#Thailand Tourism Festival showcases 5 regions

The Thailand Tourism Festival 2019 takes place from January 23-27 in Bangkok’s Lumpini Park with five ‘tourism villages’ representing the regions of Thailand plus two additional zones:

Central Region Zone – presents the heritage of old Siam through a traditional Thai house and the former rural way of life back in the days through demonstrations, such as, traditional garland making.

Northern Zone – showcases the beautiful hand-woven cotton and silk textiles the region is famous for, presenting the intricate patterns. The zone reflects the artistic nature of the people of the North plus a range of contemporary arts inspired by the region.

Southern Zone – presenting new perspectives of the South that go beyond the beaches and islands including the secondary cities such as Surat Thani and Phatthalung, the hidden gems in major cities like Phuket’s Peranakan and arts in the three southernmost provinces.

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Northeastern (Isan) Zone – brings Thailand’s more vibrant cuisine to life. Food is one major inspiration for travelling to this region, linking it with traditional festivals and cultural values while promoting its three main tourism clusters: North Isan, Central Isan and South Isan.

Eastern Zone – presenting new perspectives of the East under a ‘more fun’ concept through replicas of landmarks most synonymous with the region in combination with three dedicated corners for 3D photography backdrops reflecting the region’s identity.

Perhaps most importantly, there is also a ‘Reduce-Reuse-Recycle’ waste initiative zone to help raise awareness and promote responsible and sustainable tourism through various activities, games and more.

 TAT Studio – provides daily live broadcasts of the TTF 2019 in all formats: news reports, special scoops, interviews plus activities and performances. It comprises a live digital TV studio, a 1672 traveller companion information centre, an ‘Or Sor Tho’ magazine section, and virtual reality games and lucky draws.

Source - TheNation

Thailand Security advisories ‘may hurt tourism’

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MANY TOURISTS may not visit Thailand if their countries issue travel advisories after intelligence reports warned of possible bomb attacks in Bangkok, tourism associations said yesterday.
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"The tourism sector may suffer a huge negative impact if many countries issue travel advisories in relation to the warnings of bomb threats raised by the Thai police," Thai Travel Agents Association president Suparerk Soorangura said.

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Many foreign travel agencies and hotels are including Thailand in packages for the upcoming high season, so it is too soon to judge the number of advance bookings or cancellations, he said. If the government is unable to control speculation or ensure confidence in the international market, many tourists will shift their trips to other countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia or the Philippines, he added.
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"Our high-season period will be badly affected if tourists do not make bookings," Suparerk said.
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Supawan Thanomkiatphum, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said security had been tightened at many hotels and public areas as a precaution.

Airports of Thailand earlier announced tighter security measures at the country's six international airports, while the public transportation system is also implementing security measures.
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Meanwhile, national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda affirmed that information obtained by the intelligence services about plots for three bomb attacks in Bangkok and the vicinity between October 25 and 30 was in line with reports from their international counterparts.
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He said police investigators, led by his deputy for national security, Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, were looking into the leads but he declined to say if suspects detained after Tuesday's raids were linked to the alleged plots. He added that the end of October coincided with several key dates, including the anniversary of the founding of a southern insurgent group.
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Army chief General Chalermchai Sittisart has refused to say if the threat of bomb attacks in Bangkok might be linked to the unrest in the deep South, although he did say that cars stolen in the region might be used in the attacks. He added that attacks would not affect the ongoing peace dialogue regarding the Southern unrest.
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Chalermchai said the Peace and Order Maintaining Command had been instructed to help police to monitor communities and public areas, including malls, so people should not panic but be vigilant for suspicious items. He added that security forces were investigating the latest warnings.

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Source: The Nation

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New shuttles bus service tested in capital of Bangkok

A new shuttle bus service connecting Bangkok’s Victory Monument area and key bus terminals such as the Southern Bus Terminal, the Mo Chit Bus Terminal and the Ekkamai Mo Chit Terminal, has been tested after passenger vans were banned in the area.

