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.
-
Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
-
Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Alcohol sales banned October 24
Alcohol sales will be strictly prohibited Wednesday, October 24. Today day marks the end of the Buddhist Lent. Police say offenders will face a 10,000 baht fine and/or a six-month jail term. “The ban on alcoholic sale applies to both shops and restaurants, retailing and wholesaling,” the Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman Pol Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen said on Tuesday. He…
-
Panama’s VP backs the Thailand Kra Canal project
PHOTO: Panama’s Vice President Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado – The Nation The long-running discussions about a canal, linking the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, aka The Kra Canal, has come up again with a visit from Panama’s Vice President. The Panama Canal changed world shipping when it linked the Pacific and Atlantic oceans when it was…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Monday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Man dies after live-streaming in his pick-up during heavy rain
PHOTO: Thai PBS A man has been killed after his pick-up truck plunged into a roadside swamp whilst live-streaming himself driving in a heavy rain yesterday afternoon. The incident happened in the Wang Thong district of Phitsanulok. The driver, 37 year old Mr Pongthep (surname undisclosed), was a resident of Wang Thong district. The incident took place on a detour…
-
Poll shows most agree 450 baht pet registration fee too high
A NIDA poll shows a split reaction to the new pet registration law proposals. Just over half of the people surveyed in the NIDA Poll were opposed to the government’s proposal that pet owners be charged a fee to register their cats and dogs. But most respondents objected to the hefty suggested fee of 450 baht. The poll shows that…
-
Nine Burmese migrants die in van crash inferno
Nine Burmese labourers have died this morning (Sunday) when the passenger van carrying them smashed into a roadside tree and caught fire in Kamphaeng Phet, in the central-west of Thailand. Six others on board, including the Thai van driver, were injured. Firefighters extinguished the fire that engulfed the van on Paholyothin Road in Khlong Khlung district, only to find the…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Saturday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Friday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
7,000 overstayers on Surachate’s radar for deportation this month
Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn is vowing to track down and deport of 7,000 overstaying foreigners by the end of this month. Surachate made the commitment in one of his early morning (2.30am) media pack briefings at the Montien Hotel on Surawong Road in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district. He addressed reporters to announce the results of his 37th “Operation X-Ray Outlaw…
-
Vaping could get you ten years in a Thai prison
Image Credit: Ecigclick Vaping, the popular alternative to smoking cigarettes, might be OK where you come from, but in Thailand sucking on your favourite ‘vape’, or even bringing them into the country, could put put you in a Thai prison for ten years. It’s not a new law, with the import of electronic cigarettes and shisha being banned back in October…
-
‘Overwhelming support’ for decriminalising marijuana for R&D
“An overwhelming number of people are voicing support for decriminalising the use of marijuana for research and development, and for medical purpose.” This from Somchai Sawaengkarn, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, citing results of an opinion survey conducted between October 1-15. Of the 16,431 people who voiced their opinions on the issue, 16,264 voted in support of the…
-
Wet season, not so wet – some dams are less than 60% full
FILE PHOTO: Ubonrat Dam – The Nation Emerging from the back end of the annual wet season, Thailand should be well poised for adequate water supplies for the forthcoming dry season. There’s been major flooding of some dams in the central, far north-eastern and some southern areas. But the wet season rains have been ‘lumpy’ leaving many of the country’s…
-
Somkid says he’ll fly to Beijing to discuss luring back Chinese visitors
The fallout from a number of tragedies and bad PR has mobilised the Thai government to take firm steps towards luring back the Chinese travellers who have been looking elsewhere, other than Thailand, for their chosen holiday breaks. The Nation is reporting that Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak has said today that he may have to hold talks with the Chinese…
-
No more coups, unless we need one – Commander in Chief
With the country heading for elections in February, or sometime soon in 2019, the hope is for a new, democratically elected government following four and a half years of military rule. But would the army rule out another coup? Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong has refused to rule out the possibility of another coup if the country is plunged into…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Two million stray cats and dogs by 2027 – warning from Livestock Department
by Kornrawee Panyasuppakun In the wake of the criticism on social media following the proposal of the new pet and livestock registration laws, the Livestock Development Department has hit back warning that we’ll face a crisis soon if we don’t take action now. “Stray dogs and cats must be registered and sterilised, otherwise their population will reach 2 million in 10…
-
Can Thailand lure the Chinese back?
After half a decade of incredible growth in Chinese tourism to Thailand, the numbers are now in a tail-spin as numbers drop off around the country. With annual rises of 20-50% per annum for half a decade there has been a big drop off in the last quarter (Q3) of 2018. This is the key statistic as compiled in two…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Man attacks woman in the street, captured on video
A video of a man publicly punching a woman in the face has gone viral on Thai social media. There is no indication where the incident happened. The clip, viewed 3.8 million times (as of Sunday 5pm), shows a man in a black t-shirt punching a woman in the face before taking her away. The woman then gets on the…
-
Thailand – most visited destination among Chinese for Golden Week
The National News Bureau is reporting that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says Ctrip.com, China’s largest and most influential online travel agent, has ranked Thailand the number one global destination among Chinese tourists during this year’s National Day vacation – the Chinese Golden Week 2018. Thailand comes out on top of Japan, Hong Kong SAR, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, and…
-
South East Asia tops travellers’ lists
by DataLeads – Asia News Network The Asia Pacific region accounts for 30 per cent of the world’s international tourism receipts. The region outperforms all other regions in terms of growth, with international tourist arrivals increasing an average 7% per year compared to the world average of 4%. China remains one of the leading destinations in Asia. It attracted the highest number…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Sunday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Panicked tourism associations call for visa fee exemption for Chinese
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) wants Chinese tourists to be exempt from having to apply and pay for their single-entry visas when they arrive in the Kingdom. The ATTA is urging the tourism minister to make this change. Vichit Prakobgosol, president of ATTA, says the measure is necessary to draw Chinese tourists back to the kingdom following a…
-
UPDATE: British Embassy statement on income letters
Officials knew about problems back in May and say that US nationals will also be affected. The British Embassy in Bangkok has responded to requests for clarification by Thaivisa on the issuing of letters regarding income. They said that they had a meeting with immigration in May and told Thaivisa that they are “not verification experts”. They have also claimed…
-
“This is not a hotel” – Share economy exploits loopholes
by Nophakhun Limsamarnphun Explosion in short term rentals causes problems for hotels and reduces tax revenues. Legal loopholes and lax regulation of the hotel business have led to a large number of unlicensed hotel operators and unregistered guests in major tourist destinations in Thailand, according to government and private sector officials. In addition, the widely-popular sharing economy has prompted new…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Saturday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Thaiger Radio News – Friday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…
-
Pet registration bill rethink after public outcry
by Kornwaree Panyasuppakun A Bill approved by the Cabinet, making it mandatory to register dogs and cats, has ben derailed after pet lovers cried foul over the high fee for the registration documents, threatening to abandon their pets. The bill, approved by Cabinet on Wednesday, allows municipalities to charge a maximum fee of 450 – 500 baht for registration, 100…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.