Eastern Bangkok land prices soar

Land prices in the Phra Khanong-Bang Na-Suan Luang-Prawet area surged by 39% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, the fastest increase in Greater Bangkok, driven by transport links and large-scale mixed-use developments.

The Real Estate Information Center (REIC) reported that the area’s land prices had risen for five consecutive quarters, positioning eastern Bangkok as a potential new central business district (CBD).

Major infrastructure projects, including the BTS Sukhumvit Line, the Yellow Line, the Airport Rail Link and the proposed Bang Na-Suvarnabhumi light rail, have strengthened connectivity. Expressways and motorways also link the area with central Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor.

The planned Bangkok Mall, a major mixed-use and retail development, is another factor supporting land values as urban expansion moves east from inner Sukhumvit.

However, the rate of price growth in the area had begun to moderate, despite remaining the strongest among the five leading locations, according to REIC.

Inner Bangkok ranked second, with land prices rising by 12.7% year-on-year. Limited vacant land and competition for sites suitable for commercial projects have pushed developers towards acquiring and redeveloping existing properties, supporting prices in established business districts.

Samut Sakhon ranked third, with an 11.4% increase, supported by Rama II Road and progress on the M82 elevated expressway. Improved connectivity has attracted investors seeking large plots for commercial developments and housing projects serving workers moving beyond Bangkok.

Land prices in Muang Pathum Thani, Lat Lum Kaeo and Sam Khok surged by 10.9%, ranking fourth, as road expansion improved access to central Bangkok and major business districts.

The area’s proximity to industrial zones and ring roads has also supported demand for large sites for warehouses and distribution centres.

The Rat Burana-Bang Khun Thian-Thung Khru-Bang Bon-Chom Thong area ranked fifth, with prices increasing 7.5%.

Infrastructure projects, including the Purple Line extension and the M82 motorway, have improved connectivity, while logistics and e-commerce businesses have supported demand for larger plots.

UNDEVELOPED LAND INDEX

The land price index for undeveloped land in Greater Bangkok reached 459 points in the third quarter, up 2.6% year-on-year and 4.1% quarter-on-quarter.

The index stood at 447.2 points in the third quarter of 2025 and 440.9 in the second quarter of 2026. The REIC attributed the latest increase to expanding rail networks, road connections to suburban areas and major mixed-use and retail developments.

Along mass-transit routes, land prices on the BTS Sukhumvit Line rose 14.3% year-on-year, the highest increase among the five leading rail corridors. The index reached 580.2 points, supported by demand for prime sites for luxury condominiums and Grade A offices.

The MRT Blue Line and the planned Dark Red Line corridor between Bang Sue and Hua Lamphong both recorded 12.7% growth. Their land price indices stood at 738 and 726.5 points, respectively.

Land prices along the Orange Line corridor between Thailand Cultural Centre and Min Buri increased 11.6%, while the Airport Rail Link corridor rose 11.1%. The Green Line extension from Mo Chit to Saphan Mai and Khu Khot recorded 10.8% growth.

According to REIC, land near established business districts remained valuable as developable plots became scarcer. Meanwhile, expanding rail networks and road infrastructure continued to support land demand in eastern and northern Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

Villagers’ apology for felled trees at royal memorial not enough

Villagers on Doi Pui mountain have apologised for allowing volunteers to “clean up” a memorial for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), resulting in 15 beautiful majestic trees being cut down.

The apology is deemed insufficient and the government is proceeding with legal action against those held responsible for felling the trees, which were inside a national park.

Kritsiam Kongsatree, director of the Protected Area Regional Office 16, said on Tuesday that the apology was conveyed by Methaphan Phuchakrissadapha, the head of tambon Suthep, on behalf of the villagers living on Doi Pui.

They had approved a landscape improvement proposal made by a group of volunteers but had not expected them to chop down any trees, Mr Methaphan told him.

Fifteen large trees were felled at the memorial, which was built by Doi Pui villagers in honour the late king for his frequent visits to the mountain and royal projects aimed at replacing illegal poppy crops with legal commercial crops.

The memorial opened in 2007 and is inside Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, which is under the Protected Area Region 16 office in Chiang Mai.

No volunteer group has admitted responsibility for the tree chopping. However, a Ban Hmong Doi Pui Facebook post on Oct 9 showed the Suthep Group for Sustainability and some villagers cleaning up the place. One had a chainsaw on the ground beside him.

Mr Kritsiam confirmed that the park was intent on taking legal action against seven people suspected of cutting down the trees and had registering complaints at Bhubingrajanivej police station in Muang district of this northern province.

The investigation was continuing and others may also be charged if the evidence warrants it.

Slow visa processing disrupts travel to Thailand

Slow visa processing in countries whose visa-free privileges have been withdrawn has disrupted travel to Thailand, with many travellers opting for Vietnam instead. Airlines have also reported a large number of no-show passengers and urged the government to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia market suffered a sharp 40% decline following the closure of Riyadh’s international airport after Houthi strikes earlier this month.

Emirates was among the airlines reporting the consequences of the slow visa application process, recording 30-40 no-show passengers per flight on its Mexico-Thailand route, as many travellers were unable to obtain visas before their departure dates.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the ministry had acknowledged the issue. The visa policy committee is scheduled to meet on Nov 9, when the tourism ministry will propose granting visa privileges to several Latin American countries, including Mexico, as well as Uzbekistan.

However, the committee must thoroughly discuss the candidates on the list, taking both security and economic factors into account.

According to sources in the travel industry, many tourists from Latin America have shifted their travel plans to other destinations with faster and more convenient visa procedures, particularly Vietnam, which offers tourism products similar to those of Thailand.

Chiravadee Khunsub, deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said that even though the European and US markets remained largely unfazed by the Middle East conflict, posting growth of 0.09% and 0.19%, respectively, the war continued to have a significant impact on Gulf countries, which are directly affected, resulting in a decline of 8.1% as of Oct 20.

SAUDI MARKET HIT HARD

She said the Saudi market, which had been among the fastest-growing markets in recent years, plunged by almost 40%, mainly due to disruptions at Riyadh’s main airport this month, as airlines were forced to cancel flights following several Houthi attacks and the airport’s closure.

This resulted in the suspension of 10 direct flights per week between Riyadh and Bangkok, leaving only nine weekly flights between Jeddah and Bangkok still in operation.

Mrs Chiravadee said the recovery of the Middle East market had also stalled after a strong rebound in pent-up demand when conditions improved in the third quarter.

However, with Middle Eastern airlines having resumed all services to maintain slots at previous levels, she said the agency expects the region to stage a solid recovery once the conflict subsides.

For instance, during the winter season, Qatar Airways is increasing its direct flights from Doha to Phuket to 21 per week from 14, with the increase scheduled to take effect on Oct 25.

During the fourth quarter, she said the number of visitors from long-haul markets is projected to reach 3.38 million, driven by continued growth from several markets, led by Poland and the Nordic countries, which recorded increases of 10.8% and 5.8%, respectively, during the first 10 months of the year.

Forward bookings for the final quarter also remain strong in several key markets, including Russia, up 34% year-on-year, Kazakhstan, up 45%, Finland, up 29%, Denmark, up 14%, Sweden, up 13% and Norway, up 8%.

For the first quarter of 2027, forward bookings recorded by Amadeus Destination Gateway indicate that arrivals from long-haul markets to Thailand are expected to reach 2.25 million, an increase of 18.3% year-on-year, with the Middle East posting the strongest growth at 38.2%, followed by Europe at 17.5%.

Mrs Chiravadee said the trend next year is likely to see more airlines expand long-haul direct services that bypass Middle Eastern hubs, offering travellers more options to plan trips that avoid potential risks associated with these hubs.

This trend is already evident in airlines’ expansion this year, with direct flights from Europe, the US and Africa totalling around 5.73 million seats, up 5.56% year-on-year as of Oct 2.

This winter, notable new direct services include Scandinavian Airlines’ flights from Copenhagen to Phuket and Krabi.

CAUTION PERSISTS

In 2027, the TAT projects that arrivals from long-haul markets will reach 11 million, up 4% from this year, generating 730 billion baht in revenue, also an increase of 4%.

She said the agency must continue efforts to stimulate spending in certain underperforming markets that have been affected by rising fuel costs, weakening economic confidence and price-sensitive consumer behaviour.

These include the UK market, which declined by 3-4% this year, as around 30% of travellers relied on connecting flights through Middle Eastern airports, prompting more people to take holiday trips within Europe instead during the past summer.

For markets facing ongoing protests, Mrs Chiravadee said the agency is closely monitoring the situation. While there has been no immediate impact, as most tourists had already booked their holidays in advance, the situation could affect bookings for next year.

To prepare for any potential impact, she said the agency has already held discussions with airlines on launching joint promotions.

One new partnership is expected with Italy’s flag carrier, ITA Airways, which has merged with the Lufthansa Group.

The TAT and ITA Airways are planning to organise familiarisation trips to raise Thailand’s profile in the Italian market, with the TAT hoping that the airline will upgrade its Thailand services to year-round operations rather than operating only during the peak season.

Suladda Sarutilavan, TAT’s executive director of Europe, said the agency recently hosted the Amazing Thailand Fest 2026 in Madrid, attracting around 5,000 visitors after promoting the event through 430 digital screens across the city.

She said the Spanish market has strong growth potential, supported by flight connections from several Spanish cities via Istanbul, a major aviation hub that offers access to Thailand without relying on Middle Eastern transit points.

The agency also held an inaugural flight ceremony on Oct 25 for Belavia, which has launched scheduled services from Minsk, Belarus, to Bangkok with one weekly flight and will reinstate its direct Minsk-Phuket service with two flights per week from Oct 29 to serve higher demand during the winter season.

Rescued red panda transferred to Khao Kheow Open Zoo

A female red panda rescued from suspected international wildlife traffickers has been transferred to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri for medical assessment and rehabilitation.

Police seized the five-year-old red panda on Saturday after finding it concealed inside a pickup truck they had stopped near the Myanmar border in Mae Sot district in Tak province.

The red panda, weighing approximately 5kg, was handed over on Tuesday morning to the zoo’s veterinary team and wildlife specialists by staff from Protected Area Regional Office 14 of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Authorities at the Mae Sot Wildlife Checkpoint had conducted preliminary health checks and implanted a microchip with an identification number before the transfer. (Story continues below)

Red pandas are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which provides the highest level of protection against international commercial trade.

Panatchakorn Photiphanthit, director of Protected Area Regional Office 14, said the red panda – also known as a bear cat or lesser panda – requires specialised veterinary care, nutrition and suitable living conditions, with stress management also essential to its recovery.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo will place the animal in quarantine for further health assessments and prepare an environment suited to its natural behaviour to minimise stress and support its adjustment.

Police and other agencies are continuing their investigation to identify those behind the suspected trafficking operation and trace any associated networks.

Two suspects were arrested after the search of their pickup in Mae Sot, as they could not show documents authorising them to keep the red panda. They were taken to the Mae Sot police station and charged with illegal possession of protected wildlife.

Offenders face maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and/or a 1-million-baht fine.

Bangladesh reach 90 for two at lunch against West Indies

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is celebrating its 47th anniversary of political independence from Britain on Tuesday with the island’s two main political leaders issuing contrasting messages to the citizens.

Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday in his first Independence Day since leading the New Democratic Party (NDC) to victory in last November’s general election, said while the country ‘celebrates our achievements, we must also recognise the challenges that remain before us.

‘We must continue to create opportunities for our young people, strengthen our communities, enhance public safety, protect our environment, and expand economic growth that benefits all citizens. Nation-building is an ongoing responsibility that demands commitment, discipline, innovation, and unity.

‘This moment in our history calls upon us to do things differently and better. We must manage our scarce resources better; provide greater support to vulnerable citizens and more opportunities to our young people. To grow the economy, the government must invest in cleaner and cheaper energy to preserve our environment and secure a brighter future,’ Friday said.

But Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who up until last November was the country’s longest serving prime minister, warned that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is facing six interconnected crises under the NDP administration, including economic hardship, rising crime, and poor governance.

Gonsalves is calling on all members of the public to unite and work together to rescue the nation from further decline.

‘More than ever, these dire circumstances, a veritable nightmare which currently enveloped our country, demand of all of us to unite in peace, love, and solidarity for uplifting purposes. Each of these words is pregnant with real meaning,’ Gonsalves said, noting that while the government has a special role to lead, its actions, inactions, and utterances thus far, whether by design, inadvertence, hubris, or sheer incompetence, singly or in conjoined battalions, has contributed immensely to the terrible conditions that have befallen the nation.

Friday said that as the new prime minister he accept the responsibility entrusted to him with humility and resolve.

‘I recognise the aspirations of our people for greater economic opportunity, improved living standards, quality healthcare and education, and a society in which hard work is rewarded, and every citizen has a fair chance to succeed.

‘As a government, we approach this task with a clear sense of purpose. We are committed to building a stronger, more inclusive Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, one where opportunity is accessible, communities are secure, businesses can flourish, and every citizen can contribute meaningfully to national development.

‘Our development must reach every Vincentian. We must ensure that our young people can build meaningful futures at home, that our farmers and fisherfolk receive the support they need, that our workers are treated with dignity, and that our most vulnerable citizens are afforded care and opportunity,’ Friday added.

He said that this year’s Independence theme, ‘Hand in Hand, Uplifting Our Nation,’ echoes the enduring message of the 1979 patriotic song ‘We’re Out to Build a New St. Vincent’, and captures a fundamental truth that the future of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a shared responsibility.

‘Governments can lead, but lasting progress requires the collective effort of citizens, communities, institutions, and the Vincentian diaspora. Together, we can create a nation that is prosperous, compassionate, resilient, and prepared for the opportunities of the future.

‘Let us, therefore, recommit ourselves to the values that define us as a people: hard work, integrity, unity, and love of country. Let us support one another, inspire our youth, care for our vulnerable, and work together in the common interest of our beloved nation,’ Friday said.

Gonsalves in a recorded message from The Bahamas, urged Vincentians to unite in peace, love solidarity for uplifting purposes.

‘Rather than engendering unity, the government is promoting disunity through its thirst for political revenge and its hunger for political victimisation to satisfy its illusion of power and the urgings and posturing of its assorted sycophants.

‘Rather than promoting peace and harmony, the government has fuelled confrontation and disharmony as though drunk on an illusory power, tilting authoritarianism, secrecy, and a lack of transparency.

‘Rather than extolling the values, the virtues of love for the people, the government has resorted to bombast, divisiveness, and exuberant talk of ban yur belly as though joyful at punishing people in a masquerade of a jaundiced supposed truth-telling.’

Gonsalves said that rather than articulating a compelling developmental narrative with uplifting purposes, the government has combined partisan domestic politics with an imported ill-suited neoliberal ideology from the bowels of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to devise an austerity by attrition, ‘conjoining wasteful spending on follies and slashing spending on vital current and worthy capital items of expenditure.

‘The result of all this, as our nation commemorates its 47th anniversary of its reclamation of independence, is a confluence of six interlocking crises.

‘The fiscal crisis in the government finances, the economic crisis as manifested in hard times of little or no economic growth, the social crisis in the frame or dissolving of well-established social safety nets for the poor and the vulnerable, the crisis of violent crime as evidenced by the seemingly unstoppable level of homicides which has already gone past the 40th of last year, with two months of 2026 still to go….’

Gonsalves said unmistakably, the country is far worse off today than 11 months ago at the time of the 2025 general elections.

‘There are far fewer jobs and even fewer opportunities for decent work. There is less money in circulation as the economy goes dead.The cost of living has gone through the roof with no signs of any abatement soon. People cannot pay their bills and there is great suffering in the land. And worse, there is no hope that things are going to get better soon,’ Gonsalves said in his message.

Meanwhile, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre has in a congratulatory message notes that the story of St. Vincent and the Grenadines ‘has been shaped by the hard work, determination and aspirations of its people.

‘As Vincentians mark this important anniversary, Stt Lucia joins them in recognising what they have built as a nation and the contributions they continue to make to our shared Caribbean community,’ said Pierre, who is also the chairman of the 15-member regional integration grouping, CARICOM..

‘Independence is an occasion to honour the generations who have contributed to the nation’s journey and to look ahead with hope for those who will carry it forward. It also reminds us of the bonds that unite Caribbean people and the progress we can achieve together.’

Pierre noted that both St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines share a special place in each other’s history.

‘In 1979, our two countries gained independence just eight months apart. Forty-seven years later, we continue to stand side by side as neighbours and partners in the Caribbean,’ Prime Minister Pierre said, adding that he is looking forward to continued cooperation between the two countries on matters that affect their people and the wider region.

Heads up, Engenes! First 100 vivo V80 pre-orders get access to Enhypen event

The first 100 customers who successfully pre-order the vivo V80 through vivo Philippines e-store will secure a VVIP ticket to the vivo V80 Lights Up Christmas with ENHYPEN Jungwon, Jake and Sunghoon on November 12, 2026, at SM Mall of Asia Hall, giving fans a chance to see them in person.

To qualify, customers must place their pre-orders exclusively through shop.vivo.com starting October 26, 2026 until November 8, 2026, and pay a non-refundable P1,000 down payment. The offer is limited to the first 100 successful checkouts, with one VVIP ticket allocated per qualifying pre-order.

Customers must pay the remaining balance in full by November 9, 2026. Failure to complete payment by 11:59 pm that day will result in the forfeiture of the reserved ticket, while the initial down payment remains non-refundable.

Following full payment, vivo Philippines will contact qualified customers to coordinate ticket arrangements and verify their identities.

Customers must present a valid ID during verification and bring the same ID and the full order number from their online transaction to the event.

Tickets are strictly non-transferable and tied to the original buyer’s registered ID and order number. Before the event with ENHYPEN Jungwon, Jake and Sunghoon, vivo Philippines will officially launch the vivo V80 on October 30 at 6 p.m.

The launch will be livestreamed on the official vivo Philippines Facebook page, allowing fans to tune in online and learn more about the vivo V80.

Interested viewers can click ‘Going’ on the event page to receive updates and avoid missing the livestream.

Boatwright obtains Philippine passport as naturalization finalized for Gilas

Bennie Boatwright’s naturalization process has been completed.

Boatwright’s passport is now ready, Gilas Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy announced during the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) national congress Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas.

‘We have also finally completed the naturalization of PBA champion Bennie Boatwright. The process began in 2024 and we look forward to seeing him play for Gilas soon,’ Dy said.

‘I just received a text message just before coming up to the podium that his passport is now ready. His addition is something to look forward to as we continue working our way to Los Angeles 2028,’ she added.

Boatwright has already taken his oath of allegiance to the Philippines last week, according to the SBP.

The 30-year-old, 6-foot-10 forward will now be eligible to be fielded for Gilas in international tournaments.

The Philippines is currently in fifth place of Group E in the World Cup Asian Qualifiers with a 4-4 slate.

The next window for Gilas will be in November. There, the Nationals will take on 2-6 Syria and 5-3 Iran at the Karisma Arena in Seremban, Malaysia.

The sweet-shooting big man is now added to the naturalized player pool, giving the Philippines another reinforcement aside from Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame.

You’re choosing business partners the wrong way

Finding a business partner may be one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make, yet many entrepreneurs spend months refining a business idea and only a few conversations examining the person they’ll build it with.

I’ve come to think that choosing a business partner is less like hiring a colleague and more like choosing a co-parent. You’re choosing someone with whom you’ll nurture, protect and occasionally disagree over something you’ve created from scratch. There will be sleepless nights, difficult decisions, financial pressure and moments when one of you wants to give up while the other insists on carrying on. The question isn’t whether your partnership will face conflict. It absolutely will. The real question is whether your relationship is strong enough to survive it.

Harvard Business School professor Noam Wasserman spent more than a decade studying entrepreneurial teams before publishing The Founder’s Dilemmas. His research found that conflict between founders is one of the most common reasons promising businesses unravel. Yet many entrepreneurs spend far more time discussing products, funding and market opportunities than they do understanding the values, habits and personalities of the people sitting across the table.

That strikes me as backwards. When we choose business partners, we naturally focus on talent. We ask whether they understand finance, marketing or operations, but skills are often the easiest part of a partnership. Shared values are far more difficult to find, and they become most visible when things stop going according to plan.

Take disagreement for example, every successful business eventually reaches a crossroads where two intelligent people genuinely believe different paths will lead to a better outcome. One wants to expand while the other wants to protect cash flow. One believes it’s time to hire while the other argues for patience. Disagreement isn’t the main problem here; ego is. The strongest partnerships are built on the confidence that a difficult conversation won’t become a personal one.

Money has a way of revealing differences that ambition quietly hides. It’s easy for two founders to dream together before the first cheque arrives, but the test comes when one partner is comfortable taking risks that keep the other awake at night. Those conversations are about different beliefs and about what business success looks like.

The same is true when a business faces its first real crisis. A major client leaves. A supplier disappears. Regulations change overnight. Payroll is due and the numbers no longer make sense. Those moments reveal something far more important than technical ability. They reveal emotional steadiness. You need a partner who will remain calm enough to help strategise.

Shared ambition may be enough to start a business, but shared values are what keep it standing. The idea will evolve, the market will shift and technology will continue to change, yet the character of the person sitting beside you is unlikely to transform simply because you’ve registered a company.

Before you choose someone to help build your business, ask yourself whether they’re also the person you’d trust to help rebuild it after everything goes wrong. Ask yourself “Would I still choose this person if I knew the next five years would be far more difficult than I could ever expect?”

A business partner isn’t simply someone you celebrate success with. Like a co-parent, they’re someone you trust to carry the weight with you when success feels a very long way away.