- Hua Hin tourism plans/Demolition begins on Hua Hin beach/Heavy rain warning for PKK/Thap Sakae severely flooded/Climate Crisis in Hua Hin Explored/Stricter safety checks for older drivers/How safe are senior motorists?/Lifetime Driving Licenses Valid/No reports of food stockpiling/Phuket’s Karon named ‘disaster area’/Gold prices in Thailand plunge
- ECONOMY: US midterm elections to impact Thai economy/Real estate drives green energy push
- TOURISM: Year-end tourism campaigns/Koh Kood calls for visitor limits/Refunds if hotels fail to make good/Thai taxi fare proposal/’Nightlife sandbox’ for Khao San
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Electricity reliability concerns/Striking an energy balance
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Hua Hin tourism plans revealed
Hua Hin is gearing up for four months of fun. A new campaign aims to make the seaside destination even more appealing to travelers. Video …
Demolition begins on buildings encroaching on Hua Hin beach
Hua Hin Municipality has launched an operation to demolish 15 structures encroaching on the beach, from the fishing pier to the Thap Tim Shrine. A large number of officials and machinery have been deployed, aiming to return the public area to citizens in November. Video …
Beachfront demolition video
Heavy rain warning for PKK, Thai Gulf coast provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department forecasts thundershowers across 60% of Bangkok and surrounding areas today, and isolated heavy rain on the south’s east coast. The forecast is valid from 6 am today until 6 am tomorrow.
Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani face isolated heavy rain, with thundershowers forecast across 60% of the south’s east coast. Minimum temperatures in the region will range from 23–24°C and maximums from 30–34°C. Continued …
Thap Sakae severely flooded – Flash floods in Prachuap Khiri Khan
Residents in the Thap Sakae Market area of Thap Sakae district woke up to heavy rain yesterday that had been falling continuously since Oct. 28, causing floodwaters on the roads to be over 10 centimeters high (above ankles), making travel difficult. Some homeowners had to use sandbags to prevent the water from flowing into their houses.
Images show a mass of water flowing from the Tanaosri Mountains resembling a “muddy ocean” descending to the lower areas. This is at Tham Ta Muak, Ban Pa Ron, Ron Thong subdistrict, Bang Saphan District. In Prachuap Khiri Khan province, residents of Bang Saphan district are fearful of flooding after accumulated rainfall. Continued and video …
Climate Crisis in Hua Hin and Thailand Explored in Documentary ‘Climate Empathy’
A documentary has been released chronicling the journey of young people and university students who helped restore mangrove forests in Thailand and met local children. It captures how the climate crisis affects not only the natural environment but also residents’ lives and children’s futures.
According to the T&C Foundation, its documentary “Climate Empathy” documents an overseas empathy tour in Hua Hin, involving 25 people, including the foundation’s high school scholarship recipients, known as Fellows, and its university scholarship recipients, known as Amis. Continued …
Thailand considers stricter safety checks for older drivers
Thailand is considering additional measures to improve road safety among older motorists, including reviewing physical fitness requirements for new driving license applicants aged 55 and above. However, officials have stressed that existing lifetime driving licenses will not be revoked.
Siripong Angkasakulkiat, deputy transport minister, said one growing concern was the increasing proportion of road accidents involving older drivers. He cited incidents in which elderly motorists drove cars into U-turn areas designed for motorcycles and became stuck, as well as cases involving older people riding electric motorcycles, colloquially dubbed “inheritance accelerators”, on public roads. Continued …
How safe are Thailand’s senior motorists?
Last week, a 67-year-old motorist drove her white sedan through the glass doors of a Big C outlet in Bangkok’s Onnut area after accidently pressing the accelerator instead of the brake. Six people were injured in the accident, including a six-year-old girl and an 81-year-old woman.
A few months earlier in Saraburi province, an 82-year-old lost control of his vehicle, causing it to swerve across several lanes before crashing into parked vehicles. Rescue workers found the driver unconscious at the scene. In other cases, death and injury was only averted by chance or the evasive maneuvers of other drivers on the road. Continued …
Thailand Keeps Lifetime Driving Licenses Valid
Thailand’s Department of Land Transport has denied reports that it plans to cancel or recall lifetime driving licenses, saying existing holders can continue using them legally as normal.
Sorapong Paitoonpong, the department’s director-general, issued the clarification yesterday after claims circulated widely on social media that authorities were preparing to withdraw the licenses. Continued …
No reports of food stockpiling in Thailand
There are no signs of mass stockpiling of consumer goods, says a member of the Thai Wholesale and Retail Trade Assn.
Many countries, including the US, the UK, Japan and several European nations, have issued guidance encouraging households to stockpile essential supplies in preparation for emergencies, according to international media reports. Continued …
Phuket’s Karon named ‘disaster area’ after heavy downpours
Phuket has declared parts of Muang district a disaster-hit area after heavy rain and strong winds caused flooding and mudslides. Gov. Chotnarin Kerdsom said the declaration, issued on Thursday, covers communities in tambon Karon where public, private and state property was damaged.
The designation under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act 2007 allows government agencies, local authorities and private organizations to carry out urgent relief and recovery work. Continued …
Gold prices in Thailand plunge 1,550 baht as AI stock rout hits
Gold prices in Thailand fell sharply by 1,550 baht at the opening of trading today, extending losses from the previous day as a sell-off in Wall Street technology stocks triggered a wider retreat in global precious metals markets.
The Gold Traders Assn. announced the first domestic price adjustment, bringing the selling price of 96.5% gold bullion down to 62,200 baht per baht-weight, compared with yesterday’s closing price of 63,750 baht. Continued …
US midterm elections set to impact Thai economy
The US midterm elections are likely to influence the development of the Middle East war and impact Thai economic growth, says an academic. Assoc. Prof. Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, discussed the potential impact of the elections on Thailand’s economy.
He said a Republican loss of its House majority could make it harder to escalate military action against Iran and would increase the possibility of negotiations. Continued …
Real estate recovery drives wider green energy push
Thailand’s real estate sector is beginning to show signs of recovery, following a 12% expansion in real estate lending during the first half of the year, says Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
Speaking at the opening of the 50th House and Condo Expo, Ekniti said on Thursday the real estate sector underpins Thailand’s economic growth and stability, as it is closely linked to a wide range of related industries such as construction, labor, building materials, financial institutions and lending services. Continued …
Year-end tourism campaigns expected to generate 630 million baht
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects three flagship year-end campaigns to generate 630 million baht in domestic tourism revenue, contributing to a projected 206 million domestic trips worth 1.1 trillion baht for the year.
The agency has invested more than 100 million baht in the three projects to encourage Thais to travel during the year-end, Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT deputy governor for domestic marketing, said. Continued …
Koh Kood group calls for visitor limits
Koh Kood’s tourism association has urged the government and private-sector operators to manage visitor numbers, warning that rapid growth could overwhelm the Trat island during the high season.
Plubplueng Permsap, president of the Koh Kood Tourism Assn., said tourism has expanded markedly since the Covid-19 pandemic, driven particularly by Thai visitors and Europeans who tend to stay for longer periods. Continued …
Thailand proposes refunds if hotels fail to make good on advertising
Room rates, booking conditions and advertising promises would become part of binding contracts with guests under a proposed Thai law aimed at strengthening protections for travelers.
The Thai government said the draft would allow guests to cancel bookings or end their stays if accommodation providers fail to deliver what they advertise. Continued …
Thai taxi fare proposal links prices to vehicle size
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat discussed a proposal to set Thailand’s taxi fares according to four vehicle sizes during talks with three taxi associations yesterday. The approach is intended to align charges with operating costs.
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is examining small, medium, large and extra-large taxi categories, labeled S, M, L and XL, alongside two service types, “Universal” and “Luxury”, Siripong said. The proposed rates will go to the Transport Ministry for consideration before being submitted to the Cabinet. Continued …
‘Nightlife sandbox’ to enforce laws on Khao San, Rambuttri
The government plans to introduce a sandbox scheme covering Khao San and Rambuttri roads in Bangkok to improve law enforcement at entertainment venues and prevent corruption among state officials.
PM’s Office Minister Paradorn Prissananantakul, who chaired a meeting on the scheme yesterday, said discussions focused on problems with the implementation of the existing zoning decree, issued in 2002, which no longer reflects current conditions. Continued …
Net-zero drive causes electricity reliability concerns
Thailand’s ambitious drive toward a net-zero future and a major expansion of renewable energy capacity is prompting growing concerns among energy officials over the country’s ability to maintain a stable electricity supply.
Jakree Sirimaneewattana, assistant governor for corporate strategy at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), warned that rapid renewable energy expansion without corresponding infrastructure upgrades could pose risks to national power security. Continued …
Clarifying plans to strike an energy balance
As Thailand accelerates its transition to a low-carbon economy, energy policymakers are revising the country’s oil strategy to balance decarbonization goals with energy security.
Sarawut Kaewtathip, director-general of the Department of Energy Business (DOEB), is outlining how the revised 2026 oil plan aims to expand biofuel use, modernize oil infrastructure and prepare the industry for declining fossil fuel demand. Continued …
Thailand investigates 19 firms linked to Rabbi Kantor
Thai authorities are investigating 19 companies linked to Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor, head of the Chabad network in Thailand, following the revocation of his Thai citizenship. Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said yesterday that officials were also checking whether Kantor’s relatives who hold Thai nationality had committed offenses. Continued …
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Krabi arrests 18 in Ao Nang nominee crackdown – Continued …
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US fugitive, Mexican overstayer arrested in Pattaya – Continued …
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Chinese woman held over Thai ID and Chumphon land – Continued …
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Five foreigners held over overstays in Kamphaeng Phet – Continued …
Thailand braces for US-Iran fallout
The National Security Council (NSC) will convene an urgent meeting on Wednesday to review national preparedness measures amid growing concerns over the situation in the Middle East. The meeting follows warnings by several countries urging their citizens to stockpile sufficient food and drinking water for at least 72 hours and to prepare for possible emergencies. Continued …
Thailand ready to evacuate citizens if Mideast tensions escalate
Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness to respond to developments in the Middle East, saying preparations are under way to evacuate Thai nationals if necessary, amid reports that the United States may launch another military operation against Iran. Continued …
Brent ends October up 13.6% as Iran war risks unsettle markets
Brent and US crude futures gained more than 2% yesterday, reaching their highest settlements since the end of April, as traders worried that the Iran war could intensify after the US midterm elections. A tanker attack in the Strait of Hormuz added to concerns about Middle East oil supplies. Brent’s October advance totaled 13.6%, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 15.2% over the month. Continued …
Iran’s Navy says four tankers catch fire in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said yesterday that four oil tankers had caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, while attempting to use what it described as unauthorized routes, Iranian state media reported. The IRGC Navy said a fourth vessel, a tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil, had hit a mine, suffered a powerful explosion and was burning. Continued …
Vietnam’s growth reshapes Southeast Asia’s economic rankings
Vietnam is poised to overtake Indonesia in nominal gross domestic product (GDP) per capita this year, as rapid economic expansion, foreign investment and rising exports strengthen its position among Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that Vietnam’s nominal GDP per capita will increase by 8.9% in 2026 to US$5,259, almost doubling its level over the past decade. Continued …
Hackers allegedly from North Korea steal US$6.3 billion from Binance in world’s biggest crypto heist
Hackers stole US$6.3 billion from Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, in a record theft that analysts blamed on North Korea and said could be the largest financial heist of all time. Continued …
Trump, Milei under pressure to explain Bolsonaro flight from Brazil
US President Donald Trump and Argentina’s Javier Milei faced mounting pressure yesterday to explain the role their countries played in helping Flavio Bolsonaro flee Brazil after he had his passports cancelled. The 45-year-old Brazilian senator bolted his country two days after being defeated by incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a presidential election on Sunday. 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
Appeal denied, beachfront demolitions to proceed
Health authorities in lower northeastern Thailand have recorded 570 cases of melioidosis and 45 deaths in four provinces so far this year. The figures, covering Jan. 1 to Oct. 22, were released yesterday.
Bangkok diner sued 1 million baht over 260-baht basil rice review
The outlook for the Thai economy for the remainder of 2026 remains uncertain, facing fragile household purchasing power, high debt burdens, uneven recovery, and the impact of the floods.
Thai export growth is projected to slow to 7.4% in 2027 as a result of several economic headwinds, most notably risks associated with US tariff policies. These trade risks are expected to impact various sectors, potentially weakening export competitiveness and adding pressure to overall economic growth.
