- Thailand Pickleball Open in Hua Hin/Thai juniors at Hua Hin/Don Mueang airport transport guide/Violent storms, heavy rain forecast/Torrential rain pounds Phuket/Thailand urges emergency bag preparations/Makro Online Targets 110 Billion Baht/Social Security Act will extend insured age
- ECONOMY: Trade Boom Pushes Port Past Capacity/Benefits from US midterms/US Midterms Unlikely Game Changer for Thailand/Industrial depth anchors Thailand’s edge/Tokyo and Thailand Pioneer Digital Finance
- TOURISM: Thailand records 25.46 million arrivals/Suvarnabhumi plans to double capacity/11 million long-haul tourists in 2027/Southeast Asia Medical Tourism Market/Chiang Mai tops Asia-Pacific booking growth/Luxury travel demand boosts hotels
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Increased presence of elephants causes concern/Making Thai architecture tangible
- CLIMATE THAILAND: The Heat They’ll Inherit/Level the solar field/Small modular reactors/EV use in state sector/Green Destinations honors
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
7th Thailand Pickleball Open in Hua Hin
A category for everyone: from relative beginners and casual players to seasoned court veterans. Entries are open HERE.
Thai juniors rule world meet at Hua Hin
Thailand’s young golfers claimed several titles at the Singha Thailand Junior World Golf Championship, which concluded at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Sunday.
The four-day event attracted 144 players from 14 countries, split into four age groups: Class A (15-17), Class B (13-14), Class C (11-12) and Class D (9-10). Individual and team honors were contested. Continued …
Don Mueang airport transport guide covers buses, taxis and trains
Don Mueang International Airport has published a transport guide outlining the public transport services available to passengers, including airport buses, taxis, trains, car hire and intercity coaches.
The airport’s infographic provides information on fares, operating hours and boarding locations for travel into Bangkok, transfers to Suvarnabhumi Airport, and onward journeys to Pattaya and Hua Hin. Continued …
Violent storms, heavy rain forecast for Thailand Nov 5-9
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its fourth advisory warning of volatile weather, severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across northern and southern Thailand from Nov. 5-9.
According to the TMD, a strong high-pressure system from China is spreading southward, pushing a cold air mass over northern Thailand and the South China Sea. This atmospheric shift will strengthen easterly winds across the country and the Gulf of Thailand, triggering widespread and unseasonably turbulent weather. Continued …
Torrential rain pounds Phuket, with some areas flooded again
Phuket was lashed by heavy rain again last night, leading to several parts of three districts, including Patong seaside town, getting flooded.
The intense downpour started at 5.30 pm, leading to floods swamping Mueang Phuket, Kathu, and Thalang districts, while a flash flood that originated from the Khao 50 Pi (50-Year Hill) area gushed down to Na Nai road in Patong, making travel difficult. Continued …
Are you ready for 72 hours? Thailand urges emergency bag preparations
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has urged households to prepare emergency bags containing enough food, water, medicine and essential supplies to survive for at least 72 hours, citing international concerns over conflicts in the Middle East and the need for disaster preparedness.
Nirat Pongsitthithavorn, director-general of the DDPM, said several countries had advised their citizens to stockpile essential supplies for three days amid concerns over the situation in the Middle East. Continued …
Makro’s Online as Makro PRO Targets Up to 110 Billion Baht
CP Axtra is reshaping Makro from a store-based wholesaler into an omni-channel retailer. Its branches draw business customers in, while its online platform takes a growing share of their orders. Makro PRO, the online arm, is heading for annual sales of between 100 billion and 110 billion baht this year.
Tanit Chearavanont, group chief executive officer of the wholesale business at CP Axtra, told reporters in Bangkok that customer behavior had changed faster than expected. Continued …
Draft of Social Security Act will extend insured age to 65, adjust numerous benefits
The Cabinet has approved the draft Social Security Act as proposed by the Ministry of Labor. This amendment aims to revise the law to align with the current context, accommodate an aging society, and provide more comprehensive protection for insured persons.
