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From Bangkok Post Tourism operators have reached an agreement with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to propose a visa fee exemption for international arrivals and an eligibility extension for visitors from nations not requiring a visa to enter the country from 30 to 45 days during the second half of this year. A joint meeting between the TAT and more than 100 representatives from 10 tourism associations yesterday ended with five proposals that are expected to be presented to the subcommittee of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) next week. "All tourists should have been treated on an equal basis. If possible, we should also provide a fee waiver for multiple entry to allow them to visit neighbouring countries during the same trip," said Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association. “This could be a good opportunity for us to lead the reopening of CLMV [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam]." At present, Thailand grants a visa exemption to 56 countries whose citizens don't have to apply for a visa or pay the 1,000-baht fee, but the stay is limited to 30 days. However, most countries, including potential markets such as India, still require visitors to apply for a visa and pay an application fee for a stay of no more than 60 days. The visa-on-arrival (VOA) option, which is the leading choice among visitors who do not wish to deal with the inconvenience of visiting a Thai consulate, costs 1,500 baht. However, this option only allows a visitor to stay in Thailand for a maximum of 15 days. The 30-day limit may be insufficient for the current environment as tourists nowadays wish to take longer trips, as seen by the increase in average spending per visitor from 47,000 baht to 77,000 baht, said Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the TAT. He said among high-spending tourists the visa fee amount may be insignificant, but if they can save on this cost it would leave them more money to spend while travelling around the country, which would directly stimulate the local economy. As the government previously extended the right to remain in the country from 30 to 45 days during the period when quarantine was required, if tourism operators want to seek another extension, it should not be an obstacle, said Mr Yuthasak. “We totally agree with the proposal to waive the visa fee for those who must apply for a visa, in addition to extending the length of stay for both visa-free countries and the VOA," said Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association. "The longer they stay, the more they can spend more locally." In addition to visa issues, the private sector also agreed to ask the CCSA to lift restrictions on night entertainment hours by returning to the same practices adopted by each area before the pandemic. They also support the idea of promoting Thailand as a mask-free destination by revoking the mask mandate in all areas.

To be fair, Covid presented the industry with the perfect storm: pilots who had no planes and attendants who had no passengers to attend. After keeping them on payroll for months they offered early retirement to most senior people and laid off a ton of others.then they had to mothball aircraft they wouldn’t be using. When the urge to travel returned they were unable to build back staff in sufficient numbers. You can recall furloughed pilots but you have to put them through simulator training to get their skills back.other categories of employees took jobs elsewhere (as Vinapu recently noted). You can’t train new pilots in a few weeks or few months. It’s a time consuming and expensive endeavor. Flight attendants need at least two months of training and ground somewhat less. And the most overlooked workers were those who literally make the planes run on time: gate agents, baggage handlers, refuelers, tarmac traffic directors, mechanics, ticket agents. IMO, the carriers have done their best to recover. It’s the airports that also laid off tons of lower paid workers, many of whom found employment elsewhere. Travel demand may be returning to pre-Covid levels but the travel infrastructure will take considerably longer to catch up.

The requirement was an antigen test one day before departure. But if you’re going to acquire the virus you’re much more likely to do so in crowded airports on the return flight and those results would not register on the pre-departure test. The madness of endless testing has to stop at some point. And fortunately it’s stopping in time to save me a trip to the clinic and the 1500 bht test fee. China claims it has vaccinated about 80% of population but did so with a near useless vaccine. The comparisons soon become meaningless. The only rational solution is to allow people who want to wear masks and get tested regularly to do so. At this point, those who want to be vaccinated in the countries most of us are visiting already have done so. You can’t force others to get it and I’m not inclined to spend any more time fretting over it.

Just reported that The change is effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

From CNBC The Biden administration is dropping Covid-19 testing requirements for inbound air travelers from abroad, the White House said Friday. Airlines and other travel industry members had repeatedly pushed the administration for months to drop the requirement, arguing it was hurting international travel demand. The rule, established by the Trump administration and later tightened by the Biden administration, required inbound travelers, including U.S. citizens, to show proof of a negative Covid test before boarding U.S.-bound flights.

