• Kao Tao longboat racing/Phon King Phet Park improvements/Checks on elder-care homes/IMF warns Thailand about aging risk/Rescuers evacuate bedridden patients
• THE IRAN WAR: 12 Killed at Riyadh Airport/Oil gains after tanker attacks
• ECONOMY: EEC and tourism destinations attract property investment /Thailand seeks new investment at IMF-World Bank meetings/Health Economy Tipped as Next Major Growth Engine/Bank of Thailand Warns of Repeated Shocks
• TOURISM: Failing foreign tourism sector at war over tourist levy/Thai hotels warn of 20% ASEAN visitor drop
• THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Khao Chang Phueak trek reopens
• CLIMATE THAILAND: Renewable outlays to spike/All-electric bus service launched/El Nino sets temperature record
• INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS 

Kao Tao longboat racing December 12-13

Traditional longboat racing is scheduled to take place at Khao Tao Reservoir Dec. 12-13.

Longboat racing is part of Thailand’s cultural heritage, combining teamwork and competitive sport with traditions passed down through generations. – HHT

Phon King Phet Park improvements at 60%

Work to improve the public activity plaza at Phon King Phet Park was approximately 60% complete, according to the municipality’s Engineering Bureau.

The bureau said it would press the contractor to speed up construction, with the aim of completing the work in time for the New Year festivities. Originally, the work was supposed to be completed by Songkran this past April. – HHT

Thailand orders checks on over 1,200 elder-care homes

Thailand’s government has ordered inspections of all 1,203 registered care homes for elderly people and those with dependency needs within two months, following complaints of clients being confined and assaulted.

The Ministry of Public Health has been instructed to tighten oversight and ensure homes meet their licensed operating standards. The action is intended to prevent illegal practices and protect health-service consumers, particularly elderly people and people requiring ongoing care. Continued … 

IMF warns Thailand faces aging risk as Asia hits turning point

Thailand faces mounting pressure from a shrinking workforce and rapidly aging population as the economic model that powered Asia’s rise over the past 35 years loses momentum, with productivity growth and artificial intelligence emerging as critical factors for future growth, according to a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) study.

The study argues that Asia-Pacific is reaching a turning point as the forces behind its economic transformation, including abundant labor, manufacturing exports and expanding global trade, become less powerful. Continued … 

Rescuers evacuate bedridden patients as overnight floods hit almost 100 homes in Phetchaburi

Rescuers evacuated bedridden patients through strong flood currents in Thailand’s Khao Yoi district, Phetchaburi, late yesterday, after water flowing from Ratchaburi inundated communities and affected almost 100 households.

The rescue teams brought all patients requiring assistance in the operation out of their flooded homes. Deep water and powerful currents made the evacuations difficult, requiring particular care when moving people unable to walk or leave without help. Continued … 

12 Killed And Over 300 Hurt In Latest Attack On Riyadh Airport

The latest attack on the international airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh killed 12 people and injured over 300 others, civil aviation authorities said early yesterday, with some in critical condition. A Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen.

It was the deadliest attack in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war, whose fronts have expanded to include the recent surge in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. Continued … 

Oil gains as Middle East conflict and tanker attacks lift prices

Oil prices extended gains today, as the Middle East conflict escalated after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis stepped up strikes on Saudi Arabia, while two tankers were attacked over the weekend, raising concerns about oil supply from the region.

Brent crude futures rose 76 US cents, or 0.73%, to US$105.48 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at US$92.44 a barrel, up 59 US cents, or 0.64%. Continued … 

EEC and tourism destinations attract property investment in Thailand

Southeast Asia’s property market is entering a phase in which growth is spreading beyond a handful of economic centers into economic corridors, industrial cities and tourism destinations, according to JLL’s latest research report, Planning for a Multipolar World: Real Estate Strategies Across Southeast Asia in 2026 and Beyond.

In Thailand, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) remains central to investment, while Phuket and Phang Nga are attracting interest in opportunities involving hotels, high-end residential property and wellness. Continued … 

Thailand seeks new investment at IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok

Thailand plans to use the 2026 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group to attract foreign investment in future industries and expand international economic cooperation, the government said today.

