Hua Hin’s Centara wins sustainability award/Water jousting returns/Heavy rain and rough seas forecast/Floods Hit Northern Thailand/Uttaradit hit by worst floods in 80 years/Bangkok fees for unsorted household waste/ECONOMY: Property Market Faces Toughest Challenge/Asian Development Bank cuts Thai GDP outlook/Thai-US trade pact/Factory output drops/Low-Cost Chinese Imports/Five Thai banks revised to negative/TOURISM: Golden Week arrivals to sink/Israel-Palestine Row on Koh Samui/Pattaya Expects Tourism Surge/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Rap Bua festival in Samut Prakan/CLIMATE THAILAND: Thailand’s Clean Air Bill/More renewables and storage needed/Sustainable Urban Development/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Hua Hin’s Centara wins Thai tourism sustainability award
The Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok and Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin received the inaugural Thailand Tourism Sustainability Award in the accommodation category at the 15th Thailand Tourism Awards, organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
This accolade highlights the properties’ ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmentally responsible practices, and their significant contributions to advancing Thailand’s sustainable tourism sector. Continued …
Water jousting returns to Racer Marina Saturday
Water jousting returns to Hua Hin Racer Marina on Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission is free.
Water jousting sees two challengers, each standing on a boat and armed with a lance, attempt to unbalance one another and knock their opponent into the water. The contest combines balance, timing, and a fair amount of splash, making it a crowd-friendly spectacle. Continued …
Heavy rain and rough seas forecast
The Thai Meteorological Department reported today that easterly and southeasterly winds prevail over the northeast, while the weakened southwest monsoon continues over the Andaman Sea, the south, Thailand’s central region, and the Gulf.
Isolated heavy rainfall is likely across the country. Residents in affected areas are advised to remain cautious, as accumulated rainfall may cause flash floods and river overflows, particularly along foothills, waterways, and low-lying areas. Continued …
Floods Hit Northern Thailand
Flash floods driven by heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Depression Bualoi have caused severe damage across northern and northeastern Thailand. Although Bualoi has been downgraded to a strong low-pressure area, it continues to deliver torrential rain, leading to rapidly rising water and strong currents.
In Mae Hong Son’s Mae Sariang district, a local warning station remained on red alert after all-night rain triggered flash floods. Water levels reached 4.6 meters, flooding homes and washing away a village bridge, in what locals called the worst flood in two decades. Continued …
Uttaradit hit by worst floods in 80 years, single-story homes submerged
The worst floods in eight decades have struck Uttaradit, inundating more than 2,000 households. Single-story homes are under water as officials race to evacuate residents, including bedridden patients.
Torrential rain brought by storm Bualoi lashed Uttaradit continued yesterday, triggering flash floods from mountain streams that surged into creeks, canals, roads, and farmland. Continued …
Bangkok cracks down with new fees for unsorted household waste
Bangkok has introduced higher waste collection fees, penalizing households that fail to sort rubbish, while rewarding those who properly separate their trash.
From today, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will increase the waste-collection fee from 20 baht to 60 baht per month. However, households that join the “This House Doesn’t Mix” waste-separation scheme will still pay the original 20 baht rate. Continued …
Thai Property Market Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades as 2026 Looms
Thailand’s property market is confronting its most severe challenges in years, with experts warning that the prolonged downturn affecting the sector since the brief post-COVID-19 recovery shows no signs of abating through 2026.
Speaking at the “Thailand’s Real Estate Outlook 2026: Challenges & Opportunities” forum yesterday in Bangkok, industry leaders painted a sobering picture of the market’s current state while identifying potential pathways forward. Continued …
Asian Development Bank cuts Thai GDP outlook
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered its Thai GDP growth estimates for this year and next, citing export deceleration, a slow recovery of foreign tourist arrivals, as well as weakened private consumption and investments.
In its latest Asian Development Outlook (ADO) report, the Manila-based bank projects Thai GDP to expand 2% this year, down from 2.9% forecast in April, with the economy slowing in the second half as front-loaded shipments to the US end. Continued …
Thai-US trade pact ‘to be finalized by year-end’
Thailand plans to finalize an agreement on reciprocal trade with the United States by the end of this year, according to Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun.
The two countries concluded a joint agreement on reciprocal tariffs on July 31, and now the government aims to finalize remaining issues, including market access for goods, services, and investment, she said. Continued …
Thailand’s factory output drops 4.19% in August as exports slow
Thailand’s factory output contracted in August, figures published yesterday showed and was weaker than forecast, as slowing exports, falling tourist numbers, and a strong baht weighed on the economy.
Thailand’s manufacturing production index fell 4.19% in August from a year earlier, the Industry Ministry said. Negative factors included a weaker car industry and a decline in industrial sentiment, it said. Continued …
Are Low-Cost Chinese Imports Undermining Thailand’s Economy?
Cheap Chinese imports have been a growing concern for Thailand’s economy, particularly in recent years. While these imports provide affordable goods to consumers, they are accused of undercutting local manufacturers through practices like dumping — selling products below cost to gain market share.
This has led to factory closures, reduced industrial output, and calls for protective measures. However, China argues that its trade with Thailand is mutually beneficial, emphasizing investments and supply chain integration. Continued …
Five Thai banks revised to negative
Fitch Ratings has revised the ratings outlook for five Thai banks to negative from stable, following the downgrade last week of its outlook for Thailand’s sovereign credit rating.
