Emerging from the heart of Chiang Mai, the Ling App has captured global attention, recently earning a prestigious spotlight on the App Store for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This innovative language-learning tool from Thailand has distinguished itself as an essential companion for travelers, designed to enrich the Parisian adventures of athletes and spectators.

In a crowded market of educational applications, Ling sets itself apart by integrating cultural immersion into its language lessons. Raisha, the Head of Campaign Management, attributes their App Store success to their deep understanding of user needs and dedication to delivering high-quality, innovative content that enhances the user experience.

The design team at Ling, collaborating closely with The Thaiger, has meticulously crafted the app’s interface and mascot to align with the Paris Games theme, providing a visually captivating and culturally immersive experience.

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This year, the app introduces the Culture Notes feature, which guides users through Paris’s rich heritage, cuisine, and festivities, ensuring seamless and authentic social interactions.

Moreover, the app includes essential vocabulary and cultural tips for the Olympics, enabling users to communicate effortlessly from the stands to the streets of Paris. Ling’s emphasis on practical language skills and cultural insights enhances travel experiences and fosters meaningful connections across diverse backgrounds.

Featured prominently on the App Store, Ling’s recognition underscores its effectiveness in bridging language gaps, solidifying its role as an indispensable companion for those attending the Olympics in Paris.

Bangkok is making significant strides toward sustainability under Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s guidance. Building on the foundation laid by the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative, the governor is now pursuing a more ambitious environmental agenda.
Governor Chadchart envisions transforming Bangkok into a 15-minute city with accessible green spaces.

This plan includes adding 130 parks and doubling the tree-planting target to two million by 2026, following successfully planting one million trees in two years.
According to Pornphrom Vikitsreth, the BMA’s chief of sustainability and adviser to the governor, the 58-year-old governor’s first action upon assuming office was planting a tree in a park.

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Thailand faces significant environmental challenges, including deforestation, declining biodiversity, and soil erosion. Urban areas, particularly Bangkok, suffer from severe air pollution caused by traffic and industrial emissions, posing serious health risks.

The country’s waste management system is also under pressure, with rising plastic waste exacerbating pollution in both land and water ecosystems. With a population of 10 million and limited green space per capita, Bangkok is often seen as overcrowded.

Enhancing green spaces is essential for making the city more livable, attracting expatriates, and competing with neighboring cities like Singapore.
Moving beyond the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative that aligned with the Paris Agreement, Governor Chadchart is now prioritizing the 15-minute park concept.

This involves creating pocket parks in underserved areas to ensure equitable access to green spaces for all residents.
“Parks are a smaller investment with big gains,” Pornphrom stated.
The 15-Minute City Concept
The 15-minute city concept ensures that residents can walk to essential amenities, including schools, malls, restaurants, and green spaces, within 15 minutes. In Bangkok, parks are the primary focus.
Rather than developing one or two large parks annually, the city focuses on smaller pocket parks to ensure more equitable access.
Selecting a new park location involves a detailed process:
Analyze the Need: Conduct a thorough analysis to determine the necessity of a new park, focusing on densely populated areas near community centers.
Engage the Community: After identifying a potential site, set up a circle of chairs on the land and invite residents to discuss their needs, asking them, “What do you want?”
Design Based on Input: Tailor the park’s design based on community feedback, incorporating features like playgrounds, trails, outdoor gyms, or benches to meet local needs.
Pornphrom emphasized that the BMA wants residents to be involved from the beginning so that they feel a sense of ownership once the park opens.

“Maintenance is crucial after the park opens.”

Regular users are encouraged to help with upkeep and security, fostering a sense of ownership among locals. We must be more inventive when we don’t have the land.
Finding space for pocket parks in a densely packed city has been challenging. Solutions include:

• Reimagining areas under expressways.
• Converting concrete spaces into greenery.
• Repurposing parts of parking lots.

Partnering with local schools to open their grounds to the public after hours.”
Trees and green spaces are vital for physical and mental health, enhancing air quality, aiding in carbon sequestration and drainage, providing shade, and making cities more livable.”
A new policy has introduced 50 arborists to the city to ensure tree survival.

These specialists, known as tree doctors, focus on assessing and maintaining the overall health of trees rather than performing routine maintenance, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
In 2022, the city had only one arborist, but the current administration has increased this number to 15, with ongoing training and certification efforts to expand the team further, said Pornphrom.

People are pleased they voted for the new governor.

They feel more free. To maintain high standards, quality checkers assess the vitality of the parks.”
By implementing these innovative strategies, Bangkok is on its way to becoming a greener, more sustainable city, improving the quality of life for its residents.

Ang Thong National Marine Park is currently experiencing its most severe coral bleaching event in a decade, with expectations for improvement by August. Despite the crisis, the park projects revenue exceeding 40 million baht by the end of the fiscal year.

Unprecedented Coral Bleaching Crisis

Ang Thong National Marine Park is facing a significant coral bleaching crisis, the worst in the past ten years. Rising sea temperatures have caused extensive coral stress and bleaching across the park’s waters.

Sutin Prompalat, Head of Ang Thong National Marine Park, reported that surveys conducted at 13 stations within the park revealed coral bleaching levels between 40% and 75%.

The bleaching began in April, with sea temperatures fluctuating between 29.19 and 32.36 degrees Celsius from April to June. The elevated sea temperatures have placed immense stress on the coral, leading to widespread bleaching.

Hope for Recovery

Despite the severe bleaching, there is hope for recovery as sea temperatures are starting to decrease. Sutin expressed optimism that conditions will improve by August, allowing the coral to begin its recovery process.

Key Islands and Marine Life

The park encompasses several notable islands, including Phaluai Island, Wua Talap Island, Mae Ko Island, Sam Sao Island, Tai Plao Island, Wua Kantang Island, Hin Dap Island, and Phai Luak Island. It is also home to the Bryde’s whale, a species protected under Thai law.

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Recognition and Management Excellence

Sutin highlighted the park’s exemplary management practices, which have garnered numerous accolades. Ang Thong National Marine Park is certified as an ASEAN Heritage Park, the sixth in Thailand to receive this honor. It has also been designated as a Ramsar Site, recognizing its significance as a wetland of international importance.

The Thailand Tourism Silver Awards for natural attractions and the Green National Park Award for environmental management in 2016 and 2020.

Enhancing Visitor Experience and Safety

The park management has implemented various initiatives to ensure visitor safety and enhance the tourist experience. In April, staff received training in emergency rescue operations, including CPR and responses to potential incidents such as kayak accidents, seafood allergies, and jellyfish stings. Special nets have been installed at Wua Talap Island to protect swimmers from Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish.

Regular upgrades and maintenance of tourist facilities are also a priority. This includes repairing guesthouses and installing additional fans. Daily beach clean-ups are conducted to maintain the pristine condition of the park.

Visitor Limits and Revenue Projections

To preserve the natural environment, the park limits the number of tourists to 1,000 per day, with approximately 80% to 90% being international visitors. As of the current fiscal year, the park has generated around 38 million baht in revenue. Sutin confidently projected that the park’s revenue will surpass 40 million baht by the end of the fiscal year. This would position Ang Thong National Marine Park as the ninth highest-earning park among Thailand’s 156 national parks.

Conclusion

Ang Thong National Marine Park is battling a significant coral bleaching event, the worst in a decade. However, with the sea temperatures beginning to drop, there is optimism for recovery. The park’s effective management and commitment to visitor safety and environmental preservation have earned it numerous accolades. Despite the coral bleaching crisis, the park is on track to generate substantial revenue, reflecting its popularity and importance as a natural attraction.