Category: The Bangkok Post

A ceasefire between the US and Iran is likely to drive down global crude oil prices to around US$70 per barrel, according to a specialist on the US and Chinese economies.

“US President Donald Trump’s ultimate goal is to keep oil prices less than $70-80 per barrel. If he fails to bring prices down to that range, the likelihood of losing the midterm elections and the subsequent presidential election is high,” said Sompop Manarungsan, president of the Panyapiwat Institute of Management.

The ceasefire negotiations have a greater chance of succeeding now than during previous periods because Trump cannot afford for the conflict to continue, while Iran is also looking for a way to bring it to an end, said Mr Sompop.

“Trump appears to have the stronger incentive to end the war, as his biggest concern at the moment is inflation. The US Consumer Price Index [CPI] rose to 4.25% last month, while the Producer Price Index [PPI] climbed to more than 6%, driven by rising oil prices and higher production costs,” he said.

“If this trend persists, the higher costs will quickly be passed on to consumers, leading to a sharp increase in the cost of living for Americans.”

OIL PRICES

Petrol prices have already hiked by 20-30% for Americans since the war started. If this trend continues, Trump may find it difficult to pursue other policy objectives, including monetary policy initiatives, said Mr Sompop.

Even with Trump ally Kevin Warsh as new Federal Reserve chair, the chances of lowering interest rates are minimal and a rate hike is possible, noted Mr Sompop.

“The US president’s immediate goal is to bring down oil prices to $70-80 per barrel as quickly as possible. Without lower oil prices, reducing the CPI and PPI will be extremely difficult, meaning Trump could miss opportunities to capitalise politically on hosting the Fifa World Cup, celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, and the summer holiday season,” he said.

With the US midterm elections approaching later this year, high oil prices could result in losses for the Republican Party. Another troubling sign for Trump is growing dissatisfaction within the party, as some representatives voted for measures to limit Trump’s authority to wage war, noted Mr Sompop.

ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Addressing concerns that global oil prices may remain elevated because Iran’s oil infrastructure was damaged, he said he disagrees and expects Trump to allow Russian and Venezuelan oil to be traded more freely as the US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

Additional supplies from these three producers would likely depress oil prices to around $70 per barrel, said Mr Sompop. Russia, Venezuela and Iran represent some of the world’s largest oil-producing regions and are capable of significantly increasing global supply.

US military bases in the Middle East have suffered greater damage than Iran’s energy infrastructure, he noted, with the latter likely to be restored quickly.

However, the US approach towards Iran is unlikely to change dramatically, regardless of the president in office, said Mr Sompop. Iran’s demonstrated military capabilities are likely to prompt a major reassessment of US military strategy, he said.

The US now recognises that maintaining large numbers of overseas military bases and aircraft carriers may no longer provide the same strategic advantages as in the past, as they can become vulnerable stationary targets, noted Mr Sompop. As a result, a sweeping overhaul of US security and defence strategy is likely, centred on unmanned warfare.

Opposition parties are preparing to scrutinise both a budget transfer bill for fiscal 2026 and the proposed fiscal 2027 budget, citing concerns over delays, transparency and government spending priorities.

Democrat Party leader and list-MP Abhisit Vejjajiva said the opposition has yet to see details of the budget transfer bill, scheduled for parliamentary scrutiny on June 25.

The bill, which seeks authorisation to transfer expenditure allocations within the 2026 fiscal budget, will be considered by the cabinet on Tuesday.

Some reports say the transfer would amount to only about 10 billion baht, although the opposition had previously estimated that up to 100 billion baht could be reallocated.

Mr Abhisit asked why the government had acted so slowly, causing the state to miss an opportunity to reduce the need for interest-bearing borrowing.

He also asked why the transfer amount appeared relatively small despite its claim that it needs to borrow as much as 400 billion baht to manage spending and support various projects.

“We are closely monitoring the overall economic situation to assess whether budget allocations are appropriate,” Mr Abhisit said.

“We haven’t seen details of spending by ministry and project, but once those are available, we will examine them thoroughly.”

He said several Democrat MPs would participate in the debate, focusing particularly on public debt. With public debt approaching the ceiling, he said, all spending must be efficient.

