A consortium of 16 health insurance companies in Thailand are now offering all travellers to Thailand travellers the mandatory insurance cover valued at USD100,000.
Thailand’s Office of Insurance confirmed last week that it has set up a consortium of insurance companies offering Covid-19 insurance online. Above all as the country prepares to reopen its borders to travelers.
Once the country reopens all foreigners entering Thailand will need to buy Covid-19 insurance. But until the door reopens the scheme will make it easier for foreigners who are currently eligible to travel to Thailand to acquire the mandatory insurance cover online.
In addition to having insurance cover, travelers need to provide the nearest Thai embassy with a Fit to Fly Health Certificate and a negative RT-PCR swab test valid within 72 hours of the flight departing for Thailand. They are issued with a certificate of entry when they have fulfilled all the conditions and have a confirmed flight date.
Covid-19 insurance policy covers both deaths due to the disease
They must also have an appropriate visa that fits the approved category of travel. Tourist visas for leisure travel are not being issued. The Covid-19 insurance policy covers both deaths due to the disease as well as medical expenses for those undergoing treatment.
In case of death caused by the Covid-19, the policy pays for funeral expenses and the repatriation of the corpse or ashes to the country of origin. The maximum payout is THB3.2 million.
For medical expenses linked to the treatment of Covid-19, including the period of hospitalization (inpatient or outpatient). The maximum payout is THB3.2 million.
Foreigners who buy insurance cover as part of the requirements to fulfill conditions to travel to Thailand must pay the insurance premium according to the period of their stay from 30 days to a maximum of one year.
The premium is set against benchmarks that identify the Covid-19 risk in the country of origin; the lower the risk, the lower the premium.
Insurance premium cover starts at THB1,600 and can be as high as THB14,400 for low-risk countries. Foreigners from countries with moderate risk are likely to pay an insurance premium of between THB2,560 to THB23,040. If the traveller is from a high-risk country, the insurance premium could be as high as THB43,200.
Insurance companies participating in the scheme include:
Assets Insurance Co Ltd (Thailand); Chubb Insurance Company Limited ( Thailand ); Navakij Insurance Co Ltd; Pacific Cross Health Insurance, Thailand ); Falcon Insurance Co Ltd (Thailand ); East Insurance, Asia Insurance 1950; Bangkok Life Assurance Ltd; Thailand Life Insurance; and also Thailand Life Insurance.
“Development of an insurance policy that provides protection for foreigners entering Thailand supports government policy and will help restore the economy of the country,” said the OIC secretary-general.
Source: TTR Weekly
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Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Wednesday, 16 September 2020
All Travelers to Thailand Require Mandatory Health Insurance
Friday, 19 June 2020
#Cambodia - Sihanoukville ‘must be ready for returning visitors’, say experts
The Minister of Tourism said that business operators in Preah Sihanouk province and authorities at all levels need to be ready to welcome tourists returning after COVID-19 is defeated as the province improves its infrastructure.
Ministry of Tourism Minister Thong Khon said during the promotion of safety measures to tourism-based businesses in Preah Sihanouk province that the health and safety measures imposed by the ministry will ensure businesses operate well during and after the pandemic while authorities will play an important role to support stability.
“If all operators and authorities do not help each other during this time, our tourism sector will not be successful after and during COVID-19,” he said.
The tourism-based businesses and services that are being promoted during the pandemic are hotels and guesthouses, restaurants, tour transportation by both land and water, tourism communities and resorts.
The Minister has also urged the provincial relevant parties to keep checking and examining carefully the implementation of safety measures in order to ensure businesses succeed.
“In this situation, all levels of relevant parties, which are regarded as the government’s machinery to contain COVID-19 and support business activity, need to support the implementation of safety measures and provide cooperation in all forms,” he said.
Khon said while the coastal area comprises mixed services and businesses, the sector also needs to diversify to new business models to comply with the current social and economic situation.
“During the pandemic, businesses and services need to be transformed into a digital solutions-based resource and improve productivity in order to make the sector more competitive in the crowded market,” he said.
The Kingdom’s coastal Sihanoukville, where Chinese nationals dominated nearly half of businesses before the COVID-19 outbreak, have been seen as less attractive as a tourism destination by some since 2018.
With the rising number of Chinese nationals, roads have been damaged and security issues have declined because the province was swamped with casinos. Local visitors and other foreign tourists tended to avoid the province and went to other destinations such as Kep and Kampot.
However, the government is now working to improve the situation, pledging to transform the Kingdom’s only attractive beach into its former glory.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor Kuoch Chamroeun said during the meeting that to boost the province’s social and economic development as well as making the tourism sector more sustainable, the provincial authorities have been paying attention to improving roads, beaches, water, electricity and waste management.
“We are preparing the tourism port by providing a standard tourism service. We are strengthening security and safety and public order. We will offer public transportation services and make the city clean to attract more visitors to the province,” he said.
Thousands of Chinese left the province after a directive banning all online and arcade gambling in the Kingdom last August and more have left because of COVID-19. The return of Chinese nationals is expected to help economic activity gradually rebound.