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Speaking as chairman of the committee in charge of regulating public transportation vans, Colonel Suwit Ketsri, deputy commander of the Second Cavalry Division King's Guard, said the test had been arranged to calculate the travelling time for each route's round trip to provide a proper number of shuttle buses.
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The Second Cavalry Division King's Guard chief of staff, Colonel Sombat Thanyawan, said four buses head to the Mo Chit Bus Terminal, six to the Southern Bus Terminal, and four to the Ekkamai Terminal every 20 minutes.
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"Shuttle buses will be added when there are too many passengers," he said.
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Traffic Police deputy commander Colonel Teerasak Suriwong said the trip between Victory Monument to the key bus terminals would normally take about two hours, while the shuttle buses running on the expressway would take about 20 minutes.
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The service is in response to the National Council for Peace and Order's mandate to better regulate traffic in the capital.

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Source: TheNation

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Thailand - It’s all go with Pokemon Go

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The augmented-reality game takes Thailand by storm
AFTER BECOMING an instant hit with gamers in Australia, New Zealand, the US and Europe last month, interactive augmented reality game Pokemon Go finally landed in Thailand earlier this week and quickly brought pedestrian traffic to a standstill as residents of all ages took to the streets to locate and capture the virtual creatures.
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Of course, there's nothing new about the adorable mouse-like monster Pikachu and his friends. Older gamers will remember them well from the role-playing video games developed for the Game Boy back in the 1990s. Now, though, the game is using the mobile phone's camera and gyroscope to render a live background, making players feel that they are encountering a Pokemon in the real world.
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Developed by Niantic Lab, an internal startup within Google, this new mobile application is designed for IOS and Android devices and took over from Niantic's initial trans-reality game, called Ingress. Fun and creative for youngsters and adults, there are 151 Pokemon to catch based on their move set, behaviours and where they live. A gamer is called "trainer" and can create an avatar by designing its hairstyle, skin colour and outfits. More than 100 million gamers around the world have so far downloaded the free application.
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This virtual game uses the Google Maps database to show the locations of PokeStops. These provide players with items like the Poke Ball, monster eggs and potion. In other countries they are often discovered around sculptures and monuments but in Thailand you can find them at spirit houses and shrines, which explains why some young trainers spend their days hovering around temples. Bangkok's gigantic shopping malls, parks and office buildings - even The Nation's office building on Bangna-Trat Road - are converted into gyms, where trainers at level 5 can send their monsters to improve their skills on the battleground.
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Pokemon fans have already set up a Pokemon Go Thailand Fanclub on Facebook to serve as a community for like-minded folk Led by someone calling himself Admin K, this page is designed to help update new movements and guide players through the technical terms.
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"I played Pokemon on Game Boy 20 years ago. When I grew up, I wondered when it would become available on a mobile phone. I heard that Niantic had teamed up with Nintendo and Pokemon Company in the middle of last year and have been looking forward to its arrival ever since. My friends and I set up this page in February for fans of the Pokemon game to learn more. I think we are already the biggest community of Pokemon Go gamers with more than 140,000 followers," Admin K says.
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"I love the Pokemon Go concept of combining reality and fantasy. We are all familiar with the Pokemon characters. You just say 'Pikachu' and people know what you're talking about. The selling point of Pokemon Go is that groups of monsters are randomised to appear in several places and there are rare monsters that are specific to each continent," he continues.
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"But I'd like to caution players about the need to stay safe. Don't try and catch monsters while you're riding or driving. Parents should take care of their kids and guide them to play the game in the right way."
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Nat, a 30-year-old entrepreneur, was a Pokemon fan back when it was played on Game Boy and has been following the news about the Pokemon Go App since it first leaked two years ago.
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"I had a chance to play Pokemon Go when I spent a holiday in Scandinavia last month. It's an interactive game and great fun. It brings people together. You can smile at a crowd of strangers in a park while catching a Pokemon and they smile back. You can use AR technology to capture a picture with monsters," Nat says.
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"I worry though about the emotional quotient of Thai gamers. We should focus on safety first and foremost. The number of downloads is falling because there's no new content. But I've heard that Niantic is developing a battle system and gamers can trade their monsters with friends too."
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Kusuma Pholthampalit, a Thai student in the UK, is another keen trainer.
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"The app wasn't available in the UK at first so my friends linked our account to a server in Australia and New Zealand. Now, the game is very popular here. I'm at level 22 and I like this game. Normally, I'm very lazy about moving around and this game pushes me to walk. When we get a monster egg, we have to walk between two and 10 kilometres to incubate it, which has to be good exercise. The game also forces us to travel around town because PokeStops are often at well-known tourist attractions like churches, art venues, museums or even convenience stores." Kusuma says.
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"However, we should play it the right way and be concerned about safety too. I know in the UK some people have been hit by a car because they keep looking at their phones to try and capture a Pokemon."
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Citing public concerns of potential dangers from the popular game, Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecom Commission (NBTC) recently urged US-based Niantic Inc, to consider removing Pokemons and so-called PokeStops from certain places, including footpaths, railroads and canal banks as well as from temples, pagodas, schools, hospitals, and government and military buildings. The NBTC also urged the developer to restrict availability of the game at night to prevent children suffering accidents in public places.
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At a forum at Chulalongkorn University titled "Where Pokemon Go Will Take Thai Society" last Thursday, adult psychiatrist Dr Puchong Laorujisawat of Chulalongkorn University's medical faculty, pointed out that the key to preventing people from causing problems for themselves or others while playing the game was basic self control.
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"If one does not have discipline and self control, no matter which games are introduced, there will be a problem," Puchong said.
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Associate Professor Panrapee Suthiwan, a psychologist specialising in child and adolescent development, noted that the game could also bring parents and their children together.
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"We can turn things around by playing with children and teaching them how to play without causing problems. We can use the game as a link between parents and children. There are good and bad sides to Pokemon Go but we just have to pick the way to use it wisely," Panrapee said.
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Entrepreneurs have been quick to jump on the Pokemon Go bandwagon. Pong, who works as a marketing officer in Nakhon Ratchasima, has set up a TaxiDriverPokemonGo page on Facebook to offer taxi services starting at Bt100 for a motorbike and Bt280 for a car per hour.
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"I noticed young gamers always ride a motorcycle to catch the monsters. Because they are not concentrating fully on the road, they might get into an accident. It's better to have a driver take them," Pong says.
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The people behind the popular GrabTaxi mobile application have also recognised the game's potential and have introduced a special promotion called Grab Go that offers a free service for three hours for touring around town to capture a Pokemon.
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In Phuket, meanwhile, the Phuket Tour Holiday travel agency offers a city tour that takes gamers to find a Pokemon in several popular spots. The fee ranges from Bt1,900 for a sedan and Bt3,500 for a van for a six-hour service.
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Next month, Nintendo will be launching Pokemon Go Plus, a collection of Bluetooth low-energy wearable devices that allow players to perform certain actions in the game without looking at their smartphone. The device will help users get items from the PokeStop and vibrate when a Pokemon is close by.
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Source: TheNation.com
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Coffee Cup Size - Bangkok