This draft expands the age of insured persons and increases benefits by raising the maximum age for employees insured under Section 33 from 60 years to a maximum of 65 years, in order to accommodate older workers. Continued …
Trade Boom Pushes Thailand’s Biggest Port Past Capacity
Thailand’s Port Authority is considering a fourth development phase for Laem Chabang, the country’s largest deep-sea port, after cargo volumes rose beyond its existing capacity.
The Chon Buri port is already being expanded under a third-phase project. Officials are now examining the potential size, cost and timetable for further works as trade through the gateway continues to grow. Continued …
Analysts see benefits from US midterms
Thes US midterm elections could benefit Thailand and global trade, as stronger checks and balances between Congress and President Donald Trump could reduce US policy uncertainty and ease market volatility, analysts say.
Apichart Phubanjerdkul, senior director of the strategic analysis division at Tisco Securities, expects the Nov. 3 US midterm elections to have a positive impact on financial markets, potentially easing policy uncertainty and supporting a recovery in Thai equities later this month. Continued …
US Midterms Unlikely to be a Game Changer for Thailand, says KKP Economist
The US midterm elections are unlikely to be a “game changer” for Thailand, though a weaker Republican grip on Congress could unsettle global sentiment and make life harder for emerging markets, according to Pipat Luengnaruemitchai, chief economist at KKP Research.
Pipat said markets had largely priced in the likelihood that President Donald Trump’s Republican Party would lose control of the House of Representatives. The real surprise, he said, would be a Republican sweep. Continued …
Industrial depth anchors Thailand’s edge
Thailand’s industrial systems and seasoned workforce are its strongest competitive advantages as companies look to diversify production across Southeast Asia.
But infrastructure bottlenecks in grid capacity, green energy and high-end technical skills need to be addressed to help drive future investment, according to Jan Metzger, global head of coverage banking at Standard Chartered. Continued …
Tokyo and Thailand Pioneer Digital Finance
The architecture of global finance is undergoing a profound transformation. As tokenized assets, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and stablecoins reshape traditional boundaries, regional hubs are seeking innovative ways to connect capital markets and streamline cross-border payments.
At a media roundtable at the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, leading economists, financial authorities, and fintech experts convened to explore how Tokyo and Thailand can together build ASEAN’s next financial corridor through advanced digital finance and tokenization. Continued …
Thailand records 25.46 million arrivals, down 4.6%
Thailand’s long-haul tourist arrivals rose 13.6% week on week, extending growth to a fifth consecutive week ahead of the winter holiday season, while total foreign arrivals reached 25.46 million in the first 10 months of 2026.
However, January–October arrivals remained 4.59% below the same period last year, according to preliminary figures released by Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul. Continued …
Suvarnabhumi plans to double capacity to 120 million
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport could double its annual passenger capacity to 120 million within seven years under an Airports of Thailand (AOT) plan for a new terminal, a proposed fourth runway and expanded processing areas.
The state-owned airport operator is preparing to submit its fifth development plan for Suvarnabhumi, in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok, to the cabinet. It includes a southern terminal, a fourth runway and an east expansion project. Continued …
TAT targets 11 million long-haul tourists in 2027 despite rising costs
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is targeting 11 million long-haul international visitors and 730 billion baht in tourism revenue in 2027, despite rising oil prices, prolonged conflict in the Middle East and economic pressures affecting European travelers.
Chiravadee Khunsub, TAT deputy governor for international marketing covering Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, expects the long-haul market to maintain its growth momentum next year, with an anticipated expansion of approximately 4%. Continued …
Southeast Asia Medical Tourism Market Size, Share, Growth Trends
The Southeast Asia Medical Tourism Market reached USD 6.1 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 35.5 Billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 21.68% during 2026-2034. This growth rests on Thailand’s established leadership attracting over a million medical tourists annually, Malaysia’s dedicated medical tourism year in 2026, Indonesia’s push to retain patients currently traveling abroad, and Vietnam’s formal medical tourism development plan through 2030 .
Thailand was ranked the world’s second-leading medical tourism destination in the Top 50 Medical Tourism Destinations for 2026 by Travel and Tour World, behind Turkey but ahead of India, Mexico, and South Korea . The country attracted over one million medical tourists annually, with its medical tourism market valued at USD 17.8 billion in 2025 and projected to reach USD 76.5 billion by 2035. Continued …
Chiang Mai tops Asia-Pacific autumn booking growth
Chiang Mai saw autumn flight bookings rise 84.3% year-on-year, the largest increase recorded by any city in the Asia-Pacific region, according to online travel company Trip.com Group.
