Yvonne Bohwongprasert, a former newspaper journalist with more than 26 years’experience covering social issues, lifestyle and entertainment, reflects on theremarkable rise of Thai Girl Love — and what happens when the emotional investment of devoted fans becomes part of the business model. UNTIL A few years ago, Girl Love, or GL, was
Analysis
Netanyahu, Trump speeches at UN flag Israel, US as biggest threats to Travel & Tourism
TWO bellicose, bombastic speeches by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly last week have clearly flagged their countries as the biggest threats facing the beleaguered Travel & Tourism industry. The second quarter of the 21st century, which began this year, is now set to be
Read moreKasikorn Research Centre sets flood-induced economic damage at 7–17 billion baht
KASIKORN Research Centre’s analysis estimates that the economic impact of floods arising from continuous rainfall from Friday to Sunday (Sep. 25-27) is approximately 7–17 billion baht while risks associated with natural disasters and extreme weather, which are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, pose a significant structural challenge to the Thai economy, Naewna newspaper said
Read more25 years later, WoT has the “War on Terror” achieved?
IN A few days, the world will mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The “War on Terror” which followed had a profound impact on Travel & Tourism — increased security measures, visa restrictions, racial profiling, travel disruptions, warfare, draconian immigration policies, mass surveillance, terrorism prosecutions, and detention and torture. Arguably the worst
Read moreShifting Korat horticultural expo raises questions about sharing opportunities
THE cabinet decision to relocate Nakhon Ratchasima World Horticultural Expo 2029, now renamed Expo 2029 Korat Thailand, from Khong district to Pak Chong district of this northeastern province is a significant turning point for a project that has been prepared for many years while raises key questions about development and distribution of opportunities, Amarin
Read moreHousing market recovers in H1 with transfers soaring 17.6%
THE HOUSING MARKET shook off a downturn in the first half of this year with transfers reaching 167,000 units, a 17.6% increase, driven by government measures, PPTVHD36 said today (Aug. 27). Sales of second-hand homes soared accounting for 63% of the total, reflecting a focus on value for money. At the same time
Read moreUnrest in Far South aimed at replacing 4th Army Region Commander: Academic
FOLLOWING 51 bombing and arson attacks in the three Far South provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala on Saturday night (Aug. 22), with a couple more arson and bomb attacks occurring in Pattani last night, an academic at Rangsit University today analysed that the cause of the unrest is to pressure the authorities to
Read moreGulf visitor arrivals save Thai tourism from low season disaster
A SURGE in visitors from the Gulf countries in July saved the beleaguered Thai tourism sector from what would have been an unmitigated disaster. A few weeks of relative calm in the Gulf allowed flights to operate more or less normally, leading to a spectacular surge in arrivals during the so-called
Read moreAnalysis – AI race redraws Asian air cargo, replacing e-commerce as growth engine
By Julie Zhu and Lisa Baertlein, Reuters, and published by Yahoo!News HONG KONG/LOS ANGELES: The global race to build artificial intelligence is redrawing Asia’s air cargo map, prompting airlines to redesign networks around growing semiconductor manufacturing hubs as cross-border e-commerce loses momentum. Unlike the post-pandemic parcel boom, demand tied to AI infrastructure is underpinned
Read moreOECD lists Colombia as first country to build Culture of Peace Through Tourism
THE concept of Facilitating a Culture of Peace Through Tourism is all set to hit mainstream after being prominently highlighted as a major part of the Colombian Tourism Development Strategy in the latest OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 report. Released on July 1, the flagship OECD biennial report lists the formerly drugs-infested South
Read moreEx-FBI agent reveals: ‘Why do fugitives go to Thailand’
THE revamping of the visitor visas and crackdown on nominee companies are a part of the Thai government’s efforts to rebalance the positive benefits of tourism vis a vis the negative impact on national security. A book by former FBI agent John Schachnovsky published in December 2025 reveals one reason for
Read moreUN proclaims 2027-2036 as ‘Decade of Peace for Future Generations’, US casts sole vote against
THE United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the period 2027-2036 as the International Decade of Strengthening of Peace for Future Generations. In a move that should shock and shame every American citizen, the United States was the ONLY country to vote against the resolution which was passed on June 25 with
Read moreAnalysis: From Pride month to Pride economy – economic opportunities for Thailand
AS MANY countries around the world including Thailand celebrate Pride month in June with this being about acceptance and equality plus focusing on the work of LGBTQ+ people, this is seen as more than just an event as globally the LGBTQ+ purchasing power exceeds 160 trillion baht per year, and Thailand has the opportunity
Read moreAnalysis: Thai farm debt crisis deepens in early test for Anutin’s government
By Orathai Sriring and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Reuters, and published by Yahoo!News AHEAD of Thailand’s February general election, politicians often came to court voters like 69-year-old rice farmer Chaon Taiupok in Ayutthaya, about 80km (50 miles) north of the capital, Bangkok. “Once they won and formed the government, they disappeared,” said Chaon, who is struggling
Read moreAnalysis: Most Thais have given up on buying a home, 56% not doing so for 5 years
WITH INCOME growth lagging expenses over 56% of Thais now have no plans to buy a home in the next five years while being additionally dissuaded by high housing prices, according to an analysis by SCB EIC’s Economic and Business Research Centre published by PPTVHD36 this evening (June10). With purchasing power remaining sluggish in
Read moreFeature: Interest-wise, Thais may root for West Ham survival
By Thai Newsroom Reporters WHETHER ONE OF Thailand’s novel tourism campaigns to raise arrivals from overseas would be more or less successful could probably depend on Sunday’s pivotal phenomenon in a place so literally far away that one might probably deem it irrelevant. West Ham United are waging their final battle at London Stadium
Read moreForeign Ministry taps Young Gen Thai- Muslim talent to build peace tourism
– THREE creative videos made by Young Gen Thai-Muslims have been conferred awards by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for promoting Thailand as a Muslim-friendly destination. The masterfully created, scripted and directed videos are now readymade marketing tools well-suited for campaigns to attract Muslim visitors from Asean, the Islamic world and the
Read moreAs global military spending grows, Travel & Tourism faces a perilous future
THREE major travel industry events are due to be held simultaneously in Bangkok today (April 29): [=] The Skift Asia Forum [=] The Travel Daily Media Global Summit Bangkok – 2026 [=] The Thailand MICE X-Change 2026 The programmes and events of all three were finalised months ago. In many ways,
Read moreVeteran US journalist laments the Lost Horizons of Asia and America
LIFETIME journalists often call it a day with a book to recap their adventures, record their memories and, most importantly, leave a learning-curve legacy for future generations. Veteran newsman Denis Gray, former Bangkok Bureau chief of the Associated Press, has done just that. His autobiography, Lost Horizons, is a captivating history
Read moreThais hit by scam calls and SMS 173 million times in 2025
DATA collected by Whoscall application shows that the number of scam phone calls and fake SMS messages Thais received in 2025 totalled 173 million, rising 3.16 percent year-on-year even as the global total of fraud calls dropped, PPTVHD36 said today (Mar. 18). Gogolook (Thailand) Co., Ltd., provider of this useful app, mentioned new scam
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