Thailand news.
Dated Thailand and Phuket reporting on travel, transport, development and regulation.
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NewsAsia's first Eurovision came to Bangkok, Thailand finished second, and nobody has said if it will return
The Philippines won the first Eurovision Song Contest Asia at One Bangkok Forum on 14 November with 211 points, and Thailand's MANG x DAOU finished second. The EBU has not yet announced a second edition.
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NewsBangkok will keep 35 parks open until midnight for Loy Krathong, but leave the bread krathong at home
The BMA will open 35 public parks in 22 Bangkok districts for Loy Krathong on 24 November 2026, until midnight. Foam and bread krathongs are discouraged, sky lanterns, fireworks and alcohol sales are banned in the parks, and there is an online option.
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NewsA Khon Kaen cave may hold rock paintings 10,000 years old, and officials are only now writing them down
A 10 November survey in Khon Kaen's Phu Pha Man National Park logged five archaeological sites, with red rock paintings estimated at up to 4,000 to 10,000 years old at Pha Thewada Cave. The Fine Arts Department will register and study the sites; no visitor arrangements have been announced.
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NewsCrossing the river tonight? Two Bangkok bridges will shut for Vijit Chao Phraya fireworks until 13 December
A Royal Gazette traffic order closes Memorial Bridge from 20:30 to 21:00 on 12 Vijit Chao Phraya nights and Rama III Bridge for half an hour on eight nights until 13 December. On 13 and 15 November and 5 December neither bridge is open from 20:30 to 21:30.
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NewsQuoted 28,000 baht to fly to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng? Thailand's aviation regulator says check the airline first
CAAT says the 18,000 to 28,000 baht Chiang Mai returns seen online for Yi Peng are agent and platform prices, not airline fares. Many airlines are sold out for 23 to 26 November, so check the airline directly, allow extra time and use complaint.caat.or.th if needed.
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News451 sharks in a single morning: Maya Bay has just logged its highest count on record
Thailand's national parks department counted a record 451 blacktip reef sharks in Maya Bay on 3 November 2026, the highest since monitoring began in 2023, with adults schooling and young sharks in the shallows. Here is how they were counted and what Phi Phi visitors should know.
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NewsBangkok is bracing for a worse smog season. Here is what City Hall has lined up
Bangkok City Hall has set out its 2026-27 PM2.5 plan: air pollution clinics at eight BMA hospitals, online doctors via the Mor BKK app, two million free masks, flag alerts and closure rules for BMA schools, and tighter truck controls on high-dust days.
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NewsTonight's meteor shower has no moon in the way. Here is when to look up in Thailand
NARIT says the Northern Taurids meteor shower is visible across Thailand from about 18:30 on 12 November until dawn, at around 10 meteors an hour with no moonlight. Southern rain may spoil the view, and the Leonids (17 to 18 November) and Geminids (14 to 15 December) follow.
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NewsYour overseas online shopping is about to cost more: Thailand lifts parcel duty to as much as 30%
Cabinet has approved charging full tariff rates, capped at 30 percent, on goods bought from overseas e-commerce sellers and sent by courier or post. Earbuds, sunglasses, jewellery and handbags are among the items that rise; the start date waits on a Royal Gazette notice.
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NewsBangkok warns share-bike riders: carry a passenger and you could lose your account
City Hall is tightening its Bike Sharing scheme after a surge in night riding: fines for breaking the rules, account bans for repeat offenders, repair bills for damage, and a GPS warning for anyone tempted to keep a bike.
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NewsTwo Michelin stars outside Bangkok for the first time: Phuket's PRU breaks the capital's grip
The MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2027 has promoted PRU in Phuket to two stars, the first restaurant outside Greater Bangkok to reach that level. Phuket also gains two one-star restaurants, Chiang Mai gets its first star, and the Bib Gourmand list grows to 151.
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NewsDiesel drivers finally get a full baht back, but B20 users are left waiting again
Standard diesel fell 1 baht a litre to 40.79 baht in Bangkok on 11 November, the third pump-price cut in a week, while gasohol and petrol fell 50 satang and B20 did not move. Here are the new prices, the Oil Fuel Fund changes behind them and what a tank now costs.
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NewsThe Chao Phraya could spill over on your morning commute until 17 November
The Navy's tide forecast puts the Chao Phraya near or above its critical level on most mornings until 17 November 2026, and disaster and water agencies have warned Bangkok and seven nearby provinces. Here are the tide windows, the areas and roads named, and what riverside residents can do.
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NewsPhuket's main landfill has stopped taking rubbish, and nobody can say when it will reopen
Phuket City Municipality suspended all waste deliveries to the island's disposal centre on 8 November 2026 after the landfill passed capacity in its seventh crisis. Here is why it happened, the numbers behind it, and what it could mean for rubbish collection where you live.
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NewsBooked with Thai Airways? Your details could be among 60,529 records exposed in a data breach
Thai Airways says unauthorised users accessed about 60,529 passenger booking records held by its reservation provider Amadeus between August 2023 and September 2026. Card details were not affected. Here is what was exposed, who will be contacted and what to watch for.
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NewsThai petrol fell twice in two days, but diesel drivers got far less relief
Standard gasohol and regular petrol are 1.70 baht a litre cheaper after cuts on 5 and 6 November 2026, while B7 diesel fell only 0.75 baht and B20 did not move. Here are the Bangkok prices, the Oil Fuel Fund changes behind them and what a 50-litre tank now costs less.
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NewsWorking in Thailand past 60? A cabinet-backed bill would lift the social security age cap to 65
Thailand's cabinet approved a draft Social Security Act amendment on 3 November 2026 that would raise the Section 33 age limit for insured employees from 60 to 65, add lump-sum and early-access options for old-age savings and let retired pensioners keep medical cover. It still needs the House's approval.
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NewsKrabi just got its first Fairfield by Marriott, and it is sitting right in Ao Nang
On 3 November 2026 Marriott opened Fairfield by Marriott Krabi Ao Nang Beach, the brand's first hotel in Thailand, with 218 rooms and suites in the heart of Ao Nang. Bangkok Post confirmed the debut two days later.
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NewsYour hotel can serve drinks on Visakha Bucha now. The shop downstairs still cannot
A new Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee notice, listed in the Royal Gazette on 6 November 2026 and in force from 7 November, keeps Thailand's alcohol sales ban on five Buddhist holy days but carves out hotels, international-airport passenger buildings, licensed entertainment venues and two further categories that need later ministerial lists.
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NewsToday's official rain map is blunt: three southern provinces face very heavy rain
The Thai Meteorological Department published warning bulletin 14, dated 8 November 2026, forecasting increased rain across southern Thailand on 8 and 9 November, with heavy rain in many areas and very heavy rain in some. Its 06:00 map names Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla and Pattani for very heavy rain today.
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NewsFlying Germany to Thailand this winter? Condor just added a second daily Bangkok option
On 4 November 2026 Condor started a daily Frankfurt to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi flight via Abu Dhabi on an Airbus A330neo, codeshared with Etihad. It runs alongside Condor's existing nonstop Frankfurt to Bangkok service, giving travellers two daily options.
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NewsSkipping the long Gulf drive? Hua Hin and Surat Thani now have a direct flight four days a week
EZY Airlines started scheduled nonstop flights between Hua Hin and Surat Thani on 7 November 2026, running Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on a Cessna 208B. Published times are 90 minutes each way.
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NewsThai inflation just broke through the central bank's ceiling for the first time in nearly four years, and the fuel pump is doing most of the damage
Official Commerce Ministry figures show Thailand's headline inflation hit 3.90% in October 2026, the highest in 45 months and above the Bank of Thailand's 1% to 3% target band. Fuel prices, up 29.18% on a year earlier, accounted for about 56% of the rise, while core inflation was 1.58%.
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NewsDriving back from Khao Yai on a Sunday? From 8 November, M6 keeps you on the motorway past Pak Chong
From Sunday 8 November 2026, the Department of Highways will run a weekly afternoon and evening traffic pattern on Motorway 6 between Pak Chong and Muak Lek. Inbound drivers towards Bangkok stay on the motorway through a reversible lane; outbound drivers towards Nakhon Ratchasima must leave at Muak Lek and use Mittraphap Road before rejoining at Pak Chong.
