Editor: Expat News will be traveling next week, July 12-16. We wil try to keep you up to date on the news during this time, but our reports may be fewer and at a different time. We will return to full service next Friday, July 17.
- Our new sponsor: Pollitos Restaurant and Pizzeria/Hua Hin coffee shop seeks return of mug/Hua Hin videos/Worker killed on Rama II/Red Bull family Thailand’s richest/Phuket girl wows America’s Got Talent/Ayutthaya elephants waiting at red light
- ECONOMY: Five gains for Anutin government/Thai retail confidence strengthens/Thailand, Malaysia resolve seafood dispute/Nestlé unveils new production hub/Gems and jewelry exports higher
- TOURISM: Reporting rule for foreign visitors/Israeli tourist arrivals/The ticket mafia
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Chiang Mai Ranked Third-Best/Thailand’s Most Soulful City/Amazing Melon Cutting Skills
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Forest preservation rewards communities/Line Man Ride targets 3,000 EV drivers/Bottles into School Backpacks
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
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Hua Hin coffee shop seeks return of mug, saucer stolen by foreign customer
An owner of a coffee shop in Hua Hin exposed a foreign woman for allegedly attempting to obtain free milk and stealing a coffee mug and saucer on Wednesday.
Piyanun, who owns an Amazon coffee franchise store on Soi Hua Hin 61, shared photographs of the foreign customer on her Facebook account and in local Facebook groups, asking anyone who recognized the woman to encourage her to return the stolen items. Continued …
Patio Old Town Market Hua Hin
Check out a beautifully tucked-away hidden gem called Patio Old Town Market. This cozy, vintage-style outdoor food court is packed with incredible local charm, amazing live music, and a massive variety of street food stalls — including traditional Thai Aharn Tam Sang (made-to-order dishes), authentic Isan sausage, salt-crusted grilled fish (Miang Pla Pao), and dairy-free Thai coconut ice cream. Video …
Hua Hin – What I really think of this place?
Soi 94 Walk and The Best Burger in Hua Hin
Take a walk down Soi 94 in Hua Hin, one of the busiest streets in town for food, bars, and nightlife. This walk around the area shows you the atmosphere on a Friday night, the bars, restaurants and overall vibe. Video … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1a–67_8nE
Another worker killed in Rama II road work
A construction pile driving crane rig collapsed and fatally crushed a worker on Rama II Road, forcing authorities to completely close traffic in the affected area while emergency crews responded and began recovery operations.
The incident happened yesterday at a road construction site on the outbound parallel carriageway of Rama II Road. The collapse occurred near the Khlong Luang bridge U-turn. According to reports, the crane fell onto workers below, killing one male worker at the scene. Continued …
Red Bull family Thailand’s richest for third straight year
The Yoovidhya family of Red Bull fame have retained the top spot as the richest in Thailand for the third consecutive year with a net worth of $47 billion, followed by the CP Group’s Chearavanont brothers with $36.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
The combined wealth of Thailand’s richest tycoons on the 2026 Forbes list has expanded 10% to $187 billion from $170.5 billion, boosted by a surging market, the magazine said. Continued …
Nene Royal goes from Phuket night market to America’s Got Talent
A 16-year-old girl from Phuket earned four yes votes from the judges on America’s Got Talent (AGT), taking another step toward her dream of becoming a world-class artist.
Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy, better known by her stage name Nene Royal, has built a reputation as a street performer in Phuket. She regularly performs with her band, Ozone, at Naka Night Market, where the group plays rock music for both Thai and international visitors. Continued …
Ayutthaya elephants win praise for waiting at red light
A convoy of elephants from the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal has won widespread praise online after a video showed the animals patiently waiting at a red traffic light alongside motorists, offering a striking reminder of the importance of road safety.
The footage shows several elephants, each accompanied by a mahout, stopping calmly when the traffic signal turned red. The animals waited in line beside cars and motorcycles without crossing the intersection until the light turned green. Continued …
Five gains for Anutin government after B400-billion loan decree clears court
The Constitutional Court’s ruling yesterday that the emergency decree authorizing the Finance Ministry to borrow 400 billion baht to tackle the impact of the energy crisis and support Thailand’s energy transition does not violate Section 172 of the Constitution has done more than unlock the government’s borrowing plan.
Although the opposition can still scrutinize the details of spending under each project, the ruling has eased political pressure on the government and opened space for the administration to move ahead fully with key policies. Continued …
Thai retail confidence strengthens amid subdued economic prospects
The June 2026 Retail Sentiment Index (RSI) survey pointed to a narrow-based recovery in Thailand’s economy after government measures provided short-term support to purchasing power.
The spending-per-bill index rose 15.5 points, while confidence for the next three months remained low at 47–50 points, reflecting concerns that purchasing power had yet to recover fully and that risks persisted on several fronts. Continued …
Thailand, Malaysia resolve seafood trade dispute
Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to swiftly resolve a recent fisheries trade dispute that disrupted seafood exports between the two countries, with both governments aiming to reopen affected markets within a week.
The dispute flared earlier this year after Thailand suspended imports of Malaysian sea bass over concerns about chemical residues. Malaysia later imposed temporary restrictions on certain varieties of Thai shrimp, citing food safety controls. Continued …
Nestlé unveils 23-billion-baht Nescafé production hub in Thailand
Nestlé has announced plans to invest 23 billion baht in a new Nescafé factory in Thailand after terminating its joint-venture agreement with Quality Coffee Products Co. (QCP), the company that previously manufactured Nescafé products in the country. The 50:50 joint venture between Nestlé and the Mahagitsiri family ended on Dec. 31, 2024, leaving QCP without the right to continue producing Nescafé products.
Nikhil Chand, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé Indochina, said the new factory would be built in Samut Prakan province. The facility is intended to strengthen Nestlé’s Nescafé business in Thailand and support exports. Continued …
Gold demand drives Thailand’s gems and jewelry exports higher
Sumed Prasongpongchai, director-general of the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand, or GIT, said exports of gems and jewelry excluding gold were worth US$860.73 million in May, up 1.8% and extending growth for a third consecutive month. Including gold, exports were worth US$2.27442 billion, up 29.7%.
In the first five months of 2026 (January-May), exports excluding gold totaled US$7.3719 billion, up 11.1%, while exports including gold totaled US$15.66388 billion, up 29.4%. Continued …
MPs slam reporting rule for foreign visitors
The proposed amendments to some sections of the Hotel Act and Immigration Act, which passed their first reading in parliament on Wednesday, aim to reduce duplicate reporting of foreigners’ temporary stays in Thailand, but may not address existing loopholes as illegal operators are excluded from enforcement.
The responsibility for reporting a foreigner’s stay primarily falls on the householder, owner of a dwelling or hotel manager, who must notify authorities within 24 hours via electronic channels. Foreigners are no longer required to make duplicate notifications themselves, except in cases deemed necessary for national security or public safety. Continued …
Israeli tourist arrivals in Thailand forecast to exceed 442,000
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) met Israeli diplomatic representatives in Bangkok this week to discuss attracting more high-spending Israeli tourists to Thailand under its “Value over Volume” tourism strategy ahead of the coming travel season.
TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool and executive director for Europe Suladda Sarutilavan welcomed Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Alona Fisher-Kamm and Israeli Minister and Head of Consular Affairs Eli Sneh. Continued …
The ticket mafia is ruining concerts in Thailand
Thailand’s concert industry is growing rapidly, but so are complaints about ticket scalpers, scams, and organized groups buying up tickets before genuine fans have a chance.
With concerns on the rise, authorities, ticketing companies, and concert promoters are now taking action. But will it be enough to protect concertgoers? Video …
Chiang Mai Ranked Third-Best City Worldwide
Chiang Mai has been named the third-best city in the world in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2026, placing the northern Thai city among the highest-rated destinations globally. The result also saw Chiang Mai rank second in Asia, behind Kyoto, Japan, while moving ahead of Bangkok, Siem Reap in Cambodia and Tokyo.
This year’s survey received responses from more than 207,000 readers, who submitted over 661,000 votes covering more than 10,088 travel-related businesses and destinations worldwide. The categories included hotels, resorts, cities, islands, national parks, tour operators, safaris, airlines, airports, trains and other travel entities. Continued …
What 12 Trips to Chiang Mai Taught Me About Thailand’s Most Soulful City
Chiang Mai, northern Thailand’s largest city, presents enduring Lanna heritage across living temples, artisan quarters, and surrounding mountain landscapes, underscoring its cultural and historical significance.Viewers encounter Chiang Mai travel context through Lanna architecture, historic temples in the Old City, and daily practices such as alms rounds and evening chants.
Nearby forests and peaks offer hiking routes, scenic viewpoints, and visits to hill-tribe communities via responsible tourism programs.Seasonal shifts bring rice-field greenery in the rains and cooler, misted mountains later in the year, while artisan communities sustain silverwork, lacquerware, and textiles. Video …
Amazing Melon Cutting Skills at Bangkok Street Food
Why forest preservation begins with rewarding communities
Forests are often treated as distant landscapes: green backdrops beyond cities, farms and factories. Yet, the truth is far more urgent. They are not empty land waiting to be used, but living infrastructure that quietly holds together the systems that make human life possible.
They absorb carbon from economic activity, regulate water, shelter biodiversity and support communities that often have the fewest opportunities. When forests decline, the damage is not limited to trees. It spreads through rivers, farms, air quality, livelihoods, public health and the economy itself. Continued …
Line Man Ride targets 3,000 EV drivers as Thailand’s ride-hailing economics shift
Line Man Wongnai is stepping up its electric vehicle push in Thailand’s ride-hailing market, using a rental model to bring more drivers onto its Line Man Ride platform and piloting a new “Comfort” service for passengers seeking larger electric cars.
The company said it aims to have more than 3,000 EV driver-partners on Line Man Ride by the end of 2026. The plan centers on reducing drivers’ upfront costs through full-time rentals, minimum income guarantees for eligible drivers, help with public driving license applications, and a pathway to car ownership after a six-year lease period. Continued …
Thailand Converts 8 Tons of PET Bottles into 3,500 School Backpacks
What happens to a PET bottle after it leaves the consumer’s hand can determine whether it becomes accumulated waste or raw material for a new product. In Thailand, a program created by Indorama Ventures, in partnership with Amata Corp., uses this path to transform used plastic packaging into school backpacks intended for children from communities near industrial hubs.
The initiative, called “Re-No-Waste: Eco-friendly for Sustainable Future”, was launched in January 2025 with the goal of collecting 8 tons of post-consumer PET bottles in AMATA network factories. Continued …
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Indian Wildlife Smugglers Arrested in Bangkok – Continued …
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Thai customs arrest South African man with heroin hidden in coffee and tea bags – Continued …
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Lithuanian Faces Visa Revocation on Koh Pha Ngan – 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
Minor Hotels has appointed Kanruethai Roongruang as general manager of Avani+ Hua Hin Resort. Originally from Phuket, Kanruethai brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience across Thailand and international markets, with expertise in resort operations, wellness, commercial strategy, business development, and luxury hospitality management.
A major new lifestyle destination is being planned in Hua Hin, with Thai property developer Supalai aiming to create a European-style village beside a lagoon in the Hin Lek Fai area.
Thailand’s Department of Business Development (DBD) is tightening enforcement against “nominee” businesses by requiring Thai shareholders in foreign co-investment firms to submit three months of financial evidence, including bank statements, to prove genuine investment capacity. The move is part of a broader crackdown on concealed foreign ownership structures and is already affecting thousands of companies across high-risk sectors.
OR and Bangchak have announced a reduction in retail fuel prices, cutting petrol and all types of gasohol by 80 satang per liter.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecast today that Thailand would continue to see thundershowers over the next 24 hours, with isolated heavy rain in the east and along the south’s west coast.
Lisa’s Instagram Posts Reach 58-million-baht Value Worldwide
Oil prices retreated yesterday to their lowest levels since the start of the United States-Iran war, while tech shares continued to show weakness on a mixed day for global stocks.
The Thai baht is currently facing short-term pressure, with market strategists indicating it could test the 33.00–33.20 resistance band. This weakness is influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Federal Reserve’s rate-hike expectations.
The Bank of Thailand has upgraded its GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 2.3% from 1.5%, attributed to strong exports, government stimulus, and easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The Bank of Thailand yesterday left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.00% as widely expected, saying it would continue to monitor inflation trends and expectations.
Thailand is dismantling long-standing barriers to foreign business while simultaneously implementing its most stringent crackdown on foreign property ownership in decades — a paradox that analysts caution is undermining the kingdom’s reputation as a dependable destination for long-term international investment.
Thailand is facing a rapidly escalating medical inflation crisis, raising concerns among insurers and regulators about its long-term implications for the healthcare and insurance sectors.
TikTok Shop flexes muscle in 3-way Thailand tussle
High-net-worth parents across Asia, the Middle East, and Russia are fundamentally rewriting the equation for elite schooling. Facing a volatile matrix of escalating geopolitical friction, erratic financial markets, and skyrocketing living costs in traditional Western markets, affluent families are increasingly asking whether a premium education requires sending children across the globe.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has organized the “Thailand Surf Therapy Real Experience and Trust Building Journey” in Phang-nga. This initiative precedes the concept’s official unveiling at Thailand Health Excellence 2026 on June 30.
Constant Energy, a leading renewable energy developer in Southeast Asia, has announced the successful inauguration of a 5.26 MW solar rooftop installation at the manufacturing facilities of Meyer Industries and Meyer Aluminium (Thailand) Co. in Laem Chabang, Thailand.
Once a lush field of green, the seagrass meadows surrounding Thailand’s Koh Libong are now largely barren stretches of sand, devastating the island’s iconic dugong population.
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela yesterday, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas and prompting scientists to warn of potentially heavy casualties and widespread destruction across the South American nation. 
Europe braced yesterday for another day of an unprecedented heatwave that has smashed records in many countries and sent air conditioner sales zooming in a continent unused to and ill-equipped to handle searing heat. 
Private sector officials in Khon Kaen have proposed new Khon Kaen-Hua Hin flights as part of plans to improve air links between the northeast and key tourism and economic centers.
Jasmine International (JAS) has officially secured the broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Thailand, just hours before the first match kicks off, ensuring that all 104 matches will be available to football fans.
Makro, a leading wholesale business under CP AXTRA, is making everyday shopping easier, faster, and more secure for millions of Thai customers with the nationwide launch of QR Credit Card Payment at Makro.
Representatives from the Swedish Church are visiting Hua Hin from June 12-16 for baptisms, home visits, hospital visits, and meetings with local businesses, the church announced.
The situation along the Thai-Cambodian border remains fragile, but is still under control, says National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-general Chatchai Bangchuad. His comments came amid reports that China had delivered T-59D tanks to Cambodia.
Thai gold prices fell sharply at the market open today, with bullion dropping by 1,150 baht per baht-weight as global gold prices came under renewed pressure.
The SCB Economic Intelligence Center (SCB EIC) of Siam Commercial Bank has set out its view on Thai household vulnerability based on findings from the latest nationwide household survey. It found that incomes had shrunk, spending had been cut, and reliance on assistance and debt remained high despite some easing, putting pressure on consumption ahead.
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has raised its forecast for Thailand’s 2026 economic growth to 1.6%-2.0%, supported by the 170-billion-baht “Thais Help Thais Plus” stimulus scheme.
Thailand’s quarterly GDP growth rate was 1.2% in the third quarter of 2025, rising to 2.5% in the fourth quarter, and further to 2.8% in the first quarter of 2026, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
Amid rising global uncertainty, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has urged the government to step up efforts to attract foreign investors and encourage multinational companies to relocate their operations to Thailand.
Gulf Development, Thailand’s largest energy company by market value and a major telecom operator, has announced plans to invest in new data centers with a combined capacity of 100 megawatts this year, underscoring its ambition to become a regional leader in digital infrastructure and cloud services.
The drafting of Bangkok’s new comprehensive city plan, the fourth revision, is expected to take effect around late 2027 and bring major changes to land-use rules in several areas.
Thailand is moving closer to introducing its long-delayed foreign tourism levy, with officials targeting a third-quarter launch and considering airline collection alongside visitor insurance coverage.
Return to Khao Yai Reveals Why Thailand’s Nature Escape Keeps Getting Better
Thailand’s best beaches, and when to visit each one
How Thailand’s Highland Communities Are Taking Local Wisdom Global
Thailand is accelerating its transition to a low-carbon economy, rolling out a series of policies, regulatory reforms, and investment incentives designed to align economic growth with environmental sustainability.
US President Donald Trump yesterday brushed off concerns about consumer inflation surging to a fresh three-year high in May, on the back of soaring energy prices caused by his war in Iran. “The numbers were great… I love the inflation,” Trump told reporters. 
After Russian police started using facial-recognition cameras to identify men wanted by military authorities, a young bank worker spent weeks avoiding the Moscow metro. But on a snowy Friday evening in late 2024, heavy traffic pushed him underground to visit his mother. At the next station, two officers entered the carriage and detained him for draft evasion. 
Registration has opened for the Hua Hin International Half Marathon 2026, with runners invited to sign up for the event, which will take place on Sunday. July 19.
A 42-year-old former factory worker died after being bitten by a centipede in Si Racha, Chon Buri, with her partner claiming they could not afford treatment after discovering her social security coverage had expired.
The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) today filed a lawsuit against Meta, the owner of Facebook, covering both its Thailand office and headquarters. The council accused the platform of allowing scam advertisements and online fraud to spread continuously, despite discussions and repeated calls for stronger preventive measures over more than a year.
More airlines could face insolvency or be taken over by stronger rivals as jet fuel prices rise because of the conflict in the Middle East, Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Assn. said on Saturday.
Commerzbank’s FX analysts note that the USD/THB exchange rate experienced a decline to 32.55, primarily attributed to portfolio inflows. This movement occurred despite Thailand’s April trade deficit widening significantly to a record USD10.0 billion.
About 14 billion baht was spent in the first week of the government’s Thais Help Thais Plus co-payment scheme, which began on June 1, according to a government spokeswoman.
Thailand’s industrial estate market showed strong signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2026 despite global economic volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, according to the latest report from Colliers Thailand.
Thai businesses are increasingly exploring opportunities in Russia despite concerns over sanctions, payment restrictions, and potential repercussions for companies with links to Western markets, as Thai delegates attended the St. Petersburg International Economic (SPIEF).
Dozens of dead cubs found at Thai tiger temple
Where street food shapes the region’s top culinary cities
Energy authorities are preparing to expand Thailand’s electricity generation capacity amid mounting concerns that rising demand from resource-intensive businesses, particularly data centers, could strain the national grid.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines this morning, killing at least one person, collapsing buildings, and sparking tsunami warnings across the region. Authorities in the Philippines and Indonesia urged residents in affected coastal regions to move to higher ground immediately. 
Residents of St. Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia’s second-largest city Saturday morning, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia. The attack came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin refused an offer to meet his Ukrainian counterpart. 
U.S. President Donald Trump stormed out of an interview with NBC airing yesterday after a heated exchange during “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker”. The interview ended abruptly when Trump – after repeating unsubstantiated claims that U.S. elections are “rigged”- walked out after calling Welker, her show, and other U.S. TV networks “crooked.” 
Customs officials ‘helped’ supercar importers dodge Bt897 million duty
Thai Post Launches Euro 2024 Contest with 10 Million Baht in Prizes 
