Protests outside Thailand’s embassy in the Myanmar capital city of Yangon have resulted in its temporary closure. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the three-day shutdown yesterday and added that it is due to end tomorrow.
Thailand and China have held a ceremony to mark the official start of a railway line that will connect the two countries. Prajin Jantong, the Thai deputy-prime-minister was joined by Chinese state-councillor Wang Yong and other dignitaries at the foundation-laying ceremony held at a rail station in Thailand’s central provinces.
The Thai Tourism Ministry says the country plans to focus on attracting quality visitors with money to spend on the luxuries of life. The statement by the national tourism-minister comes on the strength of figures which show record numbers of tourists have visited the kingdom over the past 12 months.
The Culture and Heritage Bureau in Myanmar has awarded one of Yangon’s parks a prestigious designation. The Heritage Trust designated the former national capital’s Maha Bandoola Park as a Blue Plaque site.
Tourists holidaying in Pattaya over the festive season have plenty of opportunities to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner, but without a flake of snow or patch of ice in sight. Quite a few of the popular bars, hotels and restaurants at Thailand’s favourite seaside resort lay on Christmas themed feasts complete with turkey and Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.
The government of Thailand says security in the capital city of Bangkok will be ramped up ahead of the New Year holiday. The Royal Guards’ major-general Chalermpol Srisawat says security personnel will be draughted into key districts and they will be carrying out foot patrols to ensure there are no untoward incidents.
Tourism authorities in Myanmar have set a new deadline for when tourists will have to pay in local currency to enter the historic city of Bagan. The changeover is scheduled for 1 January 2016. From this date, visitors will be required to pay MMK25,000 to enter the historical park in central Myanmar.
Thailand has launched a drink awareness campaign for drivers ahead of the upcoming festive season holidays. The National Police Traffic Division has joined forces with the Thai arm of the Moet Hennessy Diageo drinks group in the move to persuade drivers to take a taxi if they have been drinking.
The governors of the Thai and Malaysian national rail companies presided over ceremonies on Monday to inaugurate a new service. The two jointly cut the ceremonial ribbon that launched daily services between the southern Thai town of Hat Yai and Padang Besar on the Malaysian border.
Thailand and Cambodia last week agreed to expedite construction of a railway track to link the two countries. Agreement was reached during a state visit to Thailand by Cambodian prime-minister Hun Sen.
The operator of Bangkok’s elevated urban trains has announced services will run until 02:00 on New Year’s Day. Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) director Surapong Laoha-unya said the after-midnight services would allow revellers more time to get home from New Year’s Eve parties.
The management team at Bangkok’s planetarium have scheduled its reopening for the New Year. The Sukhumvit Road facility is due to open on 5 January 2016 and eight months after it closed for a major revamp.
A dress designed to resemble Thailand’s ubiquitous tuktuk won the best costume award at yesterday’s Miss Universe 2015 Pageant. Thailand’s representative at the Los Angles awards, Aniporn Chalermburanawong, wore a minidress complete with imitation handlebars and the front of one of the vehicles strapped to her back.
A Thai government specialist has recommended that resources to protect the Phi Phi islands are increased. Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat says the southern Andaman Sea islands need more patrol boats, more park rangers and more buoys to cordon off and protect corals.
The annual Chiang Mai Jazz Festival is scheduled to take place over the forthcoming Christmas weekend. The northern Thai city’s Promenada Resort Mall is the venue for the fifth extravaganza in the series.
The recurring dreams of a Thai temple abbot have led to the discovery of a long-lost head from a revered Buddha statue. The ordained monk of a temple in Suphan Buri Province dreamt about the statue head nine times before discussing it with local residents.
Workers at the main park in Phuket Town are preparing it to stage the annual Phuket Red Cross Fair. The eagerly awaited event begins on 26 December and will continue through the New Year until 5 January.
Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana has confirmed he will be flying in to Thailand for a concert in the New Year. The Latin-American rock star and his band are set to play at the Impact Arena in Bangkok’s Muang Thong Thani complex on 29 February 2016.
Phuket’s governor says a proposed film memorabilia museum could be built in the resort town of Karon. Chamroen Tipayapongtada told reporters on the southern Thai island he had talked the matter over with local council officials in Karon and they seemed quite keen on the idea.
Thailand’s prime minister attended a test run on one of Bangkok’s new mass-transit Purple Line trains yesterday morning. He followed this up by going to a ceremony to commemorate the successful completion of the nation’s first tunnel under a river.