All eyes will be on ASEAN this year as it hosts several key global summits, including the G20 in Indonesia.
Pepsi Price Hike Delayed by 1 Month
BANGKOK (NNT) – Suntory Pepsico Beverage Thailand has assured that the price of Pepsi will remain unchanged for the month of June. Its planned price hike for all sizes and packages by 1-2 baht will instead commence in July.
Wattanasak Sur-iam, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), made the announcement after discussing the matter with Suntory.
The company previously planned to make the price hike official on June 1 to keep pace with rising production costs, citing higher fuel prices that have made plastic and transportation more expensive.
Suntory nevertheless decided to postpone the price hike for another month, to officially commence on July 1.
Wattanasak said his agency is closely monitoring the prices of consumer products. He also stressed that all price hikes must be thoroughly reviewed in line with actual costs and must not overly burden consumers.
Vendors found guilty of price gouging, hoarding or refusal to sell goods can face up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to 140,000 baht, or both.
Members of the public are encouraged to report unfair traders by calling the DIT’s hotline number 1569.
Information and Source
Reporter : Na-ark Rojanasuvan
Rewriter : Paul Rujopakarn
National News Bureau : http://thainews.prd.go.th
TAT’s roadshow to Europe showcases “Visit Thailand Year 2022: Amazing New Chapters”
Bangkok, 1 June, 2022 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) staged the “Amazing Thailand New Chapters Roadshow” to Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Ghent, Belgium, and Paris, France on 23-25 May, 2022, to promote the “Visit Thailand Year 2022: Amazing New Chapters” with marketing and promotional activities tailored for each market aimed at boosting tourism numbers back to Thailand.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, “TAT’s mission in Europe was to reiterate Thailand’s full opening to international travellers post-pandemic, while promoting the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022: Amazing New Chapters’ tourism marketing campaign. The activity placed emphasis on highlighting the kingdom’s soft-power foundations, while enhancing the awareness of Thai cultural values, under the ‘from A to Z Amazing Thailand has it all’ concept. Ultimately, TAT hopes to drive interest among European travellers in travelling to Thailand.”
Thailand’s 6F, 4M soft-power foundations are Food, Film, Fashion, Festival, Fight, Friendship, Music, Museum, Master, and Meta.
TAT positioned the Amazing Thailand New Chapters Roadshow to Europe as a platform for Thai tourism businesses and airlines to explore new opportunities and build on business relationships with local tour operators, travel agents, and destination management companies in Belgium, France, and The Netherlands.
The roadshow in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on 23 May, 2022, saw 13 Thai tourism businesses (So Sofitel Hua Hin, Mode Sathorn, Dusit Thani, Jasmin City, 500 Rai Resort, Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa, Sheraton Samui, Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Rose Hotel, Asian Trails, Easia Travel, Chiang Mai Vacation, and Red Elephant) discuss businesses with 48 tour operators and travel agents from Amsterdam and nearby cities. EVA Air and Emirates provided support for the event.
The programme included a market briefing for Thai sellers, speech by H.E. Mr. Chatri Archjananun, Thai Ambassador to The Netherlands, welcome remarks by Mrs. Titiporn Manenate, TAT Executive Director for Europe, Africa and Middle East Region, Thailand Product Presentation by Miss Soraya Homchuen, Director of TAT Paris Office, table-top sales for sellers and buyers, and a lucky draw.
With a population of 17 million, The Netherlands is one of Thailand’s important sources of visitors from Europe. Pre-pandemic, in 2019, Thailand recorded 230,000 visitors from The Netherlands generating 16.29 billion Baht. In addition to connecting flights by airlines in the Middle East, KLM has resumed a daily direct flight between Amsterdam and Bangkok from May 2022, and EVA Air will start three flights per week on the same route from July 2022.
The roadshow in Paris, France on 24 May, 2022, provided a business platform for 12 Thai tourism businesses (So Sofitel Hua Hin, Mode Sathorn, Dusit Thani, Jasmin City, 500 Rai Resort, Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa, Sheraton Samui, Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Rose Hotel, Asian Trails, Easia Travel, and Chiang Mai Vacation) and 63 tour operators and travel agents from Paris. Bangkok Airways provided support for the event.
