- Sam Roi Yot Run/Krabi Land Nominee Crackdown/140 accountants in nominee crackdown/Sharp drop in crime rates/Households paying for street lighting/New cannabis penalty rules
- THE IRAN WAR: Trump says ‘I will do what I have to do’ /Israelis anxious over Iran deal/Fertilizer prices set to fall
- ECONOMY: Thai Baht Buckles/Exports post double-digit growth/Thailand to become high-income country/Projects change hands in weak market/Five major infrastructure projects approved
- TOURISM: Foreign tourist arrivals top 15 million/Global Tensions Ripple Through Tourism Economy/Thailand a top-five destination/Luxury hotels draw global investors/Clip of deserted Koh Phi Phi/AirAsia X to keep lowering fares
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Thai heritage arts take global stage/Thai third-class train a Chinese social media hotspot /Tha Phra Chan clings to Thai herbal traditions
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Thailand advances green hospital initiative
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Sam Roi Yot Run Set Sunday
Sam Roi Yot Run Ep.7 will offer distances of 2.7km, 5km and 10km along scenic coastal routes through local communities. Entry fees vary depending on registration period, with general registration open until May 31. Registration …
Krabi Police Arrest 39 in Land Nominee Crackdown
Authorities in Krabi have launched an investigation into alleged illegal land acquisitions through nominee companies, uncovering extensive violations of Thailand’s Land Code. The operation targeted companies suspected of using Thai nationals to conceal foreign ownership of land and businesses.
The investigation was divided into two groups of offenders. The first focused on nominee companies, where nine firms were found to be holding 17 plots of land covering over 6 rai, with an estimated value of 209 million baht. The court approved 40 arrest warrants and 13 search warrants in connection with the cases. Continued …
Commerce Ministry moves against 140 accountants in nominee crackdown
The Commerce Ministry is preparing action against 140 “grey accountants” as part of a nationwide crackdown on the use of Thai nominees to conceal foreign ownership in restricted businesses.
Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Department of Business Development (DBD), said the department had worked with relevant agencies over the past eight months to prevent and suppress the use of Thai nationals as proxy shareholders, or nominees, for foreign investors. Continued …
Thai government reports sharp drop in crime rates
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday touted the government’s success in cracking down on crime, particularly scam networks and foreign nominee businesses, saying offenses fell by nearly 60% over the past three months.
Leading a briefing on the nine-month national crackdown, Anutin said that combating call-center gangs, online scam networks, and transnational nominee operations is a government priority. To strengthen enforcement, a steering committee was set up to formulate policy, set directions, monitor operations, and enhance cooperation among agencies, he said. Continued …
Households unfairly bear cost of street lighting, says minister
Energy Minister Akanat Promphan said yesterday households have been unfairly charged for the cost of public street lighting for decades, and he plans to change that.
The minister, speaking at Government House, said the cost of public street lighting was included in the overall cost of the national electricity system and householders were “secretly” charged for it through their monthly power bills. Continued …
New cannabis penalty rules introduced
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has issued new penalty guidelines that include license suspensions or revocations for cannabis businesses found to breach the department’s requirements.
The guidelines, developed under the Ministry of Public Health’s Controlled Herbal Product (Cannabis) BE 2568 notification, set penalties for licensed operators engaged in research, export, sale, or processing of cannabis for commercial purposes. The guidelines are intended to provide a uniform framework for both law enforcement and cannabis business operators. Continued …
Trump says ‘I will do what I have to do’ if Iran does not stick to deal
U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday “I will do what I have to do” if Iran does not stick to its agreement with Washington. Video …
Trump allies defend him to Israelis anxious over Iran deal
American allies of President Donald Trump this week defended him to an Israeli public anxious about a U.S. interim deal with Iran and White House criticism that together appeared to signal fissures in Israel’s decades-old alliance with Washington. Video …
Fertilizer prices set to fall as Mideast shipments resume
The price of fertilizers is trending downward, with shipments from the Middle East currently en route to Thailand, says the Commerce Minister.
Following discussions with the Thai Fertilizer and Agricultural Supplies Assn. (TFAS), the Thai Fertilizer Producer Trade Assn., and the Thai Agro Business Assn., Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said fertilizer supplies are likely to remain sufficient, and prices are expected to decrease. Continued …
Thai Baht Buckles Under the Weight of Oil Shock and a Hawkish Fed
The Thai baht opened the week at 32.94 per US dollar yesterday, drifting toward the psychologically significant 33 threshold as a confluence of external headwinds and domestic vulnerabilities battered sentiment.
Traders say the currency’s near-term fate hinges on four pivotal variables: the Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on June 24, May export data, the trajectory of Middle East peace negotiations, and the direction of foreign fund flows. Continued …
Thai exports post double-digit growth in May
Thailand’s exports posted double-digit growth in May but at a slower pace than April, a Commerce Ministry official said yesterday. Customs-cleared exports rose by 23.1% in April from a year earlier. May data is due later this week.
