Traffic nightmare expected on Rama 2/PKK province’s public relations plan- ECONOMY: Finance proposes excise tax restructuring/10 Plus economic plan/Five Nations Invest B33.8 billion/110,000 companies at risk
- TOURISM: Foreign arrivals down 7.6%/Chinese flock to Thailand/Tourism’s 2-speed economy/Visa plan upsets Phuket tourism
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Ten species flagged as birdstrike threat/Monitor lizard invasion in Korat
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Severe heat alarm sounds
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Traffic nightmare expected from partial closure of Rama 2 road for four months
The partial closure of Rama 2 road for four months 24 hours a day from Feb. 15 to June 15 to install beams for a new expressway is expected to have widespread impact on the traffic flow.
Samart Ratchapolsitte, former deputy leader of the Democrat Party and former deputy governor of Bangkok, said this partial shutdown of a major artery connecting Bangkok with Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, and the south, and with there being large business and residential areas of both sides, is a gamble between safety and traffic paralysis. Continued …
PKK province’s public relations plan: Inform residents of policies
Prachuap Khiri Khan province has approved a new public relations plan aimed at improving awareness and understanding of key government policies among local residents. The Provincial National Public Relations Plan for the 2026 fiscal year was endorsed during the first meeting of the year of the Provincial Subcommittee on National Public Relations, held on Monday.
The public relations plan focuses on raising domestic awareness across five main areas: the economy; society and culture; natural resources and the environment; security and political governance; and public administration. Continued …
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Finance proposes excise tax restructuring to boost revenue by 7.6%
The Ministry of Finance is preparing a proposal for the new government to restructure the excise tax system, aiming for a 7.6% increase in revenue for fiscal year 2026, reaching 578 billion baht.
This includes revising tax rates on various products, including a unified rate for cigarettes, adjustments to fuel and alcohol taxes, and the introduction of new taxes on health and environmental hazards, such as salt and carbon taxes. Continued …
10 Plus economic plan targets B1.1 trillion investments
The general election on Feb. 8 concluded with a landslide victory for the Bhumjaithai Party, sweeping 193 MP seats (unofficial data). They have become the core leaders in forming the new government led by Anutin Charnvirakul.
The key figure driving the economy is Ekniti Nitithanprapas, deputy prime minister and minister of finance. Ekniti’s mission is to restructure the Thai economy through the “10-Pill” or “10 Plus” policy. Continued …
Five Nations Invest B33.8 billion in January
Thailand approved B33.779 billion in foreign investment from 113 investors in January, marking a 46% increase in total investment value and a 10% rise in permitted investors.
The approvals were granted under the Foreign Business Act 1999, according to Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Department of Business Development and secretary of the Foreign Business Commission. A total of 262 Thai nationals were employed by investors holding foreign business licenses, representing a 15% increase. Continued …
DBD targets 110,000 companies at risk of nominee and shell accounts
Yesterday, the Department of Business Development announced plans to conduct in-depth investigations of over 110,000 companies with foreign investments to prevent the use of Thai nationals as nominees and the opening of shell accounts. This is part of a broader effort to safeguard Thailand’s business environment.
The focus will be on 12 key provinces, including Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, which are major economic and tourism hubs. Measures to prevent new nominee companies have helped reduce the problem, but a new loophole has emerged: criminals are buying up defunct companies to use them for fraudulent purposes. Authorities are closely monitoring these activities. Continued …
Foreign arrivals down 7.6% so far this year
Thailand’s foreign tourist arrivals dropped 7.6% year-on-year in the period Jan. 1 to Feb. 15, to about 5.07 million people, the Tourism Ministry said yesterday.
China was the biggest source market with 770,427 visitors, followed by Malaysia with 461,742, the ministry said. Continued …
Many tour packages sold out as Chinese flock to Thailand
So many Chinese tourists are heading to Thailand for Lunar New Year holidays that many tour packages offered by travel agencies are completely sold out, according to Chinese media.
