- Tourism News
DEPA proposes single window to boost digital tourism in Thailand
The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) called for the establishment of a single-window paradigm to streamline business operations for foreigners and bolster the digital-driven tourism industry in Thailand. This initiative aims to unify data exchanges among various state agencies, enhancing the ease of doing business. The proposed single window would function as a platform-as-a-service, operated via a centralised data portal…
- Business News
Wallet watch: Thai restaurants hungry for details on digital handout
Restaurant owners are on tenterhooks, waiting for vital details on the government’s digital wallet handout scheme. The Thai Restaurant Association reveals that operators are eagerly anticipating specifics on how they can use and convert digital cash. President Thaniwan Kulmongkol says restaurateurs are frustrated by the delay, as the Commerce Ministry has scrapped the August 5 press conference meant to explain…
- Business News
Thailand poised to profit amid US-China trade war
Thailand might be about to cash in on the US-China trade war. According to the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE), the ongoing clash between Washington and Beijing could see a major boost in Thai exports as American buyers look to replace Chinese shipments that are in jeopardy. OIE Director-General Warawan Chitaroon stated that Thailand is a key manufacturing nation in…
- Transport News
Tesla’s Thailand gamble: EV plans still in the slow lane
Tesla’s investment plans in Thailand remain uncertain as the Government of Thailand awaits confirmation from the United States-based electric vehicle (EV) maker. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke highlighted that Tesla is reassessing its global investment strategy, which has been affected by slowing sales growth and intense competition, particularly from Chinese EV manufacturers. Reports suggest Tesla aims to concentrate on its existing…
- Politics News
Thailand’s entertainment bill faces opposition over complex plan
The Government of Thailand’s proposed entertainment complex bill has faced significant opposition from both the coalition Bhumjaithai and the opposition Democrat parties, with critics arguing that the potential drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Bhumjaithai Party Secretary-General Chaichanok Chidchob voiced the party’s objections after a coalition meeting yesterday, August 13, highlighting four main concerns. According to Chaichanok, the bill would not effectively…
- Thailand News
Landslides trap 400 in Mae Hong Son village, urgent aid needed
Over 400 residents in a hillside village in Mae Hong Son‘s Khun Yuam district urgently called for help as they awaited evacuation following several landslides. The main road leading into the village became impassable after heavy rain on Monday, leaving them stranded. Phachat Chomchopdi, a resident, reached out to local government officials yesterday, August 13, reporting that while no injuries…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok councillors support port relocation to ease congestion
Bangkok councillors have thrown their weight behind the Transport Ministry‘s proposal to shift the capital’s port operations to a new location, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce air pollution. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced yesterday, August 13, that five councillors have formally backed the plan through a letter submitted to the ministry. Kittipong Ruayfupan, Bangkok councillor for Thung…
- Thailand News
Berry bad: Ex-boss faces 5 years for human trafficking scandal
Finnish prosecutors are gunning for a hefty five-year prison sentence for the former head of a berry company and his Thai business partner over shocking human trafficking charges. The Lapland District Court kicked off the trial yesterday, August 13, with the duo facing a staggering 77 counts of aggravated human trafficking. Jukka Kristo, the ex-CEO of Polarica, and his Thai…
- Thailand News
Thailand ministry urges public to stop giving money to beggars
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is set to launch a major new campaign this Friday, and it’s urging the public to stop giving money to beggars and halt the shocking surge in the number of beggars across Thailand. The big reveal will kick off at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in Pathumwan district. Expect a star-studded…
- Tourism News
Thailand’s tourism boom: Revenue set to soar to 2.8 trillion baht
Hold onto your sun hats! Thailand’s tourism sector is on the brink of a massive surge in the latter half of the year, with an eye-popping revenue forecast of 1.46 trillion baht. That’s set to push the annual total to a whopping 2.8 trillion baht—up a staggering 25% from last year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The…
- Business News
Thai rice faces sticky situation as Vietnamese rice steals the show
Rice exporters are sounding the alarm over the possible disappearance of local Thai rice varieties, as farmers increasingly switch to a Vietnamese strain celebrated for its soft texture. Charoen Laothamatas, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, raised concerns about the dire state of the industry. Production of beloved Thai varieties like Pathum Thani fragrant rice and KB 79 has…
- Business News
Thailand aims to be global tech talent hub by 2030
Thailand is on the brink of becoming a global hub hotspot, thanks to its strategic location, abundant resources, and savvy policies aimed at drawing in young professionals, according to industry bigwigs. The strategy, highlighted at the Techsauce Global Summit 2024 Home for Tech Talent panel, seeks to boost knowledge transfer and export future talent. Karndee Leopairote, chief of foresight and…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya rolls out the red carpet: Aiming for film-tastic UNESCO spot
The seaside resort of Pattaya is gearing up to host the Pattaya Film Festival 2024 in a bid to establish itself as a UNESCO Creative City of Film. The festival seeks to boost tourism through film-related activities and position Pattaya as a central hub in the film industry as part of its development plan for 2023-2030. A press conference was…
- Thailand News
Ringing in trouble: Bangkok thief swaps gold for cold hard cash
Police arrested a man for stealing a gold ring by posing as a customer. He swapped the real ring with a fake one while the staff were distracted and later confessed to selling the ring for money. Police yesterday, August 12, arrested 33 year old Sakda following a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on August 1. He was apprehended…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Don’t let Thailand’s smiles rain on your parade: Brace for floods
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasted increased rainfall and potential flash floods over the next ten days, urging vigilance from residents in the Land of Smiles. The TMD released its updated ten-day rainfall accumulation forecast, predicting increased rainfall and potential flash floods from today to ten days ahead. This forecast, based on data from the European Centre for Medium-Range…
- Politics News
People’s Party confirmed legal despite petition threat
The People’s Party (PP), emerging from the recently disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP), has been confirmed by the Election Commission (EC) as having established the necessary party branches legally. The announcement followed a statement by Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, who indicated his intention to file a petition against the PP. His contention revolves around the predecessor,…
- Bangkok News
Billion baht boatloads: Bangkok’s big splash in water transport
Thailand’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) announced an ambitious plan to invest 8.87 billion baht to enhance water transport networks in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. This comprehensive development plan aims to bolster public transport by boat, spanning from 2024 to 2032. Panya Chupanich, Director-General of the OTP, confirmed that the Transport Ministry approved the project, which…
- Phuket News
Phuket your plans: Steer clear of roadwork zones at night
Motorists are being urged to steer clear of Thepkrasattri Road, Dibuk Road, and Phuket Road in Phuket Town during nighttime due to ongoing construction work aimed at installing power cables underground. Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas announced that this project, which started on November 14 last year and is set to conclude by November 7 this year, aims to enhance…
- Thailand News
MPs demand answers from PM over delayed financial bills
The House Committee on Political Development, Mass Communications, and Public Participation is seeking answers from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin after his delayed endorsement of 16 financial legislation bills. The committee, led by People’s Party (PP) list-MP Parit Wacharasindhu, has called on the Thai premier, his Secretary-General Prommin Lertsuridej, and Acting Pol. Sub. Lt. Arphat Sukanan, the House of Representatives Secretary-General,…
- Bangkok News
Student activists campaign against judges at Thai universities
Student activists at Thammasat and Chulalongkorn universities launched campaigns targeting two Constitutional Court judges who also serve as guest lecturers at their institutions. This action follows the court’s recent ruling that led to the disbandment of the Move Forward Party (MFP). Thammasat University Student Council Rangsit Campus and the committee of students from the Faculty of Law posted an open…
- Phuket News
Thai PM calls for tourist safety in Phuket ahead of high season
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin insists tourist safety in Phuket must be prioritised ahead of the upcoming high season. The Thai premier made these remarks during a meeting with tourism-related agencies in Phuket yesterday, August 12, to prepare for the high tourist season from September to February. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Royal Thai Police, Provincial Police Region…
- Tourism News
British tourists breathe easy: Bangkok slips off the scam radar
Good news for British tourists heading to Bangkok for a holiday: the Big Mango has dropped five places from No.1 to No.6 as the globe’s most likely destinations to get scammed or robbed. Antivirus company McAfee compiled a new list highlighting cities where tourists are often robbed of their hard-earned cash, with a popular Spanish resort now claiming the top…
- Thailand News
Thailand lawyers to sue over invasive blackchin tilapia damage
The Lawyers Council of Thailand is gearing up to file a lawsuit against private companies and state agencies responsible for the proliferation of blackchin tilapia, an invasive fish species from West Africa that is rapidly overtaking the country’s waterways. A council team yesterday, August 10, established a booth at Wat Khao Yi San in Samut Songkhram’s Amphawa district. This initiative…
- Phuket News
Self-harming woman hospitalised after rent dispute in Phuket
A 35 year old woman has been hospitalised after being found with self-inflicted knife wounds at a small guest accommodation in Patong, Phuket. Police responded to the incident at a hotel on Phra Mettha Road at 6.56am yesterday, August 11. Upon arrival, officers and rescue workers discovered the woman on a bed with stab wounds to her abdomen and a…
- Thailand News
Thailand on alert as WHO considers mpox emergency declaration
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is on high alert as the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers declaring a monkeypox (mpox) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Permanent Secretary Dr Opas Karnkawinpong of the Ministry of Public Health revealed that the WHO’s recent report highlighted an increase in mpox cases in Africa. This year, 15 countries have reported…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok residents urge SRT to allocate Makkasan land for housing
Residents near the railway in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district are calling on the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to allocate 10% of its 500-rai Makkasan land to them before commencing a high-speed rail project connecting three airports. The high-speed rail will link Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan, and U-Tapao Airport in Rayong. Last March, the…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s cross-border trade hits 912 billion baht, up 3.6%
Thailand’s cross-border and transit trade reached a significant milestone, totalling over 912 billion baht in the first half of the year, marking a 3.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The government attributed this growth to enhanced promotion of cross-border trade in recent months. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke referencing data from the Department of Foreign Trade, noted that…
- Thailand News
Housekeeper finds dead newborn in Chatuchak hotel locker
A housekeeper at a prominent hotel in Chatuchak was shocked to discover the body of a newborn baby girl inside a locker. The discovery was made after a foul smell had been noticed emanating from the locker for about a week. The baby’s mother, a 21 year old woman, was found nearby in a weakened state. At 12.15am yesterday, August…
- Transport News
Hyundai’s 1-billion-baht ‘charge’ lights up Thailand’s electric future
Hyundai Mobility Manufacturing (Thailand) is set to produce battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and batteries in Thailand by 2026, following the approval of its 1-billion-baht project by the Board of Investment (BoI). The announcement came after the project received approval under the second-phase electric vehicle (EV) incentive package, known as EV3.5, which was confirmed yesterday, August 8. The Thai government offers…
- Thailand News
Golden eel ‘hooks’ Prachinburi locals with luck-boosting hopes
A golden eel caught the attention of locals in Prachinburi, leading them to believe it would bring good luck and prompting them to keep it. Residents are now flocking to see the eel and hoping to get lucky numbers from it. Residents reported capturing a gleaming golden eel yesterday, August 8, in the village of Moo 6, Hua Wa Subdistrict,…
