- Feedback/Thailand’s Rubella vaccination success/Floods persist in 20 provinces/Thai woman wins Miss Global 2026/Thailand blocks gambling-related URLs/Nene Royal rocks Singapore stage
- ECONOMY: Thailand sets out AI plan/Turning AI Investment into Shared Opportunities/Highlights of the IMF-World Bank Meeting
- TOURISM: Thailand tourust road crashes/Thailand’s inbound flights to rise/Travel groups oppose 1,000-baht departure tax/Why was the 1,000-baht tax introduced?/Jet-ski warnings ignored/Mu Koh Similan National Park reopens/Call for adventure tourism accountability
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Phuket Festival Devotees Pierce Cheeks/10 Beautiful Places to Visit/Best eSIM Thailand Options
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Re Tourism decline
“It’s a dichotomy, dwindling tourist numbers, whilst many places are already saturated with and marred by overtourism: Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Koh Tao, Chaing Mai, Phi Phi, Samet to name a few ….. Hua Hin on the way there.” – AB
Thailand’s Rubella vaccination success marks major health milestone
Thailand has eliminated rubella as a public health problem, an achievement the World Health Organization described as a “major milestone”.
Vaccination helped the country reach the target, joining more than 130 nations that have eliminated the contagious viral infection as a public health concern. WHO credited strong immunization services, surveillance and community trust with helping secure the achievement. Continued …
Floods persist in Bangkok and 20 provinces
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported today that floods continued in Bangkok and 20 provinces, mostly in the central plains, but their levels were declining.
Nirat Pongsitthithaworn, director-general of the department, said that as this morning 905,233 families remained affected by floods and the number of flood victims amounted to about 2.45 million people. Continued …
Thailand’s Saffron Maya Snook wins Miss Global 2026
Thailand blocks over 945,000 gambling-related URLs
Thailand has blocked 945,075 URLs linked to online gambling during the 2026 fiscal year, according to the government, as it steps up action against illegal online content and cybercrime.
Ploythale Laksmi Saengchan, deputy government spokesperson, said the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society had used police intelligence, AI-assisted website searches and public tip-offs to identify gambling sites. Continued …
Nene Royal rocks Singapore stage
AGT 2026 champion Nene Royal fulfilled a dream by performing alongside metal giants Avenged Sevenfold during their concert in Singapore last night, delivering a 13-minute set that had fans rocking out.
Videos posted on the Nene Royal Facebook page showed the Thai singer and guitarist joining the band onstage, singing, playing guitar and performing solos with confidence and ease, looking almost like an additional member of the group. Continued …
Thailand sets out AI plan for jobs and small firms
Thailand’s Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has set out a strategy to use artificial intelligence to improve existing jobs, create new ones and ensure workers are not left behind by technological change.
Speaking on Monday at the World Bank flagship event, “Small AI: More and Better Jobs”, during the IMF and World Bank Group annual meetings in Bangkok, Ekniti said AI was reshaping work by bringing both opportunities and risks. Continued …
Turning AI Investment into Shared Opportunities for Thais
Advances in artificial intelligence are drawing a new wave of global capital into the economy, from data centers and servers to AI models and autonomous agents that can carry out tasks on our behalf. Together, these investments are turning AI into a new operating system for the global economy, reshaping how businesses work and how economic value is created.
Thailand is already part of this cycle. In the first half of 2026, applications for investment promotion reached 1.47 trillion baht, up 37% from a year earlier, according to the Board of Investment. Digital projects accounted for 1.12 trillion baht, or roughly 76% of the total. Continued …
Highlights of the IMF-World Bank Meeting
The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center today feature over 40 agendas. The highlight directly relevant to Thailand is the launch of the “Bangkok Blueprint,” a high-level policy framework.
Meanwhile, the fiscal monitor report presented during the morning session warned that global public debt is climbing toward 100% of GDP by 2029. Highlights of the IMF-World Bank meeting: Continued …
Thailand road crashes kill about 120 tourists a year
Thailand records about 120 foreign tourist deaths on its roads each year, with 91 killed and 9,668 injured in crashes during the first nine months of 2026, according to insurance-sector figures highlighted by road safety campaigners.
The latest figures have renewed calls for substantially tougher prison terms for drivers who cause fatal crashes while under the influence of alcohol. Campaigners want the current maximum sentence increased to 15 years. Continued …
Thailand’s inbound flights to rise 5.8%, domestic fare cuts to start
Scheduled international flights to Thailand are up 5.8% year on year in the fourth quarter of 2026, compared with 2.5% growth worldwide, Kasikorn Research Center said. Thailand’s growth trails Vietnam, Malaysia and China, pointing to stronger competition for international tourists.
Flights from China, Malaysia and Europe continue to increase, with Europe up 28.6% and China up 21.6%, likely to support year-end travel to Thailand. Continued …
Thailand travel groups oppose proposed 1,000-baht departure tax
Thailand’s Finance Ministry is facing a coordinated backlash over plans for a new 1,000-baht tax on international air departures, which would apply to Thai citizens and foreign nationals leaving the country.
Three major tourism bodies have formally objected, warning that the charge could raise ticket prices, weaken passenger demand and eventually affect airline routes. The draft law would also allow the levy to be increased to as much as 5,000 baht without a further act of Parliament. Continued …
Why was the 1,000-baht tax introduced for outbound passengers?
The proposed 1,000-baht outbound levy is intended to increase government revenue and provide greater fiscal flexibility to manage emergencies. The Finance Ministry views the tax as an important mechanism for maintaining fiscal discipline and generating direct revenue for the state.
The levy would apply to all nationalities flying out of Thailand, though travel by land or water would remain exempt. Proponents suggest the funds could be used to promote and regulate domestic tourism or provide emergency travel insurance for foreign visitors. However, the proposal has faced opposition from travel agents and tourism associations, who warn that the additional cost could burden budget-conscious travelers and impact the fragile tourism industry. – Bangkok Post AI
Jet-ski warnings ignored as latest tourist trip halted
Another jet-ski excursion involving foreign tourists was cut short last week after riders repeatedly ignored safety warnings and alarmed other participants with risky manoeuvers, Phuket Tourist Police have confirmed. Continued …
Mu Koh Similan National Park reopens
Mu Koh Similan National Park in Phang Nga province will reopen to visitors tomorrow for the 2026-27 tourist season. It will close again on May 15 next year for its annual recovery period, the official announcement said.
The name “Similan” derives from the Yawi language, in which it means nine, referring to the original group of nine islands that gave the archipelago its name. Continued …
Call for adventure tourism accountability after 2 tourists injured
Phetchabun authorities face calls to review adventure tourism safety rules and compliance after two foreigners were injured in a fall from a cliff while abseiling over the weekend.
The two tourists, a man and a woman, were seriously injured while abseiling to the bottom of Nam Nao Canyon cliff at Tat Mok Waterfall in Khok Mon subdistrict, Nam Nao district, on Saturday. Continued …
Phuket Festival Devotees Pierce Cheeks With Swords and Guns
Photographs from Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival show spirit mediums with objects including a pistol, knives, swords and ukulele necks passed through their cheeks during acts of religious devotion.
The annual Taoist event, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, combines strict vegetarianism and purification rituals with public processions involving mediums known as Ma Song. Continued …
10 Beautiful Places to Visit in Thailand
Thailand is one of Asia’s most varied travel destinations, with tropical islands, mountain landscapes, and unforgettable scenery. This guide explores 10 favorite places, from the iconic Phi Phi Islands to the mountains around Chiang Mai. Every destination reveals a different side of Thailand’s natural beauty. Video …
Best eSIM Thailand Options
Planning a holiday or business trip requires staying connected to digital maps, translation tools, and communication apps right after landing. Using an eSIM Thailand allows travelers to access local cellular networks without searching for airport SIM shops or dealing with language barriers.
A digital SIM profile removes the need to swap physical cards. By choosing a prepaid eSIM Thailand data plan online, travelers keep their home SIM card active for calls and two-factor authentication text messages while routing internet traffic through affordable local data rates. Continued …
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Portuguese Woman Held in Phuket Over 1,807-Day Overstay – Continued …
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Phuket tourists linked to second alleged theft – Continued …
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South Korean man held over child porn Red Notice – Continued …
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Chinese man arrested over alleged in-flight card thefts – Continued …
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Chinese pyramid-scheme suspect held in Pattaya – Continued …
Pope Leo’s lung cancer confirmed
Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer during surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital yesterday, when doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said. The operation on the 71-year-old pontiff lasted about 90 minutes and was successful, with no complications. Continued …
Hua Hin Links and Transport
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