News
Government has big plans for Bhutan tourism
The Thai and Bhutanese governments plan to expand tourism cooperation to boost the tourism sectors of the two countries and highlight Thailand as a key destination. Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said Thailand and Bhutan are considering holding events to promote the culture and tourism ...
Thailand attempts to revive weakening economy
Thailand’s government plans to allocate an additional $5.3 billion this fiscal year to investment projects in provincial areas, in what appears to be a major effort to appeal to the rural population and kickstart economic growth after several years of stagnation. High household debt, dropping ...
Thai crane species gains new lease on life
The discovery of two new-born sarus crane chicks in the Huai Chorakhe Mak Non-Hunting area in Buri Ram two months ago has prompted a plan by the Zoological Park Organisation to have the birds de-listed as an extinct species. Instead, they look set to be reclassified ...
Bus importer floats duty deal with government
Bestlin Group, the firm contracted to procure 489 natural gas for vehicle air-conditioned buses to the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, on December 8 proposed a deal with the Finance Ministry amid fears it might be ineligible for a 40% import duty exemption for the buses. The firm ...
PTT to run retail at Udon Thani airport
SET-listed PTT Plc, the national oil and gas conglomerate, is branching out into property management, according to a key company official. The move is part of a plan to diversify into other sectors at a time when global oil prices remain weak, said Auttapol Rerkpiboon, ...
Thailand issues malaria warning during peak tourist season
Thailand’s disease control department on December 8 issued a warning for malaria for those planning to take trips or camp out in the country’s forests during the current peak tourist season. “Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are commonly found in forests bordering Myanmar, particularly in Kanchanaburi province”, Dr Vichan ...
Strong demand boosts exports to CLMV
Exports to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam continue to rise due to strong demand in the neighbouring countries, where the economies continue to grow, according to the Office of Industrial Economics. Ittichai Yotsi, director of the OIE’s Bureau of Industrial Economics Research, said exports to ...
Bad weather threatens to put a damper on sugar harvest
Unfavourable weather has delayed Thailand’s sugar crushing season, threatening a reduction in sugar output for the 2016/17 crop. The drop will prevent Thailand, the world’s second largest sugar exporter, from capitalising on rising global sugar prices at a time it is being challenged by Brazil ...
Thai students plunge in Pisa test rankings
The 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) shows sharp falls in maths, sciences and reading scores for students in Thailand. Thai students are underperforming their peers in several Asian countries as their scores were below the international average in all three subjects. Pisa, which ...
Customs impounds 100 NGV buses amid duty doubts
The Customs Department has impounded 100 natural gas vehicle air-conditioned buses which were supposed to hit Bangkok streets late this month amid doubts over whether the import order is legitimate or was falsely declared to avoid more than 100 million baht in tax. The first ...