PM2.5 pollution in eight Bangkok districts exceeds safety level
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2022
Eight Bangkok districts, on Tuesday, were found to have PM2.5 pollutants higher than the prescribed safe levels, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported.
The Air Quality and Noise Management Division of the provincial administration reported that Nong Khaem, Klong Sam Wa, Nong Chok, Yan Nawa, Bueng Kum, Thawi Watthana, Prawet and Khan Na Yao districts were found to have hazardous levels of particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller at 7am.
The division reported on its web page at 7am that the dust measured at air quality stations in the eight districts fluctuated between 29 to 59 micrograms per cubic metre of air while the safety level is 50mcg per cubic metre.
The division said the poor air quality might continue until Friday because of a high-pressure mass covering the upper part of the country and Bangkok.
Public Health Ministry urged to okay budget amid fear over universal coverage
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2022
The Rural Doctor Society has urged Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to end delays in signing next year’s universal health coverage (UHC) budget guidelines, warning full coverage for Thais is at risk.
Writing on Facebook, the group said the budget announcement usually comes before October 1 and last year was signed on September 9.
This year’s announcement on the disease-prevention budget has been delayed for a month already, despite approval of the budget in September by the National Health Security Office (NHSO), it said on Sunday.
The group said the delay came after Anutin’s advisory team proposed that the budget be spent only on gold card holders.
It added that, as in previous years, the budget should be spent on all three of Thailand’s UHC schemes – the government officials’ scheme, social security, and the gold card scheme.
It urged Anutin to listen to the schemes’ operators and ensure that the budget was spread to cover all health welfare recipients in Thailand.
The NHSO board on Monday voted to confirm that Anutin could sign off on next year’s budget guidelines without asking the Council of State (government lawyers) or the Secretariat of the Cabinet.
It also agreed with the Budget Bureau’s remark to the Cabinet that next year’s budget for disease prevention must cover all groups of people.
“All Thais should have the right to medical treatment,” the Rural Doctor Society said, adding that this principle should not be neglected.
China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam line up bilateral talks with Thailand during Apec Summit
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2022
The leaders of China, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam will attend the Apec Summit in Bangkok next week with their full delegations and will hold bilateral talks with the Thai government on the sidelines of the summit, a top official said on Monday.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said leaders of the three Apec members will arrive with their full delegations for the summit and also hold talks with the Prayut administration at Government House.
The spokesman said 15 Apec members have confirmed that their leaders would be attending the summit on November 18-19, while the United States, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico and Taiwan will send representatives.
The spokesman said Russia has yet to confirm whether its president Vladimir Putin would attend the summit.
Apec activities would start from November 14 with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha presiding over the opening ceremony of the Bio-Circular-Green economy concept, the spokesman added.
The spokesman said the Bangkok summit is very significant because it would be the first summit in three years with the physical presence of Apec leaders since the Covid pandemic.
He said the government has made adequate preparations and more than 90 per cent of the work has been done with full security measures in place and rehearsals being held.
Apart from the Apec Summit, Prayut will attend the Asean Summit in Cambodia from November 10 to 13. On the sidelines of the Asean Summit, Prayut will hold a meeting of the tripartite economic development plan of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand on November 10 in Phnom Penh, the spokesman added.
Improved gun law will prevent tragedies like nursery massacre: Anupong
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2022
In a bid to prevent tragedies like the recent Nong Bua Lamphu massacre, the interior minister has promised to push for new amendments to the gun-control law.
Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said on Monday that he will push for the law to require that all holders of legal firearms are checked by psychiatrists and gun permits are reviewed every three to five years.
Anupong said this in response to a motion by Senator Ampol Chindawattana seeking measures to prevent the use of firearms in crime.
In the motion, the senator cited the Nong Bua Lamphu massacre in which a dismissed policeman shot dead 37 people, including very young children, before turning the gun on himself. He had bought the gun under the police welfare programme before being sacked for alleged drug abuse.
Anupong told the Senate that gun buyers are required to seek permission from the gun-control registrar, who checks their background before issuing a permit.
The minister said the only people who have a clear police record, are of legal age and have no record of disciplinary offences are granted a permit.
“But I plan to improve these measures by requiring that gun buyers provide a medical certificate declaring they have no mental health issues and are of sound mind,” Anupong said.
He added that the amendment will also require that potential gun buyers have their “good behaviour” certified by their employer, tambon chief, village head or other superiors.
Anupong said the gun-possession permits may also be reviewed every three to five years with new behaviour certificates sought from direct bosses, supervisors or relevant officials.
