The following is a weekly feature article looking at this same time period LAST year in Pattaya and Thailand news.
This weekly feature takes a look back at news from the same period last year (and sometimes different time windows, such as six months or three months) to see how things have changed, follow up on the progression of stories, as well as look at potentially broken promises or things that didn’t take place as promised in Pattaya and Thailand.
As we publish dozens of stories a week this is a quick way for people to take a look at what the biggest stories were a year ago, as chosen by our editorial team, and how they impact us today and relate to current news. They are in no particular order of importance, however, are roughly in order of publication.
This week, we cover the second full week of June 2021, from Sunday, June 13th, 2021, to Saturday, June 19th, 2021.
Let’s take a look!
1. Phuket Sandbox confirmed to begin
Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed that Phuket will be the first destination in Thailand to reopen to vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine requirements from 1 July 2021, under the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ project. Now, a full year later, the whole country finally reopens with no Thailand Pass, etc. on July 1, 2022.
Press Release: Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha confirms ‘Phuket Sandbox’ is starting 1 July 2021
2. Koh Larn reopens after extended Covid-19 closures
The island closed and reopened multiple times during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Video news: Koh Larn reopens for tourists and visitors today, but morning rain deters many
3. Pattaya aims to fix flooding by railway on the Dark Side
Well, it’s still not fixed.
Pattaya city to move forward with major drainage project intended to fix flooding by Pattaya railway
4. Peaceful protest by Chonburi business owners helps drive the re-opening of their venues
A peaceful protest by Chonburi business owners came just before the Chonburi Governor Phakarathorn Teanchai ordered the re-opening of some venues.
Peaceful protest by Chonburi business owners helps drive the re-opening of their venues
5. Thai Restaurant Association urges the Prime Minister to allow full restaurant openings and distribute urgent financial remedies
The Thai Restaurant Association urged the Prime Minister to allow a full restaurant opening, including extending the opening hours until midnight and fully allowing dine-in, in four highly strict and controlled areas, namely Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, and Samut Prakan.
6. Thai Prime Minister aims for full country reopening for vaccinated foreign tourists within 120 days
This did, sort of, happen, albeit with Thailand Pass.
Thai Prime Minister aims for full country reopening for vaccinated foreign tourists within 120 days
7. Enormous phallus built by Chachoengsao villagers on local road for religious ceremony breaking under sun and rain
This article went viral.
8. Night entertainment industry representatives submits petition to Thai government, urging alcohol reselling and business reopening by July 1st
Unfortunately, the ban was not dropped until December.
9. Thai Covid-19 Center announces relaxation of Covid-19 preventive measures nationwide, particularly in dark red zones provinces
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced the relaxation of Covid-19 preventive measures nationwide, particularly in the four highest strict and controlled provinces (dark red), namely Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, and Pathum Thani, effective Monday, June 21st.
