THAILAND WELCOMES 25 MILLION FOREIGN TOURISTS IN FIRST 10 MONTHS

Buddha statue and Wat Mahathat Temple in the precinct of Sukhothai Historical Park, Wat Mahathat Temple is UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thailand.

BANGKOK – Thailand welcomed nearly 25 million foreign tourists from 1 January to 24 October, generating more than 1.21 trillion baht in spending, although arrivals remained 4.43% lower than the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

The country received 501,965 international visitors during the week of 18-24 October, up 2.99% from the previous week, or an average of 71,709 arrivals per day, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said.

Long-haul markets led the weekly increase, with 199,954 visitors, up 12.03% week on week, as European and American travellers entered a short school holiday period and Thailand approached its winter tourism season.

Russian arrivals rose 25.45% from the previous week, while visitors from the United States increased 11.52%. India also recorded strong growth, with arrivals climbing 18.09%, supported by travel demand around the Hindu festival of Navaratri.

Short-haul markets recorded 302,011 visitors, down 2.24% week on week. Arrivals from China fell 24.17%, despite increases from other major markets.

The five largest source markets during the week were Malaysia, with 62,724 visitors, followed by China with 49,494, India with 48,089, Russia with 34,986 and the United States with 20,167.

The ministry expects arrivals to increase in the following week, supported by the winter tourism season and additional flights from India. New or increased services include routes from Gaya and Guwahati to Don Mueang airport, and from Kochi and Visakhapatnam to Suvarnabhumi airport.

From 1 January to 24 October, Thailand recorded a total of 24,925,645 foreign visitors, generating 1.21 trillion baht in tourism spending. China remained the largest source market year to date, with 4.19 million visitors, followed by Malaysia with 3.16 million, India with 1.88 million, Russia with 1.37 million and South Korea with 912,597.

Source: KhaoSodEnglish

Thailand targets on 4 trillion baht: ambitious tourism plan, but doubts remain regarding its feasibility

 BANGKOK — The National Tourism Policy Committee (NTPC) has set the course for the 4th National Tourism Development Plan (2028–2032). During a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Sutthampan, an ambitious goal was unveiled: generating at least 4 trillion baht in tourism revenue and securing a spot in the top 30 of the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI). While these figures are certainly designed to impress, a concrete roadmap for achieving them is still missing.

Grand words, few details

Khun Lalida Pertwivatana, deputy government spokesperson, has reiterated the familiar rhetoric that tourism remains the engine for sustainable economic growth. Grand promises regarding quality improvements and the attraction of high-net-worth travelers sound all too familiar—as does the pledge that small-scale entrepreneurs would also benefit, a claim that has remained unsubstantiated in previous plans.

How credible is the implementation?

There is a renewed focus on "better infrastructure"—such as expanded facilities for cruise ships and marinas—though it remains unclear who will fund these projects or within what timeframe. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has yet to consult with various relevant agencies; in Thailand, such consultations can often drag on for years before yielding anything concrete.

Similarly, the announcement of a provincial calendar of events and plans to attract travelers from neighboring countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore feels largely like a repackaging of existing policy. Whether this approach will truly propel Thailand to the global forefront, or whether it will remain nothing more than an ambitious plan on paper, remains to be seen.

Source: globe.co.th

Pattaya turned into Venice for a while yesterday: an hour of rain left roads submerged under up to 80 cm of water

 

PATTAYA — It happened again in Pattaya yesterday: a tropical downpour lasting less than an hour was more than enough to turn much of the seaside resort into a waterlogged mess. On several main roads, water levels rose as high as 80 centimeters, resulting in prolonged traffic congestion and stalled vehicles.

As is typically the case, the well-known trouble spots bore the brunt of the impact. Water depths reached between 20 and 80 centimeters, particularly on Sukhumvit Road near South Pattaya, Pattaya Third Road, the notorious Peniad Chang intersection, and the frontage road running alongside the railway line.

For those in cars and the countless scooter riders, the roads were effectively impassable. Anyone who attempted to push through risked a stalled engine and getting their feet soaked.

Pattaya City municipal workers took immediate action, placing barriers in the most hazardous areas to prevent accidents. The worst-affected roads were temporarily closed off entirely while water levels were at their peak.

