- Berlayar Estate Launches Hua Hin Development/Thailand weighs relaxing alcohol sales curbs/Coffee giants to halve default sugar levels/Contenders to be Thailand’s next prime minister/Nipah virus vigilance/Convenience stores have evolved into health hubs/Efforts intensify to stop wild elephants/Wild elephant dies during relocation
- ECONOMY: Thailand: the ‘Sick Man of Asia’/SMEs bogged down/Nestlé cements Thailand’s status
- TOURISM: Top 10 most crowded tourist areas/Top 5 visitor concerns/’Tourism Product Highlight 2026’/Tourists Mistake Thai Funeral for Restaurant/Phuket set for bumper Chinese New Year
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Luxury Golf In Thailand/Massive elephant herd emerges/Funeral and burial traditions in Southeast Asia
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Mae Hong Son launches wildfire campaign/Drainage contractor discharged black water/Restoring rice in Ubon Ratchathani/Mercedes-Benz accelerates shift to EVs
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Berlayar Estate Launches Hua Hin Property Development
Berlayar Estate, a boutique property developer specializing in refined, lifestyle-driven living, has announced the official launch of its newest premium villa collection under the theme “The Journey to Serenity.” This latest portfolio introduces a curated selection of private residential projects in Hua Hin and Pranburi.
Villa Samata, Pranburi, offersrivate villas just 5 minutes from the beach, offering peaceful coastal living. Na Raya Hills – Hua Hin is a premium resort-style villa collection inspired by contemporary Thai architecture, framed by mountain scenery and located near golf courses and leisure destinations. Na Raya Home – Hua Hin is an exclusive enclave of only five private villas, designed to blend with the natural landscape. For information …
Thailand weighs relaxing alcohol sales curbs in the 2–5pm period
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said after chairing a meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee that the meeting had considered an agenda on relaxing controls on alcohol sales hours in the Eastern Aviation City Promotion Zone yesterday at the Ministry of Public Health.
This followed a proposal from the EEC office (Eastern Economic Corridor office of Thailand) to consider allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages 24 hours a day in the airport city zone and areas around the airport, as the area is being promoted as one with investment and activities running around the clock, similar to an international airport model. Continued …
Thailand’s coffee giants to halve default sugar levels in major health drive
High-street coffee chains across Thailand are set to undergo a radical transformation next week as the Department of Health launches a new nationwide standard for freshly brewed drinks. Beginning Feb. 11, any customer ordering a “normal sweetness” beverage will automatically receive a drink containing only 50% of the original sugar recipe.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health and nine major industry players — including Café Amazon, Inthanin, All Café, Black Canyon, and Punthai — aims to curb the escalating rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the Thai population. Continued …
Who are the contenders to be Thailand’s next prime minister?
Thailand will hold a general election on Sunday, in a three-way contest of major political parties to decide the leader of the Southeast Asian nation over the next four years.
Here are contenders from among 93 eligible names parties have submitted as potential candidates for prime minister. Continued …
Ministry steps up Nipah virus vigilance
The Ministry of Public Health has intensified preventive and surveillance measures against the Nipah virus, even as authorities stress that the risk of infection in the country remains very low.
The heightened vigilance follows recent reports of Nipah cases in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, prompting health authorities here to strengthen monitoring across healthcare and transport sectors. Continued …
How convenience stores in Thailand have evolved into health hubs
Thailand is well-known for its wats (Buddhist temples), breathtaking beaches and islands, and vibrant night bazaars. Yet, one feature often overlooked is our convenience stores. Although not one of our cultural monuments, with more than 14,000 outlets nationwide as of 2024 – among the highest densities per capita globally – these stores have become iconic landmarks in their own right.
Our convenience stores reflect Thailand’s unique rhythm of everyday life and play an increasingly vital role within our culture and society. They are no longer solely places to grab a quick snack – they reflect a fundamental shift in our mindset shaped by the pandemic and pace of modern life. Thais are no longer waiting for sickness to strike; we are becoming a nation of proactive health managers, embracing convenience stores as everyday hubs for wellness. Continued …
Efforts intensify to stop wild elephants entering communities, tourist sites
Park rangers are trying to keep wild elephants away from communities and tourist attractions during the dry season. The measures cover a bull elephant that has killed three people, including a camper, in this Nakhon Ratchasima province.