Source - Khmer Times
Ministry of Tourism Minister Thong Khon said during the promotion of safety measures to tourism-based businesses in Preah Sihanouk province that the health and safety measures imposed by the ministry will ensure businesses operate well during and after the pandemic while authorities will play an important role to support stability.
“If all operators and authorities do not help each other during this time, our tourism sector will not be successful after and during COVID-19,” he said.
The tourism-based businesses and services that are being promoted during the pandemic are hotels and guesthouses, restaurants, tour transportation by both land and water, tourism communities and resorts.
The Minister has also urged the provincial relevant parties to keep checking and examining carefully the implementation of safety measures in order to ensure businesses succeed.
“In this situation, all levels of relevant parties, which are regarded as the government’s machinery to contain COVID-19 and support business activity, need to support the implementation of safety measures and provide cooperation in all forms,” he said.
Khon said while the coastal area comprises mixed services and businesses, the sector also needs to diversify to new business models to comply with the current social and economic situation.
“During the pandemic, businesses and services need to be transformed into a digital solutions-based resource and improve productivity in order to make the sector more competitive in the crowded market,” he said.
The Kingdom’s coastal Sihanoukville, where Chinese nationals dominated nearly half of businesses before the COVID-19 outbreak, have been seen as less attractive as a tourism destination by some since 2018.
With the rising number of Chinese nationals, roads have been damaged and security issues have declined because the province was swamped with casinos. Local visitors and other foreign tourists tended to avoid the province and went to other destinations such as Kep and Kampot.
However, the government is now working to improve the situation, pledging to transform the Kingdom’s only attractive beach into its former glory.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor Kuoch Chamroeun said during the meeting that to boost the province’s social and economic development as well as making the tourism sector more sustainable, the provincial authorities have been paying attention to improving roads, beaches, water, electricity and waste management.
“We are preparing the tourism port by providing a standard tourism service. We are strengthening security and safety and public order. We will offer public transportation services and make the city clean to attract more visitors to the province,” he said.
Thousands of Chinese left the province after a directive banning all online and arcade gambling in the Kingdom last August and more have left because of COVID-19. The return of Chinese nationals is expected to help economic activity gradually rebound.
Source - Khmer Times
Saturday, 30 May 2020
#Vietnam considers opening up select islands for foreign tourists
The National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control says they are considering a pilot plan to bring international tourists to some islands.
The country could consider welcoming foreign visitors from countries and territories where there have been no new cases for at least 30 days and launch a pilot plan to bring them to some islands with strict safety measures to ensure health of both locals and foreigners, the committee said Thursday.
Vietnam has suspended international flights since March 25 and banned entry of foreign nationals since March 22 except for special cases.
Earlier, authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang proposed welcoming foreign visitors to Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc.
The committee, headed by Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, has asked the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism to work with Kien Giang authorities to prepare a specific schedule and road map to welcome foreign tourists and report to the committee for consideration.
Phu Quoc, also known as the "pearl island", has become a top tourist destination in Vietnam after it opened an international airport in 2012 and began implementing a 30-day visa-free policy for foreigners since 2014. The island welcomed over five million visitors last year, up 30 percent from 2018. Of these, 541,600 were foreigners.
The country could consider welcoming foreign visitors from countries and territories where there have been no new cases for at least 30 days and launch a pilot plan to bring them to some islands with strict safety measures to ensure health of both locals and foreigners, the committee said Thursday.
Vietnam has suspended international flights since March 25 and banned entry of foreign nationals since March 22 except for special cases.
Earlier, authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang proposed welcoming foreign visitors to Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc.
The committee, headed by Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, has asked the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism to work with Kien Giang authorities to prepare a specific schedule and road map to welcome foreign tourists and report to the committee for consideration.
Phu Quoc, also known as the "pearl island", has become a top tourist destination in Vietnam after it opened an international airport in 2012 and began implementing a 30-day visa-free policy for foreigners since 2014. The island welcomed over five million visitors last year, up 30 percent from 2018. Of these, 541,600 were foreigners.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) late last week said it is hoping to kickstart tourism again with select openings for foreign visitors. It said that it was preparing plans to welcome visitors from countries and territories in anticipation of recovery and disease control in key markets like Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.
WeSwap, the U.K.’s largest travel money provider, this week listed Vietnam among the first economies likely to restart international tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Politico, a U.S.-based political news organization, recently said that Vietnam has responded best to the Covid-19 pandemic in terms of health and economic impacts.
The country has gone 43 days without community transmission of Covid-19. It has reported 327 infections without any deaths. The number of active cases is 49.
With an international flight ban in place, Vietnam saw a 38 percent year-on-year drop in the January-April number of foreign visitors to 3.7 million, accompanied by corresponding 45 percent drop in tourism revenues to VND7.9 trillion ($337 million).
Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said localities and travel businesses have responded warmly to the domestic tourism stimulus program, offering numerous discounts and new products. "Hotel occupancy rates have reached 80-90 percent and even 100 percent in some places, which are good signs for domestic tourism."
WeSwap, the U.K.’s largest travel money provider, this week listed Vietnam among the first economies likely to restart international tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Politico, a U.S.-based political news organization, recently said that Vietnam has responded best to the Covid-19 pandemic in terms of health and economic impacts.
The country has gone 43 days without community transmission of Covid-19. It has reported 327 infections without any deaths. The number of active cases is 49.
With an international flight ban in place, Vietnam saw a 38 percent year-on-year drop in the January-April number of foreign visitors to 3.7 million, accompanied by corresponding 45 percent drop in tourism revenues to VND7.9 trillion ($337 million).
Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said localities and travel businesses have responded warmly to the domestic tourism stimulus program, offering numerous discounts and new products. "Hotel occupancy rates have reached 80-90 percent and even 100 percent in some places, which are good signs for domestic tourism."
Source - VN Express
Sunday, 23 February 2020
A bat cave run by Thai monks shows it's hard to banish virus risk
Every Saturday morning, a dozen or so villagers from a province about 60 miles west of Bangkok creep into a bat-festooned cave to scrape up the precious fecal deposits of its flourishing inhabitants.
In three hours, they can amass as many as 500 buckets of bat dung. The guano is packaged and sold at an adjacent temple as fertilizer, reaping more than 75,000 baht ($2,400). Just 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of the nutrient-rich material can fetch as much as the daily minimum wage.
Elsewhere in Asia and Micronesia, meat from bats is sometimes sold in markets or cooked at home after being caught in the wild. Although consumption is rare and limited to certain communities, it's considered a local delicacy in the Pacific island-nation of Palau, and areas of Indonesia, where meat from other mammals is scarce.
With growing awareness of bat-borne viruses -- from Nipah to coronaviruses linked to severe acute respiratory syndrome and the new pneumonia-causing Covid-19 disease that's killed more than 2,000 people in China -- human contact with the ancient flying mammal and their excreta is drawing closer scrutiny.
"Anything to do with bats, in theory, can expose yourself to potential viral transmission because we know bats carry so many viruses," said Linfa Wang, who heads the emerging infectious disease program at Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School.
Bats contain the highest proportion of mammalian viruses that are likely to infect humans, according to research published in 2017 by disease ecologist Peter Daszak in the scientific journal Nature.
Still, very few bat viruses are ready to transmit directly to humans, said Wang, who has been studying bat origins of human viruses for decades and works with a group of researchers sometimes dubbed 'The Bat Pack.'
"I always say that if they could do that, then the human population would have been wiped out a long time ago because bats have been in existence for 80-to-100 million years -- much older than humans," he said.
While still relatively low risk, the possibility that a virus might cross the species barrier and cause disease in humans is enough to require all of Wang's lab and field researchers involved in bat sampling to take special precautions, including immunization against rabies -- the only vaccine available for a bat-borne virus -- and to wear personal protective gear, he said.
In three hours, they can amass as many as 500 buckets of bat dung. The guano is packaged and sold at an adjacent temple as fertilizer, reaping more than 75,000 baht ($2,400). Just 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of the nutrient-rich material can fetch as much as the daily minimum wage.
Elsewhere in Asia and Micronesia, meat from bats is sometimes sold in markets or cooked at home after being caught in the wild. Although consumption is rare and limited to certain communities, it's considered a local delicacy in the Pacific island-nation of Palau, and areas of Indonesia, where meat from other mammals is scarce.
With growing awareness of bat-borne viruses -- from Nipah to coronaviruses linked to severe acute respiratory syndrome and the new pneumonia-causing Covid-19 disease that's killed more than 2,000 people in China -- human contact with the ancient flying mammal and their excreta is drawing closer scrutiny.
"Anything to do with bats, in theory, can expose yourself to potential viral transmission because we know bats carry so many viruses," said Linfa Wang, who heads the emerging infectious disease program at Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School.
Bats contain the highest proportion of mammalian viruses that are likely to infect humans, according to research published in 2017 by disease ecologist Peter Daszak in the scientific journal Nature.
Still, very few bat viruses are ready to transmit directly to humans, said Wang, who has been studying bat origins of human viruses for decades and works with a group of researchers sometimes dubbed 'The Bat Pack.'
"I always say that if they could do that, then the human population would have been wiped out a long time ago because bats have been in existence for 80-to-100 million years -- much older than humans," he said.
While still relatively low risk, the possibility that a virus might cross the species barrier and cause disease in humans is enough to require all of Wang's lab and field researchers involved in bat sampling to take special precautions, including immunization against rabies -- the only vaccine available for a bat-borne virus -- and to wear personal protective gear, he said.
Danger doesn't stop with bats. Other mammals, such as civets and camels, have been found to act as intermediate hosts that can pass coronaviruses to humans. Undercooked meat and offal, milk, blood, mucus, saliva and urine of virus-carrying mammals can potentially contain pathogens.
"Viruses evolve all the time -- there's no way to know when it will mutate and become dangerous to humans," said Supaporn Watcharaprueksadee, deputy chief at the Center for Emerging Infectious Disease of Thailand, who has studied bats for two decades. "The best prevention is to avoid the risk and reduce all risky behaviors," she said.
