Day: January 22, 2024

Bangkok, Meteorological Department reveals cool to cold weather in the Northeastern region in the morning with strong winds. Temperatures will drop 2-4 degrees Celsius in the eastern region. Cool in the morning with strong winds. and the temperature will drop 1-3 degrees. Meteorological Department weather forecast for the next 24 hours A new relatively strong high pressure area has spread to southern China and upper Vietnam. It is expected to spread over the northeastern and eastern regions today (January 22, 2024), which will cause cool to cold weather in the northeastern region in the morning with strong winds. And the temperature will drop 2-4 degrees Celsius. In the eastern region, there will be cool weather in the morning with strong winds. And the temperature will drop 1-3 degrees Celsius. People in Thailand are asked to take care of their health due to the changing weather conditions during this period. As for the northeast monsoon that blows over the Gulf of Thailand and the southern region, it has begun to strengthen. Causing the southern region to have more thunderstorms. As for the lower Gulf of Thailand, there are waves 1-2 meters high. In areas with thunderstorms, waves higher than 2 meters. Boaters in the lower Gulf of Thailand are requested to avoid sailing in areas with thunderstorms. Dust in this period: Lower Northern Region Lower Northeastern Region Central region including Bangkok and surrounding areas and the eastern region has moderate to high accumulation of dust/smog. Because the wind that blows over it is weak. and air ventilation is in poor condition Regional weather forecast Bangkok-Metropolitan area: Some fog in the morning. Lowest temperature 23-25 ??degrees Celsius, highest temperature 34-36 degrees Celsius, easterly winds 10-20 km/hr. Northern Region: Cool to cold weather with morning fog. Lowest temperature 13-18 degrees Celsius. Highest temperature 30-35 degrees Celsius. Cold to very cold at the top of the mountain. And there is frost in some places. Lowest temperature 4-12 degrees Celsius, easterly winds 10-15 km/hr. Northeastern Region: Cool to cold weather in the morning with strong winds. And the temperature will drop 2-4 degrees Celsius. Lowest temperature 13-18 degrees Celsius. Highest temperature 31-34 degrees Celsius. The mountain top area is cold. Lowest temperature 9-13 degrees Celsius. Northeast wind speed 10-25 km/hr. Central region: Cool with some fog in the morning. Lowest temperature 21-23 degrees Celsius, highest temperature 34-37 degrees Celsius, easterly winds 10-20 km/hr. Eastern Region: Cool in the morning with strong winds. And the temperature will drop 1-3 degrees Celsius with slight rain in some places. Mostly along the coast. Lowest temperature 18-23 degrees Celsius. Highest temperature 33-36 degrees Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-30 km/hr. The sea has waves less than 1 meter high. The coast and areas with thunderstorms have waves about 1 meter high. Southern Region (East Coast): Thunderstorms in 30 percent of the area, mostly in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Narathiwat provinces. Minimum temperature 22-24 degrees Celsius, maximum temperature 30-33 degrees Celsius, from Surat Thani province upwards, easterly wind speed. 15-30 km/hr. The sea has waves about 1 meter high. In areas with thunderstorms the waves are more than 1 meter high. From Nakhon Si Thammarat province down, easterly winds 15-35 km/hr. The sea has waves 1-2 meters high in the area. with thunderstorms, waves higher than 2 meters high Southern region (west side): Thunderstorms in 10 percent of the area, mostly in Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi and Trang provinces. Minimum temperature 23-25 ??degrees Celsius, maximum temperature 32-34 degrees Celsius, easterly winds 15-30 km/hr. The sea has waves about 1 meter high. Far from the coast and in areas with thunderstorms, waves are more than 1 meter high. Source: Thai News Agency

HCM City: The Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese on January 22 launched an action programme on environmental protection in all parishes. Priest Nguyen Thanh Tin, head of the Environment Division of the HCM City Archdiocese, said that the archdiocese has sent 500 trash bins to 203 parishes' churches and locations of mission for garbage sorting. At the same time, an environment education programme for the local Catholic community, especially the youth, he said. Priest Nguyen Nang, Archbishop of the HCM City Archdiocese, said that he has asked priests across the archdiocese to spend at least 10 minutes before each preaching on environment education for youngsters. After three years of research, the HCM City Archdiocese has completed and introduced a textbook on environmental protection to be used in preaching programme for Catholic youth and children from four years old. The textbook provides general knowledge on the environmental situation in the world and Vietnam, an insight on the significance of environmental protection, and guidance on specific actions to protect the environment, he said. Priest Nguyen Thanh Tin underlined that the progamme has no ending point, aiming to enhance public awareness of environmental protection, turning it into a part of the lifestyle and behaviour of Catholics and the whole society. The supply of three-compartment trash bins to churches will enable them to sort out trash following the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. The HCM City Archdiocese also aims to provide three-compartment trash bins for free or at low prices to all Catholic households with the support of donors./ Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ranong Province, "Phuang Phet" visits "Ban Ngao Temple" in Ranong, beautiful as a temple in the Aram Phirom Project. Highlights that make the secondary city worth visiting Mrs. Puangpetch Chunlaid, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office Traveled to the area of ??Ban Ngao Temple, Village No. 1, Ngao Subdistrict, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province, to inspect temples according to the Aram Phirom Project. As the policy was given to the National Office of Buddhism (B.E.) to develop the temple into a center of the community and a tourist attraction. Support the creation of religious soft power to attract people who believe in Buddhism. Join in paying homage to the sacred things of various temples. All over Thailand and promote the beauty of Thai temples to be known among tourists. The main goal is to measure 202 temples on 56 tourism routes according to the integration between the National Office of Buddhism. Ministry of Tourism and Sports Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Thailand 'Thailand has temples scattered everywhere. Many temples are also popular with Buddhists. It is also popular among both Thai and foreign tourists. It was found that some temples have beautiful architecture, such as the Ban Ngao Temple that we came to see today. which has a beautiful chapel Including the world's largest tin Buddha statue. This is considered a highlight that will attract even more tourists to the country. Coming to talk with the temple Acknowledged problems and development guidelines that will answer the questions of the Aram Phirom project By asking the committee to find guidelines for dissemination public relations Spread the word to make the temple more famous. Thai people themselves will know that there are beautiful temples like this in the country. Foreigners will also learn about art and culture. Thai customs and traditions Including purchasing Thai products from nearby communities. It is a way to distribute income to people in the area. Help revive the economy at the community level for the better as well,' Mrs. Puangphet said. For Ban Ngao Temple It is considered one of the 202 target temples according to the Aram Phirom Project. In the area of ??Ranong Province, there are 2 temples participating in this project. They are also community center temples and important tourist attractions in Ranong Province. It is located near Phu Khao Ya and Ngao Waterfall. which is a popular tourist attraction in the province There is beautiful architecture, religious sites, religious objects, and art and culture. It is unique and famous for 3 things: 1. Wang Matcha has many large fish such as giant catfish, freshwater catfish, and giant catfish. 2. The new chapel. It has very beautiful decorations. 3. The largest tin Buddha statue in the world. Then Mrs. Puangpetch Attended a meeting to discuss and listen to opinions on temple development according to the Aram Phirom Project. with Phrakru Upanandasophon Deputy Abbot of Ranong Province Abbot of Mueang Ranong District Assistant Abbot of Ban Ngao Temple and the Ban Ngao Te mple Committee attended the meeting, which considered requesting budget allocation for the Office of Dhamma Practice according to the fiscal year 2025 plan in the amount of 1,865,000 baht, requesting permission to use forest areas before receiving permission and requesting a waiver according to the Cabinet resolution on On June 23, 2020 Mrs. Puangphet emphasized at the meeting that the tourist temple project or Phirom Monastery must have a car park. Improve the landscape Arrange the steps for traveling within the temple. It is believed that it will be able to promote tourism and generate income for the temple. Source: Thai News Agency

Hanoi: A sudden surge in the number of overseas Vietnamese (OVs) booking domestic tours and the recovery of international arrivals right since the start of 2024 are among positive signs promising a breakthrough year for the tourism industry. Doan Thi Thanh Tra, Director for marketing and communications of the Saigontourist travel service company, said the number of overseas Vietnamese booking services for the Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays via her company has risen 'abnormally'. OVs account for up to 80% of all clients booking pre-Tet tours of Saigontourist and 60% of those booking post-Tet tours. The firm has never recorded such a large number of OV travellers before, which is even higher than in the pre-pandemic period of 2017 - 2018. Previously, OV clients of Saigontourist were mainly middle- and old-aged persons, but the surge in OV tourists, including many young ones, this year has really surprised the company, she noted. OV tourists often book long tours, at least for five days and even eight to ten days. They prefer cultural and experience tours of the central region (Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An) and the northern region (Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh, northwestern provinces). Most of these tours are package ones with relatively high prices. Unlike domestic or international visitors, each OV traveller returning to Vietnam for Tet usually book at least two tours - one before Tet and another during or after this biggest traditional festival, Tra told the Thanh nien (Young people) newspaper. OVs now tend to return to the homeland all year round, not only for Tet. Given this, Saigontourist is developing particular products for this group of holidaymakers, she added. Meanwhile, Vietluxtour has also reported good growth in the number of OVs booking Tet tours, its communications director Tran Thi Bao Thu said, noting that OV clients of her company are middle-class ones and families using services at four- to five-star resorts. They tend to just relax and do not have much need for sightseeing. This is a 'niche market' that many travel firms are capitalising on amid economic difficulties forcing families to cut spending on holidays, she added. In addition, the tourism industry has also enjoyed an inflow of international travellers since the start of 2024. The island city of Phu Quoc, which experienced poor performance in 2023, has witnessed a sudden increase in arrivals, especially international ones, since the end of last year. It has welcomed 2,000-2,500 international visitors, over half of whom are from the Republic of Korea, each day on average. In particular, the debut of Cau Hon (Kiss Bridge) and the Sunset Town entertainment complex there amid the festive season warmed up the local tourism atmosphere in late 2023. As a result, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, home to Phu Quoc, attracted more than 120,000 arrivals during the 2024 New Year holidays, including over 15,000 foreigners, while the occupancy rate at local tourism accommodation facilities reached 63.2% and tourism revenue hit 369 billion VND (over 15 m illion USD), statistics show. Ho Chi Minh City has also seen a large number of foreigners travelling around on these days. Ben Thanh Market, a tourist magnet in this southern economic hub, has recorded many international visitors, mainly Indian, Korean, Japanese, and European ones, coming to its confectionary, coffee, apparel, and fashion accessory shops. The municipal Tourism Department said the city welcomed more than 46,500 international visitors during the recent New Year holidays, shooting up 86.1% from the 25,000 during the same period of 2023. Particularly, cruise travellers who are high-end tourists from Europe, the US, Australia, and Japan, are growing well. Last year, 12.6 million international tourists chose Vietnam as their holiday destination, rising almost 3.5-fold from 2022 and exceeding the initial target. For 2024, the country targets about 17 - 18 million international travellers, 110 million domestic ones, and about 840 trillion VND in earnings from tourists. In the most ideal condition , if it manages to attract 18 million foreign arrivals, the tourism industry could be said to fully recover to the record level of 2019. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, said that after nearly two years of taking recovery measures, the tourism industry is now on an upward trend. While many localities have posted strong tourist growth, Vietnam has won many prestigious international awards, including 19 at the world level and 54 at the Asian level presented by the World Travel Awards. With the achievements obtained in 2023, 2024 will be the time for Vietnam's tourism industry to gain speed to strengthen competitiveness compared to regional rivals, he opined./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

BANGKOK, The Immigration Bureau (IB) has introduced an online reporting system for foreigners staying in Thailand for more than 90 days, marking the first-ever implementation of this service. The initiative, initially targeting investors under the promotion of the Board of Investment (BOI), is expected to stimulate the economy and boost tourism in Thailand. Pol Lt Gen Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, along with relevant authorities, announced the commencement of the '90 days online notification' service. This allows foreigners to report their residence status when staying in the kingdom for more than 90 days through an online platform. The system aims to provide convenience to international tourists, enabling them to submit advance notifications 15 days prior to the expiration of their 90-day stay. Notifications can be made at any time through the online portal at www.immigration.go.th. Once registered, users will receive a password via email, allowing them to log in an d submit their 90-day notification. Approval results will be sent via email or accessed through the website www.immigration.go.th . The first phase of implementation will target investors falling under the BOI's investment promotion, expanding later to include other visa types. This strategic move is anticipated to garner positive responses from the international community. For the '90 days online notification,' there are three reporting channels: 1) reporting in person, 2) designating a representative, and 3) sending the notification form to the Immigration Bureau via registered mail. This project represents a new dimension in providing services through the online system of the Immigration Bureau. Additionally, the Immigration Bureau offers an e-Extension service, allowing foreigners to apply for a visa extension online. Applicants can fill out the required information at any time, submit it online, meet with an officer to confirm their identity, and receive a visa sticker in less than 5 minutes. This aim s to enhance efficiency and convenience for foreign visitors. The Immigration Bureau anticipates that these service enhancements will stimulate the economy and promote tourism by attracting a significant number of foreign tourists and investors to the country. Source: Thai News Agency

Paris: Stephanie Do told about her Vietnamese roots, and her path to the French parliament at a meeting with representatives of the Union of Vietnam Students in France (UEVF) and the Vietnamese community in Paris last weekend. Stephanie Do, the first Asian-origin member of the French parliament for the 2017-2022 tenure, said she wants to inspire young people and foster their confidence and resolve to gain successes, thus serving both the host country and the homeland, and contributing to the Vietnam-France relations. UEVF President Nguyen Phan Bao Thuy said Stephanie Do's success is the pride of the Vietnamese community in France, particularly youths, saying she is the inspiration and encouragement for young people to work harder in all fields. Born in Vietnam and migrating to France when she was 11, Stephanie Do overcame all barriers to a migrant to become a member of the French parliament for the 2017-2022 tenure. During the five years, she also worked to promote the Vietnam-France relations in her capa city as President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group. Her path to the French parliament is recounted in her recently-released book titled 'Duong toi Quoc hoi cua nu Nghi si Phap goc Viet dau tien' (The road to the National Assembly of the first French congresswoman of Vietnamese origin)./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bangkok, Chulalongkorn Accounting (CBS) together with WEF reveal the results of evaluating the future growth of countries around the world. The Future of Growth Report 2024 found that Thailand is ranked 51st with a growth rate at a worrying level. KKP considers The population structure is decreasing, income is low, "get old before you get rich". SCB EIC points out that Easy e-receipt does not stimulate spending as high as expected. Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy Chulalongkorn University (CBS) joins with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to prepare and publish The Future of Growth Report 2024 to measure the quality of growth in various countries. It was found that Thailand's growth is in the second half of the world. It should accelerate the development of sustainability. income inequality and the law provides full protection The presentation of this report presents national data that helps stakeholders set policies and directions for developing the country's growth from 4 dimensions that are important to the country's growth. This will be a compass in determining policy guidelines. and strategies for Thailand To foster growth that includes both innovation Infrastructure coverage Sustainability And the flexibility aspect is even better. Mr. Wilert Phuriwat, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy Chulalongkorn University (CBS) said the survey results covered 107 countries around the world. Thailand is ranked 51st, while Sweden is number 1 in the world, followed by Switzerland, Finland, and Denmark. In Asian countries, Japan leads in 11th place, followed by Korea (12th) and Singapore (16th), while Malaysia is 31st, Vietnam 36th, Indonesia 50th and Thailand 51st from the total score weighted in all 4 dimensions, including innovation. (Innovativeness) in terms of infrastructure coverage (Inclusiveness), Sustainability and Resilience By comparing the evaluation results of Thailand It was found that Thailand had an innovation score of 47.94, which was higher than the world average (45.2), reflecting Thail and's outstanding ability in increasing innovation capabilities. ,Infrastructure coverage (Inclusiveness) Thailand received a score of 55.66, which is close to the world average. (55.9),sustainability (Sustainability) Thailand's score was 40.84, which is lower than the world average (46.8), thus indicating the need to accelerate action to develop Thailand's sustainability further. Resilience and adaptation (Resilience), which shows adaptability to various impacts. Thailand's score is 51.5, which is slightly lower than the world average (52.75), reflecting that Thailand has a modest ability to respond and recover from various crises and should continue to develop in this area. 'Thailand should speed up increasing its capabilities in all areas. Even though innovation is doing well, there is still need to be more emphasis on development in various areas, especially sustainability. To strengthen the quality of the country's growth even further,' Mr. Wilert said. This report highlights the significant global ec onomic slowdown. This is expected to drop to the lowest rate in three decades by 2030. Therefore, countries' focus on quality growth Therefore it is important to deal with This variety of challenges Mr. Phiphat Yellow Narumitchai Assistant Managing Director Chief Economist and Head of Economic and Investment Analysis Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Business Group (KKP) said in a seminar on the topic "Thai economy..how to change to go further than before" at the 2024 Flagship Seminar that the Thai economy during COVID-19 The average growth is only 3% and after Covid, it is expected that the economy will improve. But it was found that the Thai economy was unable to return to growth as before. At present, the Thai economy may grow below its potential level. including the tourism sector that cannot go back to the way it was before The ability to compete has decreased. and there is a trade deficit, for example, having to import more goods from China Whether it be electrical appliances, steel, including importing elect ric cars (EVs), etc. The main problem is that the population structure is decreasing. Low income level, getting old before getting rich, and the quality of Thai education Especially the PISA score has fallen over the past 20 years, while investment in big projects has disappeared for almost three decades. It's like Thailand is eating up old merit. In addition, there is the problem of increasing inequality. Household debt problems If the economy continues to grow slowly these problems It's becoming more and more intense. Therefore, it is necessary to solve more structural problems. Mr. Santitha Sathirathai, economist and qualified directors The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) views Thailand as It's like an elderly athlete. both age and symptoms and the ability to attract less competition But I am confident that the Thai economy will not fall heavily. This is because the Thai commercial banking system is still strong. Including the economic crisis like the Tom Yum Kung period is unlikely to happen. Thailand m ust build investment infrastructure. Must focus on quality, such as digital and clean energy. Because the population structure is getting older. Center for Economic and Business Research Siam Commercial Bank (SCB EIC) estimates that although the Thai economy is likely to continue expanding in the first quarter of 2024, the main driving force will come from private consumption. as consumer confidence improves Measures to reduce living costs and the Easy e-receipt project stimulate spending. However, the positive results of this project may not be as great as in the past. This is because the conditions are limited to shops that can issue e-Tax Invoice. In addition, the Thai economy is supported by tourism that continues to recover. and exports that have returned to expand This is consistent with the production of some industries starting to recover, such as electronics. The debt situation of Thai households is still worrying. Consistent with the results of the SCB EIC Consumer survey 2023, it was found that l ow-income groups face increased debt problems after the COVID crisis. And there is still a problem of not having enough income to cover expenses. Less than 1 in 3 people with income are self-employed/general contractors. They tend to be informal workers with not much income. and do not have access to the social security system Moreover, this group has a very poor debt management method. therefore relying heavily on informal debt and is likely to be stuck in the debt cycle for a long time. Source: Thai News Agency