Chinese online travel giant reveals 90% surge in searches about Thailand

25 Sept 05:19 Key points summarised by AI

A new bilateral visa exemption between China and Thailand, effective March 1st, triggered a 90% surge in Thailand-related searches on a Chinese online travel platform within an hour.
Trip.com reported over 40% increase in flights from major Chinese cities to Bangkok and an 80% rise in China-related searches on its Thai platform.
Thailand's Tourism Authority expects the policy to revitalize tourism, potentially lowering airfares due to increased flights, and aims to attract 8 million Chinese tourists in 2024, significantly up from 3.51 million in 2023.
To reach this ambitious target, Thailand plans to boost marketing efforts in China, particularly in secondary cities, to attract new visitors.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.