• Two Bryde’s whales found dead/Hua Hin’s Cape Nidhra Hotel recognized/Dusit Thani Hua Hin Unveils Wellness Shop/More rain forecast for PKK/Committee cuts petrol price/Thai brides third with South Korean men
• ECONOMY: To review minimum wage rates/33 US firms’ investment proposals/E-commerce overcoming the ‘price war’ trap/Thailand’s China trade deficit/Massive Losses from AI Rout/GULF reports profit
• TOURISM: Chinese arrivals to Thailand could fall 20%/Krabi welcomes more European air links/Panic in Pattaya
• THAILAND EXPERIENCE: MotoGP 2027 tickets on sale/Tomorrowland Thailand debut nears/Traditional clothing throughout December
• CLIMATE THAILAND: Minister rules out solar panel deposits/Cleaner power-development plan/COP31 faces tough test
• FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS 

Two Bryde’s whales found dead off Phetchaburi, Cha-am

Two Bryde’s whales have been found dead off Phetchaburi, including one off Cha-am, prompting an investigation into the causes of their deaths.

A group of photographers and tourists on a whale-watching trip discovered the first carcass yesterday. Measuring almost nine meters long, it was floating approximately 10 nautical miles off Bang Tabun in Ban Laem district, about two hours from shore by boat. Continued … 

Hua Hin’s Cape Nidhra Hotel recognized by Conde Nast

Cape Nidhra Hotel, Hua Hin, a premier five-star beachfront property under the Cape & Kantary Hotels Group, has achieved a major international milestone by securing a spot among Thailand’s top nine resorts in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, earning a score of 97.63. Adding to this success, the property has also been selected for inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026.

Tirawan Pangsrivongse, project development manager of the Cape & Kantary Hotels portfolio, spanning over 24 properties nationwide, guided the hotel’s concept and design from its inception. Continued … 

Dusit Thani Hua Hin Unveils Devarana Wellness Shop

Dusit Thani Hua Hin has opened Devarana Wellness Shop, extending the Devarana experience beyond the spa with a collection of products for everyday self-care.

Located on the hotel’s lobby level, the shop brings together body care, essential oils and wellness essentials, inviting visitors to carry a little of their spa experience home. The collection offers a simple way to make time for personal well-being, whether through a daily body-care routine or a quiet moment at the end of the day. Continued … 

More rain forecast for PKK

For today and tomorrow, thundershowers are forecast across 60% of the Ssuth’s east coast, with isolated heavy rain in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat. Minimum temperatures will be 22–25°C and maximum temperatures 32–34°C. – The Nation

Oil Fuel Fund Committee cuts petrol by 1 baht/liter, B7 diesel by 0.75

Thailand’s Oil Fuel Fund Committee has agreed to cut retail B7 diesel prices by 0.75 baht a liter and petrol and gasohol prices by 1 baht a liter from today, as falling international prices create room to lower motorists’ costs while reducing diesel subsidies.

The committee’s decision combines pump-price reductions with changes to the levies and subsidies applied to individual fuel grades. B20 diesel is the retail-price exception, remaining unchanged despite a reduction in its subsidy. Continued … 

Thai brides rank third with South Korean men

Women from Thailand were ranked third among foreigners tying the knot with South Korean men in multicultural marriages last year, government statistics show.

Thai women accounted for 9.2% of the 15,300 female foreigners, or about 1,400, getting married to South Korean husbands in 2025, the Yonhap news agency reported yesterday, citing figures from the Data and Statistics Ministry. Vietnamese wives topped the table with 25.3% of the total, ahead of Chinese women at 15.1%. Continued … 

Thailand prepares to review minimum wage rates for 2027

Thailand’s national wage committee is preparing to review proposals for changes to the minimum wage in 2027 after receiving recommendations from every province, including Bangkok.

Somchai Morakotsriwan, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labor, confirmed the progress yesterday, saying provincial wage subcommittees had completed their assessments and submitted their recommendations. Continued … 

Thailand hears 33 US firms’ investment proposals

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul heard investment plans and proposals from 33 US companies across seven business groups at Government House yesterday, as Thailand worked to attract further investment and complete a reciprocal trade agreement with Washington.

Brian McFeeters, president and chief executive of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), led the delegation, whose priorities included regulatory reform, trade agreements, energy costs and logistics capacity. Continued … 

Thai e-commerce is overcoming the ‘price war’ trap

The Thai e-commerce market is undergoing a transition, as modern shoppers are no longer solely swayed by discount signs but instead utilize data and technology to inform their decisions. Competition is shifting from price wars to focusing on superior quality, value for money, enhanced shopping experience, and long-term trust.

Thanawat Malabuppha, CEO and co-founder of Priceza Co., shared his perspective that competition in the Thai e-commerce market is shifting from a price war to a battle for consumers based on product quality, speed, a satisfying shopping experience, and the increasing role of technology in the decision-making process. Continued … 

Thailand’s China trade deficit hits 2.43 trillion baht, with 3 trillion possible

Thailand’s trade deficit with China surged 53% year on year to 2.43 trillion baht in the first nine months of 2026, raising concerns over the growing influx of Chinese goods and mounting pressure on domestic manufacturers.

The deficit for January–September widened from 1.59 trillion baht in the same period last year, highlighting an increasingly uneven trading relationship between the two countries. Continued … 

Asian Tech and Equity Markets Suffer Massive Losses from AI Rout

The massive sell-off across Asian tech and equity markets today marks one of the most severe contractions for the region’s electronics and semiconductor supply chains in recent years. The regional rout follows a brutal overnight session on Wall Street, where the Nasdaq composite plunged 5.5%.

The primary driver is a dramatic shift in investor sentiment following a Democratic sweep in the US midterm elections. Markets are sharply repricing the AI infrastructure boom amid mounting fears that the new political landscape will bring tighter regulatory scrutiny and data-center development restrictions. This has exacerbated existing anxieties regarding whether the massive capital expenditure on artificial intelligence will yield near-term profitability. Continued … 

GULF reports net profit of 9,289 million baht in Q3/2026, up 28% YoY

Gulf Development Public Co. reported total revenue of 52,809 million baht in Q3/2026, an increase of 75% from 30,177 million baht in Q3/2025. Core profit reached 9,045 million baht, increasing 24% from 7,280 million.

The group’s improved performance was primarily driven by growth in the energy business, both gas-fired and renewable energy businesses. For the gas-fired power business, Gulf Pluak Daeng (GPD), an IPP project under the IPD group, recorded higher core profit compared to the same period last year, supported by increased electricity sales to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Continued … 

Chinese arrivals to Thailand could fall 20% in final two months of 2026

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has warned that Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand could fall by 20% year-on-year in November and December unless the government takes stronger action to restore confidence following a safety advisory issued by the Chinese embassy.

The warning comes after Chinese visitor numbers fell by 13.57% in October to 308,942, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The decline occurred despite China’s National Day holiday on Oct. 1, traditionally an important period for outbound travel. Continued …

Krabi welcomes more European air links for the 2026 High Season

As Pattaya struggles with weak high-season bookings and soaring airfares, Krabi International Airport is staging a dramatic comeback. European airlines are returning with direct flights, Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350 jets after years of pandemic disruption.

Deputy Minister of Transport Phattrapong Phattraprasit confirmed the expansion yesterday. The winter program includes 97 charter flights from Europe and Russia, alongside returning services from Poland, Finland and Scandinavia. Yet Krabi’s recovery remains incomplete, with international flight schedules still below last year’s levels. Continued … 

Panic in Pattaya as high season bookings slump from last year

Pattaya faces a high-season tourism crisis as hotel bookings fail to materialize, with airfares soaring 30%–40% amid the US-Iran war. Meanwhile, Chinese group bookings have slumped by over 30%, with warnings of a 50% fall during Lunar New Year. Chinese safety alerts have also sparked a diplomatic clash between Bangkok and Beijing.

Furthermore, cheaper holidays in Vietnam, a strong baht and fierce regional competition are squeezing demand. Chonburi tourism leaders warn of serious uncertainty as Thailand reports a 4.59% fall in foreign arrivals and declining tourism revenue. Continued … 

Buriram MotoGP 2027 tickets on sale Monday

Tickets for the 2027 Grand Prix of Thailand at Buriram’s Chang International Circuit will go on sale worldwide at 2 pm Thai time on Monday. The March 5-7 race weekend will open the MotoGP World Championship for the third consecutive year. It will also be the first race held under MotoGP’s new technical rules.

Fans in Thailand can buy tickets at Counter Service All Ticket points in 7-Eleven branches nationwide. Overseas buyers and visitors planning a trip to Buriram can purchase through the AllTicket Thailand website. Continued … 

Sold out Tomorrowland Thailand debut nears, Chonburi hotels all booked

Rachata Thunyavuthi, an executive board member of Wearone World (Thailand) Co. organizer of the international electronic dance music (EDM) festival Tomorrowland Thailand, said preparations were under way both inside and outside the festival site for its first Thai edition, scheduled for Dec.11-13, at Wisdom Valley in Khao Mai Kaeo subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi.

Economic activity was expected to exceed the projected 5 billion baht. Stage structures and other on-site installations were more than 40% complete, with work scheduled to finish within 60 days of its start on Oct. 15. Continued … 

Thais worldwide invited to wear traditional clothing throughout December

The Thai Ministry of Culture invited Thai people around the world to wear traditional Thai clothing throughout December, ahead of an expected UNESCO decision on the country’s nomination for intangible cultural heritage status.

Thailand submitted the eight styles of Chut Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom to UNESCO in 2024. The nomination is expected to be considered from Dec. 1 to 3 during the 21st session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, in Xiamen, China, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5. Continued … 

Minister rules out solar panel deposits for households

Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee has assured that households participating in the government’s solar rooftop scheme won’t need to pay a deposit.

He defended the requirement for private installation firms to provide a 50,000-baht bank guarantee and purchase seven-year insurance, stressing that the measures were designed to protect consumers. Continued … 

Analysts propose cleaner power-development plan

Energy and climate specialists have proposed an alternative version of Thailand’s power-development plan (PDP) dubbed the “Resilient PDP”, aimed at ensuring a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy without relying heavily on natural gas as a bridging fuel.

Under the Resilient PDP, Thailand would install up to 60 gigawatts of rooftop solar capacity, almost three times the 24.3GW target set out in the government’s latest PDP. The increased solar deployment would significantly reduce the country’s dependence on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). Continued … 

COP31 faces tough test as climate threats mount

Nearly 200 nations gather for the COP31 summit in Turkey on Monday but tensions over geopolitics, finance and fossil fuels are tempering expectations of a major breakthrough in tackling the climate crisis.

Tougher action on fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change, appears unlikely and budget-strapped developed countries are reluctant to commit more money to help developing nations cope with climate impacts. Continued … 

• Kazakh fraud suspect arrested in Phuket after overstay – Continued … 

• Nigerian arrested over cocaine in Phuket’s Cherng Talay – Continued … 

Iran reports three tankers damaged in Hormuz yesterday

Iran reported that three more tankers had been damaged in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, as shipping remained under threat despite growing political pressure in Washington over the Gulf war.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported that two tankers struck naval mines and another caught fire . The Guards generally do not acknowledge firing on merchant vessels, but maintain that passage through the strait is unsafe without Tehran’s permission. Continued … 

Brent gains US$3.67 a barrel after tanker attacks

Renewed attacks on tankers pushed Brent crude futures US$3.67 a barrel higher yesterday, 2026, as concerns about secure oil deliveries tempered optimism over a possible diplomatic resolution to the US-Israeli war with Iran. Continued … 

US midterms offer hope on Ukraine aid, Russia scrutiny

The Democratic sweep in US midterm elections opens doors to new aid for Ukraine as it battles Moscow’s invasion, and could bring scrutiny over President Donald Trump’s Russia policies, analysts said yesterday. Continued … 

Hoax bomb threats disrupt at least 27 passenger flights across Europe

At least 27 passenger flights across Europe were affected by hoax bomb threats yesterday, forcing some aircraft to divert or make unscheduled landings while fighter jets were deployed to intercept or escort others. The disruption marked the second major wave of similar incidents this week. Continued … 

Google to invest another $15 billion in Malaysia

Google has announced plans to invest $15 billion in Malaysia from 2027 to 2028, with ‌the spending going toward data center campuses, clean energy, bolstering water security and upskilling workers. Continued … 

Israel faces new era of sinking US support after election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s brash campaign posters are still up on Israeli public buses — images of him, US President Donald Trump and soaring warjets that laud the two leaders attacking Iran together. Neither is now advertising the state of the two countries’ alliance. Continued … 

Hua Hin Links and Transport

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