alvnv

NOTE -- If he's serious about wanting tourists to stay longer, it's not rocket science. Granting longer stays on arrival, and making it far less bureaucratic to extend stays, would accomplish that. But trying to persuade visitors who enjoy Bangkok or Pattaya that Hua Hin or other destinations will satishy their tastes doesn't sound like a winning strategy.
From The Nation
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin outlined a shift in his tourism policy to promote second-tier provinces and boost spending by foreign tourists in a meeting at Government House on Wednesday.
The premier told Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) chief Thapanee Kiatphaibool and ministry executives that the goal is to sustain a year-round high tourism season and boost per head, per trip spending by foreign visitors.
He said tourism promotions should also shift from traditional destinations like Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and Hua Hin.
The premier told the meeting that Thailand should be a high-season destination all year round, instead of just during winter months.
He added that TAT should be able to provide information to foreigners in all languages, adding that the focus should not just be on the number of arrivals but also on spending per head.
“I want foreign tourists to stay longer and spend more,” he said.
While acknowledging that the number of Chinese arrivals did not meet expectations, she expressed optimism about high arrivals from other countries. She also said that she will seek government approval for tourists to be allowed to stay for longer than 30 days per trip.
In a bid to boost the tourism industry, the government approved a temporary exemption for a 30-day stay for Chinese, Indian and Kazakhstan nationals in September. The scheme, which was scheduled to end in February next year, has been extended to May 2024 and now includes Taiwan and Russia nationals.

From The Nation

The first phase of the Dusit Central Park mega mixed-use property development is set to open in the second half of next year, chief investment officer La-ead Kovavisaruch said on Wednesday.
The first phase, she revealed, would see the official opening of Dusit Thani Hotel, while other facilities such as an office, a department store, and ultra-luxurious residences will be ready in 2025-26.
She cited recent Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside sales figures as proof.
According to the sales report, it outperformed the initial target by approximately 80%. With over 300 units sold out of a total of 406 units, customer insights reveal strong interest in specific room types.
The buyer demographic is made up of 75% Thais and 25% foreigners. The vast majority of foreigners are Asian. Some clients, however, come from the Middle East, Europe, and America. They plan to either settle or invest in Thailand.

The majority of the park's 11,200 square metres would be open to the public, with a portion privately reserved for its residents.
She emphasised that the Roof Park, a green oasis in the heart of the city, reflected the project's commitment to urban ecology with an amphitheater, jogging track, and urban farm.
 

From Thai PBS World
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has instructed its representative in Bangkok to investigate a car accident, in which an injured Taiwanese tourist was allegedly denied medical treatment by a hospital and died while being transferred to another.
Taiwan News online reported that the ministry also expressed its concern over the matter to the Thailand Trade and Economic Office in Taipei and asked them to convey its request to take the matter seriously to the Thai government.
Details of the accident are still unclear, but initial reports state that a person called “Chen” was a victim of a hit-and-run accident on Pattanakarn Road at about 2am on December 8.
Rescuers rushed Chen, who was still alive, to a private hospital only 500 meters from the scene of the accident. Staff there allegedly refused to admit Chen, despite his severe injuries, because he was a foreigner.
He was then taken to a state hospital about 10km away, a journey during which he succumbed to his injuries.
Chen’s death came to light after a Taiwanese media outlet posted the story online, which spread to Thailand.
It is reported that police have arrested the 51-year-old driver, who drove away instead of helping Chen. He was allegedly intoxicated.
Upon learning of the case, Thailand’s Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew ordered an investigation, stating that a hospital cannot deny medical treatment to an emergency patient.
Cholnan said hospital staff denying treatment to a critically ill emergency patient could face a jail term of up to two years and/or fines of up to Bt40,000.
Cholnan also admitted today that the incident could affect the confidence of foreign tourists visiting Thailand and, since Thailand is a major tourist destination for Taiwanese holidaymakers, the government must take full responsibility and demonstrate publicly that it will solve the problem and prevent a reoccurrence.

I believe u got two trip reports mixed up hehe

I agree about Vietnam.
Although it lacks the transportation infrastructure that Thailand offers, it possesses many outstanding national parks and beaches and no shortage of attractive men.
The first country that can produce a reasonable cost health care plan attractive to retirees will have a foot up on the others.

From The Diplomat

Nico Mesterharm has spent more than 15 years as director of Meta House in Phnom Penh, producing films, plays, and books, while offering a stage for aspiring local and international artists who have rebuilt Cambodia’s arts scene with the backing of foreign donors.
However, Cambodia is no longer a struggling post-war country nor is it a major recipient of foreign aid, with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza grabbing the majority of the world’s attention.
For that reason, finding backers to support fresh projects in Cambodia is proving difficult but Mesterharm still has a number of works in the pipeline, including the documentary “Fraternal Help,” which details the lives of some of the 4,000 Cambodians who found refuge in the former East Germany in the 1980s.
Mesterharm spoke with The Diplomat’s Luke Hunt about the relationship between Germany and Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge, and what left-wing intellectuals did not want to believe about the country.
He also has some advice about what international audiences expect from Southeast Asian and Cambodian artists and how the dynamics of funding has changed, particularly for young filmmakers.
Mesterharm is also acting director of the Cambodian-German Cultural Association, co-founder of Krossover Media Berlin, and a member of the International Academy at the Free University of Berlin. In 2018, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Continues at
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/making-art-and-finding-an-edge-in-cambodia/

From Firstpost
China is trying to get to Taiwan any which way possible: now, they have allegedly tried to bribe a Taiwan army pilot to steal a US-made Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, but the accused Colonel has been arrested.
The deal was worth $15 million.
As per reports, the lieutenant colonel surnamed Hsieh, was approached by Chinese officers who asked him to fly a CH-47F Chinook helicopter to a Chinese aircraft carrier in the Taiwan Strait.
They offered Hsieh to evacuate his family to Thailand in the event of a cross-strait conflict.
Initially, Hsieh declined the offer, but accepted when he was offered half the cost of the helicopter, a whooping $15 million.
The defection to China was uncovered by investigators in April and Hsieh and others involved were arrested subsequently.
Continues at
https://www.firstpost.com/world/why-china-offered-a-taiwan-army-pilot-15-million-and-ticket-to-thailand-13495662.html

From Pattaya News
Giant Light Towers Installed on Na Jomtien Beach

en massive light towers have been put up on Na Jomtien Beach to increase visibility at night and please beachgoers.
The 2.1-million-baht project is funded by tax revenue and commenced on September 27th, 2023, and scheduled for completion on December 25th, under the responsibility of Double M International Company Limited, the contractor.
According to Na Jomtien mayor Ms. Rapeepan Ratanaliam, the project involves the installation of 10 light towers, each standing at a height of 20 meters along with control boxes.
Each tower is equipped with eight powerful high-mast lights, which will illuminate the beach area and surrounding roads to enhance safety and security for tourists visiting during evening hours.
Ms. Rapeepan highlighted Na Jomtien Beach’s popularity among tourists who visit to enjoy the natural beauty and relax. She emphasized that many tourists choose to visit during evening and night hours, making the installation of brighter lights crucial for their safety. Additionally, the project aims to create a visually appealing nighttime atmosphere on the beach in order to attract even more visitors, she said.

From Thai PBS World
The Cabinet agreed today to exempt Japanese businessmen making business trips to Thailand, of no longer than 30 days, from requiring a visa.
Deputy government spokesman Kharom Phonpornklang said that this visa exemption will come into force on January 1 and last until December 31, 2026.
He said that the measure is intended to facilitate travel to Thailand by Japanese businessmen, adding that Japan has advanced technology in green industries, medical science, biology and the digital economy, among other areas, and Thailand wants Japanese investors to explore new business opportunities in Thailand.

