Thailand’s Long-term Resident Visa/Heat soars to 43°C/Storm chaos in northeast/”Godzilla” El Niño looms/Rising heat is stretching summer/Songkran ‘Seven Dangerous Days’ ends/24-Hour Alcohol Sales in EEC/Famed Khao Yai tiger dies
- THE IRAN WAR: Strait of Hormuz won’t reopen/Global tourism on edge/US$760 million in oil bets/Oil-addicted Asia finally going green
- ECONOMY: US urges Thailand to remove barriers/ADB cuts Thailand growth view/Shrinking population trend/Thailand banks on EU trade deal/Driving e-commerce growth
- TOURISM: Bangkok’s biggest Songkran yet/Songkran a world-class festival draw/Thai Airways Cuts May Flights
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Songkran Festival in photos/Mon Songkran rite bathes monks/Elephant Nature Park Chiang Mai
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Ministers Push Eco Packaging/500kg of ‘ghost nets’
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Thailand’s Long-term Resident Visa
Thailand has introduced a new visa called “Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa”, which is a program that provides a range of tax and non-tax benefits to enhance the country’s attractiveness as a regional hub for living and doing business for ‘high-potential’ individuals. Today, Thailand is already home to multinational corporations from all over the world and one of the most important tourist destinations in Asia.
Thailand presents itself as a very attractive location for “work from anywhere” professionals. This new visa program is expected to attract new foreign residents, technologies, and talents contributing to domestic spending and investment, while supporting economic growth. The Thai government has set the target of attracting one million wealthy or talented foreign residents into the country over the next five years.
Thailand braces for summer storms as heat soars to 43°C
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued its seventh warning of the year, cautioning that summer storms will continue to affect upper Thailand through Monday, bringing thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, and isolated lightning strikes alongside extreme heat.
According to the announcement, the unstable weather will initially affect the northeast and the east before spreading to the central region, including Bangkok and surrounding areas, as well as the north. Continued …
Storm chaos in northeast – Surin blackout, Buriram roads blocked
Severe summer storms swept across Thailand’s northeast overnight, causing widespread disruption in Surin and Buriram, as heavy rain and powerful winds brought down infrastructure and blocked key transport routes.
In Surin, the storm struck late yesterday, unleashing torrential rain and violent gusts that toppled multiple high-voltage transmission poles along Highway 226 on the Surin–Sikhoraphum route. Continued …
Southeast Asia braces for scorching heat, water crisis as “Godzilla” El Niño looms
A potential “Godzilla” or super El Niño is forecast to develop in the second half of 2026, threatening Southeast Asia with prolonged drought, extreme heat, and heightened wildfire risk. While the term “Godzilla” is informal, scientists use it to describe an exceptionally strong El Niño event where sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific rise at least 2°C above average.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates a 62% chance of El Niño emerging between June and August, with roughly a one-in-three chance it could become strong by October-December. Continued …
Rising heat is stretching summer and changing how people live
Climate change is leaving an increasingly visible mark on the planet, with temperatures continuing to rise year after year. The latest study shows that summer is now arriving earlier and lasting longer, with growing consequences for daily life, urban planning, and infrastructure.
Research from the University of British Columbia (UBC) found that between 1990 and 2023, summer length across the world’s mid-latitudes increased by an average of around six days per decade. That marks a notably faster rate of change than earlier research, which found that summer had lengthened by 4.8 days per decade before 2012. Continued …
Songkran ‘Seven Dangerous Days’ ends with fewer accidents, injuries, and deaths
The seven-day Songkran road safety campaign has concluded with a total of 1,242 accidents, 1,200 injuries, and 242 deaths nationwide, with 10 provinces reporting zero fatalities.
Overall figures for this year’s Songkran period showed marked improvement compared with the three-year average, Thiraphat Khatchamart, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, who chairs the Road Safety Directing Center, said yesterday. Continued …
Thailand Proposes 24-Hour Alcohol Sales in EEC Zone
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee has approved in principle a proposal to allow 24-hour sales of beer and liquor in the Eastern Aviation City promotion zone, with a public hearing and royal decree required before implementation. The process is expected to be completed by no later than May.
Dr. Montien Kanasawat, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said the committee also approved a draft announcement on prohibited alcohol sales days. Under the draft, major Buddhist holy days will remain no-sale days, but the legal authority will shift from a prime minister’s office announcement to one issued by the committee. Continued …
Famed Khao Yai tiger dies of natural causes
A male Indochinese tiger known as “Sri Kosa”, a key figure in Thailand’s wild tiger population, has died of natural causes in the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex, researchers have confirmed.
The adult tiger, identified as TLT-119M in monitoring records, was first captured on camera traps in 2019 in Thap Lan and Pang Sida national parks. He was later fitted with a GPS collar in April last year to track his movements and study his behavior, and was subsequently given the name Sri Kosa. Continued …
Strait of Hormuz won’t reopen, Iranian leader tells Trump
President Donald Trump said the United States may allow the ceasefire deal with Iran to expire next week if no deal is reached to end the war by Wednesday. Despite that outlook, Trump said there was also “pretty good news” regarding Iran, but the president declined to elaborate as he spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington, DC, from Arizona.
Earlier yesterday, Iran said it scrapped reopening the Strait of Hormuz after Trump said he would not call off the American naval blockade of Iranian ports, despite the country’s concession to allow commercial traffic through the critical waterway. Continued …
Global tourism on edge: What happens next
The collapse of high-stakes peace talks in Pakistan has sent a chill through global markets, and what happens next is no longer just a geopolitical question. It is a tourism question.
Recent negotiations in Islamabad, aimed at stabilizing tensions linked to the Iran conflict, were always fragile. Analysts warned from the outset that Pakistan lacked the leverage to guarantee outcomes, with external forces capable of derailing progress at any moment. Continued …
Mystery trader dumped US$760 million in oil bets just before prices crashed
A massive oil trade placed moments before crude prices slumped has triggered fresh questions over whether sensitive information tied to the Iran conflict may have been used to profit in global energy markets.
The transaction, worth around US$760 million, was executed roughly 20 minutes before Iran’s foreign minister formally announced yesterday that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would remain open for the rest of the ceasefire period. Continued …
War forces oil-addicted Asia to finally go green
The age of cheap oil is over and Thailand’s rooftops are reflecting that fact. Across homes, garages, and warehouses in the sun-drenched kingdom, the blue-black sheen of solar panels is spreading, as the Iran war has done what years of climate summits could not: turn solar power into a necessity.
Demand for solar panels has swamped companies like Wayso, whose managing director is coloring in Thailand’s rooftops as fast as he can find technicians to do it. “We can’t hire quickly enough,” Suwat Cherdvut said. “We’ve had to start outsourcing technicians just to keep up.” Continued …
US urges Thailand to remove barriers on cars, drugs, and farm goods
Trade between Thailand and the United States surged past US$110 billion in 2025, underlining increasingly strong economic ties between the two countries. But behind the impressive figures lies a long list of trade barriers that Washington wants Bangkok to address in concrete terms.
Three issues are under especially close scrutiny: recognition of US automotive standards, approval of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and wider access for American agricultural and food products. Continued …
ADB cuts Thailand growth view, flags deeper structural drag
Thailand’s economy is set to slow again in 2026, with the Asian Development Bank forecasting growth of just 1.8%, down from 2.4% in 2025, and 2.9% in 2024, before a modest recovery to 2.0% in 2027.
The sharper message in ADB’s latest outlook, however, is that the country’s deeper problem is not just this year’s external shocks. It is the structural weakness sitting underneath them: sluggish productivity, low domestic value added, and an economy that still struggles to spread technology and know-how widely enough to local firms. Continued …
Shrinking population trend has begun to impact the Thai economy
A People’s Party politician on Thursday warned that last year’s birth level in Thailand was the lowest in 75 years. Natthaya Boonphakdee warned that by 2036, one-third of all Thai people will be over 60 years of age as the country becomes a super-aged society.
At the same time, the country will have lost 2.5 million working people from its population. After that, the spiraling decline in both population and working-age adults poses serious economic challenges to the economy. Continued …
Thailand banks on EU trade deal
The international trade landscape is changing rapidly, with more barriers and the waning influence of certain established international organizations. In response, countries are reducing their reliance on multilateral systems and strengthening economic stability through bilateral and regional free-trade agreements (FTAs).
