- Hua Hin beachfront land hits 160 million baht a rai/Hair Therapy for Hair Loss/Raids target Pattaya nominees /Aussie job scam hits Thais/One trip, no more than 45 baht?/Loan to upgrade five Thai public hospitals/Make Longer Lives Better Lives
- ECONOMY: Warning over $200 diesel price crisis/Measures to rescue Oil Fuel Fund/Google defends its data centers/Thailand in Chinese expansion plans/Thailand urged to focus on chipmaking/Nestlé breaks ground on coffee factory/Thai rice exports fall
- TOURISM: Forum highlights local Thai cuisine/Ministry advises against travel to Europe/Phuket visitors bring in nearly 400 billion baht
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Khao Sok: Living beneath an ancient landscape/Insider Guide for Thailand’s Best Meals/Why you should visit Thailand’s heritage-rich coastal towns
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Chiang Mai unveils Thailand’s first electric tram/World losing ground on climate
- IRAN WAR: US orders some diplomats out of Saudi Arabia/High oil prices permeate daily life
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Easier travel lifts Hua Hin property prospects as beachfront land hits 160 million baht a rai
Uthai Uthaisangsuk, president of Sansiri Public Co., sees improving travel from Bangkok supporting a recovery in Hua Hin’s property market, where he puts beachfront land prices at 160 million baht per rai. Uthai’s assessment follows a prolonged slowdown after the Covid-19 pandemic. Better transport connections and infrastructure development are beginning to restore confidence, although the recovery remains uneven.
Large beachfront plots of five to nine rai are increasingly difficult to find in Hua Hin, according to Uthai. Many remain in the hands of families that have owned them for generations and face no pressure to sell. Continued …
Hair Therapy for Hair Loss: What to Check Before You Commit to a Program
Most people notice thinning hair long before they do anything about it, and when they finally act, the first move is usually a trip to the pharmacy for a shampoo or serum that promises the fastest results.
The problem is that none of those products can tell you why your hair is thinning in the first place. Genetics is the usual suspect, but hormones, prolonged stress and scalp inflammation all play a part, and nothing off the shelf is built to work out which one is actually driving your case. Continued …
Chonburi raids target Pattaya nominee addresses
Chonburi police and land officials searched 12 properties in the Pattaya area yesterday as part of an investigation into suspected foreign nominee ownership of land and buildings worth more than 800 million baht.
The early-morning operation in Banglamung district identified 12 companies, 11 houses and 16 land plots covering around 50 rai. Authorities said 85 people from eight nationalities are under investigation. Continued …
Aussie job scam hits Thais
Victims of an alleged Australian job scam have filed a complaint with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, seeking an urgent investigation into losses exceeding 10 million baht.
Tankhun Jitt-itsara, accompanied by the BSJ Law Firm legal team, brought the victims to the Central Investigation Bureau on Tuesday to submit evidence against a network accused of recruiting Thai workers via social media. Continued …
One trip, no more than 45 baht? Bangkok rail plan heads to Cabinet
The Transport Ministry will seek Cabinet approval on Oct. 26 for a unified fare scheme covering eight electric rail lines in Bangkok and surrounding areas, with fares capped at 45 baht per trip, a deputy transport minister said yesterday.
Siripong Angkasakulkiat, deputy transport minister said the proposal would eliminate duplicate entry fees when passengers transfer between lines, with an initial fare capped at 17 baht. The scheme is scheduled to begin on Jan. 1 and would be available to Thai nationals who register through the Paotang application and pay using EMV contactless cards. Continued …
ADB approves $212-million loan to upgrade five Thai public hospitals
The Asian Development Bank is providing $212 million to upgrade five public hospitals and improve access to specialist medical care for about 14 million people living outside Bangkok.
It marks the bank’s first health-sector loan to the Thai government, building on earlier support for the country’s COVID-19 response and regional health initiatives. Plans for the project include the expansion of cancer, cardiac, surgical, and trauma services across five health regions. Continued …
Thailand Sets Out Plan to Make Longer Lives Better Lives
Thailand is committing to build a sustainable longevity society in which people live not merely longer but better, a senior health official told a Bangkok forum on Tuesday.