lets you pick your cup from menu on models’ breasts

 A new coffee shop has become a hot topic of discussion online after photos of a male customer picking his coffee from a menu on a model’s chest circulated online.

But can you actually touch the pretties? Nope, you can only point (and obviously take a photo of yourself pointing at them and Instagram it).

“No, customers aren’t allowed to feel the models. They can only point [at the menu],”

The shop owner said the models will stand by for a few days, but if his business can still afford having models in the cafe, he’d like to continue hiring them to entertain customers.

The baristas and waiters also wear T-shirts with the menu printed on them. But he said that the oh-so-tight tank tops are just for the pretties.

While some people say the women in tank tops are sexist, the shop owner said that a pretty in a tank top is nothing compared to what goes on at the Motor Show.

"It's their opinion. I'm happy that people are paying attention to the cafe. It just means my marketing plan is successful."

Surprisingly, he said most of his customers are normal office people and university students who need their morning coffee.

Source: Coconuts.co

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Our Coffee Shop in Bangkok

 

Top 7 Tourist Scams to Watch Out for in Thailand

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Thailand can be a land of excitement and wonder for a new visitor, but it also comes with its own share of risk and danger. There are those among the jovial crowd who are looking to make a quick buck from an unwary tourist, by hook or by crook. Keep a wary eye out and don’t let these scams spell the end of your hard-earned holiday!

