Thailand
Social media chatter about Thailand pops 60% following ‘White Lotus’ premiere
Social media conversations about traveling in Thailand rose 60% after the premiere of the third season of “The White Lotus” on Feb. 16. The data measured social media chatter during the three days before and after the show’s airing, according to social media analytics company Sprout Social. The Emmy-winning HBO series is expected to draw […]
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Chinese travelers cancel Lunar New Year trips to Thailand over safety concerns
Chinese travelers are canceling plans to visit Thailand during the Lunar New Year holiday, as concerns over the kidnapping of actor Wang Xing continue to reverberate through the country. Net booking volume for trips to Thailand fell 15.6% from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20 from the previous week, after news of the rescue of Wang […]
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I spent $34,563.38 to travel the world for 18 months and tracked every cent: My budget breakdown
In 2022, I quit my job to fulfill my longtime dream of traveling the world full-time for a year and a half. My journey through 12 countries in Asia and six in South America cost exactly $34,563.38. I stayed meticulous about one thing from beginning to end: I tracked every penny I spent, from a […]
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Thailand legalizing same-sex marriage is likely to bring a flood of tourists
Thailand’s same-sex marriage legislation, scheduled to come into effect in January 2025, could attract an additional 4 million tourists to the country per year, according to a report commissioned by the travel company Agoda. The report published Thursday estimates the country’s marriage equality law may increase tourism arrivals by 10%, netting the country an extra […]
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A Singaporean AI startup is trying to disrupt the 100-year-old market research industry
Artificial intelligence is aiming to disrupt a 100-year-old industry. Finding ways to attract consumers to buy packaged goods stretches back to the 1920s when American psychologist Daniel Starch created the world’s first market research study. Today, the global market research industry is worth an estimated $87.7 billion and is expected to grow by another $15 […]
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Federal Reserve rate cuts could prove to be a boon for Southeast Asian economies
A Thai investor checks an electronic board showing stock prices. Amphol Thongmueangluang | SOPA Images| LightRocket | Getty Images The U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates in September, with further reductions expected, could prove to be a boon for the emerging economies of Southeast Asia. “We’re very confident and optimistic with the rate […]
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Thai central bank unexpectedly cuts key rate by 25 basis points
Growing political pressure aside, Thailand’s weak economy adds to the case for the central bank to cut interest rates sooner rather than later, according to money managers. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Thailand’s central bank unexpectedly cut its key interest rate at a policy review on Wednesday, a move long called for by the […]
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Thai headline inflation quickens in September, still below central bank target
People on the Mahanakorn skywalk overlooking Bangkok, shot on March 17, 2023. Lillian Suwanrumpha | Afp | Getty Images Thailand’s annual headline inflation quickened in September due mainly to higher prices of diesel and some vegetables, the commerce ministry said on Monday, and was still below the central bank’s target range of 1% to 3%. The headline consumer price index rose 0.61% in September from a year earlier, […]
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From guns to Trump: See which factors are deterring travelers from visiting the U.S.
More than 90% of travelers from Southeast Asia say that gun prevalence in the United States influences whether they will visit, according to a new survey. The study — which surveyed 6,000 international travelers from the six countries — showed that respondents perceived Hawaii to be the safest state in terms of gun violence, while […]
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‘Golden Week’ bookings show Chinese travel preferences are evolving
Outbound travel from China is set to receive a much-anticipated jolt as “Golden Week” bookings show changes in where and why Chinese people are traveling. Buoyed by falling airfares, Chinese travelers are booking more overseas trips for the National Day holiday period, which extends from Oct. 1 to 7, according to Fliggy, a major travel […]
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