The revision affects the following banks, while their long-term issuer default ratings (IDRs) have been affirmed: Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM), Krungthai Bank Plc (KTB), TMBThanachart Bank Plc (ttb), Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Plc (SCBT), and United Overseas Bank (Thai) Plc (UOBT). Continued …
Golden Week arrivals set to sink to 200,000
Thailand is expected to welcome 200,000 Chinese tourists during the Chinese eight-day Golden Week holiday, a 24% year-on-year decrease, with revenue projected to drop 17% to 9.1 billion baht despite growth in outbound travel from mainland China.
Outbound bookings for the holiday this year surged 28% year-on-year, while international seat capacity rose by 10% to both short- and long-haul destinations, according to ForwardKeys, an air traffic data company. Continued …
Israel-Palestine Row Hits Thai Restaurant on Koh Samui
A restaurant on Koh Samui is at the center of controversy after allegedly removing a group of Israeli diners. The action was reportedly linked to a social media post by the restaurant, which criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza and sparked a heated online debate.
Immediate reactions have been polarized, with both support and condemnation flooding in from the public. The post, attributed to the restaurant, described Israel’s military actions as “war crimes” and labeled the Israeli diners as “IDF soldiers” rather than tourists. Continued …
Pattaya Expects Tourism Surge in October, prices to rise
Pattaya is preparing for a significant influx of foreign tourists in October, driven by school reopenings and year-end travel plans. This surge is expected to lead to crowded beaches, busy streets, and increased prices for hotels and services. Visitors are advised to anticipate higher costs as demand grows during this peak period.
Local businesses report rising interest from tourists, particularly from China, Europe, and the Middle East. With higher hotel occupancy, both accommodation and restaurant prices are projected to climb. Transportation services may also adjust fares to mirror the bustling season. Continued …
Rap Bua festival in Samut Prakan – a timeless charm of water and devotion
The Rap Bua Festival, also known as the Lotus Throwing Festival, is one of the most unique and signature events of Samut Prakan province. It reflects the deep faith of Buddhist devotees toward the province’s most sacred Buddha statue.
The tradition dates back more than 200 years, when a statue named Luang Pho To was found floating along the Samrong Canal. Local residents respectfully enshrined it at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai in Bang Phli district. Continued …
Smog of controversy descends on Thailand’s Clean Air Bill
Experts warn Thailand’s draft Clean Air Bill will become a paper tiger if stripped of the “polluter pays” principle that would hold companies accountable for health-harming emissions.
“We need to use both the carrot and the stick,” said Chulalongkorn University law lecturer Assoc. Prof. Kanongnij Sribuaiam, who is vice president of the House committee drafting the bill. Continued …
Thailand will need more renewables and storage to meet demand from EVs and data centers
Thailand committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 30% below a business-as-usual level, which is about 388 million tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO2), by 2030. With adequate international support, Thailand will aim for a 40% reduction, or 333 MtCO2. To meet carbon neutrality by 2050, Thailand will need to reduce its GHG emissions by 73%-83% compared to 2015 levels.
Given that the energy sector accounted for about 69% of total emissions in 2019, decarbonizing it will be indispensable to cut emissions. Within the energy sector, the power and transport sectors took up to 68% of total emissions in 2022. Therefore, accelerating renewable energy integration in the power system and electrification of the transport and industry sectors are crucial. Continued …
Thai Property Leaders Call for Government Action on Sustainable Urban Development
At a panel discussion on sustainable urban development held in Bangkok yesterday, leading Thai property sector figures highlighted critical barriers preventing the country from achieving truly sustainable cities — and issued urgent calls for government intervention.
The “Green Living, Smart City” forum, part of the Thailand’s Real Estate Outlook 2026 conference, brought together four industry leaders: Kessara Thanyalakpark, managing director of Sena Development; Narongwet Wajanapanich, managing director of Quality Construction Products; Samatcha Promsiri, chief of staff at Sansiri; and Phatsareephak Srikanchananon, head of property management at CBRE Thailand. Continued …
US Government Shuts Down After Congress Misses Funding Deadline
The US federal government shut down in the early hours of today due to a tense standoff between Republicans and Democrats over measures aimed at protecting health insurance for millions of Americans. The lapse in appropriations came just hours after the Senate rejected a pair of competing spending bills that would have kept the government open until November. Continued …
Death toll rises to 60 after powerful quake hits central Philippines
The death toll from a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake in the central Philippines has risen to 60, with more than 140 people injured, and officials today warned the numbers could climb further as rescuers access collapsed buildings. Continued …
Rescuers Run Oxygen to Survivors in Indonesia School Building Collapse
Rescuers ran oxygen and water to students trapped in the unstable concrete rubble of a collapsed school building in Indonesia, as they desperately worked to free survivors yesterday, a day after the structure fell. At least three students were killed, more than 100 were injured, and dozens were presumed buried in the rubble. Continued …
Famed Dutch village Zaanse Schans to charge tourist tax in 2026
The famous village of Zaanse Schans near Amsterdam is set to implement a tourist tax for those who want to visit its historic windmills and charming wooden houses. Feeling overwhelmed by the more than 2.6 million annual visitors, the beloved heritage site will now require a €17.50 ticket for each visitor starting in 2026. Continued …
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