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REUTERS/Jorge SilvaBANGKOK/NEW DELHI, July 17 (Reuters) - Indian tourists are streaming into Southeast Asia, cementing the world most populous country's position as a key growth market for a travel and tourism sector that is feeling the pinch of China's slower-than-expected re-opening. "Southeast Asia is obviously very well positioned for a lot of the growth that is inevitably going to come from India," aviation analyst Brendan Sobie told an industry conference last month. Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said 1.6 million Indians were expected to visit the kingdom this year. Indians are helping to sustain a post-pandemic rebound for hospitality chains, including Minor Hotels, which has 45 properties in Southeast Asia with more than 6,000 rooms. Thailand's central bank expects 29 million visitors this year and 35.5 million in 2024.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Brendan Sobie, Tanes Petsuwan, Chai Eamsiri, Chai, Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo's, Sobie, Dillip, Pratyush Tripathy, That's, Somsong Sachaphimukh, Somsong, Pasit, Stefanno Sulaiman, Neil Jerome Morales, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Jorge Silva BANGKOK, Thai Airways, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Reuters, Asian Development Bank, Tourism Authority, IndiGo, Airbus, Minor, Bank of, Tourism Council of, Thomson Locations: India, Thailand, Patong, Phuket, DELHI, Asia, China, Thai, Singapore, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kolkata, Pattaya, Europe, United States, Thailand's, Bank of Thailand, Tourism Council of Thailand, BANGKOK, JAKARTA, MANILA

☆ The 'Bitcoin Family' has a special algorithm that tracks moon cycles — and it's helped them gain 50% since the bear market bottom
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Didi Taihuttu in Lagos, Portugal MacKenzie SigalosTaihuttu's indicator considers a mix of inputs, including directional trading data and moon cycles. Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) compares two moving averages of a cryptocurrency's price by subtracting the 26-period exponential moving average (EMA) from the 12-period EMA. When the 50-day moving average crosses below a falling 200-day moving average, it is known as the Death Cross , signaling a bear market may be imminent. When the 50-day moving average crosses below a falling 200-day moving average, it is known as the , signaling a bear market may be imminent. Price chart showing the 'Didi BAM BAM' market indicator Didi TaihuttuAnd then there are the intangible price influencers — like moon phases.

Persons: Thailand Didi Taihuttu LAGOS, Didi Taihuttu, Portugal MacKenzie Sigalos Taihuttu's, Bitcoin, Taihuttu, DAI —, Didi, Portugal MacKenzie, Portugal —, Portugal Didi Taihuttu, Mayer, It's, Price, —, I'm, Didi Bam Bam, Thailand Didi, ChatGPT, Goldman Sachs, Marco Argenti, Goldman, Louisa, David Solomon, Morgan Stanley, Morgan, Jeff McMillan, — CNBC's Ryan Browne Organizations: CNBC, Didi BAM, BAM, Bollinger Bands, Bollinger, Lightning Networks Locations: Phuket, Thailand, PORTUGAL, Lagos, Algarve, Taihuttu, bitcoin, Portugal, cryptocurrency, ChatGPT

☆ One of Philadelphia’s top chefs met her future husband on a plane. And then they traveled the world together
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Kate Springer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon still remembers the moment she first saw Ziv Katalan in vivid detail. Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon and Ziv Katalan visit Barcelona in 2010. Courtesy Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon and Ziv Katalan“It’s kind of an attraction of opposites,” says Katalan. Courtesy Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon and Ziv Katalan“That’s how we maintained a global relationship for 1.5 years. Named after the chef’s mother, Kalaya showcases the complexity and vibrancy of the food Suntaranon grew up eating in Trang, a small city southeast of Krabi in southern Thailand.

Persons: Ziv, Suntaranon, “, Katalan, Ziv Katalan, ”, Katalan didn’t, “ Nok, –, David Bouley, ” Suntaranon, Kalaya, Michael Perisco, ‘, ’ ”, ’, didn’t, Milan –, ” Katalan, New York –, Georges, Titi, “ Ziv, Sutaranon, Bella, Mike Prince Suntaranon’s, James Beard, Mike Prince, Kenya – Organizations: CNN, Thai Airways, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, CNN Travel, New York City, Museum of Modern Art, MoMa, Times, Time Warner Center, Katalan, of Culinary Education, French Culinary Institute New York, Jean, Wharton Locations: Bangkok, New York City, New York, Southern Thailand, Rome, Barcelona, Philadelphia, Mexico, Italian, Midtown, York, Thailand, Masa, Central, Trang , Thailand, Asia, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Nha Trang, Los Angeles, London, Tel Aviv, Frankfurt, Paris, Ireland, SALA, Thai, France, Trang, Krabi, “, Morocco, Italy, Spain, Kenya, Baltic, India, Colombia