Democrat MP Sathit Wongnongtoey said budget spending must be aligned with current economic conditions, with risks such as inflation taken into account. He also criticised previous governments for failing to properly coordinate infrastructure investment across ministries and agencies, resulting in duplication and wasteful spending.

People’s Party (PP) deputy leader and list-MP Sirikanya Tansakul said her party would examine the 10.3-billion-baht budget transfer bill intended to address the impact of the Thai-Cambodian conflict.

As for the 2027 spending plan, she said several ministries were under scrutiny, including the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, whose budget is expected to increase by more than 30%.

Ms Sirikanya also raised concerns over off-budget spending, saying such funds are difficult for parliament to scrutinise.

The party would examine whether off-budget spending overlaps with projects already financed through the national budget, she added.

Ms Sirikanya said about 30 PP MPs will take part in the budget debate.

The public should closely monitor the Bangkok and Pattaya elections on June 28 to help ensure transparency, fairness and confidence in the voting process, civil society groups say.

Speaking at a forum titled “Watching Transparency in the Bangkok and Pattaya Elections” at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law on Sunday, academics and election monitoring organisations urged greater public participation in observing voting, vote counting and result reporting.

The event brought together Assoc Prof Prinya Thaewanarumitkul of Thammasat University, former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, data scientist Thuntee Sukchotrat, We Watch director Pongsak Chan-on, and iLaw manager Yingcheep Atchanont.

Assoc Prof Prinya said concerns over transparency had intensified following questions raised about previous elections, making public scrutiny essential to maintaining trust in democratic processes.

He said vote counting should be conducted openly and in full view of the public.

While election laws require vote counting to be conducted in public, practical barriers have sometimes limited public observation, leading to complaints and suspicions over the handling of ballots, he said.

Mr Pongsak from We Watch, which monitors elections before, during and after polling day and trains volunteers to observe voting procedures and collect field data for independent analysis, said citizen participation was crucial to safeguarding the poll’s integrity.

He highlighted several issues from the 2022 Bangkok and Pattaya elections that showed the importance of monitoring.

These included reports of ballots being removed from polling stations, damaged ballot papers and disputes over vote-counting procedures.

This year, Mr Pongsak said observers would be monitoring concerns about the neutrality of some polling station personnel in Bangkok, as well as the growing use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to spread misinformation and discredit candidates.

Pattaya’s election will also draw scrutiny following problems during the 2022 poll, including missing ballot papers and irregularities that resulted in delays to the announcement of results and repeat voting at some polling stations.

The panellists encouraged residents to follow the election process closely and monitor vote counting and the reporting of results.

As a fragile ceasefire takes hold following the June 2026 US-Iran agreement, a different kind of movement is unfolding at Israel’s borders. Dozens of Thai workers continue arriving in the country, carrying suitcases packed with hopes for a better future.

Nearly three years after Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023 attack, which killed 39 Thai workers and led to 31 others being taken hostage in Gaza, Thailand’s labour force in Israel has not diminished. Instead, it has grown.

From about 30,000 workers before the attack, the number of Thai workers in Israel has expanded to around 50,000, spread across agriculture, construction, manufacturing and service industries.

The increase has come despite repeated tragedies. Twenty-eight Thai hostages were eventually released alive, while three died in captivity or during the conflict.

Four Thai agricultural workers were killed alongside their employers in a Hezbollah rocket strike in northern Israel in November 2024.

Earlier this year, a 34-year-old Thai farm worker became the first Thai casualty of the recent Israel-Iran conflict after being struck by shrapnel from an Iranian cluster munition.

For “A”, a 43-year-old resident of Nonthaburi, Israel represents something stronger than fear: opportunity.

She has worked overseas since the age of 25, and Israel is her newest destination. Her younger brother-in-law has spent eight years working on a farm in northern Israel.

Through family connections, she learned about an opening with a retail company and immediately applied through Thailand’s Department of Employment.

The position offered a monthly salary of about 77,000 baht — several times what she could earn at home.

To qualify, she completed training courses, studied English and Hebrew, and passed a competitive examination.

“If applicants can greet employers in English and Hebrew, they have a better chance of getting hired,” she said.

The financial commitment was substantial. She paid about 150,000 baht for contract-related expenses and processing fees. The contract runs for five years and three months.

But the calculation was straight- forward.

