Tourists flood Phi Phi on Jan 1 as Thailand ups 2023 forecast to 25m visitors
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
Phi Phi Islands National Park in Krabi province was flooded by over 5,000 tourists per day on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, said a park official on Sunday.
Authorities deployed extra staff to oversee parking and increased the number of ticket booths to prevent crowding, as visitors poured in all day to witness the crystal-clear waters and white-sand islands of the 388-square-kilometre marine sanctuary, officially known as Hat Nappharat Thara-Mu Ko National Park.
Large crowds of tourists were seen at Railay Beach, Thale Waek (Separated Sea), Ko Poda and Pi Leh Bay.
Krabi logged a total of 62,927 tourists – 39,331 foreigners and 23,596 Thais – from December 30 to January 2, according to the local Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office. The TAT estimated tourism revenue for Krabi during the New Year holidays was 908.73 million baht.
The first 11 months of the year (January to November) saw over 1.52 million tourists visit Krabi, generating total revenue of 14.3 billion baht. Most of them were Thais (1.27 million).
The TAT expects Krabi’s tourism revenue for the whole year to exceed the target of 1.5 billion baht.
Thailand received around 11 million foreign tourists in 2022. The TAT last week revised its forecast for 2023 to 25 million visitors after news that China will reopen on January 8.
Thailand needs credit-score system as millions blacklisted for loans: Korn
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
Chart Pattankla Party leader Korn Chatikavanij on Monday urged banks to stop using the National Credit Bureau blacklist when considering loan approvals.
Korn instead proposed a “credit score” system that takes into account loan applicants’ incomes and daily spending.
The former finance minister said new loan criteria are needed because millions of Thais had been blacklisted by the bureau for being unable to make debt repayments amid the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.
Although financial institutions claimed the blacklist was not a major factor in their loan decisions, in reality almost all blacklisted debtors were unable to borrow from legal lenders, he added.
Korn said the credit bureau has begun collecting credit-score data but financial institutions still prefer the blacklist when considering loan requests.
Korn explained that the credit score measures repayment ability and is partly derived from debt-payment records. It also includes data on paying other bills, such as mobile phone, Internet, water and power bills.
The credit score system should also include data on debtors’ incomes and expenses, Korn added. For example, a Grab Food rider who works 10 hours per day every day should receive a higher credit score to reflect his/her diligence in seeking income.
He said the major obstacle to creating a comprehensive credit score system is that most relevant data are in the hands of state enterprises and private companies.
As such, the next government should grant access to these data sets to allow the credit bureau to create a more effective credit score system.
Korn said his credit score idea has captured the attention of financial companies as a fairer system for customers to access loans.
He said his Chart Pattanakla Party would propose the credit score system as a core policy in its election campaign.
Cognitive impairment another long-Covid symptom, Danish study shows
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
People who have recovered from Covid-19 may suffer from a cognitive deficit regardless of whether they developed severe symptoms or not.
Assoc Prof Dr Thira Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine raised this subject in a Facebook post on Monday, citing a recent study by Danish scientists published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Thira said the study found that 53% of recovered Covid-19 patients suffer some kind of cognitive impairment.
The study covered 194 patients, 91 of whom were hospitalised for severe symptoms, while the remainder were treated at home.
They have all been free of the virus for more than seven months.
The study found that over half of the patients had trouble remembering things, managing or making decisions at work, while some of them displayed impaired verbal communication skills. This cognitive impairment was detected in both hospitalised and non-hospitalised groups but was found more often among the elderly and those with underlying chronic conditions.
“Though we now have drugs to treat Covid-19 effectively, the best strategy is to avoid getting infected or reinfected to stay safe from the virus and its aftereffects,” Thira said. “If you attended a crowded party or visited family members during the New Year holidays, it is strongly recommended to stay isolated for seven to 10 days to monitor your symptoms and take an ATK test before returning to work.”
Thira, who is also chief of Chula’s Information Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, said if you feel sick or have flu-like symptoms but test negative, then you should take a test again in three days to confirm the result. This is because some ATK kits can be inaccurate, he said.
“Most importantly, don’t forget to wear a facemask in public places and wash your hands regularly,” Thira advised.
Bangkok joins list of top 3 destinations for American travellers
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
A survey conducted via the Hopper travel application in December learned that Bangkok is the third most favourite destination among American tourists after Tokyo and Ho Chi Minh.
Government spokesman Anucha Buraphachaisri said on Monday that the survey also predicted that more American tourists would travel to Asia judging by the search for flights.