☆ China bookings to return to pre-pandemic level by early 2024 – Agoda
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Chayut Setboonsarng | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Overseas travel bookings from mainland China are currently at just over half of pre-pandemic levels but are on course to return to the 2019 numbers by the end of this year or early 2024, the head of online travel agency Agoda said on Thursday. The country reopened earlier this year after removing most of its pandemic restrictions, giving a big boost to outbound travel. The top overseas destinations for Chinese tourists were Hong Kong, Bangkok and the Thai island of Phuket, Agoda data showed. About 80% of Chinese tourists have returned to Thailand, Morgenshtern said, attributing that faster rate of recovery to Thailand dropping restrictions on Chinese arrivals sooner than other markets. Thailand expects about 30 million arrivals for the full year with five million from China.

Persons: Agoda, Florence, Omri Morgenshtern, “, ”, Morgenshtern Organizations: Overseas, REUTERS, Booking Holdings, Tourism Locations: BANGKOK, China, Beijing, Thailand, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Thai, Phuket, India, South Korea

☆ Former Canadian soldier extradited to Thailand over gang killing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The deceased is connected with the United Nation Gang and was linked to the murder of one of the leaders of another gang, called the Red Scorpion, in Canada," Jirabhop said. The extradition involved a Thai air force flight after commercial airlines declined requests for transport over safety concerns, Thai police said. "We have ensure that there is security in Thailand and uphold our reputation that this country is safe to live in," she said. An Alberta court approved the extradition of Dupre last December. Reporting by Juarawee Kittisilpa and Napat Wesshasartar; Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Mike HarrisonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Where to go this summer: A dozen destination ideas
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Marnie Hunter | Jane Levere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Peru"Peruvians are welcoming travelers back with open arms," says travel one travel expert. And perhaps most importantly, the city offers excellent value, in part because it will be the winter/low season there during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. It’s home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including megalithic temples that date to the 4th millennium BC. Although summer is the rainy season, Gellis says showers are often brief and intermittent. AlbaniaAlbania is a Mediterranean gem that’s likely to be less crowded this summer than Greece and Croatia, says Joao Donadel, another EMBARK Beyond travel advisor.

☆ Factbox: India's Go First seeks revival after court grants bankruptcy protection
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The airline is owned by the Wadia Group, which also runs bread and biscuits maker Britannia Industries (BRIT.NS) and textile firm Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Co (BDYN.NS). Nearly half of the fleet was grounded due to problems with their Pratt & Whitney (P&W) jet engines that are yet to be replaced. The low-cost carrier posted its biggest annual loss in fiscal 2022, local media have reported. The Wadia Group was in talks to sell a part of its stake or completely exit the airline, the Economic Times newspaper reported in April. The grounding and related issues also saw the airline delay plans to go public, local media reported.

☆ Factbox: India's Go First seeks insolvency resolution as engine trouble grounds fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 2 (Reuters) - Cash-strapped Indian airline Go First Airways filed for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings in the National Company Law Tribunal on Tuesday. The airline is owned by the Wadia Group, which also runs bread and biscuits maker Britannia Industries (BRIT.NS) and textile firm Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Co (BDYN.NS). The low-cost carrier posted its biggest annual loss in fiscal 2022, local media had reported. The Wadia Group was in talks to sell a part of its stake or completely exit the airline, the Economic Times newspaper had reported in April. The grounding and related issues also saw the airline delay plans to go public, local media reported.

☆ NJ deli stock fraud defendant denied bail as judge calls him a serious flight risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Peter Coker Jr., left, is issued search warrants from police at his villa on the southern resort island of Phuket, Thailand, Jan. 11, 2023. A magistrate judge had approved Peter Coker Jr.'s release on a $1.5 million bond in late March, but he remained in an Essex County jail as prosecutors appealed the ruling. He added that Coker Jr.'s local doctors had advised him not to travel because of his health issues. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Barnes acknowledged that Coker Jr. had health concerns, but said officials could have made arrangements to ensure his safety while traveling. After the judge delivered her ruling, Coker Jr.'s mother cried in the gallery and outside of the courtroom.

[1/5] A woman works inside a cannabis shop, at Khaosan Road, one of the favourite tourist spots in Bangkok, Thailand, March 29, 2023. Thousands of cannabis shops and businesses have sprung up, especially in Bangkok and tourist spots, since Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to decriminalise the drug. A deluge of marijuana smuggled in from abroad has swamped Thailand, driving down wholesale prices and hurting growers, the industry members said. He did not comment on the scale of smuggled cannabis in the market or its impact on farmers. "A lot of cannabis that's coming in from the U.S. is going to dispensaries in Bangkok or Phuket or Pattaya," she said.

