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A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand
- Thread starter Leongsam
- Start date
Restaurant capitalising on flood
https://www.straitstimes.com/multim...ide-restaurant-in-thailand-embraces-the-waves
https://www.straitstimes.com/multim...ide-restaurant-in-thailand-embraces-the-waves
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Re...1&pub_date=20211011123000&seq_num=20&si=44594
Thailand's Saha Group aims for 20,000 vending machines after IPO
Group company Sun Vending to use funds to deploy cashless machines
Sun Vending Technology, part of Thailand's Saha Group, is expanding the availability of cashless payment. (Photo courtesy of Sun Vending Technology)
MARIMI KISHIMOTO, Nikkei staff writerOctober 9, 2021 12:10 JST
BANGKOK -- Thai retailing conglomerate Saha Group looks to cash in on the pandemic-driven rise of vending machines, with plans to greatly expand the number of units run by a group company that recently went public.
"We will have 20,000 vending machines by 2023," Apassara Panupatthana, managing director of Sun Vending Technology, said after the company listed on the Thai stock exchange on Tuesday. The company currently oversees more than 13,800 vending machines.
Use of vending machines has surged in Thailand as convenience stores were forced to cut round-the-clock operating hours due to the pandemic. Sun Vending's machines are mostly found in factories and industrial parks, and sell items ranging from drinks and snacks to instant ramen.
Sun Vending listed at an offer price of 2.54 baht. The stock rose as high as 4.02 baht before closing at 3.54 baht on the first day.
The initial public offering floated 200 million Sun Vending shares -- or nearly 29% of outstanding stock -- raising roughly 500 million baht ($14.7 million). Following the IPO, just over 44% of the stock is held by Saha Pathanapibul, Saha's main group company, together with affiliates.
Sun Vending has been expanding the use of cashless vending machines that take smartphone payments. Part of the funds raised in the IPO will be used to update vending machines. The company will also engage in rentals.
"About 75% of the total will be converted to smart machines by 2023," said Apassara.
Thailand's Saha Group aims for 20,000 vending machines after IPO
Group company Sun Vending to use funds to deploy cashless machines
Sun Vending Technology, part of Thailand's Saha Group, is expanding the availability of cashless payment. (Photo courtesy of Sun Vending Technology)
MARIMI KISHIMOTO, Nikkei staff writerOctober 9, 2021 12:10 JST
BANGKOK -- Thai retailing conglomerate Saha Group looks to cash in on the pandemic-driven rise of vending machines, with plans to greatly expand the number of units run by a group company that recently went public.
"We will have 20,000 vending machines by 2023," Apassara Panupatthana, managing director of Sun Vending Technology, said after the company listed on the Thai stock exchange on Tuesday. The company currently oversees more than 13,800 vending machines.
Use of vending machines has surged in Thailand as convenience stores were forced to cut round-the-clock operating hours due to the pandemic. Sun Vending's machines are mostly found in factories and industrial parks, and sell items ranging from drinks and snacks to instant ramen.
Sun Vending listed at an offer price of 2.54 baht. The stock rose as high as 4.02 baht before closing at 3.54 baht on the first day.
The initial public offering floated 200 million Sun Vending shares -- or nearly 29% of outstanding stock -- raising roughly 500 million baht ($14.7 million). Following the IPO, just over 44% of the stock is held by Saha Pathanapibul, Saha's main group company, together with affiliates.
Sun Vending has been expanding the use of cashless vending machines that take smartphone payments. Part of the funds raised in the IPO will be used to update vending machines. The company will also engage in rentals.
"About 75% of the total will be converted to smart machines by 2023," said Apassara.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Tha...10&pub_date=20211011150000&seq_num=9&si=44594
Thailand's proposed $15 tax on foreign tourists stirs debate
Industry warns added fee could drive away visitors and hinder recovery
A plane carrying foreign tourists arrives in Phuket after the island opened to overseas visitors on July 1. © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerOctober 11, 2021 14:02 JST
BANGKOK -- Thailand's plan to impose a 500 baht ($15) tax on each incoming international visitor -- possibly from 2022 -- has the tourism industry concerned about possibly reducing the number of tourists as the country prepares to further reopen its borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The fee to be implemented is considerably high for those visiting Thailand, where hotel rooms can be had for as little as 1,000 baht," Thai Hotels Association president Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi said in a recent interview with Nikkei Asia. "The 500 baht will affect potential visitors' decisions."