Her 18-year-old daughter has just entered university and tuition fees alone cost between 40,000 and 50,000 baht per semester. Although her husband contributes financially from Phuket, household expenses remain challenging.

“I just want my family to have a comfortable life,” she said.

By the time her contract ends, she will be 48. She hopes the earnings will allow her to retire early and spend more time with her family.

Asked whether the conflict worried her, she paused briefly.

“I am not afraid of the current situation,” she said. “Regardless of where we are, we could die anytime. The economy at home is unstable. I would rather come here and take the risk.”

Around 40 Thai workers recently travelled alongside her under the same recruitment programme. Most are first-time arrivals in Israel.

Many will work in factories, construction sites and other physically demanding jobs. Among them is a 45-year-old single mother from Nong Khai.

With three children aged 24, 18 and two, she described her journey as one driven by necessity rather than adventure.

Her eldest son helps support the family, but university expenses for her middle child and the costs of raising a toddler have stretched household finances.

She first attempted to secure employment in Israel in 2023, but recruitment plans collapsed after the Hamas attack. When applications reopened in 2025, she tried again, knowing it was her last chance before hitting the programme’s maximum age limit of 44.

“I applied for jobs elsewhere, but employers kept telling me I was too old,” she said. “I was so afraid I would not get this job.” However, she ultimately secured a job.

“It is quite scary,” she admitted, discussing the conflict. “But we pray that nothing happens. They told us the defence systems are strong.”

For some Thais already established in Israel, the decision is no longer whether to come, but whether to stay.

A 33-year-old massage therapist from Mukdahan has lived in Israel for more than eight years.

She initially arrived after marrying an Israeli man and later settled in the Tel Aviv area. Although the marriage ended, she remained, building a new life and eventually starting a family with a Thai partner.

Today, their four-year-old daughter attends school alongside Israeli children. Her daughter speaks Hebrew and English fluently. At home, her mother insists on speaking Thai.

“I want her to remember where she comes from,” she said.

Her income, approaching 10,000 shekels (about 111,445 baht) per month before tips, provides financial stability she believes would be difficult to achieve elsewhere.

Still, stability has not meant peace. She vividly recalls the evening of Oct 7, 2023.

Working at a massage parlour in Tel Aviv, she initially believed the violence was confined to southern Israel.

Hours later, missile warnings reached the city. Explosions landed close enough to shake the neighbourhood.

“Our boss immediately told us to close and go underground,” she recalled.

Since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran, mobile phone alerts have become a regular feature of daily life. Sometimes they arrive at three or four in the morning.

Years of experience have given her confidence in Israel’s security systems and emergency procedures. Following official instructions has become second nature, she said.

For many Thais in Israel, that confidence — whether in the country’s defences, their employers or simply their ability to endure hardship — helps explain why they remain.

The calculations are rarely political, but personal: university fees; children’s futures; household debt; retirement savings.

Behind the statistics of migrant labour and conflict zones are thousands of individual decisions shaped by economic necessity.

For workers like A, the dangers of war are weighed against the certainty of financial struggle at home. The balance, for now, continues to draw Thais to Israel.

“I have to work really hard,” said A before beginning her new chapter abroad. “But for my daughter and for my future, I have to keep fighting.”

No matter how stifling the heat, every night Sanong Suepthai endures it — sleeping under two layers of blankets propped up by a pillow placed on her chest, in a house with no air conditioning.

“The pillow helps let a little air in so I don’t suffocate. But the smell is unbearable. I have to keep an inhaler in one nostril all the time,” she said.

The “smell” that Sanong, a resident of Krok Somboon district in Prachin Buri, refers to is the odour of various chemicals wafting from a nearby factory about 1km from her orchard. The 76-year-old says that during the day, working among the trees in the garden provides some relief, but at night, the stench becomes intolerable. For two years she had to flee to Ubon Ratchathani to live with her younger sister.

“Coming back, I continue to suffer the same problems. Actually, the smell has become even stronger, especially at night,” said Sanong.

“I want to speak to someone in power to fix the damage to the air we breathe and to our land. We used to enjoy so much fertility, but now most trees yield fewer fruits. Why is that?”

Sumet Rienpongnam, founder of the Khon Rak Krok Somboon Group, has been campaigning to address pollution in Prachin Buri. He reckoned the crisis escalated further during the Prayut Chan-o-cha government following a military-led coup.

