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Home Blog Page 4212

Thailand expects 400 foreign visitors in early November – Tourism

Thailand Business News

Oct 21, 2020

BANGKOK (NNT) – The Minister of Tourism and Sports expects that there will be approximately 400 foreign visitors in early November and expressed his belief that the Bangkok protest situation will not affect their confidence.

Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said the Special Tourist VISA lasts 90 days and can be renewed twice. Each renewal is for 90 days. Foreign visitors must undergo a 14-day quarantine or strictly comply with prescribed guidelines against COVID-19 before undertaking travel.

On October 20, a group of Chinese nationals with special tourist visas (STV) will be the first foreign tourists allowed into Thailand on a chartered flight under a conditional entry scheme for selected groups of foreigners endorsed by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Another group will arrive in Phuket on October 26 and more groups will gradually arrive.

It is expected that by November 2nd, there will be approximately 400 foreign tourists newly arrived in Thailand. He expressed his confidence that the recent student demonstrations won’t affect the confidence of foreigners because tourists understand that Thailand does not tolerate violence.

The first group of 41 Chinese tourists is due to arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport from Shanghai at about 5pm today (Tuesday), to…

Read the complete story on Thailand Business News

Gov’t advances digital transformation plan

National news Thailand

Oct 21, 2020

BANGKOK(NNT) – With continual efforts to enhance digital infrastructure, the government is now on track to implement more digital technologies to achieve its digital government goal, allowing the general public to effectively have access to technologies.

The Digital Economic and Society Committee has in its meeting followed up on the progress of technology implementation in national development and digital government transformation.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has stressed the importance of infrastructure projects and platform management, such as the creation of a data center and a central cloud platform for government data management, which will allow government agencies to work together more seamlessly.

By linking government databases, agencies will be able to serve the general public more effectively. The Prime Minister has stressed the need for development of human resources in keeping with technological advancement, and ways to improve the general public’s access to technological tools that can help them with online retailing.

Currently, the government is promoting several digital projects such as the testing of a 5G network for remote diagnosis of stroke patients at mobile stroke units, and a smart farming project expected to be a key contributor to the economy, society, and national security in the future.

The committee has approved draft bills necessary for digital development of the country, such as the Space Bill, and ethical code for Artificial Intelligence.

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Thai Massaman curry topped “The World’s 50 Best Foods,” CNN Travel

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Oct 21, 2020

Bangkok, 20 October, 2020 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that CNN Travel has placed Thai Massaman curry as the No. 1 dish in “The World’s 50 Best Foods list, along with Tom Yum Kung in the eighth place and Som Tam papaya salad, which ranked at 46^th.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, “This listing is a testament to the already solid reputation of Thai cuisine that is increasingly perceived as a world-class culinary experience. Thailand is certainly a great destination for foodie tourism.

“Once the COVID-19 situation improves, we are more than ready to welcome tourists and foodies from around the world to embark on a culinary journey and explore Thainess through Thai dishes in unique destinations across Thailand.”

The latest CNN Travel World’s 50 Best Foods list was updated in September 2020, on the original article that was previously published in 2011, then reformatted, updated and republished in 2017, and updated since then.

CNN Travel staff said that they had scoured the planet for what they thought were 50 of the most delicious foods ever created. The three Thai dishes were ranked and described as follows:

Massaman curry with chicken

Massaman curry, 1^st place: Emphatically the king of curries, and perhaps the king of all foods. Spicy, coconutty, sweet and savoury. Even the packet sauce you buy from the supermarket can make the most delinquent of cooks look like a Michelin potential. Thankfully, someone invented rice, with which diners can mop up the last drizzles of curry sauce. “The Land of Smiles” isn’t just a marketing catch-line. It’s a result of being born in a land where the world’s most delicious food is sold on nearly every street corner.

Tom Yum Kung, 8^th place: This best food Thai masterpiece teems with shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves. Usually loaded with coconut milk and cream, the hearty soup unifies a host of favourite Thai tastes: sour, salty, spicy and sweet. Best of all is the price: cheap.

Som Tam papaya salad, 46^th place: To prepare Thailand’s most famous salad, pound garlic and chillies with a mortar and pestle. Toss in tamarind juice, fish sauce, peanuts, dried shrimp, tomatoes, lime juice, sugar cane paste, string beans and a handful of grated green papaya. Grab a side of sticky rice. Variations include those made with crab (som tam pu) and fermented fish sauce (som tam pla ra), but none matches the flavour and simple beauty of the original.

The post Thai Massaman curry topped “The World’s 50 Best Foods,” CNN Travel appeared first on TAT Newsroom.

Read the complete story here

Joint Statement Conference on the Digital Transformation of Education Systems throughout ASEAN

Asean News

Oct 21, 2020

Joint Statement Conference on the Digital Transformation of Education Systems throughout ASEAN

WE, the Ministers of Education of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely, Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, convened the Conference on the Digital Transformation of Education Systems throughout ASEAN on 15 October 2020 online and in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.

Download the full statement here.

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SET launches app to help people plant trees

National news Thailand

Oct 19, 2020

BANGKOK (NNT) – In a bid to increase the area of forest in the country, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in collaboration with a number of agencies has launched a new platform to allow people who wish to contribute to the planting of trees to do so with ease.

SET President Dr. Pakorn Peetathawatchai today officially launched the “Care the Wild” project, a new activity where the public, wherever they may live in the world are able to contribute to the expansion of forest area in Thailand by simply downloading the application ‘Care the Wild’, at their platform’s application store.

With the application on their phone, users are able to contribute to the planting of trees without having to go to the actual site. Donating one tree costs 200 baht, and a person can plant as many trees as they like. Users can also decide where they would like to plant their trees. There is currently 717 rai of land to choose from across seven provinces namely Ratchaburi, Petchaburi, Chiang Rai, Nan, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Mahasarakam, with more coming in the future.

With a simple click and transfer, SET will work with the Royal Forest Department and residents of the area to plant trees for the users; after the planting, the application will send users a report of how their trees are doing on a biannual basis for a period of six years.

SET hopes that the application will help increase the number of forest areas in the kingdom, aiming for about 100,000 trees covering 500 rai of land; this amount will be able to absorb roughly 900,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.

Currently, forest in Thailand covers an area of some 102 million rai, or 31.5% of the country’s land mass, but according to research Thailand needs at least 40% or 128 million rai of its area to be covered by forest to create a well balanced ecosystem for the country.

Interested individuals are welcome to participate by downloading the ‘Care the Wild’ application at their platform’s app store, fill in their information and start the planting process in the comfort of their home anywhere in the world.
Meanwhile, companies that would like to participate are welcome to visit www.setsocialimpact.com to learn more.

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BoT ending debt aid for SMEs at coming deadline

National news Thailand

Oct 18, 2020

BANGKOK (NNT) – The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has decided not to extend a general order to suspend debt repayment by SMEs to commercial banks set to end this October 22, instructing the institutions to consider such aid on a case by case basis instead, to protect the sector from long term impact.

BoT assistant governor for financial stability and strategy Roong Mallikamas, explained why the measure assisting SMEs with a credit line of no more than 100 million baht was not being continued, pointing out that of the 1.05 million eligible accounts, worth a combined 1.35 trillion baht in debt, up to half have indicated an ability to resume debt repayment after October 22. Of the total, 950 billion baht of the debt is owed to commercial banks.

The concern is that while most of the businesses can now continue payments, an extension of the assistance measure could impact the long-term stability of financial institutions. The central bank is also worried that SMEs not affected by COVID-19 will take advantage of the measure and lose fiscal discipline. Use of the measure is estimated to wipe away 200 billion baht from commercial banks each year if maintained.

For businesses still genuinely impaired by the situation, banks will be allowed to consider their plight on a case by case basis and offer them help as needed.

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Deputy Interior Minister checks Narathiwat disaster management plan

National news Thailand

Oct 16, 2020

BANGKOK(NNT) – A Deputy Minister of the Interior has called a meeting with local agencies in Narathiwat to follow up on the province’s disaster mitigation plan, during his visit to the southern border province.

Deputy Minister of the Interior Nipon Bunyamanee was making an official visit to Narathiwat province, where he chaired a meeting called to assess the province’s disaster management preparedness.

At the meeting, local agencies reported on the water situation and current management plan for the three main watershed regions in the province, followed by discussions on the installation of a flood prevention system in Su-ngai Kolok district, and the monitoring of landslides and flash floods.

Deputy Minister Nipon then followed up on control of the Bajor swamp forest fire, and residential and occupational land issues faced by villagers in Su-ngai Padi district.

He said after the briefing that Narathiwat province is ready to handle all aspects of disaster management, from flooding to storms and landslides, saying that all pending processes are being expedited to help the general public and ensure safety.

He urged the authorities to focus on advance notification of disasters, by employing a village-level notification center or broadcasting center to spread the warning. He also expressed his concerns for villagers in Kolok river basin who may need to be evacuated in cases of severe flooding.

In the long run, the Deputy Minister of the Interior has recommended the authorities construct a water retention area and a flow decelerating area, while reminding officials that the safety of villagers must be the highest priority when dealing with a disaster.

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