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Today’s news: 5 Pitfalls With Retiring in Thailand/Summer officially starts/Red Cross Fair begins tomorrow/City of Shellfish walk/run/Severe summer storms/160,000 hectares face destruction in wildfires/Uphill task of removing street food stalls/American expat escapes Thai jail time/Thai self-confidence index/’Babies’ were opium/Economy: Bank warns of long-term downturn/PM envisages 8 hubs/Too dependent on few farm exports/Tourism: Don’t need a visa/37 Malaysians hurt in tour bus crash/Air Japan cancels Bangkok-Tokyo flights/Environment: Thailand’s Grassroots’ Path to Environmental Health/Water Woes/Oxygen treatment for wastewater/Thailand’s potash push/Links: 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

Beware of These 5 Pitfalls That Come With Retiring in Thailand

Thailand has a reputation for being a great place for retirees. Its warm weather, delicious cuisine, beautiful scenery, and rich culture are all factors that play into the decision for those who move out there. B

But, is there a catch for retirees looking to spend the rest of their lives here? We’ll go through five pitfalls that might come with retiring in Thailand and the considerations to make when choosing a location for retirement. Continued …

Summer officially starts, and it will be hot and dry

The Meteorological Department has announced the start of summer, with temperatures expected to peak at a blistering 45°C over the next few months in some areas.

Meanwhile, people gathered to enjoy a late frost at the top of Thailand’s highest mountain, in Chiang Mai, on Thursday morning. The announcement said the cool season had already ended and summer officially began on Wednesday. Continued …

No alcohol sales from midnight tonight until midnight tomorrow

Red Cross Fair begins tomorrow

The Hua Hin Red Cross and Local Goodies Fair returns for its 26th edition this year, promising a vibrant mix of charity, culture, and community spirit.

Scheduled from Feb. 24 to March 4, the fair will unfold over the expansive 25-acre activity ground situated behind the Bluport Hua Hin Shopping Mall on Soi Hua Hin 102. Continued …

Rak Lay 2 Hua Hin The City of Shellfish walk/run event tomorrow

Hua Hin is set to host the second edition of the “Rak Lay 2 Hua Hin The City of Shellfish” walk/run event, scheduled for Saturday.

This event, which coincides with the Makha Bucha Day holiday, is part of an initiative to promote tourism and support charitable causes. Continued …

Thailand braces for severe summer storms across 46 provinces

The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a severe weather warning, as a summer storm is expected to hit 46 provinces, including Bangkok and its vicinity, from Feb. 24 to 26. The alert warns of thunderstorms, hail, and potential lightning strikes due to a high-pressure system from China meeting with a moist easterly and southeasterly wind flow over Thailand.

With a collision of a high-pressure system from China and a moist southern air flow, Thailand is bracing for severe summer storms. The Thai Meteorological Department forecasts strong winds, hail, and thunderstorms across large parts of the country as winter bids farewell. Continued …

160,000 hectares of land in Thailand’s north face destruction in wildfires

An estimated 1 million rai (160,000 hectares), spanning 10 provinces in the northern part of Thailand, is predicted to be destroyed by wildfires between Feb. 19-25, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).

The 10 provinces are Tak, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, and Kamphaeng Phet. The GISTDA said that wildfires were likely to be caused by locals, who burn the area before planting and after a harvest. Continued …

Bangkok faces uphill task of removing street food stalls from sidewalks

For 28 years, Somsak and Wanna raised three children by selling home-made soy milk from a cart in Silom, Bangkok’s financial district. About a year ago, the couple began to see their income plummet, they said, because of the city’s forcible relocation of their business.

“Before COVID, there were days when we earned up to 2,500 baht (U.S. $69.50), but now some days we earn around 700 baht ($19.46),” said Somsak, 65. “I have attended meetings with the Bangkok officials. They said they want Bangkok to be as beautiful as cities abroad – that is without vendors and stalls.” Continued …

American expat escapes Thai jail time for scathing hotel review

An American expat living in Thailand faced a nightmare scenario when his negative TripAdvisor review landed him in hot water with the law.

Wesley Barnes found himself in a legal tussle after leaving a less-than-flattering review of Sea View Resort on Koh Chang. Barnes’ brush with the law began after he described the hotel’s staff as unfriendly and likened their behavior to modern-day slavery. Continued …

Thai self-confidence index reveals gap between aspirations and appearance

A new study, the “Self-Confidence Index”**, sheds light on the aspirations and anxieties of Thai consumers regarding their appearance. While Thais across various generations show considerable confidence in their looks, the research reveals a surprising desire for further enhancement through beauty treatments.

The study, conducted by leading aesthetics company Merz Aesthetics Thailand, in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University’s Assistant Prof. Watcharaporn Bunyasiriwat, surveyed 1,000 individuals aged 18-55. They identified six key factors influencing self-confidence: attitude and mindset, social aspects, work and study, health, appearance (average score of 82%), and income. Continued …

13 ‘Pregnant’ Teens Intercepted by Police; ‘babies’ were opium

Yesterday, police officers, led by the superintendent of Mae Ai police station, conducted a checkpoint operation on the public road between Mae Ai and Tha Ton in Chiang Mai Province. Their aim was to curb illegal activities in the area.