How do FTAs shape Thailand’s trade and economy, and which sectors could face heightened risks, especially following the EU’s finalization of its FTA with India? Continued …
Thailand driving e-commerce growth
Thailand has emerged as Southeast Asia’s e-commerce growth engine amid regional market share consolidation. The country has become the standout performer in Southeast Asia’s e-commerce landscape, posting the region’s fastest growth and reinforcing its position as a key battleground for platform dominance, according to a new report released by Singapore-based research firm Momentum Works.
In 2025, Thailand’s e-commerce market surged 51.8% year-on-year to US$35.5 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), significantly outpacing regional peers and signaling a structural acceleration in digital consumption. Continued …
The morning after Bangkok’s biggest Songkran yet
The Tourism Authority of Thailand projected 30.3 billion baht in Songkran revenue this year, up 6% from 2025, and released the number with the kind of confidence that comes from having done the work. The production at Benchakitti Park, the coordinated Silom closure, the S2O headliners on Ratchadaphisek, the international press coverage – none of it was accidental.
Bangkok did not stumble into becoming one of the world’s most-watched festival destinations. It applied for the job and this year the application was approved at scale. Continued …
Bangkok moves to make Songkran a world-class festival draw
Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt has unveiled an ambitious vision to transform the city’s Songkran festival into a world-class event, with a strong focus on upgrading infrastructure, improving public space management, and strengthening environmental measures.
Thai Songkran already attracts huge numbers of visitors. On Silom Road alone, more than 700,000 people joined the festivities, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) able to manage the area safely and in an orderly manner. Continued …
Thai Airways International Cuts May Flights Across Asia and Europe
Thai Airways International (THAI) will reduce flight frequencies across domestic and international routes in May, citing sharply higher fuel costs and weaker passenger demand during the low season. The cuts affect services within Thailand as well as routes to Asia and Europe, with some routes suspended entirely.
Ticket agents have been notified and the airline said it has prepared options to help agents and passengers manage the changes. The adjustments will run throughout May, with domestic services to Khon Kaen reduced from four to three flights per day, Udon Thani from three to two, and Ubon Ratchathani from 14 flights per week to 12 between May 5-28. Continued …
Songkran Festival in photos
Songkran, Thailand’s traditional New Year festival, began on April 13 and ran through April 15. The celebrations featuring participants being doused with water drew unusually large crowds in Bangkok this year, with a record 160,000 people gathering on Silom Road on the first day, up from 100,000 last year.
The jump in attendance is partly due to rising fuel prices. Higher gasoline and diesel costs discouraged many Bangkok residents from traveling to their hometown, leading them to stay in the capital instead. As a result, the city’s festivities became even more crowded despite the economic strain. Photos …
Mon Songkran rite bathes monks through bamboo channels
A rare Songkran tradition unique to Sangkhlaburi drew Mon worshippers, local residents, and tourists to Wat Wang Wiwekaram in Kanchanaburi yesterday, despite stifling heat and a lingering haze of dust and smoke.
The ceremony took place at the Bodhgaya Chedi in Ban Wangka, where devotees gathered to take part in the annual ritual of bathing monks with scented water flowing through a handmade network of bamboo channels. Continued …
Elephant Nature Park Chiang Mai: Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Guide
Elephant Nature Park serves as a sprawling 250-acre rescue center located 60 kilometers north of Chiang Mai in Thailand’s lush Mae Taeng Valley. Visitors arrive via a scenic shuttle from the city, greeted by the sounds of trumpeting elephants and the scent of tropical foliage amid misty mountains.
This sanctuary fits into Thailand’s growing ethical tourism movement, offering day visits, overnight stays, and volunteer programs that prioritize animal welfare over entertainment. The atmosphere buzzes with gentle energy: rescued elephants roam freely in grassy fields, mud wallows sparkle under the sun, and bamboo platforms provide shaded viewing areas where the air carries hints of lemongrass and earth. Continued …
Ministers Push Eco Packaging Plan in Thailand
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Supachai Suthamphan and Industry Minister Warawut Silpa-archa have led efforts to promote eco-friendly packaging to reduce plastic use, as global supply pressures linked to the Middle East crisis impact costs.