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 1/ The Jet-skies

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The beautiful coastal beaches in the country are a local attraction for water sports, but should you ever decide to rent a jet ski, do keep in mind all scratches and dents that are already present on the vehicle before setting off. There are vendors who will falsely claim that you have damaged their jet ski after returning and demand compensation for repairs.
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Many people have fallen for such a scam, especially in tourist hotspots such as Pattaya and Phuket. These tourists are often intimidated by “police officers”, usually accomplices pretending to be so, who would threaten to arrest them should they not cooperate.
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It would be wise to avoid all jet ski activities to prevent yourself falling as another victim. However, if you really feel the need to experience the thrill in the water, never hand over your passport as collateral when renting one.
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It is also important to note that this scam is not exclusive to jet skis. Other tourists have reported the same situation upon renting motorcycles and cars, so be extra cautious when you decide to rent a vehicle in Thailand!

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 2/ The Thai Money
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Get acquainted with the local currency! Keep track on the different types of baht notes you possess and their appearance once you leave the money changer. Many tourists often find themselves shortchanged and taken advantage of by cashiers as they are not familiar with Thai money.
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Places like 7-Eleven and Family Mart in tourist areas usually declare out loud the amount of baht you pay during your purchase, so take the effort to double-check and ensure that the change you receive is the correct one.
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A variant of this scam revolves around the shopkeeper accusing you for paying with a counterfeit note. He or she would go to the back of the store, away from your sight, swap the note you handed over with a realistic counterfeit one and return. Giving the fake note to you, he or she would demand for new payment, leaving you to pay for twice or thrice the original amount.
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To avoid this, always keep an eye on your baht notes and roughly remember the serial numbers of the larger ones. The latter may prove to be a mild inconvenience for some, but it can end up saving you and your tight budget.
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3/ This Palace is Closed
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This scam is often encountered near any tourist attraction, but the majority of cases reported by victims usually happen outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
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A stranger will usually approach you and inform that the attraction is “closed” for various reasons. He or she will then recommend alternative locations, usually a gem store or a tailor shop, and dangle cheap discounts to entice you.
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Should you unwittingly accept the offer, they will arrange transport via taxi or tuk tuk, who are similarly in league, to the shops. Once there, they will attempt to bully you into buying overpriced goods, with extreme cases locking you in the shop until you decide to purchase something!
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These strangers often look and talk convincingly, wearing formal shirts with “tourist police” tags. They can even be found inside the attractions as well, so be on your guard.
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The solution to this would be researching on the place before heading over. Remember to check out the operating hours and visiting times to avoid being misled..

4/ Sex Shows
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The red light districts in Thailand are often well-known for its ping pong shows. The claim of cheap drinks and entry by the friendly promoters outside the bar would do very little to sate your innate curiosity.
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But as they say, curiosity kills the cat. Once you step in, you’ll be led to a table where the girls will put up an underwhelming show. You will, then, be pressured to generously tip the performer despite being satisfied or not.
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If you request to leave midway, the bill that comes along will demand that you pay thousands for the few drinks you just had. Refusing it will usually incur the wrath of the bouncers hanging around the bar, so it’s best to just concede and pay up to avoid further harm.
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So steer clear of these shows, if you would rather not be left both disappointed and broke at the end of the day. This warning goes double if you are traveling alone, as lone tourists are easily ganged up on and are favored targets by the scam.
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5/ Thai Gemstones
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When someone tells you that you can make a huge profit by reselling gems from Thailand, it sounds too good to be true.
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In fact, it’s not true at all. You could be targeted for a gem scam, one of the more popular ones in the country. It usually begins with the scammer claiming that gems are easily harvested in the country, and can be purchased in bulk for cheap prices. He or she then continues to tell you that you can make lots of money by selling the bought gems back home.
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This scam can be made further enticing when they throw in discounted prices, convincing you that you were the only few that they have decided to share this precious insider trade secret with. Accomplices acting as tourists around the store may also attempt to justify his or her story.
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Do not make the mistake that many people have already fallen for due to greed. If you can indeed make huge sums from selling Thailand gems in other countries, why would he or she tell such a powerful trade secret to a random tourist who chances into the store? Politely refuse, and walk away.

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6/ Airport Taxis
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When you exit from the airport, you will undoubtedly be harassed by official looking taxi drivers who would offer a flat fee of 500 – 1000 baht to head to town.
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Not only do the real taxis with meters charge less than half of what they offer, these drivers would often attempt to persuade you to sign up for overpriced tour packages and bundles. The more extreme ones would purposely drive you to a wrong place with a similar name to your destination, and demand more cash for the proper journey.
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Even if they use the meter, keep track of whether it is running throughout the journey. There are horror stories of where the taxi meter jams halfway during the trip, prompting dishonest drivers to charge exorbitant prices for a ride that would have cost far less in the meter rate.
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It is important to note that taxi drivers are required by law to use the meter, so do not be intimidated if a driver requests a flat fee for his or her service. Firmly refuse and exit the car, there are thousands of other taxis in Thailand that would happily take you to the places you need to go.

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7 / Fake Tour Packages from “Tourism Authority of Thailand”
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When a local stranger offers to sign you up for a tour package, courtesy by the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s travel agency, turn him or her down and walk away.
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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) does NOT operate travel agencies and sell anything to tourists. They are a government agency and are responsible for promoting their local wonders and attractions to foreign countries. They are also responsible in licensing travel agencies and guides, but do not actually possess their own agencies.
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However, many scam companies have taken on the guise of TAT’s name and used its stellar reputation for their own ill deeds. A popular example would be individuals who would intercept tourists at Hualumphong, Bangkok’s main rail terminal, and falsely present themselves as an employee of TAT. They would then mislead the unfortunate victim by telling him or her that the tickets for the train route they wanted are sold out.
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The scammer would go on to offer alternatives “provided” by TAT, such as a private bus or taxi that overcharges for the trip, and are usually the setup for further scams.
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Thus, always avoid anyone who claims to be from TAT, they hold no authority over you. No employee of TAT would be found walking around train stations or taxi stands to help out lost travelers.

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Thailand’s Tourist Police Division
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Thailand’s Tourist Police Division recently introduced their 24/7 hotline for foreigners in distress. Should you find yourself in a middle of a scam, dial 1155 for police assistance. Do not worry about the language barrier as there will be interpreters on hand to translate your call.
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But of course, not every person and place in Thailand is looking for an opportunity to steal your hard-earned cash. There are a lot more friendly locals who genuinely love and welcome tourists to their country, so do not go around treating everyone with hostility and suspicion. Just exercise a little caution and common sense in your adventures in the Land of Smiles, and you should be perfectly fine!.

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Car slams into Erawan Shrine, 6 injured (+VIDEO)

.Six people were injured last night when a driver had a seizure and her car plowed into the Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong intersection, a year after the Hindu shrine was hit by a fatal bomb.
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The light blue sedan veered off of Rama I Road in the middle of the city at about 8:20pm and slammed through a gate onto the grounds of Erawan Shrine, the site of a bombing in August 2015 that left 20 dead and scores injured.
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"It was an accident," Lumpini police commander Pornchai Chalodet told AFP of the car crash.
This afternoon, Post Today revealed the names of the injured people. They are two Singaporeans, two Indonesians, one Thai, and one Chinese.
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The two indonesians injured were Janto Kuriawan, 73, and Rosita Kuriawan, 56. The Singaporeans were Ong Cney, 70, and Ng Ican Leng, 35. The Chinese woman was Leena Bong, 81, and the Thai woman was Kanuengjit Taecholarn, 55.
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The shrine, a popular stop for East Asian tourists, was thronged with worshippers at the time of the accident, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
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"We were praying and then suddenly we heard a big noise and we saw a car coming inside. We ran like crazy. It was very scary. At I first thought it was a car bomb but everyone was very calm around us," Kristy, a 21-year-old tourist from Vietnam, told AFP.
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In Friday's incident, police said the driver, who appeared to be about 40 years old, lost control of her Toyota Soluna and crashed through the sidewalk fence at the intersection beside the shrine before passing through the Erawan gate and stopping just before hitting the shrine.
The identity of the driver has not been revealed at the time of publication. The local media reported that she is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.
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Also accompanying the driver in the car was her 20-year-old daughter, who told police her mom did not have a history of epilepsy. She had the seizure while she was about to take a turn at Ratchaprasong intersection.
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.Police will charge the driver with reckless driving leading to injuries of other people and will take the her medical diagnosis into consideration.
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VIDEO

Source: Coconuts.co 

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Trang islands as one of ‘Best in Asia’ destinations

Trang islands are one of Lonely Planet’s top ten picks for lesser-known Asian go-to destinations for this year. The small islands off the coast of Trang province rank number eight on the list, beating out contenders from India and Taiwan.