The military regime issued the Order of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO Order) 4/2016 that exempted certain types of businesses from the enforcement of urban planning laws for green zones. Thus Prachin Buri, a province once renowned for its pristine nature, organic farming, herbal products and eco-tourism, has since witnessed a mushrooming of factories. As of 2025, there were 1,067 factories across the province.

In particular, Sumet pointed fingers at factories dealing with waste treatment and hazardous waste disposal.

“These waste-sorting factories are the source of soil, water and air pollution because there is no real sorting happening — they just pile things up. The waste is not only from factories in Prachin Buri itself but also from Rayong or even from abroad. They simply dump it. They may sort some of it, but what remains after sorting becomes a dumpsite,” Sumet explained.

Sumet took me to Ban Na Khlong Klang in Khao Mai Kaew, Kabin Buri — called Pong Chang Thang among locals — where mounds of gypsum waste were scattered across approximately 200 rai of open land, about 2.3km from Na Khlong Klang School. Sumet estimates the total volume of gypsum to be several million tonnes.

Locals call the mysterious substance “fertiliser gypsum”, so called because the factory marketed it as a “gift” several years ago. (Natural gypsum can be used as fertiliser and is found in many Thai provinces.)

“At first, we were happy when they said they’d bring us fertiliser to use for free. When it first arrived, it had no smell,” recalled Thongkham (a pseudonym), aged 64. She said villagers eagerly pooled their national ID cards for the “fertiliser” — one card per pickup truck load. The chunks were quite hard and villagers had to hire excavators to till it into the soil before planting cassava shoots.

Before long, the cassava shoots they had planted began to yellow, rot and die — hundreds of rai of loss in total.

“It took years for the villagers to rehabilitate the damaged soil — using animal manure, fallen leaves and other organic matter — to the point where they could grow small amounts of food,” Thongkham said.

They complained to the factory responsible for the waste, asking them to take it away for proper disposal, but if anything, even more waste seemed to be dumped. Her home is less than a kilometre from the pile of the mysterious material.

Thongkham herself suffers from headaches and palpitations and takes medication daily.

“I feel sorry for the children at Na Khlong Klang School who have to endure the stench,” she said.

We collected pieces of the ‘gypsum’ scattered along public roads, dissolved them in water and tested the acidity using litmus paper — the result was pH 4. Additionally, we obtained documents from a private laboratory hired by the factory to test the ‘gypsum’, which showed the acidity to be even lower than that. [A neutral pH is 7; acidity starts from zero.]

I spoke on the phone with a staff member at the factory in Ban Bu in Si Maha Phot district. The staff member [who declined to give her name and could not be reached afterwards] claimed that the product of cassava fermentation was citric acid, which could be used in food and cosmetic products for export.

She called the residue from the fermentation process ‘gypsum’, and claimed it was sent to a cement factory in Saraburi to be made into construction products. I contacted the cement company and its senior executive [who also requested anonymity] said they had received material from the said company but it would be incinerated for disposal, which contradicted what the factory staff had said earlier.

Notably, before 2023, the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) had certified gypsum as a “by-product” of cassava fermentation. But after villagers’ repeated complaints to the DIW about the odour from the cassava fermentation process, the DIW conducted an investigation and issued a letter dated June 15, 2023, stating that it was not a safe product but was, in fact, hazardous waste.

Campaigners also obtained a purchase contract for calcium sulphate (gypsum) written in Chinese with Thai translation, bearing the stamps of both companies and signed by their representatives — between seller and buyer, dated May 30, 2023. Intriguingly, the contract did not specify pertinent details, such as the selling price per tonne.

After years of complaints about pollution from industrial waste-sorting factories, the National Assembly revoked the NCPO order on July 25, 2025, citing its damage to communities and the environment. However, the law has no retroactive effect and cannot revoke licences already issued to factories currently in operation.

Moreover, the government is pushing for Prachin Buri to be incorporated into the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project. Thammasat University has been commissioned to survey and produce a report on how joining the EEC would improve Prachin Buri’s economy, boost business and the employment rate.

But Sumet is worried that if this EEC expansion policy succeeds, the pollution problem will only overwhelm his hometown further.

“What chemical contaminants are in the air, water and soil?” he said.

“Can those who have studied this tell us what people in Si Maha Phot are breathing every day — what is in it, how dangerous it is and which factories are producing it? How many contaminated areas are causing suffering to villagers and where are they? And how will the problems be solved?,” Sumet questioned.

“How many millions of cubic metres of water does all the existing industry use, and how many millions of cubic metres of wastewater are discharged? How is the wastewater managed?,” he added.

One of the concerns raised by villagers is the quality of water, which is already often discoloured and murky. Villagers are uncertain whether, given the environmental pollution, rainwater might seep into the groundwater system.

“We don’t have much money, so we can only afford to buy drinking water. For cooking food and rice, washing dishes, and bathing, we have to use groundwater,” said Thongkham.

Last August, the Sut Soi Team, together with the DIW, armed with a search warrant from Kabin Buri Provincial Court, inspected Waste to Energy Company in Lat Takian, an area straddling Si Maha Phot and Kabin Buri districts. The factory was found to have committed multiple violations and ordered to suspend its operation. But in October, a new official came and allowed the factory to reopen.

Dawan Chanhatsadi, a senior member of the Earth Recovery Foundation, who accompanied the Sut Soi Team, revealed that the factory held two types of permits — 105 for non-hazardous waste disposal and 106 for recycling industrial waste — yet had no machinery for recycling.

“It has been accepting hazardous waste — so where has all of it gone?” Dawan asked.

“Have all issues been resolved? What happened to the water that was overflowing from the landfill pit? What has been reduced? And does the factory now have the machinery?”

Sumet raised the same question: “For years everything has gotten worse. The waste piles grow larger every year — tens of millions of tonnes — and the smell is worse than ever. Today, the minister came for a visit, praised the company for making improvements and for their cooperation, and then simply left.”

Thailand must accelerate its transition to renewable energy if it is to reduce dependence on imported oil and gas and avoid repeating the painful consequences of global conflicts, according to Praipol Koomsap, economist at Thammasat University and former assistant to ex-energy minister Narongchai Akrasanee.

Mr Praipol said even if peace negotiations between the US and Iran succeed in stabilising crude oil prices at around US$70-80 per barrel by late 2025, refined oil prices are expected to remain high.

For Thailand, this means relying solely on fossil fuels will continue to expose households and businesses to volatility.

“Increasing the use of renewable energy in both the transport and electricity sectors is the long-term solution if similar conflicts occur again,” he said.

Accidents disrupting petroleum production facilities, refineries, storage depots or liquefied natural gas plants could also trigger supply shortages, said Mr Praipol. If Thailand builds sufficient capacity in clean power and biofuels, he said the impact would be far smaller.

“Renewable energy is like having a fuel reserve. When oil and gas supplies are interrupted, there are still domestic sources to use as substitutes,” Mr Praipol said.

Thailand once considered creating a massive state-owned strategic petroleum reserve, a project that would have required enormous investment to build and operate. He said such a costly scheme is unnecessary if the country commits to expanding renewable energy.

According to the International Energy Agency, renewable power and biofuels accounted for 15.2-17.5% of Thailand’s total energy consumption in 2025. The government aims to raise this share to more than 50% by 2037.

To achieve this, the Energy Ministry is finalising a programme to encourage households to install rooftop solar panels and sell excess electricity back to the grid. Authorities plan to allocate part of a 200-billion-baht loan to support the scheme, which will purchase up to 500 megawatts from households.

In the transport sector, officials are stepping up promotion of biofuels.

Ethanol derived from sugar cane and cassava as well as palm oil-based methyl ester is blended with gasoline and diesel to produce gasohol and biodiesel.

The government is subsidising B20 diesel, which contains 20% methyl ester, to make it five baht cheaper than B7 diesel, which has only 7% methyl ester. The policy is designed to lift sales and reduce reliance on imported oil.

Industry leaders have pushed for clean energy infrastructure to be expanded quickly.

Sarath Ratanavadi, chief executive of Gulf Development Plc, Thailand’s largest energy company by market value, said speeding up construction of renewable projects coupled with technologies that enhance system stability will be critical. He touted smart grids, battery energy storage systems and pumped hydro storage as tools that can help balance supply and demand.

Mr Sarath emphasised private sector investment will be essential, given the enormous capital required.

“Investing in this infrastructure demands vast resources, while the government budget is limited. Encouraging private participation is a reasonable solution,” he said.

