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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403586

Thai consumers getting more financially savvy in Covid era, study finds

NationalMar 11. 2021

By The Nation

More Thai consumers are focusing on their financial health during the Covid-19 pandemic compared to their Asean counterparts, the UOB Asean Consumer Sentiment study showed.

The study found that three in four Thai consumers (72 per cent) want to manage their financial health, ahead of respondents in Malaysia (70 per cent), Vietnam (69 per cent), Indonesia (60 per cent) and Singapore (46 per cent).

Sixty-four per cent of Thai respondents also said they have changed the way they manage and track their personal budgets to maintain financial discipline in the Covid-19 era.

Of the Thai consumers, millennials (66 per cent) have made the most significant shift in tightening their budgets and are keeping a closer eye on their spending. More than three in four (76 per cent) of millennials also say they are using digital platforms and tools to help them look after their finances more effectively.

This trend was most visible among users of TMRW, Asean’s first mobile-only bank powered by UOB. Last year, the number of TMRW customers who actively tapped the platform’s AI-driven Smart Insights to keep track of and to manage better their finances grew by four times. Each Smart Insight is personalised to the customer as it is based on his or her transaction data. Through TMRW, customers can set a budget for their monthly expenses and receive alerts when their spending reaches their pre-set limit.

In addition to reshaping the financial behaviour of Thai consumers, the pandemic has also influenced their financial aspirations. The study found that more than half of Thai consumers (52 per cent) re-calibrated their financial portfolio to grow their savings pot during the pandemic. Savings accounted for 40 per cent of change in holdings followed by fixed deposits (39 per cent) and insurance plans (36 per cent). A third of Thai respondents (36 per cent) also said that they had increased their investments during the pandemic.

Yuttachai Teyarachakul, managing director and country head of UOB Thailand’s personal financial services, said: “The study shows that Thai consumers are turning this crisis into an opportunity to fortify their financial health so that they can stay resilient and emerge stronger from the pandemic. At UOB Thailand, we stand ready to help our customers build and grow their wealth sustainably through our deep expertise in wealth advisory and our holistic suite of personal financial solutions.”

The UOB Asean Consumer Sentiment Study aims to understand Asean consumers better as the region undergoes a profound social and economic transformation. More than 3,500 respondents from five Asean countries participated in the study, including more than 600 Thai respondents.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403584

Thai Embassy in Myanmar calls for ‘peaceful resolution’ as deadly crackdown intensifies

NationalMar 11. 2021

By The Nation

The Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon has called for a “de-escalation of the situation in Myanmar” amid reports of more killings in the crackdown on anti-coup protests.

“As a next-door neighbour sharing a long common border with Myanmar … Thailand continues to follow developments in Myanmar with much concern,” read a statement posted on the embassy’s Facebook account on Thursday.

“As with other countries, we are saddened by the loss of lives and sufferings of the people of Myanmar due to escalating violence in the country,” it continued.

The statement was issued amid reports of at least one death in Mandalay and one in Yangon on Thursday afternoon, as security forces continued a crackdown that has claimed dozens of lives since a military coup against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.

The Thai Embassy said it “reiterates the statements made by Brunei Darussalam as Asean chair [on February 1 and March 2], which called on all sides in Myanmar to exercise utmost restraint as well as flexibility”.

“We call for de-escalation of the situation and release of detainees. We also urge all parties concerned to seek a peaceful solution for Myanmar and its people through dialogue via any constructive channels.”

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 1,900 people have been arrested across the country since the coup.

“Thailand supports Asean’s readiness to assist Myanmar, an Asean family member, in a positive, peaceful and constructive manner,” the Embassy statement added.

On Thursday, Amnesty International reported evidence that the regime was deploying semi-automatic rifles, sniper rifles and light machine guns in increasing numbers against protesters.

“Make no mistake, we are in a deadly new phase of the crisis,” said the rights group.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403583

Easing of measures has boosted confidence in retail industry

NationalMar 11. 2021

By The Nation

Thailand’s Retail Sentiment Index surged by 43 per cent in February compared to January, thanks to the government’s moves to ease Covid-related restrictions.

The Thai Retailers Association and Bank of Thailand conducted an online survey from February 15 to 23 on over 27,000 retailers nationwide, the association’s chairman Yol Phokasub said.

“Same-store sales, spending per bill and frequency of shopping rose month on month,” he said.

Consumer traffic and purchasing power also increased as people’s uncertainty over Covid-19 infections eased and many retail stores reopened.

“Confidence in restaurants, food and beverage stores also increased, pushing up the average sales value,” he said.

He called on the government to boost retailers’ liquidity by reducing taxes, granting soft loans and offering hourly employment.

“We expect retailers to be able to run their businesses for six months based on their remaining cash in hand,” he added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403582

New Lumpini boxing stadium reopens with match on Saturday

NationalMar 11. 2021

By The Nation

Lumpini boxing stadium will reopen on Saturday (March 13) under a new name, the Army announced on Thursday.

The Bangkok stadium will relaunch as the Royal Thai Army Sports Development Centre (Lumpini Muay Thai Centre). The Army-run sports facility has been upgraded with an exercise area for soldiers and the general public, a competition stadium, muay Thai school, and muay Thai museum for both Thais and foreigners, said Army spokesman Santipong Thammapiya.

Boxing tournaments at the stadium will be held without spectators to comply with the government’s Covid-19 restrictions. The tournaments will be broadcast live online and on the Army’s Channel 5 TV station every Tuesday and Friday from 8.30pm to 10.30pm and Saturday from 2pm-4pm. PPTV channel will also broadcast the fights live on Saturday from 4pm-6 pm.

The first boxing matches at the reopened stadium will be televised on PPTV from 4 pm-6pm this Saturday.

Lumpini Boxing stadium was closed on March 14 last year after a tournament with around 2,500 spectators generated one of the largest Covid-19 cluster infections seen in Thailand. The Army general in charge of the stadium was transferred for allowing the event to go ahead in defiance of disease-control restrictions.

The stadium was closed during the second-wave virus outbreak beginning mid-December before restrictions were lifted on March 1.

Changes at the stadium are also part of a major overhaul of Army recreational facilities ordered after the mass shooting by a soldier in Nakhon Ratchasima last year. The shooting, by a soldier disgruntled over a barracks business deal gone sour, claimed 31 lives.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403578

More than Bt8 billion injected in schemes to help farmers: Govt House

NationalMar 11. 2021

By The Nation

The government has spent more than Bt8.3 billion on two farmer aid schemes in a bid to help rice farmers nationwide, the Thai Khu Fah Facebook page said on Thursday.

The Thai Khu Fah page is run by Government House.

The state allocated Bt3.83 billion to support more than 110,000 households in the rice farmers’ income guarantee scheme. The government has spent Bt46.8 billion on the rice farmers’ income guarantee schemes, so far.

The state has also earmarked Bt4.50 billion for farmers who agree to delay selling off their paddy. Payments under this scheme are made based on two regulations:

• Farmers who store their paddy in their barn get Bt1,500 per tonne.

• Farmers who sell their paddy to farming cooperatives get Bt500 per tonne, while the cooperative gets Bt1,000 per tonne.

Meanwhile, farmers now have until March 31 to take special loans, while those in the South can do so until July 31.

The government has spent Bt19.82 billion on loans for farmers who have agreed to delay paddy sales so far.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403577

Police arrest 12 in raid on online gambling business

NationalMar 11. 2021

By THE NATION

The Police Cyber Taskforce on Wednesday raided a house in Soi Puttanawithi of Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district after a tip-off that it was being used as the base of a gambling website called “DDPoker”.

Police arrested 12 suspects at the site, five of whom are Chinese nationals and the rest Thai. The house was being used as the office of a company called NUTS GAME-TH.

“We found that the suspects registered an online gaming company as a front for an online gambling operation,” said Pol Lt-General Preecha Charoensahayanon, deputy director of the taskforce. “The company is owned by a Chinese national residing in Hong Kong, while his Thai girlfriend was named managing director and administrator of the website.”

Police also confiscated several computers, laptops, 22 bank passbooks, Bt100,000 cash, five cars and two motorcycles. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the website, which has more than 170,000 visitors per month, has been circulating at least Bt30 million per month,” Preecha added. “We also found evidence of several million baht being transferred to a bank account in Hong Kong.”

Police will follow the money trail to uncover other related operations both in Thailand and overseas.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403576

Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi may reopen to foreign tourists without quarantine before October

NationalMar 11. 2021

By The Nation

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is discussing reopening three Andaman provinces – Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi – to foreign tourists without quarantine in a “sandbox” project before the country’s full reopening scheduled for October.

Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed that his team had discussed the possibility with governors and tourism businesses in the three southern provinces.

Thailand and other countries are negotiating the possibility of a “city-to-city” or “island-to-island” travel bubble so that vaccinated tourists visiting the kingdom can visit designated Thai cities or islands without the need for quarantine.

