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From The Thaiger The Thai government, under the directive of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, is preparing to implement a 7% value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods valued at 1 baht and above, starting in May. Currently, goods sold for less than 1,500 baht (US$40) per parcel and imported into Thailand are exempt from VAT. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced these plans after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, asserting the new VAT collection is a move towards fairness for Thai small businesses. “VAT collection is to ensure fairness for small businesses in Thailand, as both foreign and domestic operators will have to pay taxes at the same rate.” The new tax measure is endorsed by Thanawat Malabuppha, honorary president and advisor of the Thai e-Commerce Association, who believes it will enhance the competitiveness of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He noted that low-priced Chinese goods, sold on e-commerce platforms like Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop, have flooded the Thai market, causing intense price competition and disadvantaging local SMEs. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has underscored the need for better protection against the influx of cheap Chinese products to maintain their competitiveness. Chairman of the FTI, Kriengkrai Thiennukul, revealed that the import of Chinese products has led some local manufacturers, especially SMEs, to slash production by 50%.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon More than three months after “assessable” foreign income became taxable, many of Thailand’s expats are still swimming in a sea of uncertainty. Lots of advice online, but few definite answers. Senior officers from the Revenue have said little of late, although there has been a half-promise to the Swiss ambassador in a televised interview to print the tax identification forms in English as well as in Thai. There is a view amongst some Thai lawyers that we must wait until July for clarification on nitty-gritty issues such as double taxation treaties and the tax status of pensions. By that time, some expats will have passed 180 days of minimum residence necessary for tax liability in this category. However, other specialists argue that the Revenue needs not to clarify anything. After all, formal tax law did not change on January 1 2024. There was simply the closing of a tax loophole which had enabled Thais or foreigners to delay transferring income here until a subsequent year. Will all foreigners who spend half a year or more in Thailand be required to register with the Revenue by obtaining a tin (tax identification number) and submitting the required forms? The submission deadline for the calendar year 2024 will be in the January-March quarter of 2025. Revenue spokespersons have hinted at the all-inclusive scenario, but there has not been a formal declaration. Could the tax offices cope with the rush? There are some categories of foreign tax residents who will not be liable at all this year, for example those who do not transfer ANY foreign income to Thailand in 2024 as well as holders of the 10 year Longterm Residence Visa who are exempt from declaring any foreign income in any case. The fact that you may be required to submit forms does not mean that you are, in fact, liable to pay any Thai tax. But expats won’t welcome the envisaged bureaucracy and likely registration with two tax authorities: the home country and Thailand. There is also ambiguity about the precise status double taxation treaties. A retiree, for example, might argue – and indeed prove – he or she has paid taxes on pensions in the home country. But the Revenue could argue that the retiree could use those payments as a tax credit in Thailand rather than conceding a total immunity. Everyone agrees that the revised rules about foreign income are designed to catch Thais (and foreigners) making profits from untaxed overseas businesses and foreign exchange and crypto currency trading. The problem, needless to say, could be small fish being caught in the net alongside big ones. The optimistic view about the future is that tin registration will remain voluntary as, in fact, it always has been for Thai citizens. If you think you are liable for tax, then by all means register. If you try to cheat, the newish Common Reporting System – an automatic and international exchange of the financial information of individuals to combat tax evasion and ensure compliance – will expose your dealings. But if all expats living here for half a year or so are thrown into the same pit willy-nilly, then Thai authorities can expect non-working longstay expats to become an endangered species. Imagine the note on official publicity for one year extensions or for Elite visas: “You are reminded that you are required to register with the Thai Revenue’s tax identification system if staying in Thailand more than 180 days in a calendar year.” Not exactly marketing.

From Thai News Agency Deputy national police chief Pol.Gen. Surachate Hakparn also known as “Big Joke” on Tuesday surrendered himself in a money laundering case and was released on bail. Pol. Gen. Surachate acknowledged money laundering charges at the Tao Poon Police Station after a court issued an arrest warrant for him. He briefly spoke to the media, stating that he has entered the judicial process today and does not feel anxious about being dismissed from his official duties. He is currently in the stage of being accused, therefore he still considers himself innocent, he said. The arrest warrant was issued after he failed to answer three summonses for questioning. Meanwhile, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Srettha Thavisin, in his role as the Chairman of the Police Civil Service Commission, provided comments on the case involving the court’s approval of an arrest warrant for Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn in connection with alleged money laundering linked to online gambling. He said Deputy National Police Chief, Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, who is currently serving as the acting National Police Chief, along with the legal team, will deliberate on whether Pol Gen Surachate will face suspension from duty. The decision will be announced this afternoon. He emphasized fairness for all parties involved

