- Nationwide Alcohol Ban/Thai Election Could be Voided/National Health Crisis for Sodium Intake
- ECONOMY: From Asian Leader to Laggard/Restaurants face a rough 2026/New import tax to level field/700+ factories closed, 1,200+ opened/Chinese tech firm chooses Thailand/Collective convincing Thai farmers to go organic
- TOURISM: Russian tourist dies in fall at Koh Samui
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Six reasons why ‘Thais walk with literally zero urgency’/A fusion of ancient rituals and Lanna art
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Tourism faces crossroads/Oil drilling set to increase/GULF Secures $1.9-Billion Green Energy Financing
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS and TRANSPORT
Nationwide Alcohol Ban for election tonight, tomorrow
Thailand will impose a temporary nationwide ban on the sale, distribution and serving of alcoholic beverages during the general election. The restriction will be in force from 6 pm yoday until 6 pm tomorrow. During this period, alcohol will not be legally available in any setting nationwide.
The immediate impact will be felt across convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, entertainment venues, nightlife establishments, and at any events or activities involving alcohol. Continued …
Experts Warn Thai Election Could be Voided Over EC Failures
The general election tomorrow could be ruled invalid if complaints over the Election Commission’s (EC) handling are upheld, according to political academics and a former election commissioner. Concerns focus on errors during advance voting and potential breaches of constitutional requirements for secrecy and fairness, raising the risk of legal challenges after polling day.
The warnings follow widespread problems during advance voting on Feb. 1, when numerous procedural mistakes were reported nationwide. These included incorrect or missing constituency codes on ballot envelopes, missing candidate information, unsealed envelopes, and cases where registered voters could not find their names. Continued …
Thailand Faces National Health Crisis for Sodium Intake
The Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI) has sounded the alarm over a critical public health crisis, revealing that the average Thai citizen now consumes 3,650 milligrams of sodium daily. This figure is nearly double the 2,000mg limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), sparking a push for a “Salty Tax” on high-sodium products.
The health implications are significant. Currently, over 22 million people in Thailand are suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) directly linked to sodium, including hypertension, heart disease, and chronic kidney failure. Continued …
How Thailand Went From Asian Leader to Laggard
Thailand is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations — a place where modernity coexists with deep tradition; where beaches, skyscrapers, and global cuisine define a postcard image. But beneath the surface, Thailand is confronting a long-brewing economic crisis marked by slow growth, political instability, soaring inequality, demographic decline, and a shrinking workforce.
Over the past decade, Thailand’s economy has slipped behind its Southeast Asian peers, struggling with weak GDP growth, declining foreign investment, and an overreliance on tourism and low-value manufacturing. While neighbors like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia power ahead with new industries and rising exports, Thailand is battling what many economists see as a perfect storm of structural challenges. Video …
Restaurants face a rough 2026
The restaurant industry continues to face several challenges this year, as tourism has not fully recovered, labor shortages persist, and costs remain high. Chanon Koetcharoen, president of the Restaurant Association, said the tourism industry has an uncertain outlook in terms of traveler numbers, contributing to difficulties for eateries this year.
The industry is expected to continue to grapple with ongoing labor shortages, as some employees prefer the career paths and benefits offered by large restaurant chains, further intensifying challenges for smaller eateries. Continued …
New import tax to level field amid flood of foreign goods
Starting from Jan. 1 this year, all goods ordered online and imported into Thailand are subject to both import duty and value-added tax (VAT). The Customs Department eliminated the minimum tax-exempt value (de minimis value), which was 1,500 baht. The measure is intended to ensure fairer trade competition and improve the efficiency of government revenue collection.
Once taxes are imposed, the price paid by consumers will inevitably rise because import duties vary by product category, generally ranging from 10%-30% of the cost, insurance, and freight value, with an additional 7% VAT applied. Continued …
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700+ factories closed, 1,200+ opened in 2025
While 786 factories closed in 2025 and 1,220 new ones opened, there were more closures than openings in December for the first time in two years, according to the Kasikorn Research Center. This reflects ongoing structural problems and intense competition in the manufacturing sector, the research center pointed out,
Although the opening of new factories exceeded closures last year, the total that did so decreased by 42%. The proportion of factory openings to closures has dropped to 434, with this being a significant decrease. Continued …
Chinese tech firm chooses Thailand for overseas plant
Hesai Technology, a global leader in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) solutions and intelligent vehicle navigation systems, says Thailand will host its first manufacturing base outside China.
According to caretaker finance minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, who led Thailand’s delegation to the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland, in January, he and the secretary-general of the Board of Investment held discussions with David Li, co-founder and chief executive of Hesai Technology, on the company’s business expansion plans and decision to establish manufacturing and R&D facilities in Thailand. Continued …
Chiang Mai collective convincing Thai farmers to go organic for better profits
The Mae Tha Sustainable Agriculture Cooperative was started in 1986 to promote sustainable agriculture and better negotiate fair prices for farmers in Chiang Mai. Today, their brand is found in major supermarkets across the country. The collective hopes to leverage their success to convince more farmers in the area to join forces and go organic. Video …
Russian tourist dies in fall at Koh Samui viewpoint
A Russian tourist has died after an apparent fall from a cliff at the Na Phra Lan Cape viewpoint on Koh Samui, police said.
Koh Samui police said they were alerted on Thursday to a foreign tourist found dead among the rocks at Na Phra Lan Cape viewpoint in tambon Mae Nam of Koh Samui district, a popular coastal lookout and the site of a 200-year-old chedi. Continued …
Six reasons why ‘Thais walk with literally zero urgency’
It’s a scene familiar to anyone who has spent time in Bangkok: You’re navigating the crowded footpaths of Sukhumvit, trying to make your train connection, when you find yourself trapped behind someone moving at what feels like geological speed. They pause mid-stride to check their phone, drift unpredictably left and right, then stop completely, often right at the narrowest part of the walkway.
For many foreign visitors, this leisurely pace can be maddening. But according to a discussion on Thailand Tourism sub-reddit, there is more to this phenomenon than meets the eye. Continued …
Na Nathong: A fusion of ancient rituals and Lanna art
Bang Bua Thong district in Nonthaburi province is home to Khum Nanathong, a ritual center for fortune enhancement, and a hub of charm, compassion, and prosperity, famed for Na Nathong inscriptions and ancient rites.
Subin Nanathong, the master of Khum Nanathong, was the direct disciple of Luang Pu Duang, the originator of the nine-point fortune enhancement technique of Wat Ku Lai Mue, San Pa Tong district in Chiang Mai province. He has preserved and passed on Na Nathong, a discipline of high Brahmanical tradition that has endured for more than a century. In ancient times, only Brahmins were permitted to perform this ritual. Today, it is accessible to the public. Continued …
Tourism faces crossroads as ‘throwaway’ model strains supply chain
The tourism industry is facing a crucial turning point as the “throwaway” model — characterized by the linear approach of “take-make-dispose” — causes significant waste and supply chain disruptions. This model, heavily reliant on new resources, has led to fragile supply chains and created pollution from single-use packaging.
In response, the circular economy offers an alternative, promoting practices that enable hotels to design sustainable procurement and operations strategies based on three key principles: reducing waste and pollution from the outset, keeping materials in use for longer, and restoring the natural systems that sustain tourist destinations. Continued …
Oil drilling set to increase
The Department of Mineral Fuels (DMF) is preparing to restart oil and gas exploration and production projects once a new government takes office following tomorrow’s general election, in a bid to attract multi-billion-baht investments and strengthen Thailand’s long-term energy security.
Warakorn Brahmopala, director-general of the DMF, said the department mapped out a series of projects for 2026 to address delays in upstream petroleum management while adapting to volatile global market conditions. Continued …
GULF Secures $1.9-Billion Green Energy Financing for Thai Power Projects
Gulf Development Public Co has successfully secured loan facilities totaling 60,000-million baht to support the development of 27 renewable energy power projects with a total contracted generation capacity of 939 MW.
These projects comprise 15 solar farms and solar farms with battery energy storage system, with a total contracted capacity of 843 MW, and 12 industrial waste-to-energy power projects with a total contracted capacity of 96 MW. Continued …
‘Leave Iran Now’: US issues urgent warning to Americans in Iran
The U.S. Virtual Embassy in Iran issued a security alert early yesterday urging American citizens to “leave Iran now” and make departure plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance. The embassy warned of increased security measures, road closures, public transport disruptions, and widespread internet blockages across Iran. Continued …
U.S. layoffs soar in January, highest in 17 years
In January, the number of layoffs in the United States surged to 108,435, marking the highest level since the 2009 subprime crisis. This increase, which represents a rise of 118% compared to January 2025 and 205% compared to December 2025, highlights a troubling trend in the job market. In addition to the surge in layoffs, new hiring also dropped to its lowest point in 17 years, with just 5,306 new positions announced in January. Continued …
In show of support, Canada, France open consulates in Greenland
Canada and France, which both oppose US President Donald Trump’s claim to Greenland, opened consulates in the Danish autonomous territory’s capital yesterday, in a show of support for the local government. Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has insisted that Washington needs to control the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island for security reasons. 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