• Prachuap Khiri Khan video/Thailand faces heavy rain and flood risks/December deadline for foreign land nominee probes/New Cold War tests Thai choices
• ECONOMY: France unrest offers Thailand lesson/Data centers and AI to fuel investment/World where there might be more people than jobs/Prepare for AI pain points/What do jobseekers need in the age of AI?
• TOURISM: Thailand’s foreign arrivals fall 4.12%/French protests threatening Thai tourism/Travel subsidies for tour groups/Virgin Atlantic lands in Phuket
• THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Chiang Mai’s iconic elephant camp/Bangkok ranked best culinary city in Asia
• CLIMATE THAILAND: Toyota investing in pickup plant
• FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS 

A Secret in Paradise – Prachuap Khiri Khan

A collaboration of the Hua Hin community reveals why “Prachuap Khiri Khan” is the peoples’ choice in Thailand. A group of local residents, together with schools supported by ex-minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat and local government tell the story of “A Secret in Paradise – Prachuap Khiri Khan”. Continued … 

Video 

Thailand faces heavy rain and flood risks until Sunday

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its seventh heavy-rain warning today, alerting parts of Thailand to heavy to very heavy downpours through Sunday. The warning also forecasts waves above three meters in thunderstorm areas of the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand.

South, east coast: Thunderstorms will cover 70% of the area, with isolated heavy rain in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pattani and Narathiwat, and isolated very heavy rain in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla. Minimum temperatures will be 23–24°C and maximum temperatures 31–33°C. Continued … 

Thailand sets December deadline for foreign land nominee probes

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered officials to complete investigations into suspected nominee arrangements used by foreigners to hold Thai land by December.

Anutin said enquiries must not stop with the name on a land title deed or company share certificates. Authorities must identify the person exercising real control and benefiting from the land, trace assets and examine those connected with any suspected network. Continued … 

New Cold War tests Thai choices

Scholars and experts advise Thailand to maintain strategic flexibility and avoid picking sides to preserve its ability to balance relations between the United States and China. This approach is intended to help the nation navigate the complexities of a new Cold War and avoid the risks associated with being caught in a direct geopolitical confrontation.

The advice emphasizes the importance of preserving strategic balance and flexibility to manage the competing interests of both superpowers. Experts suggest that choosing a side could trigger economic or security-related repercussions, as the competition spans critical sectors like trade, finance, technology, and outer space. Furthermore, maintaining a balanced stance allows Thailand to better manage its diverse relationships, which include navigating US trade policies and managing significant economic ties with China. – Bangkok Post AI

France unrest offers Thailand lesson in debt and fiscal discipline

France’s latest wave of unrest is drawing attention to the financial pressure on one of Europe’s largest welfare states, prompting Thai economists to warn that persistent budget deficits and weak fiscal discipline can eventually constrain public services and leave governments with fewer options during a crisis.

More than 500,000 people joined nationwide demonstrations in France after protests that began among secondary-school students over deteriorating school conditions and teacher shortages broadened into anger over living costs and underfunded public services. Continued … 

Data centers and AI to fuel digital investment boom

The Thai government is prioritizing investments in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure to transform the country into a regional leader and an intelligent nation. These investments are designed to strengthen national economic competitiveness, enhance digital sovereignty, and unlock new sources of economic growth through improved productivity.

By focusing on these areas, the government aims to transition from a fragmented digital presence to a unified, AI-driven backbone that supports both public and private sectors. Key strategic goals include building a robust foundation of data centers, cloud services, and advanced networking to support high-quality data and computing resources. Additionally, the strategy emphasizes developing a skilled local workforce and creating a globally competitive domestic AI industry to ensure that Thailand can effectively utilize emerging technologies rather than merely relying on imported solutions. – Bangkok Post AI

Where will young people stand in a world where there might be more people than jobs?

As young people hone their skills to enter the labor market, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we work, and in 15 years, there may be more job seekers than available positions. How will they prepare, and will the labor market create enough opportunities for this new generation?

A conference a the recent IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok featured a key panel discussion under the session Small AI, More and Better Jobs”. The main focus was on sharing data indicating that over the next 15 years, 1.2 billion young people will turn 18 and enter the labor market. The key question is whether the global economy at that time will be able to create enough jobs for these people, especially when AI is transforming work processes, from data searching and analysis to tasks that previously required human skills and experience. Continued … 

Employees warned to prepare for AI pain points as organizations prepare to downsize

Thanit Sorat , vice president of the Thai Employers’ Confederation of Trade and Industry, drew lessons and reflected on the perspectives of global financial leaders at the IMF – World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, pointing out that both the IMF and the World Bank share grave concerns about the impact of AI and advanced technologies, which will have an unprecedented and widespread effect on labor markets and employment.

A report by the IMF and the International Labor Organization (ILO) indicates that businesses in Europe and the United States have adopted AI in more than one-third of their operations to enhance competency and productivity. This has already impacted employment in the West by 34%, and it is projected that this impact will expand globally, both directly and indirectly, by an average of 40% in the future. Continued … 

What do jobseekers need in the age of AI?

