Traffic nightmare expected on Rama 2/PKK province’s public relations plan- ECONOMY: Finance proposes excise tax restructuring/10 Plus economic plan/Five Nations Invest B33.8 billion/110,000 companies at risk
- TOURISM: Foreign arrivals down 7.6%/Chinese flock to Thailand/Tourism’s 2-speed economy/Visa plan upsets Phuket tourism
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Ten species flagged as birdstrike threat/Monitor lizard invasion in Korat
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Severe heat alarm sounds
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Traffic nightmare expected from partial closure of Rama 2 road for four months
The partial closure of Rama 2 road for four months 24 hours a day from Feb. 15 to June 15 to install beams for a new expressway is expected to have widespread impact on the traffic flow.
Samart Ratchapolsitte, former deputy leader of the Democrat Party and former deputy governor of Bangkok, said this partial shutdown of a major artery connecting Bangkok with Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, and the south, and with there being large business and residential areas of both sides, is a gamble between safety and traffic paralysis. Continued …
PKK province’s public relations plan: Inform residents of policies
Prachuap Khiri Khan province has approved a new public relations plan aimed at improving awareness and understanding of key government policies among local residents. The Provincial National Public Relations Plan for the 2026 fiscal year was endorsed during the first meeting of the year of the Provincial Subcommittee on National Public Relations, held on Monday.
The public relations plan focuses on raising domestic awareness across five main areas: the economy; society and culture; natural resources and the environment; security and political governance; and public administration. Continued …
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Finance proposes excise tax restructuring to boost revenue by 7.6%
The Ministry of Finance is preparing a proposal for the new government to restructure the excise tax system, aiming for a 7.6% increase in revenue for fiscal year 2026, reaching 578 billion baht.
This includes revising tax rates on various products, including a unified rate for cigarettes, adjustments to fuel and alcohol taxes, and the introduction of new taxes on health and environmental hazards, such as salt and carbon taxes. Continued …
10 Plus economic plan targets B1.1 trillion investments
The general election on Feb. 8 concluded with a landslide victory for the Bhumjaithai Party, sweeping 193 MP seats (unofficial data). They have become the core leaders in forming the new government led by Anutin Charnvirakul.
The key figure driving the economy is Ekniti Nitithanprapas, deputy prime minister and minister of finance. Ekniti’s mission is to restructure the Thai economy through the “10-Pill” or “10 Plus” policy. Continued …
Five Nations Invest B33.8 billion in January
Thailand approved B33.779 billion in foreign investment from 113 investors in January, marking a 46% increase in total investment value and a 10% rise in permitted investors.
The approvals were granted under the Foreign Business Act 1999, according to Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Department of Business Development and secretary of the Foreign Business Commission. A total of 262 Thai nationals were employed by investors holding foreign business licenses, representing a 15% increase. Continued …
DBD targets 110,000 companies at risk of nominee and shell accounts
Yesterday, the Department of Business Development announced plans to conduct in-depth investigations of over 110,000 companies with foreign investments to prevent the use of Thai nationals as nominees and the opening of shell accounts. This is part of a broader effort to safeguard Thailand’s business environment.
The focus will be on 12 key provinces, including Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, which are major economic and tourism hubs. Measures to prevent new nominee companies have helped reduce the problem, but a new loophole has emerged: criminals are buying up defunct companies to use them for fraudulent purposes. Authorities are closely monitoring these activities. Continued …
Foreign arrivals down 7.6% so far this year
Thailand’s foreign tourist arrivals dropped 7.6% year-on-year in the period Jan. 1 to Feb. 15, to about 5.07 million people, the Tourism Ministry said yesterday.
China was the biggest source market with 770,427 visitors, followed by Malaysia with 461,742, the ministry said. Continued …
Many tour packages sold out as Chinese flock to Thailand
So many Chinese tourists are heading to Thailand for Lunar New Year holidays that many tour packages offered by travel agencies are completely sold out, according to Chinese media.
Top Thai tourist destinations are currently packed with Chinese tourists, but those who had not purchased a tour package in advance now have to wait until at least the end of February. Several travel companies in Beijing, Wuhan, Xi’an, and other cities said that tour packages to Thailand were sold out approximately a week ago. Continued …
Tourism’s 2-speed economy
Tourism is a key industry for Thailand, but over the past decade it has faced a critical challenge: income disparity, with a sharp divide between a handful of major destinations and second-tier locations.
