reader Posted February 5, 2018 Posted February 5, 2018 When I arrived for the first time in BKK, not only could you see the air pollution, you could smell and taste it. It's improved by a wide margin since but certain weather conditions can exacerbate it. However, the only thing I believe worse than breathing it is not being there to breath it. From Bangkok Post Air pollution at unhealthy levels in Bangkok The amount of fine particulate matter in the air reached unhealthy levels in many areas of Bangkok on Monday, and the readings were rising, the Pollution Control Department warned. The unhealthy levels were recorded at all four of the department's air quality monitoring stations in Bangkok - with readings of 68 microgrammes in Wang Thonglang district, 82 microgrammes on Intarapitak Road and 63 microgrammes on Rama IV Road and on Lat Phrao Road. The problem was caused by the cold weather and lack of wind, which trapped exhaust emissions in the city environs. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1407890/air-pollution-at-unhealthy-levels-in-bangkok ----------------- 300,000 Chinese tourists during Lunar New Year The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects 300,000 visitors from China during the Lunar New Year holidays, a nearly 18% rise from a year ago. During the same holidays in 2017, the number of visitors from China was hit by a government crackdown on budget tourism and the mourning period for the late king. Tourism accounts for about 12% of gross domestic product, making it one of the most important drivers of growth. The biggest number of foreign visitors come from China. Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year period, which this year begins on Feb 15 and lasts until Feb 21, will "generate about 8 billion baht in revenue", Santi Chudintra, a deputy governor at the (TAT) told reporters on Monday. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1407906/tat-expects-300-000-chinese-tourists-during-lunar-new-year -------------- Panel wants end to licensing nightmare At the moment there are about 700,000 different kinds of licensing forms circulating nationwide and the panel wants to reduce this number to 1,000 to cut down on local authority budgets and standardise processes. PM's Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakul, who also chairs a subcommittee looking into the laws governing business operations, said the cabinet will be asked to vastly reduce the paperwork and related procedures involved in setting up a new company. According to the minister, certain procedures need to be merged and handled by one agency so people who will no longer need to seek approval to run their businesses from many state agencies. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1407438/panel-wants-end-to-licensing-nightmare Quote