Artificial intelligence is changing how people work across a wide range of professions, from researching information and writing content to preparing reports and conducting basic data analysis. Tasks that once took hours can now be completed much faster with AI tools. But for jobseekers, an important question remains: as AI becomes capable of doing more, what skills do employers still need from people?

An analysis by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), presented during the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok found that hiring demand in occupations highly exposed to AI fell by about 10% before beginning to stabilize, even as AI capabilities continued to advance. The analysis drew on millions of online job advertisements across Asia. Continued … 

Thailand’s foreign arrivals fall 4.12%

Thailand’s foreign tourist arrivals totaled 24,423,680 from Jan. 1 to Oct. 17, down 4.12% year-on-year, according to preliminary figures released by Tourism and Sports Ministry. Foreign visitors spent 1,189.555 billion baht in Thailand during the period.

Thailand recorded 487,410 foreign arrivals during Oct. 11–17, up 4,035, or 0.83%, from the previous week. The weekly total represented an average of 69,630 arrivals a day. Continued … 

French protests seen threatening Thai tourism

Tourism operators in Thailand are concerned that mass protests in France could weaken inbound travel from Europe, a key source market for the country. These protests, driven by cost-of-living concerns and student demonstrations, threaten to disrupt the economy and further reduce European arrivals, which are already being impacted by unrest in the Middle East.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has noted that French tourists remain a strong source of demand, but prolonged unrest could lead to a gradual economic decline for travelers in the region. While Thailand has not seen an immediate impact on bookings due to recent demonstrations, industry experts worry that continued instability and high costs of living in France may influence the travel decisions of budget-conscious families and long-haul travelers. This situation adds pressure to a Thai tourism sector that is already navigating various global challenges. – Bangkok Post AI

New travel subsidies for tour groups

The Amazing Thailand campaign, specifically the Around Thailand with Tours initiative, aims to generate at least 208.8 million baht in tourism revenue. The government launched the domestic travel subsidy initiative to encourage group travel.

The program aims to reduce transportation costs for domestic tour groups through various subsidies, such as up to 40,000 baht per trip for groups traveling by van with at least six passengers. Additionally, tour groups traveling by bus can receive a subsidy of up to 10,000 baht per day, capped at 40,000 baht per trip for groups of at least 30 people. – Bangkok Post AI

Virgin Atlantic lands in Phuket

Thailand welcomed Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural direct flight from London Heathrow to Phuket yesterday, as advance bookings from the UK rose 17.5% ahead of the high season.
Virgin Atlantic launched the service to eliminate the need for passengers to connect through the Middle East. This seasonal route, which operates three times weekly from Oct. 18 to March 26, 2027, is the airline’s first service in both Thailand and Southeast Asia.

The service utilizes a Boeing 787-9 aircraft with 258 seats, and the inaugural flight saw a 98% passenger load factor. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the new route is expected to add approximately 3,096 seats to the monthly capacity as the country prepares for the high season. – Bangkok Post AI

Chiang Mai’s iconic elephant camp marks golden anniversary with major transformation

Mae Sa Elephant Camp, one of Chiang Mai’s longest-established tourist attractions, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with plans to revitalize its facilities, expand community partnerships and embrace a more sustainable approach to elephant tourism.

Founded in 1976 by the late Choochart Kalmapijit, Mae Sa Elephant Camp has played an important role in shaping Chiang Mai’s tourism industry for five decades. Now, under the leadership of his eldest daughter, Anchalee Kalmapijit, the camp is preparing to enter its 51st year with renewed ambitions for the future. Continued … 

Bangkok ranked best culinary city in Asia

Bangkok was named Asia’s Best Culinary City Destination at the 2026 World Culinary Awards, marking its second consecutive win.Bangkok has now won three of the past four editions, with the Vietnamese capital Hanoi interrupting its run in 2024.

Bangkok’s food scene extends from street stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants, offering both traditional Thai cooking and contemporary interpretations. A food walk here can move from a bowl of rolled rice noodles in peppery pork broth to crab fried rice to noodles topped with homemade fish balls. Continued … 

Toyota allots 1.49 billion baht for pickup plant

Toyota Motor Thailand is investing 1.49 billion baht to establish the country’s first production line for fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) pickup trucks.

This project, which is expected to begin commercial production in the fourth quarter of 2027, will have an annual production capacity of 3,000 units. The FCEV technology utilizes a hydrogen fuel cell system to generate electricity, emitting only water as a byproduct, which supports Thailand’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. To support this new line, Toyota plans to upgrade its plant in Chachoengsao with specialized workstations for assembling critical FCEV components, including fuel cells, electric motors, batteries, and hydrogen storage tanks. – Bangkok Post AI

• Thai police raid Bangkok Chinese-Korean scam network – Continued … 

• 5 foreigners held with 5 tons of cannabis in Bangkok raid – Continued … 

Hua Hin Links and Transport

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