Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gives a thumbs-up during a news conference at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday revealed details of his government’s plan to stimulate the economy by giving digital cash handouts of 10,000 baht ($275) to an estimated 50 million Thais for spending at their local businesses.
Srettha said at a news conference that the 500-billion-baht ($13.7-billion) plan, to be mostly funded out of the 2024 and 2025 fiscal budgets, will be rolled out in the last quarter of the year.
The stimulus and subsequent consumption are expected to boost gross domestic product growth by 1.2 to 1.6 percentage points, he said. The World Bank estimated Thailand’s year-on-year GDP growth at 1.5% in December.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, left, talks to Thailand Deputy Finance Minister Chulaphan Amornwiwat during a news conference at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Another portion of the funding will come from the state’s Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, earmarked for covering payouts to about 17 million farmers.
The digital purchases will be allowed only in the recipients’ own districts, and will not be allowed for items including oil, services, and online purchases.
Srettha called the project a “life-changing policy for the people.” He expressed his disappointment that the project could not be carried out earlier but said the government needed to make it transparent and legal.
The plan, which was a major campaign promise by Srettha’s Pheu Thai party ahead of last year’s general election, had been previously criticized by economists for being an ineffective way to contribute to sustainable economic growth compared to other measures.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin smiles during a meeting at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The ruling Pheu Thai party had also suggested digital wallet payments for all Thais 16 and older, while the current plan is limited to lower-income Thais, defined as people with yearly incomes not exceeding 840,000 baht ($23,000) and savings in financial institutions not totaling more than 500,000 baht ($13,700 ) .
The government was also criticized for initially suggesting that it would fund the plan by borrowing, which would incur a heavy public debt burden.
Thailand’s central bank has resisted pressure from the government to boost the economy by cutting interest rates, opting to keep its policy unchanged at a meeting on Wednesday.
But analysts expect the Bank of Thailand to cut its 2.5% benchmark rate later in the year, given that inflation has been falling for six straight months.
“While the economy is not exactly in a crisis, it is in need of more support,” Gareth Leather of Capital Economics said in a commentary. He noted that the central bank is keen to maintain its independence, but that it ultimately would likely cut rates at its next meeting, in June.
Thailand’s levels of household debt are relatively high, and higher interest rates raise borrowing costs, tending to discourage spending and investment.
A Filipino couple was arrested for smuggling cannabis from Thailand to the Philippines at their home, a townhouse in Bangkok's Prawet district.
BANGKOK – Dried cannabis is still illegal in the Philippines, so the profit from shipping cannabis from Thailand to Manila is very high.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana Nuch-cha-nart, Deputy Head of the Immigration Department, announced on April 10 the arrest of Mr. John Andrew Tiangson, 35, a Filipino national, and Ms. Ena Bianca Marie Cruz, 30, a Filipino national, on charges of “being foreigners who entered and stayed in the Kingdom with an expired permit” at the Immigration Department Office in Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province.
The arrests on April 10 came after the Immigration Bureau’s Investigation Division 1 received information from Philippine security agencies about the seizure of a large shipment of dried cannabis packed in tightly sealed packages weighing over 10 kilograms in total. The cannabis was discovered by the Philippine Bureau of Customs in late February 2024.
A Filipino couple was arrested for smuggling cannabis from Thailand to the Philippines at their home, a townhouse in Bangkok’s Prawet district.
The usual street price for the cannabis in question after transportation to the Philippines is 1,200 pesos per gram, or about 975 baht per gram, which equates to a total value of almost 10 million baht.
The seized cannabis was shipped from a parcel delivery service in Bangkok, which is located in an area with a large Filipino population. The investigation team began to investigate the company and eventually obtained information about the senders of the package, Mr. John Andrew Tiangson and Ms. Ena Bianca Marie Cruz, a Filipino couple.
An arrest chart shows a Filipino couple who overstayed in Thailand for 3,198 and 3,669 days.
A biometric check revealed that both individuals had overstayed their visas in the Kingdom for more than 9 years. Investigators then located the couple’s home, a townhouse in Bangkok’s Prawet district, and arrested them.