The move was discussed on Thursday at Government House Building 1, where both ministers met senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry. Talks focused on managing production cost fluctuations and promoting sustainable resource use amid ongoing volatility in global raw material markets. Continued …
Divers clear 500kg of ‘ghost nets’ from around Payang Island
Similan Islands National Park officials successfully removed a massive 500 kilograms of discarded fishing gear, commonly known as “ghost nets,” during a routine Marine Smart Patrol near Payang Island.
The operation, which took place yesterday, was part of an ongoing effort to safeguard the Andaman Sea’s fragile ecosystem and restore the pristine condition of one of Thailand’s most renowned marine sanctuaries. Continued …
How tumor freezing is changing breast cancer treatment
Doctors are exploring a different approach to a specific type of breast cancer tumor called cryoablation. It destroys the cancer with extreme cold in a short outpatient procedure that can let them go home the same day. Video …
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
Hua Hin Songkran crowds swell as tourists flock to water festival
A gun accident in Cha Am has left one person dead and another injured after a man from Phetchaburi claimed his firearm discharged accidentally, with the bullet striking a police officer’s son.
Traffic on Rama 2 Road was flowing smoothly in both directions as of 7 pm Saturday, with vehicles moving at speeds of 80 to 100 kilometers per hour. The Department of Highways confirmed the update after temporarily halting all construction work on the road, reopening main lanes to ease travel during the Songkran festival.
Bangkok Ramps Up Real-Time Security as Silom Overwhelmed by 140,000 Revelers
Mae Hong Son province has suffered wave after wave of forest fires, with the total number of hotspots so far this year exceeding what was registered the entire last year, while arson continues.
The long Songkran holiday is Thailand’s annual window for family get-togethers. However, as social structures break down, the traditional New Year holiday joy is being eroded by a deep anxiety: the fear of dying alone.
Trump Orders Naval Blockade of Hormuz as Iran Talks Collapse
The United States military has announced a blockade on all shipping entering and leaving Iranian ports, sending global oil prices sharply higher and marking a major escalation after talks between Washington and Tehran failed to end the conflict.
Thailand has launched a diplomatic effort to secure the safe passage of nine cargo ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The vessels are carrying fertilizer shipments deemed critical for the country’s agricultural sector and national food security.
Thailand’s export competitiveness is weakening, as global freight costs surge 30%, raising concerns over trade and consumer prices, a shipping industry leader said. While the United States and Iran have reached a two-week ceasefire, ongoing uncertainty continues to disrupt shipping routes and supply chains.
Asia’s ‘panicked farmers’ brace for a looming rice crisis post-Iran war
Thailand backs land bridge and EEC infrastructure investment drives
Thailand’s property market is witnessing a curious paradox as it enters the second quarter of 2026. According to the latest data from the Real Estate Information Center (REIC), international buyers are flocking to the kingdom in increasing numbers, yet they are significantly tightening their purse strings.
There have been a number of announcements from state agencies to do with visa policies in Thailand over the past several months that seem to have made the matter rather convoluted.
Thai Ambassador to Bangladesh Thitiporn Chirasawadi has underscored the growing importance of medical tourism from Bangladesh to Thailand, noting that a significant number of Bangladeshi patients have chosen Thailand as a trusted destination for healthcare over the years.
The government’s push to promote clean energy with soft loans and tax incentives for solar installations are a “golden opportunity” to accelerate the country’s transition toward renewables, an academic says.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat yesterday, after the country’s opposition party Tisza was projected to win the parliamentary elections in a landslide, marking a setback for his allies in Russia and US President Donald Trump. 
US President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV on social media over the pontiff’s criticism of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, calling him “weak” on crime and “terrible” for foreign policy. “I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the president of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected,” Trump wrote yesterday. 
Fore Management Group has announced the inaugural Misthos Group Hospitality Classic, a one-day charity golf tournament to be held at Royal Lakeside Golf Club on June 12, with proceeds supporting Hua Hin Heroes Foundation.
