Business
Japanese Travel Agents Seek Thai Governments Official Assurance Over Safety of Travellers
TOKYO – Japanese travel agents have urged the Thai government to issue a statement assuring visitors of their safety while martial law remains in force.
Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul aims to get Japanese tourist arrivals back on target at 1.3 million visitors this year, as part of a short-term tourism-promotion plan aimed at boosting the country’s economic growth.
“We’ve received good feedback from Japanese tour operators, reflecting that Thailand is still a target destination for Japanese tourists,” the minister said after meeting with Japanese travel agents and leading tour operators on Thursday.
She added that most tour operators understood Thailand’s political situation under martial law.
However, they want the military regime to issue an official statement giving an assurance that it would be safe for tourists to travel to Thailand despite the martial law, so that they could send such a message to their clients.
As a new minister under the military-led government headed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Kobkarn hopes that visitors from Japan – one of the Kingdom’s major markets – will return now that the prolonged political conflict has abated and the newly formed interim government is taking the country forward.
“Since the new government was formed, many [tourism-related] problems have been fixed, such as beach encroachment by small-business owners, taxi services at airports, and public transport,” she said.
Japanese arrivals fell 20 per cent to 807,909 visitors in the first eight months of the year, double the overall year-on-year drop of 10 per cent to 15.7 million arrivals from all markets.
The sharp decline in visitor numbers was mainly due to the political unrest centred in Bangkok and subsequent coup on May 22.
Before this year’s disruption, Japanese arrivals had increased significantly from 993,674 in 2010 to 1.54 million last year.
During her first overseas trip as minister, Kobkarn participated in two annual tourism events – “Amazing Thai Night” and the three-day “JATA Tourism Expo Japan 2014”, which ends today – in a bid to restore Japanese tourists’ confidence in the Kingdom, despite the decision to maintain martial law.
She said she wanted to send a message that Thailand was ready to welcome more tourists and provide them with safety and convenience, in addition to new products called “hidden charm” cities.
Kobkarn said about 70 per cent of Japanese tourists were repeat visitors who sought a sense of “Thainess”, which tied in with the government’s policy of focusing more on the “Thai way of living” theme next year.
A number of “hidden charm” cities that have until now been largely unexplored by foreign visitors will be promoted as new destinations and offered to this type of traveller, she said.
They include Phetchabun, Lampang, Buri Ram, Chumphon, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Trat, Trang and Chanthaburi.
For next year’s tourism-promotion plan, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) gave a number of examples at the Tokyo expo: Lampang will be promoted as the city of Lanna civilisation in the North, Buri Ram as the city of stone castles in the Northeast, Samut Songkhram as the city of waterways in the Central region, Chanthaburi as the city of fruits in the East, and Trang as the city of jade sea and white beaches in the South.
“For Thailand, the strong point is its people’s way of living and Thai folklore, as well as world heritage,” said Kobkarn, adding that this would meet demand for new destinations from repeat Japanese tourists.
The ministry will also be focusing on niche markets, such as long-stay groups and those who visit for beauty and wellness purposes, she added.
The minister expressed her hope that more Japanese travellers, who are rated as “quality” tourists, could be persuaded to stay longer in Thailand and spend more money.
According to TAT data, Japanese tourists stayed an average of 7.74 days last year, with average spending of Bt4,900 (S$192) per head per day, contributing a combined Bt57.73 billion to the economy.
European tourists typically stay around 15 days, while Asian travellers stay an average of five days.
Meanwhile, TAT governor Thawatchai Arunyik said the authority was now targeting 1.5 million Japanese arrivals next year.
Asian tourists demand weekend destinations where that they can find great food, go shopping and have a beauty make-over, as well as having medical treatment, according to the TAT.
The TAT has set a revenue target of Bt2.2 trillion from tourism this year, as it promotes Thailand as a weekend destination for ASEAN tourists, Kobkarn said.
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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