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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    Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money

    Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...

  • Thailand News Today | Waiting for vaccine, new face of Thailand expats, teacher complaints | Oct 1 | Thaiger

    Thailand News Today | Waiting for vaccine, new face of Thailand expats, teacher complaints | Oct 1

    Daily Thai news on The Thaiger. All the latest information about Thailand, Monday to Friday on Thaiger News Today. Thailand beaches may limit visitors until Covid-19 vaccine is available Beaches and national parks might not fully open to international tourists until a Covid-19 vaccine is available. The claim comes from the Tourism Council of Thailand president. Around 120 to 150…

  • Travel agents push to end quarantine for tourists from countries at low risk for Covid-19 | Thaiger

    Travel agents push to end quarantine for tourists from countries at low risk for Covid-19

    Travel agents are pushing to end the 14 day quarantine required for foreign tourists arriving from countries classified as a very low risk for spreading Covid-19, hoping the government will agree with the idea and start in December. The move could bring in at least 100,000 tourists per month, according to president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, or…

  • Opening borders could cause a second Covid-19 outbreak, epidemiologist says | Thaiger

    Opening borders could cause a second Covid-19 outbreak, epidemiologist says

    Opening Thailand’s borders to foreign tourists may open a “Pandora’s box” of Covid-19 infections, according to leading epidemiologist on the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine Thira Woratanarat. After a 6 month ban on international tourists, the first group of travellers on the new Special Tourist Visa are set to fly from China to Phuket on October 8. Thira says the…

  • Retiring army chief failed to fulfil promises of military reform after Korat mass shooting, critic says | Thaiger

    Retiring army chief failed to fulfil promises of military reform after Korat mass shooting, critic says

    The retiring Thailand army chief vowed to reform the military’s business operations after the February 8 mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima where an armed soldier shot and killed 30 people and injured 57 others. He failed to fulfil his promise, according to co-founder of the Progressive Movement and a staunch critic of the army Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. The gunman shot and…

  • Buy a meal on a Thai Vietjet flight, get a 40% discount at a hotel | Thaiger

    Buy a meal on a Thai Vietjet flight, get a 40% discount at a hotel

    Now that the ban on inflight food and drink has been lifted for domestic flights, Thai Vietjet is offering deals to promote their meals. Those who buy a hot meal, either purchased onboard the flight or reserved online, will get a 40% discount for a stay at Serene Phla Resort and Restaurant. The airline just resumed inflight food and beverage…

  • More reports of alleged student abuse, parents file complaint against teacher | Thaiger

    More reports of alleged student abuse, parents file complaint against teacher

    More reports of teachers allegedly abusing their students have come to light after a Nonthaburi teacher was caught on video pushing a kindergarten student to the floor, pulling a student across the floor and repeatedly hitting other students. Now more classroom videos of teachers allegedly abusing their students are being widely shared online as well as photos of children’s marks…

  • Thai Airways to provide flights to some international destinations this month | Thaiger

    Thai Airways to provide flights to some international destinations this month

    Thai Airways, the beleaguered national carrier currently undergoing a “rehabilitation” process (code for bankruptcy and restructure proceedings), says it’s laying on a number of special flights to destinations outside the Kingdom this month. Nation Thailand reports that the airline is introducing flights to Hong Kong, Taipei, London, Copenhagen and Stockholm. Executive Vice President Wiwat Piyawiroj says the flights are being…

  • Contestant eliminated from Miss Universe Thailand after manager infiltrates organising committee | Thaiger

    Contestant eliminated from Miss Universe Thailand after manager infiltrates organising committee

    One of the favourites to take the Miss Universe Thailand title when the contest is held on Saturday, October 10, has just been kicked out for breaking the rules. Chayathanus Saradatta, also known as “Cheraim”, is accused of allowing her manager and chaperone to infiltrate the organising committee. It’s understood Sitthichai Rewviroj, aka “Ken”, attended numerous committee meetings, potentially getting…

  • Thailand beaches may limit visitors until Covid-19 vaccine is available | Thaiger

    Thailand beaches may limit visitors until Covid-19 vaccine is available

    Beaches and national parks might not fully open to international tourists until a Covid-19 vaccine is available. Around 120 to 150 tourists departing from China are set to arrive in Phuket on October 8 after a 6 month ban on international tourists. They’ll have to go through a 14 day state quarantine, but after that, they may not be able…

  • Thailand News Today | Phuket re-opens, TripAdvisor review saga, Samut Prakhan chem spill | Sept 30 | Thaiger

    Thailand News Today | Phuket re-opens, TripAdvisor review saga, Samut Prakhan chem spill | Sept 30