Thailand ranked fourth in the InterNations Expat Insider survey in 2025, its best result ever, thus reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s most appealing places for foreigners to live. But in the same period, the cost of living here rose, the tax rules changed, and informal visa workarounds have become far harder to rely on.
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul was elected Thailand’s 32nd prime minister (PM) during a Parliamentary vote held yesterday. Anutin previously served as PM after former PM Partongtar Shinawatra was removed from office over a leaked phone conversation with Hun Sen.
Thailand’s gold market came under heavy pressure yesterday, with the Gold Traders Assn. revising prices 53 times during the day before bullion closed sharply lower, reflecting a steep global sell-off in the precious metal.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Thailand will relocate to Dusit Central Park in Bangkok in August, without disrupting consular services for Dutch citizens and businesses across Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.
Embassy land in Thailand has become a prime target for investors, not only because many plots are located in high-potential central business districts, but also because they carry a historical legacy for future generations to remember. In recent years, several embassy land sales in Thailand have significantly boosted the value of surrounding areas.
The baht is expected to weaken to 34-35 to the US dollar if the Middle East conflict drags on for two months, pushing oil prices above US$100 per barrel, according to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research).
Major consumer product manufacturers and distributors are warning customers of possible price increases in April due to the Middle East war disrupting the oil supply chain.
The psychological irony of telling the public not to worry about Thailand running out of petrol and other forms of energy — due to the ongoing, unjust war by Israel and the United States against Iran — is that people feel even more uncertain and panicked by the “reassurance”. By simply following the news, they can conclude that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively choking global fuel supplies due to the conflict and, by extension, the world econom.
Thailand has significantly tightened its border controls since 2024, and what used to be casual entry procedures have become strict enforcement checkpoints. While most travelers enter without issues, understanding what can get you denied entry into Thailand and detained at the airport is essential for anyone planning a trip to the kingdom.
Global power shifts do not remain confined to geopolitics. They travel quickly, and often invisibly, through economic systems. For Asia, and particularly for Thailand, the consequences of the Gulf War are immediate. The most direct transmission channel is energy.
A troupe of Thailand’s ancient cat breeds will take center stage during Thailand Cat Lovers Fair 2026, which will kick off on March 27 and run daily from 10 am to 8 pm until March 29. The venue is Bangkok’s Impact Exhibition Hall 5, Muang Thong Thani.
Dry season turns profitable as red ant eggs sell at 500 baht a kilo
Hat Yai’s floods are a warning for cities built against nature
In 2025, electric vehicles displaced between 1.7 million barrels per day (Ember estimate) and 2.3 million barrels per day (BloombergNEF scenario) of oil demand, a volume close to 70% of Iran’s daily exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Cha Am Blue Swimming Crab Festival will take place from March 14-21 at the Cha Am Beach viewpoint, featuring fresh seafood, conservation activities, and nightly live music.
Thailand marks National Elephant Day amid a crisis of coexistence
Bangkok Ranked 8th Best City in the World for 2026
Crude oil prices closed above the $100-a-barrel mark yesterday after Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut, signaling that markets may be facing a prolonged supply disruption.
For the second time in four years, energy markets in Asia dependent on imported fossil fuels find themselves at the mercy of global commodity markets. Although each country’s immediate exposure to the Iran conflict varies, all face the indirect threat of higher costs driven by tighter fossil fuel markets and elevated geopolitical risk premiums.
The crisis in the Middle East, which is disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz, is raising global concern that the fallout could spread far beyond energy markets and trigger a rise in food prices worldwide.
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, has confirmed that the government is prepared to challenge a looming US investigation into “unfair trade practices.” Working in close coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, the Thai government has developed a robust strategic framework to address the Section 301 probe initiated by the Trump administration.
The foundation of modern employment – study hard, secure a job, build a stable life – is eroding fast. Technological progress, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, is breaking down the old economic model that tied individual effort to secure, long-term work.
Every time oil prices spike, fuel market prices respond with jitteriness. And now, more than ever, sentiments of switching to an electric vehicle (EV) in Thailand for 2026 have never echoed this loudly.
