Thai officers, canines dispatched to oversee safety at countdown spots
Tourism safety promotion officers and their canines are being dispatched to various locations throughout Thailand in order to ensure public safety and convenience at New Year countdown events.
Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - Tourism safety promotion officers and their canines are being dispatched to various locations throughout Thailand in order to ensure public safety and convenience at New Year countdown events.
The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports is meanwhile urging service providers to charge foreign tourists similar rates to what locals are required to pay.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn presided over a ceremony to place tourism safety promotion officials in front of the Central World shopping center in Bangkok.
So far this month, about 2 million foreign tourists have entered the kingdom, which has received some 11 million international travelers in total for the entire year.
Around 30 million domestic trips have been made by local tourists and Thailand is expecting 1.5 trillion THB in total tourism revenue for 2022. The government also said it is targeting 20 million foreign tourist arrivals next year.
With China expected to “reopen” on January 8, Minister Phipat urged business and service providers to charge tourists similar rates to those that apply to locals in order to help promote Thailand’s image as a nation of good hosts.
According to the Thai Tourist Police Bureau, about 100 officers and police canines will oversee the safety of tourists at various locations throughout the kingdom during the New Year festive period. Officers will pay special attention to countdown venues while tourists can report incidents to the 24-hour hotline number 1155./.
Vietnam is one of the top tourism destinations for Thai visitors in the upcoming New Year holiday, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, director general of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has forecast 3.14 million domestic trips during the upcoming New Year holiday, generating some 11.2 billion baht (323.23 million USD).
An overload of tourists and an overwhelmed Thai healthcare system are issues to monitor next year after China fully reopens from January 8, 2023, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Thailand police on December 28 launched a campaign to ensure road safety during the new year celebration, offering an award of 10,000 bahts (nearly 300 USD) for those who send police the best records of traffic violations.
Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD) has said that the level of PM2.5 fine dust pollution may rise above safe levels in some areas of the country as early as next year due to lower temperatures.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Illustrative image (Photo: pattayamail.com) 