The proposed tax was raised from 300 baht that was originally approved by the National Tourism Policy Committee earlier this year. The Center for Economic Situation Administration, the government's policymaking body for economic issues, approved the 200 baht increase earlier this month, but it will still need cabinet approval to be put into force.
The new tax is separate from a departure tax that has already been levied for decades on outgoing travelers, designated a passenger service charge. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, the departure tax varies from 400 baht to 700 baht depending on which airport passengers depart from. Travelers must pay 700 baht to leave Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country's main international gateway.
In 2019, 39.9 million tourists spent 1.91 trillion baht in Thailand. They stayed in the country an average of 9.3 days, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and spent about 5,172 baht a day. The tax could crimp money flowing into the tourism sector.
The proposed tax will be used to help transform Thailand from a low-budget destination to a more upscale market for international travelers. "The additional cost won't have an impact on tourists, as we want to focus on the quality market," Tourism Authority of Thailand Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn told local media earlier this month. "We hope this fund will support a national tourism makeover to create more safe and clean places."
The tax could be implemented as early as next year, when the Tourism Authority expects to receive 5 billion baht from 10 million foreign visitors in 2022 -- an ambitious visitor forecast compared with other institutions, such as the Bank of Thailand. The central bank expects only six million foreign travelers next year.
Income from international tourists
Reviving tourism is an urgent task for Thailand's economic recovery. The sector and related businesses used to account for 20% of the country's gross domestic product prior to COVID. From July, the Southeast Asia country started accepting vaccinated tourists on the southern island of Phuket without any quarantine.
The government intends to start welcoming vaccinated tourists at its main tourist destinations on the mainland such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Huahin and Chiangmai from November.
While some disagree with the government's move to hit foreigners with the new charge, they agree that the tourism industry needs a war chest. Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, President of the Thailand Hotels Association southern chapter, said the fund should be used in developing tourism-related projects, protecting the environment, and promoting regional tourism.
"We need the fund for several purposes to make our tourism industry grow sustainably," Kongsak said. "But I don't think the fund should be obtained from tourists." Kongsak feels it should be bankrolled by the government and allocated to every region, "because each region would have different needs so that the fund could be adapted to match [their] needs."
Chairat Trirattanajaraspon, former chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand, insisted that a fund would be useful during a crisis. "I think this is a good time to implement the [tax], as the COVID-19 pandemic has already pointed out a clear need," Chirat said. "The proposed fund would be a very useful mechanism to lend support to the tourism industry if we face another crisis in the future."
Thailand's tourism infrastructure could use an upgrade. The latest evidence came from a careless government that left personal details of 106 million visitors exposed on the internet.
The massive data breach contained each visitor's full name, sex, passport number, residency status and visa type, along with their Thai arrival card number and date of arrival. It was discovered by a cybersecurity research firm on Aug. 22. Thai authorities removed the data the next day.
Some tourist attractions in Thailand have been criticized as having a dual pricing system that charges foreigners more than Thais without corresponding services that justify the added cost.
Once the new tax is implemented, international tourists may want to see an improvement in the sector that could possibly justify the added fee.
Additional reporting by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat
Thailand's proposed $15 tax on foreign tourists stirs debate
Industry warns added fee could drive away visitors and hinder recovery
A plane carrying foreign tourists arrives in Phuket after the island opened to overseas visitors on July 1. © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerOctober 11, 2021 14:02 JST
BANGKOK -- Thailand's plan to impose a 500 baht ($15) tax on each incoming international visitor -- possibly from 2022 -- has the tourism industry concerned about possibly reducing the number of tourists as the country prepares to further reopen its borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The fee to be implemented is considerably high for those visiting Thailand, where hotel rooms can be had for as little as 1,000 baht," Thai Hotels Association president Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi said in a recent interview with Nikkei Asia. "The 500 baht will affect potential visitors' decisions."
The proposed tax was raised from 300 baht that was originally approved by the National Tourism Policy Committee earlier this year. The Center for Economic Situation Administration, the government's policymaking body for economic issues, approved the 200 baht increase earlier this month, but it will still need cabinet approval to be put into force.
The new tax is separate from a departure tax that has already been levied for decades on outgoing travelers, designated a passenger service charge. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, the departure tax varies from 400 baht to 700 baht depending on which airport passengers depart from. Travelers must pay 700 baht to leave Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country's main international gateway.
In 2019, 39.9 million tourists spent 1.91 trillion baht in Thailand. They stayed in the country an average of 9.3 days, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and spent about 5,172 baht a day. The tax could crimp money flowing into the tourism sector.
