Chiang Mai’s Songkran Tourism Is Being Harmed by Air Pollution

By

-

29 March 2023, 23:09

Pallop Saejew, president of the Chaing Mai Chamber of Commerce, told reporters on Wednesday that according to a survey of business owners in the province prior to the Songkran festival in April, there has been an impact on tourism as many Thai tourists have stopped coming to the region due to heavy PM2.5 pollution, inhalable particles 2.5 micrometres in diameter or less pollute the air.

According to the survey, the number of bookings varies by location. While in the Tha Phae area, bookings rise to 50 per cent, in the polluted areas, only 20 to 30 per cent of vacancies are booked.

Foreign tourists, unlike the Thais who are afraid of the dust and haze, still come to the region because they have spent a lot of money and are not willing to cancel their plans, like those who have already booked a travel package. Tourists from China, Vietnam, Europe and the United States still come to Thailand for Songkran, especially Chiang Mai.

Pallop said they would not take advantage of foreign tourists and provided them with information about pollution and alternative travel options in Chiang Mai to gain trust. He believed that April, the time of high winds, could help with the situation.

Chiang Mai reclaims the top spot again on Wednesday morning, March 29, 2023, as the most polluted city on earth when it comes to the level of PM2.5 microdust particles in the air.

A fire also broke out at Baan Hua Kaek community forest in the province’s Mae Wang district on Tuesday but was extinguished by 9 p.m. last night.

chiangmai fire — A fire broke out in the Baan Hua Kaek community forest.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) detected 600 hotspots in Chiang Mai, it is the highest daily record. Mostly are located inside reserved forests and various national parks. Hotspots accumulated from January 1, 2023 to the present, a total of 6,151 points.

Hawaii Authorities Say 33 Swimmers Were Harassing Dolphins

By

Associated Press

-

29 March 2023, 17:38

hawaii dolphin — In this photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, swimmers swim after spinner dolphins in Honanau Bay, Hawaii, March 26, 2023

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii authorities on Tuesday say they have referred 33 people to U.S. law enforcement after the group allegedly harassed a pod of wild dolphins in waters off the Big Island.

It’s against federal law to swim within 50 yards (45 meters) of spinner dolphins in Hawaii’s nearshore waters. The prohibition went into effect in 2021 amid concerns that so many tourists were swimming with dolphins that the nocturnal animals weren’t getting the rest they need during the day to be able to forage for food at night.

The rule applies to areas within 2 nautical miles (3.7 kilometers) of the Hawaiian Islands and in designated waters surrounded by the islands of Lanai, Maui and Kahoolawe.

AP23088142022023 — In this photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, department enforcement officers speak to swimmers in Honaunau, Hawaii, March 26, 2023, after the swimmers allegedly harassed a pod of wild spinner dolphins. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a news release that its enforcement officers came upon the 33 swimmers in Honaunau Bay on Sunday during a routine patrol.

Aerial footage shot by drone shows snorkelers following dolphins as they swim away. The department said its video and photos showed swimmers “who appear to be aggressively pursuing, corralling and harassing the pod.”

AP23088142080263 — In this photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, department enforcement officers speak to swimmers in Honaunau, Hawaii, March 26, 2023, after the swimmers allegedly harassed a pod of wild spinner dolphins. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)

Enforcement officers contacted the group while they were in the water, and told them about the violation. Uniformed officers met the swimmers on land where state and federal officials launched a joint investigation.

Hawaii’s spinner dolphins feast on fish and small crustaceans that surface from the ocean’s depths at night. When the sun rises, they head for shallow bays to hide from tiger sharks and other predators.

To the untrained eye, the dolphins appear to be awake during the day because they’re swimming.

But because they sleep by resting half of their brains and keeping the other half awake to surface and breathe, they may be sleeping even when they’re maneuvering through the water.

Revival of the “Zero-dollar Tour” Would Cost Thailand THB 3 Trillion

By

Khaosod English

-

29 March 2023, 13:28

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) has met urgently to prevent the resurgence of the zero-dollar tour, fearing that it will sabotage the country’s upcoming tourism revenue.

Arrun Boonchai, permanent secretary of MOTS, told Prachachat Business that following the opening of the Chinese border to international travel without restrictions on February 6, 2023, the ministry has discovered several travel agencies from China advertising travel packages that are significantly below the cost of operation, a tactic known as the ‘zero-dollar tour’.

As it turns out, most travel packages are lower than the current operating costs. The ministry suspects that these types of packages will increase.

