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 12Go introduces Japan Rail Passes to enhance travel accessibility for international travellers
For those who have travelled throughout Thailand, 12Go is a well-known provider of various trips, though the platform itself has a much wider reach. Ranging from buses to planes, 12Go is undoubtedly a leading booking platform for travel throughout the...
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Floods sweep away bridge in Mae Hong Son
by Tossapon Boonpat A bridge in Mae Hong Son crucial to tourism and trade was swept away in a flash flood on Sunday. “We urgently need a Bailey bridge [to replace it temporarily], or else the flow of tourists and goods into Myanmar will be disrupted,” said Trairat Wanasirisuk, chief executive of the Tambon Mae Sam Lab Administrative Organisation. The…
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Japan tops Thailand as Chinese tourists’ top choice for Golden Week
Watch out Thailand. Japan is stealing our tourists. Japan has now overtaken Thailand as Chinese vacationers’ top choice for the 2018 Chinese Golden Week holiday. This according to Ctrip.com, one of the biggest travel websites in China. This is the first time Thailand has lost its top destination status to Japan during the holiday season which expect at least 7…
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Thaiger Radio News – Saturday
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Foreigners nationwide being checked as visa changes being considered
PHOTOS: INN The new immigration chief Maj-Gen Surachate Hakparn is making his presence felt promising to investigate 60,000 migrants in a crackdown on illegal workers. He is also promising changes in the way visa extensions are done. INN reports that the crackdown began mid week, with media in tow, in the Huay Khwang, Nana and Khao San areas with the arrest…
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Tsunami risk is statistically very low
by Pratch Rujivanarom The chances of an imminent repeat tsunami in the Andaman Sea is remote, while the tsunami risk in the Gulf of Thailand is even smaller to nearly impossible chance, say leading seismologists in the wake of public tsunami fears triggered by the recent devastation in Palu, Indonesia. Nevertheless, say experts, the authorities, business sector and citizens in…
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No more ‘tips’ at Immigration
The new Thai immigration chief, Maj-General Surachate Hakparn, has implemented his first promise at immigration stations. The signage going up nationwide is clear and unequivocal. No Tips. That means no more payments to corrupt immigration officials or the agents who collect the tea money from tourists and either pass it on or keep it for themselves. It’s also a tacit…
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Thai public hospital system under stress
Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Sukhum Kanchanapimai yesterday admitted that the country’s hospitals were overwhelmed, following an outspoken doctor’s comments that the system was “close to collapse”. Sukhum told a press conference in Nonthaburi province yesterday that crowded conditions were a reality and the bed occupation rate in many big hospitals was beyond full capacity. To tackle this long-standing…
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Thaiger Radio News – Thursday
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Villager missing following flash floods south of Surat Thani
FILE PHOTO A villager has been swept away by strong currents after trying to escape from his house during flash floods in Surat Thani’s Phra Saeng district. The area is two hours drive, north of Phuket. The man remains missing as of this morning. Rescue officers and villagers searched for 55 year old Arunrat Phetcharat for over six hours until…
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Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
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Thanathorn says he’s ready to be the next Thai PM
PHOTO: Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit “Thanathorn added that he would not talk to Prayut while he was head of the junta.” The Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit says he’s ready to become the next Thai PM and highlighted the campaign “Thailand 2X” that promotes equality among Thais and to make the country fit to compete with others. The…
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No tips and a crackdown on visa agents – Surachete takes over Immigration top job
Thailand’s famous crime buster Surachete Hakparn, aka “Big Joke”, has been welcomed to his new job as head of Thai immigration during a ceremony this afternoon. He kicked off with some tough words, promising action against visa agent rip-offs and officers under his new command. Thai Rath reports that he says he’s determined to stamp out ‘paper bags’ and that…
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Thaiger Radio News – Monday
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Junta goes for lighter touch on lese majeste laws
with Kai Chanwanpen – The Nation iLaw experts say they see changes for the better and courts given more leeway in Thailand’s lese majeste cases. Thailand saw the most aggressive enforcement of the lese majeste law after the junta came to power in 2014, but current trends point to an unprecedented relaxation, according to iLaw. “There was a time, after…
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Director and security chief of Don Mueang suspended over assault of Chinese tourist
“Immigration police dismissed the tourist’s claim that immigration officials had demanded 2,000 baht from him for a visa on arrival in addition to the normal fee of 2,000 baht.” The Director of Bangkok’s Don Mueang international airport, as well as the director for security, have been suspended from active duty for at least 30 days pending an investigation into an…
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Fireworks factory explodes in Chachoengsao
PHOTOS: The Nation Extremely hot weather is suspected of causing an explosion at a fireworks factory in Muang Chachoengsao on Saturday afternoon that left one person injured. The roof of the factory owned by 47 year old Karun Raksanont was blown off in the explosion, with the debris raining down on the neighbourhood. The explosion, which could be heard a kilometre…
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Wet wet wet at the Phetchabun’s ‘Um Phra Dam Nam Festival’
The ‘Um Phra Dam Nam Festival’, one of the world’s most unique Buddhist festivals held annually in Phetchabun in Central Thailand. It’s scheduled from October 7 to 12 at Trai Phum temple and at the pier of Bot Chanaman temple. Translated from Thai, Um Phra Dam Nam literally means ‘diving while holding Buddha’s image’. According to local legend, the festival began when…
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Thai mothers caving to superstition or private hospital wishes when having babies
by Kornwaree Panyasuppakun and Tim Newton “Many babies in Thailand are born to suit ‘auspicious days’ or the Obstetrician’s golf plans.” The expectant mother reported to the private hospital in Phuket where she and her husband had decided to have their first baby. When she walked in for her appointment with the Obstetrician the first question was when she wanted to…
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Thaiger Radio News – Saturday
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Thaiger Radio News – Friday
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388 suspected tuberculosis cases found at Phitsanulok prisons
Up to 388 inmates at two prisons in Phitsanulok have been found to have signs of tuberculosis. This revelation from public health officials after they performed lung x-rays on the inmates. Doctor Rattaphum Champhunot, assistant chief public health officer for Phitsanulok, says the latest x-ray examinations were performed earlier this month. At Phitsanulok Prison, 2,959 inmates received the x-ray and…
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Thaiger Radio News – Thursday
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Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
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Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
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Prayut remains top choice for next PM – Pheu Thai preferred party
The Thai PM has come out on top in another opinion poll as next year’s election starts to become cemented onto the February 24 date. General Prayut Chan-o-cha iss the most popular choice to be PM after the next election – but there’s doubt the political party linked to him will be a winner – according to a new poll.…
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Thaiger Radio News – Monday
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Safer Thai roads will provide an economic boost
Thailand could gain significant long-term economic benefit by making the roads safer and saving its mainly young and capable population from premature death in accidents, according to a World Bank report. The report entitled “The High Toll of Traffic Injuries: Unacceptable and Preventable”, concludes that, if road traffic injuries could be reduced in Thailand by 50 per cent and satisfactory…
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Premchai poaching trail scheduled to start November
PHOTO: The Nation A date with the Thai courts has been set for Premchai Karnasuta, the Thai construction tycoon who’s headed to trial on charges of poaching. Read an earlier story leading to the upcoming court case HERE. JS100 News is reporting that the first witnesses will take the stand on November 27 to testify against the mogul who’s the…
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Thaiger Radio News – Sunday
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Exports rise nearly 7% in August, the highest this year
Thai exports have gown at 6.68% to US$23.8 billion during the month of August, the highest gain so far this year. The announcement from Ms Pimchanok Wornkhorporn, director of Trade Policy and Strategy Office of the Commerce Ministry. Exports for the first eight months of this year rose 10.03% and, for the rest of 2018, are expected to grow 8…
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