- Amazing Muay Thai Festival/Attorney General Warns Online Commentators/Red levels of PM2.5/Thai bats carry Nipah virus
- ECONOMY: Thai gold shops face closures/Baht set to keep rising/Chamber sees 2026 export growth/Commerce minister outlines trade strategy/China’s rise ‘poses risks, opportunities’/Turnarounds Featured in Thai Hotel Industry
- TOURISM: Thailand’s tourism reality check/Bangkok remains a leading Asian destination
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: 12 Thai Islands More Beautiful Than Phuket
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Can Southeast Asia keep the lights on for solar?/Climate action can unlock competitiveness/Sustainable Tourism in Phuket/Thailand releases bred leopard sharks
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Amazing Muay Thai Festival Set for Feb 4-7
The Amazing Muay Thai Festival 2026 will be held Feb. 4-7 at Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin, with the Royal Thai Army working alongside tourism and provincial authorities to showcase Muay Thai as a key part of Thailand’s cultural heritage.
Organized by the Royal Thai Army in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Prachuap Khiri Khan province, the Amazing Muay Thai Festival 2026 aims to promote Muay Thai internationally while strengthening Thailand’s reputation as a destination for cultural tourism. Organizers say the festival is also intended to support the peak tourism season, encourage travel by both Thai and overseas visitors, and contribute to local employment and economic activity. Continued …
Attorney General Warns Online Commentators of Legal Risks
The attorney general for the Protection of People’s Rights has warned social media users that commenting on high-profile criminal cases without verified facts could expose them to prosecution, including possible imprisonment. The warning follows growing online criticism of ongoing cases and highlights that every post and comment can be recorded and used as evidence in court.
(Editor: This restriction on free speech can apply to just about anyone commenting on Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms.)
Kossolwat Intuchanyong, director-general of the Office of the Attorney General for the Protection of People’s Rights, said online commentators who rely on belief rather than evidence, or who were not present at the scene, risk violating others’ rights, and may themselves become suspects under defamation laws or the Computer Crime Act. Continued …
Red levels of PM2.5 reach three digits in Greater Bangkok
Seriously harmful levels of ultrafine dust, three times the safe limit, were reported in Greater Bangkok this morning, while most of Thailand was blanketed with unsafe smog.
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency reported that red levels (seriously harmful to health) of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and less in diameter (PM2.5) ranged from 78.8 to 116.4 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) of air in Bangkok and 19 provinces. Continued …
Thai bats carry Nipah virus, but the danger comes from infected tourists
Some Thai fruit bats carry a strong strain of the Nipah virus, but the bigger danger comes from infected people arriving from countries where there is an outbreak of the disease, health authorities said yesterday.
Dr. Sophon Iamsirithaworn, deputy permanent secretary for health, told reporters the Nipah virus was found in fruit bats in Thailand, but at a lower viral density than in countries where there were outbreaks of the disease. Continued …
Thai gold shops face closures as prices top 70,000 baht
Jitti Tangsitpakdee, president of the Gold Traders Assn., said the sharp rise in gold prices — with the current selling price now exceeding 70,000 baht per baht-weight of gold — could force dozens more gold shops to close this year, following closures seen last year.
He said sales of gold ornaments have slumped because prices have risen beyond consumers’ purchasing power, while many buyers have shifted to gold bars for speculative trading. In addition, a key income stream for many shops — gold pawnbroking — has weakened, as many people have already decided to sell their gold after prices surged. Continued …
Baht set to keep rising in Q1 alongside surge in bullion
Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) expects the baht to continue to appreciate against the US dollar in the first quarter of this year, in line with rising global gold prices. However, the Thai currency is projected to return to its fundamental level in the second half of the year, the bank noted.
According to Tim Leelahaphan, senior economist at Standard Chartered for Thailand and Vietnam, global gold prices have now surged to around US$5,100 per ounce, up about 20% year-to-date and exceeding the bank’s forecast. Continued …
Thai Chamber sees 2026 export growth at 5%+ if reforms bite; DFT warns of price wars
Thailand’s export outlook for 2026 could improve if reforms accelerate, but speakers at a trade forum warned that global competition is intensifying and domestic growth may remain subdued.
The comments were made at the Department of Foreign Trade’s event yesterday, titled “Mission to Win for The Game Changer: ‘Win the mission, change the game fast, seize an edge in global trade’”, which featured a panel on Thailand’s trade strategy as the “rules of the game” shift. Continued …
Commerce minister outlines trade strategy amid global uncertainty
Suphajee Suthumpun, minister of commerce, opened a seminar and delivered a special keynote on yesterday, titled “Mission to Win for The Game Changer”, organized by the Department of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce.