Rangers of the Khlong Pla Kang unit in Khao Yai National Park pushed Oiwan, the bull elephant, back into the woods after it killed a 65-year-old male camper who was exercising with his wife near their tent at a campground of the Khlong Pla Kang unit in Wang Nam Khieo district on Monday morning. Continued …
Wild elephant dies during relocation operation in Khon Kaen
A wild elephant that previously killed two locals in a Khon Kaen community died early this morning during a government relocation effort involving over 200 officials. The elephant, a 15- to 20-year-old male known as “Phlai Sida Hoo Phap”, roughly translated to “folded ear”, had been roaming farmlands and national park areas near Muang Kao Pattana in Wiang Kao district since 2023.
It had previously killed two villagers in 2025, causing locals to file a petition with the Khon Kaen Administrative Court. The court later ordered the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to relocate the elephant for public safety. Continued …
Thailand: From ‘Economic Tiger’ to the ‘Sick Man of Asia’
The era of Thailand as a high-growth “economic yiger” has come to an abrupt halt. Once the envy of its neighbors, the country is increasingly being referred to as the “sick man of Asia,” as reported by the Financial Times.
The nation now finds itself grappling with a severe economic paralysis across its three primary pillars: consumption, manufacturing, and tourism. The transition from a regional powerhouse to a stagnant economy has occurred with alarming speed. Continued …
SMEs bogged down as profits shrink and debt piles up
Krungthai researchers are warning that Thailand’s economy in 2026 could record its weakest growth outlook in three decades, as the country remains stuck in a low-growth trap with no new engines of expansion. They also caution that SMEs could remain mired in difficulties, with shrinking profits and mounting debt, risking a broad-based “downgrade” across the sector unless business structures are reshaped quickly.
Meanwhile, Kasikorn Thai Research Center notes that SME lending has continued to contract and non-performing loans (NPLs) have risen above 7%, reflecting a grassroots economy that has yet to recover. Continued …
Nestlé cements Thailand’s status as regional strategic hub for advanced food tech
Thailand has solidified its position as a critical industrial anchor in Southeast Asia following high-level talks between the Thai government and global food and beverage giant Nestlé.
Speaking after the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, minister of finance, confirmed that Nestlé will continue to utilize Thailand as its primary “strategic hub” for the Indochina region. Continued …
Phuket, Krabi, and Pattaya among top 10 most crowded tourist areas
Fresh research from MoneyTransfers.com has unveiled the planet’s most jam-packed tourist hotspots. The team’s findings reveal that Phuket in Thailand stands as the globe’s most congested tourist magnet. This Thai paradise boasts a staggering 118 tourists for every local inhabitant.
Phuket ranks among Thailand’s premier coastal retreats and boasts several of the planet’s finest stretches of sand, including Kata and Karon. Yet ,holidaymakers might discover these shores rather cramped, especially throughout busy periods. Thailand dominated the rankings with Pattaya and Krabi similarly featuring in the top 10. – mirror.co.uk
Tourism survey: top 5 visitor concerns; baht tops factors
The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) has released its “Tourism Business Confidence Index in Thailand, Q4 2025”, based on a survey of 302 foreign tourists using accidental sampling: 200 respondents in Bangkok and 102 in Chonburi.
The survey found that foreign tourists’ overall concern about travel safety in Thailand was at a moderate level across all main categories. The category that generated the highest concern was service and communication issues, particularly language barriers and communication with government officials. Continued …
TAT launches ‘Tourism Product Highlight 2026’
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled its 2026 tourism “product highlights” to build awareness of Thailand’s readiness and the potential of its tourism goods and services in 2026. The aim is to raise the quality of tourism products, routes and experiences in line with new global travel trends that prioritize wellbeing, life balance, and meaningful journeys, while integrating cooperation with public- and private-sector partners to move Thailand’s tourism industry toward international standards.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT governor, said the agency is focused on adding value to Thailand’s tourism industry through a mechanism that develops higher-quality products. TAT will push for every trip to be deeper, more meaningful, and more valuable, built around three key pillars. Continued …
Foreign Tourists Mistake Thai Funeral for Restaurant
A Thai family in Nakhon Si Thammarat province mistakenly hosted foreign tourists at a funeral, providing them with food when they believed it to be a restaurant. The tourists apologized after realizing they were at a funeral, not a dining venue.
