Category: The Bangkok Post

The government is considering a 15-day visa exemption for Indian travellers and a 30-day exemption for all European Union (EU) countries, while assessing that easing geopolitical tensions could lift tourism revenue this year back to 2025 levels.

Meanwhile, a new phase of the domestic tourism co-payment scheme is set to launch, with discounts for 1 million hotel room-nights, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on Tuesday.

He said that revisions to visa rules for certain countries would be proposed at the next meeting of the visa policy committee, overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The cabinet on May 19 approved scrapping 60-day visa-free entry for travellers from 93 countries and introduced new entry rules for each country. However, the measure has yet to take effect as it requires publication in the Royal Gazette, leaving room for amendments.

Mr Surasak said the next visa committee meeting would consider granting a 15-day visa exemption for Indian travellers, who currently must apply for a visa on arrival.

Some EU countries that currently receive no entry privileges would be granted the same treatment as other EU member states: Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Malta.

The reduction in visa exemptions should not have a negative impact on the tourism industry, particularly as geopolitical tensions have eased following an interim peace agreement between the US and Iran, Mr Surasak said.

The ministry expects foreign tourism revenue this year to remain on par with last year, reaching 1.53 trillion baht from 32.9 million visitors.

For domestic tourism, the ministry is drafting a proposal for a new phase of the co-payment scheme, with funding expected from the 2027 central budget that will take effect on Oct 1.

He said the initial budget would be similar to previous phases at around 3 billion baht, offering 3,000 baht per room night, which can be claimed via the Paotang mobile app. The project is expected to begin in October.

Details of the project still require refinement as the ministry is establishing a new tourism promotional policy committee, bringing together representatives from the private sector and agencies under the ministry, said Mr Surasak.

Other pending incentives for foreign travellers, such as free domestic air tickets or subsidies for chartered flights, could be considered once the committee is formed.

Weekday focus

Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said that if the government can offer the hotel subsidy scheme within the final quarter, it will help absorb a substantial portion of travel costs for Thais, as room rates in the high season are expected to rise as global tensions ease.

He said the scheme should focus on weekday bookings and provide more attractive incentives for destinations other than Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

‘There are many provinces categorised as first-tier locations, making them ineligible to receive privileges similar to second-tier destinations. But these first-tier areas are not posting strong tourism performances like key cities,’ he said.

La-iad Bungsrithong, a THA board adviser, said the government should also consider reviving tax deductions for tourism expenses.

This measure is one of the most effective tools to increase domestic spending for both individual travellers and corporations, particularly when taxpayers are encouraged to spend in order to receive specific benefits tailored for them, she said.

The Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) and City Mountain Bike (CTM) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday to promote and develop Extreme Cross-Country (XCE) mountain bike racing throughout Asia.

The agreement is likely to lay the foundation for a sustainable competition network and create new opportunities for athletes, event organisers and host cities in the future.

The strategic partnership agreement was signed by Amarjit Singh Gill, President of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), and Christophe Brunnel, Chief Executive Officer of City Mountain Bike (CTM). Witnessing the ceremony was Gen Decha Hemkrasri, ACC vice president and chief of the Thai Cycling Association.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gill expressed his appreciation to the Thai association for hosting the signing event and highlighted the immense potential of XCE racing in Asia.

“Extreme Cross-Country is an exciting and innovative discipline that brings mountain biking into urban environments. We believe this format has enormous growth potential, not only in Europe but also throughout Asia. Mountain bike racing, particularly the Eliminator format, is already gaining popularity and presents significant opportunities for further development in our region,” he said.

Gill noted that one of the greatest strengths of XCE is its ability to bring cycling directly to the public by staging competitions in city centres, community spaces, public parks and shopping districts, rather than in remote off-road locations.

The ACC President also emphasised the value of City Mountain Bike events in promoting sports tourism.

Brunnel stressed that youth development remains at the heart of the project.

“Young people are the future of cycling. Through Eliminator racing, we bring an exciting and spectator-friendly competition format into the heart of cities, allowing people to experience cycling up close and understand what our sport is truly about,” he said.

Gen Decha welcomed the initiative and described it as positive news for Asian cycling.

He noted that through the leadership of ACC president Gill, Thailand has been selected as one of the countries set to host City Mountain Bike events in Asia, alongside Malaysia and other potential destinations.

“Thailand offers outstanding tourism resources and excellent infrastructure. Traditionally, mountain bike and Eliminator competitions were held outside urban areas, but this concept brings the sport directly into cities, creating attractive events that can support tourism promotion,” Gen Decha said.

