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From The Nation Soaring land prices in Bangkok’s central business district have resulted in record high prices for new high-end condos, real estate consultant Property DNA said on Monday. “This year we have seen more new condo projects opening at more than a quarter million baht per square metre, while back in 2019 this kind of price was rare,” said Surachet Kongcheep, the firm’s managing director. These ultra-luxury condo projects are located in areas such as Rama I, Phloen Chit, Wireless Road, Silom, Sathorn, Rama IV, certain sections of Sukhumvit Road, and by the Chao Phraya River, he said. Buyers are snapping up these units quickly despite the high prices, with some projects reporting 65-85% bookings, he added. High-rise condos located near Lumpini Park are especially popular thanks to rare views of the city’s oasis, while a lack of nearby train stations is not a dealbreaker as many buyers prefer privacy over convenience. Surachet also predicted top prices for new luxury condos will soon rise to 600 million baht per unit, as giant developers pay record prices for empty plots in prime CBD locations. “Thai and foreign buyers have already shown interest in these projects despite the sales not officially starting yet,” he said. “Developers have also teamed up with operators of five-star hotels in supervising the projects, thus further increasing their value and prices.”

From National News Bureau of Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently convened a meeting with Phuket’s government officials, consuls, and honorary consuls from 12 countries, along with local police units, to discuss and enhance measures aimed at boosting tourist safety and clamping down on crimes involving foreigners. The discussions focused on strategies to ensure that Phuket remains a safe destination for international visitors. During the meeting, Srettha stressed the importance of protecting the lives and property of both residents and tourists. He advocated for the creation of a ‘Phuket Model’ that integrates tourism development with heightened safety measures and rigorous law enforcement. Specific attention was given to preventing accidents on roads and waterways, enforcing stringent fire safety regulations, and ensuring that all business operations are properly licensed. The premier directed special attention to high-traffic tourist areas such as Patong and Bangla, insisting on a zero-tolerance policy towards drug use and public disturbances. Urgent upgrades were ordered for local police facilities to better equip them to handle these challenges. Reflecting on his tenure, the prime minister highlighted the progress made in enhancing Phuket’s appeal as a tourist destination since his first visit after assuming office. He also called for a balanced approach to economic benefits, urging local stakeholders to consider national security as a crucial aspect of their tourism and business strategies. (NNT) ================== From The Thaiger / Phuket News Phuket hospital calls for law-abiding visitors Vachira Phuket Hospital called upon the Russian community in Phuket to respect Thai laws and hospital regulations following a string of incidents involving Russian nationals. Recent episodes include a Russian man refusing to settle his medical bills, and a woman threatening hospital staff with a baseball bat. A man of Russian nationality was arrested on April 19 for intimidating the staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital and declining to pay his outstanding medical bill. The hospital has declared it will not tolerate such conduct. The letter appealing to the Russian community in Phuket was signed by Methavee Maneesri, the Head of the International Department at Vachira Phuket Hospital. “Dear Russian Community in Phuket, please find the attached information from the police daily record regarding an incident [that occurred at Vachira Phuket Hospital]. The behaviour described in the report is unacceptable to us. I am ready to assist and cooperate with anyone involved in medical cases, provided they adhere to standard procedures and respect public laws and regulations.” Methavee stressed the importance of respecting hospital procedures and public laws. She also reminded everyone that healthcare services are not free, encouraging everyone to have medical or work insurance and adhere to the waiting in a queue like Thai nationals do. The letter, dated April 20, was sent to The Phuket News with a request to share the information in Novosti Phuketa, the Russian-language sister newspaper of The Phuket News. Included with the letter was a copy of a Phuket City Police report corroborating Methavee’s complaint about an incident involving a threatening Russian patient. According to this report and Methavee’s account, a 48 year old Russian patient, Sergey Chent, received treatment on April 17 and left without paying his bill totalling 8,380 baht. On April 19, Chent returned to Vachira Phuket Hospital for another medical consultation. Methavee and other hospital staff requested him to pay the outstanding bill of 8,380 baht. Chent refused to pay and threatened the staff, bragging about his connections with high-ranking police officers, influence, and wealth. He was accompanied by a woman carrying a baseball bat, according to the police report. Continues at https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-hospital-calls-on-russian-community-to-respect-thai-laws

NOTE -- It's ironic but these are the same folks who've been appealing to the government to do everything within its power to liberalize tourism in the wake of the pandemic. Prosperity seems less appetizing up close. From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations has formally warned the Thai government that overtourism is now at crisis point. With projections that the calendar year 2024 will see 40 million overseas visitors – parallel to 2019 the last pre-covid year – both the environment and tourist comfort are under dire threat. The most badly affected cities are Phuket and Pattaya where there are respectively 118 and 99 overseas visitors for every local resident in research conducted by MoneyTransfers. That research is already several months out of date and the true ratios could be worse. Chris Flynn, chief officer of the World Tourism Association, said that Thai authorities don’t seem to have determined “what they can take before they break”. The most obvious signs of overtourism in Pattaya are awesome traffic congestion made worse by tour buses crowding the inadequate roads and road repairs being conducted at several points in or near the city center. John Leeman, a tourist from Liverpool UK, said, ”It takes me at least one hour after dark to travel from Jomtien to central Pattaya, twice last year’s time, and when you get to your destination parking is near-impossible.” The situation could soon be made worse by the threat of water shortages, caused by lack of rainfall, and also by the prospect of more passengers arriving at U-tapao airport near Pattaya. At the moment, some airlines decline to utilize that base as there is no regular bus passenger transport into Pattaya. If that situation changes, U-tapao can expect a surge in the number of daily arrivals. n recent months, Thai tourist numbers have surged partly as a result of the abandonment of holiday visas for huge markets such as Russia, China and India. In response, Thai tourist authorities are trying to promote second-tier provinces to take the pressure off the traditional resorts. The Tourism Council of Thailand meanwhile is asking the government to collect the 300 baht entry fee to fund development and improvements. But many travel gurus doubt whether such policies will actually deter overtourism. It is not just a Thai problem. In Greece the numbers visiting the Acropolis have been restricted by the need for advance booking and pre-payment. Holland has toughened its drug laws to deter the supposed hoodlum market and has banned the building of any more hotels. Some commentators see Thailand’s recent crackdown on foreign crime – over 400 arrested in Phuket on a variety of charges – and the likely banning of leisure cannabis later this year as signs that the government wants to deter some fun-loving overseas visitors. As one Cabinet minister put it, “We want quality tourists from now on.” ===================== From The Thaiger Thai tourism sector proposes 300-baht tax to counter over-tourism Thai tourism operators are advocating for government regulations to address the rising issue of over-tourism in the country. They propose the implementation of a 300-baht tourism tax, which they believe could alleviate the problem. Their call for action comes in response to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s commitment to make 2025 a pivotal year for Thai tourism. The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) is set to present a white paper to the government outlining solutions to over-tourism, a significant issue in Thailand pre-pandemic. Secretary-General of FETTA, Adith Chairattananon, pointed out that major tourist destinations like Phuket, Samui, and Pattaya are on the brink of over-tourism, with a projected 40 million tourists. During peak season, these popular destinations suffer from traffic congestion and water shortages, with international airports running out of slots for airlines. Adith suggests a key strategy could be to divert tourists from these hubs to the country’s secondary cities. These cities offer numerous potential attractions and have adequate space to accommodate an influx of tourists. Adith also proposed incentives for airlines to operate direct flights to provincial airports, such as U-Tapao, Khon Kaen, and Krabi. Such a move would ease congestion at major airports, like Phuket Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport, and stimulate regional business opportunities. Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Vice-President Surawat Akaraworamat supports the idea of a 300-baht tourism fee. He believes it could fund tourism development as the plan and all related preparations have been finalised. Surawat suggests that the tax would not deter foreign tourists, as the fee is minimal compared to countries like Bhutan, which charges a tourist tax of over US$100 (approximately 3,700 baht) per night. The additional revenue could be used to develop infrastructure in second-tier provinces, attract tourists away from overcrowded locations, and enhance attractions that have deteriorated due to over-tourism, reported Bangkok Post. Surawat called for a trial phase of tourism tax collection through a mobile application or kiosks, mirroring the approach taken by many countries that collect taxes from tourists through flight tickets or hotel stays.

From Thai PBS World Taiwan’s capital was hit by a series of earthquakes overnight into the early hours of Tuesday, with the Central Weather Administration saying the strongest was a magnitude-6.3 tremor originating in eastern Hualien. The first strong quake — a magnitude 5.5 — hit on Monday at around 5:08 pm (0908 GMT), according to Central Weather Administration. It could be felt in the capital Taipei. That was followed by a series of aftershocks and quakes, with two intense tremors hitting one after another around 2:30 am (1830 GMT) Tuesday, according to AFP reporters and witnesses in Taipei. “I was washing my hands, and suddenly felt what I thought was vertigo,” Olivier Bonifacio, a tourist staying in Taipei’s Da’an district, told AFP. “I stepped into my room and noticed the building was rocking and I heard the desk creak,” he said, adding that it was then he realised it was another aftershock. The Central Weather Administration said a magnitude-6.0 quake had hit at 2:26 am, followed six minutes later by the magnitude-6.3 tremor.

Blast, I was considering a Japan trip next year and Kyoto was on my short list of places to visit.