Two foreign men were initially served during the funeral event. The family later explained the mix-up to the men, who expressed gratitude for the hospitality. Continued …
Phuket set for bumper Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year celebrations in the island province are expected to be particularly vibrant this year. The upbeat outlook is driven by a strong rebound in the Chinese tourism market and an increase in direct flights from China, according to the Phuket Tourist Business Assn. (PTBA).
Thanet Tantipiriyakit, president of the PTBA, said the Chinese New Year in Phuket this year is highly active, with Chinese tourists forming the core market. He attributed the momentum to several supporting factors that began late last year. The first, he said, was the state visit of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, marking the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. Continued …
Luxury Golf In Thailand: Why The Land Of Smiles Is The Ultimate Winter Escape
For many foreign golfers, winter usually means soggy socks, frozen fingers, and pretending the simulator down the pub is Pebble Beach. But for those who’ve clocked on to golf in Thailand, the “off-season” now looks suspiciously like peak season – blue skies, immaculate fairways, and 30-degree sunshine that has your eight-iron flying a club longer and your spirits about three clubs higher.
The global golf map has been quietly redrawn. Watching those pristine Thai fairways on TV is one thing. Actually walking them, caddie at your side, sun on your neck, wondering if your mates back home have thawed out enough to find the 5th fairway yet – that’s quite another. Continued …
Massive elephant herd emerges near Thap Lan National Park
A herd of at least 40 wild elephants was spotted near the forest border of Thap Lan National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima, prompting park officials and local villagers to step up overnight patrols to protect farmland and communities.
On Monday, dozens of locals from Prong Sanuan village in Lam Phiak subdistrict, Khon Buri district, gathered to help authorities monitor and push back wild elephants after several of them emerged from the forest to forage and caused damage to nearby farmland. Continued …
Resting in peace: Funeral and burial traditions in Southeast Asia
Shaped by centuries-old traditions, ceremonies involving the death of a loved one in Southeast Asia are rich in cultural and spiritual symbolism.
Across countries and religions, these practices, with many of the rituals blending elements of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and local traditions, share the common ideas of respect for elders, a deep sense of family and community connection, and belief in the afterlife. Continued …
Mae Hong Son launches campaign to tackle wildfire and PM2.5
Mae Hong Son officials on Monday launched a joint campaign aimed at preventing wildfires and reducing air pollution in the province, with multiple key leaders participating in a kick-off event held in front of the municipal office. The campaign was led by Mae Hong Son Gov. Wiboon Waewbandit, alongside Deputy Gov. Udomsak Khaonoona and Mae Hong Son Mayor Mallika Jeenakham.
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about the dangers of forest fires, smog, and PM2.5 dust, while encouraging concrete action to reduce pollution risks and protect public health. Continued …
Drainage contractor discharged black water into Jomtien sea
The contractor hired to improve the drainage system along Jomtien beach faces legal action after an outlet released wastewater that stained the sea black on Monday. Officials immediately suspended all work on the project and ensured the discharge returned to normal, according to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
An immediate inspection was ordered after photos and videos were posted on social media showing black water being discharged into the sea at Jomtien beach, immediately south of Pattaya in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Continued …
From field to forest, restoring rice in Ubon Ratchathani
“When new farmers come and see the soil is improving, and costs go down, and yields go up, they want to join us,” said Thanu Thanakhet, a farmer in Thailand’s largest rice-producing province, Ubon Ratchathani. “Seeing is believing.”
Thanakhet and his wife have just celebrated their farm’s 10th anniversary. Like other farmers in the province facing difficult growing conditions and high costs, seeing the impact in their own fields has made all the difference in how they farm. Continued …
Mercedes-Benz accelerates shift to EVs
Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) expects the domestic electric vehicle (EV) market to gain momentum under the government’s new car tax policy set to take effect in 2026, aimed at promoting cleaner energy.