Commerce officials have stepped up Cha Am fresh market price checks as part of efforts to ensure vendors clearly display prices and to prevent consumers from being overcharged.
For many people, a fall may seem like a minor accident. But for older adults, a single fall can be life-changing — especially if it results in a hip fracture, one of the most serious and common injuries among older adults. Without proper treatment, a broken hip can lead to long-term disability, loss of independence, the need for ongoing care, and a significant decline in quality of life.
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) at the Ministry of Public Health has issued a warning urging the public to be especially vigilant against influenza, after an upward trend in cases. Between Jan. 1 and March 9, Thailand recorded 137,276 cumulative cases and eight deaths.
Thailand’s personal income tax filing deadline is April 8, and many expats remain uncertain about whether they must submit a return this year. Since clarification of the rules surrounding foreign income, confusion has persisted. Having little or no tax to pay is not the same as having no obligation to file.
A Thai billionaire, Worawat Narknawdee, is being sought by police following complaints from over 30 Thai investors. They claim to have been deceived into cryptocurrency investments, resulting in losses estimated at around B1.3 billion.
The Middle East conflict has unsettled global oil markets and disrupted shipping routes, posing risks for energy-dependent Thailand. After experiencing prolonged low inflation, the country now faces a potential inflation rebound driven by rising oil and freight costs.
RealWatch Lab, the research and data analytics unit of Real Smart Public Co/, has disclosed the findings of a survey on the concerns of Thai netizens regarding the Iran war. The survey collected opinions from Feb. 28, after the attacks started, to March 10, across all social media platforms, covering 34,009 messages discussing concerns arising from the conflict.
Banks are urging prospective homebuyers to make purchasing decisions within the first half of the year before costs rise further, amid concerns that inflation could increase under wartime conditions.
The war in the Middle East, which has caused oil prices to fluctuate and remain high, has led the government to continue capping diesel at no more than B30 per liter. As of March 11, the Oil Fuel Fund was subsidizing diesel by B16.97 per liter, a sharp increase from just B0.74 per liter on Feb. 27, one day before the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
The United States has announced investigations under Section 301 into 16 key trading partners, including Thailand, as part of an effort to rebuild tariff pressure after the Trump administration’s earlier duties were struck down by the US Supreme Court.
Thai hospitality leaders are doubling down on 2026 expansion plans, committing billions in capital expenditure to navigate a tightening global travel market. Despite a projected 32.9 million foreign arrivals in 2025, the industry faces headwinds from prolonged conflict in the Middle East, which threatens to dampen high-spending “long-haul” traffic from Europe and the Americas.
Phuket has long stood as one of Asia’s most celebrated destinations. Framed by the Andaman Sea, its turquoise waters, rich cultural fabric, and globally recognized hospitality have attracted millions of visitors for decades.
Do you think gender equality is still an issue in Thailand? Whether the answer is yes or no, explaining why can be surprisingly difficult.
The sun had yet to rise at 6 am, but Sarayuth Sonlacksa was already crouched on his wooden jetty, hoisting up plastic crates of crabs from his pond to see if any had reached the size needed to sell to restaurants in Bangkok.
PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has increased natural gas extraction in the Gulf of Thailand to its maximum possible levels to safeguard national energy security. The move comes in response to potential global energy supply disruptions caused by instability in the Middle East.
Thailand’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Natthariya Thaweewong moved yesterday to secure discounted accommodation for foreign tourists stranded by the U.S.–Iran conflict that erupted on Saturday, as hundreds of flights scheduled to land at the country’s main airports were scrapped over the weekend and signals from Washington DC and Tel Aviv indicated the war could last another four to five weeks.
Thailand’s state-owned Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) has triggered an emergency rescue package for domestic businesses caught in the crossfire of the escalating Middle East conflict. The bank has moved to freeze debt repayments for up to a year and slash interest rates as the regional crisis begins to choke vital shipping lanes.
Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok will open its new 24-hour Automated Border Control (ABC) passport gates for departures on Thursday, to reduce queues for the convenience of passengers. The opening follows a trial period in mid-February when the gates were available only from 7 am to 7 pm.