Pattaya hotels want to be closed so employees can claim state benefits

13 Sept 13:35 Key points summarised by AI

Pattaya hotels and tourism businesses are urging the Chon Buri provincial administration to order temporary closures.
The primary goal is to enable their employees to claim unemployment benefits from the Social Security Fund, as COVID-19 Red Zone declarations have caused occupancy rates to plummet to almost zero.
Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem supports the proposal, forwarding it to the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee for careful consideration, acknowledging the significant impact on 80,000 employees.

The Buddha Comes Home

Yesterday 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Chong Para is a vibrant annual festival of the Shan (Tai Yai) people in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, celebrating the Buddha's return from Tavatimsa heaven after Buddhist Lent.
The festival's centerpiece involves families constructing intricate miniature palaces, also called Chong Para, from bamboo, paper, and lights, placed outside homes and temples as offerings.
For three days and nights, the quiet mountain town comes alive with folk music, traditional dances like the Shan bird dance, religious ceremonies, and community gatherings, showcasing deep-rooted Shan culture.
Beyond the celebrations, Chong Para reinforces family bonds, preserves traditional crafts, and offers visitors an authentic immersion into the unique cultural heritage of Mae Hong Son.