Thailand & Pattaya News, from Fabulous 103fm (4 March 2022)

Thailand & Pattaya News, from Fabulous 103fm (4 March 2022)

ZERO DOLLAR SCAMMERS ACQUITTED
The final 3 charged with involvement with the so called ZERO DOLLAR tourist scams of 6 years ago, have been acquitted here in the Thai Supreme Court. Referring to the cheap package holidays offered to Chinese back then that saw them trucked in on coaches, overnighting in less expensive hotels, fed and trapsed around numerous shops and outlets specifically set up FOR the Chinese tours, led to enquiries, as ownership of most if not all of the services provided could be traced back to Chinese in many cases, and payment for all, remained in China, never benefiting Thailand itself. Long since gone, thanks to covid, the chances of zero tourism remaining for the future as those centers for everything from a pillow to jewelry remain in mothballs, awaiting their former customers return. 2016 saw a crackdown on zero dollar businesses along with the initial seizure of over 1500 coaches, 13 people here were charged with illegally operating tour businesses, none REMAIN as being found guilty.

COVID-19 OVERLOAD IN BANGKOK
For Bangkokians, where the Omicron version of Covid is seeing increasingly higher figures, the Public Health Ministry is advising people to seek treatment at hospitals in nearby provinces, due to local overload, and even the 1330 hotline can’t keep up with the number of callers. With over 70K calls within a single day, despite increased manpower, the service managed only to answer some 50% of callers enquiries.Potential patients are being recommended to look elsewhere, and as far away from the capital as Chonburi and Ayutthaya. Most are recommended to home isolate and issued with Favipiravir free of charge.

LOAN SHARKS NABBED
In Issan, 9 loan shark operations have been raided, seeing numerous arrests and following complaints from members of the public. An ongoing undercover operation revealed the 9 groups of scammers and some 34 people are already in custody. 17 bank accounts used by the gangs have also been seized as reports indicate rates of 60% per month, often due daily and threats to those who couldn’t pay.

BLACK MARKET BOOZE & CIGARRETTES CONFISCATED 
Cheap booze and cigarettes, smuggled in from Malaysia and stored in Songkhla for transport to the rest of the country, were all confiscated this week. Excise officials found close to a million packs of cigarettes and 3 and a quarter thousand bottles of high end booze, all intended for the black market, and avoiding Thai customs tax. Alongside those obvious products, reports tell us that over 3K packs of playing cards were also found.

NEO PATTAYA
Neo is the hot word in the city as the current mayor launched two programs, previously planned, which aim to see the city and Koh Larn become centres of investment and international tourism. With the goal of increasing the number of visitors to the region, seeing it revitalized. Koh Larn is proposed to see improved utilities, better waste management, pier improvement and improvement to public areas, such as viewpoints. In Pattaya, the Pattaya City hospital has been earmarked for enhancement of outpatient services for eyesight, skeletal issues and renal patients, whilst a chronic disease department will be introduced too. Schools can look being upgraded and brought to the top of national state schools, with buildings and equipment and the ever present drainage issues will be re addressed too. This as local elections for the Mayor’s position are looming, and candidates are expected to register this month.

Most newly relaunched eateries in the city look forward to a busy weekend as expats appear less and less reluctant to leave their homes after covid. Former bars are, in many cases, already doing better than expected but with the weekend here, and more staff returning from the North east to work, much of the city will without doubt be back on track.

For more of the latest local & national video news updates, subscribe to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqqv5O_uGcm-BdVXfgrZyWg
For more news: https://alwayspattaya.com/news/
Listen to the radio online from our homepage!: http://www.alwayspattaya.com