reader

I agree that it may at first glance seem counterintuitive. It appears, however, that health authorities in several SE Asia countries have been closely following the trend of Omicron infections in western countries and believe a turn downward is on the horizon. Thailand, which is also experiencing a surge, expects cases to peak by the middle of March. Likewise, a similar pattern can be seen in the Philippines. Both countries have--like Vietnam--recently announced plans to accelerate reopening to foreign tourists. Further, the symptoms of Omicron infections on citizens and visitors who have been vaccinated have been mild or non existent. The actions of all three nations suggest how critical tourism is to the recovery of their economies .

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — The tourism industry is working hard to prepare for reopening on March 15, according to Nguyễn Trùng Khánh, director of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Khánh said the VNAT and local authorities were cooperating to revamp tourism facilities, which have been closed for two years. The authority is also calling for more training programmes and supportive policies to lure back workers who left the industry during the pandemic. It is also running the campaign “Live fully in Vietnam” and reaching out to international channels, including CNN and CNBC, to promote Vietnamese tourism to target markets. The authority has also suggested the resumption of the pre-pandemic visa waiver policy for tourists from 24 countries. “It is not price but the quality of tourism products and services that hold the key to a more competitive industry,” he said. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is consulting on new regulations to prepare for the reopening. According to the proposed regulations, foreign tourists can travel to Việt Nam by land, sea and regular international flights. They will no longer be restricted to only charter flights as in the pilot programme. Regarding compulsory medical insurance, the required minimum coverage will be reduced from US$20,000 to 10,000. Foreign tourists travelling by air will be required to have negative RT-PCR tests within 72 hours or negative quick tests within 24 hours before their arrival. After arrival, they must go straight from the airport to their accommodation where they must take quick tests within 24 hours. Foreign tourists arriving by land and by sea will take quick tests on arrival at border gates. If negative, tourists will be allowed to participate in tourism. Otherwise, they will be quarantined and treated at their accommodation. https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/1157460/tourism-industry-prepares-for-reopening.html

From Tourism Authority of Thailand The following new rules will be in effect from 1 March, 2022 (travellers can enter into Thailand on 7 March, 2022). Points of entry: By air (direct international flight or transit domestically via dedicated flights.) By land (at the border checkpoints in Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Songkhla.) By water (yachts.) Eligible travellers / countries: For arrivals by air and water: Thai citizens and foreign travellers from all countries/territories. For arrivals by land: Thai citizens and foreign travellers from neighbouring countries connecting with the reopened border checkpoints (Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Songkhla). Entry registration system: For arrivals by air and land: Thailand Pass system. For arrivals by water: Certificate of Entry system. Quarantine requirement: For arrivals by air and land: No quarantine, but on Day 1 must wait for the COVID-19 test result within an approved SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) or alternative quarantine facility. For arrivals by water: No quarantine, but on Day 1 must wait for the COVID-19 test result on board the travelling vessel (yacht). Accommodation requirement: A proof of prepayment for 1 night of accommodation at government-approved hotel/s; such as, SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) on Day 1. Health insurance: An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$20,000. Thais and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are exempt from this requirement. COVID-19 testing requirements: For arrivals by air and land: First test on Day 1 by an RT-PCR method (wait for the result within the hotel), and the second test on Day 5 by a self-ATK method (must report/record the result via the application). For arrivals by water: First test on Day 1 by an RT-PCR method (wait for the result on board the vessel), and the second on Day 5 by a self-ATK method (must report/record the result via the application). Existing requirements/rules remain unchanged: A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling. A Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination/Recovery. Current Rules (An update that reflects the new rules will be available from 1 March, 2022, onwards.) Fully vaccinated travellers from any country around the world can apply for a TEST & GO Thailand Pass under the following requirements. Eligible travellers • Thai citizens. • Foreign travellers, including but not limited to diplomats, guests of the government, Thai work permit holders, students and their family, and patients seeking medical treatment. Eligible countries • All countries/territories. This information has been updated on 23 February, 2022. https://www.tatnews.org/2022/02/thailand-reopening-exemption-from-quarantine-test-go/

