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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023824

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.

Related stories:

• Proof of full Covid vaccination required from tourists to Thailand
• Chinese tourism set to surge as 15 airlines open routes to Thailand
• Tourists need at least 2 Covid-19 shots to enter Thailand: Health Minister

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023821

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.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023818

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.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023817

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.

Related stories:

• Harrowing account of HTMS Sukhothai’s last moments posted on Facebook by ‘friend of survivor’
• 8th HTMS Sukhothai body found as rescuers suspect more trapped under wreckage
• Rescuers scouring Chumphon islands for missing HTMS Sukhothai sailors

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023815

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.

Related stories:

• Free food, water served in hospital to well-wishers of Princess Bajrakitiyabha
• Speedy recovery for Princess tops Thais’ New Year wish list: poll
• Bhutan’s queen wishes a speedy recovery for Princess Bajrakitiyabha

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023804

Thailand, Japan to jointly open marine litter monitoring centre

SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023

Thailand and Japan have agreed to establish a marine litter monitoring centre as part of their bilateral climate change cooperation, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said on Saturday.

Varawut made the announcement after a meeting with Hiroshi Ono, Japan’s Deputy Minister of Environment, in Tokyo on January 6 at which they discussed strategies to protect natural resources and tackle climate change.

Also attending the meeting were: Prangtip Kanchanahattakij, minister of the Thai Embassy in Tokyo, Jatuporn Buruspat, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Phirun Saiyasitpanich, secretary-general of the Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning Office, and Kiatchai Maitriwong executive director of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization.

Varawut said both sides shared experiences in tackling environmental problems, notably coastal erosion, wastewater treatment, and marine litter. The environment ministries of both countries agreed to establish a jointly operated marine litter monitoring centre to serve as a model for the future.

Thailand and Japan also agreed to exchange experience, technology and financial support in climate change operations under the framework of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, Varawut said. The framework allows countries to trade emission reductions and removals with one another through bilateral or multilateral agreements. These traded credits are called Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes.

“With strengthened cooperation with Japan, Thailand is moving closer to the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” Varawut said.

Related Stories

Flood-prone Thailand, Laos to partner on tackling climate-change issues

Varawut praises business sector for its commitment to low carbon and sustainable economy

Varawut showcases Thailand’s environmental achievements at the Thailand Pavilion during COP27 in Egypt

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023810

New point system for motorists takes effect on Monday

SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2023

Traffic police will start enforcing a new point system for motorists on Monday, but it will be implemented gradually with education being the initial priority, a senior officer said on Saturday.

The point system aims to improve compliance with traffic laws, reduce accidents, and increase road safety, Highway Police Division commander Maj-General Ekkarat Limsangkat said.

Each motorist will start with 12 points. Violations of traffic laws will result in the deduction of points, with the most severe offences resulting in the biggest deductions.

The system applies equally to every driver, Ekkarat said, adding that drivers who violate laws would have the opportunity to reform.

“Not all of their points will be deducted … they will have the opportunity to reform,” he said.
The maximum reduction of points for a single offence is eight, and it applies to the severest offenses, Ekkarat said.

Offenses such as speeding, not wearing a helmet while riding a motorbike, not wearing a seat belt, not stopping at a pedestrian crossing, or using a mobile phone while driving, will cost drivers one point for each offence, he said.

Disobeying traffic signals – driving through a red light, for example – will cost drivers two points.

A hit and run or fleeing the scene of an accident will cost drivers three points, while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will cost drivers four points.

The loss of all 12 points will result in the suspension of a driver’s license. Three suspensions within three years will result in the revocation of a license.

Ekkarat said that many people considered a four-point deduction to be “too little” for drunk-driving. However, he pointed out, drunk drivers face additional penalties, including fines and jail.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023808

First full moon of 2023 draws 20,000 ravers to Pha-ngan’s white-sand mecca

SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2023

More than 20,000 tourists flocked to the first full moon party of the year on Pha-ngan Island in Surat Thani on Friday, spending an estimated 100 million baht, the southern province’s deputy governor Chusak Ruying said on Saturday.

It was the first all-night beach party of 2023 on the island, which is known around the globe as the home of the original full-moon party.

Chusak said that the large number of visitors, both Thais and foreigners, benefitted the local economy.

Local authorities enhanced security for tourists to ensure thieves did not prey on them during the crowded event, he said.

Enhanced safety measures are in effect on all three of Surat Thani’s island hotspots – Samui, Pha-ngan and Tao, Chusak said.

On Friday night, Chusak joined senior local officials, including provincial police chief Maj-Gen Saranyu Chamnanraj, to inspect the party’s location – white-sand Haad Rin beach on the southern tip of the island.