Dr. Ekachai Piensriwatchara, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, said the ministry would pursue an action plan over the next five years, built on integrated primary care, long-term care and a larger care workforce, to support a fast-aging society. Continued …
Warning over $200 diesel price crisis
Analysts predict diesel prices could surge to $200 per barrel due to worsening supply disruptions in the Middle East. This potential crisis is driven by a new wave of geopolitical conflicts that have thrown the global energy market into turmoil.
Specific factors contributing to this volatility include attacks by Yemen-based Houthis on Saudi energy infrastructure and disruptions in the Red Sea, which force tankers to take longer, more expensive routes around Africa. Additionally, ongoing conflicts between Iran and Israel, alongside the war in Ukraine, continue to threaten global supply chains and refinery capacities. Experts note that if these geopolitical tensions persist, they could drive prices to unprecedented levels, complicating global inflation outlooks and placing significant strain on national energy funds like Thailand’s Oil Fuel Fund. – Bangkok Post AI
Five measures proposed to rescue Thailand’s Oil Fuel Fund
Energy Minister Akanat Promphan has been presented with five urgent proposals, including fuel excise tax cuts of 1–2 baht a liter, to shore up Thailand’s Oil Fuel Fund before further borrowing is considered.
The Oil Fuel Fund’s deficit stood at 103.561 billion baht as of Oct. 18. This comprised a 62.359-billion-baht deficit in its oil account and a 41.202-billion-baht deficit in its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) account. Continued …
Google insists its data centers do not compete for water and electricity resources
Data centers are a new industry attracting significant investment in Thailand, but they are also under public scrutiny. It’s well known that data centers consume vast amounts of resources, including electricity and clean water, and also release heat and generate noise pollution, causing concern for communities located near them.
Brian Yu, senior vice president of global infrastructure at Google for the Asia Pacific region, was interviewed regarding efforts to understand and alleviate public concerns, as well as the use of resources at Google’s data center currently under construction in the WHA Industrial Estate, Nong Yai District, Chonburi Province. Continued …
Why more Chinese firms have Thailand in their expansion plans
With domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter.
A subtle shift is taking place among Chinese businesses as they adopt a “China plus one” outlook and redirect domestic investments to neighboring economies – a strategy largely designed as a hedge against tariffs and geopolitical risks. Continued …
Thailand urged to focus on chipmaking
JPMorgan Chase executives suggest that Thailand should prioritize the production of advanced products such as chips and electronic components. This focus would allow the country to capitalize on the ongoing global supply chain shift and the emergence of power from artificial intelligence.
Executives emphasize that focusing on these high-tech areas could provide a longer manufacturing lifespan for Thailand compared to chasing cutting-edge chip production seen in Taiwan or South Korea. They also note that for these investments to have a significant long-term economic impact, the country needs to maintain government stability and ensure a consistent direction for investors. – Bangkok Post AI
Nestlé breaks ground on US$685 million coffee factory in Thailand
Nestlé has begun construction of a 23-billion-baht (US$685 million) coffee manufacturing facility in Samut Prakan, with the factory expected to begin operations in late 2028 and create more than 500 jobs.
The facility will produce soluble coffee, coffee mixes and ready-to-drink coffee beverages, using advanced production technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automated systems. Continued …
Thai rice exports fall as India and Pakistan compete
Thailand exported 4.99 million tons of rice in the first nine months of 2026, down 19.3% year-on-year, as stronger competition from India and Pakistan and a sharp fall in Iraqi demand weighed on sales.
Export value between January and September fell 16.8% to US$2.962 billion, according to figures discussed by the Commerce Ministry and the Thai Rice Exporters Assn. Continued …
Forum highlights local Thai cuisine to boost tourism growth
Government representatives and leading figures in Thailand’s food industry discussed how to modernize local cuisine while preserving its original identity at Nation Forum: Thailand’s Agenda. “Gastronomy Tourism Boosts Creative Economy”, explored that balance through the concept of “Root to Rich”.