This process will be submitted to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration to consider on March 19.

If approved, the sandbox model will go ahead in the three southern provinces first because all three generated income of Bt600 billion, accounting for around one-fifth, or Bt3 trillion, of total countrywide tourism revenue in 2019, with Phuket alone earning Bt470 billion and Krabi Bt100 billion.

Sandbox models can be started under the condition that 70 per cent of the people in each area have been vaccinated.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry has discussed the issue with the Public Health Ministry, requesting that residents in the three provinces be vaccinated. Some 3 million vaccine doses will be needed for the purpose.

“According to the timeline set by the government, foreigners will be allowed to travel to Thailand [later this year] without quarantine. But we want to do it faster. We hope this can be done starting with Phuket in July under the condition that at least 70 per cent of its population is vaccinated – a requirement of 900,000 doses for 450,000 people,” Phiphat said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403575

58 new cases reported, Samut Sakhon leads list again

NationalMar 11. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday reported 58 new cases, four of whom are returnees and one an illegal migrant arrested at the Thai-Myanmar border.

Seventeen of the cases were exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Samut Sakhon leads the list with 12 patients, followed by two in Bangkok and one each on Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nonthaburi and Ratchaburi.

Proactive testing led to 36 cases, 26 of which were found in Samut Sakhon (23 Myanmar citizens and three Thais) and 10 in Bangkok (one Thai, one Cambodian, one Algerian and seven Myanmar citizens).

Of the travellers found infected, three are Thais returning from Japan, the United States and the United Arab Emirates as well as a Canadian passport holder who flew in from Indonesia.

One Myanmar national who was arrested on March 3 for illegally crossing the border in Prachuap Khiri Khan province tested positive on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 54 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Thursday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 26,598. Of these, 23,710 had been contracted locally, including 14,758 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,888 were returnees. So far, 26,000 have recovered and been discharged, 513 patients are still being treated and the death toll remains at 85.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 118.63 million (up by 461,335), 94.24 million have recovered, 21.76 million are active cases (89,790 in severe condition) and 2.63 million have died (up by 9,948).

Thailand ranks 116th on the global list of most cases, which is led by the US with 29.86 million, followed by India at 11.28 million, Brazil 11.2 million, Russia 4.35 million and the United Kingdom 4.23 million.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403570

New passport fees take effect

NationalMar 11. 2021

By THE NATION

The Royal Gazette website on Wednesday published an announcement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry regarding the new fee rate for making a passport.

The announcement, signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai on February 23, stipulates the new fee rate will be effective from March 11.

Here are the new rates:

• Bt500 for making a 3-year passport

• Bt1,000 for a 5-year passport

• Bt1,500 for a 10-year passport

• Bt1,000 for issuing an official passport

• In case a passport is needed urgently (on the same day), applicants must pay an additional Bt2,000.

• Bt200 for issuing an emergency passport

• Bt100 for passport endorsement

• Bt100 for a copy of passport holding history

The Foreign Affairs Ministry will exercise its discretion on whether to wave the fee for urgent or emergency passports due to humanitarian or government-related reasons.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403563

Raised speed limit of 120 km/hr now in effect

NationalMar 11. 2021

By THE NATION

The Royal Gazette website on Wednesday published a transport ministerial regulation raising the speed limit on four lane highways or more from a maximum 90 km/hour to 120 km/hour.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said last month that “the new speed limit aimed to facilitate traffic flow in accordance with current traffic conditions while ensuring road users’ convenience and safety”.

The increased speed limit is applicable for roads/highways that have four or more lanes (two lanes for each direction, divided by median barriers) in a straight section with no intersections or U-turns at road level.

The speed limit for each type of vehicle is:

> Vehicles with less than 7 seats: maximum 120 km/hr

> Vehicles in the rightmost lane: minimum 100 km/hr

> Passenger vehicles of over 7 seats but less than 15 seats: maximum 100 km/hr

> Vehicles with more than 15 seats or weighing over 2,200 kilograms: maximum 90 km/hr

> Tricycles and tow trucks: maximum 65 km/hr

> Motorcycles: maximum 80 km/hr

> Motorcycles with engines of 400cc or more: maximum 100 km/hr

> School buses: maximum 80 km/hr.

In case highways/roads have traffic signs indicating minimum and maximum speeds, vehicle users must maintain speeds within this range, except for when it cannot be done due to traffic conditions or other appropriate reasons.