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Thailand’s Immigration Bureau and other government agencies will suspend operations on June 1 and June 3 in observance of national holidays. June 2, however, will remain a regular working day. The additional holiday on Monday, June 1, was granted because Visakha Bucha Day falls on Sunday, May 31 this year. Visakha Bucha, also known internationally as Vesak, is considered one of the most important Buddhist celebrations. Observed on the full moon of the sixth lunar month, the h

Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has officially forwarded the case files and all 31 suspects connected to the Villa Andaman nominee property investigation to the Office of the Special Litigation Prosecutor, marking a major step in one of Thailand’s largest crackdowns on illegal foreign-controlled real estate operations in Phuket and Koh Samui. The investigation focuses on a network of law firms and consulting companies suspected of helping foreign investor

Nearly half of Thai businesses admit to paying bribes or providing benefits to government officials in order to simplify business procedures, according to a new survey conducted by Thailand’s Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB). The study was carried out by the committee’s analytical division as part of its Zero Corruption campaign during March and April 2026. A total of 401 business executives and company representatives participated in the su

The Andaman coast has become the center of a major regional naval exercise as Thai and Singaporean warships arrived in Phuket to participate in the annual SINGSIAM 2026 joint maritime drills. The participating vessels include the Royal Thai Navy frigate HTMS Taksin, which sailed from the Gulf of Thailand, alongside two Singapore Navy ships — RSS Unity (17) and RSS Stalwart (72). This year’s SINGSIAM exercise is being hosted by Singapore and is taking place in the Andaman Sea

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism is continuing to move forward with plans to introduce a tourist entry fee for all foreign visitors entering the country. Officials now say the payment system could eventually be integrated directly into the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) platform. The proposal was discussed during the “Thai Tourism Amid the Global Crisis” forum held in Bangkok on May 20. Speaking at the event, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phanchanworakun said Thaila

Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has dismantled a major heroin trafficking network that was allegedly supplying narcotics to Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. One of the suspects was arrested moments before boarding transport to Phuket while allegedly carrying 16 kilograms of heroin intended for distribution on the island. According to information released by CIB officials during a press conference on May 19, police arrested a Nigerian national identified as Chiadika

Thailand’s government has confirmed plans to cancel the 60-day visa-free entry program introduced in 2024 for citizens of 93 countries and territories. However, authorities also made clear that the country will not simply return to the previous system that existed before the reform. The announcement followed a cabinet meeting held on May 19 and was officially published by Thailand’s Public Relations Department (PRD Thailand) on May 20. Despite the confirmation, the government

The Similan Islands National Park has announced tourism revenue exceeding 215 million baht during the 2026 season, marking one of the strongest financial performances in the park’s history before its annual seasonal closure. Park Chief Sirivat Suebsai said the famous marine park welcomed more than 400,000 visitors between November and May, with international travelers accounting for over 90% of arrivals. Despite a slight decrease in the total number of tourists compared to la

Thai authorities have launched an intensive search operation after a tourist went missing when a kayak overturned in rough seas near Railay Bay in Krabi province. According to officials from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, two tourists rented a kayak and departed from Railay Bay before encountering strong winds and heavy waves earlier this week. The kayak reportedly capsized around half a nautical mile from the shore after being caught in deteriorating weathe

Thailand’s leading hotel operators have proposed a package of eight measures aimed at stabilising and strengthening the country’s tourism sector amid growing economic and geopolitical pressures. The proposals were presented on May 15 during a meeting between Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and representatives of key business sectors. The tourism industry was represented by the Thai Hotels Association (THA), which used the opportunity to outline major

Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has officially declared the start of the country’s rainy season, confirming that weather conditions associated with the annual monsoon transition fully aligned on May 15. The announcement coincided with the traditional start of the low season in Thailand’s national parks, many of which begin seasonal closures around this time each year. Unlike the Department of National Parks, which follows fixed annual dates, the TMD bases its seaso

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to visit Koh Samui and Koh Phangan as part of the government’s campaign to address concerns surrounding foreign-operated businesses in southern Thailand’s island tourism sector. Particular attention will focus on companies suspected of illegally using Thai nominees to conceal foreign ownership. Authorities have also expressed concern about the growing number of businesses allegedly linked to foreign nationa

Thailand recorded its highest inflation rate in three years in April as rising global oil prices began affecting consumer costs across the country. Although inflation remains moderate compared to many other economies, the latest figures mark a significant shift for Thailand, where inflation had still been negative as recently as March. According to the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), Thailand’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 2.89% year-on-year in April and r

Thailand is approaching the end of its high tourism season, with meteorologists warning that a seasonal transition could begin as early as mid-May. Phuket, in particular, is expected to feel the shift as prevailing winds change direction and rainfall becomes more frequent. According to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), the recent increase in rainfall across southern provinces does not yet signal the official start of the rainy season. In contrast, northern and central

Thailand’s export sector continues to outperform expectations, reaching new historic highs even as the country’s tourism industry struggles to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels. While tourism remains below its former peak, exports are acting as the primary engine of economic growth. According to data released by the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), March marked a record-breaking month, with exports totaling $35.157 billion. This represents an 18.7% year-on-year inc

Thailand’s tourism authorities are exploring a proposal to introduce a departure fee for citizens traveling abroad, with the aim of channeling funds into domestic tourism support programs. According to Bangkok Post, the initiative was put forward by Surasak Phancharoenworakul, who suggested a charge of 1,000 baht per outbound trip. The revenue would be used to subsidize travel within the country and encourage local tourism spending. The proposal is based on an existing legal

Thailand is heading into an extended holiday period at the beginning of May, with government offices operating for only four days this week, from April 27 to April 30. From May 1 to May 4, the country will observe a four-day break running from Friday through Monday. Unlike some long weekends that are created by shifting official working days, this holiday stretch naturally aligns on the calendar without additional government adjustments. The long weekend includes two official

Thailand is gradually entering its low tourism season, and early forecasts suggest a noticeable, though not dramatic, decline in visitor arrivals. Analysts from Kasikornbank estimate that international arrivals between April and June 2026 will reach approximately 6.49 million, marking a year-on-year decrease of 9.2% compared to the same period in 2025. This projection aligns with earlier expectations from the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, both of

Fuel prices across Thailand have started to decline following Songkran, reflecting more favorable conditions on global energy markets. As of April 17, diesel prices dropped below the 43-baht-per-liter threshold, while gasohol and gasoline also saw smaller reductions. The adjustment followed the first post-Songkran meeting of the Oil Fuel Fund Office (OFFO) on April 16, where officials reviewed subsidy policies and contribution rates. Based on fuel price benchmarks from Singap