“People owning guns need to be certified regularly because they may have changed by developing an addiction to gambling, drugs, social vices or alcohol,” Anupong said.
The minister, however, said statistics show that up to 98.53 per cent of violent crimes are committed using illegal firearms like homemade or modified guns.
Anupong said the use of illegal firearms can be controlled by granting amnesty to those who turn them in and slapping stronger penalties on those who do not.
Currently, owners of illegal firearms face a fine of between 2,000 and 20,000 baht and a jail term of one to 10 years.
The minister added that the permit to own a firearm is very different from a permit to carry a firearm in public. He said it is very difficult for an ordinary citizen to get a permit to carry guns in public, as these permits are reserved for state officials and must be renewed every year.
He said the law should be strictly enforced against people, especially officials and politicians, who carry guns in public without a permit.
“If you ask what should be done with them, my answer is simple: Arrest them,” Anupong said.
He also said that the sale of firearms online is illegal and the authorities will never permit it. He added that the police and the Digital Economy and Society Ministry are getting ready to crack down on online stores that sell arms.
Gun ownership in Thailand is the highest in Southeast Asia and the 13th highest in the world, according to the independent Geneva-based Small Arms Survey.
As of 2017, 10.3 million guns or 15.1 for every 100 persons in Thailand were owned privately.
Royal Thai Police data indicates that in 2019 alone there were 31,419 gun-related crimes – 6,410 involving registered guns, 24,348 unregistered firearms and 661 rifles.
As per the 2022 Gun Deaths by Country report, Thailand had the third highest number of gun-related crimes in Asia in 2019 after Iraq and the Philippines.
Tourists enjoy first sign of frost atop Doi Inthanon this year
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2022
A light dusting of frost on Monday morning atop Doi Inthanon mountain in Chiang Mai marked the start of the cool season.
The first group of tourists who arrived at 7am were delighted by the sight of frost on green blades of grass near the Doi Inthanon National Park’s protection unit.
The temperature at the mountaintop was 4 degrees Celsius and 5ᵒC at the Kiew Mae Parn Viewpoint. The Doi Inthanon park office was warmer at 10ᵒC.
The entrance to the nature study trail at Kew Mae Parn was also popular among snap-happy tourists.
The park office said tourists are slowly returning to the area, with 3,637 showing up on Sunday.
Kriengkrai Chaipiset, chief of the Doi Inthanon National Park, said the temperature at the peak of the mountain was dropping and he expects the area to be covered by frost several times this year.
He said the first frost of the year heralds the arrival of tourists to the mountaintop for this winter.
Chiang Mai tourists get high as Mon Mak mountain mists roll in for winter
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2022
Hundreds of tourists climbed Doi Mon Mak mountain in Chiang Mai’s Mae Chaem early on Sunday to witness the natural wonder that cloaks the forests of this northern district every cold season.
Crowds gathered at the summit of the 1,100-metre peak to watch the sunrise break through a sea of fog on the horizon. The panoramic view also revealed the iconic Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s tallest mountain, soaring 2,565 metres high.
Doi Mon Mak is in Tha Pha subdistrict, about 120 kilometres from downtown Chiang Mai. It was opened for tourists in 2019 as a new viewpoint in the northern province, offering unobstructed 360-degree views of the sea of fog, and has become increasingly popular despite the pandemic.
Last year Doi Mon Mak opened a campsite so visitors could spend the night and witness the sunrise early next day. The campsite, which is about 300 metres from the viewpoint, also features rental cabins.
Doi Mon Mak expects to see more visitors over the coming months, as Thais like the cool New Year temperatures and the Covid-19 situation is improving, said Mae Chaem district chief Phatthanan Phithakham.
Hotels and resorts in Mae Chaem have opened for the upcoming high season after being closed for more than two years during the pandemic, she said.
The district is also planning to build and upgrade tourism facilities at Doi Mon Mak, including roads leading to nature treks, car parks and campsite expansion to attract visitors all year round.
Muang Boran Museum in Samut Prakan is lighting up its outdoor tour of ancient Thailand with over 1,000 lanterns for Loy Krathong.
The Thailand International Lantern Festival is illuminating the 8-hectare Ancient City – Thailand’s largest outdoor museum – from 5.30pm to 9pm until November 13.
A big hit with visitors last year, this year’s festival is themed “Floating Krathong Beyond Time”.
The idea is to give tourists an authentic experience of the traditional Loy Krathong, enhanced by a futuristic light design.
Brightest among the constellation of 1,000-plus lanterns is the giant lotus krathong, helping to guide people on their tour through Thai history.
