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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Crowds flock to pink trumpet tree festival in central Thailand
Yesterday, crowds in central Thailand’s central province of Nakhon Pathom flocked to an annual festival celebrating pink trumpet trees. Thousands of visitors gathered at the annual Chompoo Pantip Blossom Festival. The festival began on Friday and will continue until March 16. The chompoo pantip trees, also known as pink trumpet trees, have become the star attraction at Kasetsart University’s Kamphaeng…
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Thai officials look to food trucks to draw tourists
Thai officials are looking to food trucks to draw tourists. The Department of Business Development (DBD) in Thailand is exploring the potential of food trucks as a new tourist attraction in the country. According to Thosapone Dansuputra, the director-general of DBD, food trucks could serve as “destinations” that will not only stimulate the economy but also raise awareness of Thai…
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Chinese tourists bring Thai school uniform trend to famous spots in Phuket
Chinese tourists have now brought the new trend of dressing up in Thai school uniforms to famous spots in downtown Phuket. These hotspots include Museum Phuket, ThaiRath reported yesterday. The museum is a well known landmark with its clock standing high above the main building. Chinese tourists also enjoyed taking photos of themselves dressed in Thai school uniforms at Chiang Mai…
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Pattaya mayor attends Thailand tourism event in Germany
Thailand continues to make its mark as a tourism destination across the globe. Pattaya’s mayor this week visited Germany to attend a Thailand tourism event. Mayor Poramase Ngampiches visited Berlin to attend the ‘Discover Thailand, Journey to Happiness.’ The tourism stimulus expo was set to run from March 9 to 11, Pattaya News reported. The event aimed to attract high-spending…
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Bank of Thailand announces new biometric scans for mobile banking
The Bank of Thailand announced new measures to protect consumers from cyber risks in mobile banking transactions. Biometric scans, such as facial scans, will be required for high-value transactions, including digital money transfers of over 50,000 baht per transaction, transfers over 200,000 baht per day, and credit transfer amounts of over 50,000 baht per transaction. Banks must adopt these measures…
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Body spotted off Phuket believed to be missing Romanian diver
Nearly two months after the search for the Romanian diver who went missing at sea off Phuket ended, officials believe that his body has been found. A body was spotted floating off Phuket’s Koh Kaew island yesterday, The Phuket News reported. At 12.30pm, an unnamed boat captain told Chalong Police that he found a legless body in the water some…
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Family of British man in coma needs help to bring him home from Thailand
A British man’s family is appealing for help to bring him home from Thailand, where he is fighting for his life following a terrible motorbike crash. The man, 32 year old Jay Bridgehouse from Stockport, travelled to Thailand for a chance to ‘chase his dreams’ and look for work, Manchester Evening News reported. But tragedy struck when a pickup truck ploughed…
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Snake catcher wrangles king cobra at farang’s house in Krabi, Thailand (video)
A snake catcher makes wrangling a king cobra look like a piece of snake in a clip filmed at a farang’s house in Krabi, southern Thailand, last week. A foreigner living in the Ao Nang area of Krabi walked outside to find a venomous 3.5-metre-long king cobra (ngoo jong ang) lying in the garden in front of his one-storey house.…
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Annual report finds Thai prisons well below international standards
An annual report has found that Thai prisons in 2022 were well below international standards. The no-governmental organisation, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Union for Civil Liberty released the report yesterday, according to Prachatai English. The report findings show that the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak led to authorities making little progress in implementing lessons learned…
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Another meeting with French consul on French motorbikers in Phuket
There’s been yet another meeting with the French Consul in Phuket addressing the issue of dangerous motorbike driving by French nationals on the island. This is after the former French Consul in Phuket met with Patong Police over the issue just last month. The Honorary Consul of France in Phuket, Alain Faudot, along with the Consul at the French Embassy…
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Blind transwoman overcomes adversity of being blind in Thailand
A Thai transwoman was praised by netizens for her courage and self-confidence as she fights to overcome the adversity of being blind in Thailand. She searched for her dream job, despite having a disability, in a bid to prove that blind people are as able as others. The 24 year old transwoman Chitsanucha “Grace” Krachornsook posted an advert on a…
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Report says most migrants to Thailand are undocumented
A report by the International Organisation for Migration says most migrants in Thailand come for work and are largely undocumented. According to Thai PBS World, the organisation studied Cambodian and Myanmar migrants living in Tak, Rayong, Ranong, Chanthaburi, and Trat provinces between August and October 2022. It found that 92% of those migrants come to Thailand for work, with another…
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Two men in Indonesia face charges – one for masturbating in his car, the other for filming it
An incident in Indonesia may be a case of “snitches get stitches.” After filming and turning in a man caught masturbating in public in his car, the man who took the video may face pornography charges. Indonesia is not exactly known for its liberal stance on sex and morality and both the masturbator and his Peeping Tom videographer are facing…
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14 year old girl shot dead in southern Thailand
A 14 year old girl was shot dead in front of a mosque in Pattani province in southern Thailand this morning. At 8.35am, officers at Yarang Police Station were notified of a shooting in front of Darul Nad Watul Islamiyah Mosque near Pracharak School in Moo 6, Puyook subdistrict, Mueang district. Police rushed to the scene to find that a…
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Man defends himself after 7 fake ID cards with his identity used in crimes
A Thai man visited Lad Ya Police Station yesterday to defend himself after seven fake identification (ID) cards featuring his picture and personal information were used by criminals. The victim, Pakin Sookprapan, said he faces 12 criminal charges that he is unaware of. A picture of the fake ID cards was widely shared on Thai social media. The cards had…