    Daily TV news about Thailand. Updates and all the latest information from thethaiger.com. Phuket prepares to welcome first Chinese tourists in over 6 months The first group of tourists to arrive under Thailand’s new Special Tourist Visa scheme will land in Phuket on October 8. The flight from Guangzhou in southern China will carry 120 tourists, who will spend their…

  • 23 Koh Samui hotels seek alternative state quarantine certification | Thaiger

    23 Koh Samui hotels seek alternative state quarantine certification

    Nearly 2 dozen hotels and resorts in the Thai Gulf island resort of Koh Samui are seeking certification to be alternative state quarantine facilities. Talk of a potential travel bubble scheme to the island is also set for today, the Nation Thailand reports. 8 of the 23 hotels have already gone through a government check and the rest will be…

  • How has Thailand avoided the worst of Covid-19? – VIDEO | Thaiger

    How has Thailand avoided the worst of Covid-19? – VIDEO

    We examine some of the reasons Thailand has been able to avoid the surges and 2nd waves of Covid-19. Whilst many countries are now suffering a 2nd and 3rd wave of the coronavirus, Thailand has locked itself in a bubble of its own making. Almost zero cases and any new cases coming from repatriates. Now the country has to figure…

  • PM dismisses rumours of alliance with opposition to form new government | Thaiger

    PM dismisses rumours of alliance with opposition to form new government

    Thai PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha has rubbished rumours that the ruling coalition parties plan to join forces with the opposition Pheu Thai party to form a new government. While the PM initially didn’t respond to the question, instead bidding reporters a good day and walking away, he did mumble that he had enough of a headache with just one party. Thai…

  • Thailand’s ban on hazardous farming chemicals to remain in place | Thaiger

    Thailand’s ban on hazardous farming chemicals to remain in place

    Despite fears to the contrary among those in favour of it, the ban on paraquat and chlorpyrifos is to remain in place. The Hazardous Substances Committee has confirmed that production, possession, and importing or exporting either substance remains illegal, under legislation introduced on June 1 of this year. Thai PBS World reports that Industry Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, says a discussion…

  • Minister calls for all complaints against Sarasas schools to be monitored amid abuse allegations | Thaiger

    Minister calls for all complaints against Sarasas schools to be monitored amid abuse allegations

    The Education Minister, Nataphol Teepsuwan, is asking the Office of the Private Education Commission to closely monitor all complaints filed against all Sarasas Witaed School branches around the country. Nation Thailand reports that 34 out of 42 have had complaints filed against them. Allegations of abuse first emerged when the actions of an abusive teacher at a branch of the…

  • The man who wrote the bad reviews for Koh Chang’s Sea View Resort has a criminal record | Thaiger

    The man who wrote the bad reviews for Koh Chang’s Sea View Resort has a criminal record

    In the ongoing stoush between the American, Wesley Barnes, and Koh Chang’s Sea View Resort, the story is now reaching way beyond Thailand’s borders, being reported in mainstream media around the world. Much of the media discussion has focused on whether it is appropriate to be able to sue people over a bad review with criminal defamation. Defamation is a…

  • Thailand News Today | Visa amnesty extended, first STV tourists, teacher sacked | September 29 | Thaiger

    Thailand News Today | Visa amnesty extended, first STV tourists, teacher sacked | September 29

    Daily TV news on thethaiger.com, Thailand News Today. Get your visa figured out by October 31 In a surprise decision that arrived late yesterday afternoon, following a week of denials and threats to prosecute foreigners on overstay, the Thai government has granted another stay of grace to foreigners up to the end of October. Foreigners stuck in Thailand will now be…

  • Foreign teachers checked by immigration at Sarasas school after alleged student abuse | Thaiger

    Foreign teachers checked by immigration at Sarasas school after alleged student abuse

    A foreign English teacher at a Sarasas private school in Nonthaburi was allegedly caught working without a proper visa and work permit after an immigration check. An investigation into all 42 Sarasas schools was prompted after a Thai teacher at the Sarasas Witaed Ratchapreauk School in Nonthaburi was allegedly caught on camera beating kindergarten students. A Filipino English teacher at…

  • Alcohol ban for the end of Buddhist Lent this Friday | Thaiger

    Alcohol ban for the end of Buddhist Lent this Friday

    An alcohol ban is looming for this coming Friday, as Buddhists mark the end of the Lent period. While officials have so far remained silent on the possibility of a ban on the purchase and consumption of alcohol, previous years have seen one implemented at the end of Buddhist Lent. The ban has not been formally announced but our Thai…

  • Luxury resort built on national park land given demolition order | Thaiger

    Luxury resort built on national park land given demolition order

    “Tear it down, or we will.” That’s the ultimatum officials have given the owner of a luxury resort built on national park land in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand. The Phatsapada Resort, which consists of 17 chalets, has been built on land belonging to Khao Laem National Park. A demolition order, posted outside the property yesterday, gives the owner 7 days in…

