Showing 1 - 10 of 129
Real plan for GDP growth
News, Editorial, Published on 08/07/2024
» After facing criticism for neglecting local media and prioritising foreign outlets, Bank of Thailand governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput finally held a press conference to share his overview of Thailand's economic situation and the central bank's policy stance.
Thailand's era of economic stagnation
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 05/07/2024
» After two decades of political instability and turmoil, it was a matter of time before the Thai economy would exhibit signs of distress and desperation. For decades, the Thai economy has proved resilient with an uncanny knack for bouncing back. But Teflon Thailand may have become a thing of the past. Headlines on the Thai economy have been heading south precipitously. Unless fundamental political reforms take place, Thailand will likely enter a period of low and plateaued growth with risks of grinding stagnation.
Thailand's weed legalisation dilemma
Oped, Published on 05/06/2024
» When cannabis or ganja was legalised (the plant was removed from the illicit drugs list) in 2022 by the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, this led to mass confusion whereby the public misunderstood and perceived it as "liberalisation". This resulted in widespread and unregulated cannabis consumption.
Will foreign investors still be wooed?
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 28/12/2023
» This is my last article for 2023. Appropriately, I should write about the 2024 economic outlook but I have decided to postpone that to be the first article of 2024 as the analysis might be too unpleasant to digest right now. However, I will leave a "teaser" for readers to ponder over during the long holidays. As such, I am left with two choices: an article about informal debt -- I estimate outstanding debt to be over 400 billion baht and that it could have strong ties with grey money -- or an article about Thailand's ability to attract foreign investors, as our Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin travels all over the world to attract them. In the end, I opted for the latter.
Credit ratings and climate chaos
Oped, Published on 13/12/2023
» The sun-drenched coral islands and reefs of the Maldives are in existential danger. With 80% of the country's population living just one metre above sea level, many islands could become uninhabitable as climate change causes the ocean's level to rise. By the end of this century, half a million people could be displaced. The Maldives is confronting this threat with a range of innovative adaptation initiatives, from restoring coral reefs to floating solar-power systems. But survival does not come cheap.
Safety fear hurts image
Oped, Editorial, Published on 27/11/2023
» Foreign tourists were once the mainstay of Thailand's economy, contributing up to 1.76 trillion baht to the economy before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, or about 12% of the nation's gross domestic product.
Balancing sustainability, wealth
Oped, Published on 17/10/2023
» Under the shimmering turquoise waters, vibrant-coloured corals pulse with life as marine life weaves through what was, for a while, a scene of unprecedented blight. Thailand's Maya Bay is experiencing a resurgence following a four-year closure. Behind that transformation from a damaging symbol of overtourism to a beacon of sustainable travel in Southeast Asia, lies a cautionary tale of how tourism can leave a trail of destruction.
Boost long-term economic growth
Editorial, Published on 10/09/2023
» Prior to his speech in Parliament tomorrow, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's government has set an ambitious target of 5% annual GDP growth. That is a surmountable task judging from the fact that last year's GDP was 2.6%.
What happened to all those Chinese tourists?
Bloomberg News, Published on 29/07/2023
» Before Covid-19, Malaysia’s luxury mall beneath Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Petronas Towers echoed with the sound of Chinese tourists and their dialects. But recently, during a busy dinner hour, they were missing. Din, the mall’s outlet of famous Taiwanese chain Din Tai Fung, a favourite of Chinese tourists, was half-full with local Malaysians and Middle Eastern customers. When I asked a cashier whether they had served many Chinese lately, she shook her head with a tight smile.
Tourism needs a Plan B to hit its target
News, Saritdet Marukatat, Published on 17/07/2023
» Thailand's key economic driver has cruised past the first six months but it could see a big speed bump ahead on the road to year's end.