- Bus Crash in Cha Am/Phones in School/Thailand Eyes Drone Delivery/Five officers injured in Pattani/
- THE IRAN WAR: Fuel prices rise today/Diesel crisis hits everyday life/Global Airlines Hike Fares/Emirates flying near-empty jets/Triple Scenarios for Thai Economy/War could drag Thai tourism into slump//Commerce moves to curb prices/Thailand offers Iran food/Thailand Eyes Russian Oil/Thailand to buy oil from Angola, US/Hospital hunts desperately for fuel/Lack of fuel halts garbage collection/When being neutral is no safeguard
- ECONOMY: Oil price spike to slash Thai GDP/Cost of living woes/Thailand eyes economic gains/Freight cost surge/Minimum wage hike on hold/Ranong Port: Gateway To BIMSTEC Economy/Rise of the cat economy
- TOURISM: Thailand Tourism in Crisis/Thai hoteliers jittery/Samui ferry fare hike/‘Where are the tourists?’/Focus on illicit tour operators/One killed in tourist van crash
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Eco-Friendly Adventures in Phang Nga
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Walking into a carbon trap/Asia steps up coal-fired power/Sugar cane leaf biomass demand/Bangkok’s waste-to-energy plant/Retired wind and solar equipment
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Bus Crash in Cha Am Injures Dozens of Passengers
A ‘VIP’ double-decker bus carrying a group of worshippers crashed into a roadside electricity pole in Cha Am, Phetchaburi, yesterday morning, leaving dozens injured. The impact snapped the high-voltage pole, which fell onto the vehicle, causing significant front-end damage and forcing the bus into a roadside ditch.
At least one passenger sustained serious injuries, while many others suffered minor wounds. The bus, operated by Wakin Travel, had been carrying approximately 50 passengers. Rescue workers provided first aid before transporting the injured to Cha Am Hospital. Continued …
Education Officials Weigh Ban on Phones in School Classrooms
Education officials are considering banning mobile phone use in all Thai classrooms, following a new initiative announced in Bangkok aimed at improving learning conditions. The proposed measures seek to reduce distractions and limit the health and behavioral impacts linked to excessive screen time. If adopted, changes would begin in the 2026 academic year.
The move follows Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt’s program, “Phone Off, Learning On: Focus on Learning, Leave Your Phone with the Teacher”. The initiative is designed to create a more effective classroom environment by encouraging students to disengage from their devices during lessons. Several schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) have already introduced similar restrictions. Continued …
Thailand Eyes Drone Delivery with Grab Partnership
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is collaborating with GrabTaxi (Thailand) to explore the development of drone delivery services. This collaboration aims to enhance transport and logistics, emphasizing the importance of regulatory oversight to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Recently, CAAT Director-general ACM Manat Chavanaprayoon engaged in talks with Grab executives, including country head Chantsuda Thananitayaudom. The discussions allowed Grab to share its experiences of testing drone deliveries in countries such as Singapore and the Philippines. Continued …
Five officers injured after bomb attack at outpost in Pattani
Five officers were injured in a Pattani bomb attack after an improvised explosive device detonated outside an outpost in Panare district yesterday, triggering a fire that damaged a building and several vehicles.
Panare Police Station received a report at 7pm of an explosion at the Thanam strategic outpost in Ban Kha, Thanam subdistrict, Panare district, Pattani province. Police said five officers’ ears were ringing as a result of the blast, and rescue workers took them to Panare Hospital. Continued …
Fuel prices rise today as diesel and petrol adjusted
Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon said after a meeting of the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East that the government had been closely monitoring global energy prices and found that continued increases had made it necessary to adjust domestic oil prices after they had been capped for a full 15 days, effective today.
For diesel, the government will raise the price cap from no more than 30 baht per liter to 33 baht per liter, a ceiling similar to those of neighboring countries such as Malaysia. Continued …
Diesel crisis hits services, everyday life
Panic buying and distribution bottlenecks have triggered diesel shortages, disrupting essential services and daily life across several provinces.
In Khon Kaen, rescue units scaled back operations, suspending non-emergency cases to conserve fuel. Kitti Pochailao, a rescue leader of a foundation in Phu Wiang district, explained: “We have adjusted our operations slightly by reducing non-urgent cases, especially those not related to emergency medical situations, to save fuel.” Continued …
Global Airlines Hike Fares, Cut Routes As Fuel Costs Balloon
Global airlines sounded the alarm yesterday over soaring jet fuel prices triggered by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, warning of hundreds of millions of extra costs, higher fares, and cuts to some routes.
Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Ed Bastian said the dramatic run-up in jet fuel prices had increased the airline’s costs by as much as $400 million in March alone. The industry is moving quickly to pass on higher expenses through fare hikes, he told a J.P. Morgan industrials conference. Continued …
Emirates flying near-empty jets to Dubai
Emirates is operating flights to Dubai that are near-empty in some cases, as travelers avoid the Persian Gulf, highlighting the challenges for the world’s largest international airline to restore its network amid a protracted war.
Flights from destinations in the US and continental Europe have been impacted the hardest, with planes returning from Prague or Budapest only about 5% to 10% occupied, according to data compiled by the Dubai-based airline. Several aircraft returning from New York flew with only a fifth of the tickets sold, and at least one flight during the past week departed with fewer than 35 passengers on an Airbus A380 jumbo jet that ordinarily seats close to 500. Continued …
Triple Scenarios for Thai Economy Amid Middle East Volatility
The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has presented a comprehensive report to the Cabinet, outlining three potential economic scenarios stemming from the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The analysis underscores a direct correlation between energy costs and national growth, estimating that every one-baht increase in the retail price of diesel will result in a 0.02% contraction of Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP). Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the NESDC, informed the Cabinet that global energy markets remain highly volatile. Continued …
Prolonged Iran war could drag Thai tourism and investment into slump
Thailand’s economy is facing mounting pressure from the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with economists warning that a prolonged war involving Iran could sharply weaken growth, tourism, exports, and investment.
A key concern is the risk of disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Any prolonged closure could send energy prices sharply higher and push up costs across the wider economy. Continued …
Commerce moves to curb prices as oil surges
Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon said after a meeting of the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East that the government had been closely monitoring global energy prices and found that continued increases had made it necessary to adjust domestic oil prices after they had been capped for a full 15 days, effective toda.
At present, no operators have submitted requests to raise product prices. The department has asked manufacturers and distributors to maintain current prices, while also assessing product cost structures. It found six key product groups that are basic to daily life and the economy and could be affected by higher oil costs. Continued …
Thailand offers Iran food for plastic pellets, fertilizer
Thailand is looking to export food and raw materials to Iran and other Middle East countries in exchange for its ships being allowed to safely bring back cargoes of plastic pellets and fertilizer from the conflict region, according to the commerce minister.
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said at Government House yesterday that the government and the private sector were looking at options in the sourcing of plastic pellets used in the production of packaging. Continued …
Thailand Eyes Russian Oil Amid Global Supply Concerns
Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has confirmed that Russia is ready to sell oil to Thailand, as the government seeks to secure additional energy sources amid ongoing global uncertainty.
The move comes as Thailand maintains oil reserves sufficient for 96 days but faces risks linked to continuing conflict. The effort aims to strengthen energy security and ensure stable fuel supplies. Thailand has already contacted several countries, including Russia, Brazil, Nigeria and Kazakhstan, to assess potential oil supply options. Continued …
Thailand to buy crude oil from Angola, US
Amid oil shortage fears, Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon said yesterday that Thailand has reached agreements to buy nearly 2 million barrels of crude oil from Angola and over 600,000 barrels from the United States. This will ensure that there is enough crude oil supply to meet refining capacity.
While the US has exempted several countries from its ban on buying oil from Russia for 30 days, this is only for oil already loaded on tankers that was previously sold illegally, Auttapol said, adding the payment system needs to be reviewed, with there still being risks involved and Thailand can acquire crude oil from other sources. Continued …
Hospital hunts desperately for fuel for power generators
The fuel shortage has sparked alarm at a hospital in Khon Buri district, Nakhon Ratchasima, that is struggling to find diesel for the backup generators that ensure electricity is always available for critical medical procedures.
Julaporn Ratchatok, an electrician at Khon Buri Hospital, said yesterday he had been tasked with finding and purchasing enough diesel to fill up the three generators and create a reserve for future use in the event of power cuts. Continued …
Lack of fuel halts garbage collection in Kanchanaburi
Lack of diesel brought garbage collection to a halt in Kanchanaburi municipality yesterday morning, with the trucks not beginning their rounds until fuel was available in the afternoon.
The municipal office announced on Monday there would be no trash collection on Tuesday morning because there was no diesel for the trucks. The office warned it would probably be able to collect the garbage in some areas, and not in others, and may even have to temporarily halt the service. It blamed the problem on the disruption of fuel deliveries in the province. Continued …
When being neutral is no safeguard
“’Don’t worry about it, we are neutral!” was Thailand’s flippant response to the Islamist terrorist attack on America in 2001 when hijacked jets carrying innocent passengers and filled to the brim with aviation fuel smashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on Sept. 11.
The view that Thailand could remain aloof, unconcerned, and above it all by claiming neutrality was voiced by then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but it was a plea for neutrality widely echoed throughout the media. Continued …
Oil price spike forecast to slash Thai GDP growth
Every US$10 increase in the oil price per barrel is expected to reduce Thai GDP by 0.2 percentage points, according to caretaker finance minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
Speaking after an urgent meeting of Finance Ministry executives to assess the impact of the Middle Eastern conflict on the Thai economy, Ekniti said the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported its assessment of the war, predicting the conflict is likely to last longer than one month, exceeding earlier expectations. Continued …
TCC warns of cost of living woes
The energy crisis is likely to spark a cost-of-living crisis, with impacts expected in the next one to three months, the Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) said.
TCC Secretary-general Saree Aongsomwang said rising energy costs will soon cause production and service expenses to skyrocket, and businesses are likely to cite higher fuel and transportation costs to justify higher prices. Continued …
Thailand eyes economic gains from global shifts
The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, coupled with other geopolitical tensions, is prompting businesses worldwide to reconsider their production bases, with many seeking relocation to more stable regions, says the Board of Investment (BoI).
Thailand could emerge as a key beneficiary of this shift, positioning itself as both a manufacturing hub and a potential financial center. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary-general of the BoI, said tensions in the Middle East are not only disrupting the transport of raw materials and global supply chains, but also driving up crude oil prices. Continued …
Freight cost surge forces export realignment
As soaring ocean freight rates put pressure on exporters, Thai wooden furniture manufacturer Deesawat is urging exporters to explore closer markets amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Jirachai Tangkijngamwong, director of Deesawat Industries Co., said both sentiment and rising costs caused by the war are hurting Thai furniture exporters. Before the war, exporters’ main concerns centered on US tariffs, which he described as “unfavorable but manageable”. Continued …
Panel puts minimum wage hike on hold
The tripartite wage committee has unanimously agreed that now is not the right time to consider a minimum wage increase, citing uncertainty over the economic fallout from the war in the Middle East and the need to closely monitor energy prices.
Labor Permanent Secretary Wannapong Kotcharak, who chaired the third meeting of the 22nd Wage Committee yesterday, said the panel reviewed nationwide reports on economic conditions. A scheduled agenda item to revisit the minimum wage was deferred because members agreed that multiple uncertainties warranted extreme caution. Continued …
Ranong Port: Gateway To BIMSTEC Economy Worth US$3.5 Trillion
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is one of the closest cooperation frameworks for Thailand, given the countries’ geographic proximity and deep economic, social, cultural, linguistic, and religious links.
BIMSTEC represents a vast market of around 1.5 billion people, with a combined economy worth more than US$3.5 trillion. It is also a high-growth bloc of emerging economies. Continued …
Rise of the cat economy: Thai cat population exceeds 4 million
Thailand’s shifting demographics, marked by an aging population, rising single households, and declining birth rates, are fueling a fast-growing “cat economy”, with felines increasingly becoming the center of urban family life.
Cats are emerging as the preferred pet in urban areas, overtaking dogs due to space constraints and fast-paced lifestyles. Research by Kasikorn Research Center estimates Thailand’s domestic cat population will grow by 20%–25% per year, surpassing 4 million animals nationwide in 2026. Continued …
Thailand Tourism in Crisis: Middle East Conflict Threatens Billions in Revenue
Thailand’s post-pandemic tourism recovery is currently confronting unexpected obstacles as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East create ripple effects across global travel networks. The escalating Middle East conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has compelled international carriers to redirect flight paths, resulting in longer journeys and elevated operational costs.
These disruptions have triggered concerns about a potential decline in traveler confidence and revenue, posing significant risks to the nation’s tourism-dependent economy. The country had been navigating a challenging path toward restoring pre-pandemic tourism levels, with international arrivals already declining by 7% in the previous year, totaling 32.9 million visitors. Continued …
Thai hoteliers jittery over energy prices
Hotel operators in Thailand consider high energy prices more troubling than mass cancellations, as only one month remains in the high tourism season, resulting in requests for the government to promote domestic travel during the Songkran holiday to help maintain occupancy rates.
Kasmaporn Limpanapongthep, president of the Krabi Hotel Assn., said higher airfares and rising energy costs are expected to affect both tourist demand and operating expenses for hotels. Continued …
Fuel surge pushes Samui ferry fare hike, Trat operators on alert
A major ferry company operating between Surat Thani and the two popular islands of Samui and Pha-ngan is to increase fares for passengers and vehicles following a rise in fuel prices and supply shortages, while operators in Trat are holding rates steady for now but warning of possible hikes if costs continue to climb.
Seatran Ferry, which operates services from Don Sak pier to Samui and Pha-ngan, will increase its passenger fare from 170 to 180 baht per trip, effective tomorrow. Charges for four-wheel vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks have also been increased from 550 to 580 baht. Continued …
‘Where are the tourists?’ Pattaya visitors question Thailand’s official arrival figures
Thailand continues to report strong tourism numbers in early 2026, with authorities saying 7.49 million international arrivals have visited the country so far this year despite global travel disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. Yet, on the ground in places like Pattaya, some foreign visitors and long-term residents say the reality feels very different from the official figures.
Online comment sections and local forums have increasingly filled with skepticism after headlines touting millions of arrivals were published. One reader reacting to the statistics bluntly asked, “Brits and Indians… really, from where?” Continued …
Cabinet focuses on illicit tour operators
The cabinet has instructed the Tourism and Sports Ministry to accelerate efforts to tackle the use of nominees in tourism businesses, including so-called “zero-dollar tours”, as they affect the country’s tourism industry.
The cabinet meeting yesterday acknowledged recommendations from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on the issue and ordered the ministry to work with relevant agencies, such as the Finance, Commerce, Interior, and Justice ministries, to address the problem. Continued …
One killed, 11 injured in Russian tourist van crash in Phuket
A Russian woman was killed and 11 of her compatriots were left injured when their van smashed into a roadside pole in Thalang district early this morning.
The tourist van smashed into a light pole, sending a guardrail piercing through the front of the vehicle. Three people ended up trapped inside during the accident, with the van’s driver suffering a broken leg and multiple wounds. Continued …
Eco-Friendly Adventures Await in Thailand’s Phang Nga
On Thailand’s Andaman coast, Phang Nga is drawing travelers who want more than postcard-perfect limestone cliffs and turquoise seas, as the province pairs its natural drama with an increasingly robust push for low-impact, community-based tourism.
Ao Phang Nga National Park is the province’s best-known landscape, a shallow bay speckled with more than 40 limestone islands, mangrove forests, and sheltered lagoons. Nearby, Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park protects coastal hills and rainforest, while Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary and the compact Sa Nang Manora Forest Park conserve waterfalls and lowland forest close to town. Continued …
Thailand is walking into a carbon trap and nobody’s talking about it
Somewhere in the rice paddies of Suphanburi, a farmer is making the same decisions his father made. How much fertilizer to apply, when to flood the fields, which market will pay the best price?
He is not thinking about the European Union, nor is he thinking about carbon certificates or emissions trading schemes. He is thinking about his crop. But the European Union is thinking about him. Continued …
Asia steps up coal-fired power output
Asian utilities are boosting coal-fired power generation to cut costs and safeguard ?energy supply, industry executives say, as the US-Israeli war on Iran chokes liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments and soaring prices threaten to suppress LNG demand.
Spot LNG prices in Asia have doubled to three-year highs in the second major supply shock in four years, as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has all but stopped, and Qatar, the world’s second-largest LNG exporter, has halted shipments. Continued …
Sugar cane leaf biomass demand poised to rocket
The Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB) expects purchases of sugar cane leaves to more than double this year as Thailand reduces its reliance on liquefied natural gas imports, shipments of which have been disrupted by war in the Middle East.
Sugar cane leaves, often discarded after harvest, can be converted into biomass fuel for power plants. Thailand is dependent on natural gas for electricity generation and is seeking alternatives to strengthen energy security. Continued …
Bangkok’s waste-to-energy plant completes inspection
Last week, Chakkaphan Phewngam, deputy governor of Bangkok, led a high-level site inspection at the On Nut Refuse Disposal Center in Prawet District to evaluate the progress of the city’s landmark waste-to-energy incineration plant. Spanning 30 rai, this 1,000-ton-per-day facility represents a core component of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) strategic shift away from traditional landfilling toward sustainable, high-tech waste management.
Developed by Newsky Energy (Bangkok) Co., the project has reached a critical milestone with 87% of construction now complete. This progress includes the completion of the main structure, the installation of specialized grabber cranes, and the successful calibration of the central control systems. Continued …
Breaking through ‘last mile’ of green energy: Retired wind and solar equipment
Wind power and photovoltaic energy are reshaping the energy landscape. However, early-generation wind and solar equipment, designed to last 20 to 25 years, is now entering a phase of large-scale decommissioning.
It is estimated that by 2050, decommissioned photovoltaic modules will amount to 20 million tons, while retired wind turbine blades are expected to reach 3 million tons by 2035. How to properly handle this massive volume of retired equipment has become a pressing challenge that the industry must confront. Continued …
Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat
Joe Kent, the director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation yesterday, citing his concerns about the justification for military strikes in Iran and saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war. Continued …
Hours-long fuel queues in Laos capital Vientiane
Long queues formed at petrol stations across the Laotian capital Vientiane on Monday as fuel shortages deepened, with the ripples of the Middle East conflict reverberating across landlocked Laos. The Southeast Asian nation is dependent on neighboring Thailand for fuel supplies, which initially announced it was suspending exports to conserve its holdings, but has assured Vientiane that fuel is on its way. Continued …
How Pakistan’s people-led solar boom is easing impact of Middle East energy crisis
After prices of liquefied natural gas surged to record highs after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, millions of people in Pakistan were repeatedly left without electricity. But people soon started to realize there was an alternative. The falling costs of solar panels and generous government incentives to feed excess power back to the grid made rooftop solar an attractive option. Continued …
Indonesia accelerates solar expansion to diversify energy sources
Indonesia plans to fast-track the development of renewable energy, aiming to build 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity within the next two years as part of efforts to advance energy transition and strengthen national energy security. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the government has instructed a special task force on renewable energy and energy conservation to fast-track the large-scale solar program. Continued …
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