Roti at Night Market/Hua Hin AI-powered CCTV system/Jellyfish Wash Ashore in Cha-am/Heavy rainfall alert/Lisa appointed ‘Amazing Thailand Ambassador’/Hand successfully reattached/ECONOMY: ‘Half-Half Plus’ kicks off/Co-payment scheme expanded/IMF keeps Thailand’s GDP forecast at 2%/Thai-Cambodia peace linked to trade talks/KBank cutting employee costs/Thailand 6th place in rare earth production/TOURISM: ‘Buy here, or don’t get back on the bus’/Foreign tourist arrivals down 7.5%/Indian Medical Travelers Choose Thailand/Thai pavilion at Osaka Expo/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Thailand shines in Condé Nast Awards/Thailand laws you need to know/CLIMATE THAILAND: DHL unveils green logistics hub/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Roti at Night Market
We’ve all seen roti vendors around town, but this one is a showman, as well, delighting and stopping passersby with his theatrics.
Hua Hin launches AI-powered CCTV system for king’s summer palace
Authorities have launched a new AI-powered CCTV surveillance system designed to strengthen security around Klai Kangwon Palace and improve public safety in Hua Hin.
The initiative, known as the “Klai Kangwon Hua Hin Model,” was officially introduced yesterday during a press conference at the Joint Security Command Center for Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin District. Continued …
Thousands of Jellyfish Wash Ashore on Cha-am Beach
Thousands of jellyfish have washed ashore along Ban Bo Yai Beach in Cha-am, alarming tourists and prompting warnings from local fisheries officials not to touch them. The marine influx, reported yesterday, has been attributed to strong winds and rough seas in the area over recent days.
Officials identified the jellyfish as a type known locally as “cup jellyfish” (Scyphozoa) species, which are largely harmless but can cause mild skin irritation or itching in sensitive individuals. Experts say the creatures were swept ashore by powerful waves, a natural occurrence that typically happens annually during rough sea conditions in the Gulf of Thailand. Continued …
Heavy rainfall alert issued for Thailand as storm chaos looms
The Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for widespread thunderstorms and heavy rain across 58 provinces today, with Bangkok and surrounding areas expected to be hit especially hard. Around 70% of the capital is forecast to be affected.
The unsettled weather is being driven by a combination of easterly winds carrying moisture from the South China Sea over the northeast, east, central, and northern regions, along with a monsoon trough over the upper south and the southwest monsoon from the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Continued …
Pop star Lisa appointed ‘Amazing Thailand Ambassador’
The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced today that pop singer Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal of the Blackpink group had agreed to serve as “Amazing Thailand Ambassador”, representing the charm of Thailand.
TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool said Lisa would be Thai tourism’s face to the world. She embodied and showcased the image and charm of Thailand, he said. Continued …
Hand successfully reattached on girl attacked by Chiang Mai gang
A 14-year-old girl whose right hand was severed by a knife in a brutal gang attack in Chiang Mai last month has returned home after successful reattachment surgery. The attack took place in Muang Chiang Mai district on Sept. 16, when a gang seriously injured three students, including the girl who lost her hand.
Two days later, police arrested and charged 15 suspects. One of them, a Myanmar national, confessed they had mistaken the girl for their male target as she was wearing a hoodie. Continued …
‘Half-Half Plus’ kicks off with cash boost for Thai vendors
Thailand has launched vendor registration for a new subsidy scheme aimed at boosting small businesses and consumer spending across the country.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanpraphat kicked off merchant registration for the highly anticipated “Half-Half Plus” scheme (คนละครึ่งพลัส) today. The program, designed to breathe life back into Thailand’s sluggish economy, aims to inject a whopping 88 billion baht into circulation by the end of this year. Continued …
Co-payment scheme expanded to cover taxis, vans, and motorcycle taxis
The government’s co-payment scheme can now be used to pay fares for taxi, public van, and motorcycle taxi services, after the Finance Ministry expanded its scope to cover public transport.
The operators of these services are, however, required to open a bank account with the state-run Krung Thai Bank in order to accommodate use of the “Thung Ngern” application, and to apply for registration to join the co-payment scheme via “คนละครีงพลัส.com”, directly with the Krung Thai Bank or at all district offices. Registration starts today. Continued …
IMF keeps Thailand’s GDP forecast at 2%
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has maintained Thailand’s GDP growth forecast at 2% for 2025 and 1.6% for 2026, according to its October 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO), consistent with the July update and the latest World Bank forecast.
Released during the IMF-World Bank annual meeting in Washington, D.C., the report warns that the global economic landscape remains “volatile and directionless,” driven largely by the United States’ policy priorities and adjustments by other countries to align with new global rules. Continued …
Trump links Thai-Cambodia peace to trade talks
The Trump administratio n is making conflict resolution a condition of US trade negotiations with Thailand, as it pushes the latter to reach a peace agreement with Cambodia.
“The US has used the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia to bargain with the government,” Siripong Angkasakulkiat, a spokesman for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, said yesterday. Continued …
KBank bullish on cutting employee costs
Kasikornbank (KBank) has successfully implemented its early retirement (ER) program and aims to reduce employee costs by 10%-20% over five years as it increasingly adopts artificial intelligence (AI). Kattiya Indaravijaya, chief executive of KBank, said the ER program delivered the expected results and will help lower personnel expenses.
The bank continues to invest in information technology systems to support growing demand for digital banking and AI-driven services, she said. Continued …
Thailand rises to 6th place in the world for rare earth production
In an era where the world is competing for resources to drive clean technology, Thailand has become a household name in the rare earth industry after producing 13,000 metric tons in 2567, a 260% increase in a single year.
Rare earths are a key resource for the production of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy, military hardware, and high-tech industries. Demand for rare earths such as neodymium, dysprosium, praseodymium, and yttrium is increasing in line with the growth of technology, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) plays an increasingly important role in the global economy. Continued …
‘Buy here, or don’t get back on the bus,’ tour group told
A Chinese tour guide has been recorded forcing a group of Chinese tourists traveling in Thailand to purchase goods at a store he recommended, or they would not be allowed back on the bus.
A video of the incident was recorded by a tourist on the bus. It showed a man believed to be a Chinese guide addressing the tour group in Chinese. Translated, he said they would be stopping at a tax-free shop, and people who failed to buy anything there would not be allowed back on the bus. Continued …
Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand down 7.5%
Thailand has welcomed over 25 million international visitors in 2025, generating more than 1.15 trillion baht in tourism revenue. Malaysia, China, India, Russia, and South Korea are the top five source markets.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports released the latest update on Thailand’s tourism situation. From Jan. 1 to Oct. 12, a total of 25,096,346 foreign visitors arrived in Thailand, a 7.5% decrease from the same period last year. These visitors generated approximately 1.159 trillion baht in revenue. Continued …
Indian Medical Travelers Choose Thailand Over Domestic Healthcare
In recent years, an increasing number of Indian patients have been opting for healthcare treatments in Thailand rather than pursuing local options. This trend is largely driven by the promise of high-quality medical services at affordable rates, paired with shorter waiting times and world-class healthcare infrastructure.
Thailand has become a prominent destination for medical tourists, attracting patients from around the world, including India, who are seeking specialized treatments that may be out of reach domestically. Whether it’s for cosmetic surgery, dental care, or complex surgeries, Thailand has carved out a reputation for offering a compelling alternative to more expensive healthcare systems in countries like the United States or Western Europe. Continued …
Thai pavilion at Osaka Expo draws 2.1 million visitors
Nearly 2.1 million visitors stopped by the Thai pavilion at World Expo 2025 Osaka, which ended on Monday after running for six months. The Thailand Pavilion Facebook page reported 2,088,206 visits from April 13 to Sunday, the day before the six-month exhibition closed.
Visitors at the pavilion reached the peak at 18,721 on Sept .21, while the last day of record on Sunday drew 15,398 people. Attendance at the Thai pavilion in Osaka fell short of the 2.35 million visits recorded at the Dubai Expo, which ran in the United Arab Emirates from Oct. 1, 2021 to March 21, 2022. Continued …
Thailand shines in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced Thailand’s achievements in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, with accolades from both the US and UK editions.
The Condé Nast Traveler US edition led this year’s global recognition for Thailand, spotlighting the kingdom’s diversity of destinations. Ko Samui (No. 3), Phuket (No. 9), and the Phi Phi Islands (No. 10) were voted among the Best Islands in Asia, while Chiva-Som Hua Hin Wellness Resort ranked No. 19 in the Destination Spas category for its holistic wellness programs. Bangkok’s thriving hotel scene earned praise, with 10 properties featured. Continued …
Thailand laws you need to know before visiting
Thailand, a popular stop on southeast Asia’s tourist trail, is a favorite of young backpackers, honeymooners, and solo travellers. With culture-stacked cities, a jungle interior, and some of the continent’s best beaches, Thailand welcomed over 35.5 million international tourists in 2024.
Although holidays generally go smoothly, travelers should be aware of some strict regulations in Thailand and its islands — both familiar and unfamiliar — planning their trip. Continued …
DHL unveils green logistics hub powered by solar
DHL Supply Chain Thailand has invested 1.39 billion baht (€35 million) to set up the Bangna Sustainable Logistics Center, the first DHL supply chain facility worldwide to be fully powered by renewable energy from on-site solar systems.
The center sets a new benchmark for future DHL Supply Chain operations and strengthens Thailand’s role as the region’s logistics hub, said Hendrik Venter, chief executive of DHL Supply Chain. Continued …
Trump tariffs on timber, furniture take effect
US President Donald Trump’s fresh tariffs on imported wood, furniture, and kitchen cabinets took effect yesterday, a development likely to fuel building costs and pile pressure on homebuyers in an already challenging market. Continued …
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Cha Am Crab Festival starts Saturday
Nationwide inspection of land allocated to farmers ordered
Q1 GDP growth seen at 3.4%
‘Homes for Thais’ lottery starts April
China and Canada Retaliate Against US Tariffs
