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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016481

The fourth phase of the popular “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) co-payment scheme is being extended and will take off next month, with rooms and flight discounts for 1.5 million domestic travellers, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on Thursday.

Those looking to avail of the co-payment scheme, aimed at encouraging domestic travel, may register on its website from June 27 and start reserving hotel rooms on July 1, with stays commencing on July 8, according to the agency.

Reservations are open until October 23. The scheme ends on October 31.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the extension of the fourth phase offers domestic travellers another 1.5 million room nights.

He said the next Cabinet meeting on June 14 is expected to endorse implementation of the extended phase.

The fourth phase ran from February 1 to May 31. However, not all rooms under the scheme were booked up, leaving an unused budget that is now being allocated for extension of the phase.

The scheme’s website (www.เราเที่ยวด้วยกัน.com) is being updated to comply with the requirements under the Personal Data Protection Act in force since June 1.

Travellers who book accommodations are eligible for a 40 per cent government subsidy on room rates, limited to THB3,000 per night and 10 nights per person.

They are also entitled to a 40 per cent subsidy on food of up to THB600 per day, as well as a 40 per cent subsidy on airfares capped at THB3,000 per passenger and two persons per hotel room.

Published : June 09, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016480

Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and his Laotian counterpart chaired the 27th Thai-Lao General Border Committee meeting in Bangkok on Thursday.

The meeting was held at the Conrad Bangkok Hotel with Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Chansamone Chanyalath representing the neighbouring government.

Before the GBC meeting started, the two deputy prime ministers discussed measures for cooperation after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is expected soon, according to Thai officials who attended the meeting.

The two also discussed security issues, which were joint problems along the border of the two neighbouring countries, including the issues of drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, illegal immigrants and across-the-border call-centre gangs.

The two deputy prime ministers discussed plans to strengthen local economies of villages along the border of the two nations.

The two deputy prime ministers then jointly presided over the GBC meeting and congratulated each other for the successful operations of the committee during the past year.

Prawit and Chansamone were informed that the GBC had overseen strict security enforcement along the border as agreed upon earlier in the panel.

During the past year, the GBC has held meetings at various levels and has overseen the exchange of visits of officials of both countries and the holding of joint cultural and sport activities as well as military medical cooperation. Moreover, the GBC has arranged the exchange of military personnel for studying in military institutions of the two countries.

The Thai officials said the two deputy prime ministers pledged support and cooperation on all fronts through the GBC.

The meeting also agreed to have Thailand continue to grant scholarships for short and long medical courses to medical students form Laos. The meeting agreed on cooperation to tackle the smog along the border and to exchange military officers to be trained in each nation.

The meeting pledged to continue to take in Lao officials to learn from various royally-initiated projects in Thailand.

The officials said the GBC meeting also resolved to have the two countries join forces in checking smuggling of drugs and illegal immigrants across the border.

Published : June 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016478

Among other Covid-19 prevention measures, most people would like to scrap the need for antigen tests before participating in activities, according to a survey by the Disease Control Department (DDC).

On Thursday, the DDC revealed the results of a survey of 3,194 people aged between 13 to 70 years taken from May 25 to June 6, including what restrictions they wanted to be removed when Thailand declares Covid-19 an endemic.

Of the 3,175 respondents (they could choose more than one answer):

1. 33.4 per cent – wanted antigen tests to end for participating in activities
2. 30.8 per cent – end to temperature screening
3. 26.2 per cent – wearing of masks
4. 24.8 per cent – limiting the number of participants in activities
5. 22.5 per cent – asking for vaccination history before participating in activities
6. 17.1 per cent – keeping social distance
7. 15.8 per cent – all measures
8. 10.5 per cent – being vaccinated before entering Thailand

In the survey, 64 per cent of respondents were female while 31 per cent were male. Nearly one-third — 30.3 per cent — were in the age group 50 to 59 years old while 29 per cent were 40 to 49 years old.

Of those wanting removal of vaccination history, 2 per cent were unvaccinated, 1 per cent had received one dose of vaccine, and 23 per cent were fully vaccinated;

741 people said that they had not received the booster dose; 68.6 per cent were worried about side-effects, 22.7 per cent thought that Thailand would soon enter the endemic phase, 13 per cent believed that the Omicron variant is not severe, while 8.8 per cent thought vaccines were ineffective.

