Thailand News
Discover the most recent and relevant news from across Thailand on The Thaiger’s National News page. Covering a wide range of topics, including politics, business, crime, and lifestyle, our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
Stay informed about the latest developments in Thai society, economy, and culture, as well as updates on travel, tourism, and expat life. With The Thaiger, you’ll never miss out on the essential news that matters to you.
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Sponsored A healthy tomorrow starts today: Celebrate the great American Smokeout day
The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Event Round-Up – February 2019
You still have a few days left to enjoy the tail end of Bangkok Design Week which is running from 26 January to 3 February in select areas around Bangkok. Taking inspiration from the city’s rich history as a gathering point for creative minds from all over the world, Bangkok Design Week is held under the theme of “Fusing Forward”,…
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Immigration officials push back against the new retirement visa guidelines
Days after new rules for the processing for foreign retiree visas were published, immigration officials are reportedly pushing back against them. The report was in Khaosod English citing inside sources. According to the Immigration department, starting March 1, foreign retirees must either show a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht or hold a minimum of 800,000 baht in Thai…
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Thai Immigration clamps down on requirements for Retirement visas
A story in ThaiVisa is providing a lot of concern for people making applications for ‘Retirement’ and ‘Marriage’ visas so they can remain in the Kingdom. The announcement follows several of the embassies last year explaining that they will no longer be issuing a ‘proof of income’ for the purpose of visa applications in Thailand. “Foreigners now need to keep…
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Weather for February 1
Bangkok Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 34C. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket A mix of clouds and sun. High 31C. Winds E at 15 to 30 km/h. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High 33C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 31C. Winds SSW at 10…
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Thailand poised to break through 40 million arrivals in 2019
Thailand welcomed a record 38.27 million tourists in 2018. That’s up 7.5 percent from 2017 arrival figures. The Thai tourism ministry announced the figures this morning. In December, tourist arrivals amounted to 3.85 million. The ministry is also expecting the number of tourists visiting Thailand in 2019 to increase by another 7.5 percent. For 2019, the ministry expects to break through the…
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Weather for January 31
Bangkok Partly to mostly cloudy. High 33C. Winds light and variable. Phuket Partly cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 32C. Winds E at 15 to 30 km/h. Chance of rain 30%. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High 33C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. High 29C. Winds WSW…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 31
Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number…
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Palang Pracharat nominate PM Prayut as a candidate
The new junta-sympathetic Palang Pracharat Party has officially nominated three prime ministerial candidates. One of them is the current PM, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. After a party executive meeting today, party secretary general Sontirat Sontijirawong announced the party will nominate Prayut, its party leader Uttama Savanayana and Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak as its candidates in the prime ministerial list. They will…
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NLA poised to pass 100 laws before the next election
The NLA, the ‘upper house’ where Thai laws are debated and passed, is set to pass no fewer than 100 laws before leaving office when the new government is elected. The statement was made by the president of the National Legislative Assembly, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai. The head of the NLA has announced that the legislators will pass about 100 bills currently…
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Authorities urge curbs on burning incense sticks for Chinese New Year
The Public Health Ministry is calling on people to burn shorter incense sticks and avoid setting fire to paper offerings during this Chinese New Year in order to help prevent the air pollution situation from getting worse. Chinese people usually burn paper offerings in dedication to gods, goddesses or ancestors on special occasions such as the Chinese New Year, which…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 30
Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number…
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Weather for January 30
Bangkok Plenty of sunshine. High 34C. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 31C. Winds E at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 50%. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High 32C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 31C. Winds WSW at 10…
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Reflections #2 – Thailand Tourism Forum – ‘Chindia Tourism’
‘CHINDIAN’ Tourists – Same Same or Different? by Wimintra Raj – hotelintel.co If you’re running a hotel or any business related to the local tourism industry in Thailand, this is an article you need to read, then read again. It was just one of the many presentations at the annual Thailand Tourism Forum held in Bangkok recently. “For the third…
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Immigration officers asked to show leniency to foreigners applying for retirement & marriage visas
Thai immigration say that they’re willing to show leniency to foreigners in the prickly subject of proving income when applying for retirement and marriage visas and extensions. Immigration chief Police Lieutenant General Surachete Hakparn acknowledges that some applicants may have difficulty in providing the now required 12 months worth of bank statements. Where this is the case Surachete has instructed…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 29
Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number…
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Weather for January 29
Bangkok A mix of clouds and sun. High 33C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. High 31C. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 80%. Chiang Mai Sunny to partly cloudy. High 32C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Sunny. High 32C. Winds WNW at 10…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 28
Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number…
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Weather for January 28
Bangkok Abundant sunshine. High 32C. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 31C. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 60%. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High 31C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Sunny. High 31C. Winds N at 15 to 25 km/h.…
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Facebook poll reveals expats in Thailand are not optimistic about the future
A simple online poll conducted by Thaivisa on their Facebook page shows that 75% of respondents think expatriate life in Thailand will be ‘worse’ in five years than it is now. According to the poll, only 24% held out hope that life for expats would actually improve by 2024. Facebook users were asked the simple question in the online poll:…
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17 year old UK teenager dies in motorbike accident during holiday in Thailand
A 17 year old teenager from the UK has died after being involved in a motorbike accident while holidaying in Thailand. The article in The Telegraph and Argus, a Yorkshire daily in the UK, doesn’t mention where the young man died. 17 year old Anthony Ryan was visiting Thailand on his first trip abroad and was killed in the accident…
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New e-Visa for Chinese tourists starts rolling out on February 15
The Department of Consular Affairs is to officially launch the first phase of the new Thai e-Visa in Beijing on February 15. China will be the first country in the world to have the service, which will be extended to other Chinese cities in early March. Chatri Archjananun, director general of the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said…
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Premchai case to be handed down on March 19
The verdict in the “black leopard” poaching case against construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and three associates is set to be handed down on March 19. Final arguments were heard today in the court in Kanchanaburi province, north-west of Bangkok. Premchai, the president of listed construction giant Italian-Thai Development, was arrested and charged with poaching in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in…
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Round ’em up, ship ’em out – another 500 foreigners arrested in crackdown
Authorities have rounded up another 503 foreigners for overstaying their visas, entering Thailand illegally and assorted other crimes during simultaneous searches at 217 locations around the country early today. Immigration Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj-General Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai says the raids are part of the government’s crackdown on transnational scammers, card skimmers and drug traffickers, as well as foreigners breaking…
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Palang Pracharat to nominate Prayut as candidate for PM after election
The pro-junta leaning Palang Pracharat Party is poised to name Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as its candidate for PM if it can win a majority at the March 24 general election. This revelation from a Palang Pracharat party source as reported by The Nation. The current junta government’s Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak are also likely to…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 25
Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Southern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
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March 24 election campaign starts with a whimper – Thai election 2019
If you were expecting Wednesday’s announcement of the forthcoming election to spark an outbreak of election posters, billboards and a stream of online campaigning, you’ll be disappointed. Stringent rules governing campaigning for the March 24 general election appear to be restricting freedom of expression as well as voters’ rights to information, according to academics on the matter. Wednesday’s Royal Decree…
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Seven Nigerians and seven Thais arrested in transnational romance scam sting
A Nigerian romance scam gang has been busted resulting in the arrest of seven Nigerian nationals and seven Thais. Thai police joined forces with Malaysian counterparts to bust the transnational gang operating online romance scams. Police claim that it is the same gang that fled Thailand a year ago to set up in Kuala Lumpur. Thai immigration chief Maj-Gen Surachate…
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Six Thai weightlifters test positive for doping
PHOTO: International Weightlifting Federation, Chinese Olympic Association Six Thai weightlifters have tested positive for doping following additional tests being carried out by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on “target athletes” last November at the World Championship in Turkmenistan. Regulations state that any nation with three or more positive results in a calendar year can face a ban of up to…
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Money can’t buy happiness in Bangkok – new study
by Chularat Saengpassa Findings, from the “Integrative Thai Family Study Based on Family Life Cycle”, have been released and underline the importance of a work-life balance for Thais. Families living in Bangkok are the least happy despite having the highest average income compared to people living in other parts of the country, a recent study found. Long, exhausting commuting hours,…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 24
Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Central Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…
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