Diversifying fuel sources to ensure multiple suppliers will also mitigate external risks, said Mr Sarath.

Wellness tourism has emerged as a pillar of Thai tourism in recent years as intense global competition nudged the country to seek new mechanisms to attract high-quality travel markets.

This year during Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+), the country’s largest annual tourism business event, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) used the occasion to promote the nation as a destination for healing both mind and body through tourism under the tagline “Healing is the New Luxury”.

Thailand is scheduled to host the 20th annual Global Wellness Summit, organised by the Global Wellness Institute, where leaders from business, government and academia gather in November to help shape the global wellness economy.

To unlock Thailand’s potential, tourism operators have called for more comprehensive cooperation among all stakeholders, from wellness and medical researchers to business managers and therapists, to upgrade standards across the sector.

WELLNESS PRODUCTS

Nithee Seeprae, deputy governor for marketing communications at the TAT, said health and wellness tourism is one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors globally, driven by consumer preference for preventive care and holistic well-being.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, this sector is valued at US$6.8 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 7.9%.

The wellness sector has grown faster than global GDP for 11 consecutive years, and is expected to reach $9.7 trillion by 2029.

For Thailand, the wellness economy was valued at $42.7 billion in 2024, ranking 24th globally.

In Asia, the wellness tourism sector was worth $215 billion, with the world’s fastest growth pace of 31% in 2024. Thailand recorded the second-highest national growth rate in this category at 36%, following only India.

The institute highlighted Thailand’s long-running wellness tradition, from traditional Thai medicine and massage to a food-as-medicine culture.

Hospitality and healthcare operators also offer personalised and preventive wellness packages to visitors, noted the trade group.

The TAT aims to integrate Thailand into travellers’ wellness destination options, as the movement has shifted beyond healing to longevity and quality of life, said Mr Nithee.

Thailand’s strengths include traditional practices, such as herbal steam therapy and salt hot springs, an extensive natural park system, modern medical facilities, as well as its renowned hospitality, he said.

LEISURE TRIPS

At the TTM+, the private sector pivoted to promote more wellness packages to foreign travel agents.

Chairat Rattanopas, president of the Eastern Spa and Wellness Association, said more overseas agents sought out wellness products offered by operators in Chon Buri and across Thailand at this event, with many inquiring about discussions directly with service providers rather than through intermediaries.

“Tourists no longer want to simply travel and have fun. They want to relax and restore their health during their trips,” said Mr Chairat.

In the past, Thailand primarily promoted traditional tourism products such as hotels, food and sightseeing. Now wellness and preventive care services are incorporated into travel packages, including activities such as sound baths, ice baths and health check-ups.

He said the trend reflects growing health awareness among consumers, as seen in the popularity of aerobic dance sessions in Bangkok’s Lumpini park.

In Chon Buri, similar group exercise events and clubs have been organised more frequently, attracting both local residents and foreign visitors.

More spa and wellness packages are also integrated with medical treatments, such as lymphatic drainage massage as part of post-treatment care for patients.

The Eastern Spa and Wellness Association is working with the Chon Buri Attractions Association to explore creative ways of incorporating health and wellness concepts into tourist attractions beyond spas, hotels and clinics.

For instance, animal therapy and ocean therapy could be incorporated into zoos and aquariums. A cultural theme park could also offer cooking classes, allowing visitors to learn about Thai herbal medicine, said Mr Chairat.

UNIQUE OFFERINGS

The eastern region is promoting itself as a wellness hub by highlighting the distinctive strengths of each province.

For instance, the abundance of natural attractions in Trat could lead to promotion as a nature-based wellness destination, while Chon Buri is positioning itself as an urban wellness destination with comprehensive facilities.

Apiradee Herunramdej, director of Divana Global, said each region in Thailand has its own local wisdom relating to wellness retreats, as well as distinctive cultural and natural resources that can be curated into wellness packages and healing spaces.

As a luxury spa and wellness operator, she said the company must continuously upgrade its products and services to meet evolving customer demand, particularly as the sector moves towards the longevity trend.

People have become more conscious of emerging diseases, such as Covid-19, and want to maintain their mental and physical well-being, said Ms Apiradee.

Wellness retreats are no longer confined to spas or massage centres, but have extended into people’s homes, she noted.

The company wants to expand its business by offering more spa and wellness products directly to customers, enabling the brand to remain part of their daily lives in addition to providing treatments at its centres.

Roughly 70-80% of its clients are foreigners, mostly from Asia, and many of them are repeat customers, said Ms Apiradee.

Sunai Wachirawarakarn, president of the Thai Spa Association, said its survey found spending by tourists who visit Thailand primarily for wellness packages has declined since the pandemic. However, expenditure by travellers who visit for leisure or other purposes and purchase wellness programmes as add-ons has increased.

Mr Sunai said the goal is to attract more visitors from the first group, as they typically spend more than those in the latter.

LONG-TERM ROADMAP

While Thailand’s wellness industry is well-known for its skilled therapists, he said the country still lacks sufficient expertise and foundations in business management, particularly at the management and executive levels, despite the rapid growth of the sector.

This limitation makes it difficult to drive the industry forward without strengthening entrepreneurial capabilities, said Mr Sunai.

“We have not emphasised the role of spa managers within the industry, even though they are crucial to business growth. They deal directly with both suppliers and customers, while overseeing back-of-house operations and strategic planning, much like a hotel general manager,” he said.

The association also outlined a five-year plan to work with various organisations to address persistent challenges.

“Elevating Thailand to a global wellness destination requires a long-term roadmap and more integrated structure, with stronger collaboration between public and private stakeholders across the sector,” said Mr Sunai.

“All of these efforts combined can add greater value to the industry, enabling operators to offer higher-quality services at premium prices.”

The initiatives include reforming the spa management education system, which is currently offered by the Thailand Professional Qualification Institute, to modernise the programme and better align with industry needs.

Certification training should be updated periodically, as individuals are currently required to take only one examination and receive a lifetime licence, he said.

In addition, the association plans to sign memorandums of understanding with UOB to provide business and financial training programmes tailored to spa and wellness management, and with the National Institute of Development Administration to develop a master’s degree focusing on wellness business research.

As part of preparations for the upcoming Global Wellness Summit, where the association is serving as a partner organisation, it plans to launch a business pitching platform for students to present new ideas for the wellness industry. Proposals are slated to be judged by leading operators, including Chiva-Som and Bangkok Dusit Medical Services.

Many modern wellness treatments are now supported by emerging scientific research, including studies conducted by Siriraj Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, said Mr Sunai.

However, further collaboration is needed to translate research into practice, with the association eager to play a more active role in this area, while also working with the TAT on promotional efforts, he said.

LICENSING REVISION

Mr Chairat said it is crucial for the government to reform spa business licensing regulations to keep pace with technological advances and innovation.

Many types of equipment, particularly those used for beauty and wellness treatments that do not require specialised medical expertise but can be operated by trained therapists, have developed rapidly.

However, operators are often required to obtain clinic licences and employ medical doctors in addition to securing spa licences, resulting in unnecessary costs, he noted.

The regulatory framework should be updated to better facilitate business operations and industry growth, said Mr Chairat.

A potential peace agreement between the US and Iran could become a catalyst for global financial markets, though it may take months for the global energy market to stabilise, say analysts.

Finnomena, a Thai investment management platform, said reduced geopolitical risks would ease inflationary pressures, driving a broad-based rally in risk assets.

A preliminary agreement between Washington and Tehran could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments. The firm believes such a deal would lower geopolitical risk premiums, improve the global growth outlook and create a more favourable environment for equities.

Lower oil prices resulting from easing tensions could reduce inflationary pressures and allow major central banks to adopt a less hawkish stance, said Jessada Sookdhis, chief executive and co-founder of Finnomena.

The company sees opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI)-related investments, including technology firms, cloud data centres, smart grid infrastructure, renewable energy, and semiconductor businesses that could benefit from lower financing costs and stronger capital inflows.

“A weaker US dollar, declining bond yields and improving investor sentiment would support risk assets, particularly sectors linked to the AI supply chain,” he said.

Despite the positive outlook, Tisco cautions that a peace deal may not immediately restore stability to global energy markets.

Komsorn Prakobphol, head of Tisco Economic Strategy Unit, said it could take several months before Iranian oil supplies fully return to global markets.

“Reopening the Strait of Hormuz does not mean oil exports will immediately normalise. Shipping insurance concerns and unresolved nuclear negotiations could continue to create uncertainty,” Mr Komsorn said.

If talks over Iran’s nuclear programme fail, he said tensions could resurface and disrupt shipping routes again.

Meanwhile, global crude inventories remain tight. If additional supply does not reach the market within 2-3 months, oil prices could rebound to US$90-100 per barrel, said Mr Komsorn.

THAI MARKET

He said the Thai economy and stock market are relatively well-positioned to withstand a prolonged period of global uncertainty or stagflation. Historically, Thai equities have outperformed many regional peers during periods of high inflation and slowing growth due to their heavier exposure to traditional industries rather than high-growth technology stocks.

Thailand’s market is dominated by energy, banking, healthcare, industrials and commodity-linked sectors, which tend to be more resilient during volatile economic conditions.

If geopolitical risks remain elevated, Tisco continues to favour energy, materials, healthcare and financial stocks.

Energy and materials companies are closely tied to commodity prices and could benefit from supply constraints. Healthcare stocks offer defensive characteristics and strong pricing power, while financial institutions may gain from interest rates remaining higher for longer. Although a successful peace deal could pressure energy stocks through lower oil prices, commodities will remain an essential investment theme in the second half of the year, Mr Komsorn noted.

Thai police arrested about 30,000 scammers, including gang leaders, impounded about 24 billion baht of their assets and took legal action against 1,450 proxy companies over the past nine months.

Details were released at Government House on Monday by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

He told reporters the suppression of scammers and proxy businesses was part of his government’s national agenda, and serious action against the criminals started nine months ago.

‘The action produced satisfactory outcomes. The number of cases and damage dropped. This shows that suppression mechanisms effectively help people,’ the prime minister said.

According to the Royal Thai Police Office, reported scam cases were down 69.2% and scam-related damage by 87.3% this month when compared with figures in October last year.

Police had arrested 29,233 scammers and about 70 scam gang leaders, and impounded scam-related assets and cash worth about 24 billion baht in total.

The government accepted the return of 1,862 Thais used by scam gangs based outside Thailand – 67.9% from Cambodia and 32.1% from Laos.

Meanwhile, 2,489 Thais were arrested for sneaking in and out of the country and they were involved in 1,031 scam cases.

The government deported 2,647 foreigners who illegally entered Thailand after scam suppression in the KKPark and Minletpan areas of neighbouring Myanmar. It identified about 60 suspected scam locations in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Staff of the government’s Anti Cyber Scam Centre real-time war room saved 862 people from scam gangs. The centre also suspended more than 300,000 phone numbers of scammers and as a result monthly scam calls plunged by 77.94%. Also, authorities blocked 122,840 scam URLs, 108,517 of them on Facebook.

Officials closed 351,884 mule accounts and retrieved about 3.6 billion baht of victims’ money from such accounts – a quarter of the damage victims reported. The number of mule accounts decreased by 83.67% and transactions through mule accounts fell by 81.39%.

Meanwhile, police tackled proxy, or nominee, businesses operating in the four southern provinces of Krabi, Phangnga, Phuket and Surat Thani.

About 130 rai in total was recovered from illegal foreign occupants. The value of the land and buildings on it was estimated at 1.67 billion baht.

On Koh Phangan, in Surat Thani, officials targeted 243 alleged proxy companies. Of these, 105 already faced legal action and 14 had resulted in court sentences.

Authorities also suspected nominee holdings in 401 companies in Krabi, 174 others in Phangnga and 632 more in Phuket.

For proxy business offences, police successfully sought court arrest warrants for 29 Thais and 67 foreigners, and 24 Thais and 41 foreigners had been apprehended. They included citizens of Israel, France, Russia, Poland, Switzerland, South Africa and Britain.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is probing alleged encroachment in Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary in Muang district after reports that forest land had been turned into a golf course.

Director-General Atthapol Charoenchansa said he had ordered officials to investigate.

A preliminary inquiry found officials had previously seized two encroached plots in the area, measuring 1.22 rai and 1.31 rai, in 2024 and 2026 respectively.

Investigators also found extensive grass planting resembling a golf course and irrigation pipes linked to nearby land under a possession claim. Officials are now seeking records to identify the current occupant of a 13.5-rai plot after the original claimant stated he had sold the land several years ago.