Visitors can also float their wish-laden krathong into the grace-giving arms of Phra Mae Khongkha, the goddess of water.
A traditional fireworks display will also be held from 8pm on Tuesday for Loy Krathong and again on Saturday (November 12).
Tickets for the Lantern Festival can be purchased at www.icvticket.com. Thai visitors pay 250 baht (170 baht for children) while foreign tourists pay 400 baht (280 baht for children).
Tickets for the fireworks display cost 350 baht/200 baht for Thais and 600 baht/380 baht for foreign tourists. Samut Prakan locals can show their ID card to receive a 10% discount.
Entry is free for children under 90 centimetres.
All-day tickets inclusive of the Lantern Festival cost 550/320 baht for Thais and 1,000/580 baht for foreign visitors. All-day tickets for the firework display cost 650/350 baht for Thais and 1,200/680 baht for foreigners.
Thai city folk head up North to enjoy misty cool mornings
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2022
Urbanites flocked to the North this weekend to escape city pollution and soak in cool temperatures.
The biggest attractions were Phu Chi Fa mountain in Chiang Rai and Phu Thap Buek in Phetchabun, which were covered in a sea of fog thanks to the mercury dropping as low as 12 degrees Celsius.
Phu Chi Fa, which is part of Phu Chi Fa National Park in Chiang Rai’s Thoeng district, is considered to be the province’s most beautiful point.
Hundreds of visitors climbed to the top of the 1,442-metre-high hill on Saturday morning to watch the sunrise break through a sea of fog on the horizon.
In Phetchabun, visitors scaled the 1,768-metre-high Phu Thap Buek mountain to enjoy the magnificent sunrise and a cool 14 degrees Celsius.
The cabbage plantations around the mountain offered a beautiful vista of green against the white sea of fog – a perfect backdrop for photographers.
A Chonburi resident, who was at Phu Thap Buek with some 25 family members, said the last time he was there was four years ago before the area was shut due to the pandemic. He added that he plans to book a cottage on the mountain for the New Year break.
“I keep coming back for the cool weather, which is a world away from the stuffy atmosphere of Chonburi,” he said.
A Bangkokian, meanwhile, said it was best to visit Phu Thap Buek on ordinary days as it is usually overcrowded during long weekends or public holidays.
Thailand will meet its tourist target of 10m this year, 18m next year: Anucha
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2022
Thailand can expect to welcome some 18 million foreign tourists in 2023, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Saturday, citing an estimate from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was delighted by the uptick in tourist numbers and has thanked relevant agencies and citizens for their hospitality and friendliness. Anucha quoted TAT as saying that Thailand can expect to earn 1.73 trillion baht from tourism next year – 970 billion baht from foreign arrivals and 760 billion baht from domestic tourists. More than 7.56 million tourists arrived in Thailand between January 1 and October 30, and another 3 million are expected in the last two months of the year. Hence, it is likely that TAT’s target of 10 million will be met.
Meanwhile, some 15,778 flights are scheduled to land in Thailand in November and December, with the largest number of arrivals expected from India and Malaysia, at 85% and 68% respectively.
As of October 30, 4.1 million or 54% of all arrivals came from Asean nations, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, while visitors from East Asia exceeded 800,000, the spokesman said citing TAT figures. “The prime minister is pleased that tourists still consider Thailand as their favourite destination, even though many other countries have also opened their doors to foreign visitors,” Anucha said. He added that Prayut has instructed relevant agencies to make the immigration process quick and convenient for both Thais and foreigners.
He said that though he sympathises with airlines, he also wants them to understand that cooperation is required for all sides to survive. He added that domestic airlines should make adjustments to fares despite higher fuel prices because the tourism industry needs a hand in recovery.
Bhummikitti also voiced concerns about small and medium-sized businesses suffering from a lack of funds and workers, as many members of the workforce have not returned to the island province yet.
However, he said, things should start improving soon, not just in terms of hotel bookings, but also in other services like infrastructure.
The association chief also said that more Russian tourists are landing in Phuket now that direct flights have resumed.
Russians topped the list of tourists to Phuket before the pandemic after Chineses.
He added that some 300,000 Indian nationals and 100,000 Australians are expected to land on the island, in addition to Europeans.
He said more arrivals from nearby countries Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia should bump the number of arrivals to pre-pandemic levels.
Bhummikitti also said that occupancy in beachside hotels is fast picking up, while bookings in other hotels are stable.
Anupong said the gun-possession permits may also be reviewed every three to five years with new behaviour certificates sought from direct bosses, supervisors or relevant officials.
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