Meanwhile, 47 per cent had received the third dose, 26 per cent had received the fourth dose, and 1 per cent had received more than four doses of vaccines.

Some 28 per cent of respondents had been infected while 72 per cent had never been infected.

Of the 892 people who had been infected, 67.7 per cent were treated by home isolation, 11.4 were treated at hospitals, 9.5 per cent were treated at hospitels, 7.6 per cent did not get any treatment, and 3.7 per cent were treated by community isolation.

Published : June 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016476

The Public Health Ministry has prohibited sale of cannabis to pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, and people aged under 20, permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said on Thursday.

The ban has been imposed as cannabis is no longer considered illegal in Thailand, following its removal from the list of narcotic drugs with effect from Thursday (June 9).

A new ministry regulation also stipulates that marijuana smoke is considered an annoyance, Kiattiphum said, adding that the new rules were aimed at preventing “inappropriate use” of cannabis.

The official said the Public Health Ministry encourages the use of cannabis for medical purposes to reduce imports and promote traditional Thai medicine as a healthcare alternative. Also, marijuana can be used as an ingredient in various products, bringing benefits to the country’s industries and economy, he added.

Meanwhile, Dr ML Somchai Chakrabhan, the chief adviser to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, said that with effect from Thursday every part of marijuana is not considered a narcotic, except cannabis extracts with tetrahydrocannabinol exceeding 0.2 per cent of the weight.

He said the ministry has pushed for the use of marijuana for medical and health purposes, as well as adding value to the economy and generating more income for people.

“We are not promoting inappropriate use of cannabis,” he added.

The ministry has allowed the plant’s chemical content, cannabidiol, to be mixed in as many as 1,181 of cosmetic and food products as well as traditional herbal medicines, according to Somchai.

A 2021 research paper by the Bank of Ayudhya said Thailand’s marijuana market would be worth THB15 billion in 2026 and grow more than 17 per cent annually, with the potential to bring much more value to the country’s economy. About 70 per cent of the market would involve medical and health products.

The global market for legal cannabis is estimated to be worth over THB500 billion.

Published : June 09, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016475

The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) is seeking partners outside metropolitan areas to build its Volta charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs).

The authority said the project aims to expand its charging station network to all provinces, in line with the government’s policy to accelerate the use of EVs to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and slash pollution.

To become a PEA Volta partner, candidates only need to have a parking space for at least two vehicles with convenient access, and must be located outside Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.

The PEA will be responsible for construction and other investment, and share profits with partners.

The authority said it preferred shopping and community malls, supermarkets, hospitals, healthcare centres, airports, hotels, schools and other businesses to become Volta partners.

To apply, scan the QR code below or fill in the form at https://forms.gle/cnuJRaKaPkDQEcw1A.

The last date for applications is June 17.

Published : June 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016472

Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) next week to consider doing away with the Thailand Pass system once and for all.

Also, the plan to collect an entry fee of THB300 would be postponed as another measure to prevent foreign tourists from shying away from Thailand, the minister said.

Pipat said he would request the CCSA during a meeting on June 17 to terminate Thailand Pass once and for all to make it more convenient and more attractive for foreign tourists to visit the kingdom.

He would propose to the CCSA that foreign tourists should be freed from having to register for entry via the Thailand Pass website from July 1.

Thais returning from abroad have been freed from registering since June 1, but foreign tourists are still required to upload proof of Covid vaccinations and health insurance coverage.

“If the CCSA agrees to cancel Thailand Pass, it will be more convenient for foreign tourists to enter the country and they will no longer be required to purchase health insurance policies,” Pipat pointed out.

“This will attract more foreign tourists, especially those from neighbouring countries. More of them will cross the border to visit Thailand.”

Regarding the THB300 entry fee, Pipat said it might be collected from foreign tourists arriving by air in the fourth quarter this year or first quarter next year.

He said the tourism ministry will need two more months to study how to collect fees from tourists arriving by land or sea as they normally stay in Thailand for a shorter period than those arriving by air.

“It may not be fair to collect the same rate of THB300 from tourists who arrive by land or sea,” Pipat said.

He said when the ministry finishes the study, it would send its findings to the Cabinet for consideration. If approved, the fee rates would be enforced 90 days after they are published in the Royal Gazette.

Meanwhile, Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said TAT would meet with tourism operators on Friday to brainstorm areas on how travel restrictions can be further eased.