The northern Thai city led a group of destinations whose booking growth was driven largely by travelers from mainland China. Trip. com said the trend reflected demand for affordable, short-haul trips and a growing willingness to explore destinations beyond the best-known tourism hubs. Continued …
Luxury travel demand boosts hotels in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia remains a growth pillar for luxury travel amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, as more travelers shift to the region, including Thailand, viewing it as a safe haven, according to global hospitality brand Accor.
Maud Bailly, chief executive of Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems at Accor, said that despite global conflicts and soaring travel expenses, the appetite for luxury travel remains positive around the world. Continued …
Increased presence of elephants near communities causes concern
The presence of wild elephants in or near human settlements in several provinces of Thailand is causing concern among villagers living near forests and tourists visiting forest resorts. Park rangers have been deployed to several locations where the pachyderms are reported to have ventured out of their habitats toward communities, apparently to forage for food.
In Trat, for instance, an elephant named Shorty is reported to have strayed into a village and loitered in front of a shop, prompting people in the village to alert officials. Meanwhile, in another village in Bo Rai district of Trat, officials from Klong Kaew Waterfall National Park have been on alert for an elephant reported in a state of musth, to prevent it from harming people. Continued …
From chedi to the classroom: Making Thai architecture tangible
Wat Arun’s soaring chedi, or prang, is a familiar Bangkok landmark. But to someone trained in Thai architecture, its grandeur is only part of the story. Assistant Professor Napat Kwanmuang, an architecture lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, created TORTHAI to help students and children explore that way of seeing. Video …
The Heat They’ll Inherit: A City, a Reef, and the Next Generation
In Bangkok, heat is becoming harder to escape. Concrete roads, glass towers, and dense traffic absorb the sun through the day and release it long after dark, a phenomenon urban planners call the urban heat island effect.
For the young people growing up here, an unbearable afternoon is no longer just weather. It’s becoming a preview of the world they’re set to inherit. The heat doesn’t stop at the city limits. Continued …
Level the solar field
The government’s rooftop solar subsidy scheme should not become a commercial contest that only the biggest installers can afford to enter. Such concerns follow complaints from small operators that the government’s requirements for rooftop solar installers put them at a disadvantage.
The government is offering subsidies of 50,000 baht per household for up to 1 million homes, funded by a 50-billion-baht framework. Installers must provide a 50,000-baht bank guarantee for each job, with a six-month deadline to complete the work. They must also provide a separate 10,000-baht security deposit for after-sales obligations over seven years. Continued …
Small modular reactors: What Thailand needs to assess first
As artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers drive demand for reliable electricity, small modular reactors (SMRs) are emerging as a potential source of round-the-clock, low-carbon power.
For Thailand, however, adopting the technology involves more than choosing a nuclear reactor. Safety, compatibility with the national electricity system and long-term economic value must all be carefully considered. Continued …
EPPO advances EV use in state sector
The Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) has laid out a roadmap to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations across government agencies, describing it as a crucial step toward clean energy and the country’s net-zero emissions target.
Under the initiative, EPPO is promoting guidelines for EV adoption and the installation of charging points at public-sector workplaces, designed to lay the foundation for a shift toward cleaner, more efficient transport that fits the way the government operates. Continued …
Six Thai destinations win Green Destinations 2026 honors
Six destinations in Thailand have been recognized in the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories 2026 awards in Kranj, Slovenia, for locally led projects in sustainable tourism.
The entries, supported by the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), cover projects ranging from electric transport in Sukhothai to marine-waste upcycling in Chonburi. DASTA said this was its largest number of recognized entries since it began taking part in the program. Continued …
Living costs, housing, job uncertainty fuel European youth anger
Countries across Europe have been swept by a wave of protests by young people angry at the spiraling cost of living who have little trust in traditional institutions. While local grievances have fueled the fire, the movements that brought hundreds of thousands to the streets of France, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Germany on the weekend are all linked by shared continent-wide issues such as sky-high housing costs, poor pay and the climate crisis. Continued …
Hackers turn up the heat in Europe’s frozen food aisles, again
European supermarket fridges are under cyberattack once again, with stores across a vast swathe of the continent, from Sweden to Belgium, hit by a hack yesterday that turned up their temperatures, echoing an incident in France just last month. Video …
US strategy links Myanmar peace talks to rare-earth access
Washington aims to use peace diplomacy in Myanmar as a way to expand US influence and potentially gain access to the country’s rare-earth deposits, according to a recently published State Department strategy document. Continued …
Bangkok preps for renewed war between Iran and the United States in coming weeks
Thailand is bracing for fresh US strikes on Iran, with oil supplies threatened and fuel prices soaring. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered emergency preparations as Washington weighs attacks after Tuesday’s American midterm elections. Meanwhile, Thai embassies are on alert, with military evacuations under consideration.
Half of Thailand’s crude oil imports come from the Middle East, while Brent has topped $113 a barrel. Iranian attacks reportedly targeted 25 ships in October, threatening further disruption. Continued …
Iran says contacts over ending war continue after talks finish with no breakthrough
Contacts between Iran and the United States to end their eight-month war are continuing, Tehran said yesterday, after days of Iranian talks with Qatari mediators ended with altered proposals but no breakthrough.
“Consultations through mediators are very intensive. We have presented our conditions and proposals and everything depends on the political rationality of Washington,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said. Continued …
Trump’s Iran threat renews Gulf fears of a war it didn’t choose
US President Donald Trump’s threat to strike Iran again confronts America’s Gulf allies with a stark prospect: another war decided in Washington in which the US bases built to protect them could instead make them targets for harsh Iranian reprisal.
Iranian missiles that struck US military bases and Gulf energy facilities in the last round of fighting exposed a vulnerability at the heart of Washington’s decades-old security architecture. Continued …
Oil falls over 7% amid Iran peace hopes
Prospects of a negotiated end to the US-Israeli war with Iran drove oil prices more than 7% lower yesterday, as Qatari mediation and signals from Tehran raised expectations of more stable crude supplies from the Middle East. Continued …
Hacked emergency alert apps spread fear in Ukraine and Russia
Ukraine and Russia said their emergency alert apps had been hacked overnight, sending false warnings to citizens about impending air raids, chemical and nuclear attacks. Video …
Russian bombing kills 26 people at Ukraine aid center, Kyiv says
At least 26 people were killed after Russian bombs hit an aid distribution center, in an attack that Ukraine’s leader has called “utterly horrific”. Five people were injured and 27 initially reported missing after at least nine 3,000-kilogram aerial bombs hit the village of Komyshuvakha in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Continued …
Hua Hin Links and Transport
Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport
Thai AirAsia’s Hua Hin–Chiang Mai flights are now operating daily, with the increased frequency scheduled to continue until March 27, 2027.
Hua Hin BluesFest 2026 will take place at The Kaset Hua Hin on Sunday, Dec. 6, bringing Thai and international musicians together for seven and a half hours of live music over Thailand’s Father’s Day long weekend.
Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Resort & Villas has received a certificate of recognition from the Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (BEDO) for its participation in projects promoting environmentally responsible tourism and the sustainable use of biodiversity.
Kaeng Krachan’s Khao Phanoen Thung reopens Nov 1
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Saturday that the Thai-Cambodian border will remain closed because there remain several conflicting issues between the two countries that are yet to be resolved.
Thailand’s political confidence index fell to 3.52 out of 10 in October, with ratings for the government and prime minister also declining, according to a nationwide Suan Dusit Poll released yesterday.
Robot used in new heart surgery
Thailand aims to become a high-income economy by 2037, with a new five-year science and innovation strategy targeting annual GDP growth of 5%.
Thailand eyes status as AI medical hub
Thailand is keen to leverage small artificial intelligence (AI) to create a big impact in many sectors. Small AI solutions are focused applications designed to solve specific, practical problems, often using less data, computing power and money than large, general purpose systems.
Airports of Thailand (AOT) plans to cut the floor space given to duty-free shops in Suvarnabhumi International Airport, moving more sales to pick-up counters and handing part of the area to automated gates. The airport operator also expects to announce details of a new paid premium service for arriving and departing passengers this month.
