Last edit by: aBroadAbroad
This thread is for Thailand news/events and general discussion. It is meant to reduce clutter in the main forum. If you notice a topic here that deserves its own thread, please alert a moderator.
READ FIRST: Thailand Lounge-Thread Guidelines
Special thanks to FlyerTalker Kalboz for launching the original Thai News & Open Discussion lounge back in 2009!
READ FIRST: Thailand Lounge-Thread Guidelines
- This thread is subject to the general FlyerTalk Rules and will be moderated accordingly.
- Like all FT Forum Lounges, this thread provides a place for members to engage in off-topic discussion. Please be reminded, however, that this is not OMNI or OMNI/PR. Content that strays too far into such controversial areas as politics or religion may be edited, moved or deleted by moderators.
- As always, when challenging other members' viewpoints and opinions, please do so respectfully and thoughtfully. Posts containing personal attacks are unacceptable and will be deleted. Replies to such posts will also be deleted.
- Please alert a moderator to any concerns via the "Report Bad Post" button that appears in the lower left corner of every post.
- Repetitive posting that unnecessarily clutters the thread, or appears to be for the primary purpose of post-padding, is subject to merging or deletion. If you wish to reply to several prior posts, please use the multi-quote function to create a single response.
Special thanks to FlyerTalker Kalboz for launching the original Thai News & Open Discussion lounge back in 2009!
Thailand Forum Lounge-Thread: Thai News & Open Discussion
#256
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,305
#257
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Snooky
Posts: 2,508
Don't 'dine and dash' in Phuket: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/zealand...ch-bill-23199/
#258
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
A new 6-month visa is being unveiled with the in country stays limited to 60 days at a time. The visa will cost 5000 Baht which strikes me as rather steep.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...ut-limit-stays
I fail to see the connection between the visa and these types of tourists.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...ut-limit-stays
Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said earlier that officials hope the new visa "will promote Thailand as a destination for weekend vacations and that business people will visit Thailand...
#260
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Follow-on from the kerfuffle in Phuket last night: Police kill two, riots ensue.
On the plus side, the haze has lifted.
Protest in Phuket delays several commercial flights
PHUKET, 11 October 2015 (NNT) - Local media reported several flights in Phuket have been delayed on Sunday, due to the protest and road block triggered by the recent narcotic police chase gone wrong on Saturday evening.
Phuket International Airport officials said there were about 9 flights affected from the protest. Some passengers could not check in with their flights as protesters had blocked the main route to the city. These 37 passengers were from FD3010, FD3012, PG280, 3K538, JQ28, and FD3016 flights.
The Airport has set up an information booth to inform its customers about the incident while providing them assistance in finding accommodations, due to the roadblock. The officials also explained that departure passengers were forced to go around the protest venue, causing them to miss their flights.
-- NNT 2015-10-11
On the plus side, the haze has lifted.
Protest in Phuket delays several commercial flights
PHUKET, 11 October 2015 (NNT) - Local media reported several flights in Phuket have been delayed on Sunday, due to the protest and road block triggered by the recent narcotic police chase gone wrong on Saturday evening.
Phuket International Airport officials said there were about 9 flights affected from the protest. Some passengers could not check in with their flights as protesters had blocked the main route to the city. These 37 passengers were from FD3010, FD3012, PG280, 3K538, JQ28, and FD3016 flights.
The Airport has set up an information booth to inform its customers about the incident while providing them assistance in finding accommodations, due to the roadblock. The officials also explained that departure passengers were forced to go around the protest venue, causing them to miss their flights.
-- NNT 2015-10-11
#263
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
#264
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Are people staying away from Thailand since the takeover?
Record number of Chinese tourists. Assume they're used to a repressive "government" so no worries. And plans to "lure" even more tourists.
Thailand expects seven million Chinese tourists in 2015
Thailand expects a record 7 million visitors from China in 2015 compared with 4.63 million last year, the tourism minister said on Friday, despite a bomb attack at a major tourist spot that killed 20 people, more than half of them foreigners.
Tourism is one of the few bright spots in an economy that has been stubbornly underperforming more than a year after the military seized power in a May 2014 coup, with exports stumbling and domestic consumption subdued.
