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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013682

Tourism and Sports Ministry will propose removing all travel restrictions on June 1 if the Covid-19 situation improves.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said if the number of Covid-19 cases does not increase over Songkran next month, the ministry will ask the Cabinet and Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to allow foreign arrivals to take ATK tests on the first and the fifth days of their trips from May 1 onwards.

“If the government approves [this move] and the situation improves further, the ministry will propose lifting all travel restrictions on June 1,” he said, adding that this means fully vaccinated foreign tourists would be able to enter Thailand freely.

Meanwhile from April 1, travellers entering Thailand under the Test & Go scheme will no longer be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken in the 72 hours before departure, according to a CCSA announcement on March 18. However, they must still book a hotel plus RT-PCR test on the first day of arrival and take a rapid antigen test (ATK) on the fifth day.

Phiphat said the timeline for lifting restrictions would facilitate tourists, stimulate the economy and comply with the Public Health Ministry’s policy of switching from pandemic to endemic in July.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013674

The Transport Ministry will seek Cabinet approval next month to put the Udon Thani, Buri Ram and Krabi airports under the jurisdiction of Airports of Thailand (AOT).

The three airports are currently overseen by the Transport Ministry’s Department of Airports.

“The aim is to assign all responsibility of managing regional airports to AOT to ensure seamless operation and to turn them into regional hubs instead of just local airports,” Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Monday.

“Apart from overseeing operations, AOT will also be responsible for managing the airports’ property [land and buildings], assets [personnel and equipment], licence registration and budget disbursement.”

The ministry expects Udon Thani and Krabi airports to be transferred over to AOT by August, with Buri Ram airport in September.

The ministry is hoping the transfer of these three airports will improve the national airport system, reduce redundancy in administration, create more regional hubs and ease the flight congestion in Bangkok.

AOT currently only manages six key airports in the country, namely Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok, and the ones in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Phuket.

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Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013675

Environmental groups on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against three government agencies – the Industry Ministry, National Resources and Environment Ministry and National Environmental Board (NEB) – accusing them of failing to protect citizens’ right to clean air.

The lawsuit came after Greenpeace and the Environmental Law Foundation (EnLAW) sent a letter to the two ministries on January 17, demanding they take action against PM2.5 by implementing the 2019 national agenda on “Solving the Problem of Particulate Matter”.

The lawsuit, which was co-signed by the Rural Doctors Society (RDS), also demanded that the government amend Thailand’s pollution control regulations in line with international standards.

The World Health Organisation recommends that PM2.5 should not exceed 15 micrograms (mcg) per millilitre of air for more than 4 days per year. Thailand, however, sets this level at 50mcg.

Meanwhile, the US, Japan, South Korea, European countries, Singapore and Malaysia set the safe level at 35-37mcg.

“The ambient air standard for PM2.5 in Thailand remains too high and nearly five times higher than the new guideline recommended by the World Health Organisation,” said Dr Suphat Hasuwankit, president of the Rural Doctors Society and a co-plaintiff. “It is terrible pollution that affects public health,” he added.

The environmental groups also demanded that the NEB and Environment Ministry announce or amend limits on industrial PM2.5 emission as required by Thai law. Meanwhile the Industry Ministry must add PM2.5 to the list of polluting emissions that industrial facilities are required to publicly disclose, they said.

The groups also accused the government of reinforcing inequality by focusing its pollution-control efforts on the capital rather than other provinces.

For instance, 74 large air quality meters have been set up in Bangkok and its surrounding areas compared to just 16 in the Northeast.

Also, government efforts to tackle air pollution were focused on the agricultural sector and communities near forests rather than the industrial sector and cities, added the groups.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013673

Eight rare Irrawaddy dolphins were spotted frolicking in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Trat’s Laem Ngop district on Monday.

Sangsuree Songtong, chief of Trat Marine National Park Operation Centre 4, said the dolphins were possibly hunting for food in the area.

The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is a species of oceanic dolphin found in scattered subpopulations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia.