Meanwhile, he said, in a move to further stimulate the tourism industry, the Tourism Authority of Thailand recently linked up with its South Korean counterpart to promote travel in both countries for this year and next.
“This cooperation should stimulate the exchange of at least 3 million tourists over 2023 and 2024, and also strengthen bilateral ties,” he said.
He added that Thai tourism authorities hope to attract at least 20 million foreign tourists this year, and generate 2.38 trillion baht in revenue.
“Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is pleased that many cities in Thailand feature large in foreign tourists’ itineraries,” he said, adding that tourism is key to stimulating the country’s economy.
He said Prayut has also called on Thai tourism operators to cooperate and be welcoming to foreigners.
The use of data has surged over the New Year break because digital technology now plays a huge role in people’s daily lives, Advanced Info Service (AIS) said on Monday.
“The Covid-19 crisis triggered a change in people’s behaviour across the world,” said Pratthana Leelapanang, AIS’s chief consumer business officer.
Citing the company’s data from December 28 to January 1, he said the use of data on the 5G network has risen by more than 648% year on year as people travelled upcountry.
He added that the use of over-the-top (OTT) application services has risen between December 31 and January 1.
“Facebook is an OTT application that is popular, followed by YouTube, Line and TikTok,” he said, adding that more people have also been using the AIS Play streaming service.
Also, he said, more than 150,000 people have opted for the AIS international roaming service while travelling overseas.
4,000 buses/vans to arrive in Bangkok today as New Year holiday ends
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
The Transport Company said it will run 4,000 interprovincial bus/van services to carry over 53,000 passengers back to Bangkok on Monday after New Year trips to visit relatives upcountry.
People began heading back to the city on Sunday, when the company ran 2,792 services for over 26,000 passengers who wanted to arrive in Bangkok early to avoid traffic congestion despite Monday being an official holiday, said Transport Co vice president Rapipan Wannapintu on Monday.
Expecting a surge in volume of returning passengers on Monday, the operator has prepared up to 4,000 bus and van trips to ensure no passengers are left at terminals. “We have also informed taxi drivers via the JS100 and FM91 radio stations to pick up passengers directly from platforms to reduce crowding at the bus terminal,” she added.
Transport Co staff are sticking to face mask and social distancing measures to prevent spreading Covid-19 and will advise passengers to do likewise, Rapipan said.
The company is also offering a discount on tickets for those who travel after January 2, as a thank-you for helping to reduce crowding at bus terminals.
Passengers who book their tickets via the e-ticket app or www.transport.co.th for any domestic trips on January 3-9 will receive a 10% discount.
For more information, contact the call centre at 1490.
Thailand logs first meth seizure of 2023 amid surging drug trade
MONDAY, JANUARY 02, 2023
Thai police made their first methamphetamine seizure of 2023 on New Year’s Day after billions of meth tablets, known as yaba (crazy medicine), flooded the country in 2022.
Two men were nabbed at a checkpoint in Phitsanulok, 350 kilometres north of Bangkok, for allegedly smuggling over 700 tablets of meth in their jacket.
Phitsanulok police detained driver Suwit Khamlert, 28, and passenger Phiphat Chollanai, 28, as they drove through Ban Tha Ngam checkpoint on Phitsanulok-Uttaradit Road in Wat Bot district.
Police stopped their pick-up after spotting one of the men trying to take something from his jacket throw it out of the window. A search revealed 701 tablets of methamphetamine hidden in the jacket.
The suspects believed that police had been deployed to New Year countdowns in Wat Bot district and left the checkpoint unmanned, officers said.
Suwit admitted they were driving from Sawankhalok to Si Samrong districts in Sukhothai province, but got lost and took the Phitsanulok-Uttaradit Road by mistake before encountering the checkpoint, they added.
Urine tests on both suspects came back positive for drugs. They were taken to Wat Bot police station for questioning and to be charged.
The price of yaba plunged as low as 10 baht per pill last year after meth labs in Myanmar’s Golden Triangle area flooded the country with supplies.
Jeremy Douglas, UNODC regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, called the scale of methamphetamine trade “staggering” and warned it would continue to expand if the region does not address the root causes, including governance in the Golden Triangle and market demand.
“Organised crime have all the ingredients in place that they need to continue to grow the business, including territory to produce, access to chemicals, established trafficking routes and relationships to move product, and a massive population with spending power to target,” Douglas said.