Thailand is hosting the meetings from Oct. 12-18 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, bringing together economic policymakers, financial executives and international representatives. Continued … 

Health Economy Tipped as Thailand’s Next Major Growth Engine Amid Rising Global Wellness Demand

Thailand’s health economy, spanning medical care, preventive health and wellness, is emerging as a new engine of growth. Panelists warned, however, that regulatory delays and heavy reliance on imported products could limit the benefits.

Speaking at a session titled “Health Economy: The New Engine Driving the Thai Economy” at the Thailand Economic Outlook 2027: New Horizon Beyond the Trap forum, industry leaders said the country’s service reputation, its status as a regional medical hub and falling technology costs give it a strong base. Continued … 

Bank of Thailand Warns Repeated Shocks Are Weakening Thailand’s Economic Resilience

The Bank of Thailand has warned that recurring economic shocks are eroding the financial resilience of households and small businesses, raising concerns that recent flooding could cause lasting damage.

Officials noted that vulnerable borrowers’ balance sheets have weakened, with estimated nationwide losses ranging from 16.9 billion to 33.8 billion baht, including significant impacts in Bangkok. Continued …

Failing foreign tourism sector at war over tourist levy and exactly who benefits from the billions raised

Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun is pushing ahead with Thailand’s proposed 450-baht tourist levy despite mounting opposition from hotel operators. The government promises accident insurance and billions in tourism funding, but its justification is coming under fire.

At the center of the row is 7 billion baht in unpaid foreign medical bills, including debts involving migrant workers rather than tourists. Yet, serious accidents involving British holidaymakers have exposed another problem, with families raising over £150,000 to cover treatment and repatriation. The dispute comes as ASEAN arrives fall and Thailand faces fierce competition from regional rivals, while already considering further passenger taxes. With insurance benefits still undefined and Cabinet approval pending, the battle now centers on who pays, who benefits and who controls the billions collected. Continued … 

Thai hotels warn of 20% ASEAN visitor drop, oppose travel tax

Thailand’s hotel industry is warning of a weaker-than-expected high season, with visitors from ASEAN markets down about 20% amid lingering flood impacts, while opposing proposed travel taxes that could add thousands of baht to the cost of flying.

Thienprasith Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Assn. (THA), said tourism in the fourth quarter of 2026 was expected to remain broadly flat compared with the same period last year. Long-haul markets could perform better, while short-haul markets were likely to lag. Continued … 

Khao Chang Phueak trek reopens with 60-a-day cap

Thong Pha Phum National Park in Kanchanaburi will reopen its Khao Chang Phueak long-distance nature trek from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. Numbers will be capped at 60 visitors a day, with hikers aged 13 to 70 only.

The route begins at Ban E-Tong village, Moo 1, Pilok subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum district, and is intended to allow visitors to experience the forest during the cooler season while protecting natural resources and managing safety. Continued … 

Renewable outlays to spike via new plan

The new power development plan is expected to unlock trillions of baht in renewable energy investment and create broader opportunities for private sector participation in the electricity market. This expansion includes several key areas for engagement, such as wind power, solar energy, battery energy storage systems, and the development of small modular reactors.

The government also plans to launch a direct power-purchase agreement pilot to allow electricity producers to sell renewable power directly to consumers, a practice currently prohibited in Thailand. Furthermore, the plan aims to accelerate the development of smart-grid infrastructure and large-scale solar projects. While major domestic power producers are expected to secure large-scale solar and wind projects, medium-sized entrepreneurs are anticipated to find significant opportunities within the new framework. – Bangkok Post AI

Bus operator launches all-electric bus service between Korat and Bangkok with 10 free days

Thai bus operator Choedchai Tour has launched an all-electric bus service between Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok, offering free rides for 10 days, as diesel prices rise and transport operators seek to cut fuel costs and air pollution.

The inaugural service departed at 9 am on Saturday carrying passengers who had booked tickets through the company’s website and application. The regular one-way fare is 257 baht, but passengers can ride free during the 10-day promotional period. Continued … 

El Nino sets temperature record in key Pacific zone

An intensifying El Nino broke a temperature record in a key zone of the Pacific in September, the EU’s climate monitor said today, in another sign the weather pattern is gaining exceptional strength.

Global forecasters have been warning for months that this El Nino would likely become the strongest ever observed and the latest record has tumbled even before the episode’s expected peak later this year. Continued … 

Hong Kong police smash alleged Thai prostitution ring – Continued … 

Top NATO commander set to issue warning to Russia over any attack – Continued … 

Hua Hin Links and Transport

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