- Flood risk for PKK this weekend/Hua Hin railway road changes/Thailand closes 132 railway crossings/Horror care center closed/Thailand warns of storms, heavy rain/Thai flood damage at $178 million/Central region hardest hit//Chachoengsao floods remain high/Firms asked to hold prices/Floods halt over 10 auto-parts plants/International markets most affected
- ECONOMY: Five priorities to avert a property crisis/Thailand unemployment tops 400,000/Thailand at ‘last paragraph’ of US trade deal/IMF chief warns of debt, energy and AI risks/Thailand and Japan $11.7-Billion Industrial Alliance/Thailand weighs higher EV import taxes/Thailand-EU free trade pact talks/Thailand’s next growth opportunities/Marriott Signs Deal for 7 New Thailand Hotels/Bangkok’s culinary stars fade/Iran Seeks Closer Economic Ties With Thailand
- TOURISM: 1,000-baht tax on air departures/Minister defends 1,000-baht departure tax/Health Ministry backs 450-baht tourist fee/Thailand’s New Accommodation Law
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Hot towel service or a simple trim?/Tiger helping tell Thailand’s recovery story/Preparing Thailand’s rescued leopard cats
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Bangkok faces submersion risk/Second incinerator key for Phuket
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Flood risk for PKK and 22 other provinces this weekend
The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) has warned 23 provinces and three Bangkok districts of the risk of flooding, flash floods, forest runoffs and mudslides from Oct. 10-12.
The areas at risk are: Central: Bangkok – Nong Khaem, Bang Khae and Bang Bon districts; Samut Sakhon; North: Nan; East: Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat; West: Samut Songkhram, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan; and south: Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Yala and Narathiwat. Continued …
Hua Hin railway road changes discussed
Hua Hin municipality is seeking to speed up construction of the Hua Hin railway road by resolving design issues and relocating electricity poles, with the aim of opening the new route to residents as soon as possible.
Officials found that the layout and dimensions of construction areas in sections one and two did not match the land covered by the lease agreement. The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning is preparing to revise the designs to fit the area authorized for use. Continued …
Thailand closes 132 risky railway crossings
Thailand’s Transport Ministry says it has closed 132 high-risk unofficial railway crossings nationwide as part of a wider effort to improve safety where roads meet rail tracks.
The ministry is also working with Bangkok and 15 other provinces to resolve problems at railway-road crossings, including converting some unauthorized routes into properly approved crossings fitted with standard safety equipment. Continued …
Horror care center closed in Kanchanaburi where patients were locked into caged beds and prison cells
Thailand has shut a Kanchanaburi care home after inspectors found psychiatric patients behind bars and sleeping in steel cage beds. Sothornchai Nursing Home was licensed for elderly care, yet psychiatric patients made up more than 90% of residents.
Inspectors found 129 beds despite approval for 50, while the facility had swollen to almost three times its licensed size. The scandal began with abuse claims before inspectors uncovered barred rooms, razor wire and serious safety breaches. Meanwhile, Thailand has ordered checks on 1,200 care centers as questions grow over how Sothornchai’s license was renewed just weeks before inspectors shut it down. Continued …
Thailand warns of storms, heavy rain and hail
Thailand’s Meteorological Department has issued its second warning for heavy to very heavy rain, with thunderstorms, strong winds and hail forecast across the country from 9-13 Oct. 9-13.
The department said the unsettled conditions could bring intense downpours and accumulated rainfall in some locations, raising the risk of flash floods, runoff and local flooding. Residents and travelers have been urged to plan journeys and outdoor activities carefully during the five-day period. Continued …
Thai flood damage estimated at $178 million, industry federation says
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) estimates that Thailand’s industrial sector has suffered damages worth approximately 6 billion baht (US$178 million) due to recent flooding. The flooding has impacted a wide range of businesses, affecting 4,523 industrial and business operations across 55 provinces, including 4,113 small and medium-sized factories and 316 large factories.
While the manufacturing sector has faced significant disruptions, some automotive assembly plants have maintained enough stock to continue production through mid-October. Beyond direct industrial damage, the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce suggests the total economic loss from the flooding could reach 22.5 billion baht, with the service sector facing the largest portion of those losses. – Bangkok Post AI
Central region hardest hit by floods
The Central region has been the hardest hit by flooding between Sept. 28 and Oct. 4, with Nakhon Sawan’s rice paddies among the worst affected, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).
GISTDA said yesterday 7 that analysis of satellite imagery showed flooding in 45 provinces nationwide, covering more than 5.12 million rai. The Central region accounted for more than 4.09 million rai of flooded areas across 22 provinces, directly affecting the livelihoods of more than 1.58 million people and more than 21,800 households, it said. Continued …
Chachoengsao floods remain high as homes nearly disappear
Floodwaters in Bang Khla district remain high with no sign of receding, leaving some homes nearly submerged up to their roofs, while some residents have chosen to stay behind rather than evacuate.
Some residents have already evacuated, while others remain concerned about their homes and have refused to leave. Some have been using pieces of foam as makeshift vessels to travel through the flooded areas. Continued …
Commerce Ministry asks firms to hold prices for flood recovery
Thailand’s Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has asked retailers, service providers and carmakers to keep prices unchanged and prepare stocks, spare parts and repair services to support households recovering from flooding.
Director-General Wattanasak Sur-iam said the department had met businesses involved in post-flood recovery and asked them to ensure adequate supplies of products and replacement parts, replenish stocks quickly, and distribute goods to areas where demand is rising. Continued …
Floods halt over 10 auto-parts plants with Oct 12 restart expected
Flooding has halted production at more than 10 auto-parts factories at Thailand’s Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate, with suppliers expecting to restart deliveries from Oct. 12, according to representatives of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Supoj Sukpisan, honorary chairman of the FTI’s Auto Parts Industry Club, said suppliers unable to restore production in time would have to import components to fulfil contracts with carmakers and avoid penalties, despite the higher costs. Continued …
Which international markets were most affected by Thailand’s flooding?
Short-haul markets, specifically South Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia, have been most significantly impacted by the recent flooding in Thailand, seeing arrivals drop by 5.96%, 7.25%, and 8.32%, respectively, between late September and early October. The Chinese market also experienced a notable decline, which the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) noted coincided with the Golden Week holiday period.
While short-haul Asian markets saw immediate declines, long-haul markets such as France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UK have demonstrated more resilience, with continued strong booking trends for the upcoming high season. To mitigate the impact on the broader tourism sector, the government is considering various relief measures, including potential promotional offers and infrastructure improvements in Bangkok to restore tourist confidence. Authorities are also closely monitoring water levels and transport conditions to provide real-time updates to travelers. – Bangkok Post AI
Five priorities to avert a property crisis: unlocking home loans and tackling global warming
Three property associations have identified five major challenges in reviving the market through action by the government and banks. These range from unlocking home loans for a new generation of borrowers, promoting energy-efficient homes and developing urban infrastructure to withstand natural disasters, to regulating foreign property transactions and building stronger communities.
The property market is approaching a turning point. Problems with purchasing power no longer concern only “high prices”, but extend to access to credit, changing consumer behavior, urban infrastructure that must withstand natural disasters, sustainability and community management. Continued …
Thailand unemployment tops 400,000, led by new graduates
Thailand officially had 401,000 unemployed people in the second quarter of 2026, up 10% year-on-year and the highest level in seven quarters, Kasikorn Research Center has reported.
The figure was last above 400,000 in the third quarter of 2024. Of those currently unemployed, more than 44% – about 174,000 people – were new graduates aged 20 to 24, according to the report released in Bangkok on Tuesday. Continued …
Thailand at ‘last paragraph’ of US trade deal, says PM
Thailand is at “the last paragraph” of a trade agreement with the United States, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday. Speaking at a forum in Singapore, Anutin said he expected to sign the agreement on reciprocal trade during President Donald Trump’s next visit to Asia, likely in Manila at the ASEAN meetings from Nov. 16-18, or Shenzhen at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Nov. 18-19.
Anutin said that he received a letter from Trump last week confirming the deal is at its final stage. “He told me that I was to make sure that my people and the United States Trade Representative would write up the final clause.” Continued …
IMF chief warns of debt, energy and AI risks before Bangkok talks
The global economy faces a difficult combination of record public debt, persistently high energy costs, and both the opportunities and risks created by artificial intelligence, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned ahead of next week’s IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok.
Georgieva delivered her 2026 annual meetings curtain raiser speech in Singapore yesterday, setting out the main economic issues expected to confront finance ministers and central bank governors when they gather in Thailand from Oct. 12–18. Continued …
Thailand and Japan Cement $11.7-Billion Industrial Alliance in High-Tech Shift
Thailand has attracted more than $11.72 billion (approx. 396.5 billion baht) in investment applications from Japanese enterprises across 1,380 projects between 2021 and mid-2026, according to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI).
The capital injection deepens a decades-long industrial partnership as both nations reconfigure regional supply chains around semiconductors, next-generation vehicles, and clean energy. Continued …
Thailand weighs higher EV import taxes to support local industry
Thailand’s Cabinet has acknowledged a proposal to overhaul vehicle excise taxes, under which certain imported cars would face the highest proposed rates, while domestically manufactured vehicles could qualify for lower rates linked to investment and locally produced components.
The proposed restructuring aims to encourage vehicle manufacturers to establish or expand production facilities in Thailand, strengthen the domestic automotive supply chain and support the transition toward environmentally friendly vehicles. Continued …
Thailand-EU free trade pact talks at final stage
The 10th round of Thailand-EU free trade agreement negotiations has seen significant progress, with most negotiating texts now concluded. The commerce minister reported that major issues resolved include trade in goods, services, investment, and market access, as well as provisions regarding sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, energy, war materials, and rules of origin.
While most topics have been settled, discussions are still ongoing regarding market access and political issues. Both sides are currently working toward a mutually acceptable and balanced outcome, specifically navigating sensitive business products and sectors to ensure the agreement creates concrete economic benefits and open markets. – Bangkok Post AI
Thailand’s next growth opportunities as ASEAN investment gateway
Supply chain diversification, AI adoption and the energy transition are creating a new phase of investment opportunity in Thailand, strengthening the country’s position as a gateway to ASEAN, according to a new PwC Thailand report.
This shift is directing a new wave of foreign direct investment (FDI) toward Thailand’s digital infrastructure, electronics, automotive and food-processing industries, as global businesses restructure supply chains for greater resilience and scale. Continued …
Marriott Signs Deal for 7 New Thailand Hotels
Marriott Internationalhas signed an agreement with FICO Corp. to bring seven hotels to Thailand, which are projected to add a further 1,262 keys to Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.
The portfolio deal includes the expansion of the JW Marriott brand and is set to introduce citizenM, Four Points Flex by Sheraton and Series by Marriott to Thailand for the first time.
The agreement includes a JW Marriott Bangkok Sathorn and the anticipated debut of citizenM, Four Points Flex by Sheraton and Series by Marriott in Thailand. Continued …
Bangkok’s culinary stars fade amid rising costs, tighter budgets and fewer tourists
Earlier this year, Bangkok’s food and beverage scene pulled off a coup. At Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards in Macau, eight venues from Asia’s “City of Angels” crowded the list – rankings historically dominated by Hong Kong and Singapore – with four more in the 51-100 tier. The city’s restaurant honors tell a similar story – Sühring recently joined Sorn in holding three Michelin stars, and Bangkok claims nine spots on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, more than any other city.
The tourism figures are equally bullish: Bangkok again ranks as the world’s most visited city, with food-led travel a stated priority for visitors. Clearly, Bangkok’s food and beverage scene is commanding more attention than ever before. And yet, on the ground, the picture is less rosy. Continued …
Iran President Seeks Closer Economic Ties With Thailand
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran sees substantial scope to expand its relationship with Thailand, including through closer economic cooperation.
Speaking as he received the credentials of Thailand’s new ambassador to Tehran, Pezeshkian said bilateral ties could be developed further in economic, scientific and technological fields, according to Iran’s state-affiliated Tasnim news agency. Continued …
Thailand considers 1,000-baht tax on air departures
Thailand’s Finance Ministry is considering a departure tax of 1,000 baht for every person leaving the country by air, regardless of nationality, under draft legislation now open to public comment. The Revenue Department’s consultation on the proposed Departure Tax Act runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 29.
For foreigners living in Thailand, frequent visitors and tourists, the key point is that the charge would apply each time they fly out of the country, including on short regional trips. Continued …
Minister defends 1,000-baht departure tax plan, as ATTA objects
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas defended the idea of a 1,000-baht departure tax as a way to encourage Thais to holiday domestically and keep more tourism spending within Thailand. However, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) opposed the proposal yesterday, warning that it would impose overlapping charges on travelers.
Adith Chairattananon, ATTA’s secretary-general, said the proposal could have widespread repercussions for tourism and put further pressure on operators during a weak economy. The association is preparing to submit a formal objection to the Finance Ministry. Continued …
Health Ministry backs 450-baht tourist fee as hospitals face billions in unpaid bills
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has backed a proposed 450-baht fee for foreign tourists, calling for part of the revenue to fund insurance or health cover that could reduce hospitals’ exposure to unpaid medical bills.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said a preliminary survey of more than 30 regional hospitals found that they incur several billion baht in unrecovered treatment costs involving foreign patients each year. Continued …
Thailand’s New Accommodation Law: What It Means for Hotels, Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals
Thailand is preparing to replace the Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004). In July 2026, the House of Representatives accepted in principle proposed amendments to the Hotel Act and referred them to an extraordinary committee. On Sept. 29, the government set out its draft Accommodation Establishment Act. The draft moves away from a single hotel licensing regime and toward a tiered system based on the size of the property.
The draft has not yet been enacted and must still proceed through the remainder of the legislative process before it can enter into force. Until that happens, the Hotel Act remains in force and must be applied as it stands. Continued …
Hot towel service or a simple trim?
Fifteen minutes with a pair of clippers, a mirror check, and out the door for the price of a sandwich. Or: lying back on a reclined chair, eyes covered, a hot towel over the face, a straight razor worked slowly along the jaw, warm oil worked into the beard, a shoulder press at the end, someone offering you a coffee while you wait for the chair — 45 minutes, and a bill that can run to three or four times the first one.
Ask either customer what they walked out with and they will say the same thing: a trimmed beard. The outcome looks identical in the mirror. Continued …
From one mother to nine cubs: the tiger helping tell Thailand’s recovery story
In 2021, Mae Kaew moved out of the renowned Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary and established her own territory in the Upper Western Forest Complex. Since then, camera traps have documented an extraordinary journey. Over just a few years, she has successfully raised three litters. That is nine new tigers from a single mother.
And the story continues… with another chapter. One of Maw Kaew’s daughters, born in 2022, has now had her own two cubs. After establishing her territory in the same park in late 2023, she has become a mother herself for the first time. And that means Maw Kaew is officially a grandmother! Continued …
Preparing Thailand’s rescued leopard cats for life in the wild
A wildlife officer holds a leopard cat cub in one hand, its entire body small enough for her fingers to wrap around its torso. With the other hand, she feeds it formula milk from a syringe. This is the latest rescue at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife’s rescue center in Khon Kaen, northeastern Thailand, which rehabilitates and ultimately releases dozens of lost and injured leopard cat cubs every year.
Behind the officer, 15 larger leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), rescued as young cubs months earlier, pace around inside their cages. They look a lot like domestic cats, only slightly more slender and with sharply defined markings on their fur; unlike domestic cats, they bare their teeth and growl whenever a human walks past. Continued …
Bangkok faces submersion risk
Experts have warned that as much as one-third of Bangkok could be permanently submerged by 2050. This risk is driven by the failure to overhaul water management systems and take aggressive action against climate change.
The potential for submersion is compounded by rising sea levels and land subsidence, which makes the city particularly vulnerable due to its use of groundwater. Projections suggest that the Chao Phraya River levels could rise by 30 to 50 centimeters by 2050, while extreme climate events could see sea levels rise even further. – Bangkok Post AI
Second incinerator key to solving Phuket’s waste problem
Authorities in Phuket are seeking a land plot to build a second incinerator to handle a growing amount of garbage. Phuket is facing increasing challenges in dealing with as much as 1.3 million tons of waste that has accumulated at landfills supervised by the Phuket municipal office.
Phuket has only one incinerator, which is capable of handling about 700 tons of garbage per day. The capacity is too small, so a second incinerator is needed. Continued …
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Chinese fraud suspect arrested at Suvarnabhumi – Continued …
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South Korean betting ring raided in Bangkok condo – Continued …
Russia rejects Siberian plague reports amid second death claims
Unverified reports of a second death in Russia’s Irkutsk region in Siberia have raised concerns about a possible pneumonic plague outbreak, although Russian authorities maintain that no cases of the disease have been detected. 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
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.
Thai airlines, which reported mixed financial results in the first three months of 2026, will remain under pressure in the second and third quarters from the oil price spike as the uptick in airfares and fuel surcharges are insufficient to cover the surge in costs.
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).
One thing I’ll never understand is the expat who moves into a rural Thai village… then spends the next 10 years complaining that it isn’t Europe, Australia, or America.
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.
U.S. President Donald Trump may have won just about every battle against Iran, but three months after attacking the Islamic Republic, he now faces a bigger question: Is he losing the war? 
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.