Thai economy improved in April on increased manufacturing, central bank says
BANGKOK, May 30 (Reuters) - The Thai economy improved in April from March, driven by the manufacturing sector after a sharp increase in exports drove inventory replenishment and also helped by a slight rise in tourism, the central bank said in a report on Friday.
It was too early to see adverse impacts from the U.S. tariff policy, which was announced in early April, the Bank of Thailand said, noting that private investment continued to expand.
And while the tourism sector slightly improved from March, it remained weaker compared to the same period last year.
"Although exports to the U.S. slowed slightly, they remained at a high level," the central bank said.
Total exports rose 9.9% in April from a year earlier and imports increased by 17.3%, the BOT said, leading to a trade deficit of $1.4 billion.
Thailand recorded a current account deficit of $1.5 billion in April.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
How a disastrous tourism strategy ruined one of Mallorca's last unspoilt corners
Last summer as many as 4,000 visitors and 1,200 cars descended daily on Caló des Moro in the south-east of Mallorca. A tiny cove which at best, can only accommodate about 100 people. Unlike Es Trenc – a 25-minute drive away, with its two-kilometres of fine white sand, safe swimming, facilities and ample parking – Caló des Moro is cramped and rocky and reaching it requires a long schlep along rough tracks. Yet hordes of people attempted to navigate this descent, often turning back due to the long wait and extreme heat. There are no amenities and only a tiny strip of sand, meaning most visitors have to perch on uncomfortable rocks – if they can find a space at all. Mallorca has more than 260 lush beaches, many of which are far more bewitching than diminutive Caló des Moro. So how on earth did this disaster unfold? Last summer, in an attempt to direct tourists away from island hotspots such as Cala de Deià in the north-west (mobbed from June to October), social media influencers were encouraged by some island tourism entities to visit this petite cove and other lesser-known spots. The well-meant strategy backfired, however, and before long influencers had turned Caló des Moro into a chaotic jam of tourists, with the social media set's beguiling images and videos of Mallorca's 'best kept secret' luring their followers to the beach in droves. To date, 1,300 videos of the cove have been uploaded to the TikTok platform, receiving an estimated 10 million views globally. Instagram currently has 30 associated hashtags. @handluggageonly This is my favourite beach on the Island of Mallorca! Caló des Moro is a totally beautiful cove. The beach is gorgeous, especially for the crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sand, and dramatic cliffs (which you have to ramble across to get here. Yeah, you will get sweaty but it's worth it). Best of all, the beach is located only about 5 kilometers from the town of Santanyí, which we loved and can be reached in your car or by a short hike from the nearby Cala Llombards beach. In fact, do both at once. It's such a great thing to do in Mallorca when you visit on holiday. ♬ original sound - Hand Luggage Only Frustrated locals voiced their outrage, prompting the citizen movement, Mallorca Platja Tour, to stage a protest attended by more than 300 people. Bewildered tourists were pressured to leave the area, while victorious locals occupied every inch of space on the rocks and sand. Martí Picornell, Head of Communications at the local Santanyi Town Council, responded by saying: 'The Santanyí Tourism Department hasn't used the image of Caló des Moro for publicity purposes in years. Local residents are exhausted by the situation, which is why the decision was taken. This unwanted social media coverage is the worst. People go to the cove just to take selfies and nothing more.' Environmental impact The repercussions go far beyond disgruntled locals, with heavy footfall in areas of such natural beauty having a troubling environmental impact. Sergio Ruiz Halpern, a marine biologist at Save the Med, comments: 'Caló des Moro is a paradise, not just for humans. It harbours rich and biodiverse ecosystems. The sheer volume of visitors in peak season crushes native land and sea ecosystems alike. We simply cannot sustain this level of pressure.' Meanwhile, Isabel Moreno Castillo, also a marine biologist, and former Head of Biology at the University of the Balearics (UIB) says: 'Beaches are constantly shifting ecosystems – they change every single day, shaped by the wind and the waves. 'When beach-goers step on the fragile, endemic plants that hold the sand in place, that stability is lost and even a gentle breeze can begin to erode the beach.' Jaume Bauzá, Minister of Tourism in the Balearic Regional Government, is keen to avoid a repeat of last year's fiasco. 