Today Around Southeast Asia
PHUKETWAN recognises the importance of Asean with the Economic Community approaching and marks what's happening around the region with a new column, Asean Today.
Thailand
asiancorrespondent.com Thailand's Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) has confirmed that it will be launching a new six-month multiple-entry tourist visa (METV) from November 13. In a notice posted to the Thai MFA's Facebook page, it said: ''Thailand will soon grant multiple-entry visas to visitors to facilitate the forthcoming Asean Community and to boost Thailand's tourism industry.'' The visas cost 5000 baht.
Malaysia
nst.com.my Efforts to strengthen ties, Malaysia and China conducted a joint military exercise for the first time. Themed at ''Exercise Peace and Friendship 2015,'' Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and The People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted a five-day exercise from September 17-22 involving the Navy, Air Force and Army in a Field Tactical Exercise.
Singapore
channelnewsasia.com A British national who entered the track midway through the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix was charged in court. Yogvitam Pravin Dhokia, 27, was arrested by Singapore police for a rash act after he found his way onto the track in the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
channelnewsasia.com Fans of Hello Kitty will be able to meet Sanrio's most famous character and her friends during the Hello Kitty Go Around event, which will open at Resorts World Sentosa next month.
Indonesia
reuters Indonesia has ordered four companies to suspend operations for allegedly causing forest fires that have sent thick smoke across a swathe of Southeast Asia, an environment ministry official said.
Cambodia
cambodiadaily.com The government plans to build two vocational training centers in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville in an effort to strengthen the competitiveness of the tourism sector in Cambodia, the minister of tourism said.
Burma
radiovaticana.va Hardline Buddhists in Myanmar have launched nationwide rallies to celebrate a set of controversial laws on race and religion. But leaders from minority faiths say it's another troubling sign of how religion is being used to sow conflict in a divided country. Critics say the laws are a blatant attempt to target Myanmar's Muslim minority and the often persecuted Muslim Rohingya group in particular.
Vietnam
ft.com Number crunching by Capital Economics suggests Vietnam is among a small band of developing markets to have delivered stronger economic growth in the past year than their average growth rate since 2010. Many believe this success story has further to run.
Philippines
philstar.com Contraction in exports and agriculture put the Philippine economy at risk toward its slowest economic growth in four years this year before bouncing back in 2016, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.
Brunei
usnews.com While LGBT travel may be flourishing, travelers must consider where they may be at risk of encountering prejudice, discrimination and danger. Parts of Asia, including Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia to a degree, ''still punish homosexuality.''
Laos
christianpost.com A devoted Christian from the village of Huey in Savannakhet province, Laos, has died after his release from prison, where authorities denied him vital diabetes medication and watched him visibly deteriorate without helping. Human rights groups have said that the man, Tiang Kwentianthong, was arrested nine months ago after he was caught praying for a sick woman.
At Bt 5000 the new visa is very, very expensive without providing any real advantage for travelers.
You can still only stay 60 days on it and, unlike the single or dual entry T-visa, the new visa can't be extended for additional 30 days.
The only benefit for a tourist would be not having to hop across the border every month, only every 2nd month.
Immigration officials have stated that genuine tourists who can show relevant travel documents do not need to worry about the current crackdown re visa run so what do they need this new visa for ?
To expect tourists to pay Bt 5000 for this is IMO wildly optimistic.
I appreciate the idea but it is clearly very poorly thought out.
BTW, for about Bt 1000 more you can get a Non-B Multi 1y visa (if you qualify), allowing you to stay for 90 days per entry.
Posted by Herbert on September 23, 2015 06:45