☆ Ex-fugitive in $100 million N.J. deli case granted bail, but kept jailed as feds fight release
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Peter Coker Jr., left, is issued search warrants from police at his villa on the southern resort island of Phuket, Thailand, Jan. 11, 2023. A former fugitive in the securities fraud case of the notorious $100 million New Jersey deli has been granted bail — but he remains in jail as federal prosecutors fight his release by arguing he remains a serious flight risk. Coker Jr., 53, was charged in September along with his father, Peter Coker Sr., and another man, James Patten, in a 12-count indictment alleging securities fraud and conspiracy. Prosecutors say the scheme was designed to make both companies attractive targets for so-called reverse mergers with private companies. The elder Coker and Patten were arrested at the time of the indictment in North Carolina, where they reside.

☆ Ready, set, roll! Thai man wins fastest joint rolling in Phuket
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Jorge Silva | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PHUKET, Thailand, March 26 (Reuters) - With nimble fingers and years of practice, Ativat Janmuangthai beat other cannabis enthusiasts to roll a perfect, one-gramme joint in 43 seconds on Saturday, becoming the fastest joint-roller in Thailand's Phuket. "He's been rolling joints for five years, he can even roll joints blindfolded. He's very fast," said Saksorn Sotornkittirat, friend of Ativat who accompanied him at the first Phuket Cannabis Cup competition. Cannabis advocates in Phuket recently formed the Phuket Cannabis Association to create a stronger voice for the industry, with over 1,000 licensed dispensaries now on the island. Poonwarit Wangpatravanich, the group president, hopes laws to regulate cannabis use will be hastened after the election.

Peter Coker Jr., left, is issued search warrants from police at his villa on the southern resort island of Phuket, Thailand, Jan. 11, 2023. NEWARK, N.J. – A former fugitive in the securities fraud case involving a New Jersey deli company once valued at $100 million renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2019, prosecutors revealed Thursday as they asked a judge to deny him bail. In the same letter, prosecutors said Coker Jr. had "stood to make tens of millions of dollars" from a hoped-for reverse merger of the deli company, which the goal of the "complex, long-term fraud' spanning at least seven years that grossly inflated its stock price. CNBC in 2021 published several dozen articles that exposed eyebrow-raising consulting agreements, troubled legal histories, and other issues related to people connected to the deli company. I have no intention to return to live or work in the U.S., and have therefore decided to renounce my U.S.

☆ Inside the world of high-end crypto rehab centers, where a 4-week stay can cost you $320,000 and no luxury is spared
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Crypto addiction is like a "casino in your pocket" says the founder and CEO of The Balance, a crypto rehab center. Enter: luxury crypto rehab centers. It calls itself the "world's best luxury rehab center and mental health clinic" and a "safe haven where you can find recovery, peace, rest, and happiness." The Diamond rehab center, ThailandAnd then there's the property's luxury offerings: a spa, golfing, boat trips, and sporting activities. The Diamond rehab center, ThailandThe Diamond started offering crypto rehab services at the beginning of 2021.

☆ Blackface, booze, and blurred lines at the $2 billion tech firm Rokt
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Jack Newsham | Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

A cropped version of an image shared with Rokt employees at the 2020 meeting. Buchanan told Insider. "We think it's important that we stand up and fight it," he told Insider when asked about that message. In an email, Viles told Insider that he hasn't had any day-to-day involvement with Rokt since 2020, when he did some contract work. Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesOne employee told Insider they were encouraged to post the photos and proclaim 2023 to be Rokt's "best year yet."

☆ Ex-fugitive in fraud scheme tied to $100 million NJ deli willing to pay millions for bail
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Watching from the gallery was Coker's mother, Susan, and his father, Peter Coker Sr., 80, who is also a defendant in the case. "He looks good," Susan Coker told her son's lawyers, John Azzaerello and Bill McGovern, afterward. Coker Jr. is "pretty much willing to stake every nickel he has" to be released on bond, Azzarello said. After the hearing, Azzarello told CNBC, "I don't think this case, by any means, requires pretrial detention." Coker Sr. and Patten, who were arrested in September after a grand jury indicted them and Coker Jr. on 12 criminal counts, each remain free on $100,000 bond.

☆ Ex-fugitive in $100 million New Jersey deli case leaves Thailand for U.S. court hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Peter Coker Jr., left, is issued search warrants from police at his villa on the southern resort island of Phuket, Thailand, Jan. 11, 2023. Coker Jr., 54, was arrested in the resort area of Phuket, Thailand, in mid-January. He was apprehended more than three months after the well-publicized arrests in North Carolina of his two co-defendants: his father Peter Coker Sr., and James Patten. Since his arrest by Thai authorities, Coker Jr. had been held in a Bangkok jail and was awaiting transport to the U.S., having waived extradition. A spokesman for the prosecutors' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ It's more expensive to travel in Southeast Asia, especially in these four places
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIt's more expensive to travel in Southeast Asia, especially in these four placesThe reopening of China's borders caused a steep rise in hotel prices in Southeast Asia, most notably in Bali, Bangkok, Phuket and Singapore, reports CNBC's Monica Pitrelli.

