Category: The Bangkok Post

A British YouTuber was forced to seek hospital help after his Samsung Galaxy Ring’s battery swelled and trapped his finger just before he was due to board a long-haul flight in Hawaii. Airport staff insisted the ring be removed due to fire concerns.

Daniel, the owner of the tech channel ZONEofTECH, shared photos of a swollen ring on social media platform X, and his injured finger. The incident occurred shortly before boarding.

The bloated battery raised alarms among Hawaii airport authorities, who feared it could ignite during the flight. With the ring stuck tightly on his finger, Daniel had no option but to rush to a nearby hospital, where doctors finally managed to remove it.

Afterwards, he speculated on possible causes, pointing to extreme heat in Hawaii, repeated flights, or exposure to seawater. The latter appeared most likely, as salt water is known to corrode electronic devices.

Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is rated for water resistance up to 10ATM and IP68, but these standards do not cover saltwater corrosion, which experts warn can directly damage batteries and other components. The case raises questions about durability under real-world conditions.

Amid growing pressure on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to modernise their IT infrastructure and prepare for the era of artificial intelligence, Lenovo has introduced a suite of solutions designed to make deployment, scaling and management simpler and more cost-effective.

These IT infrastructure solutions are tailored to help SMEs deploy, scale and leverage modern technology with ease. They are designed to accelerate growth and innovation from day one through pre-tested and validated bundles of servers, software and consumption-based pricing options that enable businesses to move faster from decision to deployment. Featuring guided set-up and built-in security, the solutions allow organisations to modernise outdated infrastructure quickly, preparing them for today’s AI-powered workplace while delivering insights wherever business happens.

In today’s fast-moving IT landscape, SMEs face mounting pressure to adopt AI and remain competitive despite limited resources, requiring technology that is both powerful and practical. To address this, Lenovo has adopted an SME-first approach with scalable solutions that are easy to implement, robust from the outset and focused on delivering immediate value.

‘SMEs face a challenging and competitive environment today, with many struggling to modernise IT while keeping costs under control. Lenovo is helping these enterprises stay current with solutions that remove traditional barriers of complexity and expense,’ said Sumir Bhatia, President, Asia Pacific, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Lenovo. ‘Our SME portfolio simplifies the way enterprises acquire, deploy and manage IT, accelerating innovation and operational efficiency from day one. By providing AI-ready, enterprise-grade technology that is flexible, secure and easy to adopt, we are giving SMEs the tools to compete and grow with confidence in today’s AI-driven era.’

Business Solutions Designed for Today and Ready for Tomorrow

Lenovo’s pre-tested and validated bundles are built to deliver enterprise-grade performance and reliability for SMEs without the usual complexity. By combining the industry’s most trusted servers with leading technology partners, these solutions make it easier to access next-generation IT at lower cost and with faster results – with no custom builds, no guesswork and no specialised teams required. Lenovo offers several pre-tested bundles, including the following:

Business Ready Infrastructure in a Box: Scale confidently with proven designs and simplified IT through Hyper-V Ready Node solutions built on the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR635 V3 or Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630 V4, validated with Windows Server 2025 Hyper-V and imaged with Windows Admin Console enabled.

AI Edge-Ready Node: Run modern applications wherever business happens with the cost-effective Lenovo ThinkEdge SE100, powered by Scale Computing HyperCore for lightweight, on-demand edge deployments – making enterprise-grade edge computing easy to adopt and manage for smaller teams.

Business Protection in a Box: Safeguard critical data and workloads with the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 V3 supporting up to 55 VMs, or the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630 V3 combined with ThinkSystem Storage Arrays supporting up to 140 VMs.

Kumar Mitra, Executive Director, CAP and ANZ, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Lenovo, added: ‘SMEs are the backbone of Thailand’s digital economy, yet AI adoption remains low, leaving many at a disadvantage. Lenovo’s new SME-ready solutions are designed to address this gap. Whether it is our Business Ready Infrastructure in a Box for simplified IT, AI Edge-Ready Node for modern applications anywhere, or Business Protection in a Box to safeguard critical workloads, these pre-tested, scalable and secure solutions with flexible consumption options help SMEs modernise efficiently and unlock AI-driven growth without the complexity or cost of building IT from scratch.’

Lenovo provides businesses with a streamlined, easy-to-manage experience from set-up to daily operations through Lenovo XClarity One, a secure cloud portal offering AI-driven visibility, control and preventative maintenance to minimise downtime and operating costs. For data protection, Lenovo integrates Veeam to safeguard workloads against ransomware and failures, enabling near-instant recovery so that SMEs can restore critical operations within minutes, without requiring a large IT team.

Additionally, Lenovo simplifies business transformation with validated AI configurations that offer a proven roadmap, eliminating the need to build AI from scratch. These new solutions deliver rapid results, with use cases ranging from real-time threat detection that strengthens security to customer insights that drive revenue growth.

Flexible IT Consumption Without the Extra Costs

Lenovo is reshaping IT consumption for SMEs with TruScale Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). Through leasing, subscriptions and consumption-based pricing, TruScale allows businesses to pay only for what they use, scaling services to exact requirements while simplifying control, support and integration, and avoiding unnecessary costs. Customers report up to 30% faster rollouts, accelerating the journey from purchase to productivity.

Closer to home in Asia-Pacific, Malaysia’s Microtree Sdn Bhd (M3) used TruScale to expand its portfolio with new ‘as-a-service’ offerings such as Backup-as-a-Service. By leveraging Lenovo’s flexible model, M3 avoided large upfront spending, brought solutions to market more quickly, and unlocked growth with SMEs. TruScale enables precise scaling without overspending, making it more than just a solution – it is a strategic advantage that accelerates operational agility.

The opposition People’s Party has sharply criticised the government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for pressing ahead with the controversial southern Land Bridge project, despite longstanding doubts about its financial and environmental viability.

In parliament on Tuesday, People’s Party MP Pukkamon Nun-anan questioned why the coalition, which has agreed to spend only four months in office, continues to tout the Land Bridge as a priority project, even though it was absent from the formal policy statement it presented on Monday.

The project envisions a 90-kilometre transport corridor linking two large new ports in Ranong on the Andaman coast and Chumphon on the Gulf of Thailand, aimed at offering an alternative to the congested Strait of Malacca.

Ms Pukkamon, however, argued that the economics do not add up.

Unlike a direct maritime route, she said, the Land Bridge would require unloading cargo, transporting it overland and reloading it onto another vessel, which adds cost and logistical hurdles that make it unattractive to shipping firms.

She pointed to government studies that predict the project would break even in 24 years, generating 58 billion baht in its first year, largely from fuel sales to cargo ships.

But to achieve such figures the project would need to sell 140 million tonnes of fuel annually, more than triple the current sales made in Singapore.

‘These numbers are implausible,’ Ms Pukkamon said, accusing state agencies of inflating forecasts to justify the scheme.

While the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy claims the project would yield 260 billion baht in profits, a National Economic and Social Development Council study projected a loss of 120 billion baht, even when broader economic benefits were factored in, she said.

Environmental experts also warned of at least one billion baht in lost fisheries income per year, while six World Heritage sites along the proposed corridor face severe risks, she added.

Ms Pukkamon accused the government of using the Land Bridge as a campaign tool to woo southern voters, rather than focusing on realistic development.

Over the past two years, Thailand has wasted valuable time as the Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra administrations pushed ahead with costly roadshows abroad to promote the Land Bridge, despite lacking clear figures on its viability, she said.

In the end, not a single credible investor emerged, according to Ms Pukkamon.

With only four months remaining in office, even the most skillful negotiations are unlikely to convince anyone to fund the project if the government insists on moving forward, she said.

Border trade with Cambodia plummeted by 99.9% year-on-year to just 10 million baht in August, while total border trade dropped by 3.1% to 150.1 billion baht, according to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT).

The department expects total border trade for the year to reach 1.81-1.85 trillion baht, a 1-2% growth, driven by transit trade to China, Singapore and Vietnam.

Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the DFT, said that border exports dropped by 14.7% to 75.06 billion baht in August, while imports rose by 12.2% to 75.07 billion baht.

Among Thailand’s four neigh- bouring countries, border trade with Malaysia recorded the highest value at 26.9 billion baht, a 5.7% drop; followed by Laos at 23.1 billion baht, a 0.1% decline; and Myanmar at 13.8 billion baht, a 20.8% fall. Key export items were diesel, computers and peripherals, along with other refined petroleum products.

Mrs Arada added that border exports to Cambodia decreased for a second consecutive month in August due to checkpoint closures. Border trade shrank by 97.5% in July before plummeting 99.9% to 10 million baht in August, which included Thailand’s exports of 5 million baht in wine, 1 million baht in minerals and fuel, and 1 billion baht in whisky.

“The trade will be disrupted if the checkpoints remain closed until the end of this year,” she said.

To support exporters to Cambodia, the department has implemented several relief measures. An initial survey identified about 100 affected businesses in sectors such as food and beverages, consumer products and auto parts.

These businesses will be prioritised for participation in six border trade fairs in 2026.

The department has also organised business matching activities to connect these entrepreneurs with buyers and border importers from various markets, along with transport operators offering special transportation rates for exporters.

Mrs Arada said the department plans to reassess the border trade target for 2026, but no specific trade target has been set for trade via the Cambodian border.

“If border trade for next year maintains the same level as this year, it can be considered an achievement. The initial target for 2027 has been set at 2 trillion baht, but this may require adjustments or alternative strategies to ensure we meet the goal,” she said.

In the first eight months of this year, border trade totalled 1.34 trillion baht, up 9.2%, with exports growing by 7.6% to 763.5 billion baht, and imports rising by 11.4% to 574.8 billion baht.

Former deputy finance minister Paopoom Rojanasakul expressed hope that the new government led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will continue the debt relief programmes for Thais that have benefited nearly 6 million people.

According to Mr Paopoom, who was also deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party during the administrations of Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Srettha Thavisin, within two years the government launched 15 measures addressing debt relief, debt suspensions, and additional lending through Finance Ministry mechanisms, helping close to 6 million people, in addition to the regular lending carried out by financial institutions.

“I strongly hope these programmes will be carried on by the Anutin administration and not be abandoned halfway. Specifically, debt relief programmes that have provided assistance to more than 5.61 million people,” he said.

The “Khun Su, Rao Chuay” (You Fight, We Help) programme, which was designed to help those struggling with mortgage, car and small business loan repayments, included 1.7 million debtors. This programme was a collaboration between the Bank of Thailand and several agencies to support retail borrowers and small businesses struggling with debt, enabling them to restructure loans, ease their financial burdens, and regain financial stability more quickly.

The agricultural debt-relief (farmer debt suspension) measure assisted 1.43 million farmers in Phase 1 and 1.34 million farmers in Phase 2, with a total debt amount of 202 billion baht.

The debt relief measure for Code 21 debtors covered 1.09 million people, with a total debt amount of 7.62 billion baht. “Code 21” refers to debtors affected by the pandemic and the economic slowdown.

The cooperative credit programme to address debts of government personnel supported 10,319 accounts, with total debts amounting to 4.12 billion baht.

In addition, the “People’s Bank” loan programme to address informal debt approved loans for 39,716 people, with total debts of 1.42 billion baht.

Rising household debt over recent years has raised government concerns that this burden would weigh on Thailand’s economic growth, prompting an urgent search for solutions.

According to the latest report from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), household debt in the second quarter of this year tallied 87.4% of GDP, marking the first contraction.

However, the NESDC warned that credit quality remains a serious concern. The contraction was largely due to tighter lending standards adopted by financial institutions, rather than a genuine improvement in households’ financial conditions.

Thai consumers present a paradox: low confidence in the economy yet resilient discretionary spending. This paradox mirrors dynamics seen in developed countries and regional peers like Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, and it presents a complex consumer behaviour landscape that modern businesses must navigate.

Despite a tight wallet, consumers across the financial spectrum are making adjustments and compromises to satisfy their wants. A young professional worker in Bangkok buys the latest smartphone through staggered instalments, while a construction worker takes his family out for dinner but waits for the month-end sale to restock the monthly groceries. Some groups borrow to maintain their lifestyles – a troubling cycle of debt and spending that warrants attention from both consumers and businesses

The inherently similar yet contrasting behaviours across different financial strata reflect the changes in how consumers across Thailand are managing their finances and making trade-offs based on personal circumstances.

Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) latest consumer research surveyed 3,000 respondents across Thailand to assess the complex and dynamic consumer landscape. The study explored household finances, attitudes toward income, debt, spending and saving, and the decision-making drivers behind consumption.

Overall sentiment and impact on spending

Overall confidence in the economy is low, with more than 60% of Thai consumers rating the current economic situation as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. The mass affluent consumer (MAC) – spanning households with monthly income of 15,000 baht or more – remains the most optimistic (feeling ‘good’ or ‘very good’ about the economy), but sentiment in lower income groups is deeply subdued both nationally and compared to regional peers. For reference, optimism around personal financial stability among Thais (39%) is comparable to the Philippines (35%) or Indonesia (47%), but significantly lower than the bigger economies of the region, namely China (59%) and India (61%).

This subdued sentiment mirrors broader national conditions. Political and economic uncertainty, a weak job market, limited income mobility among lower-income households, and some of the highest consumer debt levels in emerging markets have all dampened confidence and constrained spending.

When it comes to spending, necessities continue to take the most substantial bite out of already stretched wallets. The contrast between MAC and lower-income consumers is stark. MAC households still manage to funnel surplus funds into lifestyle upgrades and investments, while lower-income families remain anchored to basic necessities and small-ticket wants, often by drawing down on their savings. This disparity highlights the widening divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’.

Navigating the balance of want and need

Despite the backdrop of pessimistic consumer sentiment, Thai consumers stand out for how they juggle wants and needs in their spending decisions.

Contrary to conventional wisdom – and indeed their own claims – Thai consumers’ share of spending on discretionary categories continues to hold steady or grow. As cited in BCG’s Global Consumer Radar surveys, consumers typically don’t predict broad economic trends realistically; consequently, their predicted responses to those trends are not realistic. Similarly, for Thai consumers, broader economic outlook doesn’t impact their discretionary spending commitment. Even in a scenario where there is an income dip, discretionary spending takes around a quarter (22% to 25%) of total consumer spend.

This provides a glimpse into a consumer’s underlying desire for affluence and aspirational lifestyle goals – Instagram-worthy vacations, expensive goods, dining out, and similar hallmarks of status.

These aspirations show up in everyday choices, as consumers trim routine expenses to make room for the experiences and products they value most. Everyday staples are the first items of ‘need’ that we see pruned. This adjustment doesn’t manifest only as buying less volume, but in a variety of other different ways – buying items with discounts or buying more affordable brands.

This sacrifice of everyday needs to fulfil aspirations provides two clear takeaways for marketers seeking to appeal to the modern consumer.

The first opportunity lies in capturing a greater share of discretionary spending – not always on luxury products, but on items that give consumers the sense of a lifestyle upgrade. Sephora shows how this can work in practice – offering its own private-label products as affordable luxuries, while stocking prestige brands alongside them in the same stores. This offers consumers a unique mix of experiencing luxury while keeping spends on ‘wants’ in check.

The second opportunity is in value-tier offerings for essential goods such as groceries and household products, which many consumers view as a practical way to save costs. Muji exemplifies this approach by spanning the spectrum – from affordable essentials like cotton fabrics and basic storage solutions at the entry level, and scaling upward through premium offerings such as specialty textiles, compact modular furniture and other curated lifestyle products – thus enabling consumers to exercise choice and control over how much they spend, even on essential items.

Understanding the credit landscape

Spending and credit go hand-in-hand, meaning a full picture of Thai consumers must also take into account the current debt environment. Roughly one-third of Thai households carry 80% of personal debt, excluding mortgage and educational loans. This underscores a heavy debt mountain for a significant minority of the population.

Interestingly, these ‘top-debtors’ are notably skewed towards specific income segments. Almost 2 in 3 of these top-debtors are from the middle-class segment with a monthly household income of between 15,000 and 49,000 baht and hold about 3 times more debt than an average Thai consumer.

Understanding the complexities of this top-debtor landscape has important implications for consumers and businesses.

Top debtor danger zone

The delicate balance of ambition and means is creating pitfalls for top-debtors in Thailand. The spiral to borrow more to spend more begins by embracing a borrowing lifestyle, giving in to aspirations beyond the realities of household finances.

This borrow-to-spend mindset is pushing top debtors deeper into an expanding debt hole with loan values for this group rising six times faster than the average consumer’s over the past year. They also have a debt-to-service ratio that’s double the average. Compounding the problem, three out of four top debtors have not increased their repayments in the past year. Together, these dynamics signal growing momentum toward a debt spiral for this segment.

These debt dynamics tell an important story for Thailand’s economy. On one hand, they signal a growing willingness to borrow – especially among middle-class households, who are now the top borrowers. On the other, they expose the vulnerability of lower-income families, many of whom carry non-productive debt.

A sharper focus on risk assessment in debt financing is critical to curbing defaults. The Bank of Thailand introduced updated ‘Responsible Lending’ regulations effective January 31, 2025, to strengthen fair treatment and management across the entire loan lifecycle – from product design to debt transfers – aimed at more effectively resolving household debt issues.

Ultimately, Thailand’s paradox of subdued confidence and resilient spending underscores both risk and opportunity. Consumers continue to reach for lifestyle upgrades even as debt mounts, creating growth potential for businesses and responsibilities for lenders. Broadly speaking, while long-term structural growth in MAC is still robust for a middle-income market like Thailand (MAC population is expected to grow by 14% over the next 10 years), there is a need to navigate the short-to-mid-term effectively. The path forward lies in reconciling ambition with financial discipline – fostering sustainable consumption without fuelling unsustainable debt.

Special thanks:

The authors would like to thank Aditi Bathia (Expert Project Lead, Center for Customer Insight [CCI], Boston Consulting Group) for contributing her insights to this article.

China’s new visa programme aimed at attracting foreign tech talent kicks off this week, a move seen boosting Beijing’s fortunes in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington as a new US visa policy prompts would-be applicants to scramble for alternatives.

While China has no shortage of skilled local engineers, the programme is part of an effort by Beijing to portray itself as a country welcoming foreign investment and talent, as rising trade tensions due to US tariffs cloud the country’s economic outlook.

China has taken a series of measures to boost foreign investment and travel, opening more sectors to overseas investors and offering visa waivers for citizens from most European countries, Japan and South Korea among others.

“The symbolism is powerful: while the US raises barriers, China is lowering them,” said Iowa-based immigration attorney Matt Mauntel-Medici, referring to China’s new visa category, called the K visa, which launches tomorrow, Oct 1.

‘Exquisite’ timing

The K visa, announced in August, targets young foreign science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) graduates and promises to allow entry, residence and employment without a job offer, which could appeal to foreign workers looking for alternatives to US job opportunities.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it would ask companies to pay $100,000 (3.22 million baht) per year for H-1B worker visas, widely used by tech companies to hire skilled foreign workers.

“The US has definitely shot itself in the foot on H-1Bs, and the timing is exquisite for China’s K visa,” said Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy.

Other countries, including South Korea, Germany and New Zealand, are also loosening visa rules to attract skilled migrants.

Immigration experts say the main attraction of the K visa is no requirement of a sponsoring employer, which has been regarded as one of the biggest hurdles for those seeking H-1B visas.

The H-1B visa requires employer sponsorship and is subject to a lottery system, with only 85,000 slots available annually. The new $100,000 fee could further deter first-time applicants.

“It’s an appealing alternative for Indian Stem professionals seeking flexible, streamlined visa options,” said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian student at Sichuan University.

India was by far the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries.

Unanswered questions

Despite its promise, the K visa faces hurdles. Chinese government guidelines mention vague “age, educational background and work experience” requirements.

There are also no details on financial incentives, employment facilitation, permanent residency, or family sponsorship. Unlike the US, China does not offer citizenship to foreigners except in rare cases.

China’s State Council did not respond to a request for comment asking for more details on the logistics and underlying strategy of the K visa.

Language is another barrier: most Chinese tech firms operate in Mandarin, limiting opportunities for non-Chinese speakers.

Political tensions between Delhi and Beijing could also become a factor that could limit the number of Indian K visa applicants China is willing to accept, experts said.

“China will need to ensure Indian citizens feel welcome and can do meaningful work without Mandarin,” said Mr Feller.

Alternative for whom?

China’s talent recruitment has traditionally focused on China-born scientists abroad and overseas Chinese.

Recent efforts include home-purchase subsidies and signing bonuses of up to 5 million yuan ($702,200). These have drawn back US-based Chinese Stem talent, especially amid Washington’s growing scrutiny on ties to China.

“The recruitment effort targeting Indian tech talent in China is growing but remains moderate compared to the more intensive, well-established, and well-funded initiatives aimed at repatriating Chinese Stem talent,” said Sichuan University’s Das.

A Chinese Stem graduate who recently got a job offer from a Silicon Valley-based tech company was also sceptical about the K visa’s prospects.

“Asian countries like China don’t rely on immigration and local Chinese governments have many ways to attract domestic talent,” he said, declining to be named for privacy reasons.

The US has over 51 million immigrants — 15% of its population — compared to just 1 million foreigners in China, less than 1% of its population.

While China is unlikely to significantly alter its immigration policy to allow in millions of foreign workers, analysts say the K visa could still boost Beijing’s fortunes in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington.

“If China can attract even a sliver of global tech talent, it will be more competitive in cutting-edge technology,” Mr Feller said.?

Join us for keynote speech by Youssef Nassef, Director of the Adaptation Division at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As he shares his vision on ‘Shaping the Future of Resilience: A Vision for a Thriving Planet’.

Youssef Nassef has led the adaptation workstreams under the UNFCCC since their inception. He possesses over 30 years of experience in diplomacy and international environmental policy.

He led UNFCCC support for several initiatives on adaptation. These include the inception and support for National Adaptation Programmes of Action and National Adaptation Plans; the Nairobi Work Programme – an international knowledge hub for impacts, vulnerability and adaptation; and the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage. He recently created the Resilience Frontiers initiative which applies foresight for attaining post-2030 resilience.

Date: Friday, 3 October 2025

Time: 10.00 – 12.00

Venue: SX Grand Plenary Hall, Level G, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok

China’s Golden Week starts tomorrow, when over a billion mainland Chinese people return to their homes to celebrate with their families or go travelling abroad. In the lead-up to this, the Thai government, especially the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), have been working hard to urge Chinese travellers to visit the Land of Smiles.

This comes as many Chinese no longer see Thailand as a desired destination. The number of Chinese visitors has fallen by 35% year-on-year. The TAT predicts the number of Chinese tourist arrivals during Golden Week will drop 24% year-on-year.

Safety fears driven by reports about accidents and those covering scams, fraud and abduction have tarnished Thailand’s image. Chinese tourists are now flocking to Japan and South Korea, or other alternative destinations in our region, such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

There’s little wonder that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday told parliament that his government would prioritise tourist safety and convenience, while cracking down on scammers targeting visitors.

But the biggest challenge among these is how the government can improve public safety for tourists.

This is a systematic problem that cannot be addressed by deploying more police to patrol tourist destinations or installing more CCTVs.

Thai officials do not lack resources or laws to ensure public safety, which now includes the use of biometric technologies to trace foreign visitors.

Over the years, Thai police have successfully solved all criminal cases related to foreign visitors except the case of Tomoko Kawashita, a 25-year-old Japanese tourist, who was raped and killed in Wat Saphan Hin National Park in Sukhothai, central Thailand, over 17 years ago.

Meanwhile, most of our problems affecting tourism, such as accidental fires in hotels and entertainment venues, broken infrastructure, illicit drugs or even scammers, can be linked to corruption.

Unsafe hotels, such as those without a fire escape, get built when local officials turn a blind eye and developers ignore building construction codes.

Unsafe public infrastructure, such as broken escalators or roofs that cave in during heavy rain, as seen at Don Mueang airport several years ago, often results from poor or inadequate oversight.

Then there is the rampant use of illicit drugs, either in communities or tourist destinations, made possible due to the help of tea money paying officials to look the other way.

The proliferation of proxy businesses run by some foreign criminal groups is also made possible with the help of local officials and local people.

Without tackling corruption and enforcing the law, Thailand will not be safe either for locals or tourists.

Apart from improving public safety, it is about time the government and TAT renew their tourism strategy. TAT currently has a strategy to reposition Thailand as an upmarket and sustainable destination, not just a budget-friendly one. But in reality, the TAT and the government have targeted high tourist numbers.

Policy makers have not made sincere efforts to transform Thailand’s tourism industry into one that offers upmarket, safe and sustainable destinations that tourists want to revisit and stay longer.

The government needs to make drastic reforms. After all, tourists are alike. They love to visit countries where they are well taken care of.

Authorities are urging caution in northern and upper northeastern Thailand, where heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers remain likely over the next couple of days, despite Typhoon Bualoi having weakened into a strong low-pressure system.

The Thai Meteorological Department reported on Tuesday that Bualoi, now centred over northern Myanmar and Laos, is moving along the monsoon trough affecting upper northern Thailand.

The storm, combined with the strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, will continue to bring heavy rain.

Forecasters say high-risk provinces include Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan and Udon Thani.

Conditions are expected to gradually ease after Thursday.

In Uttaradit, river embankments broke and floods swept through three districts – Nam Pat, Thong Saen Khan, and Tha Pla – around 2am on Tuesday.

Governor Sirivat Bupphacharoen called an emergency meeting, ordering evacuations and full assistance for residents.

The local Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office has also deployed boats and supplies, while highways near Ton Sak Yai National Park and the Sirikit Dam were closed because of landslides and power pole collapses.

Phu Soi Dao National Park has been temporarily closed due to heavy rain and landslides.

In Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang district was hit hard. Flash floods from the overflowing Yuam River were reported to have damaged homes, farmland and bridges.

A 38-year-old woman died when a landslide buried her house.

Flooding was also reported in Baan Sob Harn at tambon Baan Kat, leaving some villages cut off.

Other flooded districts include Muang and Mae La Noi. The inundation impacted 36 villages in six sub-districts.

Local agencies, along with the military and volunteers, have set up relief kitchens and are delivering urgent aid.

In Phetchabun, flash floods struck Lom Sak and Lom Kao districts, submerging over 1,000 homes. Reservoirs also overflowed.