From Bangkok Post The cabinet has approved waiving personal income tax for three foreign groups of taxpayers: high-income earners, retirees and those who want to work remotely from Thailand, said Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith. Mr Arkhom said on Tuesday that the beneficiaries would be considered investors in Thailand as required by the government offering them long-term residence (LTR) visas. Foreign retirees must be at least 50 years old, have an annual income of $40,000 or more, and invest $250,000 in government bonds or real estate. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2268283/long-stay-visa-to-waive-personal-income-tax

An article from the Washington Post included information about Test and Go insurance requirements that I don't recall seeing before. I believe the writer may have gotten this wrong. For any of Thailand’s tourism programs, travelers must purchase insurance with a minimum coverage of $50,000 that includes the cost of treatment and other medical expenses associated with a coronavirus infection. The policy must cover the full duration of the traveler’s stay plus a minimum of 10 extra days in case the fifth-day PCR test returns positive. Continues at https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/tips-for-traveling-in-thailand-right-now-from-people-who-just-went/ar-AAU7JTH

From Kyodo News / BP Thailand brings "boys' love" back to Japan with homegrown dramas Once an importer of "boys' love" (BL) media from Japan, Thailand has now brought the genre full circle with its growing range of dramas themed on romances between impossibly beautiful young men. Known locally as "Y series" -- a reference to the Japanese term "yaoi" that refers to works featuring homoerotic relationships between male characters -- these homegrown dramas have been on the rise following the success of the 2016 Thai BL series "Sotus". But it wasn't until the release of "2gether", a 13-episode series about two handsome college boys who go from being in a fake relationship to falling in love, that the flame for a boom in Japan was well and truly ignited. The show, produced by television production studio GMMTV Co, debuted in February 2020 and soon became a hit overseas due to the "stay-at-home" lifestyle brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. "One of the greatest draws (of the show) is that viewers can learn about a culture different to that of Japan, such as food and fashion," said a spokesperson for Contents Seven Co, a video licensing company that promptly acquired the Japanese distribution rights for "2gether". Japanese television and publishing companies have also jumped on board the Thai BL train. After announcing a business partnership with GMMTV in November 2020, TV Asahi held exhibitions in Tokyo and other major cities across Japan in collaboration with the studio throughout last year. Meanwhile, major Japanese publishing company Kadokawa Corp has been acquiring the rights to translate original Thai novels through its local subsidiary Kadokawa Amarin Co, officially launching its foray into Thai BL with the release of the Japanese edition of "Manner of Death" in January 2021. Set in a fictional rural town in northern Thailand, "Manner of Death" depicts a romance between a forensic pathologist and a suspect in a murder case, offering a refreshing change from campus-based, vanilla themes typically used in Thai BL. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2268135/thailand-brings-boys-love-back-to-japan-with-homegrown-dramas

From Richardbarrow.com The infection rate of all travellers entering Thailand by air November: 0.13% December: 0.45% January: 3.73% February: 2.55% · Test & Go: 1.05% · Sandbox: 5.14% · Quarantine: 3.04% 137,090 international arrivals in February so far. ========================== Thailand has approved two additional COVID-19 vaccines for international travellers to Thailand under the Sandbox programme. The latest additions are Medigen COVID-19 vaccine and Sputnik Light. ========================== The next big meeting of the CCSA to review the Covid-19 situation will take place on Wednesday and the highlights of this meeting will then be outlined in the press briefing in Thai and English starting from 12:30pm.

From Coconuts Bangkok Less than a year after successfully opening near Victory Monument, Bangkok’s first and only Polish bakery has been relocated a few kilometers further downtown. After leaving its former location inside the 515 Victory Mall, Holy Donut Paczkarnia’s new shop on Soi Chula 5 in the Samyan area will host a grand opening party on Feb. 24, which is the Christian feast of Fat Thursday, or Tlusty Czwartek in Poland, when people overindulge in food and booze before giving things up for Lent. The 10am-11am opening event next Thursday will be attended by Waldemar Dubaniowski, Polish ambassador to Thailand. The shop is serving its signature paczki – donuts of sweet yeast dough, eggs, milk and butter and a splash of Polish vodka – in a variety of flavors and they range from THB55 to THB75. The joint’s specialty cold brew coffee, dubbed Warsaw Fog, is THB60. Polish pizza, Zapiekanki, will be available soon. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/fat-thursday-bangkoks-only-polish-bakery-opens-new-branch-in-samyan/