How did the fish get caught. He opened his mouth. 🙂

From Channel News Asia SINGAPORE: From Melbourne to Manchester, and from Toronto to Turin, many airports around the world are struggling to cope with the explosion in demand for air travel as COVID-19 restrictions ease. But passengers at several major airports have complained about snaking queues at check-in counters and immigration. With the summer season holiday crowd descending on countries in the northern hemisphere, aviation experts have warned that there may be more chaos at some airports. Here is where the crowds are building and how you can best cope with the inconveniences as you gear up to fly again. WHERE IS THIS HAPPENING? Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has been grappling with overcrowding for weeks due to a shortage of security staff, according to Reuters reports. Last week, Dutch carrier KLM was forced to cancel dozens of flights into its hub, which is Europe’s third-busiest airport, in order to alleviate congestion there. With the summer season holiday crowd descending on countries in the northern hemisphere, aviation experts have warned that there may be more chaos at some airports. Last week, Dutch carrier KLM was forced to cancel dozens of flights into its hub, which is Europe’s third-busiest airport, in order to alleviate congestion there. On Tuesday (Jun 7), Spain announced the hiring of 500 additional police to staff passport control at busy airports and tourist destinations around the country including in Madrid. Spain's interior minister attributed reports of congestion at airports to multiple flights arriving at the same time. On Wednesday, British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair cancelled flights between Italy and the United Kingdom as a result of air traffic controller strikes at a number of Italian airports, the Liverpool Echo reported. On Wednesday evening, German flag carrier Lufthansa and its subsidiary Eurowings said they were cancelling more than 1,000 flights in July, or 5 per cent of their planned weekend capacity, due to staff shortages. The company said in a statement that it had seen a jump in demand as the pandemic has eased, which "after the most severe crisis in aviation is good news". However, it added that the infrastructure has not fully recovered, leading to "bottlenecks and staff shortages" in Europe, hitting airports, ground services, air traffic control and airlines. On Thursday, strikes at Paris' main Charles de Gaulle Airport led to a quarter of flights being grounded, with runways closed and passengers delayed. Around 100 flights were scrapped in total after workers went on strike to demand higher wages. At Dublin Airport, there were massive queues and a suspension of new bookings for a VIP service, reported news website Independent.ie this week. Similar scenes of snaking queues at bag drops and at airside security were also seen last week at London's Heathrow Airport, reported ITV News. Although airports in the United States have largely avoided the heavy congestion seen in Europe, a staffing crunch has forced airlines to cancel flights and cut down their summer schedules. Alaska Air Group had to cancel 4 per cent of its flights last month because of staffing issues, while Delta Air Lines, which cancelled about 700 flights over the four-day Memorial Day holiday at the end of May, plans to cut flights through August, Reuters reported. Canada's busiest airport, the Toronto Pearson International Airport, is allowing some of its staff who have yet to obtain their badges to work temporarily under supervision by vetted employees, said Tori Gass, a spokeswoman for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. The temporary pass is in response to the large volume of appointments for restricted area identity cards, Gass said. It takes roughly 45 days to get the cards. Pearson is struggling to cope with planes stuck at gates and hours-long security lines due to staffing shortages.

You can locate prospective short timers by a much more basic—and less expensive—method than apps and bars. If walking in and around the Silom-Surawong area, don’t be shy about directing a smile in direction of young man who catches your fancy. Don’t be surprised if you get a smile, or even head turn in response. Many pedestrians who populate this area, especially in the evening, are likely on same business as you. Even if just sitting at bar on Patpong, scan the passing faces of solo young men. And don’t forget that waiters and bartenders are offable as well as those performers you’ll find upstairs. And on any given evening, the staff from Dreamboy hang around outside bar, hoping for just such an event.

Just booked a biz fare out of Chicago on ANA for late September that was actually 25% less than my May departure. Be persistent and flexible and you have a good chance of finding that sweet spot. Regardless of the price of fuel, short-term cash flow needs can create temporary bargains.

I was staying at the old Dusit Thani hotel on the evening of the fatal GSM fire in Chinatown. The sirens of passing fire vehicles droned on for over an hour. According to press accounts, one guest from Singapore was killed and 36 were injured. The blaze was reported at 8:30p.m. and raged for hours. Photos show patrons being rescued from an aerial platform with only towels wrapped around them. The article makes mention of DJ Station.

From Bangkok Post The 300-baht tourism fee faces a delay in implementation, beginning in the fourth quarter at the earliest, while the cancellation of Thailand Pass is expected from July 1, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The ministry also plans to propose on June 17 the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) terminate Thailand Pass registration for international visitors from July 1. “Fee collection for tourists arriving by land requires further study, such as determining if the fee amount should be less than 300 baht because the average length of stay for these visitors is only 1-2 nights," said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Tourism and Sports Minister.“ "Eliminating the Thailand Pass system means tourists don't have to buy travel insurance anymore, which should help make travel more convenient," he said.

I think worldwide inflation is already taking its took on the long haul travel market. Carriers are beginning to acknowledge that fare increases are having negative effect on bookings 2-4 months out. They’re finding just how much the consumer is willing to pay, especially for premium seats. This creates a cash flow problem in the near term. Airlines are caught in an ever tightening bind due to rapidly rising fuel prices. In the past they relied on hedging but that runs the risk of committing to higher prices now without knowing if world events might result in change in fuel costs going forward. From the customer point a view, there appears to be a window of opportunity to find promotional fares now for travel in the fall.