How is a bar to know whether a customer is driving or not? And @PeterRS question about leaving at 3:39 am? 
How are bars to know who a customer's friends and relatives are, and their phone numbers? 
And many more questions. Oh gosh, it boggles the mind.

Obviously, those who don’t go out 😀

There's some other relevant comparisons.
The IDF is clearly in a position to say this.  If you attack us, we will smear the streets with the blood of your dead.  And they are doing it.  Death here, death there, death everywhere.  We all agree it's sad.  Add lots of dead journalists, which is the point @Moses wants to make.  He's correct. It's a fact.  Israel is in a position to retaliate, defend, or whatever you want to call it.  And they are doing it.
Russia is clearly in a position to say this.  We can attack you, Ukraine.  And we will smear the streets with the blood of your dead.  Dead soldiers, dead citizens, dead journalists.  Death, death, death.  Russia will bring you death.  Putin will bring you death.  You may hate us for eternity, and hope Putin burns in hell.  But guess what?  We could fucking care less.  We can and will kill 500,000 of your soldiers.  We don't care.  Russia and Putin bring you death and misery.  It's just that simple.
Is there any question why Ukrainians hate Russians, and why Israel is pretty much united that Hamas sucks?  That doesn't mean Putin and Hamas will just go away.  Any successful plan has to start with the reality that Putin and Hamas can't simply be wiped out, unless we maybe want to blow up the whole planet.  But they ARE the problem.
Putin and Hamas have this in common.  They like death.  They want to kill.  They are sadistic butchers.  It is who they are.  It is what they do.  It is how they get and keep power.  All you have to do is read where people are dying, including journalists.  You are correct, @Moses.   Gaza and Ukraine are bloodbaths.  Why?  Because sadistic butchers like Hamas and Putin made it that way.
I despise Netanyahu and I think the IDF is going way too far.  I think Putin calculated correctly that he could at the very least weaken Ukraine and create a stalemate.  But none of that changes the fact that Hamas and Putin started the death.  Certain facts are plain and simple.  Hamas is a terrorist organization.  Putin is a sadistic butcher.  Do you agree, @Moses?  If you want to understand why we have so many dead journalists, look to the butchers and sadists and terrorists who started it first.
In my country, I could and did say George W. Bush sucks and this whole idea of attacking Iraq is insane.  Granted, we did it anyway.  I won't defend it, and I am not proud of it.  Now most Americans and most of the world agree with me.  My college mentor was a liberal Jewish professor who somehow ended up being a US Senator who was the only Democrat running for re-election in 2002 to oppose the Iraq War.  There are conspiracy theorists who actually believe that got him killed in a small plane crash. I don't believe that.  Here's my point.  I can say my leader sucks and is wrong.  Wellstone could vote against that war, and say it was a horrible mistake. 
In Russia, if you say these things, or oppose Putin, you are sent to the front.  If you oppose the war, you become fertilizer or dog food in Ukraine.  I'm not sure if you agree with Putin.  Or if you just don't want to be sent to the front.  Of course, I don't think Putin does that to journalists who disagree with him.  He just jails them, or kills them.  We settled that a long time ago.

The murder that killed free media in Russia.
Why aren't you ashamed of living in a failing country run by a sadistic butcher, @Moses?  You should be.
By the way, did you notice that Xi, not Putin, went to San Francisco and was given accolades by Apple?  Have you noticed how China, not Russia, is having all-of-government meetings, starting with Biden and Xi, to figure out how to put out these fires, rather than starting them?  Have you noticed that the Chinese economy came out of COVID a mess, and the US came out of COVID with the strongest economy in the world? 
What I am trying to say politely, @Moses, is that Xi is playing your sadistic butcher of a leader, just like your sadistic butcher of a leader played his sadistic butcher of a chef, who is now dead.  Boo hoo!  You get my point, right?  None of this changes the fact that Russia is a failing economy that engineers who have the skills to work for Apple are fleeing in droves.  Because they don't want to end up being a journalist in Russia.  Or fertilizer in Ukraine.
 
