Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Visa Free Entry for Taiwanese and Indian Tourists Approved, and More

By
Goongnang Suksawat
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Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from the last week, Monday, October 30th, 2023, to Sunday, November 5th, 2023.

They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.

Let’s get started and see what the top stories were!
  1. Thai and Australian authorities recently seized over 50 million baht worth of illicit substances smuggled from neighboring countries to be sent to Australia.

The Australian Customs Department officials have taken strict and serious measures to capture drug smugglers to reduce the distribution of illicit substances to local communities and youths in Australia.

2. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced on Tuesday that Thailand will grant a 30-day visa-free entry to tourists from India and Taiwan, in addition to current existing countries, in a bid to boost tourism.

Announced after the Cabinet meeting on October 31st, PM Srettha said the policy will be in effect from November 10th to May 10th, 2024.

3. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, the Deputy Prime Minister, revealed to Thai media an extension of the opening hours of entertainment venues in certain tourist locations to stimulate tourism during the high season.

The Thai government will initially permit bars and nightclubs in four provinces, including Chonburi, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok, to operate until 4 AM, as announced by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday, November 3rd.

4. The Economics Tourism and Sports Division and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports publicly revealed statistics on foreign tourists visiting Thailand from January 1st to October 29th, 2023, with more than 22,064,968 tourists recorded.

The top 5 countries visiting Thailand were Malaysia, China, South Korea, India, and Russia.

5. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Warns Entertainment Venues that Extended Hours Do Not Cover Alcohol Sales

The extension of opening service of entertainment districts will be to 4 AM, but it does not mean that selling liquor beyond prescribed legal hours of 2 AM can happen.

That’s all for this week, as always thanks for your support!

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for five years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.