The accusation of “favoring tycoons” continues to haunt the Bhumjaithai government after the Cabinet meeting on Oct. 27 approved the solar power project for the public, with the government incentivizing Thais to install “solar rooftops” with a subsidy of 50,000 baht per household.
As Thailand accelerates its transition to a low-carbon economy, energy policymakers are revising the country’s oil strategy to balance decarbonization goals with energy security.
Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul visited the park on Damnoen Kasem Road with municipal executives, the director of the Engineering Department, construction supervisors and relevant officials to check progress. 
Khao Tao Reservoir renovations planned after complaints
A Prachuap Khiri Khan weather warning covering Oct. 28–31 has urged residents to remain alert for heavy rain, strong wind gusts, flash floods and landslides.
Thailand’s Oil Fuel Fund Management Committee approved reductions in retail fuel prices yesterday, cutting the price of B7 diesel by 1 baht per liter and the prices of E10-95 and E10-91 gasohol by 50 satang per liter, effective from today.
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has deployed rapid response units to track a hostile wild gaur and monitor elephant movements in Chanthaburi following two separate wildlife attacks yesterday that left one person dead and three others injured.
At a government wildlife rescue center in Thailand, dozens of lost and injured baby leopard cats are receiving a second chance at life in the wild. Annual admission of leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation rescue center in Khon Kaen, in northeastern Thailand, have surged from an average of about 10 cats per year before to 2023 to as many as 65 now.
Three Thai property associations are preparing to seek additional tax relief from Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, as the housing industry warns that mortgage rejection rates could reach 50% in 2026.
The Bank of Thailand has upgraded its economic growth forecast for 2026 to 3.2%, up from its previous projection of 2.4%. This upward revision is driven by stronger momentum in both exports and private investment.
Thailand’s upgraded economic outlook is primarily driven by stronger momentum in exports and increased private investment. The Bank of Thailand has specifically raised its growth forecasts due to robust performance in sectors like technology and electronics, alongside a surge in foreign direct investment.
Consumer goods companies are planning price hikes to cover rising operational costs driven by geopolitical instability and supply chain issues. Major brands including Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Nestle, and Reckitt have warned that further increases are necessary to offset higher expenses for raw materials, energy, and transportation.
Pickups were long Thailand’s largest vehicle segment, at times accounting for around half the market, before contracting sharply in recent years. For the latest eight-month period, Tri Petch Isuzu Sales said the overall vehicle market grew by 18%, driven mainly by passenger cars and SUVs, while pickup sales were close to the level recorded in the same period last year.
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said yesterday the ministry had worked with three major e-commerce platforms – Shopee, TikTok Shop and Lazada – to lower sales fees and ease costs for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which had been affected by repeated fee increases since the start of the year.
Thailand Targets Global Pet Hub Status as Pet Food Exports Reach $3.28 Billion
Small contractors risk being excluded from the government’s 50-billion-baht solar rooftop program due to excessively harsh regulatory frameworks and stringent technical requirements. Industry groups, such as the Thai Photovoltaic Industries Assn., have noted that these rules are particularly disproportionate for small and medium-sized operators.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has defended Thailand’s “public solar” program against criticism that it favors large businesses, saying it will lower household costs and encourage renewable energy use.
A Renfe high-speed train struck a stationary Iryo service in Castilla-La Mancha, south of Madrid, yesterday, killing at least 68 people in Spain’s second major high-speed rail disaster of the year. 
Lavaron Sangsnit, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance, said the Cabinet had formally approved a household solar program targeting one million homes nationwide. The program will support rooftop, ground-mounted and floating solar power systems, with a government subsidy of 50,000 baht per household toward a standard 140,000-baht package using equipment certified by the electricity utilities.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecast heavy rain in 17 central and southern provinces today. The department warned that persistent rain could cause flash floods and runoff in the south, while thunderstorms and strong gusts remain a threat across upper Thailand, particularly the central region.
The Thai cabinet approved a three-month reduction in excise taxes on E20 gasohol and B20 biodiesel to provide financial relief to farmers, transport operators, and consumers. This measure aims to lower domestic living costs and ease the burden of high fuel prices.
PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR), which operates PTT Station, and Bangchak Corp. have lowered B20 diesel and E20 gasohol prices to 33.50 baht per liter in Bangkok from today.
Thai food study finds bacteria in raw enoki mushroom samples
Thailand’s consumer sentiment in October reveals a notable shift in the issues weighing on people’s minds. While financial and political corruption remains the country’s leading concern, poverty and social inequality has returned to second place, and climate change has emerged as one of the month’s fastest-rising worries.
Thailand’s Parliament has opened public consultation on a proposed overhaul of the country’s firearms law, including a requirement for personal gun possession licenses to be renewed every five years.
Thailand’s private investment growth is being driven by a surge in digital infrastructure, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence, cloud services, and data centers. Additionally, investment is being propelled by robust performance in the technology and electronics export sectors.
Car production in Thailand dropped 6.1% in September from a year earlier to 120,319 units, due partially to disruptions caused by flooding, the Federation of Thai Industries said yesterday. The reading followed a rise of 10.9% in August.
Thailand and Malaysia reaffirmed their commitment to achieving US$30 billion in bilateral trade by 2027 during ministerial talks in Bangkok yesterday, while backing faster progress on border transport projects and closer security cooperation.
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has warned that Chinese group-tour business in Thailand could fall by as much as 50% during the Lunar New Year holiday in 2027 unless the government moves quickly to address safety concerns raised by the Chinese embassy.
Deputy Transport Minister Phattrapong Phattraprasit is leading efforts to introduce seaplane services in the Andaman region to stimulate the local economy and boost tourism. This strategic plan involves coordinating with various authorities, including the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand and the Department of Airports, to manage landing sites, staff training, and environmental protection.
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has warned that prolonged high oil prices could put pressure on inflation and the current account. Energy economist Praipol Koomsup has called for broader fuel tax cuts, while suggesting prices could ease within one to two months if conflicts subside. 
EZY Airlines has announced that scheduled services on its Hua Hin–U-Tapao route would begin on Oct. 23. The airline plans to launch flights between Hua Hin and Surat Thani in November.
Hua Hin’s first-ever Halloween parade will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, with residents and visitors invited to dress up and join the celebrations on Soi Bintabaht.
More than 1,700 Thai and international runners took part in Run with the Flow 2026 in Hua Hin on Sunday, supporting heart and brain health, and raising funds to help disadvantaged patients access medical treatment.
Video of the panther and leopard at Kaeng Krachan
I’ve been coming to Thailand for 30 years and have lived here since 2014. Over the years, the word has come to play an increasingly absurd role in my life. I’m an alien in Thailand, and I see little prospect of that changing.
Thailand’s hotel and accommodation sector recorded 148 business closures in the first nine months of 2026, a 42% increase on the same period last year, according to the Kasikorn Research Center.
Thailand’s agricultural and agro-industrial exports fell 1.9% in the first nine months of 2026 as high production costs and intense global competition weighed on key products, even as booming electronics shipments pushed the country’s overall exports to record levels.
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee approved in principle yesterday the designation of four new special economic promotion zones worth 25.66 billion baht, aiming to attract global technology enterprises and artificial intelligence investments.
Artificial intelligence has overtaken climate change as the top global risk, according to a 2026 report from French insurer Axa. This shift is driven by concerns that technological advancements are progressing faster than the ability of regulators to prepare for the potential consequences.
Phra Nakhon Khiri Festival set for March
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) are enhancing cooperation to modernize national park services, promote high-value nature tourism, and uphold environmental conservation standards.
Doi Luang Chiang Dao opens online bookings for 2026–27 treks
The government’s proposed 50,000-baht subsidy to encourage up to one million households to install a solar power system will be presented to the cabinet today for approval. The proposed scheme also involves three state-owned banks which would provide low-interest loans, eliminating the need for upfront capital.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has accelerated a study on nuclear energy adoption, setting a target to launch Thailand’s first commercial small modular reactor (SMR) by 2037.
US President Donald Trump attacked Norway during a campaign rally, calling it a “shit house country,” and said that Norwegian immigrants were not welcome in the United States because its Nobel Committee had not awarded him the Peace Prize. 
Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, the company said yesterdayy, roughly a quarter of its workforce, as the tech giant seeks to cut costs while pouring money into artificial intelligence. 
Rising healthcare expenditure is placing increasing strain on private health insurance across Southeast Asia. Population aging, chronic disease, greater healthcare utilization, provider charges, and advances in medical treatment are contributing factors to this pressure.
Thailand is stepping up preparations to tackle potential PM2.5 fine particulate pollution, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul directing relevant agencies to put response measures in place amid reports of pollution in neighboring countries.
Thailand is preparing new rules requiring major ride-hailing and delivery apps to justify service fee increases, after regulators found that some platforms’ charges had risen by as much as 400% over five years.
Facebook accounted for nearly 74% of reported online shopping scams in Thailand last week.
Rising energy prices create inflationary pressures primarily by increasing the production and transport costs of goods, which then bleeds into the wider economy. As global energy supplies face shocks — such as those caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran — the increased cost of fuels like diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG) forces businesses and households to cope with higher living costs.
Thailand’s labor market is facing growing pressure as artificial intelligence transforms jobs and skills, while young people with university degrees are experiencing much higher unemployment than the national average, speakers at Nation Forum 2027 warned.
Thailand will knit its road, rail, water and air networks into a single economic system to become the region’s center of trade and logistics, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said yesterday.
Thailand’s US$4.4-billion luxury retail market is expected to grow by around 5% a year through 2028, according to property consultancy CBRE, as the country gains influence beyond its role as a destination for international brands.
The introduction of a tax on outbound travel in Thailand could be postponed if economic conditions are deemed inappropriate. Specifically, the Fiscal Policy Office has indicated that the timing of the measure depends on the outcome of public consultations and the assessment of the prevailing economic situation.
Thailand must turn its cultural strengths into higher-value tourism while spreading economic opportunities beyond established destinations, speakers told Nation Forum 2027: Thailand’s Agenda in Bangkok yesterday.
Elephant calves: Learning to walk and use their trunks
The Thwaites Glacier, also known as the ” Doomsday Glacier ,” is located on the Walgreens Coast in the Marybirdland region of West Antarctica. Covering approximately 192,000 square kilometers, it’s roughly the size of Senegal and is one of the largest and most important glaciers for stabilizing global sea levels. However, this glacier is currently melting rapidly, causing sea levels to rise by about 4%.
Thailand has some of the most dangerous roads in Asia, with thousands of people killed every year and motorcycles involved in the vast majority of fatal crashes. But why is the problem so severe?
The Interior Ministry has ordered an investigation into possible involvement by government officials in a human trafficking network accused of forcing children from Myanmar to sell flowers and juice on Khaosan Road and at other locations in Bangkok.
Floods deepen Thai shrimp crisis amid disease and export setbacks
Thai electronics companies are projected to see varying levels of revenue growth in the third quarter of 2026, with some seeing significant increases driven by artificial intelligence demand. Specifically, Delta Electronics (Thailand) is expected to see revenue rise by 16% quarter-on-quarter and 24% year-on-year, reaching 7.57 trillion baht. KCE Electronics is forecast to grow its revenue by 150% year-on-year and 16% quarter-on-quarter, reaching 594 million baht.
13 Foods Under $1 In Bangkok
The massive floods and extreme storms currently devastating major cities around the world are undeniable evidence that humanity has fully entered the era of “climate extremes.”
Oil prices extended gains today, as the Middle East conflict escalated after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis stepped up strikes on Saudi Arabia, while two tankers were attacked over the weekend, raising concerns about oil supply from the region.
Southeast Asia’s property market is entering a phase in which growth is spreading beyond a handful of economic centers into economic corridors, industrial cities and tourism destinations, according to JLL’s latest research report, Planning for a Multipolar World: Real Estate Strategies Across Southeast Asia in 2026 and Beyond.
Thailand’s health economy, spanning medical care, preventive health and wellness, is emerging as a new engine of growth. Panelists warned, however, that regulatory delays and heavy reliance on imported products could limit the benefits.
Thong Pha Phum National Park in Kanchanaburi will reopen its Khao Chang Phueak long-distance nature trek from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. Numbers will be capped at 60 visitors a day, with hikers aged 13 to 70 only.
