Showing 1 - 6 of 6
Tourism fee has promise
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/04/2023
» Despite taking considerable flak for floating the policy, Tourism and Sport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has made it clear the Thailand Tourism Fee will be levied from September.
RTAF out of touch
Oped, Editorial, Published on 30/09/2022
» The plan to host a lavish inauguration ceremony for the new air force commander-in-chief, including a flyover this afternoon, shows poor judgement on the part of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).
Rail project needs transparency
News, Editorial, Published on 14/08/2022
» A little over 23 kilometres separate the small provincial town of Nong Khai and Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The distance may seem inconsequential, but this border area is critical to the success of the China-Singapore high-speed railway, part of Beijing's One Belt One Road logistic plan to link China with Asean. Yet the ambitious plan, unveiled in 2010, has been sputtering for nearly a decade, especially in Thailand.
Lowest bid isn't best bid
News, Editorial, Published on 05/10/2017
» Thai travellers had a legitimate complaint recently when they found themselves standing in front of useless passport scanning machines at the two main Bangkok airports. Hundreds of passengers on dozens of flights had to submit their documents "the old-fashioned way" to immigration officers. Of course there were a tiny number of them. The point of automated passport control is to reduce or eliminate the familiar officer armed with stamps, pens and a stern attitude towards fake travel documents.
Airline industry in need of assistance
News, Editorial, Published on 28/02/2016
» The sight of passengers waiting desperately at Nok Air check-in counters last week was not a surprise, even though none of those trying to board planes had expected problems. Nok Air’s saga started with a strike on Valentine’s Day, which was the result of the cumulative problems threatening small regional airlines.
Officials in a haze
News, Editorial, Published on 23/02/2016
» February is such a predictable month. A few days of winter linger here and there, but it is the beginning of the hot season. Warnings of water shortages come from several departments. This year, the warnings are stronger and more alarming than usual, as El Nino promises an even more dire, drier drought. And in February also comes the dangerous, choking, ever-worsening haze as farm land and forests are burnt down to make way for the new planting season.