At the Khao Chong Phran bat cave in the Thai province of Ratchaburi, where the bat dung is mined, there are an estimated of 3 million wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bats, an insect-eating species that produces high-nitrogen guano, essential for boosting plant growth.
Guano collectors usually enter the cave with long sleeved shirts and long pants, with a T-shirt wrapped around their head as makeshift cover -- in contrast to how disease ecologists investigate caves in a full-body suit with masks and gloves. Although dry guano has low risk of infection, miners or cave visitors can potentially be exposed to viruses through the fresh saliva and urine of bats.
"Viruses evolve all the time -- there's no way to know when it will mutate and become dangerous to humans," said Supaporn Watcharaprueksadee, deputy chief at the Center for Emerging Infectious Disease of Thailand, who has studied bats for two decades. "The best prevention is to avoid the risk and reduce all risky behaviors," she said.
At the Khao Chong Phran bat cave in the Thai province of Ratchaburi, where the bat dung is mined, there are an estimated of 3 million wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bats, an insect-eating species that produces high-nitrogen guano, essential for boosting plant growth.
Guano collectors usually enter the cave with long sleeved shirts and long pants, with a T-shirt wrapped around their head as makeshift cover -- in contrast to how disease ecologists investigate caves in a full-body suit with masks and gloves. Although dry guano has low risk of infection, miners or cave visitors can potentially be exposed to viruses through the fresh saliva and urine of bats.
It's not a concern foremost in the minds of the cave's guano collectors, even weeks after Thailand reported the first of its 35 Covid-19 cases.
"We've done this for a long time, for many generations," said Singha Sittikul, who manages the business and fields orders. It's a small operation trading guano locally, but such fertilizer is also sold by companies and via online commerce platforms, such as Amazon.com Alibaba Group Holding. "We carry on as usual."
Bats are highly valued in Ratchaburi, where they not only produce a potent fertilizer, but also play a role in pollination and pest-control by feeding on insects that ravage rice and other crops. Their cave has been declared an animal sanctuary. Killing or eating them is prohibited.
In other places, bat consumption is more common. On the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, for example, fruit-eating bats are sold by market vendors and their meat is used in a soup-based dish with vegetables, chili paste and coconut milk. In Palau, a whole bat is served in a soup of ginger, coconut milk and spices -- a dish that gained notoriety on social media during the early weeks of Covid-19.
In southern Vietnam, a local newspaper reported Friday there were vendors serving bat porridge and bat blood cocktails, which they believe have aphrodisiac properties.
The trade and smuggling of wild mammals, including ones that may act as intermediaries of bat-borne viruses, poses a risk. Carcasses and parts of pangolins, lions, rhinos and elephants are routinely being trafficked through Southeast Asia.
Bat expert Supaporn is expanding her research to look at pangolins as well as horseshoe bats, which may have played a role in the emergence of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, she said.
The Freeland Foundation, a counter-trafficking organization, has alerted Asian nations to the direct virological threat wildlife smuggling poses to "wider human populations."
Closing markets and refraining from consumption of the animals is the only sure way to prevent the spread and recurrence of outbreaks, it said.
"There are so many bat-borne diseases that we have yet to discover, and they can be dangerous," said Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, a senior adviser to the Thai Ministry of Public Health. "Now is the time to discourage eating and trading them."
"We've done this for a long time, for many generations," said Singha Sittikul, who manages the business and fields orders. It's a small operation trading guano locally, but such fertilizer is also sold by companies and via online commerce platforms, such as Amazon.com Alibaba Group Holding. "We carry on as usual."
Bats are highly valued in Ratchaburi, where they not only produce a potent fertilizer, but also play a role in pollination and pest-control by feeding on insects that ravage rice and other crops. Their cave has been declared an animal sanctuary. Killing or eating them is prohibited.
In other places, bat consumption is more common. On the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, for example, fruit-eating bats are sold by market vendors and their meat is used in a soup-based dish with vegetables, chili paste and coconut milk. In Palau, a whole bat is served in a soup of ginger, coconut milk and spices -- a dish that gained notoriety on social media during the early weeks of Covid-19.
In southern Vietnam, a local newspaper reported Friday there were vendors serving bat porridge and bat blood cocktails, which they believe have aphrodisiac properties.
The trade and smuggling of wild mammals, including ones that may act as intermediaries of bat-borne viruses, poses a risk. Carcasses and parts of pangolins, lions, rhinos and elephants are routinely being trafficked through Southeast Asia.
Bat expert Supaporn is expanding her research to look at pangolins as well as horseshoe bats, which may have played a role in the emergence of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, she said.
The Freeland Foundation, a counter-trafficking organization, has alerted Asian nations to the direct virological threat wildlife smuggling poses to "wider human populations."
Closing markets and refraining from consumption of the animals is the only sure way to prevent the spread and recurrence of outbreaks, it said.
"There are so many bat-borne diseases that we have yet to discover, and they can be dangerous," said Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, a senior adviser to the Thai Ministry of Public Health. "Now is the time to discourage eating and trading them."
