Thailand News

Discover the most recent and relevant news from across Thailand on The Thaiger’s National News page. Covering a wide range of topics, including politics, business, crime, and lifestyle, our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.

Stay informed about the latest developments in Thai society, economy, and culture, as well as updates on travel, tourism, and expat life. With The Thaiger, you’ll never miss out on the essential news that matters to you.

  • Sponsored

    Working in Thailand: How expat health insurance protects your career and lifestyle

    Starting a career in Thailand can be an exciting chapter, but it also brings unique challenges, especially when it comes to health and wellness. For expats, navigating Thailand’s healthcare system and meeting work permit requirements can be difficult. And while...

  • More and more digital nomads choose Phuket for a “workation”

    More and more digital nomads choose Phuket for a “workation”

    Many digital nomads call Thailand home, and more and more people are choosing Phuket for their so-called “workation,” using coffee shops on the island as an office. The BBC’s Thai reporters spoke to several people on the island who work remotely for companies in other countries. For 34 year old American Andy Lee, he runs his business from a cafe…

  • Thai PM says another national lockdown “unlikely” despite Omicron variant

    Thai PM says another national lockdown “unlikely” despite Omicron variant

    The Thai PM says another lockdown is not on the cards, despite the first case of the Omicron variant being reported in the kingdom. According to a Bangkok Post report, Prayut Chan-o-cha was responding to fears from business owners that another lockdown could be imposed during peak season “Hopefully, this coming New Year will be a happy time. We haven’t…

  • 17 people in close contact with Omicron-infected traveller test negative

    17 people in close contact with Omicron-infected traveller test negative

    Thai health officials now say all of the 17 people who came in close contact with the Omicron-infected traveller during his a hotel have tested negative for Covid-19, although one person is in quarantine after inconclusive test results. The American, who travelled from Spain and entered Thailand under the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme is the first in Thailand…

  • Crane collapses in Samut Prakan, killing a man and injuring 2 others

    Crane collapses in Samut Prakan, killing a man and injuring 2 others

    A crane collapsed at a condominium construction site this morning and landed on a row of rental rooms, killing one person and injuring two others. The engineer overseeing the project in Samut Prakan’s Bang Po district, southeast of Bangkok, is being called in for questioning by police. Motorbike taxi driver 48 year old Chalerm Chanong was leaving a som tom…

  • Three arrested in human trafficking crackdown near Myanmar border

    Three arrested in human trafficking crackdown near Myanmar border

    Three people are accused of being involved in a transnational human trafficking operation where Burmese migrants were promised help entering Thailand for jobs and later forced into labour, even prostitution. The suspects were arrested in Tak’s Mae Sot district, which borders Myanmar. The suspects allegedly lured migrants into Thailand by helping them cross the border illegally, evading immigration checks and…

  • Hua Hin luxury resort guest claims “peeping Toms” stared at him naked

    Hua Hin luxury resort guest claims “peeping Toms” stared at him naked

    A guest at a luxury resort in Hua Hin had booked a private room that ended up being not so private. Apparently, there were some “peeping Toms” and the guest says he was worried they may have taken a photo of him naked. The resort gave him some bottles of beer as an apology for the “inconvenience.” This Thai guest…

  • 168 Thai soldiers apparently forced to finish masturbating before showering

    168 Thai soldiers apparently forced to finish masturbating before showering

    More than 160 Thai soldiers were apparently forced to masturbate… and climax… before they were allowed to take a shower. At least that’s what a social media user claims. Numerous Thai media outlets have reported the story, but there has been no confirmation or statement from military officials. On Facebook, a screenshot was shared, and picked up by Thai media,…

  • Hotel staff in close contact with Omicron confirmed to be negative in second test

    Hotel staff in close contact with Omicron confirmed to be negative in second test

    The 44-year-old hotel staff member who was in close contact with the first Omicron case in Thailand and tested positive for Covid-19 has now been confirmed negative for the virus, health officials say. The hotel staff member was one of 17 people who came in close contact with the American who travelled from Spain to Thailand through the Test & Go quarantine…

  • Thai Airways offering round trip Sydney-Phuket flights

    Thai Airways offering round trip Sydney-Phuket flights

    To boost tourism and promote Phuket’s island quarantine “sandbox” scheme, Thai Airways will run round trip flights between Phuket and Australia with three flights a week starting on today. The flights will be offered until January 25. The flight from Phuket to Sydney is available on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Flights depart from Phuket at 6:50pm and arrive at 7:30am.…

  • 1 tourist killed, 8 wounded in crash while on tour of Chiang Mai mountain

    1 tourist killed, 8 wounded in crash while on tour of Chiang Mai mountain

    A tourist was killed and eight others were wounded in a van crash yesterday while travellers were on a tour of Doi Ang Khang mountain in northern Chiang Mai. Around 10am, the 15-seater Toyota van crashed while going down a turn on a mountain road in the Fang district, skidding off the road and into a ditch, according to the…

  • Hotel staff in close contact to Omicron case tests positive for Covid, variant not confirmed

    Hotel staff in close contact to Omicron case tests positive for Covid, variant not confirmed

    One of 17 people in close contact with the first Omicron case in Thailand tested positive for Covid-19, but lab tests are still being done to confirm the variant. Thai health officials announced yesterday that the first Omicron case was detected in Thailand after an American travelling from Spain, via Dubai, entering under the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme…

  • No need to panic over Thailand’s first Omicron case, says PM

    No need to panic over Thailand’s first Omicron case, says PM

    The Thai PM has called on the public not to panic over the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in the kingdom. According to a Thai PBS World report, Prayut Chan-o-cha says everyone should remain on their guard and the unvaccinated should get vaccinated as soon as possible. Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana says health officials will continue to check for…

  • LATEST NEWS: First Omicron case detected in Thailand

    LATEST NEWS: First Omicron case detected in Thailand

    The Thai Ministry of Public Health announced earlier today that the first covid variant ‘Omicron’ has been detected in the country. The person is a 36 year old American tourist who from Spain, via Dubai, on the Test and Go scheme (for travellers who have been fully vaccinated). It’s been revealed that he was living in Spain for 12 months.…

  • First Omicron strain reported in Thailand, Test & Go traveller tests positive

    First Omicron strain reported in Thailand, Test & Go traveller tests positive

    The first Covid-19 case involving an Omicron mutation has been reported in Thailand. Health officials say an American who travelled from Spain was found to be infected with a strain that matched the Omicron variant by 99.92%. The man entered Thailand through the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme. This is a developing story and will be updated. SOURCE: BBC…

  • Covid UPDATE: Still no Omicron, today’s infections drop to 4,000

    Covid UPDATE: Still no Omicron, today’s infections drop to 4,000

    Generally good news on the Covid front in Thailand with the daily new case reports mostly under 5,000 for the past week and the number of deaths also reaching new lows of 30-50 each day, both huge reductions from August this year when the number of daily deaths from Covid were exceeding 300. And for the Omicron trackers, we’re happy…

  • Germany removes Thailand from its list of high-risk countries

    Germany removes Thailand from its list of high-risk countries

    The Thai embassy in Berlin says Thailand has been removed from Germany’s list of Covid-19 high-risk countries, according to a Thai PBS World report. Provided they are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine, travellers from Thailand can now enter Germany without having to quarantine. The accepted vaccines are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine. In addition…

  • COVID-19 SUNDAY: 4,704 infections, 27 deaths, provincial totals

    COVID-19 SUNDAY: 4,704 infections, 27 deaths, provincial totals

    Today, the CCSA reported 4,704 new Covid-19 infections, down 1,192 since yesterday, and 27 Coronavirus-related deaths, down 10 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 2,112,368 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 6,149 recoveries, up 483 from…

  • HM The King returns to Thailand for Father’s Day commemorations

    HM The King returns to Thailand for Father’s Day commemorations

    Today is Father’s Day in Thailand. As it falls on a weekend, tomorrow, Monday, December 6, will be a public holiday around Thailand. December 5 is the birthdate of the former Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej who, even though passing away in 2016, still has his birthdate remembered each year as the national Fathers Day. Today, King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen…

  • PM says government move to digital technology will grow economy

    PM says government move to digital technology will grow economy

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has called on organisations in Thailand to stay focused on the development of digital technology to grow the economy. The prime minister hosted a ceremony for the Digital Government Awards 2021 this week, bestowing honours on those public agencies that have already adopted digital technology. At the event, PM Prayut offered praise for the government agencies making…

  • COVID-19 SATURDAY: 5,896 infections, 37 deaths, provincial data

    COVID-19 SATURDAY: 5,896 infections, 37 deaths, provincial data

    Today, the CCSA reported 5,896 new Covid-19 infections, up 984 since yesterday, and 37 Coronavirus-related deaths, up 4 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 2,107,664 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 5,666 recoveries, up 178 from…

  • Tourism minister tells the public “not to worry” about Omicron

    Tourism minister tells the public “not to worry” about Omicron

    Don’t worry… Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister says everything is under control (as the government always says) and Omicron has not been detected in the country. Minister Phiphat Ratchakit Prakarn says the Public Health Ministry is keeping track of all tourists from high-risk countries, including the 330 tourists from eight African countries with a high risk of Omicron variant. The…

  • Thai Immigration launches online 90 day report system

    Thai Immigration launches online 90 day report system

    A new online system for 90-day checks with immigration has been launched by Thailand’s Immigration Bureau. Online 90-day reporting has been glitchy in the past… So let us know how it worked for you. A confirmation could come through hours after applying. And be sure to check the spam folder. You can register at https://tm47.immigration.go.th/tm47/#/register/add Foreigners who are permitted to…

  • Pilot seriously injured in F-5 fighter jet crash in Lop Buri

    Pilot seriously injured in F-5 fighter jet crash in Lop Buri

    Warning: Some may find the photos below disturbing. An F-5 fighter jet crashed during training in the Chai Badan area of Central Thailand’s Lop Buri province today morning, critically injuring the pilot. The fighter jet, from Wing 21, crashed onto a training field in Chai Badan district at 11am, according to Air Force spokesperson AVM Prapas Sornchaidee. The pilot ejected…

  • Thai AirAsia X seeks for new investors as flights to resume next year

    Thai AirAsia X seeks for new investors as flights to resume next year

    Thai AirAsia X under the AirAsia group, is seeking new investors for a major restructuring in order to resume international flights next year, after a two-year halt of its low-cost carriers. According to Tassapon Bijleveld, executive chairman of SET-listed Asia Aviation (AAV), and a shareholder of Thai AirAsia X, the 11-aircraft fleet was reduced to seven earlier this year, and…

  • Wildlife officials search for Bengal tiger roaming across three provinces

    Wildlife officials search for Bengal tiger roaming across three provinces

    A Bengal tiger has reportedly been roaming across three provinces and wildlife officials have been searching for the wildcat, which was last seen leaving a forest in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Uthai Thani. The tiger, named “Vijit,” is wearing a tracking collar and the signal emitted from the collar showed the big cat in a eucalyptus plantation…

  • CCSA criticises newspaper’s ‘hunt for Africans’ story, clarifies efforts to track travellers

    CCSA criticises newspaper’s ‘hunt for Africans’ story, clarifies efforts to track travellers

    Yesterday’s top headline on the frontpage of the Bangkok Post, “Govt hunts for African visitors,” which contact those who are considered at risk of the Omicron variant, drew criticism from readers as well as the government’s Covid-19 task force. The CCSA made a statement today clarifying its efforts to contact travellers who entered Thailand within the past two weeks from…

  • Junior police officer facing attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a Bangkok bus

    Junior police officer facing attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a Bangkok bus

    A junior police officer is facing attempted murder charges after he fired a gun at a passenger bus in Bangkok’s Bang Chan district on Tuesday. A video of the incident shared on social media shows a motorcyclist, cutting off the bus, forcing it to stop. He walked up to the bus driver and then went back to his motorcycle where…

  • Lockdown not on the cards, but re-opening nightlife may be postponed: PM

    Lockdown not on the cards, but re-opening nightlife may be postponed: PM

    The Thai PM has ruled out introducing another national lockdown as a result of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. However, he says the re-opening of bars and other nightlife venues may have to be delayed. According to a Bangkok Post report, Prayut Chan-o-cha says existing screening measures for international arrivals are sufficient, without having to shut down the country. “Harsh measures…

  • Thursday Covid Update: 4,971 new cases; provincial totals

    Thursday Covid Update: 4,971 new cases; provincial totals

    33 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 20,847 with 20,753 of those fatalities during the latest wave, which was first recorded on April 1. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 4,971 new Covid-19 cases and 5,402 recoveries. There are now 73,726 people in Thailand being…

  • Bangkok to organise New Year’s festival followed by Buddhist chanting ceremony

    Bangkok to organise New Year’s festival followed by Buddhist chanting ceremony

    Bangkok city officials are planning New Year’s events, but under Covid-19 measures. A New Year’s festival is planned for December 31 and a Buddhist chanting ceremony is planned for the following day, according to the deputy permanent secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The spokesperson says the events will be under the universal Covid-19 measures. The two-day event will be…