Christian Schell, the newly appointed president and chief executive of Mercedes-Benz Thailand, said the country offers a strong growth opportunity for the German luxury carmaker. Thailand’s market potential is significant because vehicles with low carbon dioxide emissions are subject to lower tax rates, Schell said. Continued …
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- Chinese National Arrested for Selling Ketamine-Laced Vape Pods – Continued …
- Mongolian Man Hid Ice in Electronics for Export – Continued …
Buddhist monks’ peace walk across US draws crowds
Buddhist monks walking from Texas to Washington, DC, to promote peace have become a surprise popular hit as they near the US capital – attracting crowds of thousands who line the route or join in for a few miles. At a time of strife and political tension in the United States, the monks offer a change of tone on their 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometer) odyssey across eight states through freezing temperatures and along ice-covered roads. Continued …
The Russia-US nuclear treaty is expiring — what comes next?
The last Russia-U.S. nuclear arms control treaty, known as New START, is due to expire tomorrow. We look at what the treaty does, what its expiration would mean, and what it may take to establish a new treaty. Video …
Spain to ban social media for under-16s and hold CEOs to account
Spain will ban access to social media for minors under 16 and hold company CEOs criminally liable for illegal content, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said yesterday, as he announced several measures to guarantee a safe digital environment. Video …
France summons Musk after raids on X offices
France summoned billionaire Elon Musk to a “voluntary interview” as cybercrime authorities yesterday searched the French offices of his social media network X, the Paris public prosecutor’s office said. The operation, which involves the EU police agency Europol, is part of an investigation opened in January 2025 into whether X’s algorithm was used to interfere in French politics. Continued …
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Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia have each carved out their own space in the long-term expat landscape. Thailand offers dependable healthcare and a well-established expat infrastructure. Vietnam stands out for rock-bottom costs and relentless urban energy. Malaysia brings modern living standards, cultural diversity, and an English-speaking environment that makes settling in remarkably smooth.
Following recent media coverage highlighting the Thai authorities’ increasing scrutiny of nominee company structures, MBMG Group and Hua Hin Accounting & Law have released further insights from their recent seminar, which examined the broader tax, business, and compliance framework now facing expatriates and foreign business owners in Thailand.
Red levels of PM2.5 cover about one-third of Thailand, including PKK
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) searched the residences of three active and one former officials of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and seized thousands of illegal crypto mining rigs, cash, laptops, phones, and bank passbooks.
Thailand has, for the first time, administered contraceptive vaccines to female wild elephants, as part of an initiative to control the elephant population safely and promote sustainable coexistence between humans and elephants.
Thailand’s economy is expected to grow 2.0% this year, the Finance Ministry reported yesterday, maintaining its previous forecast. Exports, a key driver of Thai growth, are also expected to rise 1.0% this year, compared with an earlier forecast of a 1.5% decline, Vinit Visessuvanapoom, head of the Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), told a press conference.
Ekniti Nitithanprapas, deputy prime minister and finance minister, said he was assigned by the prime minister to lead “Team Thailand” to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. He said the meeting’s core purpose was to serve as a platform for leaders to discuss and help shape global directions on the economy, trade, finance, and investment.
Singapore Airlines plans a new service linking the island state with Chiang Mai, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Suvarnabhumi Airport is Bangkok’s major international gateway. Here’s how to reach the city center upon arrival or travel to the airport for departure.
It’s too early to be sure, but it seems likely that we have just seen “Peak Trump”. Last week, US President Donald Trump arrived at the Davos conference radiating power and menace. Fresh from his attack on Venezuela, he was going to invade and annex Greenland. If his European allies in the NATO alliance tried to protect it, he would crush them with tariffs. And he would launch a rival to the United Nations that would make him World President for Life. 
India and the European Union announced yesterday the “mother of all deals”, a huge trade pact to create a market of two billion people, reached after two decades of negotiations. EU chiefs and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi hope the pact will help shield against challenges from the world’s two leading economies, the United States and China. 
Global gold prices continued to climb, hitting a new all-time high of $5,136 an ounce overnight, as uncertainty boosted demand for safe-haven assets. Markets expect the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged today. 
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.
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.
Thai gold shops face closures as prices top 70,000 baht
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.
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.
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.
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.
Can Southeast Asia keep the lights on for solar projects as costs rise?
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.