Although the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recognized the imbalance and introduced a scheme in 2018 separating 22 major provinces from 55 second-tier ones to grant privileges aimed at boosting less popular destinations, such as tax deductions for travel expenses, the disparity persists. Continued …
‘Buy property, get visa’ plan upsets Phuket tourism operators
Phuket tourism operators oppose the government’s policy allowing foreigners who buy real estate worth 3 million baht to qualify for a long-stay visa, arguing the investment threshold is too low and could attract “non-quality” visitors, as well as risking an increase in property prices.
According to the Immigration Bureau, since Oct. 1, 2025, foreigners who bought a condo worth a minimum of 3 million baht or rent housing for at least 85,000 baht per month can apply for a one-year long-stay visa. Continued …
Ten species flagged as birdstrike threat to flights in Thailand
Ten species of bird have been flagged as a growing threat to aviation safety in Thailand, with 6,118 birdstrikes reported nationwide over the past five years, causing damage worth hundreds of millions of baht.
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) has sounded the alarm over the mounting menace birdstrike poses to flight safety. The problem has intensified in recent years, with birdstrikes in 2024 and 2025 alone causing direct damage costing more than 530 million baht to repair, underscoring mounting safety and cost pressures on the aviation industry. Continued …
Monitor lizard invasion in Korat sees 200 to 300 reptiles gather
Safety concerns are rising in Nakhon Ratchasima after hordes of water monitor lizards turned up along the city moat and wandered into the nearby market, prompting residents to call for agencies to manage the animals.
Lizard numbers reportedly vary by area, with some stretches said to have 200 to 300 animals, including several large ones that residents say roam roadsides and drift close to homes and market shops. Continued …
Severe heat alarm sounds
The Department of Medical Services (DoMS) has issued an advisory urging citizens and businesses to prepare for the upcoming summer, which is expected to be more severe than last year.
DoMS Deputy Director-general Dr. Akkarathan Jitnuyanon said global temperatures are rising, with Thailand facing particular risks of heatstroke. He noted that hot weather can also exacerbate chronic illnesses, especially cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Continued …
- Chinese Call Center Gang Arrested in Pattaya – Continued …
- Two Russians Arrested Over Pattaya Condo Theft – Continued …
- Gold Lion Statue Stolen From Chiang Mai Pub by Foreign Duo – Continued …
The Epstein Files Unraveled: How Millions of Secret Documents Are Shaking the Global Elite
One story has dominated global headlines entering 2026 with unusual ferocity — and unlike trade wars or geopolitical tensions, this one strikes at the personal reputations of the world’s most powerful individuals. The United States Department of Justice has released classified documents relating to the case of Jeffrey Epstein, the late American financier and convicted sex offender who ran one of history’s most far-reaching sex trafficking networks. Continued …
Canada launches huge defense plan to curb reliance on US
Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday launched a multi-billion dollar plan to strengthen the Canadian military and rely less on the United States. Carney’s announcement of Canada’s first defense industrial strategy built on themes he has emphasized throughout his 11-month tenure as President Donald Trump rips through traditional US alliances. Continued …
Google launches new feature to purge explicit images and personal data
Google has unveiled a new feature allowing users to request the removal of non-consensual explicit images and sensitive personal information from search results more easily, as part of its latest privacy and safety push. Continued …
US towns resist Trump plans to jail immigrants in warehouses
Residents in a leafy, conservative New Jersey suburb have erupted in protest against plans to convert a vast warehouse into an immigration detention center as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. 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 cinemas/Emergency numbers
Berlayar Estate, a boutique property developer specializing in refined, lifestyle-driven living, has announced the official launch of its newest premium villa collection under the theme “The Journey to Serenity.” This latest portfolio introduces a curated selection of private residential projects in Hua Hin and Pranburi.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said after chairing a meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee that the meeting had considered an agenda on relaxing controls on alcohol sales hours in the Eastern Aviation City Promotion Zone yesterday at the Ministry of Public Health.
High-street coffee chains across Thailand are set to undergo a radical transformation next week as the Department of Health launches a new nationwide standard for freshly brewed drinks. Beginning Feb. 11, any customer ordering a “normal sweetness” beverage will automatically receive a drink containing only 50% of the original sugar recipe.
Thailand will hold a general election on Sunday, in a three-way contest of major political parties to decide the leader of the Southeast Asian nation over the next four years.
The Ministry of Public Health has intensified preventive and surveillance measures against the Nipah virus, even as authorities stress that the risk of infection in the country remains very low.
Thailand is well-known for its wats (Buddhist temples), breathtaking beaches and islands, and vibrant night bazaars. Yet, one feature often overlooked is our convenience stores. Although not one of our cultural monuments, with more than 14,000 outlets nationwide as of 2024 – among the highest densities per capita globally – these stores have become iconic landmarks in their own right.
