Thai Times

Thailand Deploys Smart Tourist Police Patrols as Chiang Mai Launches Green Tourism Festival

Thailand is introducing surveillance drones and technology-enabled tourist police patrols at major destinations, while the Amazing Chiang Mai Green Guide Fest 2026 is expected to generate more than 100 million baht for the northern economy.

Eastern Economic Corridor Ranked Southeast Asia’s Leading Integrated Manufacturing Hub

SEAsia Stats ranked Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor first among regional industrial zones, citing deep-sea port infrastructure and about 13,000 megawatts of power capacity across Chonburi and Rayong.

Nestlé Wins Approval for $688 Million Thailand Manufacturing Investment

Nestlé secured approval for a $688 million investment to establish a technology-driven regional coffee manufacturing hub in Thailand, expanding its use of the country’s logistics and agricultural supply networks.

Thailand Advances 200 Billion Baht Clean Energy Investment Program

The government is accelerating investment in solar power, energy storage and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure as it seeks to reduce fossil-fuel dependence and support technology and manufacturing projects requiring cleaner electr...

Thailand Finalizes ‘Made in Thailand Chips’ Strategy for Semiconductor Expansion

The National Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Board is completing a long-term plan to develop advanced packaging, printed circuit boards and artificial intelligence hardware domestically as demand for regional cloud infrastructure ...

Thailand Attracts More Than $30 Billion in Electronics and AI Investment

Thailand’s Board of Investment said the electronics sector has drawn more than 1 trillion baht since 2023, while realized capital expenditure rose 27% in the first half of this year and supported more than 630,000 domestic jobs.

Thai Market Experts Outline Investment Lessons and Portfolio Strategies for 2026

Leading Thai market experts discuss lessons from past economic crises and approaches to structuring investment portfolios as investors navigate changing economic conditions in Thailand.

Bangkok Named World’s Best City for Nightlife in Time Out’s 2026 Ranking

Time Out has ranked Bangkok first globally for nightlife in 2026, giving Thailand’s tourism sector another international endorsement as hospitality, entertainment and retail businesses seek to attract more overseas visitors.

Thailand’s Largest Business Groups Gather to Chart Strategy for a More Volatile Global Economy

Bangkok Bank, Charoen Pokphand Group, Central Pattana and Gulf Energy Development are among the major companies joining the Thairath Forum 2026 to assess geopolitical shifts, supply chain risks and trade pressures shaping Thailand’s busi...

Thailand Targets GDP Growth Above 3% as Government Courts Global Investors

Thailand’s government is pitching a growth strategy centered on artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, SME integration into global supply chains and electric-vehicle workforce training, backed by a 400-billion-baht loan decree ...

Pattaya Businesses Expect Boost from Arrival of 5,000 US Military Personnel

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group’s port call at Sattahip Naval Base is expected to bring about 5,000 US military personnel to the area and inject up to 15 million baht into Pattaya’s restaurants, retailers and service busines...

Thailand Showcases Circular Economy Technologies at Bangkok Sanitation Summit

Thailand is using a global sanitation leaders summit in Bangkok to highlight technologies that convert waste into renewable energy and other resources, positioning the country as a testing ground for climate-resilient urban infrastructur...

Thailand’s Premium Spa and Wellness Market Forecast to Exceed 97 Billion Baht by 2028

Thailand’s hospitality and health sectors are expanding beyond traditional spa services into preventative care, fitness and social wellness as operators respond to rising domestic and international demand for broader health experiences.

Thailand Plans Higher Security Deposits for Tour Operators as Travel Sector Recovers

Thailand’s Tourism Department is proposing an increase in security deposits for general tour businesses from 60,000 baht to 200,000 baht to strengthen tourist protection, financial stability and industry oversight following pandemic-era ...

Thailand Tourism Authority Shifts Strategy Toward High-Value Travel

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is moving away from a focus on visitor volume and toward premium wellness, sustainability and higher-value travel, with an ecosystem-based strategy aimed at delivering stronger economic and community ben...

Thailand Tightens Digital Platform Rules to Protect Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

Thailand’s Trade Competition Commission is introducing stricter rules for ride-hailing, on-demand delivery and modern retail platforms to curb unfair practices, improve transparency and reduce disadvantages faced by domestic small and me...

Thailand Accelerates AI Push as Government and Business Investment Expands

Thailand is stepping up artificial intelligence adoption across the public and private sectors, backed by enterprise investment and government initiatives including the domestic ThaiLLM, as the country seeks stronger digital sovereignty ...

Thailand Approves More Than 1 Billion Baht for Local Development and Additional Debt Relief

The National Village and Urban Community Fund board approved more than 1 billion baht for regional development projects alongside hundreds of millions of baht in debt relief under the Thai Helps Thai initiative, aiming to improve grassro...

Thailand's Grassroots Consumer Spending Weakens as Household Purchasing Power Tightens

Retail analysis and market observations across Bangkok and regional provinces point to weaker purchasing power, with sellers facing rising operating costs and competition from low-cost imports and e-commerce as economists warn of further...

Thailand's Realized BOI Investment Jumps 27% to 535.8 Billion Baht

Thailand recorded a 27% increase in realized Board of Investment project values in the first half of 2026, reaching 535.8 billion baht and creating more than 630,000 domestic jobs, with over 60% of investment concentrated in advanced ele...

