A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

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Thailand reopening looks more promising after coronavirus wave tamed

The local tourism industry wants mandatory quarantines to be lifted from as early as July 1.PHOTO: AFP

BANGKOK (BLOOMBERG) - Thailand's tourism reopening plans are gaining momentum as authorities roll out a national inoculation program and look into coronavirus vaccine passports and quarantine waivers.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha this week ordered officials to study vaccine certificates for international travel after signalling the tourism-reliant nation is open to scrapping the two-week quarantine for inoculated visitors.
The local tourism industry wants mandatory quarantines to be lifted from as early as July 1 so the nation can open to potentially millions of vaccinated travellers.

Thailand managed to contain a flareup in Covid-19 infections at the start of the year, and its overall caseload is relatively low at about 26,000, with 84 deaths.

A successful reopening by Thailand could spur other tourism-dependent nations to follow suit, though the World Health Organisation this week warned about the risks of countries easing restrictions too fast.
"A gradual reopening, with the appropriate cautionary steps taken, will undoubtedly save businesses, jobs and bolster the economy," said Mr John Blanco, general manager at luxury hotel Capella Bangkok. "Given the building global momentum of vaccination, it would make sense to begin planning for the necessary steps."

 

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NNT- National News Bureau of Thailand


Anyone thinking about retiring to Thailand should have the equivalent of around 11 million Baht in savings (approx USD$390,000), that’s according to a new study on the cost of retirement around the world.
The study, carried out by online lender NetCredit titled The Cost of a Comfortable Retirement Around the World, looked at how much someone might need to retire aboard and enjoy their same quality of life.

This was determined as going out once a week, takeout coffee once a week, no smoking, moderate drinking, no taxis or rideshares, eating mainly Western food at home, two vacations and renting a 1 bed apartment in a city centre, among other factors.
The figures are based on someone living for around 14 years after they retire - with the average age of retirement in America (64) and the average life expectancy (78.7). The same calculations were then applied to almost every country.
The study found that a person retiring to Thailand would need $389,835 in savings in order to maintain the same standard of living they were used to in the West.

The amount of savings required for Thailand were considerably lower than the amount needed to retire comfortably in both the United Kingdom ($515,742) and the United States ($601,489.63).
Regionally, Southeast Asia remained an affordable option for retirement, with Indonesia ($290,599), Malaysia ($321,614), Vietnam ($353,906) and the Philippines ($369,340) offering cheaper alternatives to Thailand, while Cambodia ($389,146) was on a par with the Land of Smiles in terms the amount of savings needed.

In order to retire in Singapore ($946,993) or Hong Kong($871,578), you’d need around three times the amount of savings needed to retire in Thailand.

 

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Was told by the chef that new black truffles just arrived so went for a try

Very good medium body wine

Started with some fresh figs from Chiangmai and nice meats

Then its some white asparagus with parma ham

Another antopasto, sea snails

So succulent

This is what we are here for, very simple truffles with eggs

Main, seabass pan fry with stir fry vegetables

Finally the dessert

 

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Where is Thailand’s Transparency?
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 8 MAR 2021 AT 07:00

Recognition of relevant situations and the point we are at is essential for planning and setting a successful course for development, whether of the corporate or public sector, at organisational level or national scale.

Similarly, when developing an anti-corruption scheme a key factor is transparency. Indeed, transparency is essential in preventing corruption. Included in the concept of transparency must be disclosure of information, including operations, report findings and assessments as well as the findings of inspections by specialists. In Thailand, public-sector organisations implement the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) as tools to indicate the extent of transparency practices.

Developed by Transparency International (TI), a non-governmental organisation formed to fight global corruption, CPI is a composite indicator that measures the level of corruption in each country. In 2020, Thailand scored 36 points, compared to a global average score of 43 points, on a scale where 100 is the highest ranking. As such, Thailand ranked 5th among ASEAN countries and 104th among 180 countries around the world. According to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, Thailand’s scores fell in the categories of bribery and corruption management.





Similarly ITA, developed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), helps Thailand determine public administration efficiency and offer perspectives and reflections on practices of public stakeholders while also promoting public disclosure of information. In fiscal year 2020, Thailand scored 67.90 points out of a possible 100, a slight increase of 1.16 points from the previous year. Public disclosure of information was identified as being most in need of improvement.