Saratsanun Unnopporn, secretary to the culture minister, described Thai food as tourism’s “star attraction”. Preserving its distinctive character, flavors and the stories behind local ingredients was essential to encouraging foreign visitors to travel to Thailand to experience those dishes. Continued …
Ministry advises against travel to Europe
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry has advised travelers to postpone non-essential trips to several European countries, specifically France, Italy, and Spain, due to ongoing unrest and rapidly changing conditions. The ministry recommends that those planning to travel to these regions closely monitor updates from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Thai embassies to ensure safety amid the protests.
The travel advisory is prompted by widespread protests and civil unrest linked to rising living costs, employment, and education issues. In France, the situation involves mass demonstrations and instances of urban violence, including looting and clashes with police, which have created significant security concerns. Similar instability has been reported in Italy and Spain, where the ministry is tracking developments to provide guidance to Thai nationals in the area. – Bangkok Post AI
Phuket visitors bring in nearly 400 billion baht
Phuket generated nearly 400 billion baht in tourism revenue in the first nine months of 2026 despite a slight decline in visitor numbers, as four international airlines prepare to launch direct routes ahead of the high season.
The island welcomed 10.25 million visitors between January and September, down 1.6% year-on-year. Tourism revenue fell about 1% to 399.96 billion baht. Thai visitors increased 1% to 2.65 million, generating 30.5 billion baht, up 1.8%. Foreign arrivals declined 2.4% to 7.6 million, while revenue slipped 1.2% to 369.49 billion baht. Continued …
Khao Sok: Living beneath an ancient landscape
There are places where the landscape provides a backdrop to the journey, and there are places where the landscape is the journey. Khao Sok belongs firmly in the latter category.
From the moment we entered this extraordinary corner of Surat Thani, the great limestone mountains seemed to be everywhere. They rose beyond the road, appeared unexpectedly through breaks in the forest and towered above the river. Even from our accommodation, they formed a dramatic natural skyline. Continued …
Travel Expert Unveils Insider Guide for Thailand’s Best Meals
Travel content creator David Mondore, a New York-based entrepreneur, is publishing a guide to eating well and cheaply across Thailand, which he calls one of the best value destinations for adventurous eaters anywhere in the world.
Over two months in the country, Mondore ate his way through restaurants, markets, and street carts, often for an average meal that landed somewhere between roughly $1.20 and $1.60. The combination of quality and affordability, he says, is almost impossible to find elsewhere at the same level. Continued …
Here’s why you should visit Thailand’s heritage-rich coastal towns
Thailand is often imagined in neon nights and island escapes. Yet, step a little away from the usual routes and you’ll find towns where heritage lingers in facades painted in pastel shades, in flavors shaped by Thai kitchens, and in waterfronts that once welcomed travelers from across the seas. These coastal towns carry stories in their architecture, in the morning markets where languages mingle, and in the evening light that falls over lakes and shorelines.
Phuket, Trang and Songkhla show this side of Thailand in their own ways. In one place, the morning might begin with the scent of fresh noodles drifting through the old town, and in another with a boat ride into the Emerald Cave, while elsewhere the day winds down beside the lake. Each place is best savoured at an unhurried pace. Each place is best enjoyed without trying to pack too much into a day. Continued …
Chiang Mai unveils Thailand’s first electric tram
Chiang Mai has unveiled what is described at the launch as Thailand’s first electric sightseeing tram, intended to connect more than 40 major attractions across the city. The announcement followed the signing of a sustainable urban-development agreement on Tuesday.
Known as the Chiang Mai Tram By Lannatique, the electric vehicle is part of the Lannatique Destination project. It is powered entirely by clean energy and combines a contemporary design with Lanna cultural identity, according to the provincial authorities. Continued …
World losing ground on climate as US emissions rise, UN warns
The world is heading for more warming than scientists projected a year ago, and the United States is a big reason, the United Nations Environment Program said in its annual assessment.
If all countries deliver on their promises to cut heat-trapping emissions, Earth will still warm by about 2.6 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times by 2100, yesterday’s report calculated – a tenth of a degree worse than last year’s projection. On its current path, the world is heading for 2.8 degrees. Continued …
Brent rises to US$110.11 a barrel as US orders some diplomats out of Saudi Arabia
Brent crude rose to US$110.11 a barrel today after fresh Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia prompted the United States to order some diplomats and family members to leave its missions in the kingdom.
Brent futures gained US$1.29, or 1.2%, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 97 US cents, or 1%, to US$98.12 a barrel. Continued …
From groceries to home loans, high oil prices permeate daily life
The shock of oil prices at a five-month high of $110 a barrel and gas prices in Asia and Europe hitting their highest levels since December 2022 is making its mark on household budgets. As well as raising the costs of transport and heating, it adds to pressure on food, clothing and packaging prices, and contributes to elevated levels of inflation and borrowing costs.
The Iran war has already pushed global diesel prices to record highs. Average British diesel pump prices hit £2.00 ($2.64) per liter for the first time this month and US prices hit a record of $6.53 a gallon in September. Continued …
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Chinese Red Notice suspect arrested in Pattaya – Continued …
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French man wanted by Belgium held in Phuket – Continued …
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Norwegian teen held in Samut Prakan over Norway stabbing – Continued …
‘Behemoth’ El Niño to upend global weather, UN warns
The warnings about El Niño continue to roll in. The United Nations’ weather agency weighed in yesterday, calling the potent climate pattern a “behemoth” and a “wrecking ball.” “It will tear through Latin America, eastern and southern Africa, Asia and the Pacific with extreme heat, droughts and flood,” the U.N.’s Tom Fletcher said, warning of profound humanitarian consequences. Continued …
US court orders Meta to pay $25bn in data-harvesting case
A New Mexico judge ruled yesterday that Meta must pay $25 billion to the state after a jury found last month that the social media giant had deceived users in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, according to media reports. 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
Cha-am residents are being urged to store enough water for up to a week ahead of possible water supply disruption from Aug. 21, when water releases from Kaeng Krachan Dam are due to be temporarily suspended.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has ordered work to be accelerated on two Cha-am groundwater projects worth about 301 million baht, as authorities seek to address drought and water shortages affecting local communities.
Thailand’s Transport Ministry is working towards a Jan. 1 launch of its common-ticket policy for electric rail services in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, with fares capped at 45 baht per trip and an initial charge of no more than 17 baht.
U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday urged Americans to accept slightly higher gasoline prices as the cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S territory. 
Thailand is seeking to combine artificial intelligence with agriculture innovation as part of a broader industrial strategy aimed at raising productivity, strengthening domestic businesses and spreading the benefits of technological growth more widely across the economy.
Thailand is preparing to offer 500,000 domestic travel subsidies under the proposed Thai Travel Thai Plus 2026 scheme, with the government paying half of accommodation costs up to 3,000 baht per entitlement.
ASEAN’s commitment to net-zero is crucial for global environmental targets, despite its current fossil fuel dependency. The region faces an energy crisis but has strong decarbonization goals.
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early today, collapsing buildings and homes, killing at least two people and causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes.
OR has cut retail prices for selected premium fuels by B1.20-4.20 per liter, with the new prices taking effect from 5 am today.
According to Bain & Company’s fourth biennial Front Line of Healthcare report, drawing on surveys of 600 doctors and 6,300 consumers across nine markets, the region’s healthcare systems are caught in a compounding crisis of their own making: demand is surging, supply is crumbling, and the people meant to hold it all together are walking out the door. This is not a cyclical blip. It is a structural reckoning, and the window for decisive action is narrowing.
Crayfish on the loose in Phayao Lake
If is a big and most consequential word in the English language. The word connotes wishes, conditionality, and often aspirations. If also is one of the shortest words holding a very long explanatory meaning that embodies hope but just as easily signals fatalism.
An average of 76% of adults surveyed in 35 countries, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, have no confidence in US President Donald Trump’s leadership of global affairs, with ratings for the United States negative in many places in Europe and Asia, an established research institute said yesterday.
The Thai economy is facing an uphill battle against a trio of deep-seated structural vulnerabilities, even as major economic research centers nudge short-term growth forecasts upward. In its latest economic outlook, the Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Center (SCB EIC) upgraded Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for this year to 2% from a previous estimate of 1.7%.
The cabinet has approved the expansion of the list of price-controled goods and services to 66. The list now includes 61 essential goods and five services, for which providers must seek prior approval for price changes.
The SCB Economic Intelligence Center (EIC), a research center under Siam Commercial Bank, expects energy costs will continue to propel inflation in the second half of the year, even as the Middle East war shows signs of de-escalation.
Thai Generation Z and millennials are experiencing greater concern about their financial future than their peers in many other countries, with housing affordability a particularly acute pressure point, a survey by Deloitte has found.
Among Bangkok’s prime land locations with strong potential and the most public discussion, few rival the Charoen Nakhon, Charoen Krung, and Khlong San areas across the Phra Nakhon and Thon Buri sides. The Chao Phraya River runs through the middle, drawing the two banks together.
Chinese investors are becoming a more powerful force in Thailand’s industrial-property market, with growing demand for factory land in the Eastern Economic Corridor pushing Chonburi and Rayong further into the spotlight.
Why travelers are saying “Thank you, Thailand” before they fly home
In the old language of travel, the final souvenir was something tucked into a suitcase: silk, spices, ceramics, perhaps a fridge magnet from Bangkok or Phuket. In 2026, Thailand’s most elegant keepsake may be something lighter, cheaper and far more powerful: a palms-pressed wai, a smile, and a sincere “kob khun”.
Tourism revival plans take shape
Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is preparing to revive a state-backed tourism co-payment scheme as part of a wider push to stimulate travel in the second half of 2026.
As summer 2026 gets underway, the global tourism industry is regaining strong momentum, and one metropolis drawing attention from travelers from around the world is “Bangkok”.
The sizzle of socialization: How Moo Kata makes Thailand’s table glow
In Thailand, the most talked-about travel ritual of 2026 may not begin at a temple, rooftop bar, or Michelin-listed restaurant. It starts under fluorescent lights, beside a refrigerated aisle, with a plastic-wrapped sandwich waiting to be toasted.
In Bangkok, the dining room of the moment does not always arrive polished in marble and glass. It may sit behind a narrow frontage, up a steep old staircase, beside the roar of a wok, or inside a building that still carries the memory of trade, family, and neighborhood life.
Cutting Thailand’s Giant Jackfruit
Journey Through Wellness, Sustainability, and Authentic Thai Hospitality in Krabi and Koh Lanta
Ubon park put forward for UNESCO listing
Thailand must accelerate its shift away from fossil fuels or risk falling permanently behind its regional peers, the chief economist of SCB Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) warned this week, as the kingdom’s heavy dependence on imported energy leaves it acutely vulnerable to global volatility.
Waste management is one of the most essential public services a city can and must provide. When it breaks down – even briefly – thousands of tons of rubbish pile up fast. Foul odors spread across neighborhoods.
The top 10% of global consumers cause $5.7 trillion in annual environmental damage, as they drive global challenges evolving into systemic economic and financial risks requiring immediate collective action, according to a Leiden University study.
In the next few weeks, Britain’s ruling Labor Party will select a new leader to replace Keir Starmer. But this prospect has not inspired hope of a political or economic renewal. Among British media and, more importantly, global financial markets, the consensus is that any revisions to the failing Starmer government’s policies will only make things worse. 
As Australia moves to scrap key property investment tax breaks, some investors are taking a wait-and-see approach as the new policy takes shape. The shift, the biggest in decades, is seen by some as ending Australia’s long love affair with property investment.