• Hua Hin–Chiang Mai flights/Hua Hin BluesFest/Halloween at Soi Bintabaht/Bang Saphan floodwaters recede/Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Recognized/Kaeng Krachan’s Khao Phanoen Thung reopens/Ban Pa Mak celebrates Karen culture/Thailand’s Most Famous Snake Catcher/Thai political confidence falls/Robot used in heart surgery
• ECONOMY: Government eyes high-income economy/Thailand as AI medical hub/Betting big on small AI
• TOURISM: $118.6 billion in tourism revenue/Suvarnabhumi to shrink duty-free shops
• THAILAND EXPERIENCE: TAT’s 100-baht vouchers
• CLIMATE THAILAND: ‘Four Doubts’ on Solar Rooftops/Plans to strike an energy balance
• FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS 

Hua Hin–Chiang Mai flights now daily until March 2027

Thai AirAsia’s Hua Hin–Chiang Mai flights are now operating daily, with the increased frequency scheduled to continue until March 27, 2027.

The additional flights are intended to meet high-season demand, giving residents of Hua Hin and neighbouring provinces more options for traveling north. The route also provides visitors from Chiang Mai with direct access to Hua Hin and surrounding destinations without connecting through Bangkok. Continued … 

Hua Hin BluesFest 2026 returns December 6

Hua Hin BluesFest 2026 will take place at The Kaset Hua Hin on Sunday, Dec. 6, bringing Thai and international musicians together for seven and a half hours of live music over Thailand’s Father’s Day long weekend.

The festival returns for its fourth edition at a new open-air venue, with Khao Takiab providing the backdrop. Doors open at 4 pm, with live music continuing until 11.30 pm. Continued … 

Halloween at Soi Bintabaht draws crowd

Bang Saphan floodwaters recede as pumping continues

Bang Saphan floodwaters have begun to recede following heavy rain Oct. 28-29, although low-lying areas remain flooded and officials have installed a pump to speed up drainage.

Video 

Residents reported falling water levels Friday morning, after earlier footage showed fast-moving water rising almost to the edge of a bridge. Large volumes of accumulated floodwater were still draining into the sea through coastal areas. Continued … 

Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Recognized for Sustainable and Nature-Positive Tourism

Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Resort & Villas has received a certificate of recognition from the Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (BEDO) for its participation in projects promoting environmentally responsible tourism and the sustainable use of biodiversity.

Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Resort & Villas was recognized for beach and roadside clean-ups and mangrove planting. It also promotes Kui Buri National Park and Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park as must-visit destinations for guests. Recently, the resort collaborated with Kui Buri National Park to sponsor a wildlife photography competition held in celebration of Thai Elephant Day.

Kaeng Krachan’s Khao Phanoen Thung reopens Nov 1

Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi reopened Khao Phanoen Thung yesterday, with two designated uphill travel windows each day and access restricted to roadworthy four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Khao Phanoen Thung had been closed during the rainy season to allow nature to recover. The reopening gives visitors access to cool weather, sea-of-mist views and opportunities to learn about the ecosystems of the World Heritage forest. According to the park, the mist phenomenon can be seen throughout the year. Continued … 

Ban Pa Mak celebrates Karen culture with river raft procession

Rafts carrying Buddha images formed a procession along the river at Ban Pa Mak on Saturday, as residents and visitors gathered for a celebration of the Karen community’s culture and Buddhist traditions. The event highlighted a village that remains little known to many visitors, despite being around 90 minutes’ drive from Hua Hin.

The procession gave those attending an opportunity to pay their respects to the Buddha images and seek blessings. It also reflected the community’s longstanding relationship with the river and surrounding forest. Continued … 

Meet Thailand’s Most Famous Snake Catcher

The top snake catcher in Bangkok, Pinyo Pukpinyo, wrangles more than 20 snakes a day and trains fellow firefighters to do the same. He refuses to kill the snakes, and he’s running out of containers. Video … 

Thai-Cambodian border to remain closed for foreseeable future

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Saturday that the Thai-Cambodian border will remain closed because there remain several conflicting issues between the two countries that are yet to be resolved.

Speaking during the “Talk with Anutin’s Cabinet” TV program, the prime minister said that he could not state when the border can reopen, because the relations between the two countries cannot be restored until pending issues are resolved, such as the land border, the maritime dispute, the scammer problem and the security of Thai people. Continued … 

Thai political confidence falls again in October poll

Thailand’s political confidence index fell to 3.52 out of 10 in October, with ratings for the government and prime minister also declining, according to a nationwide Suan Dusit Poll released yesterday.

The survey of 2,036 people, conducted online and in the field between Oct. 27-30, found the index had slipped from 3.56 in September. Government performance fell from 3.46 to 3.40, while the prime minister’s score dropped from 3.37 to 3.27. Continued … 

Robot used in new heart surgery

Rajavithi Hospital has become the first hospital under the Ministry of Public Health to perform minimally invasive, multi-vessel coronary artery bypass surgery using robotic assistance.

The hospital, overseen by the Department of Medical Services (DMS), achieved the breakthrough through a procedure known as robotic internal mammary artery harvest with total coronary revascularization via anterior thoracotomy. Continued … 

Government eyes high-income economy status ‘by 2037’

Thailand aims to become a high-income economy by 2037, with a new five-year science and innovation strategy targeting annual GDP growth of 5%.

Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat announced the goal after chairing a meeting of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council last week. Continued … 

Thailand eyes status as AI medical hub

Thailand wants to become a regional artificial intelligence (AI) medical hub by developing AI models tailored to Southeast Asian populations and turning decades of clinical research into advances in precision medicine, drug discovery and cancer treatment.

The strategy seeks to combine the country’s clinical expertise, diverse patient data and research archives with private investment to bring innovations to commercial usage, said Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat at the Global Medical AI Summit 2026 yesterday, co-hosted by the AI Entrepreneur Association of Thailand (AIEAT) and the Technology and Innovation in Life Sciences National Agency. Continued … 

Betting big on small AI

Thailand is keen to leverage small artificial intelligence (AI) to create a big impact in many sectors. Small AI solutions are focused applications designed to solve specific, practical problems, often using less data, computing power and money than large, general purpose systems.

They could deliver significant gains in productivity and competitiveness, help narrow social inequalities and support economic growth. Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said the small AI concept is crucial for Thailand, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that cannot afford to invest in big AI systems. Continued … 

Thailand targets $118.6 billion in tourism revenue

The Thai government is pressing ahead with efforts to upgrade the country’s tourism industry and make it a key driver of sustainable economic growth, deputy government spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana announced on Saturday.

At its second meeting of 2026, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, the National Tourism Policy Committee discussed the approach to drafting the Fourth National Tourism Development Plan (2028–2032), which aims to increase the economic value of tourism. Continued … 

Suvarnabhumi to shrink duty-free shops for pick-up counters, premium service

Airports of Thailand (AOT) plans to cut the floor space given to duty-free shops in Suvarnabhumi International Airport, moving more sales to pick-up counters and handing part of the area to automated gates. The airport operator also expects to announce details of a new paid premium service for arriving and departing passengers this month.

AOT President Paweena Jariyathitipong said the duty-free model had not performed as well as it should have, so the company would review how it uses the space to match what passengers actually do and want. Continued … 

Explore Thailand for less with TAT’s 100-baht vouchers

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to offer tourism vouchers priced at 100 baht under a nationwide campaign running from Dec. 15 to Feb. 9, 2027, with voucher use restricted to travel from Monday to Thursday.

TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the ““100 Baht, Travel Across Thailand!” campaign would encourage Thai travelers and foreign residents of Thailand to take more domestic trips during the week. Continued … 

‘Four Doubts’ on Solar Rooftops Shake the Government

The accusation of “favoring tycoons” continues to haunt the Bhumjaithai government after the Cabinet meeting on Oct. 27 approved the solar power project for the public, with the government incentivizing Thais to install “solar rooftops” with a subsidy of 50,000 baht per household.

The goal is to cover one million households nationwide, with a set purchase rate for excess electricity by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) at 2.20 baht per unit for a period of 20 years. Continued … 

Plans to strike an energy balance clarified

As Thailand accelerates its transition to a low-carbon economy, energy policymakers are revising the country’s oil strategy to balance decarbonization goals with energy security.

Sarawut Kaewtathip, director-general of the Department of Energy Business (DOEB), is outlining how the revised 2026 oil plan aims to expand biofuel use, modernize oil infrastructure and prepare the industry for declining fossil fuel demand. Continued … 

• Phuket police target Rawai nominee networks – Continued … 

• Bangkok cannabis warehouse raid nets 14 foreigners – Continued … 

• Seven Vietnamese women held over Sukhumvit solicitation – Continued … 

• Three Chinese suspects arrested over China drug warrants – Continued … 

• Indian fugitive held in Ranong for deportation – Continued … 

• Japan arrests three over tortoises smuggled from Thailand – Continued … 

• Chinese Red Notice suspect held at Chiang Saen border – Continued … 

• Russian fined 10,000 baht for driving on Bang Tao Beach – Continued … 

• Chonburi Immigration arrests three foreigners in Sriracha – Continued … 

Iran, Qatari mediators hold third day of talks to end US-Iran war

Iranian negotiators were in Doha yesterday for a third consecutive day of talks with Qatari mediators aimed at pushing for a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, an official ‌briefed on the discussions said. The talks come amid concerns that the conflict could escalate again after the Nov. 3 US midterm elections. Continued … 

Hua Hin Links and Transport

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