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NewsDriving over Patong Hill after dark? Expect one lane and concrete trucks for the rest of November
The Phuket Highways Office has started spraying concrete onto the hillside above Patong Hill Road, the main route between Kathu and Patong, with temporary night-time diversions from 5 November until the work is finished. Here is when to expect delays and what else is happening on the hill.
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NewsThailand's foreign arrivals are still down for 2026. October was the steepest fall yet, but long-haul is climbing into high season
Preliminary Ministry of Tourism and Sports figures show 25.46 million international arrivals from January to October 2026, down 4.59% year on year. October alone fell about 12%, the steepest monthly drop so far this year, while long-haul arrivals rose for a fifth straight week into early high season.
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NewsBangkok's shared bikes jumped 60% in a single month, and much of the riding now happens after dark
Bangkok's city-backed bike-sharing scheme logged 171,492 trips in October 2026, up about 60% on September, City Hall says, with evening rides around the old town on Rattanakosin Island driving the jump. Here is what changed, where the busiest docks are and how to ride.
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NewsThailand's MotoGP Grandstand sold out in about three minutes last time. Here's how to get 2027 tickets when sales open on 9 November
Tickets for the 2027 Grand Prix of Thailand at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, which opens the MotoGP season on 5 to 7 March 2027, go on sale worldwide at 2pm Thai time on Monday 9 November 2026 through 7-Eleven and the AllTicket website. Grandstand seats cost 5,000 baht, and a 30% early bird discount on cheaper stands runs for the first week.
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NewsBangkok's 45-baht train fare cap is approved for 2027, but as planned, foreign residents won't get the refund
Thailand's Cabinet has approved a single fare system for every rail line in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces, with one trip costing no more than 45 baht from 1 January to 31 December 2027. The saving comes as a refund through the Paotang app, and the official outline limits it to registered Thai citizens, so most expats should expect to keep paying normal fares.
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NewsBuying an imported EV in Thailand? The excise tax jumps to 35 per cent on 1 January
Thailand's Cabinet has approved raising the excise tax on fully imported battery electric and range-extended electric cars to 35 per cent from 1 January 2027, up from 10 and 15 per cent. Locally built EVs and those using Thai-made parts are not the target, so expats shopping for an electric car now have a clear question to put to dealers.
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NewsFlying to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng? Airlines have already cancelled 108 flights
Airlines have cancelled 108 flights, retimed 80 and added 105 extra services at Chiang Mai International Airport between 21 and 28 November 2026, as the airport cuts flying around the Yi Peng lantern releases. Flights are being kept out of three windows on 24 and 25 November, and passengers are told to check with their airline and arrive early.
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NewsNew Phuket EV bus links the airport with Rawai: route 8580 fares, stops and times
Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation officially opened electric bus route 8580 on 2 November 2026, linking Phuket Airport with Ban Rawai along Chaloem Phra Kiat Rama 9 Road. Ten air-conditioned buses run the roughly 51 km route, with distance-based fares from 40 to 120 baht and services from both ends between 05:45 and 20:00.
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NewsM6 motorway changes this week: new Sikhio and Kham Thale So access, and a planned Bang Pa-in exit closure
From midday on 2 November 2026, drivers on the M6 Bang Pa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima motorway can use new entry and exit points at Sikhio and Kham Thale So without side diversions. From 6 November, the Department of Highways plans to close the M6 exit to the western M9 towards Bang Bua Thong at the Bang Pa-in 2 interchange until about the end of March 2027.
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NewsFour trains now stop right at the Udon Thani Horticultural Expo, with a new temporary halt until 14 March
The State Railway of Thailand has opened a temporary stop beside the Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026. From 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027, two express trains and two local trains call there in each direction, including Express 75 from Krung Thep Aphiwat in Bangkok, and the local trains carry an extra air-conditioned carriage.
