“The most important measure is the Visa on Arrival (VoA) that allows foreign tourists from 19 countries to enter Thailand without having to get a visa beforehand,” he said. “This measure will expire on April 30, and we want the government to extend it to the end of 2020 to keep the flow of foreign tourists going.”Wichit added that Atta has also pitched the idea of granting multiple entry visas to Chinese tourists to Ministry of Tourism and Sports. “The Ministry agreed with this idea and is discussing it with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies,” he said. “Once implemented, we can attract high-end tourists from China to come to Thailand several times a year. “Chinese tourists are still our biggest clients, with an estimated number in 2020 increasing by 500,000 to 1 million from this year's number, which is expected to stand at 11 million,” said Wichit.

The ministry is asking the CCSA to downgrade Covid-19 from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance from October 1. Supot said that after the disease is downgraded, the CCSA will consider whether any special law or order is still required to control the situation. If not, the CCSA may be disbanded, he said. However, the emergency law is still needed for now although the situation has improved, the secretary-general said. Supot explained that the emergency law was still needed to control arrivals into the country and departures and to prohibit activity that would worsen the spread of the disease.

Published byThe Bangkok Postpublished : 18 Aug 2022 at 04:00 newspaper section: [Life](http://search.bangkokpost.com/search/result_advanced?category=news&xNewsSection=Life) Japanophiles in Pattaya take note. The “Japan Signature 2022” is taking a roadshow to Central Pattaya in Chon Buri from tomorrow to Aug 28. Presented by Central Pattana, this is an opportunity to enjoy a range of carefully selected authentic Japanese cuisine with deliciousness guaranteed in the atmosphere of Matsuri, or the Japanese festival of joy. Expect to indulge in legendary ramen recipes and ready-to-eat dishes cooked by chefs from many restaura…Read More

New pacts cement India-Thai relationsIndia's Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, left, walks with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha inside the Thai Khu Fah building at Government House after their meeting on Wednesday. Mr Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on him during his visit to attend the 9th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting. Indian Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was in Thailand to attend the 9th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting as the two countries celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. One was an MoU on Health and Medical Research cooperation between the Department of Medical Services, which falls under Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, and the Indian Council of Medical Research of Department of Health Research, under India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "Thailand and India have been longstanding friends and we just celebrated the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations on Aug 1.

Meanwhile restrictions on alcohol sales in Lithuania had cut the number of road accidents and injuries. In contrast, allowing late-night drinking had triggered a rise in physical assaults, injuries, drink-driving and other destructive behaviour, he said. Surasak cited statistics from Australia showing that extending bar hours had led to increased drinking and road accidents. Longer sale hours in Iceland also led to a rise in emergency-ward patients, injuries, quarrels, physical assaults and drink-driving. He added that Norway saw a 16 per cent rise in physical assaults after extending alcohol sales by just one hour.

"I got married at a young age, and after that, I went to India with my husband. It inspired me to learn," said Sunar, explaining the desire to catch up on the lessons she missed. One of Sunar's classmates, 14-year-old Bijay B.K., said it was fun to be in the same class with her. "I help didi in studies and she helps me too," he said, using the Nepali term for an elder sister. As a seventh-grade student, Sunar was below average, but a keen learner, said Bharat Basnet, the principal of the village school.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha took it upon himself to command the CCSA so that all government agencies can work together,” Anutin said. Kiattiphum said the ministry would have to adjust its operation plan accordingly that will be enforced until December. As part of the new operation plan, the ministry will ensure that Covid medicine will be accessible from drug stores but require prescription by doctors. Kiattiphum said the committee had also decided to change the treatment and surveillance period of Covid patients from seven days for treatment and three days for surveillance to five days for treatment and five days for surveillance. The permanent secretary said the antiviral Molnupiravir drug will be the main medicine for Covid treatment and the ministry is certain the drug would be adequate.

Thai Leaf's CEO Yingyos Charubusapayon told a press conference on Tuesday that legalisation of hemp at the beginning of 2021 had piqued interest among investors and various industries, creating continuous new demand and supply. Aiming to be a one-stop service for high-quality hemp products, Thai Leaf has joined hands with local property developer Origin, CannaPharma of Canada, Singapore’s Eralian Capital and Cornell University in the United States. The partnerships would ensure the quality of the company's hemp products from seed strains to CBD oil, Yingyos said. Thai Leaf is currently collaborating with Cornell University researchers to improve its own hemp strain as a unique variety that can only be grown in Thailand.

