When APEC members gather in Thailand next month, government employees in most of metropolitan Bangkok will get three holidays.
Nov. 16-18 will be extra holidays for government agencies in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan provinces, the cabinet announced yesterday, as the kingdom welcomes world leaders to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, aka APEC.
The cabinet cited that granting more holidays is to alleviate traffic problems, facilitate the travel of meeting participants, and protect them.
The July assassination of Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan, is in part the reason for heightened security measures being taken during the summit.
During this period, banks will remain open, however.
The APEC summit will take place on Nov. 18 and Nov. 19 at the newly revamped Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. It will be the first physical meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the leaders who accepted invitations to attend are French President Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, newly elected president of the Philippines.
U.S. President Joe Biden will not attend the event himself. Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly will fill in for him.
Thailand previously hosted APEC summits in 1992 and 2003.
