Though the country is reopening on November 1 after a long Covid-induced hiatus, Pathum Thani’s Dream World amusement park is complaining that “staff have been vaccinated, but no reopening plan has been announced”.
The amusement park was closed under the government for around six months, from April 27, 2021.
On Wednesday, Dream World posted a picture of a staff with innumerable hypodermic syringes on his left arm, captioning that “staff have been vaccinated, but no reopening plan has been announced”.
The leaders of the three nations convened on Thursday for the 13th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) summit held virtually.
The main subject on the agenda was dealing with the Covid-19 fallout. Meanwhile, Thailand said it was reinforcing the transformation of tourism, agriculture and halal industries in a bid to boost trade and investment among the three members.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha joined the IMT-GT Summit meeting through a virtual platform. The meeting was chaired by Malaysia Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, with the attendances of Indonesia President Joko Widodo, Secretary-General of Asean Dato Lim Jock Hoi and Ahmed M. Saeed, Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific of Asian Development Bank.
During the meeting, the Malaysian Prime Minister, as chairman of the summit, said that he was confident that the members will be able to carry out the development of the IMT-GT strategies with potential under the pandemic situation. He was also confident that this sub-regional cooperation will benefit all parties, while climate change must also be taken into account.
Indonesia President proposed that infrastructure development should be accelerated, such as road and port development. He also said that the sub-region should develop high-level and sustainable infrastructure, especially digital agriculture, and accelerate the transition to the digital economy.
As for the Thai Prime Minister, Prayut proposed the meeting to transform the three strong industries which are the tourism, agricultural and halal industries.
Prayut discusses post-Covid plans with Indonesian, Malaysian counterparts
He also proposed three factors to support the key industries of IMT-GT. The first factor is the seamless communication network which should be included in Physical Connectivity Projects (PCPs). The regulatory linkage is a second factor where there should be an acceleration in the signing of a framework for cooperation on Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ). The third factor is to enhance environmental sustainability by developing projects under environmental cooperation which corresponds to Thailand’s Bio, Circular and Green (BCG) economic model.
Prayut emphasised that the next phase of the IMT-GT will not only approach the vision of 2036 and the development goals of the members. But it must be in line with the goals of the United Nations SDGs which cover economic, social and environmental dimensions, said the Thai premier.
Truck operators will intensify their protest from November 1 in a bid to have the government address the issue of rising fuel prices.
Apichart Pairoonrueng, president of the Land Transport Association of Thailand, said the government has not responded to their petition or taken any steps to deal with the rising price of fuel. The petition, submitted on October 18, gave the government seven days to address the problem.
However, he said, since nothing has been done, 20 per cent of the 400,000 trucks operating in the country, or 80,000 trucks, will go on strike.
He said action has to be taken because truck operators cannot suffer losses any longer. He added that all logistics companies have been informed of the strike’s necessity and they understand.
Apichart added that the protest will intensify even further on November 16 and thousands of trucks will be brought into Bangkok if the government does nothing to help.
He said in this leg of the protest, trucks will be driven down Bangkok streets at a snail’s pace from 10am to 3pm.
Truckers threaten strikes from Nov 1 if govt does nothing over rising fuel prices
Truckers threaten strikes from Nov 1 if govt does nothing over rising fuel pricesTruckers threaten strikes from Nov 1 if govt does nothing over rising fuel prices
Despite flying out on Tuesday, Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe continues playing the part of Thailand’s “tourism ambassador”.
He recently tweeted: “November 1st travel to Thailand opens up for double vaccinated travellers from 46 countries with a minimal quarantine process. It’s a beautiful, interesting, exciting place. The people are warm and welcoming. If you have been locked down, isolated, quarantined etc. TRAVEL IS BACK.”
Many Thai netizens were touched by Crowe’s continued support, and some even dubbed him “Mr Tourism Ambassador for Thailand”.
Crowe blew up the Thai Twitter scene with complimentary comments since his arrival in Phuket on September 18. He was here to film the Vietnam War-era blockbuster, “The Greatest Beer Run Ever”.
Crowe’s tweets, such as his capture of the capital’s messy wires tagged “Bangkok Dreaming” and a snap with his “buddy” the monitor lizard, went viral among netizens in Thailand.
The Australian actor was also handed flowers and gifts by Culture Minister Ittipol Khunpluem as a gesture of appreciation for helping promote Thailand.
Crowe bid farewell to Thailand on Tuesday (October 26) with the Twitter post: “Goodbye Bangkok. Stay happy and busy and beautiful”. Attached were pictures he had taken during a recent bicycle trip around the capital’s Phasi Charoen district.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said on Friday that 27 international flights are set to land in Thailand from November 1 to 5.
The country is reopening on Monday to three types of tourists, namely double jabbed visitors from 46 countries and territories, fully jabbed tourists allowed to travel in the 17-province “blue zone” and tourists who agree to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
CAAT said the 27 flights are scheduled to land in both Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket International Airport and will deliver 15,230 passengers.