 

Shocking stuff and in line with media reports about how American consumers are fleeced by a broken system.  The upside is hopefully the World can benefit from our bloat which keeps the pharmaceutical industry so competitive with research and compensation.

A few old miserable sods on here should make a trip to that shop 😉

@revengeboo, please excuse and ignore our resident curmudgeon and professional sex tourist @scott456 . He will always tell you that you're paying too much, and he'll encourage you to learn how to be a stingy, greedy complainer just like him. 😇

Here are mine. Taken in September (very cold-adverse person in here).

From VN Express

Located in Thailand’s Udon Thani Province, Vietnam Town introduces Vietnamese culture and cuisine to both the Thai community and international tourists.   Thailand's first officially-recognized Vietnam Town was inaugurated last Saturday in the northeastern province of Udon Thani as part of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L)'s visit to Thailand.
Hue said he believed that with the strong support of the local administration, the town will see bustling business and thriving cultural and tourism activities, both of which will thus make it a destination for Vietnamese in Thailand as well as other international tourists. He said this would contribute to enriching the local culture and fostering the friendship and bonds between locals and Thai people of Vietnamese origin in the locality.
Vietnam Town is located at Alley No. 2 on Si Suk Street in Udon Thani City, about 550 km from Bangkok.
Udon Thani has long been home to vibrant communities of Vietnamese expats in Thailand. There are currently about 60,000 Vietnamese in the province.
Vietnam Town initially took shape years ago, but the community has just recently received 3 million Thai baht support from the local government to upgrade the local infrastructure system.
Almost all business households there are of Vietnamese origin. The welcome gate area features a traditional Vietnamese roof and details of ancient Vietnam’s bronze drums.
Vietnam Town is currently open daily from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., selling Vietnamese specialties such as such as banh gio (Vietnamese pyramid rice dumplings), banh duc (rice cakes made of rice flour infused with lime water), banh beo (water fern cake), fried pancakes, steamed rice rolls, fried spring rolls and tofu.
Udon Thani is served by low-cost airlines such as Nok Air or Air Asia, which offer daily domestic flights from Bangkok that take just one hour.
Round-trip ticket prices range from VND1.2 million-1.5 million.
Visitors can also choose Bangkok buses and trains with travel times of about 8-9 hours. Ticket prices start at around $20.
 

From The Nation
Illegal laughing gas was spotted being openly sold at a cannabis shop on busy Walking Street in Pattaya on Sunday night, despite regular police patrols in the area.
The Nation was tipped off that the shop, which sells legal marijuana products, was selling balloons filled with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) on the popular tourism street in the seaside town.
A check at the shop revealed that staff inside were selling nitrous oxide balloons to both Thai and foreign tourists.
The shop was also displaying a sign reading: “Happy balloon. Buy 10, get 2 free balloons and one glass of beer.”
Nitrous oxide is used as a sedative in certain medical and dental procedures. It induces a mild sense of euphoria, often accompanied by giggling fits – hence the nickname “happy gas”.

From Pattaya News
Santi Promphat, deputy minister of public health, announced after the committee’s meeting that bars and nightclubs must strictly obey the rules and regulations when they are allowed to operate until 4 AM, starting on December 15th, to ensure patrons safety and minimize alcohol-related incidents.
Entertainment venues in legal zones in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Bangkok and Surat Thani (only on Koh Samui) will be given this privilege, which also applies to hotels nationwide.
Santi stressed that operators are to specifically follow the Entertainment Place Act and Section 29 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which prevent nighttime venues from selling alcoholic beverages to people under 20 years old.
He went on to say that venue operators will be required to conduct breathalyzer tests on patrons. If customers’ alcohol level is above the legal limit of 50 milligrams per deciliter, they will need to rest at the areas provided by the venues until they are sober enough to drive home.
In the event that a customer refuses to rest and has a breath alcohol level exceeding the legal limit, the bar operators must contact the customer’s friends or relatives or hail public transport to arrange for their transportation at the customer’s expense.
Relevant agencies will collect data to assess the impact of extended operating hours.
TPN Media notes it is unclear how this plan is expected to be enforced and many entertainment venue business owners have already brought up many issues, including logistical, with breathalyzing every customer leaving a venue as well as to who would be responsible for paying for the equipment and what to do if a customer refuses the test.