Came across a new (to me, anyway) massage shop in Bangkok: 365 The River. Although its Twitter site is just about entirely in Thai, you can gain some perspective from the photos and illustrations. From what I can make out, it may--or may not--be located somewhere in vicinity of Bang Sue station. A more diligent search may be productive for those lucky enough to be in town.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon After two years or so of darkness and despair, Pattaya’s Boyztown alley is making a serious effort to get back on the gay tourist map. The bright lights have returned, the street has been carpeted as a pedestrian-only zone and a new glitzy bar Pikky’s is the talk of the town. Because nightclubs are still banned under the military-backed Thai government’s Covid restrictions, several premises have reassigned themselves as restaurants whilst street-theatre – featuring drag artistes and musclemen – begins promptly at nine in the evening. Nobody is pretending that the Boyztown revival is a recreation of the gay 1990s when the street was packed nightly and, in the epic words of one retired club owner, “the whole place was a licence to print currency.” In 2022, Pattaya suffers from a lack of international tourists whilst the ageing expat population of mainly European retirees is shrinking because of natural wastage and voluntary repatriation. None the less, there is a trickle of new arrivals under the government’s Test and Go pandemic regulations, whilst the gay Bangkok crowd is much in evidence at weekends. However, the national 11 pm closing time for licensed premises is a huge disincentive. Pattaya Boyztown has always had an upmarket feel to it. The seating, the environment, the glamour, the shows and the eye candy have always beaten the rival gay areas of Sunee Plaza (now a mostly deserted waste land) and Jomtien Complex (a group of same-same open street bars). Boyztown’s booze prices were always historically higher, although even that issue may now be under review. The new bar Pikky’s boasts all its beer prices are 100 baht. Thanks largely to gay contact apps and social media in general, the organized gay scene internationally is in steep decline. Around half the world’s gay pubs and clubs have closed in the last five years, a trend encouraged but certainly not started by coronavirus. Those venues that remain offer relaxation and social intercourse with peer groups, features that the internet cannot recreate even if Zoom pretends to. Pattaya is fortunate to add organized and professional entertainment, mostly provided by transvestite cabaret artistes, to the mix. Glen Scott Campbell, longtime Pattaya investor writing on Facebook, observes that “Boyztown was the original and is still the best.” The jury is still out on the overall future of Pattaya as a seaside resort, but Boyztown’s venues are top candidates for the revival. Full marks for the efforts made so far. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/pattaya-boyztown-shakes-off-its-ghost-town-image-390059

From Bangkok Post All provinces have been ordered by the top Interior Ministry official to step up measures to combat the Covid-19 spread in the wake of a continued surge of local cases around the country. Sutthipong Chucharoen, the permanent secretary for interior affairs, directed all provincial governors in an order on Sunday to raise their guard against the coronavirus. Officials at all levels — from villages up to provinces — must join forces to closely monitor the situation in their provinces, especially those bordering neighbouring countries, he said in the directive. They need to have contingency plans in case the virus explodes in their provinces. The country accumulated 360,380 local infections from Jan 1 to Feb 13, or about 8,000 a day. But the number has risen sharply since then, accelerating from the 14,177 announced on Monday to 18,953 in Sunday's bulletin. Dr Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University, posted a Facebook message on Sunday warning that Omicron cases in Thailand and other Asian countries had not reached their peak, unlike those in Europe and the United States, which are now exhibiting a downward trend. The expert predicted cases in Thailand could peak between 30,000 and 50,000 per day. The daily report from the Public Health Ministry, which is referred to by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, excludes positive results from ATK tests, which are subject to follow-up testing. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2267111/governors-ordered-to-step-up-fight-against-coronavirus

There's one thing that politicians have in common regardless of where in the world they were elected: consistency. They waste no time after taking office in demonstrating the extent of their genius.

When I first began coming to Bangkok it was not all that uncommon to run into embedded mooks and pearls in my experience. After about 3-4 years, their popularity waned. I'd think the guys you might find them with now are probably in their 30's and 40's. Oddly, the men who did have them tended to be those who didn't need them to increase the illusion of length. They were added to increase girth with the hopes of providing greater satisfaction to their female partners. It wasn't my impression that they caught on in the gay community nearly to the same extent.

