Day: November 3, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR— The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and the Malaysian embassy in the Netherlands have collaborated with Wah Nam Hong, one of Holland’s leading Asian supermarkets, to conduct an online promotion programme called “Flavours of Malaysia.”

The one-month programme, which kicked off on Malaysia Day on Sept 16 2021, aims to increase market awareness about Malaysian food and beverage (F&B)and to strengthen Malaysia’s brand presence in the F&B segment there.

MATRADE Rotterdam trade commissioner Emeliana Zainol said with the current pandemic situation, sales via online platforms have been growing at a double-digit rate.

“It is important to reach out to consumers in the Netherlands via online platforms as more than 80 per cent of Dutch consumers used e-commerce to purchase goods last year, especially during the pandemic.

“The situation has also created a cooking-at-home trend, as eating at home has become a norm and perceived to be a healthier choice,” she said in a statement issued by MATRADE today.

“Increasing consumer awareness on nutrition …has created a demand for functional food and organic food, not only in the Netherlands but in Europe at large,” she added.“Therefore, Malaysian F&B exporters are also encouraged to focus on these emerging food trends,” she said.

The Netherlands remained as Malaysia’s second largest trading partner in Europe in 2020, with total trade amounting to RM27.85 billion. Malaysia’s exports to the Netherlands grew by 28.4 per cent in the first nine months of 2021 despite the pandemic that affected world trade.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

JAKARTA– At least 18 people were missing, after a canoe carrying dozens of people, capsized on Begawan Solo river, in Indonesia’s East Java province today, Ardhian Orianto, acting head of Disaster Management Agency in Bojonegoro District, said.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

BANGKOK— Thailand is hoping to get at least 700,000 visitors to the kingdom this year via various entry schemes and initiatives to revive the tourism sector and spur the economic recovery.

In its latest move, which started on Monday, Thailand welcomes fully vaccinated visitors from 63 countries and territories via “Test & Go” entry scheme, where visitors will skip mandatory quarantine.

It also welcomes fully vaccinated travellers from other countries via “Living in the Blue Zone”, a scheme involving 17 “sandbox destinations” including Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Phang-Nga, where they must stay for seven days in these tourist destinations before travelling to other provinces.

According to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the kingdom welcomed a total of 85,845 foreign visitors through various entry schemes – including the “Phuket Sandbox”, Special Tourist Visa (STV), Thailand Privilege Card, and Medical Tourism – from January to September this year.

The “Phuket Sandbox” recorded a total of 60,649 visitors from July 1 to October 31 with the top five markets being the USA, Israel, UK, Germany, and France, it said.

“This year’s various entry scheme is expected to bring at least 700,000 visitors to Thailand,” TAT said in a statement.

TAT projected Thailand’s tourism sector to generate 1.58 trillion baht (100 baht = US$3) comprising 818 billion baht from international tourists and some 771 billion baht from domestic tourists, in 2022.

Partially-vaccinated or unvaccinated visitors from any countries and territories are also allowed entry via the “Happy Quarantine” requirements where they will undergo quarantine (seven to 14 days) and RT-PCR test before being allowed to travel to other provinces in the kingdom.

The reopening of its borders for the first time in 19 months is hoped to revive the kingdom’s ailing tourism industry.

In a bid to contain COVID-19 outbreaks, Thailand had imposed strict requirements and quarantine measures. The curbs saw tourist arrivals in 2020 dropping 83 per cent to 6.7 million, while foreign tourist receipts stood at a mere 332 billion baht.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand received nearly 40 million foreign visitors who spent 1.91 trillion baht in 2019.

Meanwhile, TAT had introduced its latest tourism marketing campaign – “Visit Thailand Year 2022” – with a number of strategic activities to promote the reopening of the kingdom at the World Travel Market 2021 (WTM 2021) from Nov 1 to 3.

“Leveraging the Royal Thai Government’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model and our ongoing promotion of responsible and sustainable tourism, our new marketing activities for next year will emphasise Thailand’s strengths in biological diversity and cultural richness under the “Amazing New Chapters” concept.

“This will reiterate the good image of the kingdom as a top tourist destination with all health and safety measures in place as the world exits the COVID-19 era,” TAT Governor, Yuthasak Supasorn, said.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

NONTHABURI (Thailand)— Fun-loving foodies flocked to Chaopraya Antique Café in Nonthaburi, a flooded restaurant in the north of Bangkok, to indulge in a unique dinning experience.

The riverside restaurant, converted from a two-storey wooden house, has been flooded for weeks following heavy downpour triggered by tropical storm, monsoon rains and high tides.

The restaurant offers extraordinary culinary experience as diners must wade through the water to their tables.

Soaking their feet in the water and sitting on drenched chairs, diners get the thrill of enjoying their food against the backdrop of the majestic Chao Phraya River.

Sometimes, to avoid being soaked, diners have to stand while enjoying their meals when the water level rises. And at times, they are drenched by the lapping tides and splashing water when a passenger speedboat passes by.

The restaurant offers lunch from 11 am to 2 pm while the “mu kratha” – a Thai cuisine that combines Korean barbecue and Chinese hot pot – starts from 3 pm. It can accommodate up to 40 diners at any one time.

Since the videos and news of the restaurant went viral on social media, diners need to make a reservation as it is always fully-booked especially during weekends and holidays.

Manager of Chaopraya Antique Café, Jintana Jutimanon, said the restaurant opened in February this year but had to close when the government instituted a ban on dine-in service starting May to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

When the restrictions eased, she said the tropical storm and heavy downpour caused the water level to rise, and the restaurant has been inundated since September 20.

“We decided to stay open despite the flood. Surprisingly, our customers are enjoying the unique and fun dining experience. Through word of mouth, it has become a dining hot spot.

“We are very happy to see that customers love the atmosphere and splashes, while enjoying the barbecued pork in the water,” she told Bernama.

For diners who prefer to stay dry while dining at the restaurant, Jintana said they could choose to dine on the second floor of the restaurant while enjoying the view of Chao Phraya River.

She added that the restaurant has also taken various measures to ensure diners’ health and safety, such as conducting the necessary clean-ups at the restaurant.

“We are happy customers love the dining experience, and we are happy that the challenges had turned into an unexpected opportunity for us,” she said.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK