- New Sponsor: Aquatek/App could simplify 90-day reporting/Hua Hin domestic flights/No alcohol sales on Sunday/Afternoon alcohol sales confirmed/PKK e-work permit system/Biodiversity-based tourism plan for PKK/Price of LPG frozen/Thailand not yet buying World Cup broadcast/Sex Work Rights/Forever war between gig and taxi drivers/Koh Samui Taxi Driver Killing/Firms Face Koh Phangan Probe/Ill from Eating Insects/Laos cave rescue
- ECONOMY: US-Iran war winners and losers/Is 2026 the Year Economy Bounces Back?/Russians reshape Thai condo demand/Thai factory output remains weak/Thailand needs technology, investment/Banking System Remains Resilient/Continental Tire Plant Expansion
- TOURISM: More About Appearances Than Action?/Thai aviation recovery faces cost test/TAT, Vietnam Airlines to boost tourism
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: US Citizens Are Choosing Thailand/International arts festival returns
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Rooftop solar PV – a promising solution/Funds nudge motorists toward EVs/Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle race
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
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New immigration app could simplify 90-day reporting
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has introduced a new mobile application aimed at reducing arrival processing times for international visitors, while maintaining security checks at the country’s borders. The new system, known as the Thailand Immigration Management System (THIM), allows foreign travellers to complete arrival card information digitally before reaching Thailand.
Immigration authorities plan to expand the capabilities of the THIM platform beyond arrival registration. Future updates are expected to include online visa extension services and digital 90-day reporting for foreign residents. Continued …
Hua Hin campaigns for more domestic flights
Tourism leaders in Prachuap Khiri Khan are pushing for more Hua Hin flights to connect the city with Chiang Mai, Isaan, and southern Thailand, as part of renewed efforts to strengthen the role of Hua Hin Airport.
The Prachuap Khiri Khan Tourism Industry Council said cross-regional flights could help connect major tourist destinations, attract more visitors to the province, and support the development of Hua Hin as a tourism hub. Continued …
No alcohol sales on Sunday
Thailand will enforce a nationwide alcohol ban on Sunday, as the country observes Visakha Bucha Day, one of the most important dates in the Buddhist calendar.
The ban lasts for 24 hours, from midnight to midnight, and prohibits the sale of alcohol at convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, entertainment venues, nightlife businesses, events, and any activities involving the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages. Continued …
Afternoon alcohol sales are officially OK
The Royal Gazette website yesterday published an announcement by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee on the revised prohibited hours for alcohol sales in 2026, updating the rules to reflect current conditions. Under the announcement, no person may sell alcoholic beverages outside the hours of 11am to midnight, except in several cases.
The change follows a wider effort to modernize Thailand’s alcohol-control rules after authorities earlier allowed a 180-day trial lifting the long-standing afternoon sales ban, which had dated back to 1972. The move was framed partly as support for tourism and retail activity. Continued …
PKK aims for improvement in e-work permit system
Senior labor officials have visited Prachuap Khiri Khan to follow up on the province’s e-work permit system, as the Ministry of Labor moves to improve the management of foreign workers through digital services.
Officials said the e-work permit system is intended to make foreign worker registration and work permit approvals faster, more transparent, and easier to check. They said the system would help raise employment standards and support economic and industrial growth in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Continued …
Biodiversity-based tourism plan moves ahead in PKK
Prachuap Khiri Khan is moving ahead with biodiversity-based tourism in three pilot districts as part of plans to support sustainable tourism and create new options for visitors. An action plan for 2025-2027 has been prepared for three pilot districts: Pranburi, Sam Roi Yot, and Kui Buri.
At a meeting Wednesay, officials reviewed the progress of the MBT-GEF 7 project, an integrated biodiversity-based tourism project for sustainable tourism development implemented by BEDO. The meeting also considered how to include the sustainable biodiversity-based tourism master plan in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s provincial development plan for 2028-2032. Continued …
Price of LPG frozen until end of July
The Energy Policy Management Committee decided yesterday to maintain the ex-refinery price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at 20.9179 baht/kg for two more months, from June 1 to July 31, so that the retail price will be kept at 423 baht a 15Kg cylinder.
Energy Minister Akanat Promphan attributed the committee’s decision to the continuing conflict in the Middle East and global oil and gas price fluctuations. Continued …
Thailand among 4 ASEAN countries not yet buying World Cup broadcasting rights
Thailand is currently among four out of a total of 11 ASEAN countries where the broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 have not yet been bought, while Thais may be more or less anticipating to view the world football tournament live and free as usual anyway.
The FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled between June 12 and July 20 and jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is selling its broadcasting rights at undisclosed prices to countries around the globe, including Thailand, where the Bhumjaithai-led government is yet undecided as to whether to manage for the Thais to view it live via free TV as they did for previous World Cup games. Continued …
Foundation Bids for Sex Work Rights in Thailand
A foundation advocating for sex workers has put forward a draft bill in parliament to decriminalize sex work and extend labor protections to those in the industry. Submitted by the Empower Foundation yesterday, tthis move aims to replace the outdated 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, which criminalizes voluntary sex workers.
The proposed Sex Service Provider Protection Act seeks to categorize sex work as legitimate labor, offering sex workers the same rights and protections as other professions. The current laws leave sex workers vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination, according to the foundation’s spokesperson. Continued …
The forever war between gig and taxi drivers
Thailand’s app-based drivers have become part of everyday life. But as ride-hailing and delivery platforms continue to grow, so does the conflict with traditional taxi operators.
What started as competition over passengers and territory is increasingly spilling into public confrontations, protests, and even violence. Video …
Family Seek Justice for Koh Samui Taxi Driver Killing
A 31-year-old taxi driver and former soldier was shot dead while at the wheel in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, on May 24, after being attacked by a group of nearly 10 men.
The victim died at the scene after being ambushed following a passenger drop-off near a hotel. The vehicle subsequently crashed into a wall after the man was shot multiple times in the chest. Continued …
Israeli-Thai Firms Face Koh Phangan Probe
Thai authorities are preparing to investigate the business records of Israeli nationals who obtained Thai citizenship after concerns emerged over alleged nominee business activities on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui in Surat Thani province.
Officials are examining whether some companies used financial transactions to disguise investment figures in order to qualify for Thai citizenship under the Nationality Act 1965. The scrutiny follows an ongoing government crackdown on foreign nominee businesses operating in tourist areas. Continued …
Lampang Officials Fall Ill from Eating Local Insects
Several officials at Ban Huad subdistrict office in Lampang experienced stomach pain, diarrhea, and dizziness after consuming insects collected from a tree outside the office. The incident, which prompted a public warning, led to several individuals requiring hospital treatment.
The insects in question were identified as Pear Hoy Yak, or giant scale insects. Typically found on tree bark, these insects are notable for their white shell-like coating. Initially, one official consumed the insects with no ill effects, leading others to gather, deep-fry, and share them, mistakenly trusting their safety. Continued …
Chances said slim in finding two still-missing Laotians
Rescuers searching for two people still trapped inside a flooded gold mine in Laos say the chances of finding them are becoming increasingly slim after teams nearly completed a search of the entire underground tunnel network without success.
Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi said rescue teams have searched about 95% of the mine but have found no trace of the two missing men. He said the five people found alive earlier did not even know that two others were also believed to be trapped. Continued …
US-Iran war creates market winners and losers as inflation fears rise
More than three months after the spark for the “US-Iran war” was ignited, global assets, including oil, stock markets, and currencies, have swung sharply, forcing central banks in many countries to grapple once again with inflation.
At the same time, this battlefield has produced both “winners” and “losers”. Crude oil has become the hottest asset, jumping 40% to stand above US$100 per barrel. In early April, oil prices had nearly doubled from pre-war levels. Continued …
Is 2026 the Year Thailand’s Economy Bounces Back?
In the first quarter of 2026, Thailand’s economy expanded by 2.8%, beating analyst expectations. But the economic outlook for the full year remains modest, with the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) forecasting between 1.5% and 2.5% growth. The World Bank is more cautious, forecasting 1.6% growth.
Thailand has been stuck in a low-growth equilibrium since the pandemic, as its heavily export-dependent economy has been battered by trade wars, geopolitical turmoil, and unstable domestic politics. Continued …
China retreats — Russians reshape Thai condo demand
Thailand’s foreign condominium market is entering a new phase, with Chinese buyers pulling back sharply while Russian demand rises and keeps the luxury segment in key tourism destinations alive.
Transfers of condominium ownership to foreign buyers fell steeply in the first quarter of 2026, even as the wider Thai housing market began to show signs of recovery. The Real Estate Information Center (REIC) said nationwide housing transfers rose 11.2% year on year to 72,583 units in the quarter, with total value up 3.1% to 187.18 billion baht. Foreign condo transfers, however, moved in the opposite direction. Continued …
Thai factory output remains weak
Factory output in Thailand remains weak, with the manufacturing production index in April falling 0.36% from a year earlier, the Ministry of Industry said yesterday.
The April reading compared with a year-on-year increase of 0.2% forecast in a Reuters poll, and followed a gain of 1.3% the previous month. Factory outputfor the full year is forecast to rise by between 1.0% and 2.0%, lower than the earlier predicted range of 1.5% to 2.5%. Continued …
Finance official says Thailand needs technology, investment, leap in productivity
A senior Thai finance official has warned the economy is facing simultaneous “economic waves” as falling industrial output, surging war-driven costs, and shifting high-tech investment converge. Speaking in Bangkok, Assistant Minister Santithar Sathienthai made the comments as Thailand reported a 0.36% drop in April manufacturing output.
He linked the decline to Middle East disruption, which has raised factory costs and weakened competitiveness. However, he also pointed to rising foreign investment in advanced industries as a key signal for Thailand’s policy direction. The mission, he declared, was higher productivity. Continued …
Thai Banking System Remains Resilient Despite Slower Loan Growth
Thailand’s banking sector maintained strong resilience in the first quarter of 2026, supported by robust capital buffers, ample liquidity, and high loan-loss provisions, according to the Bank of Thailand’s latest Banking Sector Quarterly Brief .
Overall loan growth was nearly flat at 0.2% year-on-year, reflecting subdued credit demand across the system . Lending to large corporates resumed expansion, driven by higher working-capital needs amid rising energy and raw-material costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Continued …
Continental Inaugurates Thailand Tire Plant Expansion
Continental has officially inaugurated the expansion of its tire plant in Rayong. The investment of more than 300 million euros, or 13 billion Thai baht, boosts the facility’s production capacity by an additional 3 million passenger car and light truck tires per year.
The expansion will enable Continental to meet growing demand for tires across Thailand and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The event also marks the start of local production of radial motorcycle tires at Rayong. Continued …
Is Shortening Thailand’s Visa-Free Stay More About Appearances Than Action?
The Anutin Charnvirakul government’s decision last week to cancel the extended visa-free entry scheme, which allowed stays of up to 60 days instead of 30, was based on the belief that it would strengthen national security, combat transnational crime, and prevent foreigners from exploiting the policy to work illegally, engage in business without permits, or behave unruly.
The government cited reports of foreign nationals and criminal syndicates posing as tourists in order to work illegally, engage in drug-related activity, use illegal business ownership structures, and commit other crimes. Continued …
Fuel shock — Thai aviation recovery faces cost test
Thailand’s aviation industry began 2026 with stronger passenger traffic, more flights, and renewed demand from key Asian markets, but the recovery is now facing a fresh test from Middle East disruption, volatile jet fuel prices, and rising operating costs.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) reported 42.07 million air passengers in the first quarter of 2026, up 6.8% from the previous quarter. The total comprised 19.22 million domestic passengers and 22.86 million international passengers, supported by New Year travel, Lunar New Year demand, and the recovery of Chinese and Indian tourists. Continued …
TAT, Vietnam Airlines sign MOU to boost tourism and air links
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) yesterday with Vietnam Airlines to jointly advance marketing and air connectivity, particularly the opening of new routes between Thailand and Vietnam.
The two sides will also conduct joint marketing in various forms, including shared booths at international sales promotion events, co-produced tourism publicity materials, and familiarization trips for tour operators, the media, and influencers. Continued …
Why More U.S. Citizens Are Choosing Thailand
Thailand has emerged as one of the most considered relocation destinations for Americans seeking safety, quality of life, and financial freedom. New data from cultural-intelligence platform Country Navigator ranks Thailand among the 10 most-searched relocation destinations for U.S. citizens, with roughly 30,560 annual searches recorded between March 2025 and February 2026 — clear evidence that Thailand is no longer just a holiday memory, but a credible long-term home.
Thailand Elite, the kingdom’s official long-stay residency program operated by Thailand Privilege Card — a state enterprise under the Tourism Authority of Thailand — sits at the center of that movement, offering Thailand long-stay visas designed for the entrepreneurs, retirees, families, and remote professionals now arriving in record numbers. Continued …
International arts festival returns to Bangkok with 12 major shows
Bangkok’s 28th International Festival of Dance & Music is set to return with a full program of world-class performances throughout September and October.
The line-up features 12 productions from nine countries, spanning opera, ballet, contemporary performance, and multimedia shows, as the performing arts sector seeks to restore momentum in Thailand’s cultural market and among audiences. This year’s festival will be held from Sept. 5 to Oct. 17, at the main hall of the Thailand Cultural Center. Continued …
Rooftop solar PV – a promising solution for the energy crisis in Thailand
It has been 87 days since the energy crisis began on Feb. 28, following the sudden escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Even though the US and Iran extended a tentative ceasefire on April 21, the shockwaves have already fundamentally destabilized global energy markets.
From the viewpoint of Thailand, this crisis has exposed a painful reality: the country’s current energy system is not resilient and is placing an unequal economic burden on vulnerable communities. Continued …
Transition funds nudge motorists toward EVs
Part of the government’s spending plan for the transition to clean energy involves encouraging the public to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) on a wider scale, says finance Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.
Several ministries have begun discussions and are designing projects to request funds for the energy transition initiative, with a total budget framework of 200 billion baht from the 400-billion emergency loan decree, he said. Continued …
Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle race heats up
Back in 2022, spotting an electric vehicle on the streets of Jakarta or Bali was a relatively rare occurrence. Heavily subsidized fuel, under-developed charging infrastructure, and an existing industrial ecosystem anchored by the production of gasoline-powered cars (mostly Japanese brands) made Indonesia an unlikely candidate for an EV boom.
Yet, if you visit Jakarta today, electric vehicles are a common sight. Showrooms for big Chinese brands like BYD are spreading rapidly across the city as a wave of imported, as well as domestically assembled cars, overwhelmingly led by Chinese brands, are hitting the market. Continued …
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Chinese Scam Boss Arrested in Bangkok Probe – Continued …
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Chinese Workers Arrested in Chon Buri Raid – Continued …
Countries tighten travel rules as Ebola risk rises
The World Health Organization on May 17 declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a “public health emergency of international concern”, and said there was a high risk it could spread to neighboring countries. The decision has prompted governments to step up travel-related containment measures. Here is a list of screening steps and travel restrictions announced by different countries. Continued …
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
Phetchaburi, Cha Am and Hua Hin are being touted as increasingly attractive locations for buy-to-rent investment, as Thailand’s wider property market faces pressure from household debt, tighter lending rules, and weaker demand from domestic homebuyers.
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental threats to human health. Every day, 99% of the global population breathes in invisible microparticles from dirty air, which enter our bloodstream and cause damage to our cells and organs.
Muay Thai Saturday Superfight returned to The Legend Arena at Bluport Hua Hin on Saturday, with organizers saying the monthly event is aimed at promoting Muay Thai and creating more opportunities for fighters in Hua Hin.
The Disease Control Department has reported a rise in COVID-19 infections over the past month, but the rate of increase is still far below the median level recorded five years ago.
The train-bus crash at the Makkasan railway crossing in Bangkok on May 16, which killed eight people and injured 32 others, continues to put Thailand’s rail safety standards into question, as level crossings pose a risk nationwide.
A Thai masseuse from Nakhon Si Thammarat has won a gold medal in the oil massage category at the Wellness World Championship 2026 in Bangkok. Soraya Thaoram secured the top prize during the international competition held at TK Palace & Convention Hotel on Chaeng Watthana Road.
Registration for the government’s Thais Help Thais Plus 60/40 co-payment scheme opens today for up to 30 million eligible people, ahead of the spending rollout on June 1.
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has thrown its weight behind the government’s newly launched “Thais Help Thais Plus” initiative, estimating it could boost the country’s small and medium enterprise (SME) GDP by 35% to 40%, provided it is executed thoroughly.
Amid still-fragile economic conditions and geopolitical conflicts weighing on purchasing power worldwide, Thailand’s private hospital business is facing challenges on several fronts, including rising energy costs, patients delaying non-urgent treatment, and the impact on travel by foreign patients.
Thailand’s latest effort to tighten cannabis controls has introduced stricter rules – but on Bangkok’s streets, particularly in tourist areas where cannabis shops thrive, little appears to have changed.
Thailand’s Transport Ministry is offering incentives to airlines to launch new domestic and international routes to airports in secondary cities in a bid to boost tourism and strengthen local economies. The measures include service fee reductions for new routes and a temporary 50% discount on aircraft parking charges at airports managed by the Department of Airports (DOA).
Chinese tourists are losing confidence in traveling in Thailand again as their bookings slow for the coming months, following a recent case involving police officers extorting Chinese nationals in Sa Kaeo, says the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).
400-Year-Old Lanna Ruins Found in Mae Hong Son Forest
Thailand pushes UNESCO bid for Thai costume heritage status
Official: Solar power can lead energy transition
When “biodiversity” is no longer just about planting forests, but also about “economic capital” and a tool for tackling the global climate crisis, a new sustainability strategy is emerging — one that turns forests into a mechanism for the bioeconomy while pushing Thai community models toward international standards such as OECMs and biodiversity credits.
China launched three astronauts to its Tiangong space station yesterday, beginning a Shenzhou-23 mission that will include the country’s first year-long stay in orbit and support research into how humans cope with extended time in space. The mission is also tied to Beijing’s wider plan for a crewed moon landing by 2030. 
Most petrol stations in Hua Hin have introduced temporary refueling limits as fuel demand continues to rise across Prachuap Khiri Khan, with officials urging motorists not to panic buy despite stable national supply levels.
So-called “smart poles” are being installed at key locations across Hua Hin as part of efforts to strengthen public safety and support the development of smart infrastructure. The initiative forms part of the Hua Hin Smart City Phase 1 project, under which Hua Hin City Municipality has installed no fewer than 30 CCTV cameras, along with related equipment throughout the municipal area.
The Cha Am Blue Swimming Crab Festival will conclude on Saturday at the Cha Am Beach viewpoint, featuring fresh seafood, conservation activities, and nightly live music.
The Hua Hin Wine Expo 2026 is being held today and tomorrow, promising a larger, more refined evolution of the event that has become part of the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors.
Thailand Riviera tourist road to improve access to Hua Hin
NH Hua Hin Hotel has appointed Nartsupak Thaweewong as general manager. Nartsupak brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience in Thailand and Singapore to the role.
Airin Phanrit, deputy spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office, said yesterday that this year’s heat index is expected to be more severe than last year’s, with levels in April and May likely to rise into the “very dangerous” range of more than 52°C.
Brent crude rose sharply above US$110 a barrel in early trading today, as fresh attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East heightened fears of broader supply disruption.
Whether Bangchak and PTT service stations are selling fuel at higher or lower prices than those in other ASEAN countries remains a matter of continuing public interest and frequent scrutiny. This is especially the case at present, amid the Middle East war following the attacks launched by the United States and Israel on Iran.
Thailand’s heavy industries are coming under renewed pressure from high oil prices, with production costs rising sharply and supply-chain strains raising the risk of shortages in plastic bags and packaging materials, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The Airline Association of Thailand (AAT) is seeking government intervention for relief measures, as the aviation industry faces escalating cost pressures. In a recent meeting with executives from its member airlines, including Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia, the AAT discussed challenges posed by global economic conditions and external factors, particularly the geopolitical tensions affecting fuel prices.
Saha Pathanapibul and BJC, two major consumer goods companies, have warned retailers of the impact of unrest in the Middle East, which has driven up raw material, packaging, and transport costs and may affect product availability and deliveries.
The Land Transport Federation of Thailand has issued five demands for the government to address the energy crisis, warning it may escalate to a nationwide transport shutdown if no action is taken.
Thai fishermen staying ashore as fuel prices bite
Thais say their top concern is rising living costs and they are urging the new government to take swift action on the issue, according to a National Statistical Office (NSO) survey.
Despite declines in new launches and inventory in Bangkok, condo developers are likely to delay new supply this year, as sales remain sluggish and absorption rates continue to fall, according to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC).
Bangkok’s Chatuchak Named the Best Night Market in the World
Small businesses and households are being urged to reduce their reliance on the state electricity grid and adopt solar power solutions, as global energy price volatility threatens to drive up costs, despite Thailand’s capped power tariffs, according to solar firms.
Swedish solar technology company Midsummer has expanded its operations into Thailand, bringing advanced renewable energy solutions to the Southeast Asian region. As part of this expansion, the company has opened a new regional office in Bangkok to strengthen its presence and respond to the growing demand for clean energy in the country.
Thwaites Glacier in west Antarctica, covering more than 192,000 square kilometers, has been dubbed the “Doomsday Glacier” because it acts as the final barrier preventing the west Antarctic ice sheet from flowing into the ocean. But the glacier is now melting rapidly, raising fears that many coastal cities around the world could eventually be submerged.
‘Logistics hub of Asia’ efforts prioritized