  • Thailand News Today | Rumours of amnesty extension, 22 new Covid cases | September 28 | Thaiger

    Thailand News Today | Rumours of amnesty extension, 22 new Covid cases | September 28

    Daily TV news and updates from around Thailand on The Thaiger and on Youtube at Thaiger TV. 22 new cases of Covid-19 detected in Thailand Out of nowhere, the Thai government’s CCSA has reported 22 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours this morning, raising the country’s total of infections to 3,545. 22 cases is the largest number…

  • Strong winds “blow” shipping container off a stack and onto a truck, injuring the driver | Thaiger

    Strong winds “blow” shipping container off a stack and onto a truck, injuring the driver

    A truck driver was critically injured after strong winds from last night’s storms caused a shipping container to fall from a 7 storey stack at the Samut Prakan port, south of Bangkok, and smash down onto an 18 wheel truck with the driver inside. Workers rushed to pull the driver, Raphin Noiwanit, out of the crushed truck. They say he…

  • Dengue fever antibodies might contribute to Thailand’s low Covid-19 count | Thaiger

    Dengue fever antibodies might contribute to Thailand’s low Covid-19 count

    Antibodies from dengue fever might raise immunity against Covid-19, according to study done in Brazil. It suggests a correlation between the mosquito transmitted illness and the coronavirus, citing lower Covid-19 cases in areas with past dengue outbreaks, like south east Asia. Thai doctor Manoon Leechawengwongs says this might be why Thailand has significantly less Covid-19 cases than other countries around…

  • Bangkok heist nets gold ornaments valued at 5.6 million baht | Thaiger

    Bangkok heist nets gold ornaments valued at 5.6 million baht

    Police are searching for a man who allegedly robbed a Bangkok gold shop at gunpoint, stealing gold ornaments valued around 5.6 million baht. The man allegedly pointed a gun at employees, forcing them to hand over 3 trays of gold ornaments. The Yaowarat Krungthep shop is located at the entrance of Tesco Lotus in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district. Since the…

  • 22 new cases of Covid-19 detected in Thailand | Thaiger

    22 new cases of Covid-19 detected in Thailand

    The Thai government’s CCSA has reported another 22 new cases of Covid-19 this morning, raising the country’s total of infections to 3,545. The vast majority of these have recovered – 3,369. The death toll is unchanged at 59 people. The new cases have come from imported cases, returnees and visitors, and became apparent whilst they were in quarantine during routine tests. The…

  • 1,202 gambling websites to be blocked in Thailand | Thaiger

    1,202 gambling websites to be blocked in Thailand

    Thailand is cracking down on online gambling websites. Internet providers will have 15 days to block 1,202 gambling websites before charges are pressed for violating Thailand’s Computer Crime Act. Although gambling is technically illegal in Thailand, underground and online gambling thrives in pockets of the country. The Digital Economy and Society Ministry was ordered by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to crack…

  • Thai medic cautions against reducing quarantine period for foreign tourists | Thaiger

    Thai medic cautions against reducing quarantine period for foreign tourists

    On one side there is a push to re-open Thailand’s borders to re-start the beleaguered tourist industry. On the other hand Thai officials are try to keep Covid-19 contained and fear the re-opening of the borders. Even the suggestion to reduce the quarantine time from 14 to 7 days is not gaining support from health officials. Now, a doctor from…

  • Van passengers hospitalised after gas leak on the way to Roi Et | Thaiger

    Van passengers hospitalised after gas leak on the way to Roi Et

    Passengers in a van leaving from Bangkok ended up in the hospital after a gas leak went unnoticed. Many passengers began to feel dizzy and nauseous. Some had difficultly breathing before falling unconscious. Some passengers were even found foaming at the mouth. The 34 year old driver, identified as Jakpong, was hired to drive the passengers from Bangkok to the…

  • Nonthaburi teacher allegedly beat students, witnesses may face charges -VIDEO | Thaiger

    Nonthaburi teacher allegedly beat students, witnesses may face charges -VIDEO

    After a private school teacher in Nonthaburi was caught on camera allegedly beating kindergarten students, education officials are looking to press charges on every teacher that witnessed the alleged abuse and did not step in to stop her. A surveillance camera footage at the Sarasas Witaed Ratchaphruek School shows the teacher pushing the 3 year old student down to the…

  • Domestic tourism stimulus campaign set to be extended | Thaiger

    Domestic tourism stimulus campaign set to be extended

    Officials are discussing an extension to the domestic tourism stimulus package, following the approval of additional public holidays between now and the end of the year. The extra holidays will take place between November 19 and 22, and again from December 10 to 13, as the government continues its efforts to boost domestic tourism. Thailand’s tourism industry has been left…