In addition, the two foreigners will be blacklisted by the Immigration Bureau and banned from entering the Kingdom for ten years under the Ministry of Interior’s Order No. 1/2015 dated November 27, 2015 on banning certain foreigners from entering the Kingdom. The couple will then be deported to the Philippines for further prosecution.
Police arrested two Hong Kong suspects of cyber crimes at Siam Paragon on April 9, 2024.
BANGKOK – Mr. Prasert Chantararuangthong, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat Wattanakornbancha, Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) commissioner, held a press conference on Tusday to announce the arrest of two Hong Kong nationals, Mr. Tai Loi, 43, and Mr. Man Lok Lee, 25. The suspects were arrested in front of the Siam Paragon shopping mall.
The evidence seized from the suspects includes: A portable False Base Station (FBS) or Stingray device and four cell phones.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat said the arrests were made after AIS Monitor, a cybersecurity unit of AIS, in cooperation with the CCIB, investigated a series of phishing text messages sent to AIS customers. The text messages claimed that the recipients’ AIS points were about to expire and urged them to click on a link to redeem gifts or rewards.
The link would then redirect the recipients to a fake website where they would be tricked into entering their personal information and credit card details.
Mr. Prasert Chantararuangthong, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat Wattanakornbancha, Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau commissioner, held a press conference at the CCIB office on April 9, 2024.
The TCSD investigation found that the suspects were using the Stingray device to send the phishing text messages. The Stingray device is a portable FBS that can mimic a mobile phone tower and intercept all cellular traffic within a 1-kilometer radius. This allows the user to send and receive text messages, make and receive calls, and track the location of mobile phones.
Mr. Tai claimed that he had previously traveled to Malaysia and met a man of unknown nationality named Ah Ken. They talked about traveling to Thailand, and Ah Ken told him to contact him once he arrived in Thailand. Mr. Tai and his friend then entered Thailand on March 30, 2024 through the Sadao border crossing in Songkhla province.
Police in Thailand say they arrested two men from Hong Kong who were using a portable scam device, sending messages in bulk to nearby mobile phone users at a Bangkok shopping mall. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Upon arriving in Bangkok, he met with Ah Ken, who gave him a backpack to pick up at the Erawan Shrine. The backpack was given to him by an unknown Thai person. He did not know what was inside the backpack, but Ah Ken told him to carry it with him wherever he went. He had previously carried it to three different shopping malls: CentralWorld, Icon Siam, and Siam Paragon, where he was arrested.
The suspects from Hong Kong are charged with the following offenses: Joint manufacture, use, import, export or trade of radio communication equipment without a license, joint establishment of a radio communication station without a license and joint use of radio frequencies for telecommunications business without a license.
BANGKOK – Don Mueang International Airport is preparing to handle at least 625,000 passengers during this year’s Songkran vacation, with over 4,000 aircraft landing at Bangkok’s low-cost carrier hub on April 11–17, according to the PR Thai Government. It forecasts a significant 10.58% increase over the previous year’s figures.
The airport has made many changes to improve passenger comfort and safety, including a Common Use Self Service (CUSS) check-in counter, a self-bag drop system, a unique passenger validation system (PVS), and self-boarding gates.
Passengers arriving at the airport can book further journeys using online platforms such as Grab and Cabb, or at specialized transit booths.
Don Mueang International Airport-DMK
Travellers can also use the SRT’s Red Line and feeder buses to get to the city’s electric train route. The airport’s two parking facilities can hold a total of 3,508 vehicles. Throughout the holiday season, shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes between the car parks and terminals to ensure smooth transit.
The Don Mueang Airport page also advertises that passengers can bring water guns for playing Songkran, which clearly do not look like real guns, and scented water packed in tightly closed containers with a total volume not exceeding 1 litre.
If you’re looking for an easy way to enjoy Thailand on your terms, the Thailand Elite Visa is ideal for you.
Provided by the Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd., an entity owned by the Thai government, this is a long-term tourist visa you can get by becoming a Thailand Privilege member. In addition to this convenient visa, a Thailand Privilege membership also offers you an unmatched selection of customizable benefits not found anywhere else.