Although found in much of the riverine and marine zones of South and Southeast Asia, the only concentrated populations are in Chilika Lake in the Indian state of Odisha and in Songkhla Lake in southern Thailand.

Some Irrawaddy dolphin sub-populations are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered, such as in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam (Mekong River), Indonesia (Mahakam River, Borneo), Myanmar (Ayeyarwady/Irrawaddy River), the Philippines (Malampaya Sound), and Thailand (Songkhla Lake).

In 2004, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) shifted the Irrawaddy dolphin from Appendix II to Appendix I, which forbids all commercial trade in species that are threatened with extinction.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013669

Tickets for a historic steam train ride from Bangkok to Ayutthaya on Saturday (March 26) to celebrate the State Railway of Thailand (SRT)’s birthday have sold out, the SRT said on Monday.

However, travellers who are eager to experience the romance of rail travel in bygone days still have five more chances to book a seat.

“If you didn’t get your tickets for March 26, there will be other five occasions that you can book a trip on steam locomotive from the World War II era. Be sure to make your reservation early next time,” said SRT Public Relations Centre director Ekarat Sriarayanphong.

SRT organises the following six steam train services to mark special occasions every year.

– March 26: SRT’s Foundation Day, Bangkok-Ayutthaya route

– June 3: HM Queen Suthida’s birthday, Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom

– July 28: HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s birthday, Bangkok-Ayutthaya

– August 12: HM Queen Sirikit’s birthday and National Mother’s Day, Bangkok-Chachoengsao

– October 23: King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day, Bangkok-Ayutthaya

– December 5: HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday and National Father’s Day, Bangkok-Chachoengsao

Ekarat said that the historic trip this Saturday will celebrate SRT’s 125th anniversary since its foundation by royal decree of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1897. The steam train will leave Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok at 8.10am and arrive at Ayutthaya station around 10.25am. Passengers will be given six hours to visit attractions in Ayutthaya province, before the train leaves for Bangkok at 4.40pm, arriving at Hua Lamphong at 6.55pm. The train will also stop at Samsen, Bang Sue, Laksi, Donmueang, and Rangsit to pick up/let off passengers.

“To prevent the spread of Covid-19, all passengers must be vaccinated with at least two doses and provide a negative ATK test taken within 72 hours of departure,” said Ekarat.

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SRT offers 30-trip discounted card for Dark Red Line commuters

SRT marks Father’s Day with special trip to Ayutthaya on WWII steam locomotives

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Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013667

Betong tourism operators will offer discounts on hotel rooms and food when travellers show their boarding pass, in a bid to kickstart Thailand’s newest airport.

The move comes after Nok Air suspended services to Betong Airport last week, just two days after it opened, following low demand. Tourism operators reportedly want Nok Air to cut its ticket prices and restore Bangkok-Betong flights by April 1. Nok Air is the only airline that flies to Betong Airport, which was built to boost tourism and trade in the southernmost border provinces.

The discount plan was proposed on Monday as operators met to discuss how to get local tourism back on track. Betong Mayor Sakul Lenglakkul chaired the meeting.

Narin Ruengwongsa, vice president of the Betong Tourism Association, said that local hotel operators planned to offer 30 to 40 per cent discounts to travellers with boarding passes. Restaurants and cafes would offer 10 to 20 per cent discounts, he added.

Meanwhile the Tourism Authority of Thailand office in neighbouring Narathiwat province said travellers would get a Bt100 discount for every Bt500 food purchase at participating restaurants until June 15.

Betong Municipality is also promoting local attractions and holding various activities in a bid to lure tourists.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013666

Next month’s Songkran festival will be a breeding ground for the dangerous dengue type-2 virus, which produces symptoms similar to Covid-19, health officials warned on Monday.

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) said three people have already died from the mosquito-borne virus in the first three months of this year, compared to six fatalities in the whole of last year.

Dengue fever outbreaks usually occur about once every two years, so Thailand is due to be hit by a wave of the virus this year.

“We have not suffered a full-scale outbreak of dengue fever for two years, which means Thais are now at their lowest immunity against the disease,” explained DDC director-general Dr Opas Kankawinpong.

