S1E12: With new airport, mountains, street food and art in Thailand’s deep south beckon tourists: Letter From The Bureau

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. In this episode, she chats with ST's Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee.  Much has changed in Betong during the pandemic. It is a district wedged on the southern tip of Thailand, after a 1hr 45min flight from Bangkok. In the absence of visitors, street artists have transformed ageing shophouses with stunning murals. Dim sum dishes still rule there. But with tourism revenue evaporating following the pandemic, the district's businesses hope its new airport will bring back visitors. Highlights (click/tap above): 01:11 Are tourists returning to Thailand after easing of Covid restrictions? 04:28 Why Singaporean tourists can consider visiting peaceful Betong? 06:38 Dim sum, good street food - pre-and post-pandemic 11:40 How local street art emerged during the pandemic  14:26 Betong’s International Airport finally opens after delays Read Hui Yee’s article here: https://str.sg/w2Hc Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim  Edited by: Hadyu Rahim  Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Websites:  https://www.moneyfm893.sg/ http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s stories: https://str.sg/whNo Read Tan Hui Yee's stories: https://str.sg/i4iR Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.