Articles by: Joseph O' Connor

New normal for foreigners seeking access to Thailand even after flights resume if virus persists as a factor

New normal for foreigners seeking access to Thailand even after flights resume if virus persists as a factor

May 25, 2020

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Deputy Immigration Bureau Commander explains the legal and official situation for foreigners currently seeking access to Thailand. While asking for patience and cooperation at this… Read More ›

Thai Airways and its workers face an uncertain future as it prepares to fly into bankruptcy protection in June

Thai Airways and its workers face an uncertain future as it prepares to fly into bankruptcy protection in June

May 22, 2020

Economy, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

As Thai Airways readies itself to file for bankruptcy with mandarins at the Ministry of Transport now firmly in control, many questions remain. Not least,… Read More ›

Minister reports encouraging news as national vaccine goes forward to the next stage in trials on monkeys

Minister reports encouraging news as national vaccine goes forward to the next stage in trials on monkeys

May 21, 2020

Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Tests on mice showed a high level of antibodies as the modern vaccine prototype developed by Thai scientists and medical experts moves forward to be… Read More ›

Thai Airways to file for bankruptcy in survival and restructuring plan which could still see jobs lost as it unfolds

Thai Airways to file for bankruptcy in survival and restructuring plan which could still see jobs lost as it unfolds

May 19, 2020

Economy, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

State airline is to use the bankruptcy procedures as part of a rehabilitation plan being considered by the Thai government. The cabinet made the critical… Read More ›

Thailand stuck in a ‘vicious cycle’ which will lead to further military coups says leading academic 

Thailand stuck in a ‘vicious cycle’ which will lead to further military coups says leading academic 

May 17, 2020

Foreigners, Media, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Thailand’s Redshirt protests in 2010 will be in focus this week as the Progressive Movement launch their documentary ‘The Look of Silence’ from Indonesia. Academics… Read More ›

Industry boss urges Thailand to join alternative Pacific trade pact and plan for a long recovery from virus debacle

Industry boss urges Thailand to join alternative Pacific trade pact and plan for a long recovery from virus debacle

May 17, 2020

Economy, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

Vice president of the Federation of Thai Industries says Thailand should join the 11 member CPTPP pact and bolster its trade access as a priority… Read More ›

Thai workers left facing mass unemployment as Chiang Mai hotel staff protest ฿10m wage arrears

Thai workers left facing mass unemployment as Chiang Mai hotel staff protest ฿10m wage arrears

May 15, 2020

Economy, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

The luxury Dhara Dhevi Resort Hotel in Chiang Mai, one of the most expensive hotels in the province, closed this month leaving up to 200… Read More ›

Risk must be taken to open up Thailand and its tourism industry without delay says richest man

Risk must be taken to open up Thailand and its tourism industry without delay says richest man

May 14, 2020

Economy, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Thailand’s richest man, Dhanin Chearavanont, has warned that the Thai economy won’t survive a prolonged virus crisis. He has called for tourism to be opened… Read More ›

Political conflict beamed back into public focus as the kingdom struggles to find its economic legs during crisis

Political conflict beamed back into public focus as the kingdom struggles to find its economic legs during crisis

May 13, 2020

Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Progressive Movement led by ex Future Forward leaders unveiled as the orchestrator behind Sunday’s political messages laser projected onto buildings in Bangkok raising the spectre… Read More ›

Tourism minister pushes end of year levy to include Covid 19 health insurance for visitors to Thailand

Tourism minister pushes end of year levy to include Covid 19 health insurance for visitors to Thailand

May 12, 2020

Economy, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Plans for a tourism levy in Thailand were being developed by Naresuan University and the Insurance Commission last year but were shelved in favour of… Read More ›

Top bank sees rise in money on deposit in reaction to the virus emergency and rattled markets

Top bank sees rise in money on deposit in reaction to the virus emergency and rattled markets

May 9, 2020

Economy, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Bank boss also points to clients switching banks seeking stability at this uncertain time as the reason for its surprise growth in funds held. The… Read More ›

‘New normal’ life and economy could be here for 9 months warns Thai Prime Minister on Tuesday at briefing

‘New normal’ life and economy could be here for 9 months warns Thai Prime Minister on Tuesday at briefing

May 6, 2020

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Life in Thailand reopens to a ‘new normal’ existence with the effects of the virus expected to be with the kingdom for 6 to 9… Read More ›

Top Thai executives roll out plans but ultimately ‘herd immunity’ may be the basis for recovery in the long run

Top Thai executives roll out plans but ultimately ‘herd immunity’ may be the basis for recovery in the long run

May 5, 2020

Economy, Living, Thailand:

Thailand’s wealthiest businessmen are putting their money where their mouths are in plans to help ‘revive’ the economy as it faces its bleakest hour. However,… Read More ›

Bank predicts Thai exports to the US to be down by 9.2% in 2020 as the country picks up the economic pieces

Bank predicts Thai exports to the US to be down by 9.2% in 2020 as the country picks up the economic pieces

May 3, 2020

Economy, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Removal of Thailand’s preferred export status in the US and a huge contraction in demand is to blame for the forecasted heavy loss of exports… Read More ›

Government to control rollback of lockdown measures to reopen all businesses from May until July

Government to control rollback of lockdown measures to reopen all businesses from May until July

April 30, 2020

Economy, Living, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

May 3rd sees the first of four steps which will see all business premises including bars and entertainment venues reopened in Thailand before the start… Read More ›

Lockdown accelerates the media shift in Thailand to online news and entertainment consumption at home

Lockdown accelerates the media shift in Thailand to online news and entertainment consumption at home

April 28, 2020

Economy, Media, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

The first quarter has seen a 10% drop in TV advertising in Thailand as online news and entertainment advertising shot up by 12%. The virus… Read More ›

Emergency decree extended by Thai government but politics behind the scenes abuzz with PPP party heave

Emergency decree extended by Thai government but politics behind the scenes abuzz with PPP party heave

April 28, 2020

Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

The extension of Thailand’s emergency decree and a ban on all inbound passenger flights does not mean that lockdown restrictions may not be eased selectively… Read More ›

92% of suicides due to the virus are among the self-employed according to expert research group in academia

92% of suicides due to the virus are among the self-employed according to expert research group in academia

April 26, 2020

Foreigners, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Suicides and deaths driven by people suffering economic hardship have just begun to spike in Thailand as the government and PM Prayuth Chan ocha carefully… Read More ›

US throws sunlight on the weakness of the virus and why Thailand may have had such good outcomes so far

US throws sunlight on the weakness of the virus and why Thailand may have had such good outcomes so far

April 24, 2020

Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

New research in the US shows directly that sunlight kills the virus and may explain Thailand’s relative good fortune even though it was the first… Read More ›

Exports and the baht as ever are the keys to the Thai economy even in 2020, the year of the coronavirus

Exports and the baht as ever are the keys to the Thai economy even in 2020, the year of the coronavirus

April 22, 2020

Economy, Foreigners, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

The Thai baht lost 10% against the dollar in the first three months but since then has gained back 2%. Exports and economic performance are… Read More ›