Showing 1 - 10 of 15
Pride Month is for everyone
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 13/06/2022
» June marks LGBTQI Pride Month, celebrating people who are "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex". I think most of us agree with US President Joe Biden's declaration that LGBTQI people are loved and cherished, and they deserve "dignity, respect and support".
Safe, healthy travel a priority
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 11/04/2022
» The hearts of all Thais are blessed and looking forward to Wednesday when the five-day Songkran holiday begins. It will be the first time in three years for us to celebrate the traditional New Year known for joyous water splashing at the hottest time of the year.
Not so festive, no-travel New Year
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 10/01/2022
» Welcome back to the real world. We may have just finished our countdown to New Year 2022 but it seems the bad dream from 2021 continues to haunt us.
Practical recovery strategy needed
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 05/07/2021
» The arrival of about 400 vaccinated international travellers in Phuket on Thursday was something to celebrate for people on the hard-hit resort island. They were the first visitors from abroad in 15 months.
Tourism revival in doubt again
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 19/04/2021
» Most of Thailand's famous holiday destinations were nearly empty last week during the long Songkran holiday. The latest Covid-19 wave -- with daily infections climbing all week and hitting a record 1,582 on Friday -- scared tourists away from popular beach resorts close to Bangkok such as Pattaya, Cha-am and Hua Hin, which has also become a coronavirus hotspot following a superspreader event at a local pub.
Our unhealthy holiday
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 12/04/2021
» Many Thais have hit the road to enjoy the long Songkran holidays this week, but I can't help feeling that this Thai New Year will be a weird one. Normally, people enjoy the water festival that comes at the peak of the hot summer in April by splashing each other with enthusiasm, along with more subdued observances such as pouring water on elders' hands, asking for blessings and making merit.
China's economic recovery
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 12/10/2020
» China's economic recovery continues to accelerate, with retail sales growing in August for the first time this year. Investment and property activity also gathered speed and there was a sharp spike in manufacturing production with the steepest rate of growth in new orders since the start of 2011. The Purchasing Managers Index, which includes services, also rose, while unemployment in urban areas dropped, with the 5.6% jobless rate the lowest since January.
Something to celebrate
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 17/02/2020
» The Indonesian government has added another cultural event of its ethnic Chinese community to its official list of top attractions in a bid to lure more domestic and international tourists.
Online dating starts to take off in China
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 03/02/2020
» Revenue from the online dating industry in China is forecast to reach US$230 million this year as young people continue to shift away from traditional matchmaking patterns. Nearly half of the country's 200 million unmarried people are expected to use online dating platforms by 2022 as young and independent singles are successfully using apps to find a romantic match.
A Tiananmen solution in Hong Kong?
Asia focus, Minxin Pei, Published on 02/09/2019
» The crisis in Hong Kong appears to be careening toward a devastating climax. With China's government now using rhetoric reminiscent of the warnings that preceded the Tiananmen Square massacre in June 1989, Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters -- and, indeed, its democracy -- could well be in grave danger.