The programme included a market briefing for Thai sellers, market trends and tips by invited speakers from Les Madisons du Voyage and Asia Voyage, welcome remarks by Mrs. Titiporn Manenate, TAT Executive Director for Europe, Africa and Middle East Region, Thailand Product Presentation by TAT Paris Office, table-top sales for sellers and buyers, and a lucky draw.
With a population of 67 million, France is also one of Thailand’s important sources of visitors from Europe. Pre-pandemic, in 2019, Thailand recorded 713,405 visitors from France generating 42.82 billion Baht. In addition to connecting flights by airlines in the Middle East, travellers from France can travel to Thailand with direct flights between Paris and Bangkok by Thai Airways International and Air France.
The roadshow in Ghent, Belgium on 25 May, 2022, provided a business platform for 12 Thai tourism businesses (So Sofitel Hua Hin, Mode Sathorn, Dusit Thani, Jasmin City, 500 Rai Resort, Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa, Sheraton Samui, Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Rose Hotel, Asian Trails, Easia Travel, and Chiang Mai Vacation) and 60 tour operators and travel agents from Ghent and nearby cities. Emirates provided support for the event.
The programme included a market briefing for Thai sellers by Mr. Kris Van den Broeck, TAT Representative for Belgium & Luxembourg, a speech by Ms. Suchada Maktara, Minister Councillor of the Royal Thai Embassy Brussels, welcome remarks by Mrs. Titiporn Manenate, TAT Executive Director for Europe, Africa and Middle East Region, Thailand Product Presentation by TAT Paris Office, table-top sales for sellers and buyers, and a lucky draw.
With a population of 11 million, Belgium is also one of Thailand’s important sources of visitors from Europe. Pre-pandemic, in 2019, Thailand recorded 114,016 visitors from Belgium generating 7.3 billion Baht. In addition to connecting flights by airlines in the Middle East, including Emirates, travellers from Belgium can travel to Thailand with direct flights between Brussels and Bangkok by Thai Airways International.
Since Thailand eased travel restrictions and reopened for tourism from July 2021 to March 2022, travellers from Europe made 522,680 trips to Thailand. The number included 53,727 trips by French travellers making it the fifth largest market during the period, after Germany, Russia, the UK, and USA.
In 2022, TAT expects Thai tourism to generate revenue of 1.5 trillion Baht, and to record 7-10 million trips by foreign travellers.
The post TAT’s roadshow to Europe showcases “Visit Thailand Year 2022: Amazing New Chapters” appeared first on TAT Newsroom.
Private Businesses Urge Delay on Land and Building Tax Collection
BANGKOK (NNT) – The Ministry of Finance has assigned the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) to study a proposal by the private sector to delay and reduce collection of the land and building tax.
The instruction from Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith came after companies complained that they have been struggling with the impact of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Arkhom said the FPO will discuss the matter with the Ministry of Interior and look into possible approaches that his ministry can take to help affected businesses.
However, he stressed that revenue from the land and building tax is crucial for urban development, and that the implementation of related measures requires careful consideration.
Prompted by the devastating effects of the pandemic, the government reduced the land and building tax by 90% in 2020 to help alleviate the burden of property owners. This tax relief remained in place for the 2020-21 fiscal year, but the ministry has since declined to extend it.
Information and Source
Reporter : Na-ark Rojanasuvan
Rewriter :
National News Bureau : http://thainews.prd.go.th
Waste-to-Energy Plant Closed Over Offensive Odor Issue
BANGKOK (NNT) – Operations at a waste-to-energy power plant in On Nut have been halted after residents complained about the site’s strong odor.According to Wanchai Phanomchai, director-general of The
Cambodia Airways launches Phnom Penh-Samui twice-weekly direct flights
Bangkok, 26 May, 2022 – Cambodia Airways has launched a new direct service between Phnom Penh and Samui, with two flights a week operating on Tuesday and Friday.