The Thailand Privilege Membership Tiers
There are 4 tiers of Thailand Privilege membership to choose from:
As a member of Thailand Privilege, you not only have an easy way to stay long-term in Thailand but you’re also entitled to numerous perks. These include, but are not limited to:
5-year multiple-entry visas that can be renewed depending on membership tier
No required re-entry permits when flying into and out of the country
Membership is upgradeable to higher tiers
No age, financial, income, employment, or education requirements
Cumulative stay in Thailand for up to 1 year per arrival
No annual or renewal fees
Smooth and swift application process
Access to premium lanes upon arrival for fast-tracked immigration clearance
Flexibility over what privileges to choose through the points redemption scheme
Complimentary access to Elite Personal Assistant (EPA) services on arrival
Annual health checks at leading Thai hospital chains once per membership validity
Personal Accident Insurance during the first membership year
Special discounts at top-of-the-line restaurants and shopping malls
Access to the new Thailand Privilege lounge at Chaengwattana Immigration Office in Bangkok
24/7 Member Contact Center for general assistance and reservation booking
Unique incentives to leverage, ranging from buy-1-get-1-free promotional events to birthday gifts to having your very own personal shopping assistant
This list is by no means exhaustive, as there is a vast selection of perks to choose from under the privilege points feature, empowering you to customize the benefits you receive instead of being locked into a standard offering. Whether it’s a free hotel stay, a dental care package, support from a wealth advisor, or one of the dozens of other available rewards, you have complete freedom to choose your benefits regardless of your membership package.
Eligibility requirements for a Thailand Elite Visa
For a stress-free application journey without delays or setbacks, you’ll have to meet the eligibility requirements for the membership. These consist of:
A valid foreign passport with at least 12 months validity remaining on it
Must be of sound mind (not legally declared otherwise)
Must not have committed any serious criminal offense
Must not have been declared bankrupt
Must not have a record of any major overstays or have any pending penalty payments
Must not currently hold or previously held a volunteer visa
Your passport must not originate from the following UN-sanctioned territories:
Africa: Central Africa, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome, and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan
The following documents will be needed for the Thailand Elite Visa application:
Membership Application Form (for your desired membership)
Membership Application Fee Payment Form
PDPA Form
Photocopy of the passport’s biopage (in color, with the passport signature on display)*
Photocopy of your latest visa (if applying inside Thailand)
Passport-sized photograph (in color, taken against a white background)**
Any supplementary documentation (if applicable)***
You will also need to pay an application fee of 50,000 THB before your application can proceed to the background assessment stage. If successful, the application fee you paid will be deducted from the total membership fee.
*NOTE: The passport signature must be visible on the document. If not, then a photocopy of the page with the signature must be provided alongside.
**NOTE: The photograph has to also be sized appropriately. You can always request your GSSA to take the photo for you so its dimensions are correct.
***NOTE:
If you’re a current or past ED Visa holder, you must send in an Education Visa Holder Acknowledgement Form along with all the relevant documents (as detailed on the form) from your educational institution.
If you’re adding family members to your membership, you will also need to provide their passport copy and recent photograph along with a completed membership application form (for additional members).
How to apply for a Thailand Elite Visa
When you’re ready to apply for a Thailand Privilege membership and obtain your Thailand Elite Visa, you should consult a reputable, Thailand Privilege Visa General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA). GSSAs are authorized by the Thai government as knowledgeable consultants to guide you through your Thailand Privilege application, ensuring you can acquire your membership and visa in the most efficient way possible. Most importantly, GSSAs offer their services for free.
GSSAs are responsible for providing the following services:
Hosting consultation meetings with you
Responding to all questions and concerns regarding the Thailand Privilege program
Providing you with an overview of the available membership packages
Sharing with you an application checklist with all the requirements listed
Conducting a thorough review of your application to eliminate errors
Submitting your application and communicating with the government on your behalf
Reach out to a trusted GSSA the moment you are ready to apply. They will inform you of what you need, and once you’ve gathered all the required documents, you should meet with them so that they can check for mistakes that might cause a delay or outright rejection of the application.
Once your application is deemed ready, the GSSA will submit it for you, and it will undergo a background check. If this is a success, you will receive an acceptance letter and payment instructions, and you’ll have 30 days to pay your membership fee. After you’ve paid it, you will be issued a membership ID and welcome letter and will then be able to schedule an appointment to acquire your new Thailand Elite Visa. Since GSSAs are professionals, it’s advisable to apply for a Thailand Elite Visa through them as their support eases stress and facilitates the application process, enabling you to receive your visa quicker and more securely.
Contact a Thailand Elite Visa Agent Today
If you’re ready to live your best Thailand life with a Thailand Privilege membership, contact Siam Legal to get started.
With 20 years of expertise and a high success rate for helping clients acquire visas of any kind, the Siam Legal team can provide the necessary guidance to ensure you get your Thai Elite Visa quickly and without hassle. Our dedicated assistance minimizes the risk of rejection and lets you transition into Thailand with ease.
We will start by hosting an introductory consultation session with you to discuss whether a Thailand Elite Visa is the right route for you to take, providing you with detailed insights into the membership options, and what your next steps are. We will also review your application beforehand to ensure everything is ready before submission. Once your application is in, our team will share with you login details for the Thailand Privilege portal the moment we’ve submitted it, so you can check and monitor your application status in your own time.
From the minute you call us for your initial consultation to the point where you get your new Visa, Siam Legal will be there with you every step of the way.
CALL NOW +66 80 005 9642 Siam Legal International (Bangkok Office) Address: 18th Floor, Unit 1806 Two Pacific Place, 142 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Phone: +66 80005 9642 Email:[email protected] Contact Us: https://www.siam-legal.com/elite
Golf Thai operates as an online golf booking platform under the management of Toto Booking Company.
Toto Booking is a professional self-service online travel agency facilitating bookings for accommodations, tours, sightseeing, spa services, various tickets and admissions, and car rentals with drivers. Catering to Korean travelers visiting destinations such as Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Guam, Saipan, and other countries, Golf Thai boasts a substantial membership base and collaborates with hundreds of travel agents using Toto Booking services for tour arrangements across the mentioned countries.
Having dominated the Korean market in Thailand for 22 years, Toto Booking, renowned for its best pricing and user-friendly booking system, extends its services to golf enthusiasts worldwide through the platform Golf Thai.
Golf Thai Is Your Best Golf Booking Platform in Thailand
Drawing upon its 22 years of accumulated expertise and systems, Golf Thai has successfully secured bookings for over 100 golf courses across Thailand, ensuring a fast and seamless reservation process.
Golf Thai endeavors to deliver exceptional customer service 24/7, striving to make golf reservations effortless and convenient for all patrons.
Mr. Seol Kwang Ho, Golf Thai’s CEO, has a broad vision that has guided the organization to great success, with several guaranteed certifications from various hotels and merchants. As a result, Golf Thai has become the premier online booking platform, setting its position as the largest and most reliable Korean online travel agency in Thailand.
Best Price Guarantee
Golf Thai offers a range of package options for customers, providing various offerings such as round-trip golf tours starting at 4,000 Baht. See more information at Golfthai.com.
Real-time Booking
Golf Thai serves as a worldwide golf real-time booking platform, featuring a portfolio of over 300 golf courses across Thailand. Through the website, users have the flexibility to choose preferred time slots for any desired dates. Comprehensive details including facility amenities, course layouts, and more, are readily available for each selection.
Quick Response
Selecting the ideal package may be challenging, however, Golf Thai’s specialists are readily available to assist you in finding the package that aligns perfectly with your preferences. Additionally, our social media staff is prepared to provide prompt assistance and quick responses to any inquiries you may have.
Emergency Contact
Golf Thai also provides emergency calls and 24/7 customer service support for your convenience.
Why Choose Golf Thai?
With over 300 golf courses, clubs, and country clubs featured on its website, Golf Thai assures a seamless and hassle-free golf tour experience in Thailand when booking through its platform. Book with Golf Thai now!
At Cross Chiang Mai Riverside, Chiang Mai, OXYGEN DINING ROOM housed in an award – winning modern glass and steel structure, flanked on one side by several towering 120-year-old Tamarind trees and by the Ping River on the other.
The building creates an elegant escape for discerning diners who crave Thai fusion cuisine, with a twist and French technic style, set in a unique and romantic environment.
