- Tourists being overcharged in Cha Am/Stunning fireworks show in Bangkok/Bottled water – up to 90,000 extra microplastics per year/Double cold front to hit Thailand/157,624 Traffic Offenses in Two Days/Bangkok world’s 14th largest city
- ECONOMY: 11 megaprojects for 2026/Taking the wind out of Thai economy/Co-pay stimulus ends
- TOURISM: Thailand tourism slips in 2025/When the golden goose disappeared/BBC snubs Thailand/CAAT to raise passenger entry-exit fee
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Ayutthaya’s ruins show off
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Thailand water quality assessment/Renewables facing fresh challenges
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
It’s not just Pattaya: tourists being overcharged even in Cha Am
Every time a complaint about tourism scams or inflated prices goes viral, Pattaya is usually the first name dragged into the conversation. Beach chairs, jet skis, taxis, drinks — Pattaya has long been portrayed as the poster child for tourist rip-offs. But the latest outrage coming from Cha Am tells a different story, and it is one Thailand should not ignore.
During the recent holiday period, social media lit up with angry reactions after visitors reported being charged 100 baht per beach chair, or forced into “sets” costing 500–600 baht just to sit by the sea. One widely shared post described a family of six being told that the price was high simply because it was a festival period. Even when they explained they were locals from Phetchaburi, the price barely moved. Continued …
Thailand puts on stunning fireworks show in Bangkok
Thailand ushered in the New Year with a grand fireworks show across the Chao Phraya River bend. The show, which spanned 1,400 meters in the heart of Bangkok, also included a 4D aerial performance, a fusion of drone and pyrotechnic displays, under the theme ‘In Eternity Reverance’ to honor the late-Queen Mother, Sirikit, who passed away in October. Video …
A person who drinks bottled water ingests up to 90,000 extra microplastics per year
The microplastics derived from bottles represent an invisible risk to human health, according to a recent study. The most alarming data from the analysis reveals that those who consume bottled water daily can incorporate up to 90,000 plastic particles more per year than those who drink from the tap.
The research, led by the Concordia University in Canada, reviewed more than 140 international studies to reach this conclusion. The data measured the global scope of a phenomenon that transforms the daily consumption of water into a silent threat. Continued …
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Double cold front to hit Thailand after New Year
The “Thailand Weather Forecast” page has issued a fresh advisory for the first half of January, predicting two distinct waves of cooler weather that will sweep across the country. Residents should prepare for temperature drops between Jan. 4–11 and a second wave on Jan. 14–15.
For the capital, the forecast indicates a steady decline in morning temperatures starting from the first week of the year. The data predicts the mercury will hit its lowest point at 18.4°C on Jan. 9. Continued …
Police Report 157,624 Traffic Offenses in Two Days
Police have urged motorists to drive with care after more than 157,000 traffic offenses were recorded during the first two days of the New Year road safety campaign, highlighting ongoing risks as holiday travel continues nationwide.
The enforcement forms part of the annual “seven days of intensive control” aimed at reducing accidents during the New Year period, when traffic volumes are high and crash risks increase. Continued …
Jakarta ranks world’s largest city, Bangkok 14th
Jakarta ranked as the world’s largest city with 41.9 million inhabitants followed by Dhaka, while Tokyo slipped to third, a recent United Nations (UN) report shows.
The population of Japan’s capital has grown more slowly than those of Indonesia and Bangladesh, and consequently, its rank among the world’s most populous cities dropped from first in 2000 to third by 2025, according to the report. Continued …
Transport Ministry unveils 11 megaprojects for 2026 worth over Bt359.8 billion
The Nakhon Pathom–Cha-am Motorway project is among 11 megaprojects, valued at over Bt359.8 billion, that Thailand’s Transport Ministry has prepared for Cabinet approval in 2026.
The projects are divided into three main categories: six road and expressway developments, three double-track railway sections, and four major airport expansions. Continued …
Political instability taking the wind out of Thai economy sails
Since the last general election in May 2023, Thailand has been in the throes of political turbulence. Two prime ministers have served short terms in office while the third PM would have had barely four months in office. The country is now preparing for its next general election, scheduled for Feb. 8.
After serving for just about two months, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul made the decision to dissolve Parliament on Dec. 12. The move was prompted by the opposition People’s Party attempting to launch a no-confidence motion against his minority government, triggered by a conflict over constitutional amendments. Continued …
Co-pay stimulus ends with Bt84B spent, lifting GDP by 0.2%
Pongnakorn Pochakorn, assistant spokesperson for the Finance Ministry, said preliminary figures showed spending under the Khon La Khreung Plus scheme reached 84.19 billion baht before it ended on Dec. 31. A total of 19.76 million people used the scheme.
The total comprised two parts: Public spending: 42.81 billion baht, including 41.25 billion baht spent at general participating shops and 1.55 billion baht spent via food delivery platforms. Government co-payment: 41.37 billion baht, including 39.89 billion baht co-paid for purchases at general participating shops and 1.47 billion baht co-paid via food delivery platforms. Continued …
Thailand tourism slips in 2025 despite domestic growth
Thailand’s tourism performance in 2025 declined, with foreign arrivals falling and total tourism revenue edging lower, even as domestic travel continued to rise, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
In a year-end summary released yesterday, the ministry said Thailand generated total tourism revenue of 2,703,335 million baht from both international and domestic visitors in 2025, down 1.26% from the previous year. Continued …
When the Thai baht rose and the golden goose disappeared
For decades, Thailand’s tourism economy thrived on a simple formula: affordable prices, strong foreign spending power, and constant turnover. Visitors arrived for a few weeks, spent freely on hotels, food, tours, bars, shops, and transport, then went home — replaced almost immediately by the next wave. Money flowed, jobs were created, and local businesses survived.
Across Pattaya and other tourist centers, the streets may still look busy. Beaches appear crowded in photos shared by tourism promoters. Arrival numbers remain high. Yet, bar owners, restaurateurs, shopkeepers, and service workers tell a very different story: fewer customers, lower spending, and thinner margins than ever before. Continued …
BBC snubs Thailand, picks Phnom Penh for 2026 travel List
In a surprising shift for Southeast Asian tourism rankings, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has excluded Thailand from its prestigious feature, “The 20 Best Places to Travel in 2026.“
Meanwhile, neighboring Cambodia has secured a spot, with its capital, Phnom Penh, praised for its modern transformation and commitment to sustainable urban culture. Continued …
CAAT to raise passenger entry-exit fee to 25 baht from Feb 1
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued a notification setting the rate, collection period, and remittance method for the fee levied on passengers entering or leaving the country at 25 baht per person per trip, effective from Feb. 1.
The move follows a resolution of the Civil Aviation Board’s meeting on Dec. 3, which approved collecting the fee from air operators, calculated based on the number of passengers traveling into or out of the kingdom. Continued …
Ayutthaya’s ruins show off their soul
As day fades into night along the Chao Phraya River, the ruined temples of Ayutthaya begin to glow. Brick chedis and riverside temples, usually explored under the midday sun, are illuminated after dark, revealing a more beautiful and soulful side of Thailand’s former capital.
This winter, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Ayutthaya is inviting visitors to experience that transformation through the Ayutthaya Nawa Festival. Continued …
2025 Thailand water quality assessment
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has released its 2025 Thailand Water Quality Situation Report, revealing positive trends. Most coastal and surface water resources nationwide remain in “fair to good” condition.
Data from the past decade suggests that water quality is either stabilizing or slightly improving, reflecting progress in national monitoring and resource management, though certain areas require continued vigilance. Continued …
Renewables expansion facing fresh challenges
Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s decision to dissolve the House adds challenges to the state push for a transition to clean energy in 2026.
The caretaker premier announced in late September Thailand would make more serious efforts to achieve a net-zero target, a balance between carbon dioxide emissions and absorption, by 2050, 15 years earlier than previously planned. Continued …
- British Tourist Arrested After Assault on Bolt Rider in Pattaya – Continued …
- Kazakh National Arrested in Phuket With Cocaine and Drug Stickers – Continued …
- Naked Norwegian Arrested After New Year Booze Binge in Udon – Continued …
- Army Intercepts 18 Ethiopians at Mae Sot Border – Continued …
Around 40 killed as fire ravages Swiss ski resort New Year party
Dozens were killed and over 100 injured when a fire ripped through a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana early Thursday, as young revellers rang in the New Year. Horrified bystanders described “panic” as people tried to break the windows of the bar to escape, and others, covered in burns, poured into the street. Continued …
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