I've seen many prime ministers come and go but none has put tourism at the center of his agenda as has Srettha Thavisin. Last week he disclosed his strategy to build on those plans with a number of approaches. Although most are not particularly new, one--an ASEAN pass program--earned my attention. Unfortunately, he doesn't really flush out how it would function or whether any other SE Asian countries are on boar with the idea. Nevertheless I give him high marks for trying. ================== From Tourism Authority of Thailand Prime Minister Srettha reiterated the government’s commitment to boosting Thailand as a tourism hub to drive the economy and bring prosperity to the country. “The goal is to establish Thailand as a leading destination for tourists from around the world.” He stated that the government’s target of 3.5 trillion Baht in tourism revenue this year, with an aim to earn much more in the coming years, would be achieved through five strategies. Conceptualised at the “Ignite Thailand’s Tourism Workshop” held in Bangkok on 15 March 2024 with participation from public and private agencies, the strategies include elevating the tourist experience, promoting must-do activities, raising awareness of hidden-gem destinations, developing intra-regional travel linkage with neighbouring countries, and hosting more world-class events. Continues at https://www.tatnews.org/2024/04/pm-srettha-thavisin-outlines-vision-to-ignite-tourism-thailand/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pm-srettha-thavisin-outlines-vision-to-ignite-tourism-thailand

That's not always a good sign in Pattaya. 🙂 Start and finish trip in Bangkok.

Trump Media shoots up

Although I’m partial to SE Asians, consider Venezuelans among hottest guys on planet. Wish that knowledge cane to me earlier in life.

From The Thaiger The Department of Health of Thailand issued a warning against consuming live geckos in the belief that they can enhance sexual performance, stressing the lack of scientific evidence and potential health risks. Health authorities have raised alarms over a dangerous trend among middle-aged men in Thailand, involving the consumption of live geckos as a supposed sexual enhancement remedy. A 59 year old man named Sommai recently captured public attention by eating a gecko live on social media, claiming regular consumption would bolster health, offer an alternative to erectile dysfunction and improve one’s sexual performance within three hours. Atthapol Kaewsamrit, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, revealed that this online-shared information is not only baseless but also poses a significant health risk. There is no scientific research supporting the claim that geckos or similar creatures can enhance sexual prowess or treat diseases. Internationally, similar cases have been reported where Thai men consume raw geckos as a sexual performance enhancer, believing uncooked consumption yields optimal results. In reality, eating geckos and similar reptiles could lead to infection from protozoa present in these animals. Geckos and tokay geckos feed on live insects and small animals, which could be harmful to human health, potentially causing diarrhoea, gastrointestinal infections, or severe abdominal pain, said Atthapol.

From The Thaiger The fight against marine waste has taken a monumental step in Thailand with the official launch of the InterceptorTM 019, a solar-powered and fully automated device dedicated to capturing waste. This milestone is the result of joint efforts by The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit environmental engineering organisation, and its first global implementation partner, The Coca-Cola Company, along with a host of local partners in Thailand. The InterceptorTM 019 was set afloat on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok on March 26, 2024. The device is a beacon of hope in curbing marine pollution in Thailand and the wider region. Capturing waste from the Chao Phraya River, will provide insight into the scale of plastic pollution in Bangkok’s waterways and inform strategies to improve waste management in Thailand. The InterceptorTM 019’s deployment is not an isolated event. It’s the fifth of its kind in Southeast Asia, following installations in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In partnership with Coca-Cola®, The Ocean Cleanup has also installed Interceptors in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Los Angeles, USA. It utilises solar energy for fully automated waste capture and is equipped with a conveyor belt, shuttle, lights, six dumpster bins, sensors, data transmission, and solar panels. Each Interceptor can collect between 50,000 to 100,000 pieces of debris daily, reported Bangkok Post.

I'm beginning to wonder if recalcitrant lad comes late for work on purpose. 🙂 From The Thaiger A Thai customer and netizens condemned the owner of a BBQ restaurant in Pattaya for brutally punishing her employees with beatings. A customer at the restaurant witnessed the owner’s punishment on her staff and shared a video of the incident on social media. In the video, the female restaurant owner is seen beating a male staff member wearing a red shirt with a wooden stick. The owner struck the man 11 times in front of other staff members and customers. The video quickly went viral, grabbing the attention of several Thai news agencies, prompting reporters to seek more details on the punishment. The customer, who shared the video, told PPTV HD that the male employee and five others were punished because they were late for work. The restaurant owner, 33 year old Yuwadee Boonsarn, later clarified the situation with several media outlets. Yuwadee clarified that beatings were the prescribed punishment for employees who arrived late to work. She added that this disciplinary measure was a rule unanimously agreed upon by all staff members at the restaurant. Yuwadee emphasised that she sought her employees’ consent for this punishment and they agreed without anger. Everyone involved signed an agreement, including Yuwadee, who stated she would also be subject to the same punishment if she arrived late. An 18 year old male employee in the video, Pacharapon Sidapromp, told PPTV HD that he was not angry at Yuwadee. He wanted netizens to understand that he and others agreed on the punishment. Another employee, 22 year old Nattawadee Komonwanit, defended Yuwadee as a kind employer who chose physical punishment over financial deductions. She urged netizens not to criticise Yuwadee, saying they worked together like family members. Continues with video https://thethaiger.com/news/national/pattaya-restaurant-owner-criticised-for-beating-her-employees

From Thai News Agency Senate Passes First Reading of Same-Sex Marriage Bill The Senate votes to accept the marriage equality bill in principle and establishes a committee for further study. The bill was endorsed by the lower house last week and forwarded to the Senate for consideration. The vote on Tuesday saw a significant majority of 147 in favor, 10 against, 7 abstaining out of 158 total members. The draft amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code or the marriage equality bill will replace terms such as “men and women” and “husband and wife,” with gender-neutral terms like “individuals” and “marriage partners” ensuring inclusivity for same-sex couples. Following this, a committee of 27 members will be established to further study the bill and propose amendments within 7 days. If it becomes the law, Thailand will be the first country in the Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex unions.

Emmet...Emmet......Emmet.....

From CNBC Trump Media plunges more than 25% after company reports net loss of $58 million in 2023 The share price of Trump Media plunged Monday after the social media app company closely tied to former President Donald Trump reported a net loss of $58.2 million on revenue of just $4.1 million in 2023. Trump Media & Technology Group shares were trading down by more than 25% around 1:08 p.m. ET. The losses last year by Trump Media — the owner of the Truth Social app routinely used by the former president — could continue for some time, according to the company. “TMTG expects to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future,” says the filing, which came a week after the company began trading under the ticker DJT on the Nasdaq. The filing also warns shareholders that Trump’s involvement in the company could put it at greater risk than other social media companies. TMTG also disclosed to regulators that the company had identified “material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting” when it prepared a previous financial statement for the first three quarters of 2023. As of Monday, Trump Media said these “identified material weaknesses continue to exist.”

From The Thaiger Passenger service charges (PSC) at six major Thai airports have seen an increase, as announced by the Airports of Thailand Plc. The charges, applicable on both domestic and international departing flights, have been raised at Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports. For international flights, the fees have been increased from 700 to 730 baht, while for domestic flights, a rise from 100 to 130 baht has been implemented. AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat announced the change today, April 1, explaining that the increase in the service charge would cover the cost of AOT’s Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS). The CUPPS includes automatic services such as Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE), which handles boarding passes, Common-Use Self Service (CUSS) for airport check-ins, and Common Use Bag Drop (CUBD).

Now if they made it "GoGuy" I'd understand.

I recall pre-Covid a pair of brothers from Vietnam who worked in SB show. I think they both spoke some English. +1

I find it difficult to separate the older Apollo posts from the current Googuy posts. They don't necessarily seem to be in chronological order and most pics feature guys with the Apollo logo. Wish I could help. Hopefully clients can shed some light on this.

According to their Twitter site they have four locations now, including one at Suriwong Hotel near Moonlight. Price list (assume this is the tip???):

For those reluctant for whatever reason to travel outside the Silom area, there are ample massage offerings in the Siom-Surawong rectangle. Scattered along Silom road between the Saladeang BTS Station and Soi 6 you'll find a half dozen or so shops, not counting Adam Massage on Soi 4, perhaps the longest-running shop in the area. Turn right onto Silom Soi 6 and you'll find 75+ guys working the shops on that short stretch of road. Continue past the dogleg turn onto Soi Tarntawan and then turn right on Surawong where you'll pass by five all-mixed shops. There's a lone mixed shop on Patpong One and a few more small ones on Surawong before you get to Soi Thaniya.

From Pattaya Mail A construction crane collapsed at a factory site on Mar 29 in Pluak Daeng district, Rayong Province, resulting in the deaths of seven Myanmar workers and leaving many others injured. The incident occurred at a steel smelting plant currently under construction, boasting a workforce of about 3,000 and a registered capital of 6 billion baht. Following the tragedy, a tense standoff ensued between the workers’ relatives and the factory management over compensation demands. The situation between the two sides reportedly escalated as the bereaved families and co-workers of the deceased workers prevented rescue teams from accessing the site to retrieve their bodies. The group initially demanded 5 million baht per victim from the construction company responsible for the project. As negotiations stalled, the confrontation grew, leading to a need for law enforcement and emergency reinforcements to secure the area. The deadlock was broken late that evening when a delegation from the Worker Assistance Group for Myanmar (WAG) intervened. Their mediation led to a settlement, agreed upon inside the factory premises, which the waiting workers welcomed. The agreed compensation was 1.6 million baht for each of the deceased’s families, with the factory also committing to cover the full funeral costs. The amount was to be sourced from both the factory funds and social security benefits. The agreement facilitated the resumption of recovery operations, allowing for the remaining six bodies to be processed for autopsies. With the compensation issue resolved, police said they are now set to investigate the incident, focusing on safety standards and practices at the construction site. (NNT)

That being the case in your home country, you're a wise and generous soul to follow your heart in such matters. But for most other foreigners, it's a different comparison as I'm sure you know. I wish you well on your next trip.

Two, maybe three, in a row would be all I could handle so probably not. A man has to know his limitations. But you younger guys I'm sure could manage it.

I hope you're aware that your decision ain't not gonna make either one of us rich. 😒

Standard massage room (400 1 hour) are spacious with mattress pad on floor and showers down the hall. VIP rooms (600 1 hour) come with large massage table and ample sized shower/toilet en suite.

True. And PAD is same group that was let off hook for closing Suvarnabhumi airport at the same time. (AP photo)