Thai Life
Discover the latest regional stories and happenings in Thailand with The Thaiger, your source of credible, informative, and reliable updates. Stay informed about important local events, political happenings, social issues, cultural highlights, and entertainment stories, all curated to ensure you never miss out on what’s happening in the Land of Smiles. Our journalists will keep you informed with all the essential Thai life updates and allows you to connect with the community and experience Thailand like a local.
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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?...
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Airline report card – April 2018. Travel growth slows.
IATA (International Air Transport Association) has released details of airline performance, worldwide, during its annual general meeting being held in Sydney, Australia. Fewer fare bargains, as fuel prices rise, may be contributing to a slowdown in passenger demand growth during April. This comes from the IATA’s passenger traffic data for April, 2018. Revenue passenger kilometres, or RPKs, rose by 6.2%…
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No-Straw campaign launched at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket
Ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, 2018, Movenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket has implemented a “no straw” campaign, successfully removing plastic straws from its seven food & beverage outlets within the resort. The move follows many other organisations around the island committing to “no straw” categories. “While straws remain available for our guests who wish to…
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Hua Hin and Khon Kaen to get extra flights from Air Asia
Hua Hin and Khon Kaen, new flight destinations for Air Asia, are looking to get more passenger love with Air Asia announcing proposed expansion of routes to the two destinations. New routes are being added to and from the Hua Hin airport, adding to the first scheduled flights from KL, Malaysia this month. Hua Hin International Airport The proposed new…
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Similan Islands – no more sleep overs from October
by Pratch Rujivanarom With Maya Bay at Koh Phi Phi Ley poised to close for four months from tomorrow, an announcement yesterday that overnight stays will no longer be allowed in the Mu Ko Similan Marine National Park off Phang Nga province starting from this October. While the number of visitors to its pristine islands will also be limited as…
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Renting out rooms daily or weekly? You better read this.
SCREENGRAB: AirBnB website Illegal short-term holiday rentals, advertised and promoted by online portals like AirBnB, are coming under increasing scrutiny from authorities. Although there has been laws preventing short-term property rentals acting as ‘hotels’, the law has been loosely enforced with some condo developments around the country acting as defacto hotels and listing in many online booking websites. In May…
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The cheapest places in the world to live – Is Thailand on the list?
PHOTO: Sam Kittner Compared to what you’re paying in the west, in some countries you can have a palatial house, a maid, personal chef, good health care and a driver for the same cost of a struggling life in your home country. Thailand has long been seen as a retirement haven with its low cost of living, great food and…
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April tourist arrivals in Thailand up nearly 10%
Thailand’s tourism racks up 13,701,411 visitors arriving in the first four months of 2018 – a 14% increase, year on year. For the same four months last year the passenger arrivals increased 3.35%. In April alone arrivals were 3,092,725. This is up 9.38% year on year according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary, Pongpanu Svetarundra. The top ten…
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Phuket teacher turned away in Penang applying for visa
PHOTO: TielandtoThailand.com According to a British EFL teacher based in Phuket, officials in Penang are requiring a criminal background check from Thai police when applying for a Non-immigrant B visa associated with teaching. As reported in a Facebook post on the morning of May 17, Jay (who asked we omit his surname) stated the first thing embassy staff asked was,…
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Netflix, Spotify and Chill – Navigating the brave new world of music and TV
Subscription movies and music services are booming, in particular Netflix which has over 125 million users worldwide and Spotify which has over 70 million paying users. The subscription model is where you pay a monthly fee and are entitled access to media which is streamed via the internet, rather than buy a physical CD/DVD, an album from iTunes or pay…
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Bangkok Airways to kick off direct flights between Yangon and Phuket
Bangkok Airways is looking to kick off direct flights between Yangon and Phuket this November. This according to Bangkok Airways’ regional airline vice president, Varong Israsena. Myanmar National Airlines started operating a direct flight between Yangon and Phuket last month and are looking to increase frequency of the flights from Myanmar’s largest city to Phuket. “I see great potential in Myanmar.…
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Bangkok property trends continue to point upward
Bangkok’s property market continues to show price growth with an eight-point increase in the DDproperty Property Index from 205 to 213 in the first quarter of 2018. A strong opening for 2018, this growth is on the back of an improving economic outlook and an expected increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year to 4.2 percent (up 0.3 percent…
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Low cost flying fleets triple in five years
Thailand’s low cost carrier sector is continuing to grow rapidly since the first two LCCs, Nok Air and Thai AirAsia, launched back in 2004. Now we’re spoiled for choice with Lion Air, Thai Smile, Nok Air, Air Asia, JetStar, Vietjet and NokScoot vying for our budget-flying baht. Thailand Business News reports that growth has accelerated over the past five years.…
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Overheating smartphone on KLM jet forces authorities to re-examine the ‘batteries on planes’ issue
PHOTO: KLM A KLM Boeing 777 has now landed safely in KL following an 18 hour lay-over in Phuket after a ‘precautionary landing’ forced on the pilot after a smartphone over-heated, emitting smoke in the passenger cabin. It’s not the first incident involving over-heating lithium batteries (if that was the cause) and is sure to bring another close examination of…
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Phuket Property Awards for Export 2018
PHOTO: The Regent Bang Tao “We have received some good ideas from the Phuket Governor to make a good image for condominium investors in Phuket and to improve confidence and credibility for both Thai and Foreign customers. Many condominium project complaints have been filed at the Damrongdhama Centre.“ This from the President of the Phuket Real Estate Association (P-REA), Boon…