Top Thai tourist destinations are currently packed with Chinese tourists, but those who had not purchased a tour package in advance now have to wait until at least the end of February. Several travel companies in Beijing, Wuhan, Xi’an, and other cities said that tour packages to Thailand were sold out approximately a week ago. Continued …
Tourism’s 2-speed economy
Tourism is a key industry for Thailand, but over the past decade it has faced a critical challenge: income disparity, with a sharp divide between a handful of major destinations and second-tier locations.
Although the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recognized the imbalance and introduced a scheme in 2018 separating 22 major provinces from 55 second-tier ones to grant privileges aimed at boosting less popular destinations, such as tax deductions for travel expenses, the disparity persists. Continued …
‘Buy property, get visa’ plan upsets Phuket tourism operators
Phuket tourism operators oppose the government’s policy allowing foreigners who buy real estate worth 3 million baht to qualify for a long-stay visa, arguing the investment threshold is too low and could attract “non-quality” visitors, as well as risking an increase in property prices.
According to the Immigration Bureau, since Oct. 1, 2025, foreigners who bought a condo worth a minimum of 3 million baht or rent housing for at least 85,000 baht per month can apply for a one-year long-stay visa. Continued …
Ten species flagged as birdstrike threat to flights in Thailand
Ten species of bird have been flagged as a growing threat to aviation safety in Thailand, with 6,118 birdstrikes reported nationwide over the past five years, causing damage worth hundreds of millions of baht.
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) has sounded the alarm over the mounting menace birdstrike poses to flight safety. The problem has intensified in recent years, with birdstrikes in 2024 and 2025 alone causing direct damage costing more than 530 million baht to repair, underscoring mounting safety and cost pressures on the aviation industry. Continued …
Monitor lizard invasion in Korat sees 200 to 300 reptiles gather
Safety concerns are rising in Nakhon Ratchasima after hordes of water monitor lizards turned up along the city moat and wandered into the nearby market, prompting residents to call for agencies to manage the animals.
Lizard numbers reportedly vary by area, with some stretches said to have 200 to 300 animals, including several large ones that residents say roam roadsides and drift close to homes and market shops. Continued …
Severe heat alarm sounds
The Department of Medical Services (DoMS) has issued an advisory urging citizens and businesses to prepare for the upcoming summer, which is expected to be more severe than last year.
DoMS Deputy Director-general Dr. Akkarathan Jitnuyanon said global temperatures are rising, with Thailand facing particular risks of heatstroke. He noted that hot weather can also exacerbate chronic illnesses, especially cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Continued …
- Chinese Call Center Gang Arrested in Pattaya – Continued …
- Two Russians Arrested Over Pattaya Condo Theft – Continued …
- Gold Lion Statue Stolen From Chiang Mai Pub by Foreign Duo – Continued …
The Epstein Files Unraveled: How Millions of Secret Documents Are Shaking the Global Elite
One story has dominated global headlines entering 2026 with unusual ferocity — and unlike trade wars or geopolitical tensions, this one strikes at the personal reputations of the world’s most powerful individuals. The United States Department of Justice has released classified documents relating to the case of Jeffrey Epstein, the late American financier and convicted sex offender who ran one of history’s most far-reaching sex trafficking networks. Continued …
Canada launches huge defense plan to curb reliance on US
Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday launched a multi-billion dollar plan to strengthen the Canadian military and rely less on the United States. Carney’s announcement of Canada’s first defense industrial strategy built on themes he has emphasized throughout his 11-month tenure as President Donald Trump rips through traditional US alliances. Continued …
Google launches new feature to purge explicit images and personal data
Google has unveiled a new feature allowing users to request the removal of non-consensual explicit images and sensitive personal information from search results more easily, as part of its latest privacy and safety push. Continued …
US towns resist Trump plans to jail immigrants in warehouses
Residents in a leafy, conservative New Jersey suburb have erupted in protest against plans to convert a vast warehouse into an immigration detention center as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. 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
ADB upgrades Thailand growth forecast, trims developing Asia’s outlook
Tie-up with e-commerce firms to curb inferior imports
Thailand’s Prominent Role in ‘The White Lotus’ Poised for Rewards