Source - TheNation
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Friday, 25 January 2019
#Bangkok - Health, pollution top social media discussion topics
Online channels being increasingly used for complaints about hospital services.
STROKES AND dust were the two most-discussed topics among Thai netizens last year, a recent survey has revealed.
Conducted by the data company, Backyard Co Ltd, the survey found that
Thais were particularly interested in the quality of private hospital
services, strokes, chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) and facilities
for elderly care during their time online.
Net users often “talked” about hospitals in relation to their services
(54.94 per cent), Backyard’s co-founder Kittipong Kitithawornkul said.
This was followed by topics like complaints, scamming, lack of medical
ethics and hype (22.75 per cent), hospitals’ environment (11.80 per
cent), fees (7.30 per cent), location (1.72 per cent) and facilities
(1.50 per cent).
Interestingly, data also showed that people are turning to online
channels to submit complaints about hospitals, up from 16 per cent in
2017 to 22 per cent last year, reflecting the growing importance of
online comments, he said.
Data also pointed to Thai people’s growing interest in certain diseases.
Strokes, for example, ranked No 1, with people discussing the topic
111.42 per cent more than the year earlier, followed by CRDs (59.88 per
cent) and chronic kidney disease (34.91 per cent).
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Researchers believe the move to ban trans or unsaturated fat by the Thai
food agency may have inspired more discussions about strokes.
In terms of online conversations related to medical check-up packages,
data showed that Thai netizens “talked” more about packages for chronic
respiratory diseases, 233.33 per cent more from the year earlier,
chronic kidney disease (163.76 per cent) and strokes (89.32 per cent).
Interestingly, as Bangkok struggles to cope with smog and fine PM2.5
dust particles, conversations about smog-related diseases such as
allergy, heart disease, asthma and lung cancer are also on the rise.
In addition, online conversations regarding the wellness industry grew
75 per cent compared to the year earlier, though real estate topped the
list.
Meanwhile, online conversations about elderly care facilities rose as much as 180 per cent from the year earlier.
People seem to be less interested in yoga, with 58 per cent fewer
conversations about the subject compared to the year earlier. Now people
seem to be more interested in healthy diets, with 128 per cent more
discussions compared to 2017. This has been attributed to the popularity
of intermittent fasting and the keto diet.
Thai netizens also talked less about low-fat and low-calorie diets, and
showed more interest in gluten-free (179.02 per cent up from 2017) and
vegan diets (166.05 per cent). Unsurprisingly, there was also more
discussion about protein alternatives.
In order to combat office syndrome, researchers found that people were
most interested in manipulative and body-based methods, with acupuncture
and cupping therapy at the top of the list.
“Online data shows that the healthcare and wellness business is very
attractive, especially because online conversations related to this
business grew as much as 85 per cent from 2017 to 2018,” Kittipong said.
Sourse - TheNation
Monday, 17 December 2018
Wellness tourism is on the rise globally
Wellness tourism around the world grew nearly 7% annually between
2015 and 2017 to US$639 billion – more than twice as fast as tourism
overall – and is forecast to reach US$919 billion by 2022.
And while Europe may be the most popular destination for wellness
travel, at an estimated 292 million trips in 2017, it’s North America
that rakes in the big bucks, earning the most in tourism revenue.
Those are among some of the big takeaways from a report released by
the Global Wellness Institute and presented at the World Travel Market
London, a major trade fair that took place recently.
In the report, wellness tourism is defined as travel for the purpose
of maintaining or improving health – not to be conflated with medical
tourism, which involves travel to seek a specific medical treatment.
Overall, in 2017 world travellers made 830 million wellness trips – 139 million more than in 2015.
But while Europe and North America may lead the wellness tourism
market now, analysts point out that wellness trips in Asia-Pacific have
grown 33% in the last two years, making it the fastest growing market.
Between 2017 and 2022, wellness tourism is also projected to grow 13% in Asia-Pacific to reach US$252 billion in revenue.
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Meanwhile, within the region, China and India are the strongest
performers, having added roughly 22 million and 17 million wellness
trips respectively from 2015 to 2017.
“Wellness tourism burst into the consumer consciousness just a very few years ago, and it’s hard to grasp the speed of its growth and evolution,” authors note in the report.
“Wellness, hospitality and travel are now converging in unprecedented ways, from the ‘healthy hotel’ concept going utterly mainstream to airports, airlines and cruises injecting so much wellness programming, to the profusion of ever-more-creative wellness destinations, retreats and tours.”
The report also showed that wellness travellers are well-educated, open-minded globetrotters with money to burn, spending on average US$1,528 per trip or 53% more than the typical international tourist.
That’s even higher for domestic wellness tourists, who spend 178% more than the average domestic traveller, at US$609 per trip.
Here are the destinations that made the most money from wellness tourism in 2017:
1. United States
2. Germany
3. China
4. France
5. Japan
6. Austria
7. India
8. Canada
9. Britain
10. Italy
Source - TheJakartaPost
“Wellness tourism burst into the consumer consciousness just a very few years ago, and it’s hard to grasp the speed of its growth and evolution,” authors note in the report.
