Tourists unfazed by air pollution in Chiang Mai, hotels 70% booked

14 Sept 22:05 Key points summarised by AI

Chiang Mai's hotels maintain 70% occupancy, predominantly with foreign tourists, despite severe PM2.5 air pollution.
Tourism officials project 1.2 billion baht in revenue during the Songkran festival, considering the pollution a recurring dry season challenge.
Authorities are implementing measures like establishing clean air rooms and providing special attention to over 400,000 vulnerable residents.
Residents are advised to wear face masks outdoors and stay indoors to mitigate health risks from the high pollution levels.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.