For example, they would be asked whether they want the Thailand Pass system to be scrapped and whether they want the face mask rule to be abolished.

Opinions would also be sought on whether tour operators want Immigration form 6 for foreigners to be scrapped as well.

The proposals would be sent to the CCSA for consideration, Yuthasak said.

TAT expects 7 to 10 million foreign arrivals and 160 million domestic trips this year with tourism revenue of THB1.5 trillion.

From January 1 to June 6, the number of foreign arrivals reached 1.4 million, Yuthasak noted.

He said TAT expects its Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2022 in Phuket to generate an income of THB1.29 billion from 8,900 business deals at the fair.

The event was held at Angsana Laguna Hotel from June 8 to 10. It was the first onsite tourism fair in two years since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.

Published : June 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016470

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) on Thursday began talks with a Chinese submarine builder to find a solution over the manufacturer’s failure to obtain German-made diesel engines as stipulated in the purchase contract.

The Navy will stick to its demand for MTU396 engines for its Yuan Class S26T submarine worth THB13.5 billion, while representatives from China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC) are expected to propose an alternative with comparable capacity, an informed source said.

The German government has prohibited the export of the engines to China because of their use for military purposes, as Germany is bound by a European Union arms embargo imposed on China in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square massacre.

The meeting had been postponed twice, in April and May, because of China’s strict Covid-19 restrictions.

Navy chief of staff Admiral Thalerngsak Sirisawat, who heads the submarine procurement committee, represents the RTN at the meeting, according to the source.

Technicians from the Royal Thai Navy Dockyard with expertise in MTU396 engines also will take part in the meeting to determine if the specifications of the CSOC’s proposed alternative engine was comparable to the MTU396.

The goal was to ensure maximum benefit for Thailand and safety for naval personnel, the source said.

The talks between the RTN and CSOC were expected to continue for longer than a day, the source said.

Published : June 09, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016469

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) on Thursday launched an online shop called “Awagad” (http://awagad.gistda.or.th/), where people who are interested in satellite imaging and the geographic information system (GIS) can shop for GIS-related images and maps.

The online shop has been set up under cooperation between the Thai space agency and the Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry in a bid to sell high-resolution satellite images, maps of flooded areas, thermal images of hotspots, maps of economic crop cultivation, maps of dust particles (PM2.5 and PM10) nationwide with complete statistics and updates every two weeks.

All physical products can be delivered to your doorstep (fees apply).

The Awagad shop also provides GIS-related services such as multimedia and podcasts that focus on space and GIS technology.

Furthermore, GISTDA is holding a promotional campaign from now until the year-end. Every item in the form of a digital file is priced at THB0. Just register and download your selected digital maps & satellite images for free.

For more information, visit facebook.com/gistda.

Published : June 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016468

A number of marijuana growers tried to register via the “Plookganja” application and website on Thursday but found both were down.

Thursday is the first day that cannabis and hemp have been declared legal to grow, except extracts with tetrahydrocannabinol of more than 0.2 per cent of the weight.

The public do not need to seek permission to grow the plants but they must register via the Food and Drug Administration’s Plookganja app or website http://plookganja.fda.moph.go.th.

However, a lot of people found it difficult to access the app and website, both of which were down.

To solve the problem, the FDA has opened another website for registration at https://plookganjaweb.fda.moph.go.th.

Published : June 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016467

Prisons nationwide have started releasing inmates who had been convicted in cases related to marijuana after the delisting of the plant from the narcotics list took effect on Thursday.

The Justice Ministry has ordered the Corrections Department to release 4,075 inmates convicted in marijuana cases, but only 3,071 could be freed on Thursday, as the 1,004 inmates still have to serve prison terms for other crimes.

Relatives of the inmates freed on Thursday went to the prisons to welcome them.

For example, relatives went to the Saraburi Prison to welcome four male inmates and a woman inmate released on Thursday.

There were eight inmates serving terms of marijuana cases at the prison but three other male inmates could not be released as they have to serve terms for other convictions as well.

The Justice Ministry also announced that the THB110 million in frozen money of the inmates would be returned to the owner along with 16,030 kilograms of seized marijuana.

The ministry said all 7,488 marijuana cases in court would also be dismissed along with all cases pending investigations by police.

Published : June 09, 2022

By : THE NATION