Thailand’s Central Group planning to invest $200 million in Grab

Thailand’s Central Group planning to invest $200 million in Grab

Central Group, Thailand’s biggest shopping Central and department store operator, is planning to invest US$200 million (6.3 billion Thai baht) in ride-hailing giant ‘Grab’, according to sources ‘familiar with the matter’ today. The deal seals a strategic partnership where the Thai retail giant will help Grab expand its business in Thailand. Central Group would invest…

Twitter is on the rise in Thailand. This is what you were Tweeting about in 2018.

From #BTS (the band not the Skytrain), to #AIS and #KFC. Twitter have released their #YearOnTwitter data for 2018 for Thailand. 2018 was a year dominated by local and international talents: from #BTS and #GOT7 to @BamBam1A and @peckpalit, while TV dramas also made their mark with conversations centering around #บุพเพสันนิวาส (Bupaesaniwas) and #เลือดข้นคนจาง (In…

38 mil foreign tourists to Thailand

Thailand welcomed 38 million foreign visitors last year, raking in more than two trillion baht from tourism. Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat, says the government’s tourism measures have contributed to a 21% year-on-year increase in the country’s tourism revenue as Thailand generated 2 trillion baht last year and saw no fewer than 38 million…

FPO expects 4% economic growth this year

FPO expects 4% economic growth this year

The Fiscal Policy Office reports that last year’s economic growth could hit the 4.1% mark, expecting the Thai GDP to expand at a rate of 4% this year. Estimating last year’s economic figures ahead of an official announcement, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), Lawaron Sangsanit, said today that Thailand’s 2018 GDP growth would…

Thai PM enacts his Article 44 powers to suspend cannabis patents

Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has stepped in amid growing controversy over patents for medical marijuana. Critics of the process complain that the high number of patent applications from abroad shows that foreign pharmaceutical corporations were already trying to monopolise Thailand’s fledgling medical-marijuana business. The NCPO leader has used his Article 44 powers to authorise suspension…

Thailand poised to break through 40 million arrivals in 2019

Thailand poised to break through 40 million arrivals in 2019

Thailand welcomed a record 38.27 million tourists in 2018. That’s up 7.5 percent from 2017 arrival figures. The Thai tourism ministry announced the figures this morning. In December, tourist arrivals amounted to 3.85 million. The ministry is also expecting the number of tourists visiting Thailand in 2019 to increase by another 7.5 percent. For 2019, the ministry…

Pattaya faces a condo oversupply

Pattaya faces a condo oversupply

Last year, Pattaya saw 10,239 condominium units launched with a combined worth of 55 billion bHT (USD1.7 billion), a huge jump from JUST 2,192 units in 2017. Phattarachai Taweewong, the Senior Manager of Collier’s research department, told Bangkok Post that a large portion of the homes remain unsold due to the massive supply last year, The…

The Top 10 types of expat in Thailand (2019)

Being an expat in Thailand you’ll go through plenty of phases – from excitement, to astonishment, to bewilderment, to acceptance – it’s all an exciting journey, and will rarely go to plan. But that’s why so many of us love living in Thailand. There are some particular sub-sets of Thai expat we can spot a…

BOI Says Thailand Will Turn Into Asia’s Next Big Innovation Hub

Thailand’s ongoing efforts to create a comprehensive ecosystem to support the country’s digital industry have been progressing rapidly in recent years thanks to such government flagship initiatives as Digital Park Thailand (EECD) and Smart City. The development of cutting-edge infrastructural facilities to support these initiatives has brought unprecedented opportunities for investors and business leaders, Thailand’s Board of Investment…

Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 – Reflections #1

PHOTO: Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 One of the key points made at the recently concluded Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 in Bangkok, was the country’s over reliance on mass tourism. Jesper Palmqvist of STR presented full year hotel data for Phuket which showed signs of recovery, yet highlighting the full impact of the drop in Chinese…