☆ Travel demand fuels a boom in Asia Pacific — in hotel rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Hotel rates are at an "all-time high," Alan Watts, Hilton's Asia-Pacific president, told "Squawk Box Asia" on Thursday. In parts of Asia Pacific, hotel rates are climbing even higher. Rates in Asia are skyrocketingThe travel boom in Asia Pacific has been "phenomenal," said Watts. Average hotel rates across Southeast Asia have gone up more than 10% since 2022, according to data from the travel booking company Traveloka. Ctrip, the leading travel booking website in China, also told CNBC that average hotel booking prices in Bangkok jumped by around 70% in late January.

☆ I asked ChatGPT to help me plan a vacation. Here’s what happened next
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

So the idea that artificial intelligence chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Bing, can research travel destinations and create itineraries is intriguing. I went to the developer's website, clicked on the word "ChatGPT," registered for an account — and started chatting. "All of the places I recommended have great online reviews," ChatGPT replied, providing ratings from Tripadvisor, Booking.com and Google for each hotel. But ChatGPT couldn't show photographs of the hotels or help book them — although it did provide ample instructions on how to do both. Every city I asked ChatGPT about resulted in the bot praising the local food scene.

☆ MSC Cruises' 116-Day Around the World Cruise in 2025: Photos
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

After stopping in cities like Auckland, New Zealand and Adelaide, Australia, the Magnifica will then sail up to Asia with stops in hotspots like Singapore and Phuket, Thailand …Auckland Skyline from the top of Mt. Taylor Rains/Insider

☆ Shut out from their top destinations, Chinese travelers are turning to other places
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Chinese travelers favored Southeast Asia for trips during the Lunar New Year holidays, which ended in early February, according to Trip.com Group's Chinese language booking website, Ctrip. Overseas hotel bookings by mainland Chinese travelers quadrupled from last year too, Ctrip said. He said of the 30 million tourists Thailand is expecting this year, 12 million to 15 million may come from China. South Korea announced last week it would resume issuing short-term visas to Chinese travelers, according to Reuters. Visas aside, Chinese travelers are also worried about getting sick, said Lee.

☆ Here's where mainland Chinese traveled overseas for the Lunar New Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — Travelers from mainland China stuck close to home in Asia during the Lunar New Year, the first holiday after Beijing relaxed its Covid-related border controls. Hong Kong and Macao were the most popular spots, said Trip.com, citing flight bookings on its platform for the first four days of the Lunar New Year. Here are the next three most popular overseas destinations for mainland travelers, according to Trip.com:3. Phuket, ThailandFlight bookings for travel from the mainland to overseas destinations during the first four days of the holiday quadrupled from a year ago, Trip.com said. However, Japan and South Korea — both popular among Chinese tourists — subsequently imposed temporary restrictions on travelers from China, including limits on visas and quarantining Covid-positive individuals.

☆ COVID curbs over, China's tourists hit Thai beaches for first time in 3 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Kwang Jirapornkuhakan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Colorful umbrellas are seen in a restaurant as tourists enjoy a beach in the island of Phuket in Thailand January 19, 2023. Previously, when I was here, I ate mango sticky rice, which was delicious. Back in China I kept thinking about the mango sticky rice here. The Chinese return was welcomed by businesses, despite some wariness about a huge spike in COVID infections in China after Beijing ended its zero-COVID policy. The Thai government is expecting at least five million Chinese tourist arrivals this year, with some 300,000 coming in the first quarter.

☆ Thai elephant camp adds more jumbos as Chinese tourists return
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Kwang Jirapornkuhakan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A Chinese tourist rides on an elephant in a jungle park ahead of Lunar New Year in Phuket, Thailand January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaPHUKET, Thailand, Jan 21 (Reuters) - An elephant camp in Thailand has purchased six new jumbos to welcome tourists and returning Chinese visitors, offering activities from elephant rides to elephant showers, the owner said. Pang Chang Kamala Elephant Camp on the resort island of Phuket is also adding programmes such as elephant care due to a rise in bookings after the Lunar New Year, camp owner Wittaya Taweeros told Reuters. With 25 elephants now, the camp can receive 300 tourists per day, up from 200, he added. China's reopening raises hopes for the return of Chinese visitors, who accounted for nearly a third of Thailand's 40 million foreign tourist arrivals in pre-pandemic 2019.

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