Hua Hin–Phuket flight planned/Hua Hin homeless encampment/Legend Fighting Championships at BluPort/10th anniversary of Rajabhakti Park/Holiday Inn Hua Hin new rooftop bar and Italian restaurant/How many foreign retirees are there in Thailand?/Bangkok Sinkhole Repairs on Track/Vaccine safety conspiracies/Tropical Storm to bring heavy rain/1st runner-up, explains why she did not accept crown/Gas Station Dog Becomes Internet Star/ECONOMY: Concern for US tariff deal/Aging society threatens fiscal collapse/Future of work in Thailand/TOURISM: Foreigners avoid Thailand/Thailand Deploys AI Security/European Tourists Flock to Trat Islands/CLIMATE THAILAND: Plastic Recycling as National Priority/PTT bets on natural gas/FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Hua Hin–Phuket flight planned for early 2026
Hua Hin Airport is preparing to expand its services, with a new Hua Hin–Phuket flight route expected to launch in early 2026. The route will complement existing domestic flights and provide an additional link for both international visitors and local residents.
Airport Director Rattaphon Charoenphon confirmed that the runway is being extended by 60 meters as part of a 298-million-baht project. The works, which began on May 1 and will run for 480 days, also require the closure of the Phetkasem Road entrance to the airport until Aug. 23, 2026. Continued …
Hua Hin homeless encampment under railway ordered vacated
Local authorities carried out an inspection of homeless shelters under the railway underpass near the Wat Klaikangwon community on Friday following complaints from residents about the area being used as an informal settlement.
The review followed reports that homeless groups had been occupying the underpass, bringing in materials and waste to create makeshift shelters. Residents raised concerns about the unsightly and disorderly conditions caused by the occupation. After discussions between the parties, it was agreed that the State Railway of Thailand, as the landowner, would issue a notice requiring the group to vacate the site within five days. Continued …
Legend Fighting Championships brings Muay Thai to BluPort
The Sports Authority of Thailand hosted the Legend Fighting Championships (LFC) 2025: Muay Thai Builds the Nation at BluPort Hua Hin on Saturday, drawing fighters from Thailand and abroad in a series of high-profile bouts.
In collaboration with The Legend Arena and BluPort Hua Hin, the event was promoted by Olympic bronze medallist Yaowapha Buraphonchai. The concept centered on positioning Muay Thai as a form of Soft Power, showcasing a contemporary approach that blended traditional Muay Thai Kard Chuek (rope-binding) with modern gloved Muay Thai. Continued …
Royal Thai Army marks 10th anniversary of Rajabhakti Park
The Royal Thai Army Friday marked the 10th anniversary of Rajabhakti Park with a ceremony paying tribute to past monarchs who shaped the nation’s history.
Gen. Udomdej Sitabutr, former commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army and former deputy minister of defense, presided over a ceremony at the park in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan. The event included offerings before the statues of seven past kings of Siam. Continued …
Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin unveils new rooftop bar and Italian restaurant
Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin has announced a major rooftop transformation with the launch of The Sky, a contemporary rooftop bar, and Stella, a modern Italian restaurant.
The Sky and Stella are located on the 27th floor rooftop of Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin and are open daily from 5 pm to midnight. Continued …
How many foreign retirees are there in Thailand?
There are no regular Thai government updates on visa volume overall. Thus, the commonly asked question, “how many retired foreigners live in Thailand?”, can produce only a speculative answer. Several visa options are on the table, with choice largely dictated by age, available finance, and whether migration is intended to be more or less permanent.
The 10-year LTR (long-term residence), introduced in 2022, currently has “more than 7,000 enrolments” according to a September 2025 report by the Board of Investment (BOI). LTR is designed for several markets, including professionals in new industries requiring a digital work permit, but 2,658 “wealthy pensioners” are included in that summary, the biggest single category for eligible membership. Continued …
Bangkok Sinkhole Repairs on Track for October 8 Completion
Repairs to the major sinkhole on Samsen Road in Bangkok are progressing as planned, with Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn expressing confidence that the road surface will be restored by Oct. 8. The incident on Sept. 24 created a 30 x 30 meter, 50-meter-deep hole near Vajira Hospital and the Samsen police station.
The collapse occurred when part of the road gave way above a section of the underground mass transit tunnel. Since then, engineers have worked continuously to stabilize the area. Initial plans to pour 1,000 cubic meters of concrete at once were revised, with teams now pouring 360 cubic meters at a time, allowing the material to set properly. Over 1,105 cubic meters have already been poured, sealing the gap between the tunnel and station. Continued …
Vaccine safety conspiracies reach Thailand
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has reaffirmed the safety and effectiveness of all vaccines used in Thailand, dismissing claims online that vaccines are unnecessary or harmful. Dr. Panumas Yanawetsakul, DDC director-general, said yesterday such information is false and misleading.
Every vaccine administered in Thailand has passed rigorous safety and efficacy testing in line with international standards, is registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is subject to strict monitoring, he said. Continued …
Tropical Storm to bring heavy rain to Thailand for two days
The Meteorological Department predicts heavy rain in the north, northeast, east and the western coast of the south today and tomorrow due to the influence of Tropical Storm Bualoi in Vietnam. Continued …
“Tika,” 1st runner-up, explains why she did not accept the Miss Grand Prachuap crown
“Tika Natthika Chuaythani”, 1st runner-up of Miss Grand Prachuap Khiri Khan 2026, explained her decision not to accept the title of Miss Grand Prachuap after “Baby Suphanni” was removed.
“When the position change occurred, many people might wonder why I didn’t take the position,” she explained. “But I want to say that my performance that night may not have been as good as I had hoped. I want to use this opportunity as inspiration and motivation to come back and improve myself to the fullest, and one day, I will be able to stand there with my true performance and abilities.” Continued …
Gas Station Dog with Employee Badge Becomes Internet Star
A brown stray dog who became an unofficial employee at a Pathum Thani gas station has captured Thailand’s heart after photos of his employee ID card went viral on social media.
Namtan — a name that means both “brown sugar” and references his coat color — has been working at the PTT station on Thanyaburi-Wang Noi Road in Klong Luang district for four years. His official employee card lists his full name as “Namtan Klong 7,” with the nickname “Tan” and his position as “Patrol Unit.” Continued …
Concern for US tariff deal as Thailand seeks stronger links with Beijing
Since taking office last week, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has signaled his government’s eagerness to deepen ties with China. Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun yesterday urged closure on a key government-to-government deal for 280,000 tons of Thai rice, while top ministers on Friday met Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jiangwei to boost tourism and agricultural exports. On the same day, Anutin reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to closer integration with China at a high-profile event in Muang Thong Thani.
These moves have sparked concerns over the U.S.-Thailand trade deal and the kingdom’s relations with its longtime defense ally. In the Trump-era climate, playing both sides is riskier than ever, leaving Thailand to navigate a more difficult and precarious path between Beijing and Washington. Continued …
Thailand’s aging society threatens fiscal collapse and drags down economy
Thailand is undergoing the most profound demographic transformation in a hundred years, a change that is already straining its economy and society, while shaking the foundation of its sustainable development path.
The warning signs are evident in a sharp drop in the birth rate. In 2024, only about 460,000 babies were born, the lowest figure in more than 70 years. By comparison, between 1963 and 1983, Thailand recorded over one million births annually, peaking at 1.2 million in 1971. Continued …
The future of work in Thailand
The world of work is being rewritten and Thailand is no exception. Digital transformation, sustainability, and demographic shifts are converging to reshape the way businesses operate and how people build careers. Understanding these shifts is no longer optional — it is essential for survival and growth.
Thailand’s digital economy has grown rapidly in the past five years and the momentum shows no sign of slowing. According to the World Bank, digital transformation is now a critical driver of long-term competitiveness. Continued …
Confidence declines as foreigners avoid Thailand
The tourism confidence index for the third quarter of 2025 is grim after it dipped year-on-year, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand. This quarter, the index was 66 out of 100, down from 70 in the previous quarter and 68 in the third quarter of 2024.
The survey, conducted between Aug. 15 and Sept. 16, involved 740 tourism operators, 450 Thai tourists, and 310 foreign tourists. Continued …
Thailand Deploys AI Security to Attract Chinese Tourists
Thailand has launched a nationwide security initiative using advanced technology to enhance tourist safety and draw two million Chinese visitors in the coming months. The move comes as the high season approaches, with authorities aiming to restore Chinese arrivals to pre-pandemic levels while addressing growing safety concerns.
A central feature of the plan is the introduction of an artificial intelligence system known as AI Detect, developed for the Tourist Police. This facial-recognition tool will scan crowded tourist areas and cross-reference individuals with national arrest warrants. Officers have been instructed to use the system to monitor high-risk individuals or those displaying suspicious behavior. Continued …
European Tourists Flock to Trat Islands Despite Thai-Cambodia Border Dispute
European visitors are booking Trat province’s island resorts in record numbers for the final quarter of 2025, showing that ongoing border tensions with Cambodia have done little to dampen international tourism appetite for Thailand’s eastern paradise.
Pichaya Thachaiaditrap, president of the Trat Hotel and Resort Assn., said European tourists have nearly sold out accommodations on Koh Kood for the last three months of the year, despite the island sitting in disputed maritime territory that has been contested with Cambodia for years. Continued …
Thai Industry Asks the Government To Make Plastic Recycling a National Priority
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is urging the Thai government to elevate the plastic recycling issue to a national agenda item, arguing it is the only way to effectively solve the country’s escalating plastic waste crisis.
Thailand is struggling with an annual surge in plastic debris, especially from the manufacturing sector, which has serious repercussions for both the environment and the national economy. Contimued …
PTT bets on future of natural gas
PTT has geared up its natural gas business, reaffirming its strategy to capture global energy trends that position the fuel as the cornerstone of the global system over the next 2-3 decades.
Chief Executive and President Kongkrapan Intarajang said gas has become the world’s “destination fuel” as the cleanest fossil fuel option, competitively priced and essential for balancing energy security amid rising demand and limited renewable generation. Continued …
- 12 Chinese Arrested in Sa Kaeo Illegal Border Crossing Attempt – Continued …
- No Remorse: Russian Man Mocks Arrest After Thai Sex Stunt – Continued …
South Korea balks at Trump tariff demand
South Korea is unable to pay $350 billion upfront in investment in the United States as President Donald Trump suggested under a deal to cut tariffs and is seeking an alternative solution, a presidential adviser in Seoul said on Saturday. Continued …
Another US mass shooting, another church targeted
A gunman opened fire inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday service and set the building ablaze, killing at least four people and injuring eight others. Police shot and killed the suspect, authorities said. Continued …
Man’s kidney sale for iPhone leaves him disabled at 31
The story of a Chinese man who once sold a kidney to purchase an iPhone 4 and iPad 2 has resurfaced, highlighting his current life at 31 years old. He is now permanently disabled, unable to work, and requires lifelong dialysis, serving as a stark lesson about the consequences of a hasty decision made at 17. Continued …
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