1. TAT upgrades arrival tally from India: End of mandatory testing could mean uptick in tourists from South Asia. India’s decision to scrap a negative RT-PCR Covid test requirement for return travellers from Thailand from Feb 13 should accelerate the tourism recovery amid a sluggish Chinese market, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Bangkok Post
  2. Substance sorely lacking: Business leaders are crying out for parties to deal with real economic concerns ahead of the election, instead of the traditional populist ploys to attract voters. The election campaigns of political parties should focus on improving the country’s competitiveness with effective short-and long-term economic policies rather than populist sops or market intervention that could mar the economy and add fiscal burden, says business leaders. Bangkok Post
  3. Industry projected for 6-8% growth this year: Thailand’s retail industry is expected to grow by 6-8% this year, double the rate of the GDP, helped by the recovery of tourism, according to the Thai Retailers Association (TRA). Bangkok Post
  4. Officials mull new power tariff rate: Energy officials may keep the power tariff, which determines electricity bills, unchanged or trim the rate at its next adjustment as gas prices have become less aggressive. Bangkok Post
  5. Thai bourses post highest regional IPO value in 2022: More than US$3 billion was raised from initial public offerings (IPOs) on Thailand’s bourses in 2022, the highest IPO value in Southeast Asia as regional fundraising dropped by nearly half from the previous year, according to a new study. Bangkok Post
  6. BoT plans responsible lending rules: The Bank of Thailand plans to implement new regulations for responsible lending to curb the country’s household debt problem over the long term. Bangkok Post
  7. Cabinet endorses B300 visitor fee to improve standards: The cabinet yesterday approved the collection of a 300-baht tourism fee from foreigners visiting Thailand by air, along with a 150-baht fee for visitors by land or sea, expected to start in June this year. Bangkok Post
  8. BoI unveils new strategies to attract foreign investors: The Thai Board of Investment (BoI) yesterday revealed its strategies to lure businesses over the next 3-5 years. Bangkok Post
  9. Crypto platform, Bitkub Online on verge of losing license aft Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) sees connection with online gambling web, Tabloid.
  10. REIC revises up property market outlook for this year: Index decline likely to be less severe. The total residential property index projection for 2023 has been upgraded as reduced transfer and mortgage fees continue to offer benefits to buyers of mid-scale properties. Bangkok Post

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