- British Chamber networking event/Wyndham Hua Hin wins award/Is family health insurance worth it?/Foreigners wanting to adopt a Thai stray dog/IT prices soar/Nine mild earthquakes in Surat Thani/Thailand Election 2026: Vote recount?
- ECONOMY: Top IT risks for Thai SMEs/Demand for longevity courses/Thailand remains a strategic hub for investors/Gold’s going wild
- TOURISM: Thailand among top Lunar New Year destinations
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: The women of the Tha Kha Floating Market
- CLIMATE THAILAND: PM2.5 crisis hits Bangkok/Waste-to-energy power plants for Bangkok
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
British Chamber of Thailand to host networking event in Hua Hin
The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) is holding its first networking event of 2026 in Hua Hin, hosted at the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort.
The event will bring business leaders and professionals together to explore new opportunities, expand networks, gain fresh insights, and reconnect in a relaxed coastal setting along Thailand’s Western Seaboard — while enjoying a buffet and free-flow drinks. Continued …
Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi wins health and wellness award
Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Resort & Villas has been awarded the R5 Guarantee Award under the “R5 Guarantee to Global” initiative, organized by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Thai Food and Drug Administration. This accolade highlights the resort’s dedication to quality, safety, and internationally aligned health and wellness standards.
The R5 Guarantee initiative, part of Thailand’s medical and wellness hub policy, aims to elevate local health and wellness products and services to globally recognized standards. The award was given to health product manufacturers and wellness establishments across eight provinces in western Thailand, including Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan, that meet the rigorous R5 standards. Continued …
Is family health insurance in Thailand worth it?
A family’s day in Thailand can change in an instant when an accident sends a child to the emergency room, with medical bills rising beyond USD 10,000 within hours. While Thailand appeals to many expat families for its safety, lifestyle, and education options, healthcare costs can be high, especially at private hospitals.
For families living in Thailand long-term or meeting visa requirements, family health insurance helps control expenses, secure access to quality care, and provide peace of mind when the unexpected happens. Continued …
Foreigners wanting to adopt a Thai stray dog — here’s how
Recently, a couple posted on the social media forum about their experience near Chiang Mai. They found a puppy being bullied by other strays and felt compelled to help. With only two days before leaving the northern province and embarking on a two-week trip around Thailand, they wondered whether bringing the dog to the US was feasible within their timeframe.
The answer: not in two days. International pet adoption requires careful planning, health tests, and time, but it is possible with the right approach. Continued …
IT prices soar from rising memory costs
The prices of computers and some IT products have skyrocketed as a result of rising rates for memory chips in the global market. Memory chip prices have increased by 80%-90% quarter-on-quarter in 2026, according to the February issue of Memory Price Tracker, marking an unprecedented surge.
The primary driver of this uptick is a sharp increase in the general-purpose server DRAM (dynamic random-access memory). Furthermore, NAND memory, which was relatively quiet in the fourth quarter last year, recorded a parallel jump of 80%-90% for the period. Continued …
Nine mild earthquakes recorded in Surat Thani over two days
A cluster of nine earthquakes measuring between 1.9 and 3.2 on the Richter scale struck tambon Khao Phang in Ban Ta Khun district of the southern province of Surat Thani between Wednesday and Thursday morning, the Department of Mineral Resources reported.
The largest tremor, measuring 3.2 at a depth of 2 kilometers, occurred at 2.07 am on Thursday, but is still classified as minor event. As of 8.30 am Thursday, nine seismic events had been recorded in the area, said the department, part of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Continued …
Thailand Election 2026: How justified is the call for a nationwide vote recount?
Recount. Nationwide vote recount. The Election Commission must resign. A new election altogether. These are the growing demands of some voters, particularly supporters of the People’s Party, who believe the Feb. 8 snap election was not just rigged here and there but systemically manipulated.
A recount in evidently problematic constituencies or even provinces makes sense, but a nationwide recount or reelection? That is major and should not be demanded lightly. We would need evidence of more widespread irregularities to infer that rigging was nationwide and systemic. Continued …
Top IT risks Thai SMEs cannot afford to ignore
Many Thai small and medium-sized businesses — often run from homes, co-working spaces or cafés — face rising cyber risks that can be as harmful as a flooded shop or a lost delivery. From careless clicks to old software, a single mistake can stop a small team’s operations.
Passwords remain a glaring vulnerability. Dull as it sounds, weak or reused passwords are still one of the easiest ways into a business network. Disturbingly, some people still use “123456” or pet names as default passwords and wonder why they keep getting hacked. Continued …
Demand for longevity courses soars as health sector booms
Over the past five years, both public and private universities have been setting up new faculties and launching courses linked to health, driven by the rapidly growing health economy from the trend of people paying more attention to health (wellness) to achieve longevity — living longer in good health.
The Department of Business Development from the Ministry of Commerce reports that the wellness business is one of the fastest-growing industries in Thailand, covering everything from health products and services, beauty, food, spa, fitness, and even health tourism. Continued …
Why Thailand remains a strategic hub for investors in ASEAN
Thailand’s position as a strategic hub for investors targeting the ASEAN region continues to strengthen, supported by record investment inflows, future-ready national strategies, major connectivity upgrades and rising international confidence in the country’s economic direction.
Thailand achieved its highest investment application value in a decade in 2024. According to the Board of Investment (BOI), investment promotion applications reached 1.13 trillion baht across 3,137 projects, driven by the digital, electronics, electric vehicle (EV), agro-processing, and petrochemical sectors. Continued …
Gold’s going wild, affecting Thai investors and the baht
The highly volatile price swings of gold, which is impacting many Thais obsessed with the yellow metal, has forced the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to step in to regulate the large volume of trading affecting the baht’s rate.
The price of spot gold in the global market has swung widely up and down since early this year, following a 64% rise last year. Local spot gold has moved in line with the global market, crossing over 82,000 baht per baht weight (around 15.2 grams) on Jan. 29. Continued …
Russia and Thailand among top Lunar New Year destinations for Chinese
More Chinese tourists are expected to travel overseas during next week’s extra-long Lunar New Year break, with top destinations ranging from Russia and Australia to Thailand and South Korea, travel agencies say, but Japan has lost some of its appeal.
The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is one of China’s longest holidays, running for nine days this year from Feb. 15, or a day longer than usual. The Year of the Horse officially begins on Feb. 17. Continued …
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The women of the Tha Kha Floating Market
The traditional floating market of Tha Kha draws buyers and sellers from all over the province of Samut Songkhram, southwest of Bangkok. For over 100 years, the market – tha means pier, kha means stuck – has been a scene of vibrant bustle, a hub for traders selling mostly agricultural goods and items made within the community.
Bangkok-based photographer Athikhom Saengchai traveled to the Tha Kha market to photograph the mostly female vendors who sell goods on the water. He also captured other locals who cook food and make traditional products like baskets handwoven from coconut palm; coconut sugar; and miang kham, traditional one-bite snacks wrapped in leaves. Continued …
PM2.5 crisis hits Bangkok hard
The Bangkok Air Quality Information Center reported today that PM2.5 levels have surged, with the citywide average hitting 38.7 µg/m³ at 7 am, above the safe threshold of 37.5 µg/m³. The worst affected areas include Nong Chok, where PM2.5 levels hit 50.6 µg/m³.
The air quality index in Bangkok is worsening, and authorities are urging all residents, particularly those in affected areas, to take precautions to protect their health. Continued …
Two waste-to-energy power plants planned for Bangkok
Bangkok is set to strengthen its waste-management system with two new waste-to-energy power plants being developed by C&G Environmental Protection (Thailand). The projects, valued at 12 billion baht, are located in Nong Khaem in southwest Bangkok and On Nut on the eastern portion of the capital, said chief executive He Ning.
C&G has operated its first waste-to-energy facility since 2016, which processes 500 tons of garbage daily and generates 9.8 megawatts of electricity for the Metropolitan Electricity Authority grid. Continued …
- Thai Police Raid Alleged Russian-Run Poker Den – Continued …
- Russian Arrested for Assault on Thai Woman in Pattaya – Continued …
- 46 Foreign Extras Arrested on Krabi Film Set – Continued …
- Chinese Bank Manager Held in Pattaya Over Fraud – Continued …
- Chinese fugitive wanted for child prostitution arrested in Bangkok – Continued …
Trump revokes greenhouse gas health findings, cancels emissions standards
The administration of US President Donald Trump announced yesterday the revocation of scientific findings that greenhouse gas emissions are harmful to human health, along with the cancellation of vehicle exhaust emissions standards for cars and trucks, This move marks the largest cancellation of climate change policy by this administration to date, following the removal of regulations and actions aimed at promoting fossil fuel development while hindering the growth of clean energy. Continued …
Surviving the collapse of the population
The global average birth rate has halved since 1960 and is now just above the “replacement” rate of 2.1 children per woman. However, that is misleading, as averages often are. Only sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East still have the old, high birth rates. Everywhere else there is a rising panic about a future where the old will outnumber the young. Continued …
How world’s super-rich are rewriting the rules
Ongoing efforts to derail multilateral tax cooperation lie at the heart of a global program to replace democratic governance with coercive rule by the extremely wealthy – or what we call 21st-century Caesarism. Any strategy to counter this program, therefore, must recognize that taxing extreme wealth is essential to saving democracy. 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
Travelers heading between Hua Hin and Bangkok are being advised to plan ahead following a Rama II Road closure at the Bang Khun Thian Bridge that will last for up to four months.
The Hua Hin Chinese New Year celebration will take place on Monday, Feb. 16, starting at 4 pm, with Hua Hin City Municipality confirming a full program of traditional processions, performances, and cultural activities.
Hua Hin’s electric vehicle master plan moved a step forward yesterday as city officials met with Shinawatra University to discuss EV adoption and charging infrastructure.
Traffic signs and road markings installed on Soi 78 to ease congestion
The World Bank now expects Thailand’s economic growth, measured by GDP, to slow to 1.6% in 2026, driven by weaker global trade, persistently high household debt, and a slower recovery in tourism. This is below its earlier projection of 1.8%, before a rebound to 2.2% in 2027.
The economy is expected to expand by 1.51%–1.75% this year, says a public opinion survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). Thanavath Phonvichai, UTCC president and chairman of the advisory board at the university’s Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, said the survey on public expectations of the new administration shows voters prioritize structural economic reform over short-term populist measures.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry insists the government’s plan to reduce visa-free stays from 60 days should not impact tourism, as most foreign tourists, on average, stay for less than a month.
The narrative surrounding Thailand’s tourism appeal has evolved. Visitors no longer come simply because the destination is affordable. Increasingly, travelers choose Thailand for its depth of experience, consistency, and a genuine sense of welcome that remains difficult to replicate elsewhere.
The average daily rate for hotels in Thailand surged by 3% last year to 4,984 baht and they recorded a longer average length of stay, with Booking.com, Agoda, and direct hotel bookings generating the most revenue, according to SiteMinder.
The “Disneyland Thailand” buzz has resurfaced after Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, deputy prime minister and minister of transport, floated the idea of moving ahead with a world-class theme park project in Chonburi under the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme.
Thailand has significant untapped potential to develop advanced green manufacturing as a new engine of growth, with electric vehicles, solar photovoltaic components, and energy-efficient cooling technologies offering opportunities to raise GDP by an additional 2.9% by 2035, according to the World Bank’s latest Thailand Economic Monitor released yesterday.
Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) sales (passenger car and light duty vehicles) more than tripled year-on-year to over 44,000 units in January 2026, a record month for the country. Its penetration rate grew to 48%, another monthly record, surpassing its previous high of 37% set in December.
A record-breaking surge in wealthy people “relocating abroad” is reshaping the global balance of power. Countries are increasingly being treated like assets, while citizenship is becoming a tool for diversifying risk. In an era where state policy can change faster than economic fundamentals, capital moves first — and moves more aggressively than ever before. 
Thailand and Cambodia have failed to make any headway on the joint management of the common border area in Sa Kaeo province after two days of talks between the secretariats of the Regional Border Committee (RBC), held at the permanent border checkpoint in the Cambodian border town of Poipet on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thailand’s economic growth this year is set to sink to a decade-long low, excluding the Covid-19 shock, as deep-seated structural problems, corruption, and gray capital continue to weigh on the economy, Bank of Thailand Gov. Vitai Ratanakorn has warned.
Thailand’s manufacturing production index rose 2.52% in December from a year earlier, the industry ministry said yesterday, stronger than analysts’ forecasts.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) anticipates a bustling Chinese New Year in 2026, with an estimated tourism revenue of 42.23 billion baht, marking a 13% increase compared to the previous year. The improving trend in Chinese tourists visiting Thailand is evident, with daily arrivals ranging from 13,000 to 14,000 individuals.
Thailand has launched its new tourism campaign, “Feel All the Feelings,” with global superstar Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal as the face of the initiative. The announcement took place at Wat Arun Ratchawararam, seeking to reposition Thailand as a top leisure destination by promoting its scenic beauty and deep cultural values.
Thailand’s biggest tourism concern is infrastructure delays, as Vietnam is quickly developing its accommodation, airports, and plans to grow tourism clusters, says a hospitality firm.
A simple convenience store snack has become an unlikely food highlight for foreign tourists visiting Thailand, with a viral TikTok video showing a visitor raving about a hot ham and cheese sandwich from 7-Eleven.
‘Logistics hub of Asia’ efforts prioritized