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NewsTAT plans 100-baht weekday travel vouchers for Thais and foreign residents, with sales from 15 December
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is preparing a campaign called 100 Baht, Travel Across Thailand, open to Thai travellers and foreigners living in Thailand. Vouchers priced at 100 baht will go on sale online in eight Tuesday rounds between 15 December 2026 and 9 February 2027, and can only be used from Monday to Thursday. Full buying instructions have not been released yet.
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NewsDon Mueang Airport switches to pat-down security checks from 1 November 2026: what passengers need to know
From Sunday 1 November 2026, Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok is replacing handheld metal-detector checks with pat-downs for passengers who set off a walk-through detector or body scanner. The airport says screening may take a little longer at busy times. Here is what changes, what the Thai aviation rules say about your privacy, and how to get through security quickly.
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NewsThailand's stargazing season is open: free Saturday nights at five NARIT observatories and the dates to know
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) opened its 2026 to 2027 cool-season stargazing festival on Saturday 31 October at five sites in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Chachoengsao and Songkhla. Free Saturday public nights run from 18:00 to 22:00 with no booking needed, and the calendar includes the Geminid meteor shower in December, a Bangkok stargazing night in January and two open days at the national observatory on Doi Inthanon.
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NewsThailand's new SME payment deadlines start on 2 November: 45 days for most supplies, 30 for farm goods
From Monday 2 November 2026, large businesses and big wholesale and retail chains in Thailand are expected to pay their small and medium-sized suppliers within 45 days for general trade, manufacturing and services, and within 30 days for agricultural goods. The Trade Competition Commission of Thailand's notification was published in the Royal Gazette on 2 October. Here is who it covers, when the clock starts and what counts as an unfair practice.
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NewsDiwali in Thailand 2026: seven free celebrations in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket from 3 to 29 November
The Amazing Thailand Grand Diwali Festival 2026 brings seven free-entry celebrations to Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket between 3 and 29 November, with five diya-lighting ceremonies, Indian food, music and markets. Phuket's event is a Diwali Day food festival at Central Patong on Sunday 8 November. Here are the dates, venues and times announced so far.
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NewsBank of Thailand: cash deals of 5 million baht or more at branches face extra checks from 1 November
From Sunday 1 November 2026, Thai banks must run enhanced checks on cash transactions at branches that reach 5 million baht or more in a single day, including large foreign currency exchanges. Staff may ask where the money came from, what it is for and for supporting documents. The Bank of Thailand says transactions made through electronic channels are not covered.
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NewsPattaya International Jazz Festival 2026: free beachfront concerts on 6 and 7 November, with Kenny G headlining
The Pattaya International Jazz Festival returns to Pattaya Beach on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November 2026. Entry is free, music starts in the late afternoon on both days, and the American saxophonist Kenny G is due to close the festival on the Saturday night. Here is what is confirmed, the running order reported so far and some practical points for residents and visitors.
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NewsBank of Thailand lines up new rules for money changers, credit checks and buy now pay later
The Bank of Thailand says it is preparing five new measures, to be issued or opened for public comment between November 2026 and March 2027: tighter standards for licensed money changers, cheaper credit bureau checks, supervision of buy now pay later lenders, controls on cash gold deals above 10 million baht and rules for baht-backed stablecoins. None is in force yet. Here is what was announced on 29 October and what it could mean if you live in Thailand.
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NewsDiesel down 1 baht as Thailand drops assumed shipping costs from its fuel price formula
Thailand's Energy Ministry has removed assumed shipping, insurance and loss costs from the formula used to set refinery-gate fuel prices since 2004, cutting wholesale prices by up to 35 satang a litre from 29 October 2026. The Oil Fund committee lowered B7 diesel by 1 baht to 42.54 baht a litre the same day, and pump prices held at that level on 30 October. Here is what changed and what it means at the pump.
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NewsThailand's No ID, No Ads rule starts on 1 November: what it means if you advertise on social media
From Sunday 1 November 2026, social media platforms covered by a Thai notification must verify the identity of anyone paying to show adverts to people in Thailand, including advertisers based abroad. Ordinary posts are not affected. If you run a business, boost posts or promote a rental or service online, here is what the government and the regulator have said.
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NewsBank of Thailand holds rate at 1% and warns inflation will rise into early 2027
The Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee kept the policy rate at 1.00 percent on 28 October 2026. It now expects headline inflation to average 2.1 percent this year, rising into early 2027 on energy prices and El Niño, and noted a weaker baht and fewer foreign tourists ahead. Here is what the decision means for everyday costs, loans and money sent into Thailand.
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NewsBelavia's scheduled Minsk to Phuket flights start on 29 October
Belavia Belarusian Airlines begins twice-weekly scheduled flights between Minsk and Phuket on Thursday 29 October 2026, days after its first scheduled Minsk to Bangkok service landed. Here is what the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the airline have confirmed, and what it means for Phuket.
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NewsKuwait Airways opens direct Kuwait to Phuket flights, twice a week
Kuwait Airways flew its first non-stop service from Kuwait to Phuket on 27 October 2026 and will operate the route every Tuesday and Saturday. Here is the timetable the Tourism Authority of Thailand has published, the peak-season plan, and why the route matters for Phuket's Gulf market.
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NewsE20 and B20 drop to 33.50 baht a litre as Thailand cuts fuel excise for three months
Thailand's Cabinet has cut the excise tax on E20 gasohol and B20 diesel from 28 October 2026 to 27 January 2027. Pump prices at PTT and Bangchak fell to 33.50 baht a litre for both fuels, while petrol 91 and 95 and regular diesel are unchanged. Here is what changed, why the pump cut is smaller than the tax cut, and what drivers should check before switching.
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NewsBangkok's Flood Emergency Fund Is Down to 28 Million Baht as City Seeks 1.14 Billion for Home Repairs
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt says the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has spent 372 million of its 400 million baht emergency budget on flood relief and will ask the city council on Wednesday 28 October to release 1,139 million baht for home repairs. Here is where the money has gone, what flood victims can claim and how to apply.
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NewsThailand's 10-Year LTR Visa Moves to a Joined-Up Online Review: What Has Actually Changed
The Board of Investment says Long-Term Resident visa applications are now checked through one integrated portal shared by four government agencies, after 12,010 approvals in four years. Applying online is not new, but the review behind it is. Here is what changed, who qualifies and what it costs.
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NewsVietnam Plans a 'Talent Visa' With a Five-Year Tax Break: How It Compares With Thailand's DTV
Vietnam's Ministry of Home Affairs has published a draft National Assembly resolution that would create a 'Vietnam Talent Visa', a five-year personal income tax exemption and work permit exemptions for selected foreign experts. Here is what the proposal says, what is already in force, and how it stacks up against Thailand's Destination Thailand Visa.
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NewsThailand's checked-bag search rule: what CAAT has now clarified for domestic and international flyers
Ten days after airport staff gained the power to open flagged checked bags without the owner present, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand says the rule covers domestic flights too, and power banks are the item most often found.
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NewsPhuket hop-on hop-off bus launches with 11-stop route
The new City Sightseeing Phuket service links Old Town, temples and visitor attractions from Central Phuket Floresta, with hourly departures advertised from 10am to 4pm.
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NewsThailand Visa-Free Stay Is Now 30 Days: September 2026 Rules
Thailand's revised visa-exemption rules took effect on 15 September 2026. The old 60-day scheme has ended, but the exact route still depends on your passport and purpose of travel.
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NewsThailand's Nominee Crackdown Is Hitting Phuket Property and Business Buyers
For years, nominee talk in Phuket sat in that grubby category of things everybody knew existed and too many people treated as normal. The June 2026 sweeps are the point where that starts looking a lot less clever.
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NewsSimilan Islands reopen for the 2026–27 season: what Phuket travellers should know
Mu Ko Similan National Park reopened on 15 October after its monsoon closure. The confirmed changes include electronic tickets, conservation briefings and tighter visitor management.
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NewsVirgin Atlantic's Heathrow–Phuket route is now flying: the winter schedule
Virgin Atlantic's first seasonal London Heathrow–Phuket service has arrived. Here is what the airline and Tourism Authority of Thailand currently say about the route, its operating days and its March 2027 end date.
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