File under: "We're from the government and we're here to help you.....more easily find what you came here for." From Pattaya Mail Prostitution long has been illegal in Thailand and, if you asked some senior government officials in recent years, it doesn’t exist at all in Pattaya. But a city councilman now has suggested that hookers on Beach Road be “organized” into a confined zone. Maybe Boonanan Pattanasin, the head of the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association, can be forgiven for talking about such a taboo subject as the prostitution that, outside Pattaya, the city long has been famous/infamous for. After all, Feb. 18 was his first meeting as a newly appointed Pattaya City Councilman. Boonanan is concerned about Pattaya’s image for newly arriving tourists. He thinks seeing Beach Road sprinkled end-to-end with streetwalkers – as it has been for decades – looks tawdry. Perhaps, he had the audacity to suggest – the prostitutes should be confined to their own zone, out of view of those millions of families, children and faithful men who tourism officials believe are coming to Pattaya soon. Of course, establishing a zone for prostitution, while acknowledging reality, would give a stamp of approval to an illegal activity. In addition, Pattaya authorities wouldn’t be able to refill their coffers by sweeping up, fining and releasing the streetwalkers each month. https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-councilman-suggests-zoning-illegal-prostitutes-390032

Expanded sexual health services in Bang Rak From Bangkok Post The Public Health Ministry has opened a new facility, Bang Rak Medical Centre Building, with the aim of providing one-stop sexual health services and becoming a full-service wellness centre. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other senior officers attended the opening ceremony on Thursday. The building is part of Bang Rak Hospital complex on Sathon Road. Mr Anutin said the hospital has provided sexual health services for more than 90 years. However, the new building and facility marks a transformation to one-stop services and paves the way towards a complete wellness centre in the future. The incidence of syphilis among youths aged 15-24 years old, moreover, surged from 11 patients per 100,000 people in 2015 to 50 patients last year, while the figure for gonorrhoea within the same age group stood at 58:100,000. The Public Health Ministry has set a target of reducing new syphilis cases to 1:100,000 and gonorrhoea infections to 3:100,000, he said. Disease Control Department director-general, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, said the one-stop service centre will roll out Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to contain new HIV cases next month. The centre will also offer test-and-go services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), self-sample Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and advanced microbiology and molecular biology laboratories. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2265975/new-sti-medical-centre-opens

Just dump the damn thing. From Bangkok Post The second RT-PCR test required by the Test & Go scheme should be scrapped by March if the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) agrees with the proposal, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will propose a relaxation of entry requirements by replacing the second RT-PCR test with an antigen test kit, making the request at the next CCSA meeting on Feb 23. If the proposal is approved, the new rule will be applied from next month, he said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2266615/tourism-ministry-plans-to-propose-scrapping-2nd-rt-pcr-test

Although I don't recognize the building or the bar, the guy looks like someone I think I saw at Hot Male a few years ago. Sex Worker's Diary appears to be a promotional video produced by a sexual health clinic. If you visit the website, you'll find other videos (with English subtitles) of a similar nature. Although the webpage is mostly in Thai, there are some English topics. Here's a description of the above video: “Toon Pawan” is going to reveal his life starting from studying at a jewelry class all the way to the entertainment business where he proudly presents that he is an MSM (men who have sex with men) sex worker that some of you may already see his story in TED Talks and other news. testBKK is releasing this small 14 mins documentary called “Sex Worker’s Diary” where we going to explore the life of sex workers like no one has ever seen before. https://www.testbkk.org/

From Thai PBS World Thailand to consider cutting second COVID-19 tests on international arrivals Thailand will consider a recommendation from an airline tycoon to reduce the steps required for international entry, by doing away the second COVID-19 test, currently required on the fifth day after arrival. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, who suggested measures to improve the “Test & Go” scheme, specifically the removal of the second test requirement. Anutin said that he has asked the Department of Disease Control (DDC) to consider the idea, as they are concerned with the safety of the people. AirAsia also claimed that many tourists, such as those from Malaysia and Singapore, are interested in coming to Thailand, but are discouraged by the onerous procedures involved. Anutin admitted that they cause inconvenience for foreign travellers, but he thinks there should be a balance between reviving the economy and the safety of the people. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-to-consider-cutting-second-covid-19-tests-on-international-arrivals/

