As today is April Fool’s Day, Expat News cannot verify that every article in today’s news is not a trick.

• Wild elephant herd at Pa La-U waterfall/To strictly enforce 10 key traffic offenses/Ride-Sharing Platforms Legally Accountable for Safety/Anzac Day celebration/Chiang Mai Wildfire Disaster Zones/4,750 ‘hotspots’ detected
• THE IRAN WAR: Thailand readies fuel rationing plan/Thai Food Exports Fall/War and Oil Drag Tourist Targets/Energy shock rattles ASEAN economies/Private couriers raise fees
• ECONOMY: Private sector urges economic action/Microsoft Invests $1 billion/DIY giants losing momentum/Bangkok Motor Show, after the fuel shock
• TOURISM: Thailand welcomes 9.17M foreign visitors/Stronger baht hurts travel/How China Is Remaking Thai Tourism/Couple from USA Found Dead
• INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS 

Wild elephant herd spotted at Pa La-U waterfall

Wild elephants were spotted gathering at the Pa La-U reservoir in Kaeng Krachan National Park yesterday, with officials counting at least 32 animals at the water’s edge and in the surrounding area.

The elephants were seen in the early evening as the light began to fade. Officials said some were drinking from the reservoir, while others were feeding on aquatic plants and grass nearby. More elephants were also seen moving deeper inside the forest, meaning the full size of the herd could not be confirmed. Continued … 

Thailand to strictly enforce 10 key traffic offenses from today

Under the upgraded road safety measures, traffic laws will now be enforced more strictly, with the key aim of reducing accidents, ensuring concrete enforcement, and building traffic discipline among the public.

Previously, the Traffic Management Center of the Royal Thai Police had laid out its operations in phases to give people time to adjust to the law. It first introduced a “warning before fine” measure to raise public awareness of traffic laws, and that easing period ended yesterday. Continued … 

Thai Ride-Sharing Platforms Now Legally Accountable for Passenger Safety

Thailand’s digital transport landscape entered a new era of regulation yesterday, as the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) enforces a landmark mandate shifting legal responsibility onto ride-sharing platforms.

Under the new “Ride-Sharing Proclamation,” platforms are no longer classified as mere intermediaries or “matching services” between drivers and passengers. Instead, they are now legally obligated to implement rigorous vetting, screening, and active supervision of all services from the point of origin. Continued … 

Anzac Day celebration in Kanchanaburi April 25

Anzac Day is an important occasion for Australian and New Zealand communities around the world, and we aim to bring together local expatriates and the wider community to honor and reflect on this significant day. The dawn service at Hellfire Pass will be the only official dawn service in Thailand and it is jointly hosted by the Australian and New Zealand governments.

Hellfire Pass is an important section of the historic Burma-Thailand railway and stands as a powerful reminder of the hardships endured by allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers during World War II. Over 60,000 allied prisoners worked on the railway, with approximately 12,500 lost lives, including British, Australian, Dutch, American, and tens of thousands of Asian laborers.

Chiang Mai Declares Wildfire Disaster Zones

Chiang Mai has declared wildfire disaster zones in two districts, as worsening forest fires and haze continue to impact northern areas, prompting authorities to accelerate emergency assistance and recovery efforts.

Provincial officials have designated Samoeng and Hot as disaster-affected areas and emergency assistance zones to speed up support for residents affected by the ongoing crisis. The move enables faster deployment of aid, damage assessments, and rehabilitation measures in communities facing significant disruption. Continued … 

Record 4,750 ‘hotspots’ detected across Thailand

Satellite data shows a record surge in hotspots across Thailand, with 4,750 detected in a single day, most in forested areas, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported yesterday.

A hotspot is a thermal anomaly, often a heat source, that can indicate a potential fire. Hotspots are derived from multi-spectral satellite data. According to GISTDA, analysis of data from the Suomi NPP satellite using the VIIRS system on March 30 showed Thailand’s hotspot count hitting a new high. Continued … 

Thailand readies fuel rationing plan if energy crisis hits Level 3

Thailand may have to impose fuel rationing if the Middle East-driven energy crisis worsens to Level 3, with officials saying contingency plans are already in place if crude can no longer be imported from the region and domestic demand outstrips refinery capacity.

Authorities currently assess the situation at Level 2.2 on a three-tier scale, indicating the disruption is unlikely to ease within a month and could still worsen depending on the fighting. Continued … 

Thai Food Exports Fall as Middle East War Hits Global Trade

Thai food exports fell by 10.5% in the first two months of 2026, with further declines expected as the Middle East war begins to disrupt global trade routes from March. Exports were valued at B202.1 billion, reflecting weak global demand, rising costs and growing trade restrictions.

The conflict is expected to severely affect shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for goods դեպի Gulf markets. Wisit Limluecha, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Processed Food and Future Food Committee, said yesterday that exports would continue to contract in the first quarter. Continued … 

War and Oil Drag Thailand’s Tourist Targets Down

Thailand has downgraded its 2026 foreign tourist arrival forecast to 32.14 million visitors and projected revenue to 1.52 trillion baht, as the ripple effects of the US–Iran war rewrite the economics of international travel and push the kingdom into uncertain territory.

The Tourism Confidence Index for the first quarter of 2026 — drawn from a survey of 740 operators across all regions — registered 81, a meaningful recovery from the 72 recorded in the previous quarter, yet still well below the 83 of a year ago. Continued … 

Hormuz energy shock rattles economies across ASEAN markets

Since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, the market capitalization of companies across the ASEAN region has shrunk by at least US$216.9 billion (about 7.1 trillion baht), with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a major factor.