Shipments have been driven by demand for electronics and tech-related products, according to Nantapong Chiralerspong, head of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office. Continued …
Government sets 12-year goal for Thailand to become high-income country
The government has announced an ambitious 12-year target to lift Thailand into the ranks of high-income countries, while bringing the private sector into the design of a new national economic blueprint.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said after yesterday’s meeting of the Joint Public and Private Sector Consultative Committee (JPPCC) that the government and private sector had agreed on long-, medium- and short-term targets to raise Thailand’s economic potential. Continued …
EIA-approved projects change hands in weak market
Thailand’s property market is seeing a major shift as developers move beyond simply delaying new launches and begin selling land and ready-to-develop projects to preserve liquidity.
Some listed and non-listed property firms are offloading land banks and projects that have already received Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval to larger developers with stronger balance sheets. Continued …
Environment Committee approves five major infrastructure projects
Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri chaired the second meeting of the National Environment Committee (NEC) on Friday at Government House, with the committee approving environmental impact assessments for five significant public and private infrastructure projects.
The approved projects are: the Bangkok Mass Transit System Silom Line extension Phase 3; a four-lane highway bypass in That Phanom district; the Chiang Mai Red Line mass transit system; a limestone quarrying operation for industrial lime production by Chememan Public Co. in Saraburi province; and the construction of third and fourth runways at Suvarnabhumi Airport, together with an eastern passenger terminal extension. Continued …
Thailand foreign tourist arrivals top 15 million, China leads
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has updated the latest tourism situation for the period from Jan. 1, 2026) to June 20. It found that Thailand had welcomed a cumulative 15,447,571 foreign tourists, generating B745.388 billion in foreign visitor spending.
The top five source markets for foreign tourists visiting Thailand were: China, 2,538,498 tourists; Malaysia, 1,992,324 tourists; India, 1,188,190 tourists; Russia, 996,840 tourists; South Korea, 576,404 tourists. Continued …
Global Tensions Ripple Through Thailand’s Tourism Economy
Tourism businesses throughout Thailand are once again navigating an increasingly uncertain environment, as ongoing geopolitical tensions, economic concerns, and changing travel behavior influence international visitor demand.
While Thailand itself remains a safe and welcoming destination, tourism operators are seeing signs that global events occurring far beyond the country’s borders are affecting how travelers plan, budget, and commit to international travel. For many businesses in northern Thailand, the timing is particularly challenging. Continued …
Visa study: Thailand a top-five destination
Visa, a global leader in payments, has unveiled key findings from the 2026 Global Travel Intentions (GTI) study, the latest edition of its flagship global study that has captured global travel patterns and preferences for over 20 years.
The study was conducted among more than 47,000 respondents worldwide, including more than 17,000 in the Asia-Pacific markets. According to the GTI study, 63% of respondents surveyed traveled to destinations within Asia-Pacific, dwarfing planned travel to Central Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (16%), Europe (13%), and North America (6%). Continued …
Thailand luxury hotels draw global investors as wealth tourism rises
Thailand’s luxury hotel sector is emerging as one of the country’s most attractive investment assets, as global economic uncertainty pushes investors toward properties seen as resilient, scarce, and capable of generating long-term returns.
While many business sectors remain under pressure from global volatility, high-end hotels are increasingly being viewed not only as hospitality businesses but also as safe-haven assets that can preserve value and deliver stable growth over time. Continued …
Clip of deserted Koh Phi Phi goes viral
A video clip of deserted Koh Phi Phi off Krabi went viral online and attracted lots of comments, with netizens pointing to high prices as a major issue dissuading tourists from visiting the well-known destination.
Many social media users shared personal experiences from visiting Koh Phi Phi, noting that the prices of consumer goods were extremely high, such as soft drinks costing up to 100 baht per bottle. Furthermore, many observed an ironic point: seafood on the island, a coastal area, was more expensive than in northern Thailand. Continued …
AirAsia X to keep lowering fares as jet fuel prices fall, CEO says
Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia X has lowered fares by 5% since June 15, with the airline reviewing its pricing week by week and adding back capacity as jet fuel prices drop, the company’s Chief Executive Officer Bo Lingam said yesterday.
Lingam said the easing of tensions in the Middle East following the signing of an initial US-Iran peace deal had brought welcome relief to the aviation industry, with fuel prices retreating sharply from their March highs. Continued …
Thai heritage arts take global stage in Frankfurt and Seoul
Thailand’s world heritage-level performing arts have taken center stage in Europe and South Korea, as Khon, Nora, Songkran traditions, and Thai classical dance were showcased in Frankfurt and Seoul as part of a wider push to promote Thai cultural soft power overseas.
The overseas showcases were driven by the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, in cooperation with Sabeeda Thaised, Minister of Culture, as Thailand seeks to raise the international profile of its cultural capital and strengthen the country’s image as a creative cultural nation. Continued …
Thai third-class train ride becomes Chinese social media hotspot
With a fare of just five baht and a journey of less than half an hour, the Chiang Mai–Lamphun train ride has become a hit with Chinese tourists, mostly women, seeking scenic views and photogenic content for their social media.
