Photo credit: Bangkok Post
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has targeted four niche markets for next year: wellness, luxury experience, sports tourism and honeymoons.
The Government of Thailand has announced that its ambitious high-speed railway project connecting the country to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) through the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is scheduled to begin operations in 2030.
The construction of the fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, an infrastructure project connecting the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Thailand, is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2024. This bridge spans the Mekong River, linking Bolikhamxay province in Lao PDR with Bueng Kan province in Thailand. The project is a testament to the ongoing cooperation between the two nations and is expected to enhance travel and trade within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
Thailand is on track to welcome 36 million international visitors in 2024, according to the Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch). This forecast is based on the robust performance in the early months of the year, which marked a notable 50% increase in foreign arrivals, totaling 6.4 million in January and February.
Electric vehicle adoption into the public transport sector is apowerful game changer that can help to cut emissions at densely populated urban centres right across the region.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and BANPU Public Company Limited signed a 2.4 billion baht loan to support the financing of 1,500 six-seater electric tuktuks (e-tuktuks) and related charging stations for micro-scale transit services in Bangkok, Thailand.
The GMs Energy Transition Task Force (ETTF) met in Siem Reap on 4-5 December 2023 to discuss updates and plans related to its work streams, including trends, opportunities and related initiatives in the region.
The meeting agreed on these next steps for 2024.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for migrant workers in Thailand, who found themselves facing not only health risks but also economic and social hardships. Recognizing these challenges, the Asian Development Bank contracted a local-based civil society organization, Raks Thai Foundation, to implement a project aimed at addressing the plight of migrant workers in three provinces. It emphasized community-led prevention, the establishment of social protection systems, and economic support for jobless migrant workers.
Cambodia recorded 4.4 million international tourist arrivals in the first 10 months of 2023, a 180% increase over the same period in 2022. Tourism Minister Sok Soken remarked that based on this figure, Cambodia is expected to receive approximately 5.4 million foreign visitors in 2023.
The digital marketplace prototype established by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) of the Government of Thailand garnered participation from 13,200 entrepreneurs from 75 markets across 25 provinces in the country. It generated an economic value of over 450 million baht (around $12.80 million).
ASEAN member countries agreed to fast track the implementation of cross-border payments in ASEAN at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. This paves the way for ASEAN member countries to utilize local currencies when transacting in the region and promote regional payment connectivity. This move encourages the use of local currencies to support cross-border trade and investment in the ASEAN region.
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226