“Wellness, hospitality and travel are now converging in unprecedented ways, from the ‘healthy hotel’ concept going utterly mainstream to airports, airlines and cruises injecting so much wellness programming, to the profusion of ever-more-creative wellness destinations, retreats and tours.”
The report also showed that wellness travellers are well-educated, open-minded globetrotters with money to burn, spending on average US$1,528 per trip or 53% more than the typical international tourist.
That’s even higher for domestic wellness tourists, who spend 178% more than the average domestic traveller, at US$609 per trip.
Here are the destinations that made the most money from wellness tourism in 2017:
1. United States
2. Germany
3. China
4. France
5. Japan
6. Austria
7. India
8. Canada
9. Britain
10. Italy
Source - TheJakartaPost
Friday, 14 October 2016
Truly the King of hearts
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The longest-reigning monarch won the devotion of his subjects with his commitment to their welfare
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HIS MAJESTY King Bhumibol Adulyadej rose to the greatest heights in
modern Thai history and was, in his lifetime, the pillar and soul of his
nation.
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Like his grandfather King Rama V, His Majesty made enormous contributions to his country, commanding deep love and loyalty from his people. He was the guiding light, helping his Kingdom in times of crisis time and again.
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During his seven-decade-long reign, His Majesty peacefully defused several political situations, such as the tumult in October 1973 and Black May in 1992 - something no Thai politician was able to accomplish then or later.
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His reign spanned the terms of more than 30 governments, several military regimes, coups and numerous coup attempts, and even the defeat of the communist threat that raged through Southeast Asia a few decades ago.
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Like his grandfather King Rama V, His Majesty made enormous contributions to his country, commanding deep love and loyalty from his people. He was the guiding light, helping his Kingdom in times of crisis time and again.
.
During his seven-decade-long reign, His Majesty peacefully defused several political situations, such as the tumult in October 1973 and Black May in 1992 - something no Thai politician was able to accomplish then or later.
.
His reign spanned the terms of more than 30 governments, several military regimes, coups and numerous coup attempts, and even the defeat of the communist threat that raged through Southeast Asia a few decades ago.
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At the time of his passing yesterday, he was the world's
longest-reigning monarch and had been recognised with several
international awards for his contributions in various fields. Among the
honours were the UNDP Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award, Time
magazine's "Asian Hero King Bhumibol Adulyadej for Shaping the Asia of
Our Times" and the World Intellectual Property Organisation Global
Leaders Award.
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.
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In an unprecedented gathering of royalty, the kings, queens and royal representatives from 26 countries arrived at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok in 2006 to pay tribute to His Majesty on the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne.
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In Thailand, he was considered the father of many innovations and technology.
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These accolades, however, pale before his significance to the Thai people - he was their inspiration, their leading light, and the King of their hearts.
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His Majesty won the hearts of his subjects because he fully honoured his oath of accession: "We shall reign with righteousness, for the benefits and happiness of the Siamese people." This oath was taken on the day of his coronation in 1950, when His Majesty was just 23.
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Born on December 5, 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, His Majesty was the third and youngest child of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Mahidol of Songkhla and Princess Srinagarindra. He spent much of his childhood overseas, visiting Thailand sometimes with his older brother King Ananda Mahidol to see their country and their elderly grandmother HM Queen Savang Vadhana.
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The younger royal never expected to become a monarch, but had to take over after his brother's untimely death on June 9, 1946.
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He was once quoted as saying after his brother's death: "I had never thought of becoming a king. I only wanted be your younger brother".
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After King Ananda's passing, the course of the younger royal's life changed completely. He had to change his subject of education from science to political science and law, so he could equip himself with proper knowledge for his reign.
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After completing his education in Switzerland, His Majesty returned for the royal coronation and faithful devotion to his country and his people. For most of his reign, His Majesty travelled the length and breadth of the Kingdom, visiting the poorest and remotest corners to learn about the problems faced by his people.
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During his travels, the beloved monarch spoke to his subjects and most importantly, listened to them. He learned of their needs and problems first hand and set about trying to find a way to give immediate help, before studying the issue in depth to find a permanent solution.
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He had to stop making these trips only after his health began to fail. Yet, even during his time at Siriraj Hospital, the beloved monarch read reports on issues affecting his people and gave advice when he could.
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Since 1952, His Majesty initiated more than 3,000 innovative programmes in agriculture, environment, public health, water resources, communications, public welfare, occupational promotion and education with the aim of easing the lives of Thai people.
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He also actively promoted sustainable development and the philosophy of sufficiency economy.
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His Majesty passed away peacefully at the age of 89 yesterday. He is survived by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and their four children.
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His death has plunged the nation into mourning. But the revered monarch will live in the hearts of Thai people forever.
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Source: The Nation
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In an unprecedented gathering of royalty, the kings, queens and royal representatives from 26 countries arrived at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok in 2006 to pay tribute to His Majesty on the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne.
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In Thailand, he was considered the father of many innovations and technology.
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These accolades, however, pale before his significance to the Thai people - he was their inspiration, their leading light, and the King of their hearts.
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His Majesty won the hearts of his subjects because he fully honoured his oath of accession: "We shall reign with righteousness, for the benefits and happiness of the Siamese people." This oath was taken on the day of his coronation in 1950, when His Majesty was just 23.
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Born on December 5, 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, His Majesty was the third and youngest child of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Mahidol of Songkhla and Princess Srinagarindra. He spent much of his childhood overseas, visiting Thailand sometimes with his older brother King Ananda Mahidol to see their country and their elderly grandmother HM Queen Savang Vadhana.
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The younger royal never expected to become a monarch, but had to take over after his brother's untimely death on June 9, 1946.
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He was once quoted as saying after his brother's death: "I had never thought of becoming a king. I only wanted be your younger brother".
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After King Ananda's passing, the course of the younger royal's life changed completely. He had to change his subject of education from science to political science and law, so he could equip himself with proper knowledge for his reign.
.
After completing his education in Switzerland, His Majesty returned for the royal coronation and faithful devotion to his country and his people. For most of his reign, His Majesty travelled the length and breadth of the Kingdom, visiting the poorest and remotest corners to learn about the problems faced by his people.
.
During his travels, the beloved monarch spoke to his subjects and most importantly, listened to them. He learned of their needs and problems first hand and set about trying to find a way to give immediate help, before studying the issue in depth to find a permanent solution.
.
He had to stop making these trips only after his health began to fail. Yet, even during his time at Siriraj Hospital, the beloved monarch read reports on issues affecting his people and gave advice when he could.
.
Since 1952, His Majesty initiated more than 3,000 innovative programmes in agriculture, environment, public health, water resources, communications, public welfare, occupational promotion and education with the aim of easing the lives of Thai people.
.
He also actively promoted sustainable development and the philosophy of sufficiency economy.
.
His Majesty passed away peacefully at the age of 89 yesterday. He is survived by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and their four children.
.
His death has plunged the nation into mourning. But the revered monarch will live in the hearts of Thai people forever.
.
Source: The Nation
.
Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Thais don pink for His Majesty
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Thais nationwide are wearing pink to express their best wishes for His Majesty the King's good health as huge crowds of well-wishers flocked to the Grand Palace to sign get-well books Tuesday.
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The Royal Household Bureau on Tuesday opened the Sala Sahathai Samakhom pavilion inside the Grand Palace to allow the general public to sign get-well books for the world's longest-serving monarch.
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The public can sign the get-well books at the pavilion from 8am and 6pm.
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On Tuesday Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha led cabinet ministers, armed forces leaders and their spouses to sign get-well books for the good health of His Majesty at the pavilion.
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Following the Royal Household Bureau's (RHB) 37th announcement on the condition of His Majesty's health, messages have been shared on social media urging Thais to wear pink - a color which became associated with the King a few years ago when royal astrologers said the color was good for the King and would help promote his well-being.
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Since then, the King has been seen wearing pink in public on several occasions.
.
Siriraj Hospital was an ocean of pink shirts Tuesday, as well-wishers clad in pink braved the rain to wish His Majesty a speedy recovery from his illness.
.
The Royal Household Bureau on Tuesday opened the Sala Sahathai Samakhom pavilion inside the Grand Palace to allow the general public to sign get-well books for the world's longest-serving monarch.
.
The public can sign the get-well books at the pavilion from 8am and 6pm.
.
On Tuesday Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha led cabinet ministers, armed forces leaders and their spouses to sign get-well books for the good health of His Majesty at the pavilion.
.
Following the Royal Household Bureau's (RHB) 37th announcement on the condition of His Majesty's health, messages have been shared on social media urging Thais to wear pink - a color which became associated with the King a few years ago when royal astrologers said the color was good for the King and would help promote his well-being.
.
Since then, the King has been seen wearing pink in public on several occasions.
.
Siriraj Hospital was an ocean of pink shirts Tuesday, as well-wishers clad in pink braved the rain to wish His Majesty a speedy recovery from his illness.
.
Thursday, 31 December 2015
We wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year
We wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year
Wij wensen u allen een gelukkig en gezond Nieuwjaar
Wir wünschen Ihnen allen ein frohes und gesundes neues Jahr
Kami berharap Anda semua Happy dan Sehat Tahun Baru
Nais ka naming isang Happy at Healthy New Year lahat
Nous vous souhaitons à tous une bonne et heureuse année
Kami mengucapkan selamat Tahun Baru dan Sihat
เราหวังว่าทุกท่านสวัสดีปีใหม่และมีสุขภาพดี (Sawadee Pi Mai)
Мы желаем вам всем счастливого и здорового Нового года
យើងសូមឱ្យអ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាសប្បាយចិត្តនិងមានសុខភាពល្អឆ្នាំថ្មីមួយ
우리는 모두 행복하고 건강한 새해 소원
Wij wensen u allen een gelukkig en gezond Nieuwjaar
Wir wünschen Ihnen allen ein frohes und gesundes neues Jahr
Kami berharap Anda semua Happy dan Sehat Tahun Baru
Nais ka naming isang Happy at Healthy New Year lahat
Nous vous souhaitons à tous une bonne et heureuse année
Kami mengucapkan selamat Tahun Baru dan Sihat
เราหวังว่าทุกท่านสวัสดีปีใหม่และมีสุขภาพดี (Sawadee Pi Mai)
Мы желаем вам всем счастливого и здорового Нового года
យើងសូមឱ្យអ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាសប្បាយចិត្តនិងមានសុខភាពល្អឆ្នាំថ្មីមួយ
우리는 모두 행복하고 건강한 새해 소원
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Saturday, 10 October 2015
Haze in the South 'easing' #Thailand
Particulate measurements within safe limits in 7 provinces
NEWS that the dire haze situation in the South has improved comes as the
government launched numerous measures aimed at easing the impact of the
problem on people and businesses.
The Royal Thai Air Force has even sprayed water over hard-hit densely populated areas of Songkhla province in a bid to protect the health of people.
The smog has played havoc in the Southern region for many days, as winds brought smoke from Indonesia's bush fires.
"Now, the overall haze problem has eased," Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.
He said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha was worried about the haze's impact on people and had instructed relevant agencies to tackle the problem seriously.
The urgent measures are rainmaking operations, water spraying, the distribution of facial masks, and discussions with Indonesia over the problem.
The amount of particulate matter up to 10 microns in size (PM10), Sansern said, had not exceeded the safe limit of 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air in Surat Thani, Phuket, Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Pattani as of press time yesterday.
Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada said the haze situation in his province had shown signs of improving. He said there had not been any more flight delays because of poor visibility after 24 flights to and from Phuket were delayed between 6am Thursday to 6am yesterday.
Suratin Lianudom, a former mayor of Tambon Rassada Municipality, yesterday lodged an open letter with the Indonesian president via the provincial Phuket authority demanding that Jakarta pay serious attention to preventing the haze problem.
"Smog has affected the normal lives of people," he said in the letter.
Suratin said many tourists had been unable to connect with flights back to their home countries in time because of haze-caused flight delays.
Many children and elderly people in Phuket had developed health problems because of the haze, he said.
Yesterday, haze delayed at least four flights at Krabi International Airport, while Ranong Hospital deputy director Dr Arun Sattayapisan said the number of patients at the hospital had jumped by more than 30 per cent in the past few days because of the smog.
"Ranong doesn't have a station to check air quality. So we really don't know whether the air quality has dropped dangerously," he said.
The Royal Thai Air Force has even sprayed water over hard-hit densely populated areas of Songkhla province in a bid to protect the health of people.
The smog has played havoc in the Southern region for many days, as winds brought smoke from Indonesia's bush fires.
"Now, the overall haze problem has eased," Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.
He said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha was worried about the haze's impact on people and had instructed relevant agencies to tackle the problem seriously.
The urgent measures are rainmaking operations, water spraying, the distribution of facial masks, and discussions with Indonesia over the problem.
The amount of particulate matter up to 10 microns in size (PM10), Sansern said, had not exceeded the safe limit of 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air in Surat Thani, Phuket, Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Pattani as of press time yesterday.
Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada said the haze situation in his province had shown signs of improving. He said there had not been any more flight delays because of poor visibility after 24 flights to and from Phuket were delayed between 6am Thursday to 6am yesterday.
Suratin Lianudom, a former mayor of Tambon Rassada Municipality, yesterday lodged an open letter with the Indonesian president via the provincial Phuket authority demanding that Jakarta pay serious attention to preventing the haze problem.
"Smog has affected the normal lives of people," he said in the letter.
Suratin said many tourists had been unable to connect with flights back to their home countries in time because of haze-caused flight delays.
Many children and elderly people in Phuket had developed health problems because of the haze, he said.
Yesterday, haze delayed at least four flights at Krabi International Airport, while Ranong Hospital deputy director Dr Arun Sattayapisan said the number of patients at the hospital had jumped by more than 30 per cent in the past few days because of the smog.
"Ranong doesn't have a station to check air quality. So we really don't know whether the air quality has dropped dangerously," he said.
Source: The Nation
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Monday, 30 December 2013
I wish you all a "Happy & Healthy New Year",
"Glücklich & Gesundes Neues Jahr", "Selamat & Sehat Tahun Baru",
"Bahagia & Sihat Tahun Baru", "Maligayang Bagong taon po",
"Bonne et Saine Nouvel An", "Feliz y Saludable Año Nuevo", "Feliz e Saudável Ano Novo", សប្បាយរីករាយ និង មានសុខភាពល្អ ឆ្នាំថ្មី , Mutlu ve Sağlıklı Yeni Yıl,
"Bahagia & Sihat Tahun Baru", "Maligayang Bagong taon po",
"Bonne et Saine Nouvel An", "Feliz y Saludable Año Nuevo", "Feliz e Saudável Ano Novo", សប្បាយរីករាយ
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