From Thai PBS World
January 1st as a special case to promote tourism, Traisuree Traisoranakul, spokesperson of the Interior Ministry, said Monday.
She also said that Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has signed a regulation to allow such licenced premises in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Ko Samui to stay open until 4am from December 15th, instead of the current 2am closing time.
Traisuree went on to say that Anutin has instructed all relevant units of the Interior Ministry to coordinate with local authorities, such as the police and security agencies, to ensure the safety of patrons of entertainment venues, maintain public order for the sake of those who live close to entertainment establishments, adding that the police have been instructed to enforce the drunk driving laws strictly.

From The Thaiger
The Immigration Bureau (IB) announced that Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s automated channels are now accessible to foreigners to alleviate congestion for outbound travel. This decision, effective from December 15, aligns with the Prime Minister’s directive, enforced by Srettha Thavasin, to enhance the outbound immigration system.
The move is aimed at reducing the density of passengers who need to rush to catch their flights, echoing the government’s tourism promotion policy.
Today, Lieutenant Police General Itthiphon Itthisanronnachai, Chief of the Immigration Bureau, divulged that the IB has developed an automated channel or an automatic passport control system for departures at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Initially, it could only check Thai passport holders, but from December 15, it will also accommodate foreign passport holders.
The automated channel system for departures at Suvarnabhumi Airport, in operation since 2012, comprises 16 machines primarily used to check Thai passengers. The process, which includes cross-checking faces and fingerprints, takes approximately 20 seconds per person. In comparison, manual checking by officers takes about 45 seconds per person.
However, foreign nationals using the automated channel system must hold E-Passports that meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which has over 70 member countries with approximately 30,000 outbound travellers daily.
In July, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited will purchase an automated channel system to replace the existing 12-year-old system at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, both inbound and outbound.
At Suvarnabhumi, about 80 machines will be installed for international departures, compared to the current 16 machines, and 16 machines will replace the existing ones for international arrivals.
At Don Mueang Airport, eight machines will be installed to replace the current four machines for international departures and arrivals. The upgraded system will be more modern, accurate, and faster.
===================
This is an old video dating from time when first automated gates were installed for foreigners from a limited number of countries.
 

Most of my friends that caught it isolated for 7 days or until they tested negative at least twice, for most of them 7 days seemed to be about the right time but a couple didn't test negative until 14 days later (probably still just shedding the dead virus cells). 

From The Nation
With most vaccinated people developing none or very mild symptoms when infected by the Omicron variant of Covid-19, many are choosing to stay isolated at home.
However, how long should the infected stay isolated to ensure they are free of the virus and can safely interact with others?
In a Facebook post on Monday, leading virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan said studies show that the virus count starts to drop sharply seven days after the symptoms are first observed.
The studies cited have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and New England Journal of Medicine.
“After 10 days, the viral load will be extremely low and too weak to be transmitted to others. Hence, the suitable period for self-isolation is at least 10 days from when the symptoms appeared or when you tested positive,” Yong said. “If you can’t complete the 10-day requirement, then at least isolate for seven days and then employ strict preventive measures when interacting with others in the following three days to prevent the spread of the virus.”
 
 
 

The first episode was so cute! This two just have a different chemistry that is not found among the other gmm couples.

They’re back! Episode 1 of the Cherry Magic with TayNew available on YouTube: