Category: The Bangkok Post

India thumped arch-rivals Pakistan by 88 runs in a Women’s World Cup clash but the game was marred by controversy as players refused to shake hands at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

The two captains avoided the customary handshake at the toss and there was hardly a glance exchanged during play.

Once the formalities were done, both sides made a beeline to their dressing rooms, skipping the traditional post-match greetings, a frosty ending to a heated encounter.

The animosity that brewed during the recent men’s Asia Cup in Dubai seemed to spill over to the women’s fixture in Colombo.

Even before a ball was bowled, controversy struck when the toss went the wrong way.

Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana’s call of “tails” was misheard by match referee Shandre Fritz and announcer Mel Jones as “heads”.

When the coin landed heads up, the decision was incorrectly awarded to Fatima, who chose to field.

The drama didn’t stop there. Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali was caught short in bizarre fashion.

After surviving a leg-before appeal, she wandered out of her crease and though she had grounded her bat when the throw came in, it was in the air when the bails were dislodged.

The television umpire ruled her out amid heated protests from the Pakistan camp.

“We are very happy. This was a very important game for us. I am sure people back home are happy too. There are few areas to improve but, for now, we’ll savour this win,” said Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

India’s innings was built on a series of useful starts, with Harleen Deol’s composed 46 off 65 balls anchoring the effort.

Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh provided the late fireworks, blazing an unbeaten 35 off 20 deliveries with three fours and two towering sixes to lift India to a competitive 247.

Pakistan seamer Diana Baig bowled with heart, claiming 4-47 in a spirited spell.

Three of those wickets came in her final burst, though she was denied a five-for after overstepping when Jemimah Rodrigues was caught behind on two.

Pakistan’s chase never got out of first gear. The Indian new-ball attack swung the ball late, nipping out early wickets before the spinners tightened the screws.

Off-spinners Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana shared five scalps between them while seamer Kranti Goud’s three-wicket burst earned her the player of the match award.

Sidra Amin, batting at number three, stood tall amid the ruins. Her elegant 81 off 106 balls, laced with nine boundaries and a six, was a lone hand in an otherwise sorry tale.

Running out of partners, she perished sweeping Rana to square leg, ending Pakistan’s faint hopes.

“We gave away too many runs in the Power Play. Sidra was superb again, but someone had to stay with her till the end. Very disappointed with the result,” lamented Pakistan skipper Sana.

The win sent India to the top of the table in the eight-nation tournament while Pakistan languish in sixth, still searching for their first points.

Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat has reaffirmed the stance of his predecessor, Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, who supported the Department of Corrections’ recommendation to reject the royal pardon appeal submitted on behalf of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The decision means Thaksin will be required to remain in prison to serve out a one-year prison sentence in accordance with the Supreme Court’s final ruling, a source said.

The reports came as Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon stated on Monday that he had already submitted his opinion on Thaksin’s second petition for royal pardon to the Cabinet Secretariat.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said that he had instructed the permanent secretary for justice to form a committee to review Thaksin’s request and finish its work in three days.

He stated that he received the findings from the review committee on Monday and had added advisory remarks before referring the matter to the Cabinet Secretariat for further action.

According to the justice minister, when a convict seeks a royal pardon, the matter must be referred to His Majesty through the proper channels, as outlined in Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

New innovation marks a major step toward reducing Thailand’s healthcare burden as 80% of cardiovascular diseases are preventable.1,2

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW), the global leader in structural heart disease innovation, today announced the launch of its breakthrough next-generation transcatheter heart valve technology at the prestigious Mahidol TAVI Symposium, held on 26-27 September, at Pullman Bangkok King Power. This launch aims to help alleviate Thailand’s escalating valvular heart disease burden-a key driver of cardiovascular deaths globally.

The launch arrives at a pivotal moment, as statistics from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (2023)2 reveal that over 250,000 Thai citizens are currently living with cardiovascular disease. Of particular concern is aortic valve disease, which accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths annually2 and disproportionately affects Thailand’s aging population-especially those aged 65 and older2. In this population, progressive calcification of the aortic valve leads to thickening, stiffening, and impaired valve function. Aortic stenosis-the most common form of valvular heart disease-is a degenerative condition strongly associated with aging. As the valve becomes increasingly calcified, blood flow from the heart is significantly restricted. Once symptoms appear, the prognosis worsens rapidly: without timely treatment, approximately 10% of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis may die within five weeks3. This alarming statistic highlights the critical importance of early detection and prompt intervention.

Edwards’ next-generation balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve incorporates breakthrough proprietary calcification-resistant tissue technology that helps prevent calcium buildup on the valve leaflets, which is a primary cause of structural valve deterioration and the need for re-intervention4. The valve also features dry tissue storage for simplified hospital workflows, and an enhanced outer sealing design to improve long term durability.

Outstanding Clinical Outcomes

The tissue technology incorporated into this platform is the same as that used in Edwards’ leading surgical aortic valve. Recent findings from the eight-year COMMENCE Study demonstrated promising outcomes, including 99.3% freedom from structural valve deterioration, clinically stable haemodynamic gradients, and 97% freedom from reoperation5.

Building on this foundation, Edwards Lifesciences’ next-generation transcatheter heart valve technology has demonstrated exceptional clinical outcomes across diverse patient populations. Real-world data from over 9,000 propensity-matched patients in the United States National STS/ACC TVT Registry showed that patients receiving the valve experienced outstanding one-year outcomes with low mortality rate, low re-intervention rate, and no paravalvular leak in 84.4% of cases6.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nattawut Wongpraparut, Director of the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at The Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, highlighted its clinical advantages for Thai healthcare providers. ‘Durability is widely recognised as a critical element in valve therapy, and this technology’s innovative design aims to address calcification-a major contributor to valve failure-with greater effectiveness. Thai patients and the Thai healthcare system will benefit from bringing these world-class treatment capabilities to Thailand further supporting our efforts to reduce the devastating impact of aortic stenosis which can lead to heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest and death.’

Dr. Mann Chandavimol, Structural Heart Intervention at The Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, emphasised the significance of this technology for Thai patients. ‘The launch of this next-generation transcatheter heart valve represents a transformative advancement for Thailand’s cardiovascular care landscape. Given the alarming global statistics showing cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death worldwide and affecting over 250,000 Thais, this technology offers hope for patients experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, fainting, chest pain, ankle swelling, and irregular heartbeat. The enhanced durability and proven clinical outcomes enable us to treat not only elderly patients but also younger individuals with severe aortic stenosis, providing them with treatment options that combine immediate safety with exceptional long-term performance. Early detection is crucial, and this technology represents a significant advancement in our treatment capabilities.’

Scott Graham, THV Business Unit Head, APAC at Edwards Lifesciences, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to innovation and improving patient outcomes. ‘This latest generation of transcatheter heart valve is the result of nearly two decades of research and development and reflects Edwards’ continued dedication to delivering patient-centric solutions. Recent data underscores its value in the lifetime management of valve disease for patients. This latest transcatheter heart valve leverages this advancement to improve quality of life, support sustainable long-term outcomes, and enable future treatment possibilities.’

Parameswaran Nair, Country Leader of Greater India and Southeast Asia at Edwards Lifesciences, connected the launch to Thailand’s broader healthcare objectives. ‘Thailand’s proactive stance on cardiovascular disease, including recent public health alerts on aortic stenosis, reflects its strong commitment to saving lives amid a global crisis. We’re proud to support these efforts by introducing this advanced platform to Thai patients and clinicians. With over 65 years of innovation, Edwards Lifesciences remains dedicated to transforming patient outcomes. This launch strengthens our support for Thailand’s healthcare excellence and ensures access to leading cardiac therapies as the population ages.’

As Thailand continues to address its cardiovascular disease burden through both prevention and treatment strategies, Edwards Lifesciences remains committed to collaborating with leading clinicians and healthcare institutions to expand access to life-saving therapies. The company’s focus on innovation, clinical evidence, and partnership with healthcare professionals ensures Thai patients can live longer, healthier, and more active lives while supporting the government’s goal of reducing cardiovascular deaths through advanced treatment options in the face of a global epidemic claiming over 19 million lives annually7.

SAC Gallery invites art lovers to navigate the architecture of perception through a nomadic mind during “Only I Am You, Then I Became You”, which is running on the 2nd and 3rd floor, until Nov 8.

This is an immersive, site-specific exhibition held in Asia for the first time by Jiajia Qi, a Netherlands-based Chinese artist whose practice is exploring transformation, intuitive sensing and the search for belonging.

Raised in China and having lived across New Zealand, Egypt, Japan and Europe, Qi carries with her what she calls “nomadic thought of liquid”, a way of being that welcomes ambiguity, listens to space and never clings to certainty.

Rather than imposing form, she allows materials and architecture to guide her. Her installations often take the form of suspended light, evaporating mist, softened sound or slowly shifting matter, each creating atmospheres rather than objects, encounters rather than explanations.

For her, each work emerges through attentive observation and sensory engagement with the surrounding architecture, atmosphere and light. Rather than asserting itself upon space, the work grows from within it, proposing a model of co-existence where nothing dominates, but everything is in flux — responsive, tentative and alive.

Moving between materials both fragile and elemental — powder, water, recycled minerals, air — Qi builds worlds that unfold gradually, where nothing is forced but everything is felt. Her training in sociology, interior architecture and interactive media design contributes to the layered clarity of her installations, which linger in the mind long after the room is left.

Her site-specific, experiential installations were exhibited at leading art spaces across Europe and Asia where she has completed more than 15 residencies.

SAC Gallery is on Sukhumvit 39 and opens daily from 11am to 6pm, except Monday. There is no admission fee.

World Cup qualifying in Asia reaches its climax over the next week with Patrick Kluivert’s Indonesia among six countries vying for two remaining spots from the region.

The football-mad nation of nearly 300 million people is on the verge of its first World Cup since gaining independence from the Dutch in 1945.

Indonesian football authorities have looked to the Netherlands to achieve it, bringing in legendary Dutch striker Kluivert as coach in January.

They have also naturalised more than a dozen players born in the Netherlands but with family ties to the Southeast Asian country.

It comes three years after Indonesian football was plunged into mourning when 135 people were killed in a stadium crush during a domestic game.

“The whole country needs to stand behind us,” said Kluivert, the former Netherlands and Barcelona great whose side faces Iraq and Saudi Arabia in Group B.

There are two groups in this stage of Asian qualifying, each with three teams that will all face each other once.

The teams that finish top of each group qualify for next year’s showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams from 32, giving the likes of Indonesia a better chance of qualifying.

“We are doing our utmost best to perform at the highest level and prepare the players as good as possible,” said Kluivert.

“Inshallah (God willing) we are ready to make the country proud of us.”

Indonesia will have to do it the hard way, with Saudi Arabia staging all the games in Group B and so having home advantage.

Indonesia and Saudi Arabia meet on Wednesday in Jeddah to kickstart the action.

Kluivert, whose coaching career has never lived up to his stellar playing days, has won three of his six games in charge, losing two and drawing one.

The Saudis will be favourites to progress out of the group and are now back under French coach Herve Renard following the sacking of Italian Roberto Mancini a year ago.

Renard masterminded the Saudis’ shock 2-1 win over Lionel Messi’s eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Group A comprises Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, who are bidding to reach the finals for the first time.

That group will play all its games in Qatar, giving the reigning Asian champions an undeniable advantage.

Qatar appointed former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui in May, following his sacking by West Ham United.

Qatar begin the Group A action in Doha against Oman.

The runners-up in the two groups will meet in a two-legged tie in November, with the winner going into a intercontinental playoff.

Six teams from Asia have already guaranteed qualification: Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran, Jordan and Australia.

“The Future Of Formula 1 Begins Here – One Race At A Time” is the theme of the 2025 STEM Racing Thailand National Finals, which will take place at Grand Richmond Stylish Convention Hotel, Rattanathibet Road, from Thursday until Sunday.

Organised with the support of Formula 1, formerly F1 In Schools Thailand, this is a four-day showcase of innovation, engineering and speed — hailed as the most exhilarating STEM education event of the year.

It will feature 25 teams comprising the country’s brightest young innovators aged seven to 19, as well as two guest teams from Malaysia and Japan. They will design, build and race their own miniature F1-style cars using 3D modelling software, wind-tunnel testing and branding strategies.

The hotel’s 9m-high ballroom will be transformed into a STEM Racing arena equipped with immersive LED displays, F1-inspired racing tracks, and exhibition zones that highlight student creativity and tech excellence.

Also, expect to see live tech demos by students and join lectures by industry guest speakers. The event will conclude with an award ceremony honouring the champions of this exciting event. They will earn the prestigious opportunity to represent Thailand at the 2026 STEM Racing World Finals, competing against the best young minds from around the globe.

STEM Racing is the world’s largest STEM competition that empowers students to become tomorrow’s engineers, scientists and global leaders. Launched in 2000 in the UK as the official education initiative of Formula 1, the programme has grown rapidly and is now active in more than 60 countries worldwide.

Those interested to attend the event should make a reservation through STEM Racing Thailand’s Line official account. Visit page.line.me/836fygax.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul recently floated the idea of extending the mandatory retirement age for civil servants from 60 to 65 years old. Though this idea is not new, the fact the proposal comes directly from the prime minister gives it enough political weight to make state agencies take the idea seriously.

The extension of the retirement age has been discussed before in Thailand, as similar policies have been adopted in some European countries. Last year, Thailand officially became an ageing society, with more than 20% of its population aged 60 or above.

This demographic shift weighs heavily on economic, social and, more particularly, public healthcare outlooks. However, recent medical advances have also extended life expectancy, helping seniors stay longer in the labour market.

Supporters say raising the retirement age could help stabilise the Social Security Fund, the country’s largest pension fund with over 2.6 trillion baht in assets. With fewer contributors and more retirees drawing pension funds, the SSF’s sustainability has been under threat.

Before the government moves forward with the plan, it must consider the potential benefits against the drawbacks, as Thailand’s bureaucratic structure differs sharply from that of advanced European economies.

For Thailand, extending the mandatory retirement age at this time may prove premature and potentially counterproductive. The question is whether raising the retirement age in the public sector should be a priority when the bureaucracy is still bloated and inefficient.

Many civil servants nearing retirement are underutilised yet remain on the payroll. The Ministry of Defence is an example. There are thousands of generals, and most have few active responsibilities.

The government should first prioritise making changes to the civil sector so it can be leaner. The problem here is not a shortage of workers but a misallocation of capable personnel and a lack of merit-based advancements. Extending the retirement age before cutting the unnecessary fat would only worsen the problem and, above all, discourage younger talent from taking part.

Moreover, the government’s pension argument holds little weight. The fiscal burden was largely eased after the 1997 crisis, when the Government Pension Fund was established, allowing retirees to draw from their own savings and investment returns instead of the state budget.

There are also only limited advantages to a blanket extension. Certain professionals who require deep expertise — such as judges and university professors — already enjoy special provisions to allow service until the age of 65 or 70.

For the private sector, the benefits are also unclear. There are companies which already have the flexibility to retain skilled employees past the retirement age. The real labour shortages are in low-skilled sectors, and this can’t be resolved by simply extending the retirement age.

Worse, workers under the SSF may be at a disadvantage if the retirement age is raised, as they may lose the freedom to retire and claim benefits at 60, while employers will still retain the ability to dismiss older workers at will.

So, Thailand should not extend the retirement age simply because it needs to help the SSF, as the SSF needs serious reform, not just window-dressing reform in the name of extending the retirement age.

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre is a well-known as an art centre in Bangkok. This year, it launched the Local Networking Project to provide a platform for artists from other regions besides the capital. The project involves fieldwork in various locations across the country. Artists have the opportunity to explore local legends, folktales, unrecorded histories and contemporary community lifestyles.

The exhibition “Local Myths” was developed under the Local Networking Project. It displays art pieces created by individuals as well as group artists. The concept of “Local Myths” is intrinsic aesthetics, which focuses on exploring the beauty inspired by local legends, stories, beliefs and ways of life.

Penwadee Nophaket Manont, exhibition curator, explained that the idea of the Local Networking Project came about after she worked with local artists in three southern border provinces and Isan.

“I wanted to work with more artists in rural areas, so I proposed the project to BACC since the idea would bring variety to exhibitions there. When I visited other provinces, I invited artists from Bangkok and other countries to go on these trips with me to observe local artwork and conduct research. The project is not only about creating the exhibition, but also fosters exchanges which ripple through the art ecosystem,” Penwadee explained.

“Working with local artists was eye-opening and helped me realise that they had less opportunity to display their artwork. When an opportunity came up, it challenged them to improve their skills. After a decade of working with local artists, two artists — Prach Pimarnman, a lecturer at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus and Asst Prof Adisak Phupa, a lecturer at Mahasarakham University — became role models to inspire their students and younger generations. Their artwork is collected by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Ministry of Culture. Additionally, their work has been accepted and showcased in many countries.”

Here are some exhibition highlights

Title: Anonymous Letter

Artist Group: Melayu Living

Melayu Living was founded in October 2015, initially as a collective of architects based in southern Thailand. Members include architects from Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, as well as photographers, graphic designers, and columnists — many of whom were either raised in the Deep South or educated in Bangkok and overseas.

Anonymous Letter is presented through installations in the form of a red living room. Everything in the area is red, such as the carpet, the standing lamp, the vase, the flowers, the tea pots and the tea cups. Penwadee explained that red symbolises that the Deep South is a red zone.

“The three southern border provinces are considered war zones or red zones. Though Melayu Living creates art, their work was accused of being funded by terrorists. For this exhibition, the group made copies of anonymous accusation letters they received and used them as part of their installation. The letters are wrapped around the objects and covered with a red material, thus remaining hidden under the red covering.”

Title: Stroke

Artist: Nuriya Waji

The main work at Stroke is a long tie-dyed textile that displays a map of Sai Buri River which runs through Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani. Nuriya, the artist, explained that her father who operates a fishing equipment shop often told her about the Sai Buri River and that inspired her to search for information.

“I learned from a researcher that the Sai Buri River used to be the main river of the Deep South but it was turned into canals in several areas. I felt the river is getting sick like humans whose blood vessels narrow, so I named my work Stroke.”

Additionally, Stroke uses the voice of Nuriya’s father to tell the story of the past about Sai Buri River. Since the river was an area of gold panning, the exhibition displays a tiny piece of gold from Sukhirin district in Narathiwat. Besides fabric and gold, Stroke displays samples of soil from locations where the river once flowed.

Nuriya hopes that Stroke will encourage viewers to ponder “how can people live in harmony with nature?”.

Title: Butterfly Effect

Artist: Nithi Roongreang

Butterfly Effect is a collection of lenticular photographs inspired by a landscape photo taken by Nithi’s late mother. His mother’s photo portrays the view in front of his house which shows part of Nong Prachak Silpakorn, a large lake. It is named after Prince Prachak Silpakorn, the founder of Udon Thani.

The area in front of Nithi’s house is currently used as a space for community art activities. Butterfly Effect was created by people in the local art community, who photographed landscapes of Nong Prachak Silpakorn from different angles and periods of times. Photos were printed using lenticular, a printing technology that creates the illusion of 3D movement or depth.

Udon Thani has many historical sites and stories, however, when the province wanted to create a landmark to attract tourists, yellow rubber ducks were chosen to be installed at Nong Prachak Silpakorn Park.

“Udon Thani is a province with a rich history, but it has never used information from its history or cultural heritage to create meaningful landmarks. The yellow ducks have no roots to Udon Thani. Therefore, Butterfly Effect is a display which may help bring about some changes,” Nithi said.

Title: New Normal

Artists from Mahasarakham Mid-field Artspace — Adisak Phupa, Anurak Khotchomphu, Sittikorn Khawsa-ad, Chaiyapat Yachay and Parinya Saenkan

New Normal consists of many mixed media art pieces inspired by the production process of exporting earthworms in Ban Kham Pom, Pathum Rat district in Roi Et. Penwadee explained that the earthworm business in Roi Et started during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Due to a shortage of some herbal medicines during the pandemic, people from China came to survey the area and discovered that the earthworm species in Roi Et could be used to make herbal medicines. Thus, earthworms became a new community economy. The story of community economy is interesting and our team saw it as the beauty within the reality that occurs in specific areas,” explained Penwadee.

One of the many pieces, Fight Everyday is made of a handwoven fabric and plastic sheets which display a map that marks factories and markets engaged in earthworm trading. It offers a magnified view of the community before the emergence of earthworm trade and developments since then.

Title: Motherhood

Artists: Keeta Isran and Hayanee Malee

Motherhood is a mixed media sculpture consisting of patchwork, prints and drawings. The fabrics are beautiful, but at the same time, they carry a heavy burden inside, just like mothers do.

“Although mothers have a lot of responsibility, they are still happy to take care of their children and can joke about their overwhelming work when gathering with other mothers. Motherhood represents femininity and the strength of Muslim women. Some patchworks are from the hem of skirts of women who live in Pattani and Narathiwat,” explained Keeta.

Baht appreciation against a weakening yen has influenced travel spending between Thailand and Japan this year.

Thai tourists have always loved to visit Japan, and the favourable exchange rate has encouraged them to flock to the islands this year. However, Japanese visitors to Thailand face a noticeable increase in travel costs.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said baht appreciation has emerged as one of the most crucial factors denting tourism growth this year, along with an unsafe image, global economic uncertainty, and Thai-Cambodian borders skirmishes.

She said the baht has strengthened against the US dollar and Chinese yuan by 7% and 4%, respectively, this year.

According to TAT, the Japanese post-pandemic economic recovery has been slow because the border reopening was delayed until 2022.

The yen has continued to weaken, shifting from ¥3.51 per baht in 2019 to ¥4.61 in 2025, an increase of roughly 30%.

This movement influenced market sentiment on the prices of tourism-related products and services in Thailand, said Ms Thapanee.

However, the currency is not the sole reason for the sluggish growth, said Mathurot Watanakomen, director of TAT’s Osaka office.

The Japanese inbound market still posted growth of 15-18% in the first quarter of this year, but momentum dropped sharply following the March 28 earthquake, which caused the collapse of a building under construction.

This was followed by tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border from June to July.

Ms Mathurot said the Japanese market is highly sensitive to safety concerns and tends to respond with heightened caution. Once those concerns ease, tourist flows typically rebound quickly.

SLOW RECOVERY

In 2019, Japanese arrivals peaked at 1.7 million, then declined during the pandemic.

Arrivals to Thailand did not surpass 1 million again until last year.

A positive factor this year is aircraft seat capacity rose 8.5% to 3 million, connecting Thailand with five Japanese cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Sapporo.

Starting from Dec 1, Thai AirAsia X plans to launch flights to Sendai, a long-awaited route among Japanese tour operators, said Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, deputy governor of international marketing for Asia and South Pacific at TAT.

In addition to the strong baht, she said fierce competition from other destinations also contributed to the slow recovery of the Japanese market.

Of the 13 million Japanese outbound travellers in 2024, Thailand was the No.4 destination behind South Korea, the US and Taiwan, which attracted 3.22 million, 1.54 million and 1.17 million visitors respectively, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Ms Pattaraanong said TAT still aims to attract 1.25 million Japanese visitors this year by targeting new segments such as millennials, Gen Z, students, and “Oshi-katsu” fans of “Thai Boy Love” TV series.

The key segments to maintain include business-plus-leisure travellers, women, active seniors, and sports enthusiasts, particularly golfers and marathon runners, she said.

As of Sept 18, arrivals from this market tallied 767,923, up 5% year-on-year, with an average stay of 6.04 nights and spending of 39,108 baht per trip.

During the Tourism Expo Japan held Sept 25-28 in Nagoya, the TAT expanded its reach to other regions beyond the bustling Kanto area, home to Tokyo, seeking to capture more high-spending tourists, including professionals, retirees and families.

Ms Mathurot said despite a weak yen and high living costs in Japan, potential remains among untapped segments, such as those who have never held a passport.

She said the Japanese government is promoting outbound travel to encourage cultural exchange and global experiences, supporting tour operators and airlines that facilitate international travel.

Ms Mathurot said the three TAT offices in Japan continue to work to expand the first-time and youth traveller segments, especially students and Gen Z.

The agency partnered with Thai professors teaching in Japanese schools and universities to organise study trips to Thailand and promote Thai culture among students.

However, she said this segment faces stiff competition from Vietnam, which offers fresh and affordable tourism products that appeal to younger travellers.

WORLD EXPO BOOST

From April 13 to Oct 13 this year, many Japanese tourists opted for domestic travel as Japan hosted the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, one of the world’s largest events.

In the first five months of the expo, the Thailand Pavilion, hosted by the Public Health Ministry, welcomed 1.5 million Japanese and international visitors.

Ms Thapanee said TAT was allocated a budget of 978,280 baht to organise a temporary exhibition alongside the Thailand Pavilion from Sept 15-29, showcasing 20 low-carbon travel routes in Thailand.

The exhibition also featured workshops on traditional Thai paper crafts, allowing Japanese visitors to engage directly with Thai culture.

Looking ahead to the next expo in Riyadh in five years, she said TAT plans to nominate itself to host the Thailand Pavilion.

The event offers a prime opportunity to promote Thai tourism to more than 40 million expected visitors in Saudi Arabia, an emerging market for Thailand in the Middle East, said Ms Thapanee.

She said she is confident TAT would be able to design an exhibition aligned with the “Foresight for Tomorrow” concept.

The Ratchaburi Provincial Court on Monday handed down a prison term of four years and one month to former member of parliament Pareena Kraikupt for the illegal occupation and use of 1,700 rai of state land.

Her 665-rai commercial poultry farm occupied much of the encroached land.

The court’s judgement on the former Ratchaburi-MP was announced on Monday, with no suspension of the penalty. She was allowed release on bail pending appeal.

The 1,700 rai of land is in Ratchaburi’s Chom Bung district. Part of the land was designated for a forest reserve and the rest for distribution to landless farmers under the Agricultural Land Reform scheme, Sor Por Kor.

Announcement of the sentence was posted on the Facebook page of graft fighter Veera Somkwamkid, who registered the encroachment complaint at Chom Bung police station in 2019.

Ms Pareena was temporarily released on bail, with one million baht in cash surety, while she takes her case to the Appeal Court, according to the post.

She was banned for life from politics in 2022 by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for breach of ethics in the occupation of state land. At the time, she was a member of the Palang Pracharath Party.

Ms Pareena’s Kraikupt family is very influential in the central province of Ratchaburi. Her late father, Thawee Kraikupt was also an MP, winning several national elections before stepping aside in favour of his daughter.