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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Alcohol tax overhaul by Excise Dept planned to close loopholes
The head of the Excise Department announced plans to overhaul the excise tax structure on alcohol and beer, aiming to eliminate existing tax loopholes. Ekniti Nitithanprapas said a formal conversation is ongoing with the private sector to secure an equitable and suitable tax framework. Furthermore, many new beverage entries on the market are technically slipping through the cracks of taxation,…
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Travel industry girds for weak low season amid cost and weather challenges
The travel industry is bracing itself for an exceptionally weak low season, with predictions of stagnant demand, escalating operational costs at popular destinations, and the impacts of tropical storms. The president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, Charoen Wangananont highlighted that the season’s sale rate for outbound packages significantly lags behind the comparison period recorded before the pandemic. He cited hesitancy…
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Child creativity: Thai kid’s mosquito coil art mesmerizes netizens
An unusual creative spark in a child, using mosquito coils as a plaything, found its way onto social media, showcasing the child’s impressive potpourri of art creations. Netizens were stumped by the child’s ingenuity while advising parents to encourage such creativity rather than stifling it. Social media yesterday was abuzz with several photos posted on a Facebook group. The caption…
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Fake abduction ransom scams target Thailand university students
University students in Thailand have been coerced into participating in an intricate scam operation, revolving around filming fake abduction videos. The intention was for these videos to be sent to the student’s parents as a means to extort ransom money. The case emerged when a student from the Lat Krabang district was entrapped in the same scheme, resulting in a…
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Child abuse allegations surround Samut Prakan father as violent videos surface online
Officers of Bang Kaew Police Station in Samut Prakan province, yesterday at 4pm, came to aid a 14 year old boy and his sister aged 10 in their residence. Their 39 year old father was apprehended for questioning following allegations by the children’s mother of child abuse. He was stated to have sent threatening video clips depicting violence against the…
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Waterspout disaster: One dead, one missing as Thai tour boat sinks in Bang Ta Boon Bay
In a tragic waterspout disaster off Ban Laem district, one holidaymaker perished, while another remains unaccounted for following the fateful sinking of a tour boat amid Bang Ta Boon Bay. The calamity took place on Saturday afternoon when a waterspout, an atmospheric oddity resembling a miniature tornado, assailed their vessel. The rather unusual maritime waterspout disaster, highlighted due to its…
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Pattaya sets 1.9 billion baht budget aiming to revitalise tourism and local economy
Emphasising tourism and local economy stimulation, the city of Pattaya has delineated its budget allocation for the upcoming fiscal year. Paramet Ngampichet, the Mayor of Pattaya City, announced the conclusion with the budget set to be effective from October 1. In a recent meeting participated in by municipality executives, councillors, and local government entities, a resources allotment of 1.9 billion…
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Pink Line monorail set for trials, free rides for two months
A significant advancement in Thailand’s transportation network is poised to launch its trial operations tomorrow, adding to the city’s mass transit system. The Pink Line, under the control of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), is expected to begin trial runs following the completion of the systems test by the Northern Bangkok Monorail (NBM), the entity bestowed with…
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Massive 200 year old Mother Takian tree resurfaces from Chao Phraya River to astonishment of locals
A centuries-old fallen tree trunk, known as “Mother Takian,” last night resurfaced from the depths of the Chao Phraya River. An astonishing sight unravelled as the gigantic timber, reportedly 27.60 metres long and just over 3 metres wide, requiring the strength of three adults to embrace, was unearthed and relocated to Wat Intharam, commonly known as Wat Taluk. Hundreds of…
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Buriram United mishap sparks football field safety concerns
Some things just shouldn’t happen to you on a football pitch in the middle of a match. But in Thailand, footballer Theerathon Bunmathan of Buriram United shared how he fell into a pit whilst contending against Khon Kaen United, nearly breaking his left leg. The shocking incident happened yesterday at Khon Kaen’s administrative stadium and has since caused a stir…