Way to go Thailand!

The picturesque Trang islands were characterized by Lonely Planet as being on the same level as the famous Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, with way less crowds. They described the islands as a place where “blonde beaches glisten amid shards of jungle-topped karst; beachfront bungalows line crescents of squeaky sand; rainbows of fish flit through the aquamarine.”

Made up of five smaller islands: Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai, Koh Sukorn, Koh Muk, and Koh Libong with its own distinctive attraction, Trang islands have remained largely under the radar.

The list, which was announced this week, sets its sight on the hidden gems waiting to be discovered by any aspiring travelers looking for excitement.

Regionally, Japan’s Hokkaido topped the list for its wild, mountainous landscape. That Northen Japanese locale is followed by Shanghai (China), Jeonju (South Korea), and Con Dao Islands (Vietnam).

Source: Coconuts.co

Bangkok, First look at Mangmoom Card

First look at Mangmoom Card, only all-in-one public transport card you’ll need

.No more fumbling for BTS, MRT and Airport Rail Link tickets. The Ministry of Transport has released the first look of the Mangmoom Card, the versatile ticketing system that works on several public transportation systems..
Just when we thought the news about Mangmoom Card from eight months ago was all a dream, the officials said they are testing the new system and preparing to launch the card by the end of the year, Chaiwat Thongkamkoon, Director of Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, told Channel 3 News..
Introduced under the name "mangmoom” card or "spider” card in English, the universal ticket can be used as payment for several public transportation systems including the BTS, MRT and Airport Rail Link..
Why mangmoom? Just like spiders that spin webs that reach everywhere, this ticket can be used to travel anywhere.

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 Chaiwat said the office has also prepared 200,000 cards to give away to citizens as a trial. While information about how you can register for a free card is not yet available, Chaiwat said officials will select people who use the trains regularly..
The Mangmoom Card, whose release date has been pushed back from August, can also be used at the MRT Purple Line, which will open on August 12..
In the future, officials will develop the system further so that holders can use the card to pay for the fares on buses, boats, expressways, and even government services.

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Source: Coconuts

Thai athletes to get advice on avoiding the Zika virus

THAILAND is on high alert for the Zika virus as athletes and staff are set to travel to the Olympic Games in Brazil.

Zika infections have been detected in Thailand, but the situation here is thought to be well under control. "There are now just one or two cases in two provinces, namely Udon Thani and Beung Kan," Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong Pipatanasai said yesterday, in his role as chairman of the committee on emerging infectious diseases.

He said his committee had discussed preparations to protect Thai athletes and staff who will attend the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.

"They should be advised about how to protect themselves," Narong said.

His panel plans to raise the issue with the Olympic Committee of Thailand.

Some 46 athletes from the Kingdom have so far booked Olympic berths in 14 sports, but the figure is likely to rise as the country expects to get more spots in badminton.

Brazil is one of 58 countries and territories that have reported continuing transmission of Zika virus by mosquitoes to date. Zika can cause birth defects, including a devastating syndrome known as microcephaly in which babies are born with unusually small heads and brains.

According to Agence France-Presse, nearly 1,300 babies have been born in Brazil with the irreversible defect since Zika began circulating there last year.

Brazilian authorities have confirmed that the Olympics will be held in Rio in August, as scheduled. This is despite a petition to the World Health Organisation (WHO) signed by more than 100 prominent doctors and scientists, who called for the event to be postponed or moved to another city.

Thai Disease Control Department director-general Dr Amnuay Gajeena said athletes would take preventive measures, such as by applying mosquito repellent power or cream.

"They will have to undergo health checks both before and after their Olympic Games trip," he said.

He believes that when the number of staff is included, it is likely that more than 100 Thais will head to Brazil for the huge sport event.