From CNN CNN)More adults in the US say they identify as LGBTQ than they did a decade ago, according to a new Gallup poll, a trend largely propelled by Gen Z adults. The percentage of adults who told Gallup they identify as LGBTQ has doubled since 2012, per the polling firm, from 3.5% of Americans then to 7.1% of Americans in 2021. The rise can be attributed to Gen Z, according to Gallup -- about 21% of adults born between 1997 and 2003 identify as LGBTQ. Meanwhile, 10.5% of millennials, the generation that includes adults born between 1981 and 1996, identify as LGBTQ, per the poll, and the percentages dwindle among the preceding generations. Among LGBTQ adults in the US, more than half of them -- nearly 57% -- said they were bisexual, according to Gallup's poll. That encompasses about 4% of all US adults. Gallup reported that 20.7% of LGBTQ respondents identified as gay, 13.9% as lesbian and 10% as transgender. Bisexuality is the most common LGBTQ identity among members of Gens Z and X and millennials, Gallup reported, with 15% of all Gen Z adults saying they were bisexual. It makes sense that a greater percentage of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQ compared to older generations, said Sharita Gruberg, vice president of LGBTQI+ Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress. Gruberg noted that the world in which the younger generation lives is one where same-sex marriage is legal nationwide, as well as one where awareness and visibility of orientations and identities other than heterosexual and cisgender continues to grow. "Gen Z has grown up at a time when stigma around LGBTQ identities is on the decline and rights are expanding," said Gruberg, who was not involved in the poll. "As greater awareness about the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities grows, and as stigma surrounding LGBTQ identity lessens, we're likely to see more people self-identify as LGBTQ." https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/us/lgbtq-population-increase-gallup-cec/index.html

From Bloomberg News In downtown Bangkok’s Patpong area, most evenings are quiet. Before the pandemic, it was one of the world’s most notorious red-light districts, attracting foreign tourists to its many bars, nightclubs, and massage parlors. With the tourism industry decimated by two years of Covid-19, most of the street’s businesses are locked, with “Closed” signs in the windows. At the area’s night bazaar—for decades the place to buy Red Bull T-shirts, Thai boxing pants, and fake Rolex watches—the vendors are gone. Thailand wants to get them back. Tourism accounted for one-fifth of the country’s gross domestic product before the pandemic, with almost 40 million foreign tourists generating more than $60 billion in 2019. In early February, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha’s government began allowing vaccinated travelers to enter quarantine-free. Like many countries that are now treating Covid as endemic, Thailand is eager to jump-start its tourism industry. But visitors expecting bustling restaurants, bars, and markets may be in for a shock, because many of the small businesses that played major roles in Thailand’s tourism ecosystem closed during the lockdowns and haven’t reopened. And large, higher-end businesses are offering steep discounts and special packages to capture the few visitors who are still traveling, squeezing out the smaller operators that have survived. Thailand’s strict travel regulations, such as requirements to take multiple Covid tests and provide proof of medical insurance with at least $50,000 coverage, will also limit the type of people who come, according to Bill Heinecke, chairman of Bangkok-based Minor International Pcl, one of Southeast Asia’s largest hospitality, restaurant, and lifestyle companies. “Now when you travel generally, first and business classes are full, while economy is empty,” Heinecke says. “So the kind of travelers that we’re seeing now are the higher-end travelers who tend to stay longer because of all the hassle you have to go through.” Continues at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-16/pandemic-has-thailand-s-tourists-returning-to-closed-bars-and-empty-streets

From South China Morning Post / BP HONG KONG: Multiple teams in China are studying how to improve the country's anti-pandemic policies, as economic pressure from its zero-Covid approach intensifies, according to one of the nation's most prominent epidemiologists. Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said researchers were "certainly able" to roll out new strategies in the near term, while noting they were "actively thinking and planning". Improved control measures would differ from the current "dynamic clearing" policy, but China is unlikely to simply lift all restrictions as some Western countries have done, he said at a forum on Tuesday held by the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University. Economists have warned that the divergence in coronavirus-control strategies with Western countries could put China at a comparative disadvantage, both socially and economically, while recent domestic outbreaks have heightened concerns about the rising cost of its zero-Covid approach. He also said that even though the extensive relaxation of coronavirus rules in Europe and the United States had put a lot of pressure on China, it is unlikely to completely follow suit. China on Saturday approved Pfizer's Covid-19 pill Paxlovid for emergency use - seen by some as a turning point in the nation's pandemic strategy. China's aviation regulator said in its latest five-year plan issued in early January that it was focused on restoring international air travel between 2023 and 2025. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2265807/chinas-zero-covid-policy-under-review-as-economic-pressure-mounts

From The Thaiger/ The Nation Thai respiratory specialist calls for total overhaul of how government handles Covid A highly-respected specialist in respiratory illnesses says the Thai government needs to completely change tack in the way it’s dealing with Covid-19. Posting on his Facebook page, Dr Manoon Leechawengongs from Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital has called for an overhaul in how new infections are dealt with and wants expensive PCR tests ditched altogether. The prominent medic says that as it becomes clear the Omicron variant generally results in less severe illness, the government needs to focus on saving money to treat people with more serious diseases. A highly-respected specialist in respiratory illnesses says the Thai government needs to completely change tack in the way it’s dealing with Covid-19. Posting on his Facebook page, Dr Manoon Leechawengongs from Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital has called for an overhaul in how new infections are dealt with and wants expensive PCR tests ditched altogether. The prominent medic says that as it becomes clear the Omicron variant generally results in less severe illness, the government needs to focus on saving money to treat people with more serious diseases. “The government should not focus only on treatment of this disease but it should also take into account its budget and the economic situation.” Manoon points out that deaths from Omicron are 6 times lower than those from earlier variants and its symptoms are similar to those of the common cold for patients who are fully vaccinated. With 70% of Thailand’s population vaccinated, and around 25% having received a booster dose, he says the government must now treat Omicron as several other countries are doing. The doctor goes on to point out that a number of countries have ditched the need for expensive PCR tests, due to the significant costs involved. He believes PCR testing should be reserved for those in high-risk groups who are likely to end up hospitalised with Covid, as well as the elderly population in care homes. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thai-respiratory-specialist-calls-for-total-overhaul-of-how-government-handles-covid

From The Thaiger / Kapook Over 100,000 square metres of the first floor had already been completed, and it is believed that the supporting structure underneath gave out when the mortar was poured, according to the superintendent of the Lumpini Police Station. An official report on the collapse will be released by the Council of Engineers Thailand after an assessment.

From Bangkok Post The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rolling out plans to target both the international and domestic markets despite a tepid start because of the threat from the Omicron variant. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said Thailand needs to turn crisis into opportunity and use tourism to help transform the country after the outbreak. He said the goal is to achieve 2.4 trillion baht in tourism receipts, or 80% of 2019 levels, by 2023. However, this sum is not the priority as the industry shifts to inclusive segments, said Mr Yuthasak. The target segments consist of: wealthy travellers, retirees, remote workers, skilled professionals, millennials and active seniors. Emerging trends could be mined, he said, such as the popularity of so-called "Thai Boy Love TV dramas" in South Korea. Another trend is educational tourism, particularly in the Chinese market, as Thailand still sees 500-700 arrivals per day via business visas and student visas, despite strict border rules in China. Fans of Boy Love TV dramas form part of the LGBTQIA+ community in South Korea and constitute a potential segment, said Mr Thanet. He said soft power from influencers and media such as Boy Love TV series (Y series) could include collaborations between Thai actors or Korean producers to inspire tourists to visit Thailand. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2265555/tat-unveils-ambitious-goals

From Channel 3 news (Bangkok) Google Translation: On February 16, 65, a news report said that at around 2:00 p.m. yesterday (February 15, 65) a support structure for the concrete formwork collapsed while pouring concrete. Within the construction unit of One Bangkok Project, Rama 4 Road, Lumpini Subdistrict, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok, which is operated by Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited. From the examination of the information, it was found that 3 people were killed and 4 were injured, all of whom were employees working under the support. All the injured have returned to their homes for treatment. The Bangkok Labor Protection and Welfare Office Area 1 (SorPor.1) and the Safety Center at Work District 11 (Taling Chan) (SorPhor. 11) will inspect the incident tomorrow. One Bangkok Project is a mixed-use commercial development project on an area of 104 rai on Rama IV Road and Wireless Road and is owned by the Crown Property Bureau. Managed by the company Kasem Sapwattana Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of TCC and Frasers Property Holdings (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Frasers Property) invested 120,000 million baht Started piling in June 2019. It is scheduled to open for the first phase within 2023 and scheduled to complete the whole project in 2027.