Foreign tourists wishing to visit Thailand may soon be required to purchase compulsory travel insurance prior to their arrival in the kingdom.
Under a proposal put forward by the Tourism and Sports Ministry, even automatic insurance vending machines may be installed at international airports and border checkpoints throughout Thailand so that tourists who travel without insurance can purchase one straight after landing on Thai soil.
In an ancient royal ceremony broadcast live on national television and not seen in almost 50 years, His Majesty King Rama X on Thursday signed Thailand’s 20th constitution approved in a controversial referendum last August. The endorsement is usually held at the palace and a public ceremony is not obligatory.
The promulgation of the new charter paves the way to the kingdom’s first general election since the May 2014 coup to be held by the end of 2018 at the latest. A date for a new general election and a formal return to democracy had previously been postponed several times.
December 5, the birthday of the late Thai king who passed away last October, will remain a national holiday and continue to be celebrated as Father’s Day after Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha countersigned a royal order on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, December 5 will mark three important occasions: National Day, Father’s Day and the birthday of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who the Thai people often refer to as the “father of the nation”.
The statement added the date would be used to “pay gratitude to the late king’s dedication to the country and its people.”
Source: Khaosod English
The Thai government lottery is the only kind of “gambling” legally allowed in Thailand and taken very seriously by the Thai people. Lottery tickets are pre-printed in Thailand so you don’t really get to pick your own numbers as in lottery systems in the West. Instead, you select your preferred six-digit “lucky number” from an… Continue Reading
Starting from February 2017, you won’t have to travel to the next railway station any longer to buy train tickets in advance but you can purchase them up to two months before your departure date through the state railway’s online booking system. While the service isn’t really new but was initially introduced in 2009 the… Continue Reading
It’s official now: Thailand has a new King after Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn on Thursday night completed his ascension to the throne by accepting a ceremonial invitation to become the country’s new monarch from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). The new King, 64, succeeds his father King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or Rama IX, who died seven weeks… Continue Reading
Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, the only son of late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej who passed away on Octoner 13, was proclaimed the new monarch of Thailand during a special session of the country’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Tuesday. Ending nearly two months of royal interregnum, Thailand’s interim parliament formally launched the process of naming the… Continue Reading
As the Thai people are still mourning the death of their beloved king, who passed away last month, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has now also been admitted to hospital after she developed a high fever on Wednesday. The 84-year-old queen was later diagnosed with an inflammation in the lungs and is currently being treated with… Continue Reading
To start with the good news: The cool season has now officially arrived in Thailand and has been forecast to last longer this year than usual, or so at least in the northern region. According to the meteorological department, it actually won’t end before sometime next February. The bad news: Pattaya will still see occasional… Continue Reading
It’s been a sad day for the Thai people. Following the announcement of the death of King Bhumibol Thursday evening, Thais are mourning the tragic loss of their much revered monarch. Having reigned for 70 years, for most Thai people King Bhumibol is the only monarch they can remember in their lives and his death… Continue Reading
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital at 3.52 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, according to a report by the Royal Household Bureau. The world’s longest reigning monarch, 88, who was widely revered by the Thai people and seen as a stabilising figure in the politically divided nation, died after 70 years… Continue Reading
Just a bit over a month ago the Royal Household Bureau reported that His Majesty King Bhumibol was receiving treatment for acute kidney failure. In another update on the monarch’s frail health on Sunday, the palace said that the beloved 88-year-old king was in an “unstable” condition with low blood pressure after being treated with… Continue Reading