The constant problems with tourists being lured into a particular souvenir shop or lacking security are also due to the zero-dollar tour. In some cases, the transactions take place in advance, suggesting that the operators must have planned to enrich themselves.

MOTS reports that the Chinese authorities are also aware of the situation and are concerned and have asked Thailand to protect Chinese tourists on 3 points: 1. quality of tourists, 2. safety and 3. experience of the trip, not just for shopping.

“Previously, the Thai government had spoken with the Chinese government and agreed on an initial price for a travel package, as China also wanted to address business misconduct,” said Arrun.

He added that the main problem is everything is linked together like a chain. The zero-dollar tour operators own a restaurant, a jewelry shop or a hotel. This problem has cost Thailand THB 3 trillion (87.300 billion U.S. dollars), which has gone to nominee investors or those outside the country.

Jaturon Phakdeevanich, director general of the Department of Tourism MOTS, said the department will work hand in hand with other stakeholders to share documents on the erring individuals and companies to resolve the issue.

He added that the department will register all travel agencies for Chinese clients. If any agency fails to maintain its licence, it will be removed from the ‘list of travel agents (affiliates)’. The list will then be forwarded to all authorities for verification and advertised to clients.

Moreover, the Chinese government has urged its citizens to buy travel packages from a registered travel agency and not from a cheap travel where, in some cases, more money is charged later.

The Chinese government is ready to investigate the matter. If the authorities find any illegal businesses, they will prosecute them, as this problem is sabotaging the tourism industry of both countries.

_____

Iraqi Arrested After Overstaying Visa 8 Years

By

Khaosod English

-

29 March 2023, 09:00

Khalid Majeed Ali Ali, in green shirt, at Chonburi Immigration Office on Mar. 28, 2023.

PATTAYA — An Iraqi national was arrested for overstaying his visa for eight years, police said Tuesday.

Police arrested Khalid Majeed Ali Ali, 52, at his house in Chonburi’s Bang Lamung district. Chonburi immigration chief Parinya Klinkesorn said the man had overstayed his tourist visa for 2,993 days after it expired on Jan. 15, 2015.

“Our investigation revealed that an Iraqi man had been staying in this area for a long period and appeared to be unemployed,” Pol. Col. Parinya said. “We feared that he might commit a crime.”

Majeed reportedly fainted when police showed up at his doorstep. Police had to administer first aid before he could be taken to Nong Prue Police Station to hear his charges.

Foreigners who are caught overstaying their visa by less than a year face five years on the blacklist, while those who overstay for more than a year face ten years. They also face a maximum fine of 20,000 baht. Those who turn themselves in get a shorter ban.

Bankman-fried Charged With Paying $40M Bribe to China

By

Associated Press

-

29 March 2023, 00:53

FTX Bankman Fried — FILE — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Manhattan federal court in New York, Feb. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was charged with directing $40 million in bribes to one or more Chinese officials to unfreeze assets relating to his cryptocurrency business in a newly rewritten indictment unsealed Tuesday.

The charge of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act raises to 13 the number of charges Bankman-Fried faces after he was arrested in the Bahamas in December and brought to the United States soon afterward. The indictment was returned on Monday.

FTX filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run. He has remained free on a $250 million personal recognizance bond that lets him stay with his parents in Palo Alto, California.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he cheated investors out of billions of dollars before his business collapsed.

An arraignment on the rewritten indictment was set for Thursday by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. He also on Tuesday banned Bankman-Fried from communicating with current or former employees of FTX, the global cryptocurrency exchange he founded or Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm linked to FTX. The order also limits Bankman-Fried to one laptop and phone and bans him from other cellphones, computers, or “smart” devices with internet access.

The alleged bribes stemmed from the operation of Alameda Research. The indictment said Chinese law enforcement authorities in early 2021 froze certain Alameda cryptocurrency trading accounts on two of China’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. The accounts, it said, contained about $1 billion in cryptocurrency.

Bankman-Fried, 31, understood that the accounts had been frozen by Chinese authorities as part of an ongoing probe of a particular Alameda trading counterparty, the indictment said.

After Bankman-Fried failed several attempts over several months to unfreeze the accounts through the use of lawyers and lobbying, Bankman-Fried ultimately agreed to direct a multimillion dollar bribe to try to unfreeze the accounts, the indictment said.

Among the failed attempts, the indictment said Bankman-Fried and others he directed opened new fraudulent accounts on the Chinese exchanges using personal identifying information of several individuals unaffiliated with FTX or Alameda to try to evade freeze orders and move cryptocurrency from frozen accounts to the fraudulent accounts.