Hope to have an answer to that question before week’s end.

The long is no, do not pay anything in advance. I’ve been asked a few times to tip in advance and always refuse.

A great question with a not so great answer. But city hall is a good place to begin looking. it was in 2003 when the responsibility for fire suppression was shifted from the Metropolitan Police to the newly formed Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department. But 80% of the members of force held police ratings and chose to remain members of that force while continuing to work in the fire service. How fire safety laws are promulgated, and what agency is given enforcement powers has much to do with the outcome. The city’s building department has wide authority to oversee many of the conditions that could create a hazard to life and property. After the fact, it appears that the police have the responsibility for determining the cause of fires. The fire department appears to be primarily a response asset in the greater scheme of things in Bangkok. This article from the Bangkok Post in 2012 claims that 82% of buildings ignored fire regulations: https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1228742/fire-safety-82-of-buildings-ignore-fire-regulations We’d certainly like to think that that the record has improved in the succeeding decade. For those who’ve been to any crowded venue, your chance of surviving a fire depends on a handful of critical factors. Some of these include the capacity and availability of the exit ways, the presence of automatic water sprinklers, activation of a fire detection system to provide early warning and the response time of the fire department. But I think it’s wise to bear in mind Floridarob’s experience the next time you find yourself in a crowded venue when your mind is understandably on other things.

You’d have been crazy not to. Has the potential to become another Coconut Grove catastrophes.

A fire broke out late this afternoon at DJ Station on Silom Soi 2. The fire department knocked it down fairly quickly but smoke filled the area. It reportedly originated in electrical equipment. Soi 2 was closed off this evening.

Reminds of similar prejudice against blacks: “Yes, but not in my backyard.”

I can’t think of anyplace else on the globe where the struggle for gay rights was won outside of the political arena. Gay rights and gay pride are inseparable concepts.

From Thai PBS World Bangkok governor says Pride Month should also cover political diversity Pride Month should not just be confined to sexual diversity, but should cover other diversities, such as politics, to put an end to division and promote mutual understanding, said Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt as he participated in a Pride Month celebration at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre today (Saturday). Political diversity means acceptance of various political opinions, without having to fight with or hate each other, he said. The governor planted a rainbow flag, with activists for gender equality and feminists, to mark the launch of Pride Month which, he said, will be one of the 12 monthly festivals in Bangkok. He also said that the city administration, under his governorship, plans to extend health services to cover LGBTQ+ groups, providing them with medical counseling.

Anything is possible, Maybe he is shriveled up old man with sagging biceps. But I think not. Whenever I’m prompted to see defects in my old fantasies, I’m shocked back to reality by looking in the mirror.

I’m simply saying—as a gay man who has repressed his sexuality— I now can appreciate the cost of those years. I’m heartened by the courage I witnessed on Silom yesterday by those who believe that change is indeed possible. To quote T.E. Lawrence, “Nothing is written.”

Speaking as someone who was actually there on the ground, and saw the faces of those celebrating the moment, I can assure you it was simply not a case of glitz and lipstick. These were predominantly a cross section of young people reveling in the joy of celebrating who they truly are and enjoying themselves. They were unafraid to to be themselves—and I envied their courage. I come from that older generation of westerners who had to guard their sexuality for personal or professional reasons. Consequently we never experienced the freedom and exhilaration of being proud of our underlying identity. Bangkok provided the profound but temporary release from the bounds. I hope we can all celebrate the the fact that the young gays who gathered in Silom Sunday do not share our repression. Bangkok’s new governor is reported to be among those waving a gay banner. He provides hope and sustenance to those who braved elite society’s ignorance and discrimination on a given day inJune, 2022.

Speaking as someone who was actually there on the ground, and saw the faces of those celebrating the moment, I can assure you it was simply not a case of glitz and lipstick. These were predominantly a cross section of young people reveling in the joy of celebrating who they truly are and enjoying themselves. They were unafraid to to be themselves—and I envied their courage. I come from that older generation of westerners who had to guard their sexuality for personal or professional reasons. Consequently we never experienced the freedom and exhilaration of being proud of our underlying identity. Bangkok provided the profound but temporary release from the bounds. I hope we can all celebrate the the fact that the young gays who gathered in Silom Sunday do not share our repression. Bangkok’s new governor is reported to be among those waving a gay banner. He provides hope and sustenance to those who braved elite society’s ignorance and discrimination on a given day inJune, 2022.

Talking from experience, I had the distinct pleasure of running g my hand along Nicky’s back over three three years ago (as he sat beside me at Moonlight) and wrote about it in this forum. I described the muscularity. Trust me, he’s muscular. An esteemed member was impressed by my observation and offed him some months later and I believe he would agree.