Park rangers are trying to keep wild elephants away from communities and tourist attractions during the dry season. The measures cover a bull elephant that has killed three people, including a camper, in this Nakhon Ratchasima province.
The era of Thailand as a high-growth “economic yiger” has come to an abrupt halt. Once the envy of its neighbors, the country is increasingly being referred to as the “sick man of Asia,” as reported by the Financial Times.
Krungthai researchers are warning that Thailand’s economy in 2026 could record its weakest growth outlook in three decades, as the country remains stuck in a low-growth trap with no new engines of expansion. They also caution that SMEs could remain mired in difficulties, with shrinking profits and mounting debt, risking a broad-based “downgrade” across the sector unless business structures are reshaped quickly.
Fresh research from MoneyTransfers.com has unveiled the planet’s most jam-packed tourist hotspots. The team’s findings reveal that Phuket in Thailand stands as the globe’s most congested tourist magnet. This Thai paradise boasts a staggering 118 tourists for every local inhabitant.
The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) has released its “Tourism Business Confidence Index in Thailand, Q4 2025”, based on a survey of 302 foreign tourists using accidental sampling: 200 respondents in Bangkok and 102 in Chonburi.
A Thai family in Nakhon Si Thammarat province mistakenly hosted foreign tourists at a funeral, providing them with food when they believed it to be a restaurant. The tourists apologized after realizing they were at a funeral, not a dining venue.
Chinese New Year celebrations in the island province are expected to be particularly vibrant this year. The upbeat outlook is driven by a strong rebound in the Chinese tourism market and an increase in direct flights from China, according to the Phuket Tourist Business Assn. (PTBA).
Mae Hong Son officials on Monday launched a joint campaign aimed at preventing wildfires and reducing air pollution in the province, with multiple key leaders participating in a kick-off event held in front of the municipal office. The campaign was led by Mae Hong Son Gov. Wiboon Waewbandit, alongside Deputy Gov. Udomsak Khaonoona and Mae Hong Son Mayor Mallika Jeenakham.
Drainage contractor discharged black water into Jomtien sea
From field to forest, restoring rice in Ubon Ratchathani
Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) expects the domestic electric vehicle (EV) market to gain momentum under the government’s new car tax policy set to take effect in 2026, aimed at promoting cleaner energy.
The last Russia-U.S. nuclear arms control treaty, known as New START, is due to expire tomorrow. We look at what the treaty does, what its expiration would mean, and what it may take to establish a new treaty. 
Spain will ban access to social media for minors under 16 and hold company CEOs criminally liable for illegal content, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said yesterday, as he announced several measures to guarantee a safe digital environment. 
France summoned billionaire Elon Musk to a “voluntary interview” as cybercrime authorities yesterday searched the French offices of his social media network X, the Paris public prosecutor’s office said. The operation, which involves the EU police agency Europol, is part of an investigation opened in January 2025 into whether X’s algorithm was used to interfere in French politics. 
The Amazing Muay Thai Festival 2026 will be held Feb. 4-7 at Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin, with the Royal Thai Army working alongside tourism and provincial authorities to showcase Muay Thai as a key part of Thailand’s cultural heritage.
Seriously harmful levels of ultrafine dust, three times the safe limit, were reported in Greater Bangkok this morning, while most of Thailand was blanketed with unsafe smog.
Thai gold shops face closures as prices top 70,000 baht
Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) expects the baht to continue to appreciate against the US dollar in the first quarter of this year, in line with rising global gold prices. However, the Thai currency is projected to return to its fundamental level in the second half of the year, the bank noted.
Thailand’s export outlook for 2026 could improve if reforms accelerate, but speakers at a trade forum warned that global competition is intensifying and domestic growth may remain subdued.
Suphajee Suthumpun, minister of commerce, opened a seminar and delivered a special keynote on yesterday, titled “Mission to Win for The Game Changer”, organized by the Department of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce.
Thailand must rethink its economic resilience strategies to respond to China’s accelerating outward expansion, which presents both significant opportunities and growing risks for the Thai economy, experts said at a regional forum yesterday.
Thailand’s hotel sector is shifting toward a more mature phase, which will see more of the country’s hotel assets repositioned to accommodate changing market dynamics.
Can Southeast Asia keep the lights on for solar projects as costs rise?
Phuket has long been synonymous with tropical splendor thanks to its world-famous beaches, emerald rainforests, and waters teeming with life. This profound natural beauty is the very soul of its allure. Yet, for years, the pressures of overtourism, relentless development, and pervasive pollution have threatened to unravel the delicate ecological balance that sustains this paradise.