Nikkei Asia reported that the combined market capitalization of some 3,500 non-financial companies in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam stood at US$1.92 trillion as of March 26, down 10.2% from Feb. 27, the day before the United States and Israel began attacking Iran. Continued … 

Thailand’s three private couriers raise fees as oil costs soar

Three private delivery companies – J&T Express, Flash Express, and KEX – announced a simultaneous 3-baht increase in delivery charges per parcel effective today, after persistently high oil prices drove up operating costs and directly affected the delivery business.

This adjustment has been made across the industry, with operators saying it is a temporary measure to cope with higher fuel costs while maintaining service quality and business continuity. Continued … 

Private sector urges urgent economic action

Business leaders have welcomed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s new cabinet, expressing hope for a more effective response to a range of economic challenges, from surging fuel prices to broader issues affecting the Thai economy.

Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the private sector is confident that the new cabinet will perform its duties effectively and is eager to work closely with the government to tackle the challenges. Continued … 

Microsoft Invests $1 billion to Boost AI in Thailand

Thailand is stepping up efforts to become a regional artificial intelligence hub, after Microsoft pledged a $1 billion investment over the next two years to strengthen digital infrastructure and skills development.

The announcement was made yesterday following a meeting at Government House in Bangkok between Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Microsoft President and Vice Chairman Brad Smith. The investment is expected to enhance the country’s digital competitiveness and improve public service efficiency. Continued … 

Why are Thailand’s DIY giants losing momentum?

Home improvement is one of the most – if not the most – cyclical of all retail categories, and the one most susceptible to weak consumer confidence. So, it is hardly surprising that, as Thailand’s DIY market, the biggest in Southeast Asia, struggles with weak consumer confidence, household debt, rising energy costs, and an otherwise choppy macroeconomic backdrop, retailers are getting less productivity out of their giant warehouses.

Still, they keep adding stores, which means same-store sales will continue to decline and competition for customers will intensify. As material costs rise, that will hurt profits, too. Both the top and bottom lines are being squeezed. Continued … 

The Bangkok Motor Show, after the fuel shock

The Bangkok International Motor Show still knows how to stage desire. This year’s edition, running from March 25 to April 5 at IMPACT Challenger, has all the familiar pleasures intact: polished bodywork under hard lights, crowds drifting from stand to stand, and the quiet thrill of being close to machines designed to look smoother, sharper, and more complete than everyday life usually allows.

The excitement is still there. What feels different now is the meaning attached to it. The car no longer arrives as a simple symbol of freedom or prestige. It enters a more unsettled conversation, one shaped by energy anxiety, changing consumer habits, and a growing curiosity about what driving is supposed to look like next. Continued … 

Thailand welcomes 9.17M foreign visitors to March 29, down 2.3%

Thailand recorded 9,174,586 foreign tourist arrivals between Jan. 1 and March 29, a decline of 2.3% year on year, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The ministry estimated foreign visitor spending over the period at around 446,765 million baht.

Natreeya Taweewong, permanent secretary of the ministry, said that in the past week (March 23-29) travel demand eased as short-haul markets wound down after the Eid al-Fitr holiday period, while long-haul travel also moved into the tail end of the season. She noted, however, that long-haul demand has shown signs of improving, as some travelers adjust to more direct flight routings from Europe to Thailand. Continued … 

Stronger baht hurts travel

The tourism sector could lose 15%-17% of revenue if the baht strengthens beyond 30 per US dollar, according to a former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Meanwhile, the Thai Hotels Assn. (THA) forecast that bookings for the Songkran holiday this year could drop by 5%-10% year-on-year.

Speaking at the THA’s annual general meeting yesterday, Yuthasak Supasorn, chairman of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and the former TAT governor, said three scenarios were prepared for the baht and the potential impact on Thai tourism should the Middle East crisis persist. Continued … 

Beyond Beaches: How China Is Remaking Thai Tourism

On a Tuesday morning at a heritage house in Bangkok’s old quarter, a queue of young Chinese women in elaborate Thai traditional dress waits patiently for a photographer to finish composing the perfect shot. They have not come to see a temple. They have not booked a beach. They have come, in the most contemporary sense of the word, to experience Thailand — and to post about it.

That scene, replicated across the country from Chiang Mai’s night bazaars to the silk villages of the northeast, encapsulates a transformation reshaping Thailand’s most important source market. Continued … 

Couple from USA Found Dead in Pattaya Hotel Room

Two American nationals have been found dead inside a hotel room in the Jomtien area of Pattaya, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Officers were called to the scene at around 11 am yesterday.

The bodies of a man and a woman were found on the floor of a third-floor room, lying together. Police said initial assessments suggest they had been dead for three to four days. Authorities identified the pair as Richard Carl Speth Jr., 85, and Kelly Marie Bennett, 65, both from the United States. Continued … 

Historic Moon mission set for launch

Today, three men and one woman are set to embark on the first crewed journey to the Moon since 1972, a landmark odyssey that aims to launch the United States into a new era of space exploration. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making after facing repeated setbacks, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as today at 6.24 pm (2224 GMT). Continued … 

At gas stations, Americans say they’re ‘paying the price’ of Iran war

At a gas station in the Washington suburbs, drivers confronted the harsh domestic repercussions of the war on Iran, as spiking fuel prices hit household budgets hard. Jeanne Williams, 83, had just driven 160 kilometers from Richmond, Virginia, where she was visiting her elder sister. “That is horrible,” she said, stunned by the prices visible on the gas station’s LED board. Continued … 

Hua Hin Links and Transport

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