Ninja Van Clinches Gold and Silver Trophies at the “Marketing Excellence Awards 2022”
SUNDAY, JANUARY 01, 2023
Ninja Van Thailand, Southeast Asia’s leading logistics provider, has been awarded gold for Excellence in Media Strategy and silver for Marketing Team of the Year for its “Rubber Ring Man” advertising campaign.
The campaign is to highlight Ninja Van Thailand’s brand attributes and reinforce its commitment to hassle-free deliveries.
The “Marketing Excellence Awards 2022′ or MEA is organized by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, a leading online magazine in Asia with focus on advertising and marketing. Based in Singapore, the magazine is accessible to high level marketing executives not only in Singapore but also in Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
This is the first year that Thailand is hosting the annual marketing award designed to reward and celebrate outstanding work from across the marketing communications spectrum.
Pierce Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Ninja Van Thailand, said, “Winning the coveted awards at the prestigious “Marketing Excellence Awards” is a great achievement for Ninja Van Thailand’s marketing team. The accolades reinforce the team’s success in raising the significant brand awareness of Ninja Van and maintaining top-of-mind status amongst consumers.
In the commercial, customers’ pain points are portrayed and rectified to demonstrate that Ninja Van is ready to assist our customers in solving their logistical challenges.”
Ninja Van Thailand, operating in Thailand since 2016 with a focus on B2B, has attempted to shift its focus to diversify its sources of revenue. The company found that its brand was not top in the mind of target customers because it lacked visibility to the public, partly because its fleet was unbranded. They decided to design a campaign that let the public know about their goal of creating “Hassle Free Deliveries” for customers.
The company selected a TV personality and host as its brand presenter, Woody Milintachinda, to convey the messages.
They also surveyed parcel delivery services’ customers and identified key factors which later became the 4 RTBs (reasons to buy) that would serve as the brand’s main USPs (unique selling points) for the brand campaign.
They came up with the Rubber Ring campaign. The use of Rubber Rings is a play on words in the Thai language. The word “ring” or “loop” in Thai is “Huang” which meant “worry.”
The same word is used to describe inflatable swimming tubes. Therefore, they decided to use rubber “rings” or inflatable swimming tubes to represent the “worries” or concerns that a shipper had when they shipped a parcel.
In its commercial ads, collateral, and supporting content, rubber ring imagery is prominently featured with each “ring” or “worry” representing a real concern that a shipper experiences.
All of its content shows how Ninja Van can alleviate a shipper’s worries with various service guarantees or commitments. By using Ninja Van services, the customers can remove the rubber “rings”, weighing down on them, essentially removing their worries and making their experience with Ninja Van hassle-free.
The Rubber Ring campaign was used to introduce its Brand Presenter. Once this portion of the campaign ends, they plan to continue with the second portion of the campaign which would talk about its Customer Service commitments and how they help resolve issues that may arise when a customer ships items.
“The reason they decided to highlight how they resolved issues is because of the nature of the logistics business. Due to such high volume, there will always be a small percentage that faces some issues,” according to the company.
Tencent woos Thai customers with AI cloud and promises of easy access to China’s market
SUNDAY, JANUARY 01, 2023
Nongluck Ajanapanya
The cloud computing unit of Shenzhen-based Tencent is promoting its services and products to Thai businesses as vital components that ensure a smooth entry into China’s massive market.
Tencent (Thailand) chief operating officer Chang Foo told reporters that its Cloud-AI is a “must-have technology” for Thai businesses transforming their operations to compete in the borderless, digital economy.
Moreover, the advantage of using Tencent’s technology and services is that the company also provides the know-how necessary for a smooth and successful entry into China’s market, where its products and services are ubiquitous, Chang said.
Thai businesses can equip themselves with the cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies necessary to compete in the emerging digital economy globally while also ensuring their technology is built for success in China, he explained.
Chang touted Tencent’s Cloud-AI as one of its key products, saying it could have a transformative effect on the Thai businesses that use it.
His pitch to Thai businesses arrives at a time when they are swiftly upgrading technology to ensure competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy.
The International Data Corporation, which provides market research and advisory services, recently reported that companies in the region are investing heavily in technology that focuses on digital interaction to enhance customer engagement. AI is regarded as the key to accelerating efforts to engage consumers.
Chang said Tencent’s Cloud-AI was the ideal technology for accomplishing this, explaining that it can respond to swift changes in customer expectations.
Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services, such as storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, via remote servers connected by the Internet. It provides faster innovation, enhances economies of scale, and greater flexibility.
