The bizarre, and probably unworkable, “Yellow-Red” card scheme, cooked up by Phuket police officials two weeks ago, immediately vanished from the news – mostly accompanied by foreign doubters and critics on social media.
The card system, if implemented, would have recognised unlawful acts by foreigners with a yellow card and kicked them out of the country. More than one offence, presumably a red card, and they wouldn’t be able to return. For those not aware of the English Football penalty system, the Phuket police appear inspired by the umpires using yellow and red cards as warnings for errant players.
In the original proposal there was no explanation of how the penalties would be dispensed and if alleged law breakers could take the matters to court.
At the time the police were suggesting that something as simple (and regular) as not wearing a bike helmet could earn the bare-headed rider a…
A friendly visa policy and diverse entertainment services have made Thailand more attractive than Vietnam in the eyes of foreign tourists.
Grant Wilson, 61, an Australian who has been living in Vietnam for six years, said he had traveled to Thailand more than 30 times.
Though Vietnam has beautiful scenery, delicious food and friendly people, Wilson said that Thailand has been developing tourism better than Vietnam, especially the quality of tourism services.
In Thailand, shopping centers and night markets are diverse and suitable for Westerners with better quality of goods.
In Thailand, there are various modes of public transport, including buses, taxis, tuk-tuks and songtaews, a taxi or bus adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck, which make it convenient for tourists to explore the country of golden pagodas. Meanwhile, in Vietnam Grant only knows to take xe om (motorbike taxis) or buses.
A group of Russian tourists demonstrated their environmental responsibility this week by lending a hand to clean up a beach on Koh Samui. On the morning of January 31, a group of Russian tourists helped to collect garbage from Baan Mae Nam Beach before enjoying their day swimming, sunbathing, and exercising. The Phuket Express reported the cleanup yesterday.
The tourists found a variety of waste items including plastic bottles, glass bottles, and seaweed. One of the tourists, Mike Michael, spoke to Thai media and expressed his love for Samui Island, which he and his family have been visiting for nine years.
He stated, “Samui local people are very nice and the island is very beautiful,” and added that, “We don’t want to see a dirty beach. It is dangerous for other beachgoers too if they step on glass bottles.”
Pumin Nakpetpoon, a bungalow operator at the beach, took the garbage that the tourists…
Americans spend an average of 96,269 baht (US$2,887) per person while traveling in Thailand, higher than European visitors, who spend $2,684, a survey shows.
U.S. tourists spend an average of 2,000-3,000 baht on accommodation a night and they always stay in the country up to 15 days per trip, according to the survey conducted by the Tourism Council of Thailand, which polled 200 Western tourists during the final quarter of last year.
The survey also showed that European tourists spend 1,000-2,000 baht per night on accommodations and stay in Thailand for 13 days on average.
In Vietnam, foreign tourists spent $117.80 a day in 2019, the year before the onset of the pandemic, according to statistics from the General Statistics Office (GSO).
On average, foreign tourists in Vietnam spent about $35.50 for accommodations, $25.80 for food, $18.90 for transportation, $19.70 for shopping and about $18 for other expenses, such as…
Thailand plans to charge foreign arrivals arriving by air a tourist fee of 300 baht (US$9.11) and a fee of 150 baht (US$4.56) for tourists entering the kingdom via land/sea by mid-2023.
The 300 baht tourist fee for air arrivals has been in the pipeline for a long time and is set to be enforced in June after facing several Covid-19-related delays.
However, the Ministry of Tourism wasn’t sure about whether to apply the fee to tourists entering Thailand via land or sea borders.
The biggest concern was that a 300 baht tourist tax could put off Malaysian tourists who are partial to crossing over into southern Thailand via land for short trips of just two or three days. In 2022, Malaysia was Thailand’s No.1 tourism market.
As a compromise, the ministry has halved the fee to 150 baht (US$4.56) for tourists arriving via land/sea.
December and January were massive tourism months – but still less than 50% of 2019 average
Phuket is experiencing a resurgence in tourism, with the number of visitors to the island reaching nearly 50% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Office in Phuket, Nantasiri Ronsiri.
According to the local TAT office, from January to December 2022, Phuket saw 9.26 million visitors, with 53.6% being domestic tourists and 46.4% being international tourists.
Ms. Ronsiri noted that foreign tourists contributed 70% of the entire revenue, while Thai tourists accounted for around 20%. The top 10 countries in terms of the number of arrivals to Phuket over the last year were Russia, India, Australia, England, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Korea and the US.
The arrival numbers, published by Phuket Immigration, from November 1, 2022 – January 26, 2023, show the huge ratio of Russian vs other nationalities arriving in Thailand.
1
Russia
249332
2
India
84075
3
UK
45543
4
Australia
44657
5
Kazakhstan
44039
6
Singapore
37575
7
Germany
33783
8
Malaysia
28096
9
USA
22334
10
South Korea
24332
11
Sweeden
20460
12
France
19234
13
Israel
14682
14
China
12659
15
Finland
10999
16
Italy
10301
17
Denmark
9729
18
Hongkong
9053
19
Switzerland
8938
20
Poland
8696
21
Thailand
7211
22
South Africa
6478
23
Uzbekistan
3245
24
Canada
5696
25
vietnam
5459
“It is surprising to see Kazakhstan and America on the list, as a large group of Kazakh tourists generally choose to land and stay in Phuket for a few days before taking a trip to other destinations, such as Bangkok or Samui island.”
“As for Thai tourists, many chose to visit Phuket over the New Year’s Day period, but foreign tourists still outnumbered them. In the middle of January, 2023, Phuket welcomed three flights from China, which mostly carried business people. However, large Chinese tour groups are expected to arrive in Phuket as soon as they receive visas.”
The hotel occupancy rate in Phuket is currently at about 80%, with some places reaching 90-95%.
“But some hotels are not fully open yet, as they lack the funds to restart their operations.”
It is estimated that there are around 30% of Phuket’s hotels and businesses still closed.
Ms. Ronsiri stated that the objective for 2023 is to attract a minimum of 12 million international and domestic tourists to Phuket, while the overall target for Thailand is to welcome 23 million visitors.
Many thousands of Thais have worked in the sex industry for decades without legal protection. So it’s not surprising that most of them are looking forward eagerly to the passage of the Sex Workers Protection Bill.
“With no legal shield at all, we are exploited both directly and indirectly,” said a 37-year-old sex worker.
In the 13 years she has been selling sexual services, she has witnessed operators use harsh tactics to control sex workers and ensure they keep bringing in the money. She pointed out that owners of venues where sex is traded must themselves pay officials under the table, as prostitution remains illegal in Thailand.
Owners of so-called girly bars also fine the sex workers heavily if they fail to show up at work for a day or two. Sometimes, operators deduct money from the commission the women make on drinks bought for them by customers, hoping they will be too drunk to notice.
And since prostitution is illegal, venues providing sexual services are not registered and therefore not subject to regulations on hygiene and safety. As a result, sex workers are vulnerable to disease and on-the-job injuries.
“If the bill is passed, prostitution will become legal and the stigma against us will also fade,” said the sex worker, who is also a mother.
What is the Sex Worker Protection Bill?
The bill is being pushed by the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development in a bid to undo the 1996 Prostitution Suppression Act, and provide protection for sex workers, as well as improve their quality of life.
The department has commissioned Thammasat University to prepare the content of the draft bill.
“We believe the final draft will be ready next month,” department director-general Jintana Chanbamrung said.
She explained the drafting process includes brainstorming between all involved parties so they can find common ground. Also taken into account are similar laws in other countries where sex work is legal. So far, prostitution has been legalized under specific laws in at least 15 countries, including the Netherlands and Germany.
“We hope to present a bill that is acceptable to the majority,” Jintana said.
Chatchalawan Muangjan, Empower Foundation’s legal advisor, said once the bill is turned into law, sex workers will be entitled to the same state welfare that white-collar workers currently enjoy.
Key clauses and contracts
The bill stipulates that all sex workers and their clients must be at least 18 years of age. Sex workers will be protected from discriminatory practices and receive proper payment from customers or venue operators. All benefits and conditions will have to be set in writing.
Most importantly, the bill gives sex workers the right to refuse to provide services at any time. Similarly, customers too can refuse to buy the service.
In case of disputes between customers and service providers, officials will act as mediators.
The bill defines sex venue operators as intermediaries who coordinate or procure sexual services for customers, with or without benefiting from a share of the earnings.
The legislation also requires operators to seek a license, in a bid to ensure proper protection for sex workers.
The bill also prescribes the establishment of agencies that provide protection and ensure sex workers have access to legal recourse.
One such agency would be a national-level committee, chaired by the social development and human security minister and featuring the head of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, the Provincial Administration Department, the Disease Control Department and the Employment Department.
Also sitting on the committee would be the Social Security Office’s secretary-general, the National Police chief, up to three representatives of sex workers and up to three specialists appointed by the committee.
Apart from the national-level committee, under the bill every province would also have a panel that provides protection to sex workers under its jurisdiction. As well as providing protection, these committees will also offer relevant information and support for sex workers’ occupational development.
Penalties and punishment
The Sex Workers Protection Bill seeks to clamp down on child abuse and the trafficking of minors. The bill penalizes anyone who pays for sex with a minor aged 15 to 17 with a jail term of between one and three years, plus a fine of 20,000 to 60,000 baht. This penalty will be applicable even if the minor is a consenting partner.
Those who pay for sex with a minor below the age of 15 would face two to six years in prison and a fine of between 40,000 and 120,000 baht.
Meanwhile, anyone who procures a minor aged 15 to 17 for sexual services, even if it is with the youngster’s consent, faces a prison sentence of five to 15 years as well as a fine of between 200,000 and 400,000 baht.
If a parent or guardian is aware of or an accomplice in such a transaction with their child, they face up to 20 years in jail and a maximum fine of 400,000 baht.
People who are worried that youngsters may be lured into the flesh trade suggest that the bill revise the minimum legal age of sex workers from 18 to 20 or even 25.
Will this law make sex work more attractive?
Chatchalawan does not believe the passage of the Sex Worker Protection Bill would encourage more people to jump into the flesh trade, pointing out that it aims to protect sex workers, not promote their occupation.
“We will attend all brainstorming sessions and forums related to the bill to ensure that the views are balanced,” she said.
Legal recognition for sex work may also help reduce the social condemnation attached to the trade.
One female sex worker said she does not understand why people in the sex trade face so much stigma. She pointed out that sex work does no harm to others, and those in the trade are merely offering what little they have to make ends meet.
“This job allows me to support my family financially,” she said.
Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a Move Forward Party member and spokesperson for the House committee on youth, women, the elderly, ethnic people and LGBTQ, said his party would push through the Sex Workers Protection Bill if it gained power after the upcoming election.
“But even if we end up in the opposition camp, we will continue pushing hard for the passage of this bill,”
With the Chinese New Year wrapping up, those who venture out onto Thailand’s streets will see just how much the country’s history has been shaped by China.
Modern-day Thai people are thought to have emigrated from China over 1,000 years ago. The Tai ethnicity originally consisted of those who spoke a common Tai language. Those same people migrated from China down through Southeast Asia, with many ending up calling their newly-discovered land “home.”
As they initially settled in Thailand’s northern areas, they eventually spread throughout the kingdom, making up the majority of the Thai population today.
Thailand’s second-largest ethnic group, however, is thought to have the most influence on the country. That group consists of those whose ancestors were Chinese traders that came to the Kingdom of Ayutthaya for business.
In the 13th century, Siam (Thailand’s previous name), and China shared a common enemy: Burma (now called Myanmar). As the Burmese military was considered a…
Pattaya, a popular tourist destination in Thailand, is now close to pre-COVID levels of tourism, according to the Pattaya Tourism Association.
The Association stated that many hotels, restaurants and other businesses in the area are now operating at near full capacity.
The Association attributed the increase in tourism to the Thai government’s efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, including the implementation of strict health protocols and the vaccination of key workers in the tourism industry.
Additionally, the Association noted that the Thai government’s decision to allow fully vaccinated tourists to enter the country without quarantine has also played a significant role in the resurgence of tourism in Pattaya.
However, the Association also acknowledged that the tourism industry in Pattaya is still facing challenges. For example, many tourists are still hesitant to travel due to the ongoing pandemic, and the lack of international flights to and from Thailand is also…
Thailand has reportedly beaten its goal forforeign arrivals in 2022 after seeing a total of 11.15 million tourists enter the country last year. Initially, the Kingdom had set a goal for 10 million tourists to arrive in 2022.
But, as the world opened up after the Covid-19 pandemic, the country saw a significant jump in arrivals compared to 2021’s 428,000 visitors.
According to theNational News Bureau of Thailand, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports says the new data signifies a strong recovery for Thailand’s tourism industry, which was heavily impacted by strict entry and quarantine measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last December, alone, saw 2.24 million tourists arriving in the country, compared with 230,497 the year before. Before the Covid pandemic wreaked havoc worldwide, Thailand saw a record high of almost 40 million foreign tourists in 2019.
In 2022, the Ministry reported that India, Malaysia, and Singapore accounted…
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