The airlines include Korean Air, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Singapore Airlines, KLM, Air India, Edelweiss Air, Lufthansa, Air France, Etihad Airways among others.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said Thailand was ready to welcome tourists, especially those who come by air. CAAT has been instructed to release guidelines on entering and exiting the country in different languages and ensure the regulations are announced onboard every flight heading to the country.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Thursday that he respected YG Entertainment’s decision to reject his invitation and not let K-pop star Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban lead the New Year countdown in Phuket.
Lalisa is the only Thai member of the K-pop band, Blackpink.
“We hope we can still work with Lisa in the future,” he said. “As for the world-class tenor Andrea Bocelli, negotiations are ongoing.
“TAT will invite local singers and celebrities to lead the Phuket New Year countdown instead,” he added.
“We are also planning to hold the ‘Reopen Thailand: Culture and Tourism Festival’ in the 17 ‘blue zone’ provinces that will be opened to vaccinated foreign tourists from November 1.”
Phuket NY countdown to go ahead despite rejection by Lisa Blackpink
Yuthasak explained that the festival is being launched to promote local culture, food, handicrafts and tourist attractions to help stimulate the tourism industry that has been hurt badly by the Covid-19 crisis.
Meanwhile, a source from the Government House said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was disappointed that YG Entertainment had turned down TAT’s invitation, but said “it’s understandable as she is extremely popular and may have already been booked by others”.
Prayut added that the Phuket countdown should feature performers known internationally as the sandbox scheme is aimed at attracting foreign tourists.
“However, I have instructed TAT to add shows that highlight culture from all five regions of the country to promote tourism in other provinces,” he was quoted as saying.
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has predicted three scenarios of Covid-19 situation in Thailand after the country will reopen 17 tourist provinces to vaccinated foreign visitors from November 1 onward.
Under the plan, visitors travelling by air from 46 countries have that a low level of Covid-19 infections will not have to quarantine, but they must prove they have received both jabs of an approved Covid-19 vaccine for at least 14 days as well as produce a negative RT-PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before flying.
“The first and best scenario is called the ‘green scenario’, when the chance of virus spreading from an infected patient to another person was lowered by 25 per cent comparing to the pre-lockdown period,” said Dr Chawetsan Namwat, director of the DDC’s emergency disease and health hazards control division. “In this scenario, number of daily infections will gradually decrease to around 5,000 people per day. To reach this result, the strict Covid-19 measures must be employed while the vaccination rate from October to December must meet the target.”
“The orange scenario, or when the chance of virus spreading reduced by 15 per cent comparing to the pre-lockdown period, will result in slightly reduced daily infection rate,” he added. “This scenario can be achieved by closing high-risk venues and banning public assembly and alcoholic beverages in restaurants. The vaccination rate from October to December must also meet the target.”
“Lastly, the grey scenario will happen if the chance of virus spreading could not be reduced to abovementioned levels and vaccination rate from October to December misses the target,” said Chawetsan. “This will result in rising infection rate to the same level as pre-lockdown period, while number of daily infections could reach 10,000 people.”
“Please note that number of infections are not the only factor that determine the severity of outbreak situation. We must also consider the readiness of public health system in treating Covid-19 patients,” Chawetsan pointed out.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Friday (October 29) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 8,968 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 190 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 64, while 8,747 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,893,941 with 19,070 total deaths.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Friday (October 29) that the high-pressure system covers upper Thailand and the South China Sea while the easterly and southeasterly winds prevail over the upper country. Thundershowers are likely over upper Thailand with isolated heavy rain in the lower North and the upper Central.
Meanwhile, the easterly and the northeasterly winds prevail across the Gulf and the South, causing isolated heavy rain in the South.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:
North: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees and highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees and highs of 28-32 degrees Celsius.
Central: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius.
East: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and over 1 meter during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 20-26 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and over 1 meter during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius.
The foreign business confidence index in the third quarter was 41.7, an improvement but still below the 50 mark, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce president Thanawat Phonwichai said on Thursday.
The chamber had conducted a survey of 66 foreign chambers of commerce from 29 countries during the August-October period, divided into Asia at 48.4 per cent, Europe 40.6, North America 4.7, South America 3.1, Africa 1.6 and Australia and the Pacific Islands 1.6.
The opinion survey found that the Thai economic situation was still at a “bad level”, whether it was purchasing power, foreign investment, the tourism situation, or industry, trade, and services performance.
However, foreign investors believe Thailand’s economic situation in the next three months, or the 4th quarter, will improve after lockdowns have been relaxed and the country reopens from November 1.
But foreign businessmen said they wanted the Thai government to have a clear plan in controlling Covid-19 and providing vaccines to residents more quickly, policies to provide subsidies to businesses and SMEs affected by the pandemic and to fix “complex rules” for investments so that the process is modern and simplified, including the process of obtaining visas and work permits, besides further easing Covid measures to make business operations more convenient.
Reopening Dream World still a distant illusion
Prayut discusses post-Covid plans with Indonesian, Malaysian counterparts
Truckers threaten strikes from Nov 1 if govt does nothing over rising fuel prices
Truckers threaten strikes from Nov 1 if govt does nothing over rising fuel prices
Truckers threaten strikes from Nov 1 if govt does nothing over rising fuel prices
Phuket NY countdown to go ahead despite rejection by Lisa Blackpink
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