Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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Sponsored Why 8 Atelier Residence is poised for growth: Phuket’s investment hotspot in the making
Phuket’s residential real estate market is no longer defined only by beachfront villas and short-stay resort condominiums. The island is now seeing sustained interest from international investors targeting long-term yields, capital stability, and access to full-scale lifestyle infrastructure. Looking at...
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TAT says Thailand still on track to welcome 20 million tourists next year
The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand says he remains hopeful that 20 million holidaymakers will travel to Thailand next year. Yuthasak Supasorn says this will almost certainly be possible if China lifts its border restrictions by then. He adds that he expects tourism revenue to reach 80% of its 2019 level during 2023. “The industry next year is…
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Anutin proposes getting rid of the Thailand Pass – for Thai returnees only
Thailand’s Public Health Minister wants to get rid of the Thailand Pass. But don’t get too excited, Anutin Charnvirakul is proposing scrapping it for Thai returnees only – at least for now. According to a Bangkok Post report, the health minister says he will submit the proposal to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. However, when asked whether the emergency…
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Celebrity dentist accused of ‘online’ sexual assault by masturbating in front of two sisters
A “celebrity dentist” who is famous on Thai TikTok, now stands accused of sexual assault after 2 female teenagers file a complaint saying he made a video call and masturbated in front of their faces. 13 year old and 17 year old teenagers contacted a local news page to ask for help. ‘อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ รีเทริน์ part 3’ revealed on their private…
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Endangered black panther spotted at national park in central Thailand
A Thai tourist wrote about her encounter with an endangered black panther at a national park in Phetchaburi province in central Thailand on social media yesterday. The woman videoed the black panther rolling around on its back like a domestic house cat in the rare sighting. The woman was driving through Kaeng Krachan National Park when she spotted a black…
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Thailand police arrest 7 for alleged forced fishing labour
This morning, police arrested 7 people in 3 provinces across Thailand for allegedly supplying forced labour on fishing boats. This news comes after 3 Thai workers were repatriated from Malaysia in September last year, after being forced to work on a fishing boat, without oversight from authorities. The 7 arrested today were captured in raids in Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, and…
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Thai netizens laugh at foreign woman who mistook spirit house for a table
In a video circulating on social media, a foreign woman surrounded by Strawberry Fanta is spotted sitting on a stool and using a spirit house as a table, blissfully unaware of the Thais around her paying their respects to the spirits. The act could be considered very disrespectful to Thai culture, but Thai netizens seem to be entertained, rather than…
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Shopping mall in Chiang Mai goes dark, couldn’t afford 20 million baht power bill
Tenants and staff were in shock after a shopping mall in Chiang Mai suddenly announced temporary closure due to economic fallout from Covid-19. Or is it economic mismanagement? Thai media have reported that the centre had more than 20 million baht in debt from electricity bills and had to close immediately because they were unable to pay the bill. Today,…
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Thailand borrows 50 billion yen from Japan to cope with Covid aftermath
The Thai government has signed a loan contract to borrow 50 billion yen or about 13 billion baht (US$385 million) from Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA to cope with costs of handling the Covid pandemic in Thailand. Thai PM and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged Thais not to criticise the government borrowing money again because the amount was included…
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Thailand’s first Covid-19 vaccine waits for approval from local FDA
Better late than never. Thailand’s first Covid-19 vaccine, ChulaCov19, has shown impressive results in the first and second rounds of human trials. The director of the vaccine project claims the Thai vaccine is safe and more effective than Pfizer vaccines used in Thailand. The developing team expects the vaccine to be approved by Food and Drug Administration before the end…
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As schools prepare to reopen, Thai officials discuss Covid-19 regulations
Thai health and education officials held a meeting yesterday to plan Covid-19 regulations, as the new school semester is right around the corner. Schools are expected to reopen on May 17. Officials from the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Education discussed how day schools and boarding schools alike will prevent and minimise any rebound of Covid-19. Both types…
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Bangkok to impose tobacco tax for the first time
Bangkok is planning to introduce a tobacco tax of up to 10 satang per cigarette, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (there are 100 satang in a Thai baht). The BMA announced this week that this will be the first time Bangkok will impose a tax on tobacco, which will push the price of cigarettes up by 1.86 baht per…
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German tourist rescued after getting stuck between rocks in Phuket
A German tourist has become stuck between a rock and a hard place in Phuket. The island’s tourist police rescued a German tourist stuck between huge rocks in the forest facing Nai Thon Beach on Phuket’s west coast. He walked from the airport and was later trapped at the spot. He was lucky his phone signal was still available for…
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Man kills family of 3 in revenge shooting in central Thailand
A Thai man has shot dead his childhood friend, his friend’s wife and the couple’s 5 year old son at the family’s home in the central province of Pathum Thani at around 1 pm yesterday. The shooting is suspected to be a revenge attack since the perpetrator’s mother was recently arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison for a…
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New Pattaya festival made over a million baht in revenue, association says
After Pattaya debuted its new ‘Squid Fair‘ seafood festival this weekend, a business and tourism association says it generated over a million baht in revenue. The president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association told The Pattaya News that, the 20 vendors at the festival earned almost 30,000-40,000 baht a day. The festival lasted for 3 days. The festival was held…
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Man stabs ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend 30 times at market in central Thailand
A jealous Thai man stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s new partner over 30 times, leaving him lying in a pool of blood at a busy market in the central province of Samut Prakan province on Tuesday. Rescue workers rushed the unconscious victim to hospital where he died from his injuries. In a horror attack, 20 year old Korakitti stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s new…
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After child suffers animal bite, Phuket beach cleared for patrols
After an 8 year old Thai-Ukrainian boy was injured in a suspected shark attack on Tuesday, Phuket’s Kamala Beach was cleared of swimmers for lifeguards, police and officials to patrol. The chief of Kathu district told The Phuket News that there were still beachgoers, and the patrol was meant to warn tourists to be careful of ‘aquatic animals’. But photos showed that…
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Hoteliers less than enthusiastic about government’s tourism stimulus scheme
Hotel operators have given a mixed response to a Tourism Authority of Thailand proposal for the new phase of the domestic tourism stimulus campaign. The TAT have suggested that hotels could offer a 50% discount on an extra 1 million room nights, in addition to the government’s offering under the “We Travel Together” scheme. According to a Bangkok Post report,…
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Should Thailand legalise online gambling?
The topic of online gambling has long been discussed in Thailand. While there are those who think online gambling should be legal, others are against all forms of gambling. This also includes online gambling. And yet, there are still many online casino sites operating in Thailand. There are even websites where you can read more about the options you have…
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“There may be a substitute prime minister,” says deputy PM Prawit
If Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha fails to hold his position as PM, “there may be a substitute prime minister”, according to deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan. However, PM Prayut said he hasn’t heard anything about a potential stand-in for his post. Palang Pracharat, and coalition MPs have continued to publicly support the current PM, but say, if the position was to…
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What is the procedure for purchasing an off-plan property in Thailand?
Purchasing an off-plan property is an excellent option for investors who want to obtain a property in Thailand. With an off-plan property, you can enjoy numerous benefits and flexibilities. For example, you can choose the best units and have the freedom to modify the unit you want to buy. Buying off-plan in Thailand also gives buyers an opportunity to buy…
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Thailand doesn’t need to introduce 300 baht entry fee yet, says PM Prayut
Thailand’s PM has pushed back the introduction of a 300 baht ‘entry fee’ for international tourists arriving in the kingdom. Since Test & Go, Sandbox and other entry restrictions were dropped on May 1, Thailand has experienced a surge in international arrivals. If tourism levels continue to climb and significantly improve national income this year, it might not be necessary…
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Is Bare Knuckle Fighting in Pattaya barbaric or an Entertaining combat sport?
What is Bare Knuckle Fighting? Why is it based in Pattaya of all the places in Thailand? Is Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship too barbaric and hardcore? We sit with the CEO of BKFC Nick Chapman to find out more about one of the world’s fastest growing and most devastating combat sport in the world. BKFC Thailand 2 on Saturday 7th…
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Thai police to delete criminal records where suspects have been cleared
The assistant chief of the Royal Thai Police says the force will delete the criminal records of anyone who has been cleared of earlier criminal offences. Surachate Hakparn says this will remove the need for people to formally request that their records be deleted. Currently, even when a case has been closed and a person cleared, investigation records remain on…
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Thai PM expects tourism to recover to half of pre-pandemic levels by next year
The Thai PM says he expects 20 million tourists to visit the kingdom next year, around half the number of pre-pandemic years. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says this prediction still relies on the Covid-19 situation not deteriorating. According to a Bangkok Post report, the PM has acknowledged that tourism numbers have increased significantly since the easing of some restrictions. ‘Significant’ is…
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Thai man finally cremates wife after keeping her body for 21 years
An elderly Thai man from Bangkok finally had his wife’s body cremated after keeping it inside a coffin at his home in Bang Khen district for 21 years. Since his wife passed away in 2001, the 72 year old retired military officer said he couldn’t bear to be separated from his deceased wife. However, he was scared he would die…
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Thai PM Prayut warns about fake 1000 baht banknotes
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is warning about fake 1000 baht banknotes and is urging anyone who finds them to hand them back to any commercial banks nearby. The PM’s spokesperson also gave details about how to detect the counterfeit bills. Locals in the central province of Nonthaburi have found lots of the fake 1000 baht notes. One female victim told…
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British Muay Thai fighter seriously injured after motorbike crash in southern Thailand
A British Muay Thai fighter is undergoing surgery in Bangkok after he was involved in a serious road accident in Koh Samui on April 13. Chris – a 32 year old martial arts champion from York, UK – pulled out of a coffee shop on his motorbike when he was crushed by a pickup truck. Chris survived the incident but…
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Pattaya police invite media to inspect the Walking Street makeover – safer, better, more secure
Business owners and staff along Pattaya’s high profile Walking Street are ready to to welcome visitors, both Thai and foreigners, after waiting for over 2 years. Pattaya police have paid a visit the street in a media stunt to declare the street is now ready, and safe, for visitors to return. They’ve been setting up checkpoints and urging security guards…
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Tuesday Covid Update: 9,721 new cases; provincial totals
77 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 28,778 with 7,080 of those fatalities since the start of this year. The trend for deaths continues to drop. It was sitting above 100 deaths per day during April. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 9,721 new Covid-19 cases and…
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President of a top university resigns after air hostess photos
After images of female air hostesses being posted on his Facebook account sparked a public uproar, Silapakorn University president Chaicharn Thavaravej has now posted his resignation to defend the university’s reputation and credibility. His resignation takes full effect after the university baord selects his successor. “I would like to take responsibility by resigning as the Silapakorn University president.” Last week,…
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