Tourism accounts for about 10 percent of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy and a record 28.8 million visitors are expected this year compared with 25.5 million in 2014.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/10/1...-tourists-2015
TAT aims for 50m tourists by 2018
Giddy in anticipation of breaking arrival records this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand thinks the country can attract 50 million visitors in 2018.
Mr Yuthasak said all TAT overseas offices in 35 countries will be directed to come up with marketing plans to lure tourists to achieve the target, he added.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...urists-by-2018
Record number of Chinese tourists. Assume they're used to a repressive "government" so no worries. And plans to "lure" even more tourists.
Thailand expects seven million Chinese tourists in 2015
Thailand expects a record 7 million visitors from China in 2015 compared with 4.63 million last year, the tourism minister said on Friday, despite a bomb attack at a major tourist spot that killed 20 people, more than half of them foreigners.
Tourism is one of the few bright spots in an economy that has been stubbornly underperforming more than a year after the military seized power in a May 2014 coup, with exports stumbling and domestic consumption subdued.
Tourism accounts for about 10 percent of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy and a record 28.8 million visitors are expected this year compared with 25.5 million in 2014.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/10/1...-tourists-2015
TAT aims for 50m tourists by 2018
Giddy in anticipation of breaking arrival records this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand thinks the country can attract 50 million visitors in 2018.
Mr Yuthasak said all TAT overseas offices in 35 countries will be directed to come up with marketing plans to lure tourists to achieve the target, he added.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...urists-by-2018
Last edited by transpac; Oct 13, 2015 at 10:58 pm
#265
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Northern California
Programs: UA Premier Gold, 1.5 Million Mile Flyer
Posts: 3,547
#266
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/...ltiple-entries
http://asiancorrespondent.com/135714...-for-tourists/
You can get a standard tourist visa (one, two or three entries, $40/$80/$120) 60 days each entry, can be extended in country for 30 days (each entry, 1,900 THB). Not free, but not a lot when compared to airfare.
#267
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
#268
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Suvarnabhumi airport's traffic soars to record high
Official figures released yesterday reflect robust growth in the Thai tourism industry in particular and the global travel industry in general. International passenger traffic through Bangkok's gateway...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/tran...to-record-high
Over 52 million passengers use Suvarnabhumi airport last fiscal year
More than 52 million passengers have used the services at Suvarnabhumi international airport during the 2015 fiscal year from last October until this September representing an increase of 12.66 percent from last fiscal year’s.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ove...st-fiscal-year
Official figures released yesterday reflect robust growth in the Thai tourism industry in particular and the global travel industry in general. International passenger traffic through Bangkok's gateway...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/tran...to-record-high
Over 52 million passengers use Suvarnabhumi airport last fiscal year
More than 52 million passengers have used the services at Suvarnabhumi international airport during the 2015 fiscal year from last October until this September representing an increase of 12.66 percent from last fiscal year’s.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ove...st-fiscal-year
Last edited by transpac; Oct 14, 2015 at 8:55 pm
#270
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
You may have to bring your own water?
Public asked to conserve water in anticipation for long drought
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has appealed to all sectors of the society to use water sparingly as the rainy season is due to end in the next 15 days.
Agriculture permanent secretary Thirapat Prayoonsith said Wednesday that the amount of water stored in all reservoirs and dams throughout the country remains low while the four main dams namely Bhumibol, Sirikit, Pasak Cholasit and Keae Noi Bamrungdan are only 42 percent of their storage capacities with just 3,633 million cubic metres of water which are usable.
Before the end of the rainy season in the next 15 days, he expected to amount of usable water in the four main dams to increase to at least 3,677 million cubic metres.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pub...r-long-drought
Public asked to conserve water in anticipation for long drought
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has appealed to all sectors of the society to use water sparingly as the rainy season is due to end in the next 15 days.
Agriculture permanent secretary Thirapat Prayoonsith said Wednesday that the amount of water stored in all reservoirs and dams throughout the country remains low while the four main dams namely Bhumibol, Sirikit, Pasak Cholasit and Keae Noi Bamrungdan are only 42 percent of their storage capacities with just 3,633 million cubic metres of water which are usable.
Before the end of the rainy season in the next 15 days, he expected to amount of usable water in the four main dams to increase to at least 3,677 million cubic metres.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pub...r-long-drought