The event will feature cutting-edge innovations and a variety of products and services from well-known local and overseas manufacturers during September 7-10, 2022 at BITEC, Bangkok. Nantapong Chiralerspong, Deputy Director-General of the DITP revealed that the DITP, in collaboration with the Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Club and the Electrical and Electronics Industry Club, the Federation of Thai Industries, will organize Bangkok Refrigeration, Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning 2022 (Bangkok RHVAC 2022) and Bangkok Electric and Electronics 2022 (Bangkok E&E 2022), a significant event that has returned after three years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bangkok RHVAC 2022 and Bangkok E&E 2022 will be held under one roof in the concept of One Stop Solutions with New Innovations for New Global Challenges to showcase the complete range of Thai manufacturers’ innovative products and services that answer the world’s challenges, such as pandemics and environmental issues. The event will gather top brands with expertise in air-conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, compressors, parts and accessories as well as leading manufacturers of electric and electronic appliances for home and industrial use from over 100 companies in 400 booths covering 10,000 square meters of exhibition area.

Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations over multiple recent incidents of shelling at the Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe's largest nuclear power plant. "Every Russian soldier who either shoots at the plant, or shoots using the plant as cover, must understand that he becomes a special target for our intelligence agents, for our special services, for our army," Zelenskiy said in an evening video address. Zelenskiy, who did not give any details, repeated accusations that Russia was using the plant as nuclear blackmail. “And absolutely all officials of the terrorist state, as well as those who help them in this blackmail operation with the nuclear power plant, must answer in an international court,” he said. “Fighting in the south of the country brings good news about the destruction of Russian army forces and their means.

Gas pressure had dropped in the onshore pipeline on August 1, forcing PTTEP to suspend deliveries and order two weeks of repairs. PTTEP said it found no evidence of damage to the pipeline from fire or explosions, countering initial reports that the leak was caused by an attack by anti-regime resistance groups. On Monday, the company said it had resumed normal gas deliveries to Thailand on Sunday (August 14) after completing repairs on the onshore pipeline from the Zawtika project. The Zawtika project produces up to 300 million cubic feet of gas daily, 80 per cent of which is transported to Thailand and the remainder to Myanmar. PTTEP is one of only two major international oil and gas companies still operating in Myanmar after the pullout of major players including Chevron and TotalEnergies following the 2021 coup and resulting uprising.

Baht’s rebound driven by tourism, but volatility remains(AFP photo)The baht rebounded so rapidly in the past few weeks on optimism about the country’s tourism-led growth that it’s already hit year-end analyst targets. In addition to rising forecasts for tourist arrivals, the advance is also being driven by a narrowing current-account deficit due to falling oil prices. The currency’s rebound was driven by a combination of dollar weakness, the Bank of Thailand’s policy shift, signs of a recovery in tourism and firmer economic data, he said. That rebound is vital, considering that the travel-related sector accounted for about a fifth of the nation’s economy before the pandemic. He cited the tourism rebound, dip in oil prices and lower freight costs.

China cuts rates as economic recovery weaker than expectedChina's industrial production rose 3.8% year-on-year in July, down from 3.9% in June, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Monday. BEIJING: China's central bank slashed key interest rates Monday in a bid to kick-start the country's stuttering economic recovery as data showed factory output and retail sales for July came in weaker than analysts' expectations. "The risk of stagflation in the world economy is rising, and the foundation for domestic economic recovery is not yet solid," the NBS warned in a statement. "July's economic data is very alarming," Raymond Yeung, Greater China economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd, told Bloomberg TV. The country's economic growth was just 0.4% on-year in the second quarter -- its slowest rate since the initial Covid outbreak.

Cannabis sales on Khao San Rd ‘illegal’Officials may alert police, said Phra Nakhon district chief Wasan Boonmuenwai. Phra Nakhon district officialsroutinely send thessakij inspectors to patrol Khao San Road in two shifts — 9am–6pm, and 6pm–6am daily. He said inspectors have found four shops on Khao San Road selling cannabis products. Meanwhile, Yada Pornpetrampa, president of the Bangkok and Khao San Road Vendors Association, said the recent decriminalisation of cannabis is doing more harm than good for tourism. She said stories were being shared on social media of tourists falling ill after smoking cannabis on Khao San Road.

The death toll has risen by 30, while 2,335 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals. The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,398,653 with 10,160 deaths.