Despite different evaluation methodologies, CPI and ITA effectively determine Thailand’s transparency credentials in comparison with other countries. At international level, Thailand scores below average and its position has not showed signs of improvement for three consecutive years.
As for domestic assessments, CPI reveals minor improvements in Thailand during the past three years, with the country rated as average.
To turn this around, both assessments recommend that Thailand emphasise and build on public information disclosure and accessibility, especially in regard to government procurement,

so as to prevent bribery and other conflict of interest issues among public officials.
All in all, it is important that the Thai government and relevant entities give serious attention to and exert considerable effort in improving disclosure of public information via information systems. Participation, both in policy-making and practice, from Thai people and all sectors, will be essential if we are to succeed in reducing corruption in the country.

 

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A simple Thai breakfast - krapow moo saab

The drink

Krapow

Perfect egg

 

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https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/C...10&pub_date=20210309150000&seq_num=6&si=44594

Thai businesses to offer COVID shots to wealthy and companies
Country lets private sector import vaccines to supplement national scheme

A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine in Samut Sakhon Province, where a second wave of COVID-19 infections emerged in December. © Reuters
APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writerMarch 9, 2021 12:22 JST

BANGKOK -- Private hospitals and drugmakers in Thailand are seeking approval from the government to import several COVID-19 vaccines independently to meet demand from wealthy Thais and companies that want to receive their choice of shots as quickly as possible.

Under the government's vaccination program that kicked off March 1, only two vaccines, made by China's Sinovac and the U.K.'s AstraZeneca, will be distributed through public hospital networks free of charge. Private businesses now want to offer fast-track inoculations for those who are willing to pay.

The government is taking a flexible stance on vaccine imports by the private sector, and at least one U.S.-headquartered pharmaceutical company and a hospital operator so far have applied for import licenses.

"We are wide open to other private companies to import vaccines, as it would help accelerate the progress of our inoculation program," Paisal Dunkhum, secretary-general of Thailand's Food and Drug Administration told Nikkei Asia. "The more Thais are vaccinated, the faster the Thai economy will be revived," Paisal added.

A single dose of the vaccine is expected to cost about 2,000 to 4,000 baht ($65 to $130). Most of the vaccines available so far require two doses, which means that each person will have to pay between $130 and $260. The Department of Internal Trade will closely monitor pricing, a senior official said.

Thailand's move follows that of Pakistan which reportedly allowed three companies to import vaccines last month with an aim of supplementing the national vaccination program. However, it has been pointed out that it is unfair for the rich to have preferential access to vaccines and that there is a risk that a black market could form.

Thailand approved vaccines from Sinovac and AstraZeneca for its vaccination program that started on March 1. © Reuters

Indonesia will also allow companies to purchase vaccines to inoculate their workers, after approving a private program to run alongside its national scheme last month. More emerging countries that do not have sufficient supplies of vaccines may choose to allow the private sector to import them.

The Thai government so far has secured only 63 million doses, or about 45% the amount needed to inoculate the country's 69 million people. Many citizens are concerned that they do not know when they will be inoculated.

That leaves considerable opportunities for private companies and hospitals, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a unit of U.S.-based Johnson & Johnson, has become the first company to apply to the FDA for a license to import the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Principal Capital, a Bangkok-based hotelier and private hospital operator, is also seeking to offer other types of vaccines to wealthy Thais, particularly in regions outside Bangkok. "We have submitted all the documents to the FDA," said Satit Viddayakorn, managing director of Principal Capital.

Companies applying for import licenses must submit detailed information from the manufacturer to the FDA, including the type of vaccine, how it is made, how it is administered and potential side effects. The process is expected to take at least a month.

Every lot of imported vaccine then must undergo a quality check by the Public Health Ministry. Once that process, which is expected to take a few weeks, is complete, the vaccines can be distributed to hospitals.

The Thai unit of Bharat Biotech, an Indian vaccine producer, is expected to submit an application to import its vaccine by mid-March. Major private hospital chains are thinking of seeking vaccine import licenses, according to a source at the Private Hospital Association.

The Thonburi Healthcare Group sees a large business opportunity in vaccinating employees of big companies. (Photo by Rie Ishii)

Thonburi Healthcare Group, a Bangkok-based listed hospital chain with nearly 1,000 registered beds at seven hospitals around the country, is in talks with several big companies, particularly tourism-related businesses, including five-star hotel operators, who want their employees inoculated so they can reopen, Boon Vanasin, the group's chairman told Nikkei.