'We have taken the decision not to actively promote the cove or other highly frequented areas in international campaigns,' he says. 'Our mission is to de-seasonalise and spread visitation throughout the calendar year, rather than have tourism arrivals concentrated during the summer months.' Further curbs Meanwhile, the other Balearic islands – Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera – are also taking steps to manage tourism sustainably during the summer season. These include seasonal vehicle quotas in Formentera, while Menorcan authorities have prohibited boats from anchoring over Posidonia oceanica (seagrass) meadows, and limited car access to many beaches. From June 1 to September 30, Ibiza will set a daily cap of approximately 20,000 tourist and rental vehicles, as well as setting daily visitor limits, and restricting beach access. Isabel Moreno remains upbeat. 'Preserving our beaches doesn't mean closing them. We just need to manage them wisely, guiding people with information, limiting visitor numbers when necessary, and making small changes such as the creation of elevated paths and boardwalks that help reduce ecological impact.' Such strategies have been implemented in Cala Deià, for example, where an automatic electronic barrier closes when the car park reaches full capacity, and local police monitor traffic flow during peak times. But perhaps the real solution is even more obvious – minimising chaos by simply publicising enclaves that can cope with large visitor numbers, such as Playa de Formentor, a kilometre-long Blue Flag beach in the north, or the likes of Es Caragol on the southern tip of Mallorca, with its 500 metres of fine white sand and turquoise waters. Locals and tourists have long shared the island's beautiful corners, and – though they might not all be trending on social media – there are still plenty to go around.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Heartstopping moment silverback GORILLA charges at group of shocked tourists and sends them crashing to the ground
This is the heartstopping moment a silverback gorilla charged toward a group of terrified tourists, barreling down a hill while roaring and baring its teeth in Uganda. Click above to watch the video in full.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Malaysian court drops money laundering charges against jailed ex-leader Najib Razak
A Malaysian court dropped three money laundering charges against jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday, in a case linked to the multibillion-dollar looting of a state fund. Najib was previously convicted in a graft case tied to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state fund, or 1MBD, and began serving time in 2022, after losing his final appeal. He also faces other graft trials. The High Court 's decision to drop the charges alleging Najib received 27 million ringgit ($6.3 million) in illegal proceeds to his bank accounts came after procedural delays by the prosecution, which saw the case dragging on for six years, Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said. Prosecutors could not give the court a timeline for when they will be ready for the trial, he added. Prosecutors reserve the right to revive charges against Najib and a discharge does not mean an acquittal, Shafee said. But, Najib was happy and can now focus on the main 1MDB trial, he added. Najib set up 1MDB shortly after taking power in 2009. Investigators allege that more than $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund and laundered by his associates to finance Hollywood films and extravagant purchases. The scandal upended Najib's government and he was defeated in the 2018 election. Last November, the High Court also discharged Najib and the former treasury chief in another 1MDB-linked corruption case after repeated delays by the prosecution. The pair can still be charged for the same offence in the future. In 2023, Najib was acquitted on separate charges of tampering with a government audit into 1MDB. Najib was sentenced to 12 years in jail in his first graft trial but the sentence was halved by the Pardon Boards in 2024. Najib alleged the board had issued a home arrest order for him to complete his sentence at home, but the case is still being heard in court. Najib awaits his verdict in another key case that ties him directly to the 1MDB scandal, which has prompted investigations in the U.S. and several other countries. The defense in May closed their case on four charges of abuse of power to obtain over $700 million from 1MDB that went into Najib's bank accounts, and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount. Closing arguments are scheduled in October, after which the court will set a date for verdict.