Asked about the situation in Thailand, Amnuay said eight villages in Udon Thani's Sang Com district were declared a "red zone" over the Zika threat because a man from the district was found to have contracted the virus. "His infection was diagnosed on May 22 while he was in Taiwan," he said. His office has stepped up moves to counter the disease in Udon.

Udon Thani public health chief Dr Smit Prasunnakarn said two pregnant women were found to have contracted the virus but showed no symptoms. "Ultrasound shows foetus development is normal. We will constantly monitor their conditions. Psychiatrists are also on hand," he said.

WHO has classified Thailand and the Philippines as countries with "sporadic transmission" of Zika, as opposed to most countries in South America and the Caribbean which have seen "increasing or widespread transmission." Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia have not made the list. Singapore last month became the latest country in Asean to be hit by the virus while Vietnam reported its first cases in February.

Source: The Nation

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Thailand - EDITORIAL: Tracking you down... for safety!

Thai Immigration Pattaya / Chonburi

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The new immigration form mandating foreign nationals disclose various personal details is intrusive, much like distrusting parents tracking their children’s smart-phones. Not only do authorities appear to lack subtlety and a clear understanding of how technology works, they also seem to lack the capacity to safely manage and protect the extensive data they are collecting.

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 Thai Immigration Chiang Mai

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 At best, they can hope to better “track down” foreigners when problems arise. Though such a move should surprise no one in this age of mass surveillance, perhaps what is hard to swallow for many foreign residents is the utter lack of subtlety – the perception that officials view all foreigners as potential criminals, and possible scapegoats in any legal unpleasantness that might arise.

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 Bank account numbers will not give authorities access to your money. Knowing what websites you visit and where you hang out sounds more like an awkward first-date script.

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 Thai Immigration Bangkok

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 Your licence plate numbers should already be easily accessible for any functioning bureaucracy.
Your social media details are already on the internet – if you were worried about privacy, you should have read the fine print and never signed up to disclose your personal content on the internet in the first place.
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At worst, the form may invoke fear amongst some alien denizens, who may or may not be deterred from committing any nefarious deeds for fear of being traced. Not exactly the most scientifically proven method of crime-prevention, but fairly standard for authoritarian states throughout time. Human Rights Watch also thinks the form “risks alienating foreign investors and tourists who play a major role in the Thai economy”... which is the standard response to xenophobic polices worldwide.

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 Thai Immigration Phuket

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What is not pointed out is that xenophobia is the foundation of all immigration policies that exist today, worldwide, and foreign investors already absorb it into their cost-benefit analysis. And as Thailand makes a rather endearing effort to catch up with the modern surveillance states, lives will
not change, nor will they be destroyed any more than usual.

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Source:  thephuketnews.com/
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Thailand - Happy Ending

Spa association urges authorities to give them a happy ending.

 The Federation of Thai Spa Associations (FTSPA) is asking the government to crack down on the sexual services on offer at some of the country’s many massage parlors.

FTSPA advisor Apichai Jearadisak noted that many massage parlors are offering sexual services to tourists and damaging the reputation and image of traditional Thai massage parlors and spas. 

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Spas and traditional Thai massage are one of the big draws for tourists traveling to Thailand, but some visitors might get rubbed the wrong way when they are offered services in the back room that are very different than those that appear on the services list by the door.

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The FTSPA also noted that only about a quarter of the spas operating in the country are registered with the appropriate offices, according to the Bangkok Post.

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Apichai noted that other issues in the industry include giving jobs as Thai masseuses to migrant workers when the spas should focus on maintaining "Thainess" and feature workers trained in traditional Thai techniques. 

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Spa professionals across the country would like to see a crackdown on illegal practices but also more safety standards to ensure that visitors have good experiences and keep returning.

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Source: Coconuts

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Thailand officially enters rainy season!

Wet Days Ahead: Thailand officially enters rainy season!

No more of the hot summer days where your sweat-soaked shirt announced to the world that, yes, you had recently left an air-conditioned space.

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The driest summer in two decades is over. Thailand officially entered the rainy season on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Thai Meteorological Department.

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So far this week, Bangkok has experienced only scattered thundershowers. However, heavier rain is expected from Tuesday until Thursday. On the bright side, in between the rain, we get to enjoy breezy temperatures between 32-34 Celsius during the day. 

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Keep that umbrella nearby though. Regular rainfall is expected from July until the end of the season in October. For the South and East, it’s expected to rain until December.

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Source: Coconuts
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Cross-border route to link India, Myanmar, Thailand

1,400 km highway and other transport ties are major part of 'act east'policy, Indian ambassador says; world war ll bridges being repaired.

INDIA, Thailand and Myanmar are negotiating a breakthrough 1,400-kilometre highway that will link India with Southeast Asia by land for the first time in decades.

In an interview with The Nation, Indian Ambassador Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi said 73 bridges in Myanmar built during World War II more than seven decades ago are being renovated with funding from the Indian government to allow vehicles to cross the highway safely.

When the repair work is completed in 18 months, the highway could be opened to traffic from all three countries.

The planned highway, which starts in the eastern region of India from Moreh city to Myanmar's Tamu city, has received a positive response from Myanmar's new government following the recent general election.

At this stage, negotiations are underway to conclude a tri-nation motor vehicle agreement for the use of the 1,400km road that will reach Thailand at Tak's Mae Sot district.

 This will lead to land transport connectivity between South Asia and Southeast Asia and increased trade and investment among all partner countries with cargo transportation being the first priority.

However, there are still some security challenges for a section inside Myanmar, which will have to be resolved with the authorities.

The tri-nation highway exemplifies India's "Act East" policy, under which the Asian giant aims to boost its economic and other relations neighbouring countries in the East.

Myanmar's Dawei deep-sea port and industrial estate project near the Thai border is also expected to help further integrate eastern India with Asean.

The planned port can be linked up with India's Chennai port as well as Thailand's Laem Chabang Port on the other side of the ocean.

Under the "Act East" policy, India is also preparing to negotiate a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which includes the 10-country Asean grouping on top of the current India-Asean free-trade agreement (FTA).

Some Asean countries such as Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia have become members of the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) FTA, so Asean is upgrading its FTAs with major trading partners such as India and China to formulate RCEP agreements, which are more advanced.

India views Asean as a central component of its "Act East" policy. Myanmar shares a border with India, while Thailand is a maritime neighbour with long-standing cultural and other ties, so both nations are India's gateway to Asean.

Thai-Indian trade amounted to US$8 billion (Bt285.5 billion) last year, while 1 million Indian tourists visited Thailand last year. There were also about 300 Indian weddings held here.

Among major Thai investors in India are CP Group, Delta Electronics, Ital-Thai and Pruksa Real Estate, while the major Indian firms operating in Thailand are Tata Group, Aditya Birla and Indorama.

India continues to rack up high economic growth of 7 per cent per year amid the global slowdown, he added.

 India’s recent pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal to facilitate free vehicular movement coupled with the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway could potentially increase intraregional trade by almost 60% as well as extract maximum strategic mileage.

A strategic pact signed by India to facilitate free vehicular movement with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal; alongside a proposal to step-up work on operationalising a 3200-km road link from Moreh (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand), are two vital components of the NDA government’s reinforced ‘Act East’ policy.

India’s recent pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal to facilitate free vehicular movement coupled with the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway could potentially increase intraregional trade by almost 60% as well as extract maximum strategic mileage.
A strategic pact signed by India to facilitate free vehicular movement with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal; alongside a proposal to step-up work on operationalising a 3200-km road link from Moreh (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand), are two vital components of the NDA government’s reinforced ‘Act East’ policy.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sub-regional-road-connectivity-pacts-from-looking-east-to-linking-east/#sthash.E0idX9lr.dpuf

India’s recent pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal to facilitate free vehicular movement coupled with the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway could potentially increase intraregional trade by almost 60% as well as extract maximum strategic mileage.
A strategic pact signed by India to facilitate free vehicular movement with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal; alongside a proposal to step-up work on operationalising a 3200-km road link from Moreh (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand), are two vital components of the NDA government’s reinforced ‘Act East’ policy.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sub-regional-road-connectivity-pacts-from-looking-east-to-linking-east/#sthash.E0idX9lr.dpuf

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