The bribe payment of cryptocurrency, then worth about $40 million, was moved from Alameda’s main trading account to a private cryptocurrency wallet in November 2021 and the frozen accounts were unfrozen at about the same time, the indictment said.

After Bankman-Fried received confirmation that the accounts were unfrozen, he authorized the transfer of an additional tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to complete the bribe, according to the indictment.

Bankman-Fried’s lawyers did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Messages for comment were also sent to the Chinese consulate in New York and the Chinese embassy in Washington D.C.

_____

LARRY NEUMEISTER AP Writer reported from New York and Jennifer Peltz contributed to this story.

1 Dead, 1 Missing as Kyoto Tour Boat With 29 Aboard Capsizes

By

Kyodo News

-

28 March 2023, 19:15

kyoto boat1 — A traditional wooden tourist boat that capsized in the Hozu River in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture, on March 28, 2023 after becoming stranded while on a popular river cruise with about 30 people on board. (Kyodo)

A traditional wooden boat carrying 29 people on a popular river cruise in Kyoto Prefecture capsized Tuesday, leaving one person dead and one missing, police said.

All 25 passengers onboard were rescued after the incident that occurred at around 11 a.m. on the Katsura River, also known as the Hozu River, in the western Japan prefecture.

Saburo Tanaka, a 51-year-old staff member who had been punting the boat, died while another staff member, a man in his 40s, is unaccounted for, the police said. Two other staff members who were on board are safe.

Nine women among the passengers were sent to hospital for treatment due mainly to hypothermia and bruises, according to the Kyoto municipal fire department.

The accident occurred about 15 minutes after the boat departed a location upstream at around 10:40 a.m., according to Hozugawa Yusen Kigyo Kumiai, operator of the sightseeing tours.

After one of the four staff members made a steering error and fell into the water, the boat hit rocks and capsized, it said.

All 29 people aboard the boat were wearing lifejackets, according to the operator.

kyoto boat2 — People disembark at Arashiyama in Kyoto after being transported from the area where a traditional wooden boat carrying 29 people on a popular river cruise caspized on March 28, 2023. (Kyodo)

The Japan Transport Safety Board, a transport ministry body, decided later Tuesday to send two ship accident investigators to the site of the accident.

The tours, which attract around 300,000 tourists annually, start from Kameoka and traverse through rapids before ending at Arashiyama on the outskirts of the prefectural capital Kyoto.

The tours, which take around 90 minutes, are known for scenic vistas that change with the seasons.

In 2001, a tour boat with 19 passengers and five crew members aboard capsized about three kilometers downstream from the start point in Kameoka, forcing them to swim to safety.

In a more recent accident, in 2015, the captain of a tour boat carrying around 20 people fell into the same river and died.

Russians Outrank Chinese Investors in Phuket Real Estate

By

Khaosod English

-

28 March 2023, 18:38

knight frank - phuket2023 — photo knight frank

The real estate agency highlights the sale of villas and condominiums in Phuket as demand from Russian and Chinese clients is very high. Russians have eclipsed Chinese investors as the most active real estate investors in Phuket.

Knight Frank (Thailand) shows that Thailand’s property market continued to grow between the last quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year.

Frank Khan, Executive Director and Head of Resident at Knight Frank Thailand, said the Thai real estate industry is seeing a positive sign in 2023 from several new projects waiting to take off due to customer confidence, the upcoming elections and the opening of the border in China. These factors drive the industry.

The branded residence sector in the condominium market continued to see growth as customers have high purchasing power, such as in Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong. The aim is to invest for the long term and live with 5 to 6-star service. The price will continue to increase.

Phuket to bounce back within 1-2 years

Phuket’s real estate benefits from the tourism industry. Most condominiums for sale in the region are located on Bang Tao Beach, 45 per cent, followed by Layan Beach 31 per cent.

Towards the end of last year, a total of 18,613 condominiums were sold in Phuket out of the total 24,211 units on offer, representing 76.9 per cent, a slight decrease from 2021. There are 5,598 units remaining to be sold. Knight Frank estimates that the market will take 1-2 years to reach the pre-COVID level.

The villa sector is doing well as demand from foreigners for rental and buy-to-let properties is increasing as many people want to have a second home in Phuket and some clients prefer to rent a villa rather than a condominium. This brings a return of -10 per cent per year.

phuket unspash 2023 — Photo by Bradley Prentice on Unsplash

It is reported that in 2022, a total of 3,595 villa units were sold out of the total 4,375 units, representing 82.1 percent, an increase of 1 percent over 2021. There were 341 new units.

Demand for villas increased as Russian tourists flocked to Thailand to escape the road and the high season. They also fear future sanctions on money transactions.

The most popular area for building villas is the Choeng Thale district. Although the area is not near beaches, it is surrounded by forests and mountains that invite people to relax.

Russians on 7 most famous beaches

Nattha Kahapana, managing director of Knight Frank Thailand, said the tourism industry supports Phuket’s real estate. Russians have surpassed Chinese investors as the most active Phuket real estate investors, with a 40-60% share. Previously, the percentage of Russians was only around 10% to 15%

They are interested in the 7 most famous beaches: “Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamara, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale and Nai Thon”,” which helps to increase the value of the real estate in these areas by 15 to 20 percent.

Nattha expects demand from Russian customers to remain at this high level for the next 1 to 2 years. He added that clients will choose the project based on location, price and reputation of the developers. Besides Russians, Phuket real estate also benefits from Chinese investors.

Two Foreigners Arrested for Robbing a Pattaya Weed Shop

By

Khaosod English

-

28 March 2023, 16:13

Chonburi Provincial Investigation Police, in cooperation with the Centre for Combating Transnational Crime and Illegal Immigration (CTIC) arrested British and Korean men for robbery at the THC Trade Herb and Cannabis shop.

Markus Powell, 47, a British national, and Myoung Kyu Lee, 52, a Korean national, were arrested on a warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court for “joint nighttime invasion of another’s property and joint nighttime robbery, using some vehicles to aid the crime.”

The 2 suspects committed the crime on March 25, 2023, around 11.20 p.m.

Prinya Palsingh, 44, owner of a weed shop at Pattaya Sai 3 Rd. in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province, has told Pol. Capt. Sarawut Silsai, Deputy Police Station (Investigation), Muang Pattaya Police Station, after 2 foreigners robbed the shop and physically injured the co-owner, Namil Kim, a Korean national, before threatening them both and asking for their purses containing 5,000 THB and stealing money from their safe containing 170,000 THB before fleeing.

The Muang Pattaya police station’s investigation team watched the shop’s CCTV and gathered all the evidence before applying to the court for an arrest warrant and planning the arrest.

Police have also arrested the Irish man, 53, as the team suspects his involvement in the case.

Bangkok Bank Joins AIS 5G To Drive the Digital Economy While Securing Every Online Shopping

By

Contributor

-

28 March 2023, 15:56

Bangkok Bank joins AIS 5G to drive the Digital Economy, connecting intelligent networks and financial solutions to your digital lifestyle with “Be1st Digital AIS POINTS” debit card. Customers can collect points while feeling safe and secure in every online shopping experience.

Bangkok Bank and AIS 5G, leaders in the financial services and telecommunications industries, are cooperating to drive the growth of the country’s digital economy. Using their strengths in intelligent network and financial innovation, Bangkok Bank and AIS 5G are connecting the digital experience for customers and creating opportunities for Thai people to access new forms of financial services on digital platforms by introducing the Be1st Digital AIS POINTS debit card.

This debit card will transform customers’ online shopping experience with special privileges from AIS Points and financial services with the highest security from Bangkok Bank.

For every online purchase of 200 baht, customers will receive one AIS Point that can be redeemed for many privileges including telephone or internet charges, LINE stickers, food and beverage, or exchanged for discounts from leading brands covering all lifestyles with more than 1.8 million stores nationwide on myAIS app. In a special offer for customers who apply for the “Be1st Digital AIS POINTS” debit card within August 31, 2023, there will be fee waivers and up to 200 AIS Points.

Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President and Credit Card Division Manager Shoke Na Ranong said that: Bangkok Bank, a leading regional financial institution and AIS, a leader in digital services and communication networks, jointly launched “Be1st Digital AIS POINTS” debit card, the first co-branded card that delivers a convenient, fast, and highly secure payment experience for goods and services through online stores. This debit card caters to the habits and lifestyle of today’s consumers as well as offering value for every online spending. For every 200-baht in spending, customers will receive one AIS point and up to 100 points per card per month to redeem various privileges from AIS.

“Be1st Digital AIS POINTS” debit card is offering convenience and the option of using the digital card or the physical card, which is sent to customers’ given address during the application process, or both.

This card covers various transactions via Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking including withdrawals, transfers, and payments via ATM as well as contactless payments.

Customers can use the card with confidence as the Bank utilizes the same technology as Be1st Digital Card which was awarded the “Debit Card of the Year” at the Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards 2022 by The Digital Banker magazine and the “Most Innovative Debit Card Offering Thailand 2023” from World Economic magazine, a leading online business magazine in the US.

“This is a remarkable collaboration between Bangkok Bank and AIS that combined our strengths to develop “Be1st Digital AIS POINTS” debit card with the aim to provide better experiences to customers. The card enables customers to have convenient and fast online transactions, modify or set personal spending limits, as well as to check spending amounts by themselves via Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking with ease and security.

In addition, it also offers value from AIS Points and opportunities to offer good products to AIS’ customer base of more than 46 million. We are confident that the card will attract interest from customers, and we expect at least 6 million applications within 5 years. This will help us achieve our goal to become a leader in digital payment solutions in line with the development of Thailand’s digital economy,” said Mr. Shoke.

Mr. Tee Seeumpornroj, CFO of AIS, added that: “AIS is committed to developing digital technology infrastructure to be capable and ready to connect with main industries in order to create growth for the country’s digital economy. Throughout the years, we have believed in working with our partners. Today, AIS continues to build an ecosystem using our combined strengths to create various benefits for Thai people and the country.”

“Our cooperation with Bangkok Bank has reaffirmed the goal of working in customer care through the AIS Points program by bringing the potential of the intelligent network to create opportunities for Thai people to access financial services and receive AIS Points from online shopping via Be1st Digital AIS POINTS debit card.

This enables our customers to earn points from our partners while using AIS services. At the same time, customers can also use their points with AIS partner stores that cover all digital lifestyles, with more than 1.8 million stores nationwide and another 20,000 leading brands in department stores, retail stores, street food and food carts across the country on the myAIS app.”

“We believe that this partnership will enhance our work for our customers. In addition to providing customers with a digital experience for shopping online, this cooperation will create benefits for all parties involved. This includes customers of AIS and Bangkok Bank and merchant partners who are in the network of the AIS Points program across the country,” concluded Mr. Tee.

The Be1st Digital AIS POINTS debit card comes with cute Nong Aunjai characters in 4 designs for customers to choose from in the form of both digital and physical cards. The card features the highest level of transaction security according to world-class standards with the same technology as the Be1st digital card, supporting various financial transactions. Bangkok Bank and AIS customers can easily apply for the card via Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking.

Customers who apply for the Be1st Digital AIS POINTS debit card from today until August 31, 2023, will receive additional privileges including fee waivers worth 300 baht. New customers who open an e-Savings account with Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking will receive 200 AIS points for their first online purchase via the card, while existing customers who apply for the card will receive 100 AIS points for their first online purchase via the card.

What’s more, every 200 baht spent on online shopping via the Be1st Digital AIS POINTS card will receive one AIS point, for up to 100 points per card per month. Customers can redeem points for many privileges, including telephone or internet charges, LINE stickers, food and beverage and discounts on leading brands covering all lifestyles with more than 1.8 million stores nationwide on myAIS app.

Interested persons can ask for more information at Bualuang Phone1333 or 0-2645-5555 or contact AIS at https://www.bangkokbank.com/th-TH/Personal/Cards/Be1st-Smart-Card/Be1st-Digital-AIS-POINTS.

C.P. Vietnam Corporation Honored at High-Quality Vietnamese Goods Awards for Trusted, High-Quality Products

By

Contributor

-

28 March 2023, 15:48

C.P. Vietnam Corporation (CPV) proudly announces that it has received recognition for its superior quality and safe products in the animal and aquatic feed veterinary medicine category at the 2023 High-Quality Vietnamese Goods Awards. The prestigious event, attended by esteemed leaders from various sectors, acknowledged CPV as one of over 500 businesses receiving accolades for their excellence.

Over the past 30 years, CPV has established trust with partners and customers by implementing its 3F Plus closed production chain for animal feed. As an industry leader, the company continuously strives to produce top-quality products while maintaining environmentally friendly practices and promoting sustainable development.

CPV Vice President Ho Van Duc expressed gratitude for the certification, stating that it is a testament to the company’s commitment to improving product quality, earning consumer trust, and employing effective operational strategies, customer-centric policies, and results-driven processes.

The Business Association of High-Quality Vietnamese Goods selected the award recipients from a pool of 677 candidates after conducting thorough interviews with customers, sellers, and local agencies. The meticulous selection process ensured transparency and compliance throughout the screening. The association’s survey, initiated in September 2022, collected over 61,000 votes for various enterprises, reflecting the extensive engagement and support from the community.

Bangkok Bank joins AIS 5G to drive the Digital Economy, connecting intelligent networks and financial solutions to your digital lifestyle with “Be1st Digital AIS POINTS” debit card. Customers can collect points while feeling safe and secure in every online shopping experience.

Hot News

LATEST NEWS