned to be careful while travelling or conducting activities near the river,” the department said. “Those living at the river should monitor the situation closely,” it advised.

The department explained that the water level in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen district is expected to increase to between 1.20 and 1.40 metres until Sunday (May 15) as the water level at Jinghong Dam in China has been rising since Monday.

Meanwhile, the water level between Loei’s Chiang Khan district and Ubon Ratchathani’s Khong Chiam district is expected to rise to between 1.20 and 1.50 metres until Thursday next week, depending on water management at Laos’s Xayaburi Dam, the department added.

People can follow disaster announcements via the Thai Disaster Alert application, while those affected by any disaster can inform or request assistance via the @1784DDPM Line account, the “PhonPhai” (Safe) application, or department hotline 1784.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015483

Three solutions of cannabis oil made by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) have been added to the Thailand National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), a GPO official said on Thursday.

Pharmacist Dr Nanthakan Suwanpidokkul, a drug specialist at the GPO, said the three solutions of GPO’s cannabis oil have been added to the list of herbs in the NLEM, meaning government hospitals can prescribe the oil for patients in need.

The first solution has a higher rate of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol psychoactive constituent of cannabis, while the second solution has a higher rate of CBD, or cannabidiol, which is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis. The third solution has equal THC and CBD compounds, Nanthakan said.

She said doctors can prescribe the cannabis oil solutions of the GPO for patients who suffer dizziness after they receive chemotherapy or for final-stage patients, who are unable to sleep or eat. The solutions can also ease pain of final-stage patients.

Now that the GPO cannabis oil solutions are listed in the NLEM, the government will pay for their cost when patients are prescribed the oil by doctors in 893 state hospitals nationwide, she said.

She advised patients to meet doctors instead of buying cannabis oil on their own because doctors have special training to decide which solution is best for particular patients.

The use of cannabis oil by the GPO will also help the government save on the import cost of chemical drugs offering similar effects. Patients can also save the money they spend in buying the chemical drugs on their own, she added.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015479

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday said he would emphasise Thailand’s full reopening when he meets with leaders of other countries during the 2nd Asean-US Special Summit in Washington on Thursday and Friday.

Prayut, accompanied by Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, flew to Washington on Wednesday morning for the summit, which will mark the 45th anniversary of Asean-US relations.

In a Facebook post, Prayut said the summit is an opportunity to meet with the US president and high-ranking representatives to promote cooperation on recovery and sustainable growth in Southeast Asia, as well as push for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits.

He said the summit is also an opportunity to gain confidence among the US private sector in Thailand’s readiness to transition toward an economic recovery, which includes ushering in a digital economy, sustainable development, clean energy and electric vehicles.

Expanding trade and investment in industries of the future is in line with the country’s strategic plan, Prayut said.

“Most importantly, I will get an opportunity to emphasise to country leaders that Thailand has fully reopened for tourism, business, conferences, medical services, and so on,” he said.

“After we scrapped the Test & Go scheme on May 1, more than 300,000 tourists entered the country within a week and this is expected to rise between May and September.”

The number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand during the high season between October and December is expected to increase to least 1 million per month, the PM said.

Prayut also said the summit would enable Thailand to boost its economy along with those of Asean and the world community, adding that it is an important step [for Thailand] to become one of the leading countries in the post-Covid era.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved a draft statement which focuses on strengthening relations and promoting economic cooperation between Asean and the US.

The Cabinet also approved a draft appendix under which the Thai and US defence departments would exchange information on remote sensing.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

A respiratory specialist has come out with a few health suggestions for people to follow as the Covid-19 situation improves, which will eventually lead to the government lifting all restrictions on foreign arrivals.

“As Covid-19 moves towards becoming endemic, people should embrace the following steps to prepare for a full reopening,” said Vichaiyut Hospital’s Dr Manoon Leechawengongs in a Facebook post on Thursday.

“First, everyone needs to get two doses of vaccination and then a booster shot to keep their immunity high. It is highly recommended that the booster shot should be a mRNA vaccine such as Pfizer or Moderna,” he said.

“For those in high risk groups such as elders and people with chronic health problems, they should get another mRNA shot four months after a booster just to be on the safe side,” Manoon said.

“Secondly, we still need to wear a face mask in public, crowded spaces and in areas with poor ventilation. The mask will not only protect you from the Covid virus but also help prevent against most respiratory communicable diseases, including influenza, RSV and tuberculosis,” the doctor pointed out.

He also suggested those who have fever, a cough, sore throat or a runny nose should take an antigen self-test. If the result is positive, they must remain in home isolation for at least 10 days while wearing a face mask at all times. Patients must wash their hands immediately if they came in contact with phlegm or nasal mucus.

“As for others who have no symptoms, please wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser after touching objects such as doorknobs, elevator buttons and stair rails. Avoid picking your nose or rubbing your eyes, or at least wash them thoroughly before and after,” he advised.

“Lastly, everyone should remain vigilant of the situation but do not be too afraid to live your life under new normal standards,” he added.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015476

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Wednesday that it had approved two Covid-19 vaccines for children.

Covovax, developed by the Serum Institute of India in partnership with US-based Novavax, can be given to children aged 12-17, expanding from the FDA’s previous approval that allowed the vaccine to be administered to recipients aged over 18. The vaccine must be administered in two doses of 0.5 millilitres each, at an interval of three weeks, just like for adults.

Meanwhile, Moderna’s Spikevax can be given to children aged 6-11, expanding from the previous limit of 12 and over. The vaccine must be administered in two doses of 0.25ml each – or half the dosage for adults –at an interval of four weeks.

The Public Health Ministry reported that so far 54 per cent of children aged 5-11 have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and 17 per cent have got the second.

The ministry also said it is negotiating with AstraZeneca to purchase Long Active Antibody drugs for those who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 but whose immunity has not increased due to certain conditions, like patients with liver disease or those with organ transplants who are on immunosuppressants.

On Thursday, Thailand recorded 8,019 Covid cases and 59 deaths in the past 24 hours, while 8,807 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospital. Cumulative cases in the country since January 1 stand at 2,129,802.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION