During the lively Songkran festivities last year, the bustling Suvarnabhumi airport was flooded with exuberant tourists, as captured beautifully by Varuth Hirunyatheb. Fast forward to today, and the Thai aviation sector is soaring to new heights, forecasted to bounce back to its pre-pandemic glory in 2025. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) assures travelers and stakeholders alike that the industry is on the runway to a spectacular comeback! Suttipong Kongpool, the CAAT’s astute director, is optimistic about welcoming a boom of over 25 million passengers this year alone. This delightful air traffic surge is hoped to propel Thailand back to the bustling numbers of 2019. It’s an exciting narrative shift for an industry that initially braced for full recovery not until 2024, only to find itself outpaced, primarily by the hesitant return of Chinese globetrotters—a saga influenced by China’s economic ripples. CAAT’s enlightening statistics reveal that in the golden…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
The air was thick with anticipation as the Council of State, the esteemed advisory powerhouse of the government, lingered on the precipice of making a monumental decision. The focus of their deliberation? Deciphering the conundrum of precisely what fraction of a sprawling entertainment complex could comfortably embrace a ritzy casino under a freshly minted bill. This legislative concoction was still simmering, despite four high-stakes meetings with representatives from various sectors of the government, which had left it tantalizingly undetermined. Pakorn Nilprapunt, the savvy secretary-general of the council, found himself in the intricate dance of weighing myriad possibilities. Amidst the unfolding drama, Deputy Finance Minister, Julapun Amornvivat, took center stage on Monday, revealing his ministry’s earnest request to tinker with the bill. The proposal was clear—to allow each anticipated entertainment complex to dedicate about 10% of its glittering expanse to the lure of casinos. Yet, decisive consensus remained elusive. “We have…
On a fateful Monday that had more than just the ordinary start-of-the-week vibes, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra graced an event that launched the second act of the government’s much-discussed 10,000-baht handout program. The backdrop captured the heartwarming image of an elderly beneficiary—a stark reminder that this financial aid is more of a lifeline than a luxury for many. Yet, as the gleaming screens echoed around the room, a political undercurrent was simmering just beneath the surface. With provincial elections knocking at the door this Saturday, the timing of this handout has raised quite a few skeptical eyebrows. Among those raising red flags is People’s Party MP Pakornwut Udompipatskul. He minced no words as he called out the potential for this initiative to be perceived as good old vote-buying. Given the high stakes in 47 provinces, where voters will decide on their Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) presidents and members, it’s not…
In a bustling event that brimmed with excitement and curiosity, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took center stage, eagerly announcing the next phase of the government’s eagerly anticipated 10,000-baht handout initiative. The anticipation in the air was palpable as a giant screen behind her displayed the smiling face of an elderly recipient, a poignant testament to the program’s impact. Ah, but as with any grand gesture, it didn’t escape a fair share of skepticism, especially with elections just around the corner. The second wave of this handout, strategically deployed just days before provincial elections, has certainly fueled whispers of vote-buying. Pakornwut Udompipatskul, an MP from the ever-vocal People’s Party, didn’t mince words on Tuesday about the potential implications of the timing. Set against the backdrop of impending votes in 47 provinces for Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) leaders, this financial gesture becomes all the more intriguing. With 3 million elderly citizens—the most…
Get ready, world, because Chiang Mai, the glittering gem of northern Thailand, is on the brink of a historical triumph. This city, once the ruling seat of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, is now inching closer to being enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This tantalizing possibility has set the town abuzz with anticipation. Key officials from Thailand’s Culture Ministry, the Fine Arts Department, and Chiang Mai Province are feverishly putting the final touches on a nomination dossier that will soon find its way to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris. This bold move aspires to solidify Chiang Mai’s stature as a global beacon of cultural grandeur. The nomination, meticulously prepared, encapsulates the magnificent historic monuments, cultural landscapes, and emblematic sites that narrate a vivid story spanning over 700 illustrious years. Among these timeless landmarks are such renowned gems as Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, enveloped by the serene…
In the heart of the tranquil Isaan province of Roi Et, an unforeseen calamity unfolded, as a drowsy truck driver collided with a parked pickup truck outside a quaint roadside tire shop. This unfortunate event left a Thai woman injured and tragically claimed the innocent life of her beloved dog. Siriporn, a 20-year-old woman, became an inadvertent subject of this tragedy. With commendable courage, she decided to share the incident’s CCTV footage with the world on her TikTok account, @siriporn_mos. The video capture, which quickly went viral, narrates a poignant tale of life’s unpredictable nature. Siriporn, with her furry companion in her arms, was casually standing next to her family’s white pickup truck, blissfully unaware of the looming danger. In a split second, the tranquility was shattered as an 18-wheel juggernaut, veering off course, slammed into the parked vehicle. The pickup was thrust forward, striking Siriporn and sending chaos into…
In the heart of a bustling cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, surrounded by ministers from the dominant Pheu Thai Party, made a spirited announcement. The cabinet had sanctioned a substantial 620 million baht from the central fund to combat the perennial menace of forest fires and the PM2.5 dust haze that stubbornly blankets many regions across Thailand. The atmosphere was one of determination as the Prime Minister underscored the prudent use of these funds, a proposal passionately advocated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The weekly cabinet assembly buzzed with discussions on innovative strategies aimed at managing the persistent PM2.5 pollution. Prime Minister Shinawatra stressed the importance of the Ministry of Interior’s call to action, instructing provincial governors to proactively address this environmental calamity. A notable emphasis was placed on extinguishing the scourge of crop trash burning across farmlands, a move designed to drastically reduce hazardous air…
Mark your calendars and pack your bags with a digital twist — starting May 1, jetsetting to Thailand demands a little more tech-savvy prep. As the enchanting Land of Smiles beckons to international wanderers, one big change rolls out: the debut of a mandatory digital TM6 immigration form. For those accustomed to scribbling their travel details on the plane, the times, they are a-changin’. Out with the crumpled paper forms and in with a sleek digital system, courtesy of Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Permanent Secretary Natthriya Thaweevong enthuses that the online form isn’t just about convenience; it’s a pivotal piece in beefing up safety measures, ensuring that Thailand remains a sanctuary for its sun-seeking guests. In essence, this digital pivot is Thailand’s way of giving its tourism image a modern facelift, ensuring travelers feel securely welcomed with open arms. Bidding farewell to the paper-based TM6 process, which took…
Representatives from the Dan Khun Thot Conservation Group have taken their fervent protest to the doorstep of the Ministry of Industry, fueled by a conviction that Bangchak Plc’s recent investment is straying from the energy giant’s green ideals. The investment in question? A stake in a potash mining enterprise, which has the community jittering with concern over its ecological implications. Voices rise with the crackling urgency of dry leaves underfoot, as critics of potash mining in Nakhon Ratchasima call for accountability and transparency from Bangchak Plc—the heavyweight with the largest stake in the potash mining company, Thai Kali Co. On Tuesday, determined to make their presence felt, the group congregated at the Ministry’s gates, urging the Department of Primary Industries and Mines to rescind Thai Kali’s mining concession. The hotly contested land is perilously close to local neighborhoods, stirring fears of environmental fallout. Thai Kali, holding a formidable 25-year concession,…
A recent tale from the bustling city of Bangkok paints a rather harrowing picture of a young woman’s night out gone terribly wrong. On the evening of January 26th, amid the vibrant nightlife of Ratchaprasong, a seemingly ordinary taxi ride home turned into every passenger’s nightmare. The protagonist, a woman simply seeking to return to her condo after an evening of cocktails with friends, reportedly awoke to find herself in more than a precarious situation. The woman, possibly intoxicated from four cocktails, as she later recalled, decided to call it a night and hailed a taxi. Her choice of taxi that night was driven by Thanawat, a 60-year-old who would soon become the central figure in an unsettling sequence of events. Waking up in an unfamiliar room and finding oneself in dire circumstances is unsettling enough, but adding the fact that the woman, startled from her disorientation, discovered the driver…