- Qatari tourist assaults Hua Hin residents/Hua Hin Accommodation Guide/Peace talks put off after attacks
- THE IRAN WAR: Energy sector to purchase oil outside Middle East/Oil prices dip
- ECONOMY: Restaurants push ahead amid cost pressures/Thai June factory output falls/Thailand’s Egg Market and Monopoly Power/Cabinet keeps VAT at 7%/From land bridge to ‘missing link’/Thai vehicle sales rise
- TOURISM: Seven policies for sustainable tourism/Thailand steps up wellness tourism/Thailand’s Luxury Tourism Boom/Thai AirAsia suspends nine routes/Indian Tourists Rescued After Kidnap Ordeal/Four Pattaya Ladyboys Arrested
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Saving Surin’s Elephant/Chiang Mai temples next in line
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Qatari tourist assaults Hua Hin residents, to be deported
A Qatari tourist is accused of injuring five people during a violent outburst that began inside a cannabis shop in Hua Hin, before spilling onto the street and ending with members of the public restraining him.
The incident took place Sunday evening and prompted a response from Hua Hin Police. Witnesses said the man damaged property, assaulted shop staff and attacked several people nearby, including a disabled flower seller using a wheelchair. Continued …
Hua Hin Accommodation Guide: 12 Best Beach Resorts and Budget Hotels
Planning a trip to Hua Hin, and looking for the best accommodation recommendations? Hua Hin, a coastal resort city just a three-hour drive from Bangkok, is famous for its vibrant night markets, unique creative markets, and an impressive range of accommodation options.
(Editor: While we are sure the businesses represented in this listing are all quality resorts or hotels, it should be noted that lists such as these are often a “pay to play” opportunity, and those that do not want to pay are left off the list.)
This Hua Hin hotel guide features 12 carefully selected properties, including luxury sea-view resorts, private pool villas, comfortable suites, and great-value budget hotels. Whether you prefer the bustling Hua Hin city center, the convenient Hua Hin Beach, or the tranquil Cha-am Beach, you will find the perfect base for your luxurious getaway. Continued …
Peace talks with southern insurgency groups put off after Narathiwat attacks
The Thai government has indefinitely postponed peace talks with southern insurgency groups after two attacks last week, with five rangers killed and six civilians injured in one of them, while a police officer was slightly injured in a car bomb blast.
Thanat Suwannanon, director of the National Intelligence Agency and head of the peace talks delegation for southern border provinces, said negotiations had started well but then the attacks suddenly occurred and a statement was issued while the technical team was attending the talks. Continued …
Energy sector to purchase oil outside the Middle East
Energy authorities and oil traders are preparing to import more crude oil from outside the Middle East, as the escalating conflict disrupts two key shipping routes – the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Before the war, Thailand relied heavily on the Middle East for crude oil, with 58% of imports coming mainly from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The remaining 42% was sourced from the US and Asia-Pacific. Continued …
Oil prices dip over 6% after US, Iran pause fighting over weekend
Oil prices tumbled more than 6% yesterday after the U.S. and Iran paused strikes over the weekend after two weeks of attacks, raising hopes of a diplomatic solution that would de-escalate the conflict and allow shipping to resume in the Strait of Hormuz. Video …
Restaurants push ahead amid cost pressures
Despite rising costs, the Thai restaurant industry is expected to continue expanding this year, according to an executive of Central Restaurants Group Co . (CRG). Nath Vongphanich, chief executive of CRG, anticipates the government’s “Thai Chuay Thai Plus” co-payment scheme will help lift sales among small restaurateurs in the second half of 2026.
He said the scheme is expected to boost Thai consumers’ purchasing power while it is in effect, supporting industry growth. The scheme runs from June to September and should provide support to the industry during the low season, said Nath. Continued …
Thai June factory output falls 3.1% y/y, weaker than forecast
Thailand’s manufacturing production index dropped 3.1% in June from a year earlier, the Industry Ministry said yesterday, weaker than analysts’ forecasts. The June reading compared with a forecast increase of 0.2% in a Reuters poll. The May reading was revised to a fall of 1.3% from an original figure of a 0.8% drop.
The main drags on the MPI were weaker automobile and petroleum production, while tensions in the Middle East added pressure from volatile energy and freight costs, the ministry said. Continued …
Thailand’s Egg Market and the Hidden Cost of Monopoly Power
In economics, few indicators of food security are as simple — and as powerful — as the price of eggs. Affordable, accessible, and nutritious, eggs should be the most democratic source of protein in any society. Yet, in Thailand, a single egg tells a far more complex story — one of market power, distorted incentives, and a system that may no longer serve the public interest.
Over the past two decades, Thailand’s egg industry has undergone a profound transformation. What was once a sector consisted of smallholder farmers has gradually evolved into a vertically integrated system, where big large firms control the supply chain — from breeding stock and feed production to distribution and retail. This structural shift has not only changed how eggs are produced, but benefits sharing within the whole system. Continued …
Cabinet keeps VAT at 7% for another year
The Cabinet yesterday decided to retain the 7% value-added tax (VAT) rate for another year, until Sept. 30, 2027. Government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said maintaining the 7% VAT rate will help ease the cost-of-living burden, stimulate domestic consumption and stabilize the economy.
She also said the measure will boost private-sector confidence in the Thai economy, encourage greater domestic investment and further support economic growth. Continued …
PM defends shift from land bridge to ‘missing link’
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday defended the government’s decision to scale back the land bridge megaproject, saying it had been adapted – not abandoned – in response to financial, environmental and geopolitical realities.
His remarks came after the government announced last week that it would replace the land bridge proposal with a narrower “missing link” transport strategy after a formal review found low financial viability, increased budget risks and environmental concerns. Continued …
Thai vehicle sales rise 17% in June
New vehicle sales in Thailand expanded by 17% to 58,724 units in June, up from 50,079 units a year earlier, according to the latest data released by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The market was driven higher by continued strong demand for passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs), sales of which surged by 140% year-on-year to 22,275 units last month, while sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) passenger vehicles declined by 34% to 8,114 units. Continued …
Thailand sets out seven policies for sustainable tourism growth
Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Phancharoenworakul at a meeting with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) board and senior executives yesterday delivered key policies to drive Thailand’s tourism industry.
The policies aim to elevate the country as a meaningful, high-value and sustainable tourism destination, The minister set out seven key policies and operational guidelines under the concept “Tourism for All, Tourism for the Future: Thai tourism for everyone, toward a sustainable future”. Continued …
Thailand steps up wellness tourism growth ambitions
Thailand is positioning itself as a leading destination for wellness and longevity in Asia within three years, combining modern medical technology, world-class tourism and traditional Thai medicine.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat announced the government’s ambitious plan to transform the nation’s medical and wellness sector into a major health economy, citing strong infrastructure development as a key driver of growth. Continued …
Thailand’s Luxury Tourism Boom Is Creating a New Problem
Thailand has never had more to offer the luxury traveler. New flagship properties are opening across Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui. The country generated $48.5 billion in tourism revenue in 2024 alone. The Southeast Asia luxury travel market reached $91.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to more than double to $205.8 billion by 2034, according to IMARC Group.
By every measure, Thailand is at the center of one of the most significant luxury travel expansions in the world. And yet the traveler who sits down to plan a high-end trip to Thailand in 2026 faces a problem that has grown alongside the market itself: there is simply too much to evaluate, too many conflicting sources to consult, and no single structured framework for making decisions that actually reflect how a person wants to travel. Continued …
Thai AirAsia temporarily suspends nine routes from Suvarnabhumi
Thai AirAsia has announced it will temporarily suspend services from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) from July 15 to Sept. 30, then resume operations on Oct. 1. During the period, the airline will suspend all flights on the nine routes it had operated from Suvarnabhumi.
The move follows Thai AirAsia’s earlier reduction of average capacity by 30% in May and June because of sharply higher aviation fuel costs and slower travel demand in the middle of the year. Continued …
Indian Tourists Rescued After Kidnap Ordeal in Pattaya
Three Indian tourists have been rescued by Thai police after being kidnapped, tortured and held for ransom for five days in Pattaya in what investigators believe is a new form of scam targeting foreign visitors.
The rescue took place yesterday after officers from Pattaya City Police, Chonburi Immigration, Nong Prue Police and investigators from all three agencies surrounded a townhouse in Moo 13, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district. Police said the suspected kidnappers fled on motorcycles moments before officers entered the property. Inside, they found three Indian men bound with their hands tied behind their backs and their mouths taped shut. Continued …
Four Pattaya Ladyboys Arrested Over Australian Tourist Robbery
Four ladyboys have been arrested in connection with the violent robbery of an Australian tourist in Pattaya, more than seven months after the alleged attack took place. Tourist Police announced the arrests yesterday following a lengthy investigation into the incident involving a 53-year-old Australian national.
Police said the robbery occurred on Dec. 27 when the victim reported that a group of ladyboys attacked him and stole his belongings in the resort city. Continued …
Saving Surin’s Elephants, One Herbal Block at a Time
Surin lies about 450 kilometers from Bangkok, in Thailand’s lower northeast. It is flat, agricultural country: rice paddies stretching to the horizon, sugar palms standing like sentinels along the roads, and the occasional water buffalo chewing at overgrown grass.
The elephant village I had come to visit sat a few kilometers outside the main town. A mahout — the traditional term for an elephant keeper — met me at the roadside, and we drove along a red dirt path between rows of palms until it opened onto a clearing where three elephants stood beneath rain trees. Continued …
7 Chiang Mai temples next in line for UNESCO listing
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said Thailand will seek UNESCO World Heritage status for seven temples in Chiang Mai. The move follows the inscription of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat as a cultural World Heritage site.
Suchart described the inscription, approved on Saturday at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, as a major cultural achievement and a source of pride for the country. Continued …
Wildlife face ‘catastrophic’ losses as France’s forests burn
Deer trapped by walls of flame, lizards unable to escape the heat, habitats reduced to charred wood and ash: wildlife are paying a steep price as France’s forests burn. Some 42,000 hectares (103,000 acres) of forest west of Bordeaux has burned since Wednesday and authorities fear a heatwave forecast this week could breathe fresh fury into the blaze. 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
A Thai massage training program has opened in Hua Hin as part of Prachuap Khiri Khan’s push to develop wellness-related services, including alternative medicine, spa treatments, and Thai massage.
The first week of June is off to a somewhat unproductive start. Unless you are a self-motivating powerhouse with productivity bursting out at the seams, starting the week on Monday, June 1, with a public holiday (a substitute for Visakha Bucha), makes it a bit harder to assess your Google calendar and plan for deep work. It’s even harder when today is also a public holiday to celebrate Queen Suthida’s birthday.
Thai Airways International marked a historic milestone yesterday when a female pilot operated a commercial flight for the national carrier for the first time in its 66-year history.
The Bank of Thailand expects headline inflation to peak at 5.2% in October this year, driven by rising oil imports and the government’s subsidy measures.
The property markets on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are entering a major turning point, shifting from tourism destinations into Thailand’s new “investment hub” after receiving continuous support from foreign investment and rising purchasing power among international investors.
The Thai real estate sector is facing a quiet but catastrophic crisis, described by industry experts as a “slow-motion tsunami” driven by chronic economic stagnation and an aging population.
The Ministry of Commerce has been ordered to accelerate negotiations with the United States on trade and tariff issues, aiming to reach a conclusion swiftly to safeguard Thailand’s export sector.
Pride celebrations have evolved from simple parades to major economic drivers through tourism. For example, the NYC Pride March attracts millions, boosting local tourism, though as an open-access event, spending per attendee is limited.
The Industry Ministry plans to announce an industrial standard for solar rooftop panels and related equipment within three months. Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said at Government House yesterday he would accelerate the introduction of an industrial standard to ensure the safety of the increasing number of households switching to home solar power.
Thailand has set a target for electric vehicles (EVs) to account for 50% of total car production by 2035, as officials warn that more than 110,000 workers could face disruption from the industry transition.
As the world pursues decarbonization, the concept of a “just transition” has become ubiquitous, particularly when describing the shift away from fossil fuels in emerging and developing economies.
Russian drones and missiles pounded Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv and Dnipro early yesterday, killing at least 10 people and wounding about 100, authorities said, following days of warnings about Moscow’s plans for a major assault. 
The World Meteorological Organization has warned that El Niño conditions are likely to develop in the coming months, raising concerns that global weather patterns could become more extreme at a time when the planet is already under pressure from human-driven climate change.