Extreme Cross-Country (XCE) is a short-format mountain bike discipline contested on compact urban courses featuring both natural and man-made obstacles, including jumps, stair sections, tight corners and technical features that challenge riders’ skills.

Immigration police in Pattaya have arrested a South Korean national accused of distributing explicit videos online and possessing a large cache of illicit drugs, marking a major bust in a nationwide crackdown on transnational crime.

The operation was part of a broader campaign ordered by national police chief Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch targeting foreign criminal networks in major tourist destinations. Acting on intelligence, officers from Immigration Division 3 obtained a search warrant from the Pattaya Municipal Court and raided a local condominium unit on Sunday.

During the raid, authorities arrested a 30-year-old South Korean man identified only as “Dong-geun,” who investigators allege operated an X account to post sexually explicit videos featuring himself and Thai women.

Officers also discovered a substantial supply of narcotics inside the condominium, including 21.3g of crystal meth, 304.3g of ketamine, 296 ecstasy tablets, and nine etomidate vape pods.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has denied allegations that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is being used to discredit the main opposition People’s Party (PP) following an investigation into list-MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu over alleged links to a forex scam.

Speaking at Government House on Monday, Mr Anutin dismissed claims that the probe was politically motivated, insisting he has no intention of weaponising the agency.

“If I were trying to politically harass people, many others would have already been targeted. I have never thought of doing such things,” he said.

When asked whether the case was retaliation for Mr Pawoot’s recent criticism of the government’s TH-AI Passport project, Mr Anutin said legal procedures must simply run their course.

Meanwhile, Mr Pawoot stated on Facebook that he is gathering documents to clarify the allegations with the DSI and pledged full cooperation.

He noted that because the incident occurred several years ago, collecting records from financial institutions to brief both the DSI and his party will take some time.

The controversy erupted after the DSI named Mr Pawoot during a progress report on its investigation into illegal forex investment networks.

PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said on Monday that Mr Pawoot has already addressed the matter publicly and is ready to cooperate with authorities.

However, he noted that the party is waiting for clearer details from the DSI regarding the exact nature of the allegations, emphasising that Mr Pawoot remains only a suspect at this stage.

PP secretary-general Picharn Chaowapattanawong stated that while the party has strict internal disciplinary procedures and will not protect anyone found guilty of wrongdoing, the timing of the leak raises concerns.

He said that the PP had recently intensified its scrutiny of the TH-AI Passport project, raising fears that the DSI’s allegations are a targeted attempt to undermine Mr Pawoot’s credibility.

Authorities are benefiting from a drop in global crude oil prices by collecting levies from diesel and gasohol users through the Oil Fuel Fund to repay massive debts incurred by the fuel price subsidy programme, following the outbreak of the Israel-US war on Iran in late February.

West Texas Intermediate and Brent benchmarks have fallen by 9% on average, from US$84.8 and $87.3 per barrel respectively on June 12 to $76.6 and $79.23 per barrel on June 18, said Thai Oil Plc, the country’s largest refinery by production capacity.

Before the war, Brent crude prices averaged between $63-70 per barrel, according to media reports.

The drop caused motorists to expect they would be able to buy cheaper fuel, but they will not see a significant decrease in retail fuel prices for some time, said an energy official who requested anonymity.

“This is because it is time for the government to pay back money to oil traders,” he said.

Weeks after the war, the government subsidised diesel and gasohol prices through the Oil Fuel Fund by asking oil companies to cap retail fuel prices. It would later compensate the firms for the financial burdens they shouldered.

The drop in crude prices allows officials to resume levy collections from motorists.

As of June 22, users of diesel contributed 0.65 baht a litre, while gasohol 95 users paid 3.1 baht a litre, according to the Energy Policy and Planning Office.

The levies are among the key factors that make diesel and gasohol 95, which is blended with 10% ethanol, remain expensive.

On June 22, gasohol 95 was sold at 38.85 baht a litre while diesel prices stood at 37.5 baht a litre.

Gasohol 95 and diesel prices had been 30.85 and 29.94 baht a litre, respectively, on Jan 20.

According to the Energy Ministry, the Oil Fuel Fund gained 2.45 billion baht on March 1 and plunged sharply to a loss of 58.5 billion baht as of June 22.

The PGA Tour has announced sweeping changes to its competitive structure, approving a two-tiered system with promotion and relegation to take effect in 2028.