Chef ‘KHEM’ Wathit Rungrotwattana, the Executive Chef of Oxygen Dining Room, is a Thai national with experience in five-star hospitality establishments in Thailand. He also received training at the 1 Michelin Star ‘Het Gabar Restaurant’ in Belgium.
Chef Khem is widely recognized for his expertise, particularly in selecting and crafting special menus that highlight the use of local ingredients. He and his team are delighted to welcome you to indulge in a unique culinary experience in Thai – French Fusion cuisine
New Menu Concept 2024:
Thai set menu: Thai recipe with a special unique blend
Thai cuisine, famed for its blend of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and spicy flavors.
Oxygen Dining Room offers a unique Thai set menu highlighting local ingredients, including premium seafood. With a fusion of French techniques, we craft an exceptional and romantic dining experience in our atmospheric dining room.
Degustation set menu: Oxygen Dining Room Signature Menu
which focuses on seasonal specialties, so we can serve the freshest possible produce at its peak and presenting with culinary art. The best answers to you would be ‘Degustation menu’ that help you find menus that taste good and treat your soul right.
Experience Set Menu: Created with a passion & Experience
Indulge in the artistic aesthetics of the “Experience Set Menu” at Oxygen Dining Room. Each dish has been meticulously crafted by the Chef, blending Thai cuisine with a modern French twist using innovative techniques. Immerse yourself in a fresh and unforgettable dining experience.
Get a Taste of Our Latest Menu Items! Exclusive Fine Dining Dinner: Open daily during 18.00 – 22.00 hrs.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Mayo and Moya, two magnificent Green anacondas residing at the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo in Thailand were introduced to the public by Niruth Chomngam, also known as Nick Wildlife, the reptile specialist.
The females of the green anacondas are much larger than the males. They belong to the Boidae family and differ from pythons such as reticulated pythons and Burmese pythons.
Unlike their movie portrayal, Mayo and Moya are accustomed to human contact.
Nick Wildlife
They only attack when hunting or defending themselves. They prefer to avoid confrontation and slither away if they don’t like being touched. However, caution is always advised when interacting with them.
Their enormous size requires a lot of water for locomotion. On land they move slowly, but in water they are nimble, so they prefer to live near water sources, just like in the documentaries.
Mayo and Moya were imported legally over a decade ago by the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand (ZPO). Some people worry about them escaping, but the zoo’s enclosures are secure and well-maintained.
Nick Wildlife
Zoos like the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo serve several important purposes. They provide educational opportunities and allow people to see animals such as lions, giraffes and zebras up close. Zoos also contribute to species conservation through breeding and research programs. For example, the ZPO has successfully bred endangered cranes and released them back into the wild.
Niruth emphasized that an escape from the zoo is highly unlikely. The anacondas’ enclosure is safe and well guarded. According to experienced zookeepers, anacondas are relatively fragile compared to native pythons and have a low survival rate in the wild.
Mayo and Moya, the largest anacondas in Thailand, can be visited at Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo.
Bravo BKK Ready to Support “Siam Songkran Music Festival”: A Spectacular Blend of Water, DJs, and Music Extravaganza, Set for April 12-15
Bravo BKK is pleased to announce its co-sponsorship of this year’s “Siam Songkran Music Festival,” set to take place at RCA Central Park, spanning 24,000 square meters, from April 12 to 15, 2024.
To enhance the entertainment experience at the “Siam Songkran Music Festival” and contribute to Thailand’s tourism, Bravo BKK has partnered to manage the registration area. This area also serves as the primary check-in point for festival entry, where attendees will receive wristbands for event access. Moreover, Bravo BKK is geared up to handle the influx of tourists expected in the area from April 12 to 15, 2024.
It provides parking space for over 1,000 cars, payable at 300 baht per car with parking allowed until 8 a.m the following day. Additionally, there will be a Soft Opening After Party, of Boom Shake Club at Bravo BKK 6th floor rooftop. This international club will also participate in the Songkran Festival celebrations from April 12-15, 2024.
Bravo BKK will also be hosting “Bravo Recharge” event, catering to various types of partygoers based on their needs. Whether you’re looking for stores or restaurants lining the streets or inside the department store, or if you desire a wide array of delicious food options to recharge before diving back into the festivities, Bravo Recharge has you covered. The venue offers a range of excellent branded restaurants, including international and halal options like Ha Sun Lhao, as well as internationally renowned restaurants like Loong Mala, a Chinese favorite (a must-try).
For those looking to relax and chat in a large group, McDonald’s and Starbucks are also available to accommodate guests. Moreover, Bravo BKK offers lockers and other dry waiting areas, along with a photo booth, to enhance visitors’ experience. Bravo BKK will be giving out FREE travel codes via Grab and LINE. Simple apply BravoBKK30 code for passenger car services and BravoBKK15 for motorcycle services and choose Bravo BKK as pick up or drop off point.
To elevate more fun, Bravo BKK also launched the #bravogiveaway campaign, featuring an online activity inviting everyone to participate through Bravo BKK’s social media channels on Facebook and TikTok. Participants stand a chance to win GA tickets for all three days of the event, with 20 tickets available per channel. The lucky winners was announced via LineOA @BravoBKK on 7th April 2024.
The “Siam Songkran Music Festival” promises an entertainment extravaganza showcasing “Thainess” in every aspect of the event, offering a comprehensive and enjoyable experience. Attendees, both foreign tourists and Thais, can immerse themselves in the beauty of Thailand and its soft power, including Thai-style tattoos (sak yant), traditional Thai massage, Thai dancing, Thai boxing, and the vibrant atmosphere of a retro temple fair. In addition to the traditional Thai experiences, the event will also feature a lively and international atmosphere.
Attendees can expect performances from the TOP 100 DJs in the world and electrifying EDM concerts, creating an unforgettable experience for EDM enthusiasts to ‘dance’ and ‘be wired’ together. This live legend experience will take place in RCA Central Park, a sprawling 24,000 square-meter venue with a capacity for approximately 15,000 people.
The 4-day Siam Songkran Music Festival promises an exceptional experience for dance enthusiasts, featuring world-class DJs:
April 12, 2024: VINI VICI
April 13, 2024: TIËSTO, an EDM icon, will perform alongside CHRIS AVANTGARDE, a legendary figure in electronic music.
April 14, 2024: MARTIN GARRIX, the top DJ of all time
April 15, 2024: ZEDD
Attached to the main event is a Pool Party, offering a fun, customizable group experience. Attendees can also enjoy the ambiance of a chic restaurant like Cosmos Dining among many others.
Get ready for a series of creatively engaging and exhilarating activities at Bravo BKK, set to amplify its ‘Fit & Fun Mall’ concept throughout 2024. These activities will usher in a new chapter for the retail space in the shopping center, featuring national and international events with cutting-edge innovations.
For individuals or businesses interested in renting retail space at Bravo BKK or seeking more information, please contact Bravo BKK at 02 111 555 or www.bravobkk.co.th
YouTuber Ium Daro, who started filming Angkor monkeys about three months ago, follows a mother and a baby along a dirt path with his iPhone held on a selfie stick near Bayon temple at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AP) — A baby monkey struggles and squirms as it tries to escape the man holding it by the neck over a concrete cistern, repeatedly dousing it with water.
In another video clip, a person plays with the genitals of a juvenile male macaque sitting on a limestone block from an ancient temple to get it excited for the camera.
The abuse of monkeys at the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwestern Cambodia is not always so graphic, but authorities say it is a growing problem as people look for new ways to draw online viewers to generate cash.
“The monkey should be living in the wild, where they are supposed to be living, but the monkey nowadays is being treated like a domestic pet,” said Long Kosal, spokesperson for APSARA, the Cambodian office that oversees the Angkor archaeological site.
“They’re making the content to earn money by having the viewers on YouTube, so this is a very big issue for us.”
A blue-shirted APSARA warden holds a monkey at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
APSARA has few tools itself to stop the YouTubers from filming in general, but has opened an investigation with the Ministry of Agriculture to collect evidence for legal action against the most serious abusers — who are rarely on camera themselves, Long Kosal said.
“If we can build a case, they will be arrested for sure,” he said. “Any animal abuser will be seriously punished by law in Cambodia.”
YouTube, Facebook and other sites remove the videos with graphic content, but scores of other clips of cute monkeys jumping and playing remain, generating thousands of views and subscribers.
Just making those videos involves very close interaction with the monkeys, however, which authorities and animal-rights activists say creates a host of other problems, both for the macaques and people visiting one of Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist sites.
On a recent day outside Angkor’s famous 12th-century Bayon Temple, at least a dozen YouTubers, all young men, crowded around a small group of long-tailed macaques, pushing in close to get shots of a mother with a baby on her back and tracking her everywhere she moved.
A monkey climbs a tree at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
The wild monkeys feasted on bananas tossed to them by YouTubers and drank from plastic bottles of water. One young macaque briefly amused itself with half-eaten neon-green popsicle discarded at the side of the path, before dropping it to move on to a banana.
A blue-shirted APSARA warden looked on but those filming were unfazed, illustrating the main problem: Simply taking video of monkeys is OK, even though feeding them is frowned upon. At the same time, it’s making them dependent upon handouts, and the close interaction with humans means they’re increasingly becoming aggressive toward tourists.
“The tourists carry their food, and they would snatch the food,” Long Kosal said, flipping through multiple photos on his phone of recent injuries caused by the macaques. “If the tourists resist, they bite and this is very dangerous.”
The search for food from tourists also draws the monkeys from the surrounding jungle in to the ancient sites, where they pull away pieces of the temples and cause other damage, he added.
Tourist Cadi Hutchings made sure to keep her distance from the monkeys, after being warned by her tour guide of the increasing risk of being bitten.
Local YouTubers take videos of monkeys near Bayon temple, at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
“What they want is your food, but you also need to appreciate that there needs to be a boundary between human intervention in nature,” the 23-year-old from Wales said. “It’s obviously a great thing that so many tourists come because it’s such a lovely place, but at the same time, you have to be careful that with more and more people … the monkeys don’t get too acclimatized.”
Many other tourists, however, stopped to take their own photos and videos — some holding out bananas to draw them closer — before heading to the nearby temple site.
YouTuber Ium Daro, who started filming Angkor monkeys about three months ago, followed a mother and a baby along a dirt path with his iPhone held on a selfie stick to get in close.
The 41-year-old said he hadn’t seen any monkeys physically abused, and that he didn’t see a problem with what he and the others were doing to make a living.
“The monkeys here are friendly,” he said. “After we take their pictures we give them food, so it is like we pay them for them giving us the chance to take their picture.”
As he spoke, a young macaque scrambled up the leg of an onlooker, trying — unsuccessfully — to grab a plastic bottle of water out of his pocket.
One YouTuber said he had started filming monkeys during the COVID-19 pandemic after the numbers of tourists plummeted, making it impossible to earn a living as a tuk-tuk driver.
A monkey drinks water from a plastic bottle near Bayon temple, at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Daro said he was looking for a way to supplement his income as a rice vendor, and that he’s too new at it to have realized many returns.
Many, like Phut Phu, work as salaried employees of YouTube page operators.
The 24-year-old said he started filming monkeys 2 1/2 years ago when he was looking for a job in the open air to help him deal with a lung problem.
He’s generally at it daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., earning $200 a month — equivalent to a Cambodian minimum-wage job — and said he hoped authorities wouldn’t try and put an end to it.
“I need these monkeys,” he said, holding a Nikon Coolpix camera with an extreme zoom that his employer provided, the same model most of the YouTubers were using.
With the difficulties involved in identifying and catching those responsible for the physical abuse of the monkeys, coupled with the draw of easy money through YouTube videos, Long Kosal said APSARA’s task is a tough one.
“This is the problem for us,” he said. “We need to find solid reasons which we can use against them not to make content by abusing the monkeys.”
For Nick Marx, director of wildlife rescue and care for the Wildlife Alliance — which implements conservation programs across Southeast Asia and is involved in releasing wildlife back into Angkor — the answer is simple, though perhaps equally as elusive.
“The biggest problem is these (videos) are generated to make money,” he said in an interview from Phnom Penh. “If people that don’t like this kind of thing would stop watching them, that would really help solve the problem of abuse.”