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Oxford Dictionary lists ‘pad thai’ as an international word joining ‘sushi’ and ‘pizza’
Pad thai is a national dish of Thailand loved so much worldwide that it has made it into the online Oxford Dictionary, gaining the same international status as the words “sushi” and “pizza.” Under the category “Food” the website Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries defines pad thai as… “pad thai: noun “A dish from Thailand made with a type of noodles made…
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Thailand ranks low in freedom, democracy report
The latest report by a US non-profit organization ranked Thailand low in freedom and democracy, contradicting a Democracy Index poll last week. Washington-based Freedom House, an organization that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights revealed Thailand has slightly improved but work still needs to be done. The US democracy research group said yesterday that Thailand…
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Pervy man caught taking upskirt videos on MRT Blue Line in Bangkok
A pervy man was pictured setting up a secret camera and taking upskirt videos of women on the MRT Blue Line in Bangkok on Wednesday. Yesterday, the citizen journalist watchdog page ‘Social Hunter Reborn V3’ posted pictures of a man who’d set up a secret camera on the floor of the MRT… “Warning to the women using the MRT Blue…
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Traffic police caught on TikTok video punching motorcycle rider on road
A TikTok video has gone viral of a traffic police officer punching a motorcycle rider as she approached him at high speed on a road in the central province of Kanchanaburi. Luckily, the rider managed to maintain control of her vehicle and did not fall. The officer visited the victim yesterday to apologise and give her a gift. Footage from…
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Two Thai destinations win awards in Germany for sustainable tourism
Two Thai destinations have won prestigious awards in Germany for sustainable tourism. The destinations are the island of Koh Mak, located in the eastern Trat province, and Huay Pu Keng village in the northern Mae Hong Son province. The two picturesque locations won top spots at the Green Destinations Story Awards held at ITB Berlin 2023 in Germany. The awards…
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Thailand’s energy minister announces lower utility bills
With great power comes a huge electricity bill so the saying goes but not for much longer according to the Thailand energy minister. Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow yesterday announced Thailand’s utility bills were coming down. Supattanapong disclosed that electricity bills are expected to fall from May to August as the fuel tariff (Ft) dips following a decrease in the price…
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Score big savings and your dream property at the Dot Property Mega Sale in Thailand
Exciting news for Thailand real estate enthusiasts, the Dot Property Mega Sale is finally here, offering the most amazing deals and discounts for some of the kingdom’s most coveted properties. Whether you’re looking for a dream home or a smart investment opportunity, this event is your gateway to exceptional value and unparalleled convenience. With the rise of online shopping, buying…
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Celebrate the Holi festival coming up in Bangkok
Indians around the world will soon mark the Hindu festival of Holi this weekend, and the festival is now coming to Bangkok! The festival, which marks the arrival of spring, love, and new life, will take place on March 12 at Bangkok World, located near the Siam Amazing Park entrance. The festival will be held from 1pm to 10pm. The…
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Big Joke crackdown on illegal Chinese businesses in Chiang Mai
The Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakpark, announced plans to crackdown on illegal businesses in Chiang Mai, which are believed to have Chinese nationals behind them. Big Joke revealed the crackdown operation would begin within a week and focus on five to six businesses. During a press conference at Chiang Mai Provincial Police Office yesterday,…
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Pattaya bans airhorns at bars after noise complaints
Pattaya‘s nightlife scene can get loud, and authorities are looking to deal with noise pollution. Pattaya City has now released a statement to the city’s bar operators with three regulations that they must fully follow by March 15. Among these regulations is the removal of air horns. The new regulations come after numerous Pattaya residents lamented to police about the…
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Filmmakers of controversial Thai horror movie demand censors reverse decision (video)
The filmmakers of a controversial Thai horror movie banned by censors demanded they reverse the decision and hand more freedom to motion picture directors and producers. The Thai Film Censorship Board banned the horror flick Hoon Payon, slated for release in cinemas today, because of five “inappropriate” scenes that are said to be offensive toward the Buddhist faith. Censors demanded that…
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Why Phuket is the best destination for wedding?
Press Release Phuket is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world and is perfect for a wedding. It offers a wide range of resorts and venues that can accommodate any budget and size of wedding. From beachfront villas to luxurious resorts, Phuket has something for everyone. With its stunning views, lush green landscape, and crystal clear waters, it…
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Pervy man arrested for selling spycam porn of women in restaurant bathroom
Police arrested a pervy Thai man for selling spycam pornography he secretly filmed inside the bathrooms of a restaurant in the northern province of Lamphun. This was the third time that the degenerate was arrested on spycam charges. The Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 5, Piya Tawichai, provided details of the arrest during a press conference today. Piya reported…
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Pervert robs and sexually assaults owner of kratom shop
Police officers in the Tung Song district in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat are on the hunt for a pervert who robbed a local kratom shop and sexually assaulted its female owner by groping her private part before fleeing the scene. The CCTV footage of the incident circulating on Thai social media shows a man wearing a jacket…
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TAT predicts 6 million European tourists to Thailand
Thailand is expecting to welcome six million tourists from Europe this year, generating over 420 billion baht in revenue. The figure represents approximately 80% of pre-pandemic levels. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn expressed confidence in Thailand’s ability to maintain its popularity as a tourist destination for European markets. He noted that pent-up demand for travel among…
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