Thailand is boasting of rising foreign investment as actual capital inflows plunge and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul launches a nationwide crackdown on foreign property ownership. Bank of Thailand figures expose a 24.6% second-quarter collapse in inward investment, dragging first-half FDI down 4.7%.
Thailand’s fiscal deficit for fiscal year 2026 stood at 3.4% of gross domestic product (GDP), below the earlier forecast of 4.4%, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said, citing the latest Fiscal Policy Office figures.
Ten listed banking companies recorded combined net profit of approximately 198.96812 billion baht in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures compiled by Thansettakij.
This Stunning Island Has Some of the Best Snorkeling in the World
Thailand has secured 15 million euros in German grant funding for climate and biodiversity work linked to its Net Zero 2050 target. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said the Department of Climate Change and Environment – known as the “Department of Global Warming Reduction” – had won support through two major projects.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Forum highlights local Thai cuisine to boost tourism growth
Khao Sok: Living beneath an ancient landscape
Travel Expert Unveils Insider Guide for Thailand’s Best Meals
Chiang Mai unveils Thailand’s first electric tram
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.
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.
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. 
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. 
Connecting Hua Hin by air to Thailand’s major tourist destinations and developing the railway bypass road are among the priorities Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul has outlined as the city prepares for continued growth.
Yesterday, staff from Hua Hin municipality’s Public Health and Environment Division collected rubbish along the beach from Hua Hin Soi 77 through Soi 85 and south to Khao Takiab.
Stilt houses in villages north of Bangkok are no longer high enough to stay dry as Thai authorities deliberately flood riverside communities to spare the capital.
160-billion-baht Chao Phraya 2 canal approved to tackle flooding
At the 2026 International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, senior IMF executives held a joint press briefing with the media titled “Asia and Pacific Department” to release the latest Regional Economic Outlook report.
Thailand needs more long-term investment to revive economic growth, former commerce and energy minister Narongchai Akrasanee says.
Thailand’s economy is projected to grow by 2.1% in 2026, placing it among the slowest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, ahead of only Myanmar and Brunei, according to the International Monetary Fund’s latest forecasts.
Ripe mangosteen and rambutan are being left unpicked in eastern Thailand as a shortage of migrant workers forces growers to decide which crops are worth harvesting.
Netflix says Thailand could develop into a global entertainment production center comparable to South Korea, but says stronger intellectual property protection and creative freedom will be needed for Thai content to compete internationally.
Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) will use a packed program of year-end festivals, concerts and international events in an effort to bring foreign arrivals to about 33 million in 2026. The campaign follows a 3.8% fall in international arrivals during the first nine months of the year, while a strengthening baht has made Thailand less price-competitive against rival destinations.
Australia said today it refused to allow big tech to have “unfettered” access to its children, as it formally introduced new legislation that would give users choice over what they see on their feeds. Under the “Digital Duty of Care” bill, firms behind popular platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram will be required to give users the choice to opt out of the powerful algorithms that dictate what we see online. 
Corruption can reduce real GDP per capita growth by 3% for up to two years, while money laundering amounts to as much as US$6 trillion annually worldwide, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Case studies of efforts to combat corruption and money laundering were presented at the 2026 annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group yesterday in Bangkok. 
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.
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 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.
Meta has banned advertisements from TikTok owner ByteDance on Facebook and Instagram in Thailand, the United States and five other markets, escalating competition between the two social-media groups.
Thailand stands at a pivotal junction where it must rapidly modernize its infrastructure, expand artificial intelligence adoption, and bridge a widening digital skills gap to avoid being left behind in the new global economy.
Thailand’s consumer confidence fell for the first time in four months in September, with the index dropping to 52.1 as widespread flooding and rising living costs weighed on households. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) released the findings yesterday, drawing on a nationwide survey of 2,241 respondents.
Thailand identifies 10 emerging technologies for future growth
Bangkok voted world’s best city for tourists
ASEAN’s Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), finalized on May 30, represents a landmark achievement as the world’s first regional digital economy agreement. It establishes common rules for cross-border data transfers, e-commerce, cybersecurity, AI, and talent mobility, targeting a projected $1 trillion digital economy by 2030.
