Thailand News
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Pattaya’s tourism business association backs visa-free stay cut
Pattaya’s tourism business association has backed the government’s decision to reduce Thailand’s visa-free stay periods from 60 days to around 30 days, saying the move could help address scammer concerns, illegal business activity, and support tourism revenue. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the Cabinet agreed to cancel the 60-day visa-free scheme for more than 90 countries. Countries with…
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Swede surrenders after attacking Indian hotel owner in Phuket
A Swedish man surrendered to Phuket police yesterday, May 19, after assaulting an Indian man outside a hotel in Patong following a dispute over missing money. Footage of the incident was shared by the Newshawk Phuket Facebook page yesterday, but the incident reportedly took place on Monday, May 18, outside the Patong Platinum Hotel. The suspect was identified as a…
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Homesick conscripts flee camp, steal motorcycle, fail drug test
Two reportedly homesick conscripts who had been in training for just 18 days were arrested yesterday, May 19, after allegedly fleeing a military camp in Udon Thani and stealing a woman’s motorcycle. The theft happened at about 6.10pm on May 17 in Non Sung subdistrict, Mueang district. The 22 year old woman had parked the motorcycle with the key left…
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Ebola risks in Thailand under watch after Congo outbreak
The Thai government has ordered the Ministry of Public Health to closely monitor Ebola risks in Thailand after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo an international public health emergency. Deputy government spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan said Today, May 20, that the WHO declaration concerned an Ebola outbreak in Ituri province, eastern…
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Koh Larn diving trip safety questioned after tourists left in storm
A tourist has urged marine tour operators in Pattaya to improve safety measures after claiming passengers on a group diving trip near Koh Larn, Chon Buri, on May 4 were left without enough staff support as strong waves and a storm approached. The incident was shared online through a TikTok video by a tourist who had joined a group diving…
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Dutch tourist found dead after kayak accident off Railay Beach
The body of a Dutch tourist who went missing after a kayak accident off Railay Beach in Krabi was found yesterday, May 19. The Dutch victim, identified as 61 year old Rob Borgmann, disappeared on May 16 after strong winds and waves overturned the kayaks he and his daughter were using during heavy rain. Officials said neither of them was…
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Thailand’s 2026 GDP outlook firms up on private investment surge
Thailand’s economy picked up pace in the first quarter of 2026, with the NESDC reporting GDP growth of 2.8%, ahead of the 2.5% recorded in the final quarter of last year. Both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors contributed to the improvement. Farm output grew by 1.2%, more than doubling the 0.6% seen in the previous quarter, while the broader non-agricultural…
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Kanchanaburi man killed after car crashes into wild elephants
A Thai man died, and two others were injured after a sedan reportedly crashed into wild elephants before catching fire on a road in Kanchanaburi province yesterday, May 19. Lad Ya Police Station officers told KhaoSod the crash occurred at about 9pm on Highway No. 323 heading towards central Kanchanaburi. Rangers from Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, rescue workers and medical…
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Songkhla school director killed in hostage incident receives royal honour
Sasiphat Sinsamosorn, the former director of a school in Songkhla, has been posthumously granted the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand after sacrificing herself to protect teachers and students during a school shooting incident that led to a hostage situation. The Royal Gazette published the royal command yesterday, May 19, announcing the royal decoration for the deceased teacher.…
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Singha removes senior family figure over sexual assault allegations
Boon Rawd Brewery, renowned for its Singha and Leo beers, removed Sunit “Pi” Scott from all company positions following sexual assault allegations made against him by his younger brother, Siranudh “Psi” Scott. Psi publicly accused Pi of repeatedly sexually assaulting him during their childhood. He released a video describing the abuse and shared a voice recording as evidence, which showed a…
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Chinese Embassy calls for transparency in Sa Kaeo extortion case
The Chinese Embassy in Thailand has responded to reporters over the alleged detention and extortion of Chinese nationals in Sa Kaeo, urging Thai police to investigate the case lawfully, fairly and transparently. The response follows the arrest of five police officers and one civilian in Sa Kaeo on May 16. They were accused of detaining five Chinese nationals and demanding…
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Environment minister apologises after tense exchange with journalist
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin apologised to a journalist after displaying aggressive behaviour during an interview about alleged corruption within the Pollution Control Department. The incident followed the release of a survey by the Zero Corruption working group under the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB), which reportedly found the Pollution Control Department had the…
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Russian man arrested with large drug haul on Phuket-Pattaya bus
A Russian man was arrested at a Phuket checkpoint yesterday, May 18, after police found multiple types of drugs in his backpack during a search on a coach bus travelling to Pattaya. Officers at the Tha Chat Chai Checkpoint in Mai Khao subdistrict, Thalang district, stopped a Phuket-Pattaya coach bus for routine inspections and requested identification documents from passengers. Police…
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Two Chinese suspects detained in Chon Buri ‘zombie’ drug lab raid
Police raided a luxury pool villa in Chon Buri today, May 19, after finding it had been turned into a makeshift drug lab with machines and other items linked to chemicals used in ketamine-laced e-cigarettes, locally known as Pod K. Chon Buri Governor Naris Niramaivong and Pol. Maj. Gen. Phongphan Wongmanithet, commander of Chon Buri Provincial Police, led officials with…
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5 police and 1 civilian try to extort Chinese national at 300,000 baht each
Five police officers and a civilian were arrested in Sa Kaeo after allegedly detaining and attempting to extort Chinese nationals at 300,000 baht each. Another police officer accused of involvement remains at large. The arrests were made on Saturday, May 16, after officers from Wang Somboon Police Station received information from the Sa Kaeo Provincial Immigration Office about the alleged extortion…
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Thai Cabinet officially ends 60-day visa-free scheme
Thailand’s Cabinet officially approved the cancellation of the 60-day visa-free scheme following a proposal from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, with revised visa categories for each country expected to be announced later. The visa-free programme previously allowed travellers from more than 90 countries to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa. The policy expanded an…
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Ministry of Transport to cancel trains to inner Bangkok to improve road safety
Thailand’s Ministry of Transport plans to cancel trains heading to inner Bangkok and tighten safety measures within three months following the fatal bus and train collision on May 16. Officials from several government agencies are continuing investigations into the cause of the crash while also reviewing long-term safety improvements aimed at preventing similar incidents. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on…
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Foreign tourist among new Mpox cases reported in Thailand
Thailand has reported 1,074 cumulative Mpox cases and 16 deaths, with health officials warning people in higher-risk groups to monitor symptoms after new Clade Ib cases and infections linked to tourist areas. Dr Montien Kanasawat, director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said today, May 19, that surveillance data from the Division of Epidemiology showed two new confirmed Clade…
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Chinese, Pakistani nationals found packed in Sa Kaeo pickup
Sixteen Chinese and Pakistani nationals were arrested in Sa Kaeo today, May 19, after they were allegedly smuggled across the border from Poipet, Cambodia, and found packed inside a pickup truck with a Thai driver. Military officers, district officials, and village security volunteers launched the operation after residents reported a suspicious vehicle circling in Non Mak Mun subdistrict, Khok Sung…
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Chon Buri woman reports drugging and raping by bar worker
A Thai woman is seeking justice after a bar worker in Sri Racha district of Chon Buri allegedly drugged her with a ketamine-laced e-cigarette, known locally as Pod K, before raping her. The 20 year old victim, Chidapa, shared details of the alleged incident with several Thai media outlets after reporting the case to police yesterday, May 18. She said…
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Thailand News | British drug couriers targeted by Thailand-Based gangs, Bangkok chosen for Eurovision song contest Asia grand final
Today we’ll be giving you some updates on the train crash situation, including bail being granted for the train driver and railway crossing signalman, plus a new documentary is exposing how Thailand-based gangs are exploiting unsuspecting brits for drug mule purposes, in a bizarre incident a rocket crashes into a woman’s home and causes her serious injury, and a…
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Thailand rethinks spending 1.7 billion baht on World Cup broadcast rights
Thailand is reconsidering whether to spend more than 1.7 billion baht (roughly US$52 million) on broadcast rights for the World Cup 2026 tournament, with officials questioning whether the cost would deliver long-term value for Thai football. At 4.05pm yesterday, May 18, Prime Minister’s Office Minister Paradorn Prissananantakul addressed reports that the government may step back from buying the rights to…
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2 men attack woman with durian peel during exercise in Chachoengsao
A Thai woman is seeking justice after two men attacked her with durian peel while she was exercising outside Chachoengsao Provincial Hall on Sunday, May 17. The victim, identified as 48 year old Noi, submitted a police complaint and medical certificate to several Thai media outlets following the incident, which reportedly took place at about 9pm. Noi said she and…
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Iran agrees to help Thai cargo ships pass Strait of Hormuz
Two Thai cargo ships waiting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz are expected to receive assistance from Iran after a meeting at Government House yesterday, May 18. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, chief adviser to the prime minister, met Mehdi Zare, cultural counsellor at the Embassy of Iran in Thailand, to discuss bilateral ties and the regional situation. After the…
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Railway officials temporarily released after deadly collision in Bangkok
The Criminal Court temporarily released the train driver and station manager charged in connection with the deadly train-bus collision in Bangkok. The collision between a container train and a public bus occurred at Asok Railway Station on Saturday, May 16. The crash killed eight people, injured more than 30 others, and also damaged several vehicles. Investigators are continuing efforts to…
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Watch out for fake Suvarnabhumi Fast Track services, officials say
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau posted a video on May 17, warning travellers not to trust claims that a paid Fast Track immigration service is available at Suvarnabhumi Airport, allegedly offered through Trip.com. The warning followed a post by a Chinese-Taiwanese tourist who claimed the service could be bought for 650 yuan. The post reportedly included an image from the app stating that…
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CCTV captures souvenir theft by foreign woman in Phuket
A foreign woman was caught on CCTV stealing a souvenir from a shop in the Thalang district in Phuket yesterday, May 17. Footage from the shop’s security cameras was shared on the Phuket Times Facebook page to warn other business owners in the area and help identify the suspect. The shop owner said the incident occurred at about 3.45pm. In…
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Bangkok selected for final stage of Eurovision Song Contest Asia
The Eurovision Song Contest will expand into Asia for the first time this year, with Bangkok selected to host the grand final of Eurovision Song Contest Asia on November 14. The official Eurovision Instagram account, @eurovision, announced the launch of Eurovision Song Contest Asia in March. Aside from being the first expansion of Asia, the event also marks the 70th…
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Search underway for Dutch man missing off Railay Beach in Krabi
A Dutch tourist remains missing after a kayak overturned in rough seas off Railay Beach in Krabi on Saturday, May 16, while his daughter was rescued safely. Rangers from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park were alerted to the incident in Railay Bay involving a Dutch man, believed to be about 60 years old, and his daughter. According…
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Phuket locals demand action after foreign teens damage property
Police arrested four foreign teenagers yesterday, May 17, after they stole and damaged a lamp shade outside a resident’s home in Phuket. The incident was reported by the Phuket Times Facebook page, which also shared CCTV footage of the theft. The incident took place on Phang Nga Road in the Phuket Old Town area. In the video, one of the…
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