The proposed tax will be used to help transform Thailand from a low-budget destination to a more upscale market for international travelers. "The additional cost won't have an impact on tourists, as we want to focus on the quality market," Tourism Authority of Thailand Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn told local media earlier this month. "We hope this fund will support a national tourism makeover to create more safe and clean places."
The tax could be implemented as early as next year, when the Tourism Authority expects to receive 5 billion baht from 10 million foreign visitors in 2022 -- an ambitious visitor forecast compared with other institutions, such as the Bank of Thailand. The central bank expects only six million foreign travelers next year.
Income from international tourists
Reviving tourism is an urgent task for Thailand's economic recovery. The sector and related businesses used to account for 20% of the country's gross domestic product prior to COVID. From July, the Southeast Asia country started accepting vaccinated tourists on the southern island of Phuket without any quarantine.
The government intends to start welcoming vaccinated tourists at its main tourist destinations on the mainland such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Huahin and Chiangmai from November.
While some disagree with the government's move to hit foreigners with the new charge, they agree that the tourism industry needs a war chest. Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, President of the Thailand Hotels Association southern chapter, said the fund should be used in developing tourism-related projects, protecting the environment, and promoting regional tourism.
"We need the fund for several purposes to make our tourism industry grow sustainably," Kongsak said. "But I don't think the fund should be obtained from tourists." Kongsak feels it should be bankrolled by the government and allocated to every region, "because each region would have different needs so that the fund could be adapted to match [their] needs."
Chairat Trirattanajaraspon, former chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand, insisted that a fund would be useful during a crisis. "I think this is a good time to implement the [tax], as the COVID-19 pandemic has already pointed out a clear need," Chirat said. "The proposed fund would be a very useful mechanism to lend support to the tourism industry if we face another crisis in the future."
Thailand's tourism infrastructure could use an upgrade. The latest evidence came from a careless government that left personal details of 106 million visitors exposed on the internet.
The massive data breach contained each visitor's full name, sex, passport number, residency status and visa type, along with their Thai arrival card number and date of arrival. It was discovered by a cybersecurity research firm on Aug. 22. Thai authorities removed the data the next day.
Some tourist attractions in Thailand have been criticized as having a dual pricing system that charges foreigners more than Thais without corresponding services that justify the added cost.
Once the new tax is implemented, international tourists may want to see an improvement in the sector that could possibly justify the added fee.
Additional reporting by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat
Thailand plans to lift quarantine for vaccinated travellers from Singapore
and at least 9 other countries from Nov 1
Tan Tam Mei
Thailand Correspondent
- UPDATED
2 HOURS AGO
Speaking in a televised broadcast on Monday night (Oct 11), Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he has asked the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and the Ministry of Public health to “urgently consider” within this week about allowing fully vaccinated visitors from a list of “low-risk” countries to enter Thailand without the need for quarantine.
These visitors only need to present negative results for their PCR tests done before travel and when they reach Thailand.
“After which, they will be free to move around Thailand in the same way that any Thai citizen can do,” said Mr Prayut.
Thailand will begin with at least 10 nations, including Singapore, Germany, China, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The full list will be finalised at a CCSA meeting later this week, said the authorities. The list will be gradually expanded in coming months.
Visitors from places that are not on the list will still have to adhere to current quarantine measures, which include a seven-day quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers and 10 days for those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
Currently, travellers who enter Thailand through the sandbox programmes on Phuket and Samui do not need to serve a hotel quarantine but are required to stay on the islands for seven nights before they can travel to other regions in Thailand.
With some countries easing part of their curbs on international travel, Mr Prayut said: “We must act quickly but still cautiously, and not miss the opportunity to entice some of the year-end and New Year holiday season travellers during the next few months.”
Thailand’s tourism sector used to make up a fifth of its national income, but travel restrictions have caused its earnings to plummet.
Daily Covid-19 cases and deaths have been on the decline, with the nation having more than 1.7 million infections and more than 17,600 deaths so far.
Thailand plans to end Covid quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers from at least 10 low-risk nations from 1 November, officials say.
PM Prayuth Chan-ocha admitted that "this decision comes with some risk" - but it is seen as a key step to revive the country's collapsed tourism sector.
The 10 nations seen as low risk include the UK, China, Germany and the US.
The country has been recording more than 10,000 positive infections daily since July.
It has fully vaccinated around 33% of its almost 70 million people. Half the population has received one dose.
Mr Prayuth said Thailand would also allow entertainment venues to reopen on 1 December and permit alcohol sales.