The new Phnom Penh-Samui service is operated by an Airbus A319 aircraft, with approximately 150 seats. Flight KR723 departs the Cambodian capital at 08.30 Hrs. and arrives in Samui at 09.40 Hrs., while Flight KR724 departs Samui at 10.40 Hrs. to arrive in Phnom Penh at 11.50 Hrs.
On hand at Samui Airport to personally welcome fifty passengers on Cambodia Airways’ inaugural Phnom Penh-Samui flight on Friday 20 May, 2022, were representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Koh Samui Municipality Tourism Council of Surat Thani Province, Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, Southern Thai Hotels Association, East Coast Samui Spa Association, and Samui Airport. Accompanying passengers on the inaugural flight were members of Cambodia Airways management.
Mrs. Supakan Yodchun, Director of TAT Ko Samui Office, said “The opening of this new route will be beneficial in connecting tourists and investors between Thailand and Cambodia. It will help stimulate the economy of Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao which have much to offer in the way of beautiful beaches and sea, and at the same time offer tourists and expats a convenient way to combine these attractions with Cambodia and its art, culture and ancient temple sites.”
The post Cambodia Airways launches Phnom Penh-Samui twice-weekly direct flights appeared first on TAT Newsroom.
Thailand Flexible Plus Program targets High-Net-Worth Investors
In March 2022, Thailand officially launched the Flexible Plus Program in a bid to attract high-net-worth foreign investors. The program is only open to Thailand Privilege Card members, and offers international investors the ability to convert their privilege entry visa into a non-immigrant (B) visa, which will then enable them to apply for a work permit.
The program is supervised by the Thailand Privilege Card Co. Ltd, a state-owned company under the supervision of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), a government agency mandated to promote Thailand’s tourism industry.
The Thailand Privilege Card company offers high-value foreign investors a ‘privilege entry visa’ that allows the holder to travel in and out of Thailand without the need for a re-entry permit.
Foreign investors must pay a membership fee of up to 1 million baht (US$29,164) to receive and is valid for between five and 20 years, depending on the card type. Further, holders of this visa are provided a variety of benefits and services to facilitate their stay in the country, ranging from airport transport to annual health checks.
Who can apply?
Only Thailand Privilege Card members are eligible to join the program. Further, the members must hold one of the three following Thailand Privilege Card types:
- Elite Ultimate Privilege (EUP)
- Elite Superiority Extension (ESE)
- Elite…
Revenue Collection Exceeds Target in First Seven Months
BANGKOK (NNT) – The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) reported that the government’s revenue collection in the first seven months of the fiscal year 2022 exceeded its target by 3.7% due to an increase in the volume of product imports in tandem with the economic recovery.
FPO Director-General Pornchai Thiraveja stated that the Revenue Department’s collection during the period exceeded the goal due to increased personal and corporate income tax collection. He added that the substantial increase in imports also contributed to the increased value-added tax collection.
The government’s net revenue for the first seven months of the fiscal year 2022 was 1.27 trillion baht, exceeding the target by 45.8 billion baht or 3.7%. The total amount of revenue represents a 4.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
During the period, the Revenue Department collected approximately 1 trillion baht in revenue, an increase of 127 billion baht or 14.5% from the previous year.
The Excise Department, meanwhile, collected 320 billion baht in revenue, a decrease of 3.3% year-over-year or 11.1 billion baht, whereas the Customs Department collected 61.7 billion baht in revenue, an increase of 4.8% year-over-year or 2.83 billion baht.
The Excise Department attributed the decrease in revenue collection to the reduction of the diesel excise tax by 3 baht per liter in response to the rising global oil price.
The government previously approved the reduction of the diesel excise tax by 5 baht from May 21 to July 20, at an estimated cost to the Excise Department of 19.8 billion baht.
Officials anticipate that the total expenditures for the fiscal year 2022 will be close to 3.1 trillion baht, while the total revenue collected by the end of the year will be around 2.4 trillion baht.
Information and Source
Reporter : Krajangwit Johjit
Rewriter : Thammarat Thadaphrom
National News Bureau : http://thainews.prd.go.th