Rare serow makes unusual appearance on Prachuap beach
Nene Royal: Global Stardom Won’t Change Me, Says AGT Winner at Bangkok Homecoming
Thai singer and guitarist Nene Royal has attracted partnerships with at least 10 brands in Thailand within 10 days of winning America’s Got Talent (AGT) Season 21 on Sept. 24.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its eighth warning today, forecasting thundershowers, gusty winds and isolated heavy to very heavy rain in upper Thailand through Wednesday. Heavy and accumulated rainfall could trigger flash floods and sudden run-off, particularly near foothills and in low-lying areas.
Disaster risks are considered structural challenges because they are becoming normalized and represent a long-term weight on Thailand’s economic growth. The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, driven by climate change, require fundamental changes to infrastructure and economic resilience rather than just short-term fixes.
Nine dead as floods submerge seven Prachin Buri districts
While the flooding has eased in Chanthaburi, around 4,000 fruit farmers are in deep distress as stagnant floodwaters led to durian trees grown on over 20,000 rai of orchards having died.
Sinking city, rising rage: Bangkok’s floods fuel fury over government inaction
Insurance regulator sets 5 flood-damage levels for vehicles
The Ministry of Commerce’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) reported uneven conditions in Thailand’s regional economies in its August 2026 review. Rising living costs remained a key source of pressure and consumer confidence stayed weak, although business formation and tourism continued to grow well in some areas.
Thailand’s effort to secure a US trade agreement is facing fresh pressure after US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called for stronger action against industrial overcapacity, while separate tariff investigations continue to target Thai exports.
Thailand and Laos have set an ambitious goal of boosting bilateral trade to US$11 billion by 2027 during high-level talks in Luang Prabang on Friday. The two countries’ economic push is part of a broader strategy to transform border transport networks into major international trade corridors.
As Thailand cracks down on foreigners, a tourist paradise reconsiders its welcome
In early 2020, international and national health authorities alike in Laos watched with disbelief as hospitals in New York City, a city in one of the world’s richest countries, were overwhelmed with patients. During the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 203,000 cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID were reported in New York and a third of people hospitalized died. 
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic will head to Beijing on Thursday for two days of make-or-break meetings with Chinese officials to try to stave off a trade war. The European Union has toughened its stance toward Beijing to defend businesses against what it believes is unfair competition in critical sectors, including cars. 
Major US automakers have watched their domestic market share shrink even more thanks to their Asian competitors — a situation that may worsen if Chinese firms are able to enter the US market, an idea floated by President Donald Trump. 
A new air service linking Hua Hin with U-Tapao has opened, creating another travel option between two important resort destinations and improving air connections between Thailand’s central and eastern regions.
Flooding raises vegetable and egg prices
The flood crisis is not over just because floodwaters have receded, as around 1.64 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face major challenges regarding capital and employment, raising the risk of liquidity crunches – or even business closures.
Toyota Motor Thailand Co. said yesterday it would suspend production at three plants from Oct. 5-10 due to flooding that has disrupted parts deliveries in Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao and Chon Buri provinces.
Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport has set out plans to become an aviation and logistics hub for Thailand’s upper north, including cargo links to China and the Middle East.
A Real Estate Information Center (REIC) survey of five major northeastern provinces in the first half of 2026 points to a shared finding that “purchasing power remains”.
Thailand’s soft power play: Culture as global currency
Thai Airways International’s board has suspended and removed chief executive Chai Eamsiri from his post, effective yesterday, following disruption to baggage, flights and ground services at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The board appointed Samrit Samniang, a company director and executive director, as acting chief executive.
How Coffee Is Helping Thailand Reduce Human-Elephant Conflict
Hua Hin-U-Tapao flights start October 23
PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) and Bangchak Corp. raised retail prices for petrol, gasohol and diesel by 0.75 baht per liter today. Following the adjustment, Gasohol 95 is priced at 40.69 baht per liter and regular diesel at 42.19 baht per liter.
Siam Music Yamaha sponsors Nene Royal and her ‘OZONE’ band
A lottery seller in Yasothon province won 60 million baht after retaining 10 unsold lottery tickets that won first prize in the draw yesterday. The tickets all carried the winning number 402701, giving him 6 million baht per ticket.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its second advisory today, warning that unsettled weather will bring thunderstorms, strong gusts and isolated heavy to very heavy rain to parts of Thailand from Oct. 4–7.