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Mother’s Day cake inscription misunderstanding goes viral
Life in Thailand can be full of lost in translation moments but on Mother’s Day – celebrated in Thailand yesterday – a translation was lost between a cake order and the inscription on the cake. A Thai woman’s attempt to surprise her mother with a cake went awry when the bakery, instead of just scribing the single line, “Love you,…
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Two tourists missing as waterspout capsizes boat in Phetchaburi province
In an unfortunate incident in Phetchaburi province, two tourists have gone missing when their tourist boat was capsized by a waterspout while sailing across Bang Ta Boon Bay near the Ban Laem district. The dreadful event occurred on a Saturday afternoon, around 5pm and was reported to the police on emergency number 191. The boat, carrying seven tourists, was in…
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Online romance scam netted 36 million baht, 1 arrest
Law enforcement officials arrested an accomplice in a large-scale online romance scam that swindled more than 36 million baht from victims. A 26 year old man from Uthai Thani province had opened a bank account for someone else, allegedly unaware it would be used in fraudulent activities. In an operation led by Pol Lt Gen Warawut Watnakornbuncha, Investigation Bureau Chief,…
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Boy, 14, vanishes in river after horrifying motorcycle accident
The search continues for a 14 year old boy who fell into the river after a severe motorcycle accident, as his distraught mother made an urgent heart-wrenching plea. The unfortunate event occurred in the middle of a bridge in Prachinburi province when the young boy’s motorcycle collided with a pickup truck. The high velocity of the impact flung him into…
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Police arrest Thais for alleged smuggling of Burmese refugees
In the district of Khun Yuam, in Mae Hong Son province, law enforcememyannt apprehended three Thai citizens who were allegedly facilitating the illegal smuggling of Burmese refugees from a temporary holding facility. The event unfolded on Thursday evening. Several of these migrants, comprising five children and five adults were discovered in the culprits’ vehicles when they were apprehended the following…
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ONWR notifies Mekong neighbours of potential flash flooding
As Thailand braces for severe weather and potential flash floods, the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has issued an urgent communication to the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS) and neighbouring nations in the Lower Mekong River Basin, including China. The ONWR urges careful management of water level discharges in the region to prevent damaging floods. Yesterday, Surasri Kidtimonton, the…
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Pheu Thai Party urges caretaker government to halt civil servants relocation
The Pheu Thai Party is calling for the caretaker government, under PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s leadership, to heed the national constitution by not relocating leading civil servants, particularly permanent secretaries, whilst the new administration is being formed. Phumtham Wechayachai, the party’s deputy leader, voiced these calls recently. Phumtham issued a statement in which he admonished the transitional approach of Prayut’s government, reminding…
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Central Retail partners with Ant Group to launch Alipay+ for Asian tourists in Thailand
For the convenience of Asian tourists from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea, Central Retail Corporation (CRC) has announced its partnership with Ant Group, introducing Alipay+ a comprehensive solution for international digital payments. This digital offering will enable travellers to use local digital wallets such as China’s Alipay, Hong Kong’s AlipayHK, Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go eWallet and South Korea’s…
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DSI freezes 220 million baht in Stark Corp leader Chanin’s scandal
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has placed a freeze on a staggering 220 million baht held in the bank account of Chanin Yensudchai, the erstwhile chairman of the beleaguered Stark Corp. According to DSI spokeswoman Pichaya Tarakornsanti, the action is part of a broader measure to offer compensation to victims in light of the ongoing scandal. “The DSI has…
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Revving up for flavour: World Kaphrao Thailand Grand Prix 2023 set to race Thai fast food fame worldwide
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) yesterday announced the opening of the World Kaphrao Thailand Grand Prix 2023 event to promote the popular Thai fast food dish throughout the globe. The event will take place along the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal near Hua Lamphong Train Station in Bangkok between August 25 and 27. TAT director Yuttasak Supasorn revealed that the…
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Fabricated robbery to escape violent partner leads to justice twist for Thai woman in Chon Buri
A Thai woman who fabricated a robbery in fear of her violent boyfriend has been charged with perverting the course of justice in Ban Bueng, Chon Buri province. The distressed woman, Thanpimon, falsely reported the robbery to local police that her purse and mobile phone had been snatched by two men on a motorcycle but later admitted to fabricating the…
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Generous Thai woman’s trust shattered as couple she sheltered steals assets worth over 100,000 baht
A Thai woman shared the heartbreaking story of a couple she employed, fed and put a roof over their heads for free, only to discover that they had stolen assets from her totalling more than 100,000 baht. The 66 year old victim, Pimwipa, yesterday filed a complaint at Pluak Daeng Police Station in the eastern province of Rayong saying her…
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Thai consumer confidence dips due to political instability and slow recovery
Reports today reveal that last month Thai consumer confidence dramatically dropped for the first time in 14 months. Evidence pointed towards the general unease of continuous political instability in the Kingdom of Thailand after the General Election took place in May, as well as a sluggishly recovering economy. The survey, helmed by the esteemed University of the Thai Chamber of…
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Construction permit withdrawal sparks caution in Thai property lending
The property developer community has been unsettled by the recent Ashton Asoke saga, wherein the construction permit was withdrawn, prompting lenders to proceed with caution when issuing debt instruments and loans to developers. AP Thailand’s chief executive, Anuphong Assavabhokhin, explained that it’s becoming increasingly challenging to secure loans as financial institutions grow wary of extending credit to real estate companies…
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Bathroom enigma swirls: Hybrid toilet-sink sparks global curiosity as social media goes down the drain
In a plot twist that has left Thai social media flushed with intrigue, a peculiar addition to the bathrooms of select European and Japanese hotels has taken centre stage. A curious traveller set the virtual world abuzz by sharing snapshots of these lavatories, complete with the usual commode and an enigmatic extra, a cross between a sink and a toilet,…
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Tears and bridges: TikTok tale of 20-year reunion reveals homeless friend’s tragic journey from loss to living under a bridge
A TikTok user recently shared a heart-rending story of his reunion with a long-lost friend, after 20 years. The individual was left visibly shocked at the condition of his friend who is disabled, homeless, and forced to live under a bridge after losing his home to a train. The user, who goes by the account name @dyb0u0wv8t8l, captured the heart-breaking…
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Online fraudsters prompt Thailand’s DES Minister to call for halt on unauthorised bank transactions
Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) strongly urged banks to halt unauthorised transactions following a request by their customers. This suggests an effort to mitigate the financial damages inflicted by online fraudsters on unsuspecting victims. The directive comes in light of the recent enactment of the Royal Decree on Cyber Crime Prevention and Suppression, which came into effect…
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Thai tourism embraces easier visa rules, faster approvals for Chinese tourists
In a move geared towards promoting Thai tourism, the government has implemented policy changes that lessen the rules for obtaining a tourist visa and slashes approval time for Chinese visitors. Chinese travellers emerged as the majority of international arrivals over the past week, the deputy government spokeswoman, Rachada Dhnadirek, confirmed yesterday. Statistics displayed that 95,581 visitors from China arrived in…
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YouTube tactics backfire: Elusive thief finally nicked after 3-year game of hide and seek near Bangkok
The Sai Noi Police Station officers finally nicked a thief after an intensive three-year search. The suspect thief revealed that he managed to evade the long arm of the law by learning how police operate strategies for each arrest on YouTube. A string of thefts, all attributed to the same cunning thief, consistently troubled the Sai Noi neighbourhood in the…
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Central Retail and Ant Group introduce Alipay+ for Asian tourists in Thailand
Central Retail Corporation Limited (CRC) in collaboration with Ant Group has introduced Alipay+, a comprehensive international digital payment platform. The service launched by Piyawan Leelasompop, Deputy Managing Director of Marketing at CRC, facilitates seamless transactions for Asian tourists from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea through their existing local mobile wallets. The tie-up with Ant Group will enable visitors…
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