Thai companies are rapidly shifting to cloud computing and Tencent can provide the technology to accomplish this, Chang said. The rapid increase in digital technology in Thailand is also increasing opportunities for Tencent to sell its Digital Enabler, he said.
Business transactions now require online data dissemination, storage, processing, and transfer, as well as enhanced security and management, Chang said.
The growing use of digital audio and video to improve customer engagement requires businesses to replicate in-person interactions with AI technology, he added.
Tencent’s products and services merge AI and cloud computing, Chang said.
“Tencent Cloud provides a number of Cloud-AI solutions … We also offer a variety of cloud security solutions to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, such as Cloud Streaming Service and Tencent Cloud Web Application Firewall,” he said.
Furthermore, Tencent already has the know-how to help businesses succeed in the shift to Web3, which Chang described as the next phase of the internet. It allows users and content developers to connect independently.
“As we enter the era of ‘Immersive Convergence’, with digital technology at the forefront of this transition, the integration of digital technology and the real economy has become a top priority. We are witnessing the formation of a stronger connection between the digital and real worlds as mainstream technologies become more widely used.” Chang said.
He said Tencent’s more than 20 years of experience and its thorough understanding of Chinese consumers can help its Thai customers succeed in China.
Tencent Cloud is one of the world’s leading cloud computing companies. It has two high-performance data centers in Thailand.
Evolving cloud computing can transform Thai SMEs, US tech company says
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
California-based NetApp says it can help Thai companies remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy by reducing their costs and increasing their agility through cloud computing.
Cloud computing can help Thai companies, particularly small and mid-sized enterprises, swiftly accelerate their ability to thrive amidst the digital transformation, NetApp country manager for Thailand, Anchalee Towannasoot, told Nation Thailand.
Cloud computing gives businesses the flexibility, scalability, and agility necessary to increase innovation and enhance value, she said, referring to the remote servers cloud computing uses.
Thai companies are fully aware that digital transformation is key to their competitiveness. A recent study by Deloitte found that 95% of the Thai businesses it surveyed agreed that digital transformation was necessary for their survival.The digital transformation is being driven by competitors as well as customers, the survey found.
“This is where NetApp comes in,” Anchalee said. “By working closely with our local customers and partners … we can unleash the full potential of digital and cloud technologies. We are committed to helping our customers achieve simplicity, security, savings, and sustainability in their cloud journey.”
The key question is: How can businesses better manage data’s exponential growth, intrinsic value, and movement? She added that businesses must also find ways to improve data security and customer experience.
Cloud computing is the solution, Anchalee said, adding that it also allows users to better deflect cyber-attacks through its data-centric approach for bolstering cyber resilience.
Anchalee said NetApp helps companies remove barriers that separate data and ensure it is delivered where, when, and how businesses need it by providing hybrid cloud infrastructure.
Hybrid cloud infrastructure refers to a mix of in-house and remote data storage.
Cloud computing saves IT costs and gives small and mid-sized companies the same capacity for managing data that large companies have. This increases the competitiveness of smaller companies without requiring massive investments in IT, Anchalee said.
She also said that cloud computing had evolved to a new level, explaining: “We have reached the next phase of the evolved cloud, which focuses on delivering a better hybrid multi-cloud experience. Organizations will need a strategic approach that seamlessly connects a mix of clouds and on-premises environments.”
The shift to cloud computing is unstoppable, Achalee said, citing the 2021 study “Unlocking Thailand’S Digital Potential” by AlphaBeta. The study, which was commissioned by Google, said that if Thailand made full use of digital technologies it would generate up to THB 2.5 trillion baht in annual economic value by 2030 – an amount equivalent to about 16% of Thailand’s 2020 GDP.
Achalee said NetApp’s 30 years of cloud innovating experiences has positioned it as a leader in the provision of “unified hybrid multi-cloud experience with built-in data protection”.
“NetApp offers our customers something no other company can: the freedom to choose NetApp’s cloud services natively in the world’s top three public clouds, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud,” she added.
Anchelee said that increasing NetApp’s relevance in Thailand remains its key focus over the next five years.
She said Thailand is at a crossroads and that many businesses here have already created hybrid multi-cloud environments. This represents a significant opportunity for NetApp to help them “smoothly transition into the next phase of the evolved cloud”.
According to Statista, Thailand’s public cloud market revenue will increase by more than 270% from 2022 to 2027, reaching US$2.75 billion a year.
He said the major obstacle to creating a comprehensive credit score system is that most relevant data are in the hands of state enterprises and private companies.
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