Suphajee said the global economy is facing major shifts and heightened uncertainty, while Thailand’s economic growth last year remained sluggish at below 2%, lagging behind neighboring countries and weighing on national competitiveness. Continued …
China’s rise ‘poses risks, opportunities’ for Thailand
Thailand must rethink its economic resilience strategies to respond to China’s accelerating outward expansion, which presents both significant opportunities and growing risks for the Thai economy, experts said at a regional forum yesterday.
As Thailand undergoes a transition under a new government amid intensifying regional competition, participants stressed the need for a shift from zero-sum thinking toward complementary and joint partnerships with key regional players, including China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Continued …
Turnarounds Featured in Thai Hotel Industry Success
Thailand’s hotel sector is shifting toward a more mature phase, which will see more of the country’s hotel assets repositioned to accommodate changing market dynamics.
This new cycle is explained in a new report from CBRE Thailand. The agent says the change will fill in “structural gaps in competitiveness and product differentiation” that have become visible following the post-pandemic market recovery. Changing consumer tastes include increasing demand for luxury and lifestyle hotels, plus a desire to enjoy a more digitally connected and experience-rich stay. Continued …
Thailand’s tourism reality check
As 2026 unfolds, Thailand’s tourism industry faces a complex and delicately balanced moment. The long-expected rebound in Chinese arrivals has fallen short of official forecasts, while breaking news of a new virus outbreak in India and Nepal now threatens to disrupt one of Thailand’s fastest-growing source markets.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand originally forecast around 8 million Chinese arrivals for 2025, banking on a strong post-pandemic recovery and restored air capacity. In reality, Chinese arrivals came in closer to 5.5 million, a shortfall of roughly 2.5 million visitors and a decline of about 30% year-on-year. Overall foreign arrivals fell by 7.2% to 32.97 million, the first annual decline since the pandemic years and nearly 20% below the 2019 peak. These headline figures, however, mask an important structural shift. Continued …
Bangkok remains a leading Asian destination during Chinese New Year
Agoda, a digital travel platform, says Bangkok ranked second among the most popular Asian destinations for international travelers during the Chinese New Year period. Tokyo topped the list, followed by Bangkok, Taipei, Osaka, and Seoul.
For domestic travel, Bangkok remained the number-one choice for Thai travelers. Agoda’s data also shows Tokyo as the most popular overseas destination for Thai travelers planning to travel during the Chinese New Year. Continued …
12 Thai Islands More Beautiful Than Phuket (And Often Cheaper)
Phuket can be stunning, but it can also feel expensive and crowded once you add hotels, transport, and day tours. Thailand has plenty of islands with similarly clear water and beach scenery, only with a slower pace and better value. Some are built for snorkeling right off the sand, while others work better for cycling, jungle viewpoints, or quiet nights.
This list focuses on 12 islands that are easier on the budget without sacrificing the “wow” factor. Each stop includes what makes it special and a few practical tips to help you plan the day. Pick one as a base, or combine two nearby islands for a trip that feels varied without extra stress. Continued …
Can Southeast Asia keep the lights on for solar projects as costs rise?
In the weeks since China announced its timeline for ending export subsidies for solar photovoltaic (PV) parts, prices for panels and their components have surged – leaving some Southeast Asian project proponents feeling the heat.
Industry players say that while the change in policy was expected, the announcement coincided with an ongoing rise in raw material prices for silver paste, aluminium, polysilicon, and wafers, increasing input costs. China is the world’s largest manufacturer and exporter of solar PV products. Continued …
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Climate action can unlock Thailand’s future competitiveness
Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia all filed new climate action plans toward the end of last year. While the ambition of these “nationally determined contributions” under the Paris Agreement will rightly be scrutinized, they all point in the direction of a cleaner future.
Malaysia’s plan introduces its first absolute-emissions reduction goal. Thailand’s brings forward its net-zero goal from 2065 to 2050. And Indonesia’s reiterates an ambition to reach net zero in 2060 or sooner, while adopting absolute-emissions targets that imply a peak before 2035. Continued …
Sustainable Tourism in Phuket: How the Island Is Protecting Its Wildlife and Ecosystems
Phuket has long been synonymous with tropical splendor thanks to its world-famous beaches, emerald rainforests, and waters teeming with life. This profound natural beauty is the very soul of its allure. Yet, for years, the pressures of overtourism, relentless development, and pervasive pollution have threatened to unravel the delicate ecological balance that sustains this paradise.
The island’s pre-pandemic footprint was hard to miss: immense strain on freshwater resources, mountains of waste, soaring energy demands, and the gradual degradation of its terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The island stood at a crossroads. Continued …
Thailand releases bred leopard sharks to boost wild population
Thailand has begun its first effort to “rewild” Indo-Pacific leopard sharks, releasing aquarium-bred pups off the southern Maiton Island in a bid to revive a species that has sharply declined in the wild due to overfishing and habitat loss. Video …
French lawmakers pass bill banning social media for under-15s
French lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban social media use by under-15s, a move championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a way to protect children from excessive screen time. Continued …
Hua Hin Links
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