The PGA Tour Championship Series and the PGA Tour Challenger Series will establish a ?true meritocracy with a formal ?structure for promotion and relegation, officials of the top US men’s golf tour said on Tuesday.

The Championship Series will feature the top players competing head-to-head, driving a season narrative that identifies the best golfer in the world.

The Challenger Series will be the primary pathway to Championship Series offering players the chance to advance to the top of the sport.

“From day one, the focus of the Future Competition Committee has been to build the best version of the PGA Tour, and to do so in ?a way that reflects the voice of our players and the expectations of our fans,’ PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said in a press release.

“The result is a new competitive model grounded in meritocracy, with clearer pathways, higher stakes and more consistency when the best players compete together.”

The Championship Series will run from approximately February through August and ?feature 23 or 24 events with minimum purses of $20 million, including the four majors, Players Championship, season-ending events and team events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. The fields will be 120 ?players, average.

According to the press release, the PGA Tour said new markets under consideration for the remaining events yet to be filled on the Championship Series include Boston, Denver, ?New ?York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC.

Full eligibility criteria will be finalised later this year, including select additional exemptions for categories ?like tournament winners, medical extensions and career milestones. There will be no sponsor exemptions.

The Challenger Series, which will run concurrently to the Championship Series, will have a minimum of 20 events with $4-million purses and feature emerging talent along with players fighting their way ?back to the top. Fields will be filled to 144 players.

The new competitive structure ?introduces true promotion and relegation, with a minimum of 90 players retained on the Championship Series and 20 players promoted from the Challenger Series each season.

In addition, two-time winners on the Challenger Series will earn immediate promotion to the Series. There will also ?be a ‘last chance’ series of four to six events where ?a limited number of spots on the Championship Series for will be available.

The baht is likely to continue its depreciation trend in the near term after falling below 33 to the dollar, unless the Bank of Thailand sends a hawkish signal on Wednesday about a potential interest rate increase, says Kasikorn Research Center.

The Thai currency weakened to a 13-month low of 33.18 baht to the greenback on Tuesday from Monday’s close of 32.93 amid growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve may raise interest rates later this year to curb inflation risks, said Kanjana Chockpisansin, head of banking and financial sector research at the K-Research.

Fed funds futures are now pricing in a 54% probability that the Fed will deliver two 25-basis-point rate hikes before the end of this year.

Meanwhile, uncertainty in the Middle East remains elevated despite progress in peace negotiations between the US and Iran. Although Washington has temporarily allowed Iran to resume oil exports for 60 days, several key issues remain unresolved and are still subject to ongoing talks, Ms Kanjana said.

For the year to date, the baht has depreciated by 4.9%, compared with 6.6% for the Indonesian rupiah, 6.4% for the Korean won and 5.1% for the Indian rupee.

The dollar index extended its gains on Tuesday, rising above 101.00, while gold prices fell 1.6% from the previous session to $4,118 an ounce.

‘Instead of gold, which is a safe-haven asset and normally used to hedge against inflation, massive capital flows have recently been drawn to the dollar given unease surrounding the US-Iran peace agreement,’ Ms Kanjana told the Bangkok Post.

With the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) widely expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at Wednesday’s meeting, in line with the Fed decision last week amid lingering inflation concerns, K-Research believes the the baht’s depreciation is unlikely to abate.

‘Unless the Thai central bank clearly indicates a potential interest rate hike, citing inflation concerns, we don’t expect the baht to reverse course,’ she said.

K-Research expects the Thai currency to weaken to 33.30 or 33.50 to the dollar until the US-Iran peace negotiations show clear signs of development.

‘That would ease the dollar’s strength, causing the baht to appreciate,’ said Ms Kanjana.

Poon Panitchpibun, money market strategist at Krungthai Global Markets, shared a similar view, noting that for the near term the baht is likely to remain under downward pressure from dollar strength until market participants scale back their expectations for further Fed rate hikes.

‘While developments in the Middle East have improved in line with our expectations, supporting a more benign inflation outlook, these factors have largely been priced in by the market,’ he said.

Investors should remain cautious about tensions in the Middle East flaring up again, which could result in higher energy prices and reinforce expectations of additional Fed tightening, easily exerting downward pressure on the baht, Mr Poon said.

The cabinet has approved the expansion of the list of price-controlled goods and services to 66, with fish sauce, soy sauce and white sea bass among the additions.