The northern rail route has recently emerged as a popular attraction after photos and travel reviews of the trip went viral on Chinese social media, particularly Xiaohongshu. Continued …
Tha Phra Chan clings to Thai herbal traditions
“This is part of the roots of Thai culture. One day, it may no longer exist. The place where it all began is slowly fading away,” says Payao Sitthisong, 70, looking out onto the street from her herbal medicine store. “But the truth is, this is where it all started — right here at Tha Phra Chan.”
Located on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River, Tha Phra Chan is one of Bangkok’s oldest piers. The area has long been known not only as a transport hub but also as a center of traditional Thai herbal medicine. Continued …
Thailand advances green hospital initiative with solar rooftop pilot project
Thailand’s government is advancing its green hospital policy by promoting clean and renewable energy in public health facilities to reduce operating costs, improve energy efficiency, and support the country’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) have signed an agreement to install solar rooftop systems at hospitals overseen by the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Public Health. The pilot phase will include 25 hospitals nationwide. Continued …
Chinese Business Scrutiny Intensifies in Huai Khwang
Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district has come under renewed scrutiny after a Chinese restaurant controversy reignited questions about closed-loop business networks, nominee ownership, and regulatory enforcement in Thailand. Continued …
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Polish Man Arrested in Buriram Over Interpol VAT Fraud – Continued …
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Taxi Driver Reports Tourist After Theft Attempt in Phuket – Continued …
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Kazakh woman blocks roads, crashes, flees after emotional episode in Phuket – Continued …
Keir Starmer quits as UK prime minister
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced yesterday that he was resigning, paving the way for what is expected to be an orderly transfer of power to frontrunner Andy Burnham. 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
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), Hua Hin Branch has announced there will be temporary power outage in some areas of Hua Hin on 8 April 2026.
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a heat warning from today until Thursday. Many areas in Thailand could see temperatures exceed 42°C, along with hazy skies during the day.
We don’t have to look very far to find a useful historical analogy for the current crisis in the Middle East. In 1967, Egypt closed the Strait of Tiran to Israeli ships, and Israel replied with a surprise air attack that destroyed almost the entire Egyptian air force on the ground.
The conflict in the Middle East that erupted on Feb. 28 has sent the biggest shock through global energy markets in history. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries more than 20 million barrels a day of crude oil and oil products, or around 20% of global oil consumption, has almost ground to a halt.
Saudi Arabia has sharply raised the official selling price of its Arab Light crude for Asian buyers for May delivery, adding fresh pressure to oil-importing economies such as Thailand as the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt energy markets.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the outcome of the special Cabinet meeting held yesterday at Government House, saying that the fighting in the Middle East, a key global source of oil and natural gas, has caused the prices of oil and natural gas, as well as by-products of oil and gas production such as fertilizer and plastic pellets, to rise rapidly on world markets.
The oil-rich monarchies of the Persian Gulf are often described as petrostates. But the US-Israeli war with Iran has highlighted that they are also saltwater kingdoms, societies whose survival depends on desalination, or converting seawater into potable water at industrial scale.
The increasingly loud debate over the future of alliances – after reports that the US could scale back or even withdraw from NATO – is nerve-racking. It has caused alarm across Europe and in Southeast Asia, another node of the US alliance network.
Thailand has come under renewed trade scrutiny from the United States after the Office of the United States Trade Representative released its 2026 National Trade Estimate Report, a wide-ranging annual review of foreign trade barriers affecting US exports and investment. The report forms part of the Trump administration’s broader push to challenge what it describes as unfair trade practices and expand reciprocal market access.
Confidence among Thai business leaders has fallen sharply, with only 24% of chief executives expressing strong confidence in their organizations’ revenue growth this year, down from 47% in 2023 and the lowest level in three years.
Motor Show bookings hit record high, reaching 21% of annual target
Rising fuel prices, fears of shortages, and the ongoing war in the Middle East are dampening travel sentiment in Thailand ahead of the Songkran festival, with operators warning domestic demand may be weaker or flat compared with last year. Higher costs are discouraging long-distance trips, prompting many people to stay closer to home.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has launched chartered tourist and luxury train services aimed at increasing revenue and promoting domestic travel. The initiative allows organizations and travelers to hire entire trains or individual carriages for tourism, leisure, or business purposes.
The Thai Hotels Association’s southern chapter is urging authorities to boost direct flights from Europe to Phuket in response to tourism disruptions from the Middle East conflict. The ongoing war has led to abrupt halts in flights, as several airlines suspended operations. This has caused a decrease in European tourist arrivals at Phuket International Airport by 4% in late March.
Tastes of Nostalgia: The region’s disappearing recipes
Will tax breaks help the Thai economy change gear?
Anticipated surge in Chinese travel for 2024 is poised to unfold soon
Foreigner Filmed Urinating Off the Back of TukTuk in Phuket
