Chiwit Thai

[Yamato]

Today’s Covid new cases.

 

New Cases
Thailand 2,208 ( -192 )
Prison 102 ( -178 )
———————————————-
Total 2,310 ( -370 )

 

Deaths 43 ( +8 )

 

 

[Yamato]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Seven-global-airlines-to-fly-direct-to-Thai-holiday-island-Phuket?utm_campaign=RN Subscriber newsletter&utm_medium=coronavirus_newsletter&utm_source=NAR Newsletter&utm_content=article link&del_type=10&pub_date=20210610150000&seq_num=4&si=44594

 

Seven global airlines to fly direct to Thai holiday island Phuket
Government gives initial green light to reopening despite third COVID wave

 

Thailand is set to conduct a "sandbox experiment" from July 1, using Phuket as a testing ground to welcome vaccinated foreign visitors with no quarantine period.   © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerJune 10, 2021 12:32 JST

 

BANGKOK -- Seven international airlines will operate direct flights to Phuket in southern Thailand, starting in July, bringing foreign tourists to the resort island, with the Thai government accepting visitors vaccinated for COVID-19 without quarantines.

 

Thai Airways International will focus on welcoming vacationers from five European cities. Flights from Paris; Frankfurt, Germany; and Copenhagen to Phuket will begin July 2, according to the national flag carrier's chief commercial officer, Nond Kalinta. Flights from London and Zurich will resume the next day.

 

British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Israel's El Al will operate flights to Phuket beginning in July, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

 

Thailand is set to conduct a "sandbox experiment" from July 1, using Phuket as a testing ground to welcome vaccinated foreign visitors. Tourists with proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result can start their vacations immediately without sealing themselves in a hotel room, as visitors to other parts of Thailand are required to do.

 

Travelers must be fully vaccinated for at least 14 days before departure and show a negative test result within 72 hours of boarding their flight. If a mandatory test on the fifth day of their stay is negative, they will be allowed to take a day trip off the island.

 

Major airlines are hoping to attract a strong flow of overseas travelers to Phuket under the government's pilot reopening program to maintain their routes profitably.   © Reuters

 

The experiment's success is crucial for Thailand, as it will demonstrate the ability of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy to balance public health and fostering economic recovery.

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is forecasting the arrival of 129,000 foreign visitors in the first three months of the experiment. If the program goes smoothly, vaccinated tourists will be allowed to travel to places such as Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, starting in October, and throughout the country in 2022.

 

A lack of tourists was the main reason the Thai economy shrank 6.1% in 2020. Tourism and related businesses accounted for a fifth of Thailand's gross domestic product in pre-COVID times. The Thai tourism industry has high hopes that the experiment will help revive the sector.

 

Representatives of several travel agencies in Thailand told Nikkei Asia that the pilot program is drawing strong interest from European travelers, many of whom typically spend weeks during the summer in tropical resorts.

 

Many in the industry had feared that the experiment could be postponed due to a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that the kingdom has been battling since March. Over 2,000 cases a day have been reported since mid-May. However, on Tuesday, the cabinet gave a provisional green light to begin the reopening program in July, suggesting that the current level of local infections will not stop the government from conducting the experiment.

 

About 400,000 people, more than 60% of Phuket's residents, have been vaccinated for the coronavirus, according to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects Singapore Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Taiwan's EVA Air, Korean Air, its budget subsidiary Jin Air and French-Dutch carrier KLM to join the seven participating airlines soon.

 

It is imperative for airlines to attract a strong flow of foreign tourists to Phuket to maintain their routes profitably. This is especially true for cash-strapped companies like Thai Airways, which is currently under court-supervised rehabilitation. Thailand's Central Bankruptcy Court is scheduled to vote on June 15 on whether to approve a rehabilitation plan submitted by the airline.

[Yamato]

Today’s Covid new cases.

 

New Cases
Thailand 1,996 ( -212 )
Prison 294 ( +192 )
———————————————-
Total 2,290 ( -20 )

 

Deaths 27 ( -16 )

 

 

 

Edited June 11, 2021 by Yamato

[Yamato]

 

 

 

[Yamato]

Today’s Covid new cases.

 

New Cases
Thailand 2,385 ( +389 )
Prison 892 ( +598 )
———————————————-
Total 3,277 ( +987 )

 

Deaths 29 ( +2 )

 

 

[Yamato]

Came into Pattaya last evening for a short break alone. Needed this very much, away from everyone and work.

 

This morning 9am drove along the Pattaya Beach Road thought I'd share this with everyone of you

 

 

 

[Yamato]

Thought I go take a look at Soi Buakhao so this is it at about 9.30am

 

 

 

[Yamato]

So this is the hotel that I checked in yesterday evening

 

Lobby

 

 

 

 

 

View from the room just after sunset

 

Evening at the hotel beach

 

Dinner at the beach restaurant

 

Hotel in the evening

 

 

[Yamato]

Morning at the beach

 

 

Pool

 

Breakfast by the pool and beach

 

 

 

 

My usual, soft boiled eggs and toasts

 

Beach bar

 

Quiet beach

 

 

 

[Yamato]

Today’s Covid new cases.

 

New Cases
Thailand 2,395 ( +10 )
Prison 409 ( -483 )
———————————————-
Total 2,804 ( -473 )

 

Deaths 18 ( -11 )

 

 

[Yamato]

Ok guys finally uploaded this video I took last night on the night scenes of Pattaya's Soi Buakhao, Beach Road, Second Road.

 

I must apologise for the shaky video - it was one hand holding eh camera through the sun roof and the other hand steering the car. 

 

 

 

Try to do better next time

[Yamato]

So Monday was the Dragon Boat Festival, I cam back from my trip late and started to make the festive bachang only about 5pm

 

As it was a last minute decision to make bachang I did not have the bachang leaves at home so I made good with lotus leaves which was why I couldn't make it in the pyramid shape. Anyway it turned out good

 

 

 

Next day (yesterday) I had it for breakfast too

 

 

[Cynical Ape]

3 hours ago, Yamato said:

So Monday was the Dragon Boat Festival, I cam back from my trip late and started to make the festive bachang only about 5pm

 

As it was a last minute decision to make bachang I did not have the bachang leaves at home so I made good with lotus leaves which was why I couldn't make it in the pyramid shape. Anyway it turned out good

 

 

 

Next day (yesterday) I had it for breakfast too

 

 

 

Lotus leaves actually even better imo, 

[Yamato]

1 hour ago, Cynical Ape said:

 

Lotus leaves actually even better imo, 

 

More "pang" for sure

[Yamato]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Thai-Airways-clears-legal-hurdles-to-launch-rehab-plan?utm_campaign=GL_coronavirus_latest&utm_medium=email utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=10&pub_date=20210616150000&seq_num=11&si=44594

Thai Airways clears legal hurdles to launch rehab plan

Bankruptcy court approves restructuring of cash-strapped flag carrier

The approved rehabilitation plan is designed to tackle Thai Airways' unprofitable businesses.   © Reuters

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerJune 15, 2021 21:47 JST

 

BANGKOK -- A Thai court formally approved Thai Airways International's rehabilitation plan on Tuesday, clearing all legal hurdles to set the plan in motion.

 

"The Central Bankruptcy Court granted an order to approve Thai Airways International's business rehabilitation plan," the airline said in a statement. "The plan administrators and all employees are committed to performing their duties for a successful implementation of the plan and for the utmost benefit of all creditors." 

 

In an online news conference held after the verdict was read, acting CEO Chansin Treenuchagron said that the company's ongoing restructuring efforts helped to "reduce almost 50% of expense related to workforce and remuneration packages. We were able to bring our cost down to lower than the industry standard. We will be able to compete in the next three to five years."

 

The airline only recorded annual profits twice in the past decade, and the rehabilitation program mainly deals with its unprofitable businesses. The plan consists of an organizational shake-up that will halve the airline's pre-COVID workforce and cut executive positions by 30%. The company has also been selling off jetliners, facilities and stockholdings as part of a review of its asset portfolio, and to raise working capital.

 

Some experts, though, say the plan is insufficient to repair Thai Airways' damaged balance sheet. The airline needs a major cleanup, including new funds to tide itself over during the five-to-seven-year rehabilitation. Creditors have been reluctant to grant large write-offs as part of the rehabilitation process due to the company's past mismanagement.

 

Uncertainties loom for Thai Airways, including how fast the world will recover from the pandemic and how travelers will behave in the post-COVID era.   © Reuters

 

Thai Airways got the nod for the plan from 28 out of 38 creditors at a meeting on May 19. The debt held by those creditors accounted for 91.56% of Thai Airways' total debt, well above the 50% required to proceed with the plan.

 

Winning creditors' backing was key; the court's approval was a formality by comparison. Nevertheless, it was a necessary legal step to implement the restructuring. The airline has been under court-supervised rehabilitation since September 2020. Then the COVID-19 pandemic brought a halt to international travel, dealing a further blow to the already floundering flag carrier.

 

The court approval gives Thai Airways a six-year extension on debenture redemptions. Three-year repayment concessions have also been negotiated with commercial banks. The airline reportedly offered creditors the right to convert debt to equity after the seventh year of rehabilitation.

 

Thai Airways Chief Financial Officer Chai Eamsiri said, "The plan is to ask for 25 billion baht from the government and another 25 billion baht from private institutions." However, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha had said in May that the state would not get involved in the rehabilitation.

 

As part of the rehabilitation, the government stripped the flag carrier of its state enterprise status by reducing its shareholding below 50%, having determined that strong job protections for state company employees would impede the restructuring. In the past, the airline often counted on government assistance after management missteps.

 

"We want the funding as soon as possible, as our revenue is still not at the normal level and we have a limited time," said Chai. "At present, we won't be able to last until the end of the year with our current cash flow." 

 

But outside observers are also concerned about uncertainty in the air travel business.

 

The rehabilitation plan aims to bring the airline back to stable profitability by 2025. Meeting that target depends on both smooth execution of the rehabilitation and a recovery of the air travel market by 2024. But it is unclear how quickly the world will bounce back from the pandemic and how travelers will behave in the post-COVID era.

 

Thailand plans to accept vaccinated international visitors to Phuket island without quarantines, starting July 1. The "sandbox experiment" is an effort to revive Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, whose tourism and related industries accounted for 20% of gross domestic product in pre-COVID times.

 

Thai Airways will take part in the experiment by welcoming vacationers from five European cities. Flights to Phuket from Paris, Copenhagen, and Frankfurt, Germany, will begin July 2. Routes from London and Zurich will resume the next day. The test's success will bring the airline closer to achieving its recovery target, while failure to attract visitors will add to the uncertainty over its future.

 

"We will execute our plan," said CEO Chansin, "and then in three or six months, we will update you with our progress."

[Yamato]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Turbulent-Thailand/COVID-brings-false-calm-to-Thailand-s-streets?utm_campaign=GL_coronavirus_latest&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=10&pub_date=20210616150000&seq_num=7&si=44594

 

COVID brings false calm to Thailand's streets
Vaccine chaos fuels rage as protesters wait for pandemic's end

 

Mothers of anti-government protest leaders facing lese majeste charges demand the release of their sons outside Remand Prison, in Bangkok on April 28.    © Reuters
APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writerJune 16, 2021 14:00 JST

 

BANGKOK -- The third wave of COVID-19 that has broken over Thailand has brought a deceptive quiet to the country's streets. Anti-government protesters cannot stage big demonstrations, but the mood remains defiant and unrest is likely to erupt again as soon as the pandemic subsides.

 

The pro-democracy demonstrations, which drew massive support from young people last year, touch on the most sensitive issue in Thai politics: reform of the monarchy. But they have sputtered because the latest COVID-19 flare-up has forced would-be protesters to practice social distancing.

 

"COVID is the key reason [the demonstrations have died down], as the death toll is rising sharply, and I think the protest leaders are thinking the same thing, so that we don't see any big protests now," said Suthipan Sombatsuree, a 19-year-old university student who took part in protests last year.

 

The street agitation began in earnest last July, when more than 10,000 people gathered at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok to demand that the constitution be amended, that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha resign and that the monarchy, which backers have treated as semidivine for several decades, be reformed.

 

The protests gained momentum, peaking on Oct. 26, when a university student, Passaravalee Thanakijvibulphol, nicknamed "Mind," led thousands of people to the German Embassy to deliver a letter demanding the German government investigate whether the king had conducted Thai state affairs on German soil in violation of German law.

 

That prompted a crackdown by Thai authorities against the demonstrators. Many protest leaders have been arrested and charged with lese majeste, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail. Imprisoned leaders include Parit Chiwarak, also known as "Penguin," and Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul. Holding them in pretrial detention kept them off the streets and helped quell big demonstrations.

 

Still, other leaders staged sporadic protests around Bangkok to keep pressure on the government under the slogan, "Free-up our Friends."


Supporters of arrested protest leaders King show the three-finger salute while waiting for their release on bail outside Klongprem Central Prison in Bangkok on May 11.   © Reuters

 

Parit and Panusaya were released on bail, on condition that they not criticize the monarchy again and remain in the country. They have not staged any big protests since their release.

 

"The key reason is the third wave, the severe outbreak of COVID-19," Boonyakiat Karavekphan, a political science lecturer at Ramkamhaeng University told Nikkei Asia. "I think the leaders also realized that they could not draw massive [numbers of] protesters if they staged a protest now because they are afraid of COVID-19."

 

The third wave of the coronavirus outbreak, which began in April, has raised the average number of newly confirmed cases to more than 2,000 a day, up from double digits earlier in the pandemic. As of June 14, Thailand has had 191,264 cases in all, with the death toll at 1,466.

 

However, Boonyakiat of Ramkamhaeng University said the disappearance of big protests does not mean the pro-democracy protesters have given up. "What we see now is that the anti-government fight remains, but they have just changed the fighting format," said Boonyakiat.

 

That is a common theme among Thai political analysts following comments posted by Penguin on Twitter and Facebook, which said: "For me, the fight to reform the monarchy will continue."

 

Yuthaporn Issarachai of Sukhothai Thammathirat University said protests have moved online in order to keep the momentum going. Government opponents are waiting for the right timing to take to the streets again with stronger demands.

 

"They keep posting on social media. ... There is much anti-government as well as monarchy-criticizing content on several social media platforms. These feelings, as well as anger against the government, remain, particularly at a time when the government is struggling to manage the vaccine rollout," Yuthaporn said.

 

Although the government had said 100 million doses of vaccines have been secured for Thais, and the vaccines rollout began March 1, only 1.6 million people have been fully vaccinated so far. That is only around 2.3% of Thailand's population of 69 million. And public and private hospitals have postponed inoculations amid a shortage of vaccines, derailing the inoculation effort. The government has not given a clear explanation to the public, raising concerns over whether Thailand will be able to overcome the pandemic and revive the weak economy by the end of this year as hoped.

 

Analysts say these missteps are likely to spark new protests as soon as the pandemic dies down.

 

"When the COVID situation is better, the pro-democracy groups will definitely protest again because it is a matter of ideology, which protesters see as the government having taken power through the establishment, not by fair rules," said Sukhum Nuansakul, a political analyst and a former rector of Ramkhamhaeng University.

Edited June 16, 2021 by Yamato

[Yamato]

Today’s Covid new cases.

 

New Cases
Thailand 2,599 ( -73 )
Prison 459 ( +2 )
———————————————-
Total 3,058 ( -71 )

 

Deaths 22 ( -8 )

 

 

Edited June 18, 2021 by Yamato

[Yamato]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Thailand-to-open-borders-early-taking-calculated-risk?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20210617190000&seq_num=17&si=44594

 

Thailand to open borders early, taking calculated risk
Prayuth strives to balance economic and health needs

People receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine inside a gymnasium at Thammasat University, in Pathum Thani, Thailand, on June 7.   © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerJune 17, 2021 15:45 JST

 

BANGKOK -- Thailand has given up achieving herd immunity as it races toward fully reopening its borders to vaccinated globe-trotters, and as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha weighs economic imperatives against risks to public health.

 

Prayuth on Wednesday launched an ambitious plan to start accepting visitors to all parts of Thailand in 120 days, but ongoing vaccine shortages have evoked skepticism among Thai citizens.

 

"I know this decision comes with some risk because, when we open the country, there will be an increase in infections, no matter how good our precautions," the prime minister said in a televised address. "But, I think, when we take the economic needs of people into consideration, the time has now come for us to take that calculated risk."

 

The government's road map targets an average of 10 million shots to be administered every month beginning in July. If all goes as planned, this will allow almost 50 million people to receive at least their first shot by early October, before vaccinated foreign tourists are welcomed to roam the kingdom.

 

"The first shot already enormously increases your body's ability to cope with an infection and can save your life," Prayuth said.

A successful opening in October could help Thailand salvage its busy tourist season, which usually begins in mid- to late November, when the monsoon rains subside.

 

The government has contracted for 105.5 million doses, roughly 60% of which are to be the AstraZeneca vaccine, and most of these supplies are to come from Siam Bioscience. The biopharmaceutical company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in November obtained an exclusive Southeast Asia license from U.K. drugmaker AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine.

 

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha tells the kingdom that "I know this decision comes with some risk because there will be an increase in infections, no matter how good our precautions." (Photo by Masayuki Yuda)

 

According to a report published in medical journal The Lancet, a single AtraZeneca dose has an efficacy of 76% against symptomatic COVID-19 in the first 90 days.

 

Prayuth's address signifies a dramatic turnaround in Thailand's vaccine and reopening strategy. The government originally planned to reopen the kingdom at the outset of 2022, after reaching herd immunity by giving two jabs to 70% of all residents. The new plan brings forward the reopening date by a month and a half and makes do with nearly half the jabs required in the previous plan.

 

The long-ailing economy prompted the rethink. Since March, Thailand has been suffering through a third wave of infections and subsequent business lockdowns. No statistical data on the economic toll is yet available, but Bangkok's once-lively streets show the story. One by one, shops and restaurants have been permanently closing down.

 

"We've somehow survived through two waves," the owner of a Japanese restaurant said, "but this third wave has really hit us hard." The restaurant this month closed indefinitely.

 

In May, the Bank of Thailand made economic projections for three scenarios. If herd immunity is achieved by the first quarter of 2022, it forecasts growth of 2% in 2021 and 4.7% in 2022.

 

A herd immunity delay to the third quarter would slow the rates to 1.5% and 2.8%, while a further lag till the fourth quarter would bring growth down to 1% and 1.1%.

 

The forecasts show how vulnerable Thailand is without tourism and the businesses that flourish because of it. Pre-COVID, this sector accounted for 20% of the kingdom's gross domestic product. Without it in 2020, Southeast Asia's second largest economy shrank 6.1%.

 

For Prayuth, whose term expires in 2023, even the central bank's best-case scenario spells potential doom. "We cannot wait for a time when everyone is fully vaccinated with two shots to open the country or for when the world is free of the virus," the prime minister said. "We must be ready to live with some risk and just try to keep it at a manageable level, and let people go back to being able to earn a living."

 

Lowering the inoculation bar reflects the uncertainty surrounding vaccine deliveries amid rising international demand. Prayuth himself recognizes the issue.

 

"I am the top executive in this war against the coronavirus," he stated. "I must apologize for the problems that have happened, and I take all responsibility." He was specifically referring to vaccine shortages that resulted in complaints from the public on Tuesday, one day before he addressed the nation.

 

"The vaccine deliveries have taken some time because they had to wait for time-consuming production and quality checks," he said. "Many countries have faced the same problem."

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on Monday announced a plan to delay vaccination programs at 25 specially set up locations. A number of public and private hospitals also announced postponements for people with reservations for this week.

 

At Monday's news conference, Bangkok Gov. Aswin Khwanmuang said the city had already used up "nearly all of the vaccines allocated by the government."

 

As Siam Bioscience has no previous experience manufacturing vaccines, there is speculation that it may be having teething problems in ramping up production. A government official at the news conference denied any production issues and said the supply shortage is "temporary and will be resolved soon."

 

But the shortages have cast enough doubt to make Thai citizens skeptical of the government's handling of the vaccination program.

 

Siam Bioscience makes the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at this location outside Bangkok. It is Southeast Asia's only producer of the vaccine   © Reuters

 

Thailand still has a lese-majeste law, which makes it a serious offense to demean or attack senior members of the royal family. Discussion of anything relating to Siam Bioscience is therefore fraught. A former opposition party leader was charged in January after raising questions about the company's exclusive production during a Facebook livestream. A maximum prison sentence of 15 years can be handed down to those found guilty of lese-majeste, with sequential terms possible for those judged to have committed multiple offenses.

 

Siam Bioscience's vaccine exports have come under scrutiny. Reuters reported that Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen last Friday said delivery of 10 million shots from Thailand faces a delay because, she said, Thailand is prioritizing its domestic needs.

 

There have also been reports of delayed deliveries to the Philippines and Malaysia.

 

On June 2, AstraZeneca said vaccines produced by Siam Bioscience would be ready for export in July.

 

Deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul tweeted late on Saturday that there is no official policy to block AstraZeneca exports. She quoted Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul saying vaccine exports and distribution are the domain of Siam Bioscience, not the government.

 

Siam Bioscience has remained silent and not revealed if there have been any production glitches. Many of those who since May 1 have registered for shots now face an uncertain wait.

 

All of Southeast Asia is off to a slow vaccination start. Only 7% of the Thai population has received at least one dose. In the Philippines, the figure is 4%, and in Indonesia it's 7%. With vaccines coming over the horizon, a major concern is variants, particularly those that spread quickly.

 

Additional reporting by Yohei Muramatsu and Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat in Bangkok

[Yamato]

Today’s Covid new cases.

New Cases
Thailand 3,232 ( +633 )
Prison 435 ( -24 )
———————————————-
Total 3,667 ( +609 )

Deaths 32 ( +10 )
 

[Yamato]

Was craving for Singapore's mee siam for a few days so I have to cook it myself

 

 

 

The beehoon

 

The sambal

 

Lunch

 

[Yamato]

New Cases

Thailand 3,035 ( -69 )
Prison 140 ( -438 )
———————————————-
Total 3,175 ( -507 )

 

Deaths 29 ( +9 )

 

 

[Yamato]

Saved a last portion for today's breakfast. Love this mee siam!

 

 

 

Have a great week ahead everyone

[Yamato]

Took a drive to Jomtien yesterday to chill out at the beach. 

 

This is one thing good living in Thailand if one is bored in the city a good beach or mountain is just a 2hrs drive away.

 

 

 

 

[Yamato]

The missus wanted braised beef shank to go with beer so I made this evening

 

 

 

 

[Yamato]

Today's Covid new cases

 

New Cases
Thailand 3,984 ( +949 )
Prison 75 ( -65 )
———————————————-
Total 4,059 ( +884 )

 

Deaths 35 ( +6 )

 

 

Thailand has practically gone to the dogs with this motherfucker clueless Prayut at the helm.