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TOONS TUNES – Halsey “Alone”
Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Toons Tunes for today features American singer and songwriter Halsey and the latest release as the third single from her upcoming second studio album “Hopeless Fountain” the track is called “Alone”. Halsey of course gained International stardom when she joined American DJ’s and record producers The Chainsmokers for…
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Recharge Your Batteries at Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin
Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin, Asia’s first integrated Holiday Inn hotel and water park, has demonstrated its commitment to innovation and sustainability by installing Hua Hin’s first electric car charging station. Launched in partnership with leading renewable energy company Energy Mahanakhon, the new ‘EA Anywhere’ charging station is a state-of-the-art facility that meets IEC international standards and can support…
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KLM jet makes precautionary landing in Phuket
PHOTO: NewsInFlight.com Newsinflight.com is reporting that a KLM Boeing 777-200, Flight KL 809 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, had to make a precautionary landing in Phuket, after smoke started filling the cabin when a passenger’s mobile phone ‘overheated’. Witnesses report that there were no flames but plenty of smoke coming from the phone. Reports say the crew ‘handled the situation…
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TOONS TUNES – Jason Derulo “Colours” the anthem of FIFA World Cup 2018
Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Toons Tunes for today features American singer and songwriter Jason Derulo and the anthem for FIFA World Cup 2018 “Colours” by Coca Cola. If you get a chance to watch the music video it is a feast for the eyes and indicative of the title of the song.…
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TOONS TUNES – Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa “One Kiss”
Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Toons Tunes for today features Scottish record producer Calvin Harris and rumored current girlfriend English singer and songwriter Dua Lipa. It is the latest release as the second single from Harris’ upcoming sixth studio album, the track is called “One Kiss”. The music video was released on May…
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Changes to visa applications at the Thai Consulate-General in Penang
The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang has announced changes to its acceptance and delivery of visas. Penang, Malaysia, has been a popular destination for expats and tourists to head to, particularly from Phuket. There is an entire visa-run industry heading out of the island each day heading for Penang with hotels, restaurants and taxis all ready for the daily hordes…
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TOONS TUNES – Ariana Grande “No Tears Left to Cry”
Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Toons Tunes for today features American singer and songwriter Ariana Grande and the latest release as the lead single from her upcoming fourth studio album “Sweetener” the track is called “No Tears Left to Cry”. The track was released on April 20, 2018 and already has over 110…
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Ride 4 Kids V2.0 Gearing Up
Pedal power to raise money for needy children in Phuket. Following on from the success of Ride 4 Kids 2017, preparations and training is underway for Ride 4 Kids V2.0, 2018, to benefit the needy children of Phuket in three different charities, The Good Shepherd, Phuket Has Been Good To Us and Outrigger’s Share 4 Change Program. On June 11,…
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TOONS TUNES – Zayn “Let Me”
Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Toons Tunes for today features English singer and songwriter ZAYN and the latest release as the second single from his upcoming second studio album, the track is called “Let Me”. The song itself was dropped on April 12, and Zayn describes it as a very personal and emotional…
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Which Asian country is doing all the flying in the Asia-Pacific?
Now everyone can fly, or so we’re told by one of the region’s leading budget airlines. So who’s doing all the flying in Asia? Thai flyers, with an average of more than 10 flights EACH per year. Thais are making more flights per year ahead of second and third placed Japan and India, according to the Expedia’s 2018 Global Flight…
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AKSARA Collection appoints new Director of Hotels and Resorts
The Pattaravornee Family of Phuket are very proud to announce that Mr. Matthew C Hindmarch, who joined the company as General Manager for Kata Sea Breeze Resort and part of the development team of The SIS Kata Phuket four years ago, has been promoted to position of Director of Hotels and Resorts. In this role, Khun Matthew who has been…
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May Event Round-Up
with Paul Poole (South East Asia) May is typically the month of the popular Hua Hin International Jazz Festival and this year is no different. For two days from 18-19 May, the seaside resort transforms into a mecca for jazz lovers with performers and fans arriving from all over the world. This year’s highlights include Austrian-born Simone Kopmajer and New…
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TOONS TUNES – Lauv “Chasing Fire”
Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Toons Tunes for today features American singer and songwriter Lauv with his latest release “Chasing Fire” which is a non album single release. Lauv rose to fame in 2015 after the release of his debut studio album “Lost in the Light” which feature hit song “I Like Me…
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TOONS TUNES – Kylie Minogue “Stop Me From Falling”
Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Toons Tunes for today features Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue with her latest release “Stop Me From Falling” from her fourteenth studio album “Golden”. My boss Tim is a huge Kylie fan, and he has sent me the link to this track a few times now, so…
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TOONS TUNES – Lady Gaga “Your Song”
Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Toons Tunes for today features American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga with her rendition of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s 1970 hit song “Your Song” from the dedication album “Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, REVAMP” The actual original song was released by rock band…
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The Good Shepherd Phuket Learning Centre requires urgent funding
The fate of the Good Shepherd Learning Centre Phuket is a matter of concern. The Centre has an urgent need to obtain sustainable funds to continue operations as its initial period of regular, committed funding will cease in May 2018. At The Good Shepherd Learning Centre they provide basic education i.e. science, mathematics and language skills in Thai, Burmese and…
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