Thai Times

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 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.

Bank of Thailand Holds Interest Rate at One Percent as Exports and Technology Investment Drive Growth

The Bank of Thailand unanimously kept its benchmark policy rate at one percent in August 2026, citing stronger-than-expected merchandise exports and private investment linked to the global artificial intelligence cycle despite weaker dom...

Thailand Secures More Than Thirty Billion Dollars in Electronics and Semiconductor Investment to Strengthen Regional AI Supply Chains

Thailand’s electronics sector has attracted more than thirty billion dollars across hundreds of projects since 2023, with recent investment led by global manufacturers expanding printed circuit board and semiconductor packaging capacity ...

TSA Unveils Major Airport-Security Overhaul as It Drops Gold+ Privatization Plan

The new Horizon 25 strategy will expand existing private-screening partnerships, upgrade TSA PreCheck, speed the introduction of new checkpoint technology and strengthen defenses against drones.

CIA Chief Warned Russia Against Attacking NATO in Secret Moscow Mission

John Ratcliffe delivered the warning during an unusual visit to Moscow as U.S. intelligence assesses that Vladimir Putin may be increasingly willing to test NATO with cyberattacks, sabotage or other limited operations.

The Secret Dolly Parton Kept Until Her Death: "She Was Much Sicker Than She Let On"

Dolly Parton reportedly concealed the severity of her cancer during the final months of her life, continuing to reassure fans even as her health deteriorated, leaving her bedridden, unable to travel and increasingly isolated before her d...

Thailand Moves to Overhaul Auto Excise Taxes as Chinese EV Imports Challenge Japanese Manufacturers

The Finance Ministry is accelerating changes to automotive excise taxes that would impose greater fiscal hurdles on fully imported electric vehicles while offering stronger incentives to domestic assemblers using local supply chains, as ...

Finance Minister Ekniti Sets Three Percent Growth Goal and Targets SET Index at 2,000 Points

At the Thailand Focus 2026 forum, Ekniti Nitithanprapas outlined reforms aimed at raising gross domestic investment from twenty percent to thirty percent of GDP within four years, alongside capital-market measures and a twelve-billion-do...

CP Group Subsidiary Seeks to End Thailand High-Speed Rail Contract and Halt Airport Rail Link Operations

Asia Era One has notified the State Railway of Thailand that it intends to terminate the Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed rail contract and stop operating the Airport Rail Link by September 30, prompting urgent talks over servi...

Glacier Collapse, Not Earthquake, Triggered Deadly Nepal-Tibet Flood

Glacier Collapse, Not Earthquake, Triggered Deadly Nepal-Tibet Flood

Scientists believe an enormous ice-rock avalanche blocked a Himalayan river before unleashing a fast-moving wall of water, mud and boulders across the border region.

Foreign Investors Return to Thai Stocks as Net Inflows Exceed 60 Billion Baht in 2026

The Stock Exchange of Thailand said foreign investors have recorded more than 60 billion baht in net inflows since the start of the year, while the benchmark index has risen nearly 30 percent from its previous lows as regional exchanges ...

CP Group Launches Program to Train Three Million Thais in Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing

Charoen Pokphand Group, through Arise Ventures and global technology partners, is rolling out a large-scale skills initiative aimed at expanding Thailand’s technology workforce and supporting the country’s growing digital economy.

Thailand Parliament Approves 400 Billion Baht Emergency Loan for Energy Security and Power Transition

The Thai House of Representatives approved the emergency borrowing decree by 285 votes to 141, authorizing the Finance Ministry to address energy volatility, stabilize utility costs and finance upgrades to the national power grid.

Magnolia Quality Development Unveils Ultra-Luxury Residences in Bangna With Dusit Hospitality Services

Magnolia Quality Development Corporation has launched Mulberry Grove The Forestias, a nature-focused luxury residential project in Bangna that will be managed by Dusit Thani’s hospitality division and target premium domestic and internat...

Thai FDA Approvals Support Expansion of Domestic Vaccine and Biopharmaceutical Production

Recent approvals by Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration are helping expand domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing as the country seeks greater healthcare self-reliance and a stronger position as a regional medical hub.

Thailand Opens Final Consultation on Proposed 450-Baht Foreign Visitor Fee

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has launched a final online public consultation on a proposed 450-baht arrival fee for international visitors, with the proceeds intended to support tourism infrastructure and visitor insurance.

Thailand Advances Capital Market Reforms to Attract More Foreign Investment

The Stock Exchange of Thailand and financial regulators are pursuing reforms aimed at improving transparency and corporate governance and encouraging greater participation by foreign institutional investors.

Ratch Group Develops Power Solutions for Thailand’s Growing Data Centre Market

Ratch Group is preparing dedicated power infrastructure and optimising existing assets to serve expanding data centre projects, with a focus on reliable electricity supplies and greater integration of renewable energy.

Thailand Introduces Tax Incentives to Accelerate U-Tapao Airport City and Eastern Economic Corridor Investment

New tax measures are being introduced to support development around U-Tapao International Airport and Eastern Airport City, strengthening the Eastern Economic Corridor’s appeal for foreign investment in aviation, logistics and related in...

Synnex and Amazon Web Services See 1.2 Trillion Baht AI and Cloud Opportunity in Thailand

Synnex Thailand and Amazon Web Services estimate that wider adoption of artificial intelligence and cloud computing could generate as much as 1.2 trillion baht in economic value as Thai businesses accelerate digital investment.

Kasikorn Research Raises 2026 Thailand Tourism Forecast to 31.4 Million Foreign Arrivals

Kasikorn Research has lifted its forecast for international visitors to Thailand after more than 636,000 foreign arrivals were recorded in a single week, pointing to continued support for tourism revenues and the wider economy.

Thailand Attracts More Than $30 Billion in Electronics Investment as AI Hardware Manufacturing Expands

Thailand has attracted more than $30 billion in electronics investment since 2023, with printed circuit boards and advanced semiconductor packaging driving the expansion of the country’s technology manufacturing base.

Thai Business Closures Surge as Retail, Dining and Education Firms Face Rising Pressure

Thailand recorded 7,024 legal-entity closures in the first half of the year, with lost registered capital rising more than 200 percent to nearly 100 billion baht as e-commerce competition, higher operating costs and a declining birth rat...

Thailand Finance Minister Defends 400 Billion Baht Loan Decree as Shield Against Energy Shock

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas told Parliament that failing to secure emergency funding could expose Thailand to a potential 600 billion baht energy-driven trade deficit, while the proposed borrowing would support consumers, limi...

Thailand Approves Four Capital Market Bills to Modernize Digital Finance Rules and Strengthen Investor Protection

Thailand’s Cabinet has approved legislation covering securities, derivatives, capital market trusts and digital assets, while giving Securities and Exchange Commission officials direct co-investigative powers to speed up fraud cases and ...

Thailand Local SDGs Plus Expo Showcases More Than 1,000 Products From All 76 Provinces

The Thailand Local SDGs Plus Expo 2026 brought together public and private-sector participants from August 21 to 23 at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, featuring more than 1,000 environmentally friendly products and bu...

Thailand Prepares to Debate 400 Billion Baht Energy and Economic Reform Loan

Thailand’s Finance Ministry is preparing for a parliamentary debate on August 26 over a royal decree authorizing a 400 billion baht loan, with Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas saying the funds would help ease energy cost pressures,...

Thailand Cabinet Approves Four Capital Market Bills to Modernize Digital-Economy Rules

Thailand’s Cabinet approved four bills on securities, futures contracts, capital market trusts and digital assets on August 25, giving Securities and Exchange Commission officials joint-investigator powers in serious market fraud cases a...

Thailand Positions Capital Markets, Tourism and Sustainable Investment as Key Growth Priorities

Recent developments in Thailand point to a broader focus on modernizing capital markets, expanding digital-asset investment frameworks, attracting global institutional investors, increasing tourism value and loyalty, and promoting sustai...