Major zoos in Thailand have resorted to extreme measures designed to keep their animals cool as the temperature soars inexorably towards 40°C. At Bangkok’s Dusit Zoo, keepers have installed water sprinklers in the compounds of elephants, tigers and other larger inmates.
The boss of Bangkok’s police force says all foreign nationals need to have their passports, or copies, on them at all times. Lieutenant-general Sanit Mahathavorn issued the order following a series of passport checks in prime tourism areas of the Thai capital on Friday evening.
Sunday is D Day for foreigners in Thailand who have overstayed their permits to be here. Strict new rules come into force on 20 March 2016 which could see visa violators prohibited from returning to Thailand for 10 years.
Thailand’s Department of Internal Trade (DIT) is holding discussions with the national airport operator about cutting the prices passengers pay for food and drink. DIT director Viboonlak Ruamrak said a common complaint from passengers who used Thai airports was the extortionate cost of soft drinks, snacks and takeaway food.
Local authorities in the southern Thai seaside resort of Krabi have added a new beach to the growing list of locations with demarcated swimming zones. The new zone is at Railay beach and is defined by a line of floats and buoys which stretches out from the waterline for 150-meters.
Zip-line adventure facilities in Chiang Mai Province have set their own code of safety measures and practices. The regulations cover every aspect of the thrilling odysseys through the treetops and even who is allowed to use them.
A senior government figure in Cambodia has recently confirmed major changes to entry tickets for the world-famous Angkor temples. Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth says the plan is to hike ticket prices for international tourists and also develop a system for people to pre-purchase their tickets.
The Comedy Club of Bangkok is all set to host a three-day comedy extravaganza at three separate venues this weekend. The venues for the Thai capital’s Magners International Comedy Festival are the Comedy Club’s home base at the Royal Oak pub, Tenderloins 33 Steakhouse & Sports Bar and the Westin Grande Sukhumvit’s lounge.
The organisers of the St Patrick’s Day parade in Pattaya are putting the finishing touches to preparations for the 2016 edition. Although St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, Pattaya’s cosmopolitan expat community, tourists and locals habitually join in the fun as it is a good excuse to enjoy the craic.
Ticket prices were increased by THB1 on all express ferry routes on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River yesterday. The Marine Department explained that the hike is in line with an agreement linked to the price of the diesel used to power the boats.
Elephant conservation facilities across Thailand paid homage to the royal beasts with various activities yesterday. National Elephant Day is marked on 13 March every year and pays homage to a revered animal that is one of the Southeast Asian country’s three national symbols.
Iconic singer Tom Jones is due in Bangkok early next month to play a concert at the city’s Impact Arena. The Welshman whose singing is so powerful that he was christened early on in a 50-year career as The Voice will perform for Thai and expat fans on 5 April.
The deputy-governor of Bangkok has announced that this year’s Songkran water-festival is being shortened. Amorn Kijchawengkul says that as Thailand is in the middle of a fairly severe drought, water fights will be limited to three days instead of the customary four.
The US State Department has updated its travel advisory for Laos to cover one of the main tourist highways. The department’s Laos page was updated on Monday and says diplomatic and other support staff in the country have been banned from using a stretch of Highway 13 between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng.
A Mekong riverside district in northeastern Thailand is in the final stages of building a state-of-the-art viewing platform. Workers are putting the finishing touches on the glass skywalk at a temple in the Sangkhom District of Nong Khai Province.
Myanmar’s culture ministry has amended a ban on climbing temples at Bagan so that it excludes five of the more popular ones. A blanket ban on the activity was due to come into effect at the beginning of the month, but was changed at the last moment due to vociferous opposition.
Thailand’s transport-ministry has ordered maritime inspectors to carry out checks on public passenger ferries to ensure they have not been fitted with dual-fuel power systems. The ministry’s deputy, Omsin Chivapruek, has tasked the marine department with running the inspections.
A committee of senior officials from ASEAN bloc nations have settled on a plan to tackle the annual haze that blankets the region. The officials met in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai and national environment-minister Surasak Karnjanarat presided over the discussions.
A brand new state operation has taken over admission ticketing duties at Cambodia’s famed Angkor temple complex. Angkor Institution took over the task of collecting fees and issuing entry tickets for Angkor Archaeological Park at the beginning of the month.
The organisers of next month’s Phuket Bike Week say it is likely to be the biggest yet and will attract thousands of Thai and international motorcycle fans. The 22nd annual bike week extravaganza is scheduled to be held in two key Phuket locations from 8 April.