A recent seminar in Hua Hin has highlighted growing legal risks for foreign residents who bought property through Thai-registered companies using nominee shareholders, as Thailand intensifies a nationwide crackdown on structures used to bypass land and business ownership laws.
Italian-Thai Development Public Co. (ITD) is facing its heaviest pressure in years, following a string of serious incidents on major construction projects, alongside a large debenture debt burden, an operating recovery that has yet to prove sustainable, and credit risks reflected in rating downgrades. The company’s financial position and market confidence are now being closely watched by both the capital market and regulators.
Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), has outlined Thailand’s economic direction, as the agency drafts the 14th National Economic and Social Development Plan, which is scheduled to take effect from 2028 to 2032.
As the US Supreme Court holds off on a ruling on the Trump tariffs, the world waits and analysts anticipate trade with the US will continue despite some importers being skittish about placing large orders.
Academics and activists said over 40 million workers in Thailand remain stuck in low-paid, unsafe jobs with inadequate healthcare and social protection, urging parties to draft policies that ensure labor protection and fair employment.
In the 21st century, global power is no longer measured primarily by troop numbers or nuclear warheads. Instead, it is increasingly defined by control over scarcity energy, critical minerals, and the semiconductor supply chains that underpin modern economies.
Phuket International Airport recorded a significant boost in flight movements and passenger numbers in 2025, signaling a robust recovery in aviation and tourism. According to Monchai Tanod, the airport director, last year’s performance outshone 2024 and edged closer to the peak year of 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to suspend or significantly tighten US immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Thailand, has triggered widespread concern across the global travel, tourism, and meetings industries.
The tiny shopfront of Gu Long Bao in Bangkok’s Chinatown has seen a lot of history unfold over its century of operation, from the creation of Thailand as a nation to its rise as a cultural and tourism hotspot. The shop has a fan following for its pillowy buns, with fillings such as barbecued pork and black sesame.
Sugarcane farmers are using bundled incense sticks as slow starters to illegally burn off cane trash in their fields when they are not there, in a ploy to deny accountability for the resulting increase in air pollution.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Changan Automobile is gearing up to launch the second phase of its battery electric vehicle (BEV) production in Thailand in the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing its ambitions in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing EV markets.
The collective wealth of the planet’s billionaires soared to a record level in 2025, charity Oxfam reported today, warning of “highly dangerous” political consequences as the global elite gathers for the World Economic Forum. 
Thailand’s inequality is not just unfair, it is unethical. It decides who gets a future and who does not long before effort, talent, or choice has any chance to matter.
Nikkei Asia reports that Vietnam is on track to overtake Thailand in economic size as soon as this year, fueled by a major state-led infrastructure push. While Vietnam targets real GDP growth of 8% in 2025 and over 10% in the following years, Thailand’s growth is slowing.
Entertainment venue operators in Phuket have formally petitioned provincial authorities to investigate allegations of officials demanding illicit payments from nightlife businesses, raising concerns about transparency and confidence in the tourism sector.
Bangkok is a perennial favorite among travelers, and it’s no surprise why! Between the mouthwateringly good local cuisine, unique cultural experiences, and endless shopping destinations that await, visiting Bangkok is a magical experience unlike any other.
The Thai government has officially enforced a pioneering trade mandate requiring all imported animal-feed corn to be certified “burn-free.” The move, effective from Jan. 1, is a cornerstone of the nation’s strategy to tackle transboundary PM2.5 pollution and align its agricultural supply chain with global environmental standards.
The White House has said President Donald Trump and his advisers are weighing “a range of options” to acquire Greenland, including the possibility of using US military force, as European leaders warned that only Denmark and Greenland can decide the territory’s future. 
Police Smash Illegal Hua Hin Factory Rebranding Expired Milk for Sale
Co-payment scheme ends today
BoT flags prolonged manufacturing slump as competitiveness fades
The best New Year’s eve dinners around Thailand
Hua Hin Racer Marina Jazz Festival January 10
Agricultural economy to grow despite headwinds
PKK launches road safety campaign
Riceberry could help restore hair
AI, English top skills Thai employers are seeking
Foreign Tourists Cancel 40% of Trat Bookings After Clashes
Thai Immigration Bureau Tightens Visa Checks Amid Security Fears
GULF Commences Operation of 2 Solar Farms with 145 MW Capacity
Russia wins Hua Hin World Cup after sudden-death penalty shoot-out
Hat Yai ‘back to normal’
Thailand retools for a tougher global economy
Thailand on forefront of battle against plastics
Phuket’s Waste Crisis Sparks Health Concerns Amid Local Deaths
