Authorities in Phuket have launched a time-sensitive campaign to legalize unregistered hotels ahead of an August 18, 2025 deadline. The move is part of a national effort to integrate Thailand’s sizable informal tourism sector into the formal economy, with implications for compliance, investment certainty, and risk management across the hospitality and tourism industries.

Under a temporary regulation from the Interior Ministry, small-scale buildings that began operating before August 19, 2016 — but do not meet the structural definition of a hotel under Thailand’s Hotel Act — may apply for hotel licenses, provided they meet safety and construction criteria. A separate ministerial exemption for Phuket introduced in late 2024 also relaxes certain zoning and environmental requirements, making it easier for operators to regularize their businesses.

Phuket’s “field hospital” model — backed by the deputy governor and a multi-agency working group — will fast-track 20 to 50 high-potential operators through the licensing process, offering administrative support and legal guidance. The initiative is coordinated by the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium, which represents over 250 small hotels, most of which remain unlicensed despite efforts to comply. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand has strengthened its regulatory grip on digital commerce with new compliance requirements targeting major e-commerce platforms. The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) published a list of 19 high-impact platforms now subject to Section 20 of the Digital Platform Services Royal Decree, requiring them to conduct risk assessments and implement business risk management procedures.

The regulation, which took effect on July 10 following its publication in the Royal Gazette, applies to platforms that market or sell products under official regulatory standards and are deemed to carry potential risks to economic stability, financial security, or public trust in digital systems. Covered platforms include Shopee, Lazada, Alibaba, LINE Shopping, Grab, eBay, Taobao, and others. The list will be reviewed annually.

In parallel, the government is intensifying its efforts to curb fraudulent online advertising, which caused damages exceeding THB 19 billion (USD 551 million) last year. The ETDA has partnered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and leading e-commerce platforms to deploy an application programming interface system designed to block the sale of unauthorized health products.

Further efforts include the development of an artificial intelligence system to detect illegal health product advertisements. This initiative is supported by the World Health Organization’s Thailand office and involves collaboration with academic institutions such as Mahidol University and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. [Bangkok Post] 

Thailand’s cabinet is preparing to introduce a draft Financial Hub Bill to parliament, aiming to transform the country into a regional financial center by overhauling licensing, regulatory frameworks, and investment facilitation. The Council of State has completed its legal review, and the bill will soon be presented for parliamentary deliberation.

According to Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, the legislation is designed to create a streamlined, business-friendly ecosystem aligned with the needs of international financial firms. A central component is the creation of a “One-Stop Authority” under the Office of the Regulatory and Promotion Committee for the Financial Business Hub, which will manage licensing, oversight, and investor incentives.

The bill defines the qualifications for target businesses, licensing procedures, and regulatory standards to ensure alignment with international norms. It also sets out measures to improve workforce development and infrastructure, with the aim of enhancing Thailand’s competitiveness in global finance. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has formally nominated Vitai Ratanakorn, president and CEO of the state-owned Government Savings Bank, to become the next governor of the Bank of Thailand. The nomination, submitted to the cabinet on July 16, still requires cabinet endorsement and royal approval. If confirmed, Vitai would succeed current governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, who is stepping down due to mandatory retirement, and begin a five-year term starting October 1.

Vitai was selected from a shortlist of two candidates recommended by the Bank of Thailand’s Governor Selection Committee. The other finalist was Roong Mallikamas, a veteran deputy governor recognized for her expertise in monetary policy and financial stability.

The incoming governor will face a difficult economic landscape, with Thailand grappling with weak domestic consumption, high household debt, and increased external pressure from looming U.S. tariffs. The central bank’s limited room for monetary easing further complicates efforts to sustain growth and maintain financial stability. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 2] [Bangkok Post 3]

Thailand’s Department of Business Development (DBD) has launched the second phase of its “Smart Local Me-D” initiative aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of local entrepreneurs and community-based producers. The program seeks to generate over THB 100 million (USD 2.88 million) in trade value by transforming high-quality local products into market-ready goods that meet modern consumer demand.

This year, the project follows the “L-U-C-K” route — highlighting standout products from Lamphun, Udon Thani, Chumphon, and Kalasin — and emphasizes co-development, business training, and integration with tourism routes to enhance visibility.

The initiative comprises four pillars: personalized business coaching, incubation camps focused on marketing and brand development, access to retail and business-matching opportunities, and strategic promotion through cultural narratives. A recent exhibition in Bangkok reportedly generated over THB 20 million (USD 576,000) in trade value.

Featured products include traditional textiles, spices, pottery, and artisanal foods. The DBD sees the project as part of a broader effort to create jobs, stimulate regional economies, and promote sustainable self-reliance across Thailand’s rural provinces. [Bangkok Post]

China has reaffirmed its commitment to completing the China–Thailand high-speed rail project, with operations now scheduled to begin in 2030 — nearly a decade later than initially planned. The confirmation came during the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Beijing, where Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing identified the Thailand route as one of several flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) rail corridors prioritized for accelerated implementation.

The project, which aims to connect Bangkok to Nong Khai near the Lao border, has faced persistent delays due to disputes over financing, design standards, and construction responsibilities, compounded by disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the Thai cabinet approved the second phase of the project, enabling progress toward its integration with the operational China–Laos railway and ultimately the envisioned Kunming–Singapore economic corridor.

For Thailand, the high-speed line is expected to improve freight and passenger connectivity with mainland Southeast Asia and China, strengthen trade logistics, and position the country as a regional transport hub. However, questions remain regarding cost-efficiency, long-term debt obligations, and alignment with domestic infrastructure priorities. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s proposed overland logistics corridor between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea — commonly known as the Land Bridge — continues to face resistance from industry stakeholders and remains vulnerable to political volatility. The project, envisioned as an alternative to the congested Strait of Malacca, involves constructing two deep-sea ports in Chumphon and Ranong, a 90-kilometer rail and highway link, and a Special Economic Zone.

Although the government claims the project will cut shipping times by up to five days and elevate Thailand’s status as a regional logistics hub, industry operators warn of increased costs and inefficiencies. A key concern is the need for double-handling cargo — unloading at one port, transporting across land, and reloading at another — making the proposed route less attractive than conventional sea lanes.

Initial investor interest has come primarily from real estate developers, not logistics firms, raising concerns that speculative land deals may outweigh industrial use. A required legal framework, the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) bill, remains stalled in parliament amid opposition and weak political momentum. Observers suggest that any disruption to the ruling coalition could jeopardize the entire project.

Despite official claims that environmental and technical assessments are progressing and bidding could begin by 2026, critics question whether the project is primarily a political tool rather than a commercially viable logistics solution. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand is accelerating its adoption of nuclear energy through a dual push: a domestic initiative to introduce small modular reactors (SMRs) — a newer and more compact form of nuclear technology — and a newly ratified cooperation framework with the United States. SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors that typically produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity, offering enhanced safety features and lower environmental risks compared to traditional nuclear plants.

Domestically, state-owned and private-sector energy firms are advancing feasibility studies for SMR deployment. Key stakeholders include Ratch Group (a subsidiary of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand), Global Power Synergy (linked to national energy conglomerate PTT), and Saha Pathanapibul International. Their efforts align with the country’s Power Development Plan (2024–2037), which envisions two SMRs coming online by the end of the planning horizon. A national seminar on July 