Thailand morning news for June 21, 2019

Thailand’s $13 Billion Plan Could Woo 65 Million Tourists Yearly
Thailand is already struggling to cope with the environmental impact of a tourism boom that’s expected to lure 40 million visitors this year.
— The Edge Markets

Government urged to mull host of wage hike factors
The new government is being urged to take into account various factors, including the country’s competitiveness and ability to attract foreign investment, when deciding on a hike in the daily minimum wage.
— Bangkok Post

Confidence index dips to 15-month low in May
Business sentiment hit its lowest rate in 15 months in May, dampened by sluggish farm product prices, relatively low purchasing power, a slowing economy and political jitters.
— Bangkok Post

3 Thai universities boost global ranking
Three out of eight Thai universities have improved their standing in the QS World University Rankings for 2020 released by UK-based education and career consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
— Bangkok Post

Thailand tourist arrivals down 1.03% in May, Chinese tourists fall 8.55%
The Tourism Ministry of Thailand reported yesterday, June 20th, 2019, the following news in regards to tourism arrivals in Thailand and the news isn’t positive: -A total of a 1.03% drop in the total number of tourists year over year in May. -A total of 2.7 million tourists in May.
— The Pattaya News

BoT to tighten foreign exchange monitoring
The Bank of Thailand is set to tighten foreign exchange monitoring to prevent short-term baht speculation after the local currency surged to its highest level in more than six years yesterday.
— Bangkok Post

Thai House speaker calls on MPs to not spoil privileges
Thailand’s House Speaker Chuan Leekpai on Thursday advised all MPs to not spoil their privileges at the cost of the taxpayer’s money.
— Xinhuanet

Bangkok office market poised to change
Bangkok’s office supply totalled 8.95 million square metres at the end of the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 1.9% from the same period last year, according to CBRE Research.
— Bangkok Post

Thai, Chinese universities set up institute for Teochew research
A pair of Thai and Chinese universities on Wednesday announced the establishment of an institute to promote the research on Southeast Asian Chinese of Teochew origin in Bangkok.
— Xinhuanet

True ‘won’t monopolise’ cable project
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has dismissed accusations it has allowed True Corporation to monopolise its underground cable project, saying the telecom operator will only lease cable conduits, not operate the whole system.
— Bangkok Post

NBTC to loosen bank guarantee conditions
The telecom regulator plans to reduce bank guarantee requirements for the next spectrum auction to ease financial burdens and encourage mobile operators to expedite implementation of 5G infrastructure.
— Bangkok Post

Thai cave rescue: boys of Wild Boars football team deal with fame one year after dramatic incident
A young football team made up mostly of poor or stateless teenagers entered a tourist cave complex in northern Thailand a year ago on a day trip, accompanied by their coach.
— South China Morning Post

Thai utility EGAT launches tender for 58.5 MW floating project
The state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has issued an invitation for bids for a 55.5 MW (DC) floating PV project it intends to build at the Sirindhorn Dam, where the 12 MW Sirindhorn Hydropower Plant, is located on the Lam Dom Noi river in the Sirindhorn district of Ubon Ratchathani.
— PV Magazine

Govt opens press center for ASEAN Summit
The Thai government has established a press center for the 34th ASEAN Summit at Grand Center Point Hotel on Ploenchit Road in the capital for local and foreign reporters.
— NBT World (video)

Thailand successfully held 21st ASCC Council Meeting
The Kingdom of Thailand has successfully held the 21st ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting in May.
— NBT World (video)

Thai Rice Plays Big Role as Gluten-free Diet
Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand, has introduced a project called “Think RICE, Think THAILAND” to encourage the international community to pay attention to consumer health and to raise awareness of the national crop by providing a wider range of knowledge, ranging from national agricultural history, standards and Thai rice quality.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

LGBTI activists in Thailand submit petition for gender rights panel
LGBTI rights activists in Thailand have submitted a petition calling for a panel that will conduct monitoring for gender justice.
— Gay Star News

Appliance sales see best growth in 3 years
Sales of electric appliances in the first half rose by 3%, the best growth in three years.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand enters 5G technology era
The Thai Government’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) says it wants Thailand to be one of the first Asian countries to make the jump to 5G.
— Thailand Business News

Subsidies eyed to cut train fares
The Rail Transport Department is looking at using subsidies or tax measures to bring down fares on the city’s electric trains.
— Bangkok Post

Opposition Wants Junta to Explain How Senators Were Chosen
Opposition politicians said Wednesday they plan to file a motion urging the House Speaker to scrutinize the criteria used by the junta to select the 250 senators.
— Khaosod English

Foreign Affairs Minister chairs opening session of ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network Meeting
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has expressed his confidence that Thailand, as the ASEAN Chair, will push women to achieve equality and push women entrepreneurs in the economic sector in the ASEAN region to be widely known.
— NNT

Thailand resort manager launches Eco Blueprint for Tropical Resorts
Florian Hallermann, General Manager of the Zeavola Resort in Phi Phi Island, southern Thailand, has launched a new downloadable PDF book to show hoteliers how to run a beach resort based on green practices, staff unity and guests’ cultural understanding.
— Australian Leisure

Ending decades of illegal fishing in Thailand
In a tightened up policing of their fishing industry Thailand has begun intercepting and inspecting fishing boats far out at sea this year, one of many new measures to curb its dangerously high levels of overfishing.
— Thailand Business News

Fall armyworm invades crops across Asia
Looking out at his empty, red-earth field, Thai farmer Puang Timdon said his two-week-old maize crop didn’t stand a chance against the fall armyworm pest.
— Bangkok Post

Stress of return stalks Myanmar refugees in Thai border camps
Drastic cuts to humanitarian assistance for refugees who fled Myanmar for Thailand have stoked widespread “hopelessness and depression” in camps along the border, deepening a mental health crisis that has seen suicide rates soar, a coalition of civil society groups says.
— Al Jazeera

Thailand Cybersecurity 2019 underway
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency has organized the Thailand Cybersecurity 2019 exhibition for people to adjust themselves to the digital era in a secure and safe fashion.
— NNT

NBTC’s 5G auction brings in 20 billion baht in revenue
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has brought in 20 billion baht in revenue to the government, following the sale of three slots on the 700-megahertz spectrum to three major mobile operators on Wednesday (June 19).
— NNT

EVA Airlines flight attendant union goes on strike, over 100 flights canceled, including to and from Thailand
After failing to reach an agreement with EVA Air management, the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union (TFAU) at 2:10 p.m. announced its EVA Air flight attendant members would go on strike, starting at 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon (June 20), leading to the cancellation of more than 100 flights on June 21, 22 and 23.
— The Pattaya News

iLaw takes first step to repeal NCPO orders
A human rights group has taken its first step to repeal 35 announcements and orders of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and its chief which it deems are in breach of human rights and democracy.
— Bangkok Post

Thai DLT to look at legalising GrabCar and GrabBike
Thailand’s Department of Land Transport is toying with the idea of officially legalising the Grab ride-hailing services using private cars and motorcycles through the Grab App.
— The Thaiger

Electricity billionaire building Tesla of Thailand
It’s the epitome of a closed circuit: the utility helping power one of Southeast Asia’s biggest cities is building electric cars, batteries and charging stations for the nascent market, and then supplying the juice to keep them all running.
— Bangkok Post

Thai cybersecurity ranking dips to 35th
Thailand’s ranking in cybersecurity readiness fell to 35th in 2017-18 from 20th in 2016 as other countries made better cybersecurity improvements.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand – end the unfair criminalisation of land rights defenders in Sai Thong National Park
Manushya Foundation (MF), Isaan Land Reform Network (ILRN), and the Future Forward Party (FWP) call on Thai authorities to stop the misuse of forest conservation laws and policies to criminalise impoverished villagers, to drop all charges against the 14 villagers of Sab Wai village, and to protect their rights related to land and livelihood.
— Prachathai

The Generational Challenge for Thailand’s Generals
Weeks after the March election, the plainclothes officers that had become a familiar sight on college campuses under military rule were back at Ubon Ratchathani University in Thailand’s northeast.
— The Diplomat

How many tourists visit the real Thailand?
Thailand is best known for its beaches, astonishing street food, markets and diverse south-east Asian culture. But how many people get out of the cities and tourist traps and get to experience the real Thailand?
— The Thaiger

Police searches 238 targets in tourism confidence raising campaign
On the measures to improve tourists’ confidence and public safety, the police yesterday evening conducted search operations at 238 targets nationwide, arresting some 500 foreigners illegally entered Thailand, affecting the country’s tourism image.
— NNT

Thailand Post issues ASEAN stamp collection
Marking Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship, the Government Public Relations Department (PRD) has joined hands with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand to create the “Pride of ASEAN” stamp collection, depicting the cultures and lifestyles of all 10 ASEAN member states across 20 stamps.
— NNT

PPRP asks court to dismiss media case against its MPs
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has asked the Constitutional Court to drop a case against its 27 MPs for allegedly holding media shares on a technicality.
— Bangkok Post

Police Charge Radioactive ‘Energy Card’ MLM With Fraud
Police have levelled fraud charges against the operators behind a multi-level marketing scheme selling radioactive cards which claim to heal diseases.
— Khaosod English

Russian Ambassador Denounces Sanctions, Urges Thais to Buy More Weapons
The Russian ambassador to Thailand is a youthful, physically stalwart gentleman who loves to praise the health benefits of winter – and who hopes that his host country will purchase amphibious aircraft from his home.
— Khaosod English

Eight arrested with drugs and firearms in Phuket
Eight suspects have been arrested, along with the seizure of 700 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 12,000 methamphetamine pills, guns and ammunition, in Phuket.
— The Thaiger

Higher Mekong tide helps Thai-Laos river transport
In Bueng Kan district in the north, heavy rains have increased the water level in Mekong River, which helps facilitate river ferries and cargo boats connecting Thailand and Laos.
— Pattaya Mail

‘Platinum’ hackers are back
Researchers from the global cybersecurity company Kaspersky say they have uncovered a highly sophisticated cyber espionage campaign aimed at stealing information from South Asian diplomatic, government and military entities.
— Bangkok Post

Agriculture Ministry’s survey: Farmers earn more income
Last year, Thai farmers earned more income and enjoyed better quality produce, thanks to the government’s marketing drive. This year, the output of rice, para rubber, fruit and corn has substantially increased.
— NNT

Philippines’ Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office visits NBT
Philippines’ Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office visited the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) this week, to foster the relationship in terms of mass media with Thailand and expressed admiration for the Thailand’s transition from analog to digital signals.
— NNT

Fishing activities suspected in killing turtle, says expert
An expert at the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC) believes that the turtle found dead at Bang Tao Beach on Monday (June 17) most likely died from fishing-related activities.
— The Phuket News

Two caught with 59kg of crystal meth in tyres
Two men have been arrested after 59kg of crystal methamphetamine worth at least 60 million baht were found in the tyres and secret compartments of their pickup trucks at a joint checkpoint in Sangkhla Buri district.
— Bangkok Post

Inaction Preceded Crane Collapse That Injured 10 Schoolgirls
A crane that fell on an all-girls school and injured 10 students in downtown Bangkok had been operating illegally for weeks, police said Thursday.
— Khaosod English

Bryde’s whale carcass washed up on Samut Prakan beach
The carcass of a Bryde’s whale has been found near a mangrove forest in Samut Prakan today.
— The Thaiger

26 year old Thai gored to death by wild elephants in Buri Ram
A Buri Ram man has been gored to death by a wild elephant in his tapioca plantation.
— The Thaiger

Award-winning boutique developer, Nye Estate
While the real estate market in Thailand during the past couple of years has been somewhat sluggish due to the prevailing political situation, the competition among emerging and longstanding real estate developers remains excitingly tight.
— Bangkok Post

Celebrate Phi Ta Khon
The town of Dan Sai in Loei province invites all to its most famous cultural event, the Phi Ta Khon Festival where locals from several communities take part in fun-filled processions through the town while donning colourful ghost masks.
— Bangkok Post travel

Daikin Chemical South East Asia launches green move
Daikin Chemical South East Asia taps into the refrigerant market with environmental-friendly innovation to become the Asia’s number one refrigerant producer.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand travel: Krabi’s fascinating resort and where you must stay in Bangkok
It’s raining heavily. And by heavily, I mean it’s absolutely ripping it down.
— BirminghamLive

Monk on a Mission . . . Thailand Buddhist Monk Treks Through Armstrong County
A Buddhist monk from Thailand may be the first representative of his religious order to walk across the United States.
— The Kittanning Paper

Rowdy drinkers trigger pilot threat on Sydney to Thailand Jetstar flight
Passengers aboard a Sydney to Thailand flight faced an abrupt end to their trip after their pilot was forced to issue an extraordinary threat just hours into the flight.
— Perth Now

Thai tycoon sees strong opportunities for Irish-Asia trade
The head of Thailand’s biggest corporation says he sees strong opportunities to grow Irish-Asian trade following his first visit to Ireland.
— Business Irish

Special operation center opened for ASEAN Summit VIP flights
Aeronautical Radio of Thailand has set up a special operation center, coordinating with airlines operating at Don Muang Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport, to provide special support for flights of national leaders and VIPs attending ASEAN Summit in Bangkok.
— NNT

Rawai ramps up fight against dengue, chikungunya
The Public Health and Environment Division of Rawai Municipality this week continued to roll out its campaign to contain the spread of dengue and chikungunya across the southern end of the island with fogging of local villages and households to help prevent disease-bearing mosquitoes from breeding.
— The Phuket News

Electricity outage in Kathu
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced that the electricity supply will be temporarily shut off in parts of Kathu on Friday (June 21) as work is carried out on installing new high-voltage cables.
— The Phuket News

45 year old Swede arrested on Koh Chang over $11 million scam
Manager Online video 45 year old Swedish national, Roger Nils Jonas Karlsson, has been arrested in connection with a multi-million dollar fraud. He was arrested on Koh Chang, far eastern Thailand near the Cambodian border.
— The Thaiger

100kg of marijuana seized by Mekong River
Two Lao men were arrested on the Mekong River bank in That Phanom district with 100kg of marijuana while waiting for a Thai customer on Wednesday night.
— Bangkok Post

Exporters call for long-term rice vision
The new government is being urged to set a clear direction on Thai rice development, covering not just the short term but also the medium term and the long run to sustain the country’s cash crop.
— Bangkok Post

Feature photo Burma Link

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges World Refugee Day, June 20.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.

Thailand morning news for June 21 added by John Le Fevre on June 21, 2019
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.