Thailand Unveils 2027 Tourism Strategy to Shift From Arrival Growth Toward Higher-Value Travel

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is targeting a five percent increase in tourism income while seeking to direct forty percent of international visitors to secondary provincial cities, aiming to ease pressure on major destinations includ...

Thailand Tightens Deportation Rules With 30-Day Deadline for Foreign Offenders and Illegal Businesses

A new inter-agency regulation gives the Interior Ministry expanded authority to expedite the removal of foreign nationals convicted of crimes or involved in illegal business operations, requiring deportation cases to be processed within ...

Thailand Approves 400-Billion-Baht Emergency Loan Package to Stabilize Energy Costs and Fund Green Infrastructure

Thailand’s House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved an emergency loan decree proposed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government, with the funds earmarked to manage energy price volatility and accelerate investment in...

Thailand Faces Economic and Security Disruption After Wave of 78 Attacks in Southern Provinces

Security forces are responding to at least 78 arson, bombing and sabotage incidents across Thailand’s southern border provinces, with attacks on government buildings, businesses and railway infrastructure disrupting transport and regiona...

Phuket Launches Smart Surveillance Network to Manage Traffic and Improve Road Safety

Phuket authorities have introduced the Phuket Eyes monitoring system to enforce traffic rules and manage vehicle flows as tourism growth puts increasing pressure on the island’s roads and urban infrastructure.

Thailand Deploys Artificial Intelligence in National Passport System to Strengthen Security and Digital Services

The Thai government is integrating artificial intelligence into passport processing to improve efficiency and security as part of a wider effort to modernize public services and border management.

Thailand Plans 200 Billion Baht for Power Infrastructure With Rooftop Solar at the Center

Thailand’s energy authorities are putting rooftop solar at the heart of a 200-billion-baht power infrastructure strategy intended to help stabilize long-term commercial electricity costs and strengthen the country’s appeal to multination...

Thailand Warns Three-Airport Rail Consortium Against Premature Exit From 220-Billion-Baht Project

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned that the Charoen Pokphand-led Asia Era One consortium could be barred from future state contracts if it terminates the delayed high-speed rail project early, with negotiations continuing a...

Thailand Attracts More Than 30 Billion Dollars in Electronics Investment as Supply Chains Shift

The Thailand Board of Investment says electronics investment since 2023 has exceeded one trillion baht, or about 30.5 billion dollars, as multinational companies expand advanced manufacturing, chip production and technology operations in...

Thailand’s Exports Surge 21.6 Percent in July on Strong Global Demand for Technology Products

Thai exports rose 21.6 percent year on year in July, beating forecasts as demand for electronics and other technology products strengthened, prompting the government to raise its full-year export growth outlook to more than eleven percen...

Thailand Government Backs Crackdown on Disruptive Foreign Tourists

Senior officials, including Surasak, have expressed support for Prime Minister Anutin’s policy directive to strengthen enforcement against foreign tourists deemed disruptive and pursue deportations, citing public safety, community protec...

Thailand Upgrades Udonthani Airport Ahead of New Direct Flights From Kunming

The Transport Ministry is upgrading Udonthani Airport to meet international operating standards ahead of Lucky Air’s planned direct service from Kunming in September, with the expansion aimed at supporting tourism and cross-border commer...

M82 Motorway Opens Free 24-Hour Service Between Bang Khun Thian and Ban Phaeo

Thailand’s Transport Ministry has opened the M82 motorway section between Bang Khun Thian and Ban Phaeo for free around-the-clock use, aiming to ease congestion along the Rama Two corridor and improve freight links between Bangkok and so...

Thailand Gives Interior Ministry Expanded Power to Deport Foreigners Who Violate Laws or Disrupt Public Order

A new Prime Ministerial regulation taking effect today gives the Ministry of Interior greater authority to accelerate the deportation of foreign nationals involved in illegal activities, transnational crime or disturbances, creating a st...

Thailand’s Bank Branch Closures Reshape Commercial Real Estate and Urban Development

More than 2,200 bank branches have closed across Thailand over the past eight years as financial institutions shift toward digital services, freeing prime urban properties for potential conversion into residential, hospitality and commer...

Thailand Advances 200 Billion Baht Energy Transition Investment Framework After Emergency Loan Approval

The Thai government is moving ahead with a 200 billion baht investment framework focused on reducing fossil fuel dependence, expanding renewable energy infrastructure, developing electric vehicle facilities and training workers for the g...

Thailand Tourism Authority Targets High-Spending Travellers With Micro-Regional Campaigns

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is promoting sustainable travel in secondary cities and using targeted micro-regional campaigns to attract premium international travellers, particularly from China and Vietnam, ahead of the traditional ...

Thai AirAsia Restores Domestic and Regional Flight Capacity Ahead of Peak Tourism Season

Thai AirAsia is increasing fourth-quarter flight frequencies through its Bangkok and Phuket hubs and adding cross-regional routes as international arrivals and domestic travel recover and Thailand advances tourism stimulus initiatives.

Thailand’s Electric Vehicle Registrations Surpass 126,000 as Industry Seeks Stronger Local Manufacturing Support

Battery electric vehicle registrations exceeded 126,000 units in the first seven months of 2026, according to the Federation of Thai Industries, which is calling for tax changes to help Thailand shift from an internal combustion engine m...

Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor Attracts More Than One Trillion Baht in Data Center Investment

Applications for data center infrastructure in Thailand exceeded one trillion baht in early 2026, driven by major global technology companies expanding in Chonburi and Rayong to meet growing demand for cloud computing and digital services.