During the operation, they stopped a suspicious Toyota pickup truck. To their surprise, all 13 passengers were young pregnant women aged between 17 and 25. Suspecting something amiss, female officers were called to conduct a search. Continued …

Bank of Thailand warns of long-term downturn

The Thai export sector has lost competitiveness in global markets, with the market share of rice shipments falling by more than 50% over the past 20 years, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT).

Long-standing structural impediments in the export and manufacturing sectors are having a more discernible impact on the Thai economy, said the central bank. Continued …

PM envisages 8 hubs in ambitious vision for Thailand’s economic future

Thailand will be developed into hubs in eight areas, including tourism, food, logistics and aviation, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Thursday, as he laid out his plans for the country’s future.

Srettha unveiled his “Thailand Vision” in his speech at the “Ignite Thailand” conference at Government House, which laid out ambitious plans for making the country the hubs for tourism, medical treatment, food, aviation, logistics, electric vehicles, digital economy and finance. Continued …

‘Thailand too dependent on a few farm export items and markets’

Thailand needs to diversify its agricultural exports, as it currently relies on a handful of items and only a few overseas markets, Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang said on Thursday.

He said that the country’s top five farm products constituted over 87% of its agricultural exports, while as much as 42% of Thai farm products were exported to China. “Thailand relies on a limited number of markets for our agricultural exports, particularly China, which imports as much as 42% of all Thai farm exports,” Napintorn said. Continued …

85% of tourists to Thailand now don’t need a visa

Within the past six months, the Thai government has made mammoth strides to ease the travel process for millions more foreign tourists. Previously, visa-exempt tourist travel was mainly restricted to the traditional or old markets such as the European Union, the UK, the U.S. and Australia. But now holidaymakers from Russia receive 90 days, needing neither prior approval nor a visa on arrival, while Chinese and Indian citizens (and several smaller countries) are awarded 30 days without any bureaucracy in a mutually-agreed deal.

Thai immigration authorities reckon that eight out of 10 short-term visitors to Thailand no longer need formal approval for travel. The exceptions are largely nationals from Africa, parts of Asia and South America. Continued …

37 Malaysians hurt in tour bus crash in Kanchanaburi

Thirty-seven Malaysian tourists were injured, along with a Thai driver and guide, when a tour bus skidded off a road in Bo Phloi district on Thursday afternoon.

Police, rescue workers and medics who rushed to the scene found all 39 people on board the tour bus were injured, including 37 Malaysians. Some were seriously hurt. Continued …

Air Japan cancels Bangkok-Tokyo flights, stranding passengers

Passengers were left disappointed and frustrated when their Air Japan flight to Tokyo was abruptly canceled due to technical issues.

The fledgling airline, a low-cost carrier within the ANA group, found itself at the center of controversy after it revealed that it operates with a single aircraft, which brought about a series of cancellations affecting travelers from both Thailand and abroad. Continued …

Thailand’s Grassroots’ Path to Environmental Health and Against Air Pollution

In Thailand, the chronic issue of air pollution, intensified by seasonal forest fires and agricultural practices, poses a significant threat to public health. Despite ongoing efforts to reduce emissions, which is the release of pollutants into the air from various sources including the industrial and transport sectors, the real impact of these initiatives is slowly becoming apparent. The introduction of protective measures, along with community innovations, are urgently needed for immediate health protection.

Recognizing this urgency, the Department of Health, the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand and the World Health Organization Thailand have come together to identify and share successful local strategies for mitigating the health impacts of air pollution. Continued …

Water Woes: The Controversial Battle Over Megaprojects and Environmental Concerns

In the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand’s ambitious endeavors to combat water scarcity through monumental infrastructure projects have ignited a fiery debate among local communities, environmentalists, and the Royal Irrigation Department (RID).

At the epicenter of this controversy stands the 170-billion-baht water diversion initiative along the Yuam River, a testament to human engineering and a potential ecological time bomb. Continued …

Oxygen treatment makes Thai wastewater clean

In a move to tackle Thailand’s wastewater crisis, a pioneering oxygen treatment method promises to transform foul-smelling waters into pristine streams, all while slashing carbon emissions.

In the heart of Thailand’s bustling capital, Bangkok, a silent revolution is underway. Piyabut Charuphen, the managing director of BIG, a trailblazer in industrial gas technology, unveils the Generating A Cleaner Future initiative. This endeavor aims to revolutionize water quality management through innovative oxygen infusion technology. Continued …

Thailand’s potash push: Prosperity or peril?

As Thailand eyes a leap into the lucrative potash market, concerns loom large over the potential environmental havoc it may unleash.

Residents in the vicinity of Thailand’s solitary commercial potash mine have raised a chorus of apprehension, cautioning against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s grand vision to catapult the nation into a leading potash producer. Their concerns, centered around the possible devastating environmental toll in the Isaan region, ring with urgency and fear. Continued …