Fortunately, the misery did not last long.

As soon as the downpour passed, the excess water began to drain away steadily. Municipal workers then had to head out onto the asphalt to collect large quantities of debris that had been washed onto the street by the current. Before long, traffic began to move again—a classic example of the chaos caused by a heavy Thai rainstorm, the kind that seasoned expats barely even notice anymore.

Source: DailyNews / OlleBolleke

Khao San Road Gears Up for Biggest Halloween Night Yet

BANGKOK —The legendary backpacker haven Khao San Road has transformed into a sprawling open-air costume carnival this evening as dusk settled over the historic district. Thousands of international travelers and local residents arrived in dramatic makeup to celebrate the city’s most anticipated annual street party.

The vibrant celebration, officially dubbed ‘The One Halloween: Creature of the Night,’ turns the walking street into a pulsating playground of themed soundstages. Local business associations and municipal authorities expect up to sixty thousand costumed revellers to pack the famous boulevard over the holiday weekend.

Key Takeaways

Bangkok’s Khao San Road hosts ‘The One Halloween: Creature of the Night,’ drawing up to 60,000 international and local visitors.

Festivities feature street parades, international DJ sets, pop-up SFX makeup booths, and high-stakes costume contests with cash prizes.

Strict safety plans and dedicated medical checkpoints ensure smooth crowd movement and responsible partying across the pedestrian zone.

A Pulsating Carnival of Ghosts and Neon Lights

Neon signs flickered overhead as bass vibrated through pavement stones, creating an electric mood that felt noticeably larger than previous iterations. Dozens of curbside artists operated makeshift vanity stations, carefully applying fake wounds and elaborate vampire fangs to eager walk-in partygoers.

Costumed visitors marched through neon smoke rings, wearing everything from classic movie monsters to elaborate figures from traditional folklore. Local hospitality venues prepared for record beverage sales and packed hotel lobbies throughout Phra Nakhon district.

Nightclub patios merged into a single river of dancers, while roving percussion troupes encouraged spontaneous dance battles at major street intersections. Food stalls did brisk business selling spicy skewers and cold drinks, keeping thousands of costumed dancers energized late into the warm night.

High-Stakes Competitions and Global Tourism Appeal
A centerpiece costume contest drew hundreds of creative entries, offering substantial cash prizes for the most authentic and terrifying character designs. International travel analysts on KhaosanRoad.com noted that Bangkok’s Halloween celebrations now rank among Southeast Asia’s most sought-after seasonal tourism spectacles.

The event proves that the strip can successfully balance budget backpacker heritage with modern festival production values. Travelers from Australia, Europe, and neighbouring Asian nations mingled freely, sharing snapshots across social networks and celebrating together.

Independent bars decorated their storefronts with giant cobwebs, glowing skulls, and spooky laser projections that captivated amateur photographers throughout the evening. Specialty cocktail menus matched the evening’s dark theme, featuring smoking dry-ice concoctions served in mock hospital blood bags.

Safety Measures and Smooth Crowd Logistics

Metropolitan police established dedicated security screening gates at both ends of the strip to inspect bags and manage pedestrian flow. Medical tents staffed by volunteer paramedics remained stationed nearby, ensuring quick emergency assistance for anyone suffering from dehydration or minor cuts.

City officials coordinated with public transit operators to keep nearby ferry terminals and taxi lanes operating smoothly well past midnight. Business operators followed strict guidelines regarding fire exits and sound thresholds, creating an atmosphere that felt celebratory yet orderly.

As music echoed toward the Chao Phraya River, the legendary backpacker thoroughfare proved its enduring vitality as an undisputed entertainment capital. Tonight’s massive gathering establishes an impressive new benchmark, signaling that Bangkok’s street carnival tradition is more vibrant and magnetic than ever.
 

Source: Chiangraitimes

Bangkok Prepares 1.5 Million Sandbags to Prevent Flooding From Chao Phraya River

 

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has prepared 1.5 million sandbags for the arrival of northern runoffs. His statement comes after the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) boosted water release from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat province.

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters that he is less concerned about northern runoff than about severe rainfall in the city, which might create flooding. Nonetheless, he stated that some 250,000 sandbags have already been placed in gaps in the flood walls to prevent runoff from spilling into the city.

He emphasised that the BMA is adequately prepared and will work with all appropriate agencies to deal with the massive influx of water.

People living near waterways in 11 provinces of the Chao Phraya river basin, including Bangkok, are being warned that water levels may rise owing to a flood of runoff from the north.

On Tuesday, the Royal Irrigation Department reported that the Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan province was flowing at 1,169 cubic meters per second. The agency was diverting water from the river to connect canals on both sides of the Chao Phraya.

After receiving water from the Pa Sak River, the Chao Phraya flowed at 1,192 cubic meters per second in Ayutthaya province.

On Friday, the department predicted that the flow of the Chao Phraya River will reach 1,400 cubic metres per second in Nakhon Sawan and 1,700 cubic metres per second at the Chao Phraya barrage dam in bordering Chai Nat province.

Meanwhile, Phrae runoff is streaming down Sukhothai province’s Yom River, inundating low-lying communities in Mueang, Sawankhalok, Si Somrong, and Si Satchanalai districts.

The Yom River today has an average depth of 7.69m, which is still below the banks’ tops, except in low-lying regions.

Another mass of water from Phrae’s Wang Chin area is projected to reach Si Satchanalai about noon today, with a flow rate of 1,700 m3/s, which is around 500 m3/s more than the local water management capacity.

The National Water Resources Office has chosen to send excess water via the Saphan Chan sluice gate into a network of canals, reducing the quantity that reaches the provincial town.

The irrigation department also reported that flooding was still occurring in Chiang Rai, Nan, Nakhon Phanom, Phayao, Phrae, Sukhothai, and Suphan Buri provinces.

SOURCE: ChiangRaiTimes

Euro recovers slightly against the Thai Baht; ECB decision due Thursday

 

After a weak first half of October, the euro has regained some ground against the Thai baht. The European Central Bank’s (ECB) official reference rate rose from 37.574 baht on October 9 to 37.821 baht on Monday, October 26. The ECB is set to meet in Frankfurt on Thursday, October 29, to discuss monetary policy. The decision will be announced at 2:15 PM Central European Time, followed by a press conference.

Euro slowly climbs from October low
The recovery has been modest so far. At the beginning of October, the euro stood at 38.023 baht, before falling to 37.574 baht on October 9. Since then, the currency has gradually climbed back up; the ECB recorded a rate of 37.811 baht on October 22 and 37.821 baht on October 26.

For those living in Thailand who receive income, a pension, or hold savings in euros, such a difference has a direct impact on purchasing power. At a theoretical exchange rate of 37.821, €2,000 would yield approximately 75,642 baht. On July 22, the ECB reference rate was 38.570 baht; at that time, the same amount would have been worth approximately 77,140 baht—a difference of nearly 1,500 baht.

Actual exchange rates are usually lower
The ECB rate is a reference rate, not the rate you will automatically receive at a bank or currency exchange office. For this reason, the Bank of Thailand also publishes the average exchange rates actually applied by Thai commercial banks. On October 22, for example, the average buying rate for a euro transfer at Thai banks was 37.4268 baht. On October 14, it was 37.2598 baht.

Fees and the exchange rate applied by your own bank or payment service provider may further affect the final amount.

The market looks to the ECB on Thursday
The next key date is Thursday, October 29. At 2:15 PM, the ECB will announce its latest interest rate decision. The central bank’s decision is not officially determined in advance; therefore, it is best to avoid stating as a fact that interest rates will remain unchanged.

Sources: European Central Bank, euro reference exchange rate for the Thai baht; European Central Bank, meeting agenda for October 29; Bank of Thailand, daily exchange rates

Source: Thailandblog 

You are Happy with TikTok ?

 

.

TikTok is an Corrupt Platform that Manipulated your Postings.

The push to use their Promotion Programs.

It's cheap without any value.
All your New Likes, come from fake empty Trollen Accounts.
It means you pay for Fake Likes

I was in the Years (2012 / 2013) Number ''ONE'' in Silicon Valley on the "Wall of Fame'' for creating Social Media Networks.

But TikTok has nothing to do with real Social Media
The want only manipulate you, and attack your wallet. 

 

My TikTok Account
You see many postings are low rated, means Restricted without any reasons.