The list now includes 61 essential goods and five services, for which providers must seek prior approval for price changes.

The central committee on prices of goods and services reviews the list at least once a year, along with prevailing market conditions, as part of efforts to curb unfair pricing practices and help manage the cost of living.

Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said the new list consolidates previously approved controlled goods and services, while adding five new categories: soybean meal, white sea bass, young coconuts and coconut products, soy sauce and fish sauce.

Soy sauce and fish sauce were separated from the broader category of ‘seasoning sauces’ to provide clearer regulatory oversight and better reflect market conditions, she said.

Maintaining the list of controlled items will allow the authorities to monitor market developments, supervise pricing, prevent consumer exploitation and ensure adequate supplies.

Separately, the cabinet on Tuesday approved an extension of measures aimed at mitigating the impact of the Middle East war, as proposed by the Ministry of Commerce.

The Green Flag Low-Cost Plus programme and the Cost-of-Living Relief programme have been extended until September, while retaining the same budget of 180 million baht.

Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan, a deputy government spokeswoman, said the extension would ensure the programmes support farmers’ access to affordable agricultural inputs.

A growing narrative hinting at a faster-than-expected US interest rate hike could push gold prices down to US$3,600 an ounce or as low as 55,000 baht per baht weight for domestic gold bars in the near term amid persistent concerns over elevated inflation, says YLG Bullion and Futures.

YLG chief executive Tipa Nawawattanasub said the key near-term pressure for gold is US monetary policy, as markets are wrestling with the possibility of “higher-for-longer” Federal Reserve (Fed) rates and an earlier-than-expected tightening cycle.

“While the June meeting and recent polls suggest the Fed will hold rates steady, there are growing narrative hints of a faster-than-expected tightening cycle,” said Ms Tipa.

If the Fed hikes in October, driven by sticky inflation from energy shocks and prolonged conflicts, that would be a major headwind for gold, pushing real yields, currently sitting around 2%, and the dollar higher.

YLG sees immediate psychological support for gold at $4,000 for the time being, or 61,000 baht per baht weight for domestic gold bars.

Bullion has decreased 9.41%, or $430 an ounce, over the last 30 days due to lingering conflicts in the Middle East pushing global oil prices to skyrocket.

“If $4,000 is breached, gold will likely find its ultimate bottom at $3,600. Given the exchange rate of 32.5 baht to the dollar, domestic gold bars would be quoted at 55,000 per baht weight,” she told the Bangkok Post.

Goldman Sachs last Friday slashed its gold price forecast by $500 an ounce to reflect the increased likelihood that the Fed will raise rather than cut interest rates this year.

In the event of a rate hike, the bank sees the year-end gold price falling to $4,400 as “demand for gold as a macro policy hedge could unwind more persistently”.

Ms Tipa, however, reiterated that the gold price is currently undergoing a consolidation, not a structural trend reversal.

The long-term upside remains firmly intact because core structural drivers, primarily aggressive central bank demand, dedollarisation trends and high sovereign debt levels, continue to underpin longer-term support.

Central banks worldwide made net purchases of gold totalling 244 tonnes in the first quarter, a 3% increase year-on-year.

Central bank purchases in the first three months were also higher than the previous quarter and the five-year average, she noted.

Beijing has expanded its reserves for the 19th consecutive month as of May, adding 10 tonnes that month and 25 tonnes year-to-date. The People’s Bank of China now holds roughly 2,332 tonnes, accounting for about 8.9% of its foreign-exchange reserves.

A World Gold Council survey of 76 central banks found that about 89% expect global official reserves to rise further, while 45% plan to increase their own holdings, underscoring sustained institutional demand, Ms Tipa pointed out.

A 56-year-old motorcyclist was decapitated when he crashed into a steel guardrail on an elevated expressway in Bangkok.

Police said the horrific accident occurred on Saturday on the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway, near the Dao Khanong toll plaza in Chom Thong district.

Emergency responders and forensic specialists attended the scene.

Investigators reported finding a heavily damaged Honda Wave motorcycle lying on its side on the road. The rider was found nearby with catastrophic injuries. The impact with the guardrail cut off his head. Debris from the motorcycle was scattered across the carriageway.

The steel, roadside barrier showed evidence of a collision, with impact marks and bloodstains on the structure.

Police said it appeared the rider had been travelling at high speed, lost control and crashed directly into the guardrail. He was pronounced dead at the scene, his body then removed for a post-mortem examination.

Police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.