The central plains have been identified as the most heavily affected area by the ongoing floods, covering approximately 2,208 square kilometers. While specific breakdown of hotel cancellations by exact region is not provided, the Thai Hotels Assn. reported that severe flooding in Bangkok and the central and eastern regions caused over 5,400 room nights to be canceled or postponed.
Bangkok should stop treating every major flood as an exceptional event. The recent heavy rainfall will likely be described as an unusually severe event. Authorities will report falling water levels, reopening roads, and resuming business operations. Emergency relief packages will be announced, financial aid distributed, and public attention will gradually shift toward other pressing national issues.
Thailand and Maersk explore port investment
New vehicle sales in Thailand increased by almost 26% to 59,809 units in August, up from 47,622 units a year earlier, according to the latest data released by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Infineon Technologies AG is using its new US$1.4 billion (48 billion baht) semiconductor manufacturing hub in Samut Prakan as a long-term platform to strengthen Thailand’s semiconductor ecosystem through advanced production, local talent development and closer links with universities and industry.
Thai Airways to restore all flights tomorrow
Suvarnabhumi Airport has cleared thousands of stranded passengers affected by recent flooding, while efforts continue to return delayed baggage and clear a cargo backlog, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said yesterday.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has signed a proposal seeking 75 billion baht in loan funding to expand Thailand’s “People’s Solar” program, which will provide subsidies of 50,000 baht per household and support up to 1.5 million homes.
Hua Hin ready to clear beach after decades-long dispute
Thai teenage rock musician Nene Royal is extending her breakthrough on America’s Got Talent into US television appearances and major concert opportunities, days after becoming the first Thai contestant to win the competition.
With the Iran war causing energy prices to spike across most of Southeast Asia, governments in this region are accelerating the roll-out of renewable energy policies, according to report by Zero Carbon Analytics, a research group focused on energy transition.
Thailand’s customs-cleared exports rose 24.3% in August from a year earlier, driven by strong shipments to the United States and continuing demand for electronics, the Commerce Ministry said yesterday.
Speaking at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivered a statement under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All,” marking 80 years of Thai membership in the organization.
For most of the past two decades, the Thailand-China relationship was defined by trade volume and Chinese manufacturing relocation. Increasingly, it is defined by something else: the transfer of Chinese technology, standards, and industrial know-how directly into the operating base of the Thai economy.
Thailand is preparing to open its 26th petroleum exploration and production bidding round in the Andaman Sea as part of efforts to increase domestic gas supplies, reduce dependence on costly liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and strengthen long-term energy security.
Thailand is developing a risk-based legal framework for artificial intelligence that focuses on enhancing digital accountability, consumer protection, and ethics. These regulations aim to establish safeguards for AI adoption and development while addressing potential risks such as bias, security, and privacy.
Phuket has been voted the leading wellness destination by Canadian travelers in Air Canada Vacations’ 2026 Travelers’ Top Picks Awards. The result was announced at the company’s Toronto Product Launch at Universal Event Space in Toronto, Canada.
Those darn elephants! Being the smallest means you’re never walking alone
How the ‘Three-Water City’ is rewriting the rules of travel
Australian expat Jay Houston says he has cut his rent to a quarter of what he paid in Australia after moving to Thailand, and is now running an online business to help other Australians make the move.
Phuket expects this year’s Vegetarian Festival to generate at least 1.4 billion baht in economic activity. Visitors from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and Singapore are expected to be the primary groups attending the festival.
Thailand recorded the highest electrified vehicle (xEV) sales among ASEAN-6 markets in the first half of 2026, with volumes rising 47% year on year to 206,000 units, according to PwC. Sales outpaced Vietnam at 127,000 units and Indonesia at 114,000 units, reinforcing Thailand’s position as a leading regional hub for electric mobility.
US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a lavish summit that was heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with no sign of breakthroughs on thorny issues such as AI, trade, Taiwan and the war with Iran. 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a combative speech at the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, defending Israel’s actions in the region as dozens of delegates walked out of the chamber in protest.