The DDC said cases of dengue fever would rise after the Songkran festival in April, driven by dengue type-2, a dangerous variant that causes severe symptoms and a high mortality rate.

“The initial symptoms of dengue fever are similar to those of Covid-19,” said Opas. “Now that Covid-19 is spreading in all regions of Thailand, it may be hard for patients and health professionals to differentiate between the two diseases.

“If you have high fever, runny nose, sore throat, or muscle aches, please see a doctor to get a blood test for dengue fever. Many people with these symptoms think that they have Covid-19 and therefore only get the coronavirus test,” he said.

A patient can have both Covid-19 and dengue fever at the same time, and both diseases can be found in all age groups, he added.

Opas said most Covid-19 patients will eventually develop respiratory symptoms, while dengue patients will often lose their appetite and feel nauseous as the disease progresses.

The DDC advised people to use mosquito nets and rid their properties of any rainwater trapped in puddles or containers to reduce the chance of being bitten by dengue-infected mosquitos.

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Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013658

The Commerce Ministry has warned online shopping and food delivery platforms not to raise their fees, as the global energy crisis drives up the cost of living in Thailand.

The ministry’s Department of Internal Trade (DIT) recently held talks with operators of Shopee, Lazada, Grab Food, Lineman, Foodpanda, Robinhood, and AirAsia Food over concerns that delivery fees will increase in line with the rising fuel price.

“After the talks, all operators insisted that they have not raised the delivery fees and have no plan to do so in the near future,” DIT director-general Wattanasak Sueaiam said on Monday

Wattanasak said he told operators not to raise delivery fees during the current period as the energy price crisis and the spread of Covid-19 meant more people were relying on delivery services.

He also said that platforms must clearly display their product prices, specifications, delivery fees, and any other other fees that will be charged upon delivery. Failure to do so was a violation of Price of Goods and Services Act, punishable by a fine of up to Bt10,000, he warned

“To report unfair price adjustment or any offence relating to product pricing, quality or quantity, contact the Department of Internal Trade’s 1569 hotline or the provincial Commerce office in your area,” he added.

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Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013652

Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday (March 22) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 21,382 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 58 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 83, while 24,824 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,175,357.
 

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013650

The Thailand Consumer Council called on the Energy Ministry on Monday to put the brakes on the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat)’s plan to implement a higher “float time or FT” rate as it will “unnecessarily” push up household electricity bills.

The Energy Regulatory Commission recently approved Egat’s proposal to increase the FT rate from 0.0139 baht to 0.2477 to calculate power bills from May to August. Egat’s reasoning for this is the surge in energy prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The council, however, said this FT increase would push the base power rate from 3.76 baht to 4 baht per unit and add more burden on the public.

The council also blamed Egat’s mismanagement for this push to increase the rate. It pointed out that because of mismanagement, Egat produces 46,136.4 megawatts of energy per year, even though Thailand’s yearly requirement is just 30,000MW based on average power consumption from 2019 to 2021.

Hence, it said, Egat has an excess of 10,000MW every year, which is more than 50 per cent of the country’s power reserves when actually it should have no more than 15 per cent.

Due to this huge amount of excess power, Egat has to pay 49 billion baht a year in standby fees to large private power generators, it said.

The group also asked why the burden of Egat’s policy of buying electricity from small power plants should become a burden on consumers. Egat apparently purchases 18.014 billion units of power every year from small power plants at 4 baht per unit.

The group alleged that it is these unnecessary expenses that have led to a higher FT rate.

Separately, the consumer council said the government should provide soft loans so people can install their own solar power systems to save on utility bills. It also said that Egat should extend the period for buying back power from households to 20 or 25 years from 10 years.

As for Egat’s plans to buy power from large private operators set to build power plants both inside and outside Thailand, the group said the Energy Ministry should put a halt to it.

As for the rate paid to private power generators, the group said Egat should be told to restructure its natural gas cost calculation system so the price can be brought down.

Published : March 21, 2022

By : THE NATION