The government had earlier planned to open only Bangkok and several provinces for foreign tourists on Nov 1. The other provinces are Chon Buri (Pattaya city, Bang Lamung district, and Sattahip district), Phetchaburi (Cha-am district), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin district) and Chiang Mai (Muang, Mae Taeng, Mae Rim and Doi Tao districts).
Monday's announcement indicated that the reopening would cover all parts of the country.
Thailand will begin with at least 10 nations, including Singapore, Germany, China, the United Kingdom and the United States.
PM Prayuth Chan-ocha admitted that "this decision comes with some risk" - but it is seen as a key step to revive the country's collapsed tourism sector.
The 10 nations seen as low risk include the UK, China, Germany and the US.
The country has been recording more than 10,000 positive infections daily since July.
It has fully vaccinated around 33% of its almost 70 million people. Half the population has received one dose.
Mr Prayuth said Thailand would also allow entertainment venues to reopen on 1 December and permit alcohol sales.
The government had earlier planned to open only Bangkok and several provinces for foreign tourists on Nov 1. The other provinces are Chon Buri (Pattaya city, Bang Lamung district, and Sattahip district), Phetchaburi (Cha-am district), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin district) and Chiang Mai (Muang, Mae Taeng, Mae Rim and Doi Tao districts).
Monday's announcement indicated that the reopening would cover all parts of the country.
Thailand will begin with at least 10 nations, including Singapore, Germany, China, the United Kingdom and the United States.
So it’s been finally confirmed but for only 5 countries
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2197799
Quarantine being lifted, more provinces being opened
PUBLISHED : 14 OCT 2021 AT 14:40
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirms Thailand is ready to lift quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers from five countries from Nov 1, and open more provinces to visitors, after chairing a meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration at Government House on Thursday. (Screenshot)
There will be no quarantine for fully vaccinated air travellers from five countries from Nov 1, and destinations in more provinces will also be opened to foreign tourists.
Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the CCSA resolved on Thursday to allow in fully vaccinated visitors from Britain, the United States, Germany, Singapore and China if they pass an RT-PCR test before arrival.
Travellers from these five countries were considered as having low-risk of Covid-19 infection. They would not have to quarantine.
The number of destinations opened to tourists would also expand from four provinces - Phuket and parts of Surat Thani, Phangnga and Krabi provinces - to 17 provinces of economic significance. This would include all of Bangkok, Samut Prakan (only Suvarnabhumi airport), parts of Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin and Nong Kae) and all of Krabi and Phangnga, Dr Taweesilp said.
From Dec 1, another 16 major provinces would reopen, including Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Phrae and Sukhothai.
The operations committee of the CCSA had yet to finalise the entire list of the additional provinces, Dr Taweesilp said.
The CCSA's briefing on Thursday afternoon started with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming that Thailand was ready for reopening in two weeks.
"Many countries want to let their citizens visit Thailand... It will be a small start, for people to resume earning a living," the prime minister said.
Ministers and senior representatives of the government and the private sector were also present for the announcement at Government House.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2197799
Quarantine being lifted, more provinces being opened
PUBLISHED : 14 OCT 2021 AT 14:40
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirms Thailand is ready to lift quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers from five countries from Nov 1, and open more provinces to visitors, after chairing a meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration at Government House on Thursday. (Screenshot)
There will be no quarantine for fully vaccinated air travellers from five countries from Nov 1, and destinations in more provinces will also be opened to foreign tourists.
Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the CCSA resolved on Thursday to allow in fully vaccinated visitors from Britain, the United States, Germany, Singapore and China if they pass an RT-PCR test before arrival.
Travellers from these five countries were considered as having low-risk of Covid-19 infection. They would not have to quarantine.
The number of destinations opened to tourists would also expand from four provinces - Phuket and parts of Surat Thani, Phangnga and Krabi provinces - to 17 provinces of economic significance. This would include all of Bangkok, Samut Prakan (only Suvarnabhumi airport), parts of Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin and Nong Kae) and all of Krabi and Phangnga, Dr Taweesilp said.
From Dec 1, another 16 major provinces would reopen, including Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Phrae and Sukhothai.
The operations committee of the CCSA had yet to finalise the entire list of the additional provinces, Dr Taweesilp said.
The CCSA's briefing on Thursday afternoon started with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming that Thailand was ready for reopening in two weeks.
"Many countries want to let their citizens visit Thailand... It will be a small start, for people to resume earning a living," the prime minister said.
Ministers and senior representatives of the government and the private sector were also present for the announcement at Government House.
11 Oct 2021,
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