"After talking to those big companies, we found that vaccine demand... was more than 10 million doses, excluding affluent Thais who are willing to pay a higher price for better quality vaccines and services," the chairman said.

"On the other hand, we [private hospitals] can also be a part of the government's effort to distribute vaccines to Thai people across the country in order to get herd immunity," he added.

In February, the chairman of Bangkok-based hotel and restaurant operator Minor International urged the government to designate hotel employees a priority group for vaccination to help boost the tourism industry, which has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government has yet to respond to the request. The fast-track services offered by private businesses offer an alternative.

Yong Poovorawan, chief of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University, said it was acceptable for private hospitals to import vaccines as they could help distribute the jabs to more Thais, a move that will in turn create herd immunity.

"I think the way to get 70% of Thai population vaccinated is a goal that we should care about because it is the way to help Thailand open up and restart its economy again and that would benefit all of us," Yong told Nikkei.

"If the rich are willing to pay higher for better choices as they don't want to queue up at the public hospital, it should be as they wish," he added.

 

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Restrictions to end 'by October'
CCSA upbeat about reopening country
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 11 MAR 2021 AT 04:00

Dr Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, is in her press conference at Government House in Bangkok on Wednesday. (Screenshot)

Thailand will be fully reopened by October and all Covid-19 restrictions lifted, if all sectors continue to cooperate with the government in its containment efforts, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) hinted on Wednesday.

Among the major requirements for reopening the country, after more than a year of costly restrictions, was the public sector's readiness to resume normal life, said CCSA assistant spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangson.
Speaking after a meeting of the CCSA's sub-committee on easing business and activity restrictions, Dr Apisamai praised officials in Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of a recent wave of infections.

They had been performing well to contain Covid-19 and continued to be highly compliant with the CCSA's control protocols, she said.

Active cooperation by the private sector and a similar good response by members of the public to the government's Covid-19 containment efforts were two other major criteria to take into consideration before approving the full reopening of the country, she said.
"The proposal will be discussed at a meeting of the CCSA's main committee on March 19," she said.
As part of the reopening proposal, the CCSA will consider upgrading Samut Sakhon from a maximum control area to an area on high alert for Covid-19, she said.

The province is due to receive 70,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in three weeks and no serious side effects of vaccinations administered in the province in the first week had been detected, the doctor said.

On Wednesday was the last day of preparing to imnplement so-called "bubble and seal" Covid-19 containment measures, Dr Apisamai said.
Under these measures, factories which provide on-site accommodation for workers will be "sealed", meaning employees cannot leave the grounds.
Workers from factories that don't offer on-site dormitories and sleep elsewhere will have to adhere to a "bubble" approach -- their movements will be strictly monitored, and officials may be required to deliver their food and other essentials, so they have no reason to leave their dormitories.
As of Monday, 112,595 factory workers and fresh market vendors, as well as local of various communities in Samut Sakhon, have been tested for Covid-19, said Dr Apisamai, of whom 975 had tested positive for Covid-19, approximately 0.87%.

The CCSA on Wednesday recorded 39 new cases of Covid-19, 34 of which were local transmissions and the rest imported.
Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the CCSA's spokesman, told the Bangkok Post that clearer details of the idea of reopening the country should be made available after the March 19 meeting of the CCSA since they concerned several ministries and would take time to finalise.
Meanwhile, the Department of Medical Sciences said its inspection of 230 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine would likely be completed today.

Jabs from this batch of imported vaccine will be administered to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other cabinet ministers by the end of this week, said the Department's director-general, Supakit Sirilak.
The government on Wednesday also claimed a success in its so-called Villa Quarantine programme, being piloted as a tourism-based Covid-19 quarantine option on the resort island of Phuket.

A total of 58 European visitors who arrived there on a chartered flight from Indonesia on Feb 21 had completed their quarantine periods and now were ready to travel more freely in Thailand, said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Those tourists planned to stay for a month and were also interested in visiting other key destinations, said Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

However, Ekkasit Ngamphichet, president of Pattaya's Business and Tourism Association, urged the government to speed up its vaccination programme and hasten the adoption of shorter quarantines for foreign tourists as the economy needed a lift.

 

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Raised speed limit of 120 km/hr now in effect
National
Mar 11. 2021

By THE NATION

The Royal Gazette website on Wednesday published a transport ministerial regulation raising the speed limit on four lane highways or more from a maximum 90 km/hour to 120 km/hour.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said last month that “the new speed limit aimed to facilitate traffic flow in accordance with current traffic conditions while ensuring road users’ convenience and safety”.

The increased speed limit is applicable for roads/highways that have four or more lanes (two lanes for each direction, divided by median barriers) in a straight section with no intersections or U-turns at road level.

The speed limit for each type of vehicle is:

> Vehicles with less than 7 seats: maximum 120 km/hr

> Vehicles in the rightmost lane: minimum 100 km/hr

> Passenger vehicles of over 7 seats but less than 15 seats: maximum 100 km/hr

> Vehicles with more than 15 seats or weighing over 2,200 kilograms: maximum 90 km/hr

> Tricycles and tow trucks: maximum 65 km/hr

> Motorcycles: maximum 80 km/hr

> Motorcycles with engines of 400cc or more: maximum 100 km/hr

> School buses: maximum 80 km/hr.

In case highways/roads have traffic signs indicating minimum and maximum speeds, vehicle users must maintain speeds within this range, except for when it cannot be done due to traffic conditions or other appropriate reasons.

 

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403542

 

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Spending the weekend in Phuket.

Saturday noon at the Don Mueang Airport

Our flight

Lunch on board

Bubble tea

Not bad

On arrival we went to pick up our car at Europcar rental and was shocked to see this pitiful sight

Heaps and heaps of un-rented cars, was the 13th of March and staff in Europcar showed me I was their 10th customer of the month

 

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We check in at the resort known as The Shore at Kata beach

Welcome drink

The villa

Entrance

Nice tough

Bright room

Complimentary Thai pastries

Flowers

Bed

 

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Room joining the bathroom and patio

Bath

Looking out of the bathroom is the patio

Shower

Private pool in room

Relaxing on the water

View from the room, sea and private beach

 

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Resort by the hill at Kata Beach

Beach restaurant

Sunset view from hotel pool

Beautiful beach

Sunset at the beach

 

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Sunset at Kata Beach

 

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Last night went out for dinner, there's only 1 Thai and 1 Western restaurants opened here in Kata beach. All shops were closed except a Familymart which supposed to be opened 24hrs but now close at 10pm, sad.

Simple dinner, boiled rice

with pork omelette

and kale with crispy pork

 

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Good morning from Phuket, certainly cannot complain waking up to a view like this

 

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Breakfast

 

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This is so so sad. A vibrant island that brought lots of joy to visitors as well as local workers making a living there is all but a desolated place

 

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At the legendary Patong, shops, restaurants, massage, coffee shops almost everything is closed like the apocalypse

 

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Vending machine sells cannabis coffee in Thailand

A businessman has invented a cannabis coffee vending machine after drug laws were relaxed in Thailand.

Warut Chanowanna, 33, lost his job due to the pandemic so he had plenty of time brewing his signature coffee in Rayong province.

The young entrepreneur wanted something different for his customers, so he thought of mixing drinks with marijuana ‘to provide a unique experience.’

Warut, who unveiled the machine this month, said: ‘I had the idea after being unemployed due to Covid-19 pandemic. I thought a coffee vending machine would be even better if they have more flavours, to provide a unique experience.

‘I thought of adding cannabis-infused drinks in my vending machines. I studied how to develop it with the help of my relative who is a researcher on cannabis and he helped me create the recipe.’

Aside from the coffee, customers can buy the marijuana-infused drinks in cocoa and boba milk tea, which are more popular among younger generations.

The vending machines were first made available to the public on March 13 and has attracted a long line of people to taste the drinks.

One of the customers said the coffee gave him a relaxing feeling after the first few sips.

He said: ‘I am happy while drinking my coffee. I feel relaxed and still awake at the same time. It’s a unique experience.’

Warut was happy with the customers’ response and assured them that the drinks did not have a bad side effect.

He said: ‘We researched the drinks before we put them out in the market and obtained a permit for it so everything is legal. I am glad people liked my product.’

The Thai Public Health Ministry approved the use of cannabis and hemp for medical and research purposes in 2019 – the first Southeast Asian country to legalise cannabis for medical use.

In January this year, restrictions were eased to allow businesses such as cafes and restaurants to sell food and drinks mixed the weaker parts of marijuana plants such as the leaves, stalks, stems and roots.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul hopes the industry will generate extra revenue for the country, which has seen its income from tourism decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic.