Prachuap Khiri Khan Art Festival/Thailand’s battle against air pollution/Farmers move to stop burning/PM2.5 can lead to heart disease/USAID shutdown hits haze effort/Riding Motorcycles in Thailand/Colder weather forecast/Police take down gambling operation/Chaos in Myanmar border towns/Foreigners behaving badly/ECONOMY: Government’s economic stimulus/Thailand needs structural reforms/Thai factory closures to worsen/Tariff alarm for Thailand/Japanese businesses lead foreign investment/Free trade deal with Europe/TOURISM: AoT lobbies for smoking rooms/High-value travel experiences promoted/Medical and wellness tourism/Koh Samui EV ferries to resume/CLIMATE THAILAND: Top environmental concerns for Thais/Where Your Plastic Waste is Really Going/Thailand’s energy use rises/Laos dam dropped from hydropower list/INTERNATIONAL/LINKS: 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
Prachuap Khiri Khan Art Festival Feb 14-16
Thailand’s struggling battle against air pollution
For weeks now, most of the friends and families I know have had a cough of some kind. The pollution in the dry season in Thailand has long been a problem. But recently, it’s reached dangerous and deeply worrying levels.
Bangkok was the fourth most polluted city in the world this month. Across 31 districts 352 schools were also closed because of pollution. For weeks, I’ve had to rush my children into school with masks on, as the cheery teachers apologetically declare: “Pollution day so straight into class, please.” Continued …
Farmers move to stop burning
Farmers in the northeast have shown a willingness to stop crop burning and switch to a decomposition method instead, saying they are ready to be part of the transition toward sustainable agriculture with the support of related sectors.
With the country facing a PM2.5 crisis, the USDA-funded Thailand Regional Agriculture Innovation Network (RAIN) project has launched a campaign to advocate for decomposition as a way to manage agricultural residue effectively instead of burning it. Continued …
PM2.5 can lead to heart disease, Thai doctor warns
Dr. Supachai Rotkajornnapalai has raised alarms about the dangers of PM2.5 air pollution, emphasizing its underestimated impact on heart health.
The doctor shared a concerning case of a patient whose heart stopped despite not smoking, needing multiple medical interventions, including balloon angioplasty and defibrillation, to revive him. Continued …
Effort to combat Southeast Asian haze hit by USAID shutdown
An initiative to combat air pollution in Southeast Asia has suspended its work following U.S. President Donald Trump’s sudden halt to international aid – just as the peak season for health-threatening haze unfolds in the region.
The program, a collaboration between the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, NASA and the now shuttered U.S. aid agency, used satellite technology and geospatial data to help countries respond to cross-border environmental hazards such as agricultural land burning and forest fires. It also monitored and forecast air pollution. Continued …
Riding Motorcycles in Thailand: What You Need to Know
Whether you are visiting Thailand for a few weeks on holiday, staying longer as a digital nomad, or even settling in as an expat, sooner or later you may feel the urge to embrace the local way of life and get yourself a motorbike. The independence is undeniable — the convenience of popping to a 7-11, the freedom of exploring a sun-kissed island at your own pace.
Thailand is a breathtaking destination, but it also presents very real dangers, particularly when it comes to motorcycles, unpredictable traffic, and the high cost of medical care if things go wrong. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together essential information that you need to consider before taking to the road on two wheels. Continued …
Colder weather forecast for most of Thailand until Monday
The Thai Meteorological Department today forecast a decrease in temperature by 3-5 degrees Celsius in the northeast and by 2-4°C in the remaining regions except for the lower south from today to Monday. The condition is created by another moderate high-pressure system from China that extends to upper Thailand and the South China Sea.
From Tuesday to Thursday, the high-pressure system covering the north, the northeast of Thailand and the South China Sea will weaken, resulting in an increase in temperature by 1-3°C and fog in the morning, the department said. Continued …
Police take down billion-baht gambling operation
Thai police have seized cash and other assets worth more than 100 million baht and arrested 10 suspects linked to a major online gambling network that had over one billion baht in turnover.
The arrests and seizures followed raids in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Chiang Mai and Sa Kaeo provinces where investigators said the Tiger24 gambling website had networks. Continued …
Chaos in Myanmar border towns as power and fuel cuts take effect
Myanmar suspended services at the Tachileik border checkpoint, opposite Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district yesterday, due to a lack of electricity, following Thailand’s cut in supplies on Wednesday to disrupt scam operations across the border.
The suspension affected Myanmar nationals intending to travel to Thailand using passports. People from both countries can, however, still cross through the checkpoint. Continued …
- Russian beauty queen faces grim future in notorious Thai prison – Continued …
- Foreign man steals iPhone worth nearly 60,000 baht from Phuket shop – Continued …
- Russian woman nabbed after uniform theft in Phuket – Continued …
- 12 Chinese Nationals Arrested for Running Cross-Border Loan Sharking Op – Continued …
- Irishman Caught Napping After Break-in at Pattaya Cannabis Shop – Continued …
- Thai Police Block Japanese Group’s Suspected Scammer Gang Entry – Continued …
Government’s economic stimulus projected to drive 3.5% growth in Thai economy
The government’s economic stimulus measures would help boost Thai economic growth by 3.5% this year, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said yesterday.
He pointed out that Thailand remained a developing country, with average economic growth dropping from 10% over the past 30 years to 2% over the past 10 years due to several factors, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Continued …
Thailand needs structural reforms to boost GDP: economist
Thailand needs to initiate structural reform across its economy to accelerate the expansion of its gross domestic product (GDP) to over 3% per annum, Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group (KKP) said on Thursday.
KKP predicted a 2.6% GDP growth this year, roughly the same as last year, versus over 3% per annum before the Covid-19 pandemic. This trend will continue for a few years under the current situation, Pipat Luengnaruemitchai, KKP’s chief economist warned. Continued …
Thai factory closures likely to worsen
More Thai factories are expected to close this year than in the past two years, according to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research), citing a weakening manufacturing sector and several ongoing economic challenges.
According to the think tank, the rate of factory closures was higher than 100 per month last year for the second year in a row. The highest rate of closures was for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), attributed to their limited capital. Continued …
Tariff alarm as Thailand enters US trade surplus top 10
A leading economist has urged Thailand to prepare for new U.S. tariffs after the kingdom entered the top 10 countries with the largest trade deficits with the U.S. in 2024.
Kasikorn Research Center (KResearch) reported on Thursday that data from January to November last year revealed Thailand enjoyed a trade surplus with the U.S. worth $41.5 billion. As a result, Thailand rose from 12th position in 2023 to 10th place among the countries with the highest trade surplus with the U.S. Continued …
Japanese businesses lead 79% surge in foreign investment in 2024
Thailand witnessed a 79% year-on-year surge in foreign investment in 2024, attracting a substantial 228 billion baht, the Commerce Ministry said yesterday. Japanese businesses were the biggest investors, accounting for more than half with over 121 billion baht.
Auramon Sapthaweethum, director-general of the Department of Business Development at the Ministry of Commerce, revealed that 954 foreign businesses had received authorization to operate in Thailand in 2024 under the Foreign Business Act. Continued …
Thailand rushing to strike free trade deal with Europe
A free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) is a top priority for the Thai government, while businesses on both sides support a pact. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said Thailand aims to sign an FTA with all members of the EU this year.
The EU is a vital market for Thailand, as the 27 member countries have significant purchasing power, making it the world’s second-largest economic bloc. The EU ranks as Thailand’s fourth-largest trading partner after China, the U.S. and Japan. Continued …
AoT lobbies for smoking rooms in six Thai airports
Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has asked the Ministry of Public Health to relax its rules and allow smoking rooms in the six international airports operated by the company.
AoT President Kirati Kijmanawat said the move was in response to complaints from passengers, particularly those on connecting flights who have long waits between flights. Continued …
Thailand promotes high-value travel experiences
The Thai government is intensifying efforts to expand its tourism sector by promoting high-value travel experiences and attracting a broader range of international visitors. The strategy focuses on diversifying beyond ASEAN markets and targeting tourists with higher spending potential. By leveraging soft power and improving service industry standards, Thailand aims to boost economic growth while ensuring sustainable tourism development.
Government spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan stated that by promoting Thai soft power, the country can attract more diverse international visitors and reduce dependence on short-stay, low-expenditure tourism from regional markets. Continued …
Medical and wellness tourism push wins support
Health authorities are offering their full support to the government’s plan to promote medical and wellness tourism, which is expected to help drive the economy. Medical and wellness tourism involves trips, usually overseas, to seek healthcare or treatments.
Services and products related to medical and wellness tourism have the potential to grow, aligning with the government’s plan to make Thailand a medical hub by 2030, said Akom Praditsuwan, director-general of the Department of Health Service Support. Continued …
Surat Thani-Koh Samui EV ferries set to resume service Tuesday
Ferry services shuttling electric vehicles (EVs) between mainland Surat Thani and Koh Samui are set to resume on Tuesday, following a three-month hiatus prompted by safety concerns.
Phutthapong Wimolphan, the deputy managing director of Raja Ferry Port Plc revealed that the company will offer this service twice a week, every Tuesday and Saturday, from Don Sak district to Koh Samui. Continued …
Global warming and its impact top environmental concerns for Thais
PM2.5 pollution were the top environmental concerns of Thai people, according to a survey conducted by the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) in early January.
The institute president, Wijarn Simachaya, said yesterday that 20.3% of Thais were concerned about global warming that would result in the global temperature rising by over 1.5 degrees Celsius for the first time last year. Continued …
Where Your Plastic Waste is Really Going
You just finished drinking from a plastic soda bottle, or perhaps you just emptied a plastic punnet of strawberries, finished a yogurt pot, cooked a steak that came on a plastic tray and was wrapped in plastic cling film.
But you feel OK, because being the responsible, informed citizen you are, you do your due-diligence to ensure that the container is clean and toss your plastic trash into a recycling bin, and walk away feeling satisfied with your eco-consciousness. But, what now? Continued …
Thailand’s energy use rises as tourism powers up
The Department of Energy Business revealed fuel consumption in Thailand saw a 2.1% rise last year, reaching a daily average of 155.4 million liters, in tandem with an estimated GDP growth of 2.6%-2.7%, largely fuelld by bustling tourism-related industries.
In 2023, total fuel consumption was slightly less, at 152.3 million liters per day. Jet fuel, driven by the surge in tourism, experienced a dramatic 18.3% year-on-year increase, reaching 16.2 million liters per day. Continued …
Laos dam dropped from Thailand’s hydropower list
Energy authorities have removed the Chinese-funded Laos Nam Ngum 3 hydropower plant from a list of four potential hydropower projects that are set to sell electricity to Thailand, says a source at the Energy Ministry.
The decision was reached during a meeting of the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC), citing problems with project finance as the main reason, said the official, who requested anonymity. Continued …
Trump orders halt to aid to South Africa, claiming mistreatment of white landowners
U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday ordered that all foreign assistance to South Africa be halted and said his administration would prioritize the resettling of white, “Afrikaner refugees” into the United States because of what he called actions by the country’s government that “racially disfavored landowners.” Continued …
Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule from Oct 27
Thai Airasia has updated its flight schedule between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday):
Hua Hin to Chiang Mai: Departure 5:15pm, Arrival at 6:30pm
Chiang Mai to Hua Hin: Departure 3:25pm, arrival at 4:45pm
Hua Hin train schedule
Van/minibus service at Market Village
Vans and minibuses provide services to the following destinations:
- Hua Hin – Mo Chit (089-919-8055) starts service at 03:50
- Hua Hin – Kanchanaburi (085-822-6063)
- Hua Hin – New southern line service starts at 5:40
- Hua Hin – Rangsit (090-138-0427) service starts at 05:40
- Hua Hin – Nakhon Pathom (088-709-2364)
The last service departs at 6pm. Departures every 25 – 40 minutes. For inquiries or reservations, call 089-9198055,090-1380427.
Emergency hotline numbers:
- Emergency hotline – 191
- Emergency medical services – 1554
- Water accident – 1196
- Motorway hotline – 1586
- Emergency medical – 1669
- Highway police – 1193
- Tourist police – 1155
- Bus ticket – 1490
- Department of Highways – 1586
- State Railway – 1590