Hua Hin municipality is preparing to widen Hua Hin Soi 102 from two lanes to four and install new drainage along a 1.93-kilometer stretch. No construction start date has been announced.
Hua Hin Profile: Humanitarianism in action
Thai rocker Nene Royal, winner of America’s Got Talent 2026, will make her acting debut as the Thai voice of Billie Doe in Disney’s animated fantasy Hexed.
Nene Royal to sing for over 400 guests at IMF–World Bank reception
British banker and whistleblower Simon Andriesz, 57, was found dead in Khlong Luang, just outside Bangkok, on the morning of September 23. The local municipality recorded his cause of death as “asphyxiation from hanging”.
Thailand has not implemented any additional measures regarding the suspected plague in Russia, as Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat stated there are currently no plans for further action unless new developments emerge.
As the planet warms, cities like Bangkok could be increasingly inundated by deadly floods
Flooding in eastern Thailand has persisted for seven consecutive days as of today. The stagnant water in the region has led to issues such as foul odors in certain areas.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has drawn up a five-to-seven-year flood-management program expected to require at least 100 billion baht, combining drainage maintenance with major canal, tunnel and water-retention projects to protect the capital’s role as Thailand’s economic center.
Thailand’s headline consumer price index rose 2.82% in September from a year earlier, the Commerce Ministry said yesterday, as food and fuel prices increased.
Thailand has expanded a crackdown on suspected foreign nominee businesses from Koh Phangan into seven provinces, according to a media report, as concern grows over overseas investors, land deals and long-stay visitors on the country’s resort islands.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed officials to advance tariff negotiations after receiving a letter from US President Donald Trump expressing hope that an agreement with Thailand can be signed soon, government spokesman Ekkapop Pianpises said oyesterday.
The Thai cabinet has approved tax measures for the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) sector that allow businesses to claim a double tax deduction for expenses related to space rental and services for trade fairs and exhibitions. These incentives are intended to stimulate economic activity by attracting international events and increasing spending in related industries such as tourism, transport, and hospitality.
An increase in the value-added tax (VAT) of 3% was discussed during a session where senators also called for a broader tax base to address a reported net deficit of 760 billion baht for fiscal 2025.
Singapore-listed DFI Retail plans to open 250 new Starbucks outlets over the next three years, mainly in Thailand and Vietnam, after taking full control of the licensed business operating more than 1,100 coffeehouses across seven Asian markets.
The Middle East conflict and oil price volatility have highlighted Thailand’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, prompting calls to accelerate its clean energy transition. A seminar involving energy experts, policymakers, and industry representatives concluded that reducing fossil fuel dependence is now an economic and security necessity, not just an environmental goal, with ASEAN neighbors facing similar pressures.
Southeast Asia could save approximately US$45.4 billion by installing enough solar photovoltaic capacity to generate the same amount of electricity as planned gas power projects across five major economies, according to research group Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA).
Clean Kinetics, a Singapore-based solar energy developer, has started construction of a $2-million solar photovoltaic project at Sats Thailand’s central kitchen facility in Pathum Thani province, around 40 kilometers north of Bangkok.
Hua Hin-U-Tapao flights start October 23
A lottery seller in Yasothon province won 60 million baht after retaining 10 unsold lottery tickets that won first prize in the draw yesterday. The tickets all carried the winning number 402701, giving him 6 million baht per ticket.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its second advisory today, warning that unsettled weather will bring thunderstorms, strong gusts and isolated heavy to very heavy rain to parts of Thailand from Oct. 4–7.
Thailand’s government has proposed replacing the Hotel Act with a new Accommodation Establishment Act intended to bring a wider range of lodging businesses into the formal regulatory system.
Thailand and Maersk explore port investment
Infineon Technologies AG is using its new US$1.4 billion (48 billion baht) semiconductor manufacturing hub in Samut Prakan as a long-term platform to strengthen Thailand’s semiconductor ecosystem through advanced production, local talent development and closer links with universities and industry.
Thai Airways to restore all flights tomorrow
Suvarnabhumi Airport has cleared thousands of stranded passengers affected by recent flooding, while efforts continue to return delayed baggage and clear a cargo backlog, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said yesterday.