- Are Hua Hin waste-management fees on the horizon?/PKK survey project underway/Nene’s financial support/125,622 firms in property nominee crackdown/Thailand ends rubella
- THE IRAN WAR: Iran energy threats lift oil prices/Why isn’t oil above $100?
- ECONOMY: Thailand inflation reaches 3-month high/Data Centers Just Next Door/EEC’s Hospitality and Retail Bet/EEC’s Make-or-Break Infrastructure Bet/15.5-billion-baht disaster insurance/Registering a company in Thailand
- TOURISM: US Navy visit created ‘new Pattaya image’/US servicemen left behind a financial windfall/Siem Reap-Bangkok flights
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Thailand maps climate law
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/PM defends deporting foreigners
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Are Hua Hin waste-management fees on the horizon?
Ysterday, the Hua Hin Municipality Ordinance Review Working Group met to consider the appropriateness of improving, drafting, and amending local laws enforced in the area to make them more effective and aligned with the city’s development.
During the meeting, the working group approved three draft municipal ordinances: Waste Management (No. 2), General Waste Management, and the determination or exemption of fees related to waste and waste management.
The next step is for the municipality to submit these three draft ordinances to the Hua Hin Municipal Council for approval. This is a crucial mechanism to improve the cleanliness and environmental management of Hua Hin.
PKK survey project underway
The Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Statistical Office has requested the public’s cooperation in providing information for the September 2026 survey project. The survey will collect important statistical data useful for national economic and social development planning. The survey projects are as follows: The 2026 Labor Force Survey Project; project on surveying the use of information and communication technology in households; informal labor survey project; the household socio-economic survey project; projects to improve the country’s common framework of establishment database; and the construction site data-processing project.
Data from thesesurveys can be used to inform policy making, planning, and national development that aligns with economic and social conditions. For more information, call 0 3261 1310.
Where is Nene’s financial support coming from?
On Sept. 5, Nene Royal and her family traveled to Bangkok to meet with Dhanin Chearavanont of the CP Group to express their gratitude for his support and encouragement throughout the America’s Got Talent competition. Previously, the company sponsored a promotional billboard in Times Square, New York, to show support for Nene during the recent live stream.
The cost of putting up such a billboard is estimated to be around US$20,000–200,000, or approximately 640,000–6,400,000 Thai baht, depending on the type and duration of the advertising medium.
There are also reports that, in addition to the aforementioned support, Chairman Dhanin and the CP Group are preparing to provide further support to fund Nene’s journey in the crucial AGT 2026 final round. Previously, Add Carabao, a legendary folk artist, donated 1,000,000 baht in cash to Nene as encouragement for her journey in pursuing her dreams on a global level.
From a young girl from Phuket to the global stage, today Nene is not alone. She is supported by her family, fans, fellow artists, and the private sector. She competes in the America’s Got Talent final competition next week.
Thailand screens 125,622 firms in property nominee crackdown
Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is using ownership records covering 125,622 companies to strengthen checks for nominee arrangements involving land and condominiums, with particular attention to economic centers and major tourist destinations.
Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Department of Business Development (DBD), said the records include 36,277 companies with foreign investment holding 305,838 land plots totaling 1,064,265.38 rai. These are ownership figures used for screening, rather than findings that the companies have committed offenses. Continued …
Thailand becomes seventh Southeast Asian country to end rubella
The World Health Organization (WHO) verified Thailand’s elimination of rubella as a public health problem on Sept. 5, making the country the seventh in the WHO Southeast Asia region to achieve the milestone.
Dr. Nilesh Buddha, officer-in-charge of the WHO Southeast Asia region, endorsed the Regional Verification Commission‘s recommendation. “Thailand has shown that rubella elimination is achievable when strong political commitment, resilient immunization services, high-quality surveillance and community trust come together.” Continued …
Iran energy threats lift oil prices to six-week highs
Oil climbed to its highest levels in six weeks yesterday, after Iran threatened to attack energy infrastructure across the Middle East if Washington launched further strikes on Iranian assets.
Brent crude futures briefly reached US$98.06 a barrel, their highest since July 24, before settling at US$97.31, up US$1.03, or 1.1%. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was trading at US$92.65 a barrel, up US$1.17, or 1.3%. Continued …
Why isn’t oil above $100 despite supply disruptions?
Global oil benchmark Brent crude has rallied this month but stayed below $100 a barrel despite recent escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict that has disrupted Gulf exports from the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Crude oil shipments from Middle East producers are at about 11 million barrels per day (bpd) now, from 18 million bpd before the Iran war began seven months ago, according to Argus. Continued …
Thailand inflation reaches 3-month high in August
Thailand’s headline inflation rose to 2.53% year on year in August 2026, its highest level for three months, as fuel costs and food prices increased across much of the country. The Consumer Price Index stood at 102.67 in August, up from annual inflation of 1.95% in July, according to Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) at the Commerce Ministry.
For the first eight months of 2026, the average CPI was 1.37% above the same period in 2025. The ministry has kept its full-year headline inflation forecast at 1.5%-2.5%, with a midpoint of 2.0%. Continued …
Data Centers Just Next Door
Review the risks and regulatory loopholes behind Thailand’s data center rush, and ask whether Thailand has the resources to pay the price.The Hazards: Massive fuel storage tanks, 80dB low-frequency noise pollution, and urban heat traps baking local alleyways.
The resource drain: Millions of liters of water and megawatts of power used from public grids to feed private tech servers. The profit: Billions flowing to major contractors while local communities shoulder the fallout. Video …
EEC’s Hospitality and Retail Bet on Lifestyle
While government officials at yesterday’s “EEC Never Stop: The Next Chapter” roundtable focused on industrial targets and infrastructure timelines, another strand of the discussion argued that the Eastern Economic Corridor’s next phase depends as much on hotel rooms, shopping baskets, and public parks as it does on factory floors.
Industry leaders — including Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun (Thai Hotels Assn.), Nat Wongpanich (Thai Retailers Assn.), Ekanut Ungphakorn (Asset World Corp.), and Meesak Chunharakchote (Thai Real Estate Assn.) — painted a picture of a region with untapped tourism and consumer potential. Continued …
U-Tapao and High-Speed Rail: EEC’s Make-or-Break Infrastructure Bet
The physical hardware of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is being forced to adapt. For years, the U-Tapao airport expansion and the high-speed rail link connecting Bangkok’s three major airports have served as the corridor’s twin anchor projects — and its most visible bottlenecks.
Yet, discussions during the industrial and infrastructure track of the recent “EEC Never Stop: The Next Chapter” roundtable yesterday revealed a pragmatic shift: developers are recalibrating their scale and decoupling their timelines to get things moving. Continued …
Thailand approves 15.5-billion-baht disaster insurance scheme
Thailand plans to provide government-funded disaster insurance to around 30 million households in high-risk areas against floods, storms and earthquakes under a scheme approved on Sept. 1.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the government approved the 15.5-billion-baht (US$467 million) annual program. It would provide around 75 billion baht in annual coverage, with private insurers taking on claims beyond the portion funded directly by the government. Continued …
Step-by-step guide to registering a company in Thailand for foreign investors
Foreign investors typically establish a company in Thailand by following steps such as company structuring, reserving a company name, registering with the Department of Business Development (DBD), and completing necessary tax, licensing, and employment registrations. The specific pathway depends on the company’s activities and the extent of foreign ownership, which influences licensing and regulatory requirements.
A Thai-incorporated company is generally considered foreign under the Foreign Business Act (FBA) if foreigners own at least 50% of its capital. Certain business activities are restricted for foreign investors, making the company’s intended operations vital for determining permissible ownership levels and licensing options. Continued …
Mayor says US Navy visit created ‘new Pattaya image’
The five-day visit by US sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln group has helped promote a “new image” of Pattaya as a diverse tourist destination, rather than mainly about “nightlife and beer bars”, according to Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet.
While Pattaya still has a nightlife scene, the mayor said, it is now concentrated in specific areas. The city also offers a wide range of tourist goods and activities – shopping, restaurants, cultural attractions and activities for different groups of tourists. Continued …
US servicemen left behind a financial windfall in Pattaya but also a spirit of optimism and generosity
The USS Abraham Lincoln left Thailand on Sunday after nearly 5,000 US sailors and Marines poured into Pattaya following 286 days at sea, spending heavily across shops, restaurants, hotels, bars and local services. The five-day visit delivered a major low-season windfall, produced striking stories of 1,000- and 2,000-baht tips, and sent some retail sales surging.
Yet, the sailors also surprised many locals by spreading their spending far beyond nightlife, while workers repeatedly described them as polite, disciplined and generous. After months of combat operations linked to Iran, their first substantial break ashore brought money, momentum and a rare burst of optimism to Pattaya. Continued …
Cambodia Airways adds Siem Reap-Bangkok flights
Cambodia Airways will begin flying between Siem Reap and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sept. 15, adding a direct link between Cambodia’s main Angkor tourism gateway and Thailand.
The airline plans to operate the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI)-Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) service five times a week using ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. For foreigners living in Thailand, as well as tourists and regular cross-border travelers, the route will provide another direct air option for visits to Siem Reap and the Angkor temple complex. Continued …
Thailand maps climate law to tackle economic risks and fund green transition
Thailand is preparing a Climate Change Bill that could take effect in the third quarter of 2027, as officials warn that inadequate action to address climate risks could leave the economy facing losses equivalent to as much as 14% of GDP by 2050.
The proposed legislation would introduce carbon-pricing mechanisms, connect voluntary carbon credits with a mandatory emissions trading system, and establish a climate fund to support businesses and communities through the transition. Continued …
PM defends deporting foreigners over bad behavior
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has confirmed that Thailand will proceed with the deportation of a French national under new Interior Ministry regulations, making the person the second foreigner to be expelled under the rules after an Israeli national.
The prime minister said, “The law is already in place, so it must be enforced.” Asked whether the first Israeli national deported under the new regulations had filed an appeal, Anutin said the person would have to appeal directly to the prime minister. Continued …
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Samui Frenchman sought after deportation order – Continued …
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Heathrow cannabis courier jailed after Snapchat Thailand trip – Continued …
Nepal mourns flood victims while search for survivors continues
At least 1,380 people have died and more than 5,500 remain missing in Nepal and Tibet following the Aug. 26 glacier collapse. 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
Thailand offers foreign retirees a clearer legal route to long-term residence than Vietnam, but Vietnam can cost considerably less for those able to manage more complicated visa arrangements. For people deciding where to spend retirement in Southeast Asia, the choice often comes down to predictable paperwork and healthcare versus lower rent and daily spending.
This is the crowd to hear Nene Royal’s last performance at the Phuket Naka Market before she heads to US for the America’s Got Talent live competition. 
Thailand has warned dentists that pre-signing cannabis prescription forms without personally examining, diagnosing or treating a patient could lead to legal action and professional disciplinary consequences.
A Thai army explosives disposal specialist lost a leg after stepping on a landmine while clearing explosives near Chong An Ma in Ubon Ratchathani yesterday. The accident happened in an area near the border under the responsibility of the 2nd Army Region.
Oil prices gained more than US$2 yesterday as faltering US-Iran diplomacy and a sharp slowdown in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz renewed concerns about global energy supplies.
Thailand’s economy is flashing disturbing warning signs beneath headline GDP growth of 1.9% in the second quarter. Output actually fell 0.2% from the previous quarter, while industrial capacity sank to a 24-quarter low.
Thailand’s economy grew by 1.9% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, making it the slowest-growing of six major ASEAN economies tracked by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
Thailand’s next industrial upgrade may not be defined only by new roads, railways, factories and smart cities, but by how intelligently they can be designed, operated and maintained.
Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) ranked first in SEAsia Stats Research’s Top Manufacturing Hubs in Southeast Asia by Integrated Industrial Area, with more than 13,000 megawatts (MW) of power capacity in the Chon Buri–Rayong area.
There is a particular kind of traveler who is no longer satisfied with simply visiting a beautiful place. They want to feel it in their body. They want to leave measurably better than they arrived. For this traveler, Thailand is not just a destination. It is beginning to look like a blueprint for how life should be lived.
The Thai government has launched a coordinated push to streamline international passenger processing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, pledging to expand automated passport gates to 31 additional nationalities by the end of August 2026.
Phuket has shut Freedom Beach after German tourist Jannik Jürgen Knobel, 30, was swept away in fierce monsoon seas despite red flags. His companion survived, but rescuers found his body near rocks the next day. Two other foreign tourists died at the secluded beach in 2025.
Discover the giant Buddha at Bangkok’s Wat Paknam
Thailand’s renewable power pipeline is gathering pace, with 449 projects licensed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and investment expected to reach up to US$2.61 billion.
Dow Thailand Group is producing high-quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins from plastic waste collected in Thailand, advancing a local recycling pathway that transforms used plastics into valuable materials for packaging and industrial applications.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has partnered with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to install solar rooftop systems at 25 pilot hospitals, aiming to reduce annual electricity costs by US$1.63 million and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 7,211 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) a year.
US President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to the lowest level of his presidency, with an overwhelming majority of Americans concerned the U.S. war with Iran will last a long time, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded yesterday. 
This year’s fair will help raise money for disaster relief, support for low-income residents, people with disabilities, disadvantaged groups, and other public charity activities. Funds raised will be used to provide assistance, including consumer goods, survival bags, kitchen equipment, bedding, mosquito nets, medicine, home repairs for low-income residents, support for bedridden patients, and wheelchair donations. 
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecast today that upper Thailand would see more rain over the next 24 hours, with heavy rain in some areas. Very heavy rain is expected in parts of the north, the western side of the central region, the east, and the west coast of the south, as a fairly strong south-westerly monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand.
A new US tariff could pose a severe threat to Thai exports in the latter half of this year, causing fresh trade uncertainties, say economists and businesses.
Global businesses are moving away from the old model of anchoring headquarters, factories, or innovation centers in a single major city, as rising geopolitical, economic, and climate risks force companies to rethink how they manage location strategy.
Second-hand homes have become more popular among Thai homebuyers since the pandemic, with their share of both transaction volume and value increasing as new home transfers declined, reflecting weaker purchasing power amid a slowing economy.
Thailand’s tourism industry faces a fresh setback after the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) cut its 2026 forecast for Chinese visitor arrivals from 9 million to 7 million. The downgrade reflects growing safety concerns among Chinese travelers, alongside rising travel costs linked to higher oil prices caused by conflict in the Middle East.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, yesterday said it would suspend operations to six international destinations, including Krabi, citing higher operating costs and broader pressure from continued airspace restrictions. The move comes a week after IndiGo reported a fourth-quarter loss, largely due to higher jet fuel costs.
Travel activity at Hua Hin Airport has surged during the 2026 Songkran holiday period, with both Thai and international tourists arriving in large numbers, resulting in fully booked flights and a sharp rise in hotel reservations across the region.
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
Thailand recorded 71 deaths and 344 road accidents over the first two days of the 2026 Songkran holiday period, according to the updated figures from the Road Safety Operation Center (RSOC). The figures highlight a rise in fatalities during what is traditionally known as the “Seven Dangerous Days”.
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
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. 
Seriously harmful levels of PM2.5 pollution were recorded in Bangkok and 20 surrounding provinces this morning, while unsafe air quality affected a total of 54 provinces nationwide.
Crane falls onto tracks, causing deadly train crash in Nakhon Ratchasima
More than 110 Cambodian soldiers and police were killed during the December border clashes with Thailand, according to a review of official social media posts and government announcements compiled by Nikkei Asia.
Thailand’s economy is facing significant structural challenges that extend beyond short-term issues, according to Vitai Ratanakorn, governor of the Bank of Thailand (BOT). Speaking at the KKP Year Ahead 2026 seminar, Vitai highlighted concerns about low productivity, a lack of new investment, and the rising levels of both household and corporate debt.
Thailand’s incoming government must abandon populist handout policies and implement radical structural reforms if the country is to escape its low-growth trap, leading economists warned at a major economic forum yesterday.
Pattaya is undergoing a metamorphosis, shifting from a party hotspot to a thriving residential hub as part of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development. High-speed rail and industrial growth are beckoning a steady influx of skilled professionals, redefining the city’s identity as a prime living destination.
Vendors affected as price of fresh chillis soars
Thailand’s GI-registered coffee products generated total sales of 1.497 billion baht in 2025, with the top five items alone accounting for 1.318 billion baht, according to the Department of Intellectual Property.
The planet experienced its third-warmest year on record i n 2025, and average temperatures have exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming over three years, the longest period since records began, European Union (EU) scientists said today.
Expat Thailand 2025: Open Doors, Uneven Rules
AIS launches simple SMS scam reporting service via 1185
Tourism still a stalled engine
Thailand offers 39 free camping sites for new year holidays
Brigitte Bardot, the French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal rights activist and far-right supporter, has died. She was 91. 
Thailand ranked 4th best country for expats in 2025
Canal dredging today in soi 94 area
Thai PM Anutin Plans Early April Election After House Dissolution
Thai users top Asia and rank 2nd globally for TikTok use
Global environmental measures to squeeze Thai exports
Bangkok to grow another one million trees
UK Foreign Office issues new travel alert for Thailand amid ‘high threat’
Phuket Flooded by Inadequate Infrastructure Amid Rapid Growth
