tourists in Thailand

  • Business News

    Tourism revival in Thailand risks airport slot overcrowding, suggests alternative options

    In anticipation of the upcoming high season, Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) expressed concerns over the slot capacity at international airports. As more flights are set to resume, it is predicted that the country will receive around 8 million tourists this year, primarily derived from long-haul markets anticipating a significant tourism revival. The deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East,…

  • Economy News

    Thailand sees tourism growth skyrocketing to 3 trillion baht in 2023

    Thailand recently experienced a surge in international arrivals, with numbers reaching 15 million within just seven months of this year, encouraging tourism growth, informed Rachada Dhnadirek, a deputy government spokesperson. She acknowledged the substantial contribution of northern hemisphere school summer breaks increasing the influx of international tourists to the vibrant Southeast Asian nation, thereby boosting tourism growth. In response to…

  • Business News

    Thailand sees tourist tax refund surge since reopening in June

    Following Thailand‘s full reopening in June last year, the number of tourist tax refunds has surged, as reported by Revenue Department director-general Lavaron Sangsnit. The increase in foreign visitors is evident in the substantial rise in value-added tax (VAT) refund totals. In 2022, over 423,000 tourists received VAT refunds, totalling 1.2 billion baht. Between January and May 2022, there were…

  • Video

    Aussie dad fights monkeys on Ko Phi Phi | GMT

    First, we will be discussing the remarkable story of a revered Thai monk whose body has defied decomposition for the last 20 years. This story has been making headlines around the world and we will be discussing the implications of this phenomenon. Next, we will be looking at two of the most popular destinations in Thailand, Phuket and Isaan, which…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Anutin wants to get rid of the Thailand Pass for Thais

    After several raids this week, police are investigating several officials over a sex trafficking case in the southern Thai province of Surat Thani. The director-general of Thailand’s Department of Children and Youth has been charged for hampering an investigation into a trafficking ring. Several other officials found to be involved in the ring include the chairman of a local savings…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Thailand’s Tourism sector demands full reopening

    Tourism businesses in Thailand are struggling to survive and barriers to increasing the number of foreign visitors to the kingdom must be removed immediately. That’s the view of Chamnan Srisawat from the Tourism Council of Thailand, who says the Omicron variant, coupled with Russia’s war on Ukraine, has dealt a double blow to the sector. A TCT poll that surveyed…

  • Thailand News

    Decision day for Songkran in Thailand 2022 | GMT

    The BMA and CCSA will have a meeting today to decide on whether there will be water splashing this Songkran. An explosion in the chao phraya. Thai university hazing incident update, Thai political election leaders and Arrests over pattaya night life. All coming up on todays Good Morning Thailand with Jay and Tim.

  • Thailand News

    Should Thailand scrap the Thailand Pass? | GMT

    The Test and Go scheme and Thailand Pass registration are expected to be scrapped by June 1 if there is no surge in infections. Starting April 1, the mandatory quarantine period for unvaccinated travellers entering Thailand will be reduced to five days. BMA will consider whether to allow water-splashing activities to be held on Khao San Road during Songkran. The…

  • Thailand News

    Pattaya says NO to water fights & parties for Songkran | GMT

    A music video was released by Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations, warning people about call centre scams. The mayor of Pattaya has approved the Songkran celebration but has changed the spotlight to traditional and religious activities instead. A “Thai Riviera” road will be built along the coast six of Thailand’s Andaman provinces. You can put your hopes to rest as…

  • Thailand News

    Travelling to Thailand… It’s Complicated | GMT

    Complicated entry process of Thailand. A total of 32 university students in Thailand’s Isaan region are facing criminal charges. Villagers contacted Watchdog Foundation Thailand after hearing cats howling loudly and smelling a foul smell. A total of 10,661,150 baht in cash was found inside the living quarters of Luang Phor Yen Satchitto, the abbot of Wat Pa Song Tham. All…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Phuket pushes for special visa for digital nomads

    Phuket officials are pushing for a visa scheme for “digital nomads” who want to live or stay in Thailand while working remotely. Under the proposed Phuket X Community for Digital NOMADs Visa, eligible foreigners would be offered a work permit and a stay on the island province for six months to a year. The visa scheme would also allow foreigners…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Officials move closer to declaring Covid-19 endemic

    The requirement for overseas arrivals to take a PCR test 72 hours prior to departure from their home country could soon be scrapped. According to a report, the CCSA will discuss dropping the requirement when it meets tomorrow. Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit from the Public Health Ministry says international arrivals would still be required to take a PCR test on arrival…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Health Ministry to declare covid endemic by July 1 (Thai style rules)

    Tourism officials have shrugged off a US CDC notice which advised citizens to avoid travel to Thailand. Earlier this week, the US CDC added Thailand to its list of Level 4 countries, due to the ongoing Covid situation in the kingdom. However, Yuthasak Supasorn from the Tourism Authority of Thailand says that won’t make much of a difference to an…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Phuket wants to declare Covid endemic

    Phuket officials want to declare Covid endemic, even as the infection rate is rising on the southern island. According to a report, deputy governor Pichet Panapong says achieving endemic status would allow officials to focus on economic recovery. Local officials would also like to get rid of the daily reporting of new infections, instead only reporting Covid cases involving moderate…

  • Thailand News

    Patong tourists charged after driving unregistered electric scooters

    Four tourists in Patong were charged with using unregistered and untaxed vehicles after they drove electric scooters near a beach resort. Several people had complained that the tourists were driving the scooters recklessly, threatening the safety of pedestrians and drivers alike. One of the tourists was stopped near a police booth on Pee Road last Wednesday evening, and the other…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Devastating economic damage from Covid restrictions

    Tourism revenue has plummeted across each of the 77 provinces, according to data from Thailand’s tourism ministry. A report revealed that income from both foreign and local tourism reached an historic low in 2021, dropping by nearly 70%. Meanwhile, the revenue gap between Bangkok and other major provinces remains wide. In 2021, Bangkok posted revenue at 62.7 billion baht, a…

  • Thailand News

    Entering Thailand, Chinese/Indian tourists, Ruling coalition rumbles | Good Morning Thailand | Ep.120

    Jay and Tim go through the top stories in Thailand today that include: The fine print details about the nov 1 re-opening and information the tourists need to know. A chat about what Thailand’s new slogan should be, Talking about the Chinese and Indian tourists as well as the Thai ruling coalition having a few rumbles.

  • Thailand News

    Can Thailand be ready to open on July 1? | VIDEO

    So here we are, about 5 weeks away from Thailand re-opening, again, to general travel. Except for the much publicised busload or two of Chinese tourists who have graced our shores over the past 6 months, tourism, has been very patchy. Well, statistically a lot closer to non-existent. Except for domestic travel, which the Thai government have been pumping up…

  • Covid-19 News

    Thai quarantine confusion – do ASQ hotels know about April 1 changes?

    A gentleman from Sacramento, California, 43 years old, wanted to come to Thailand for Songkran, and then some further exploration. But, with all the changes announced by the government, the restrictions imposed recently for Songkran celebrations, and the hotels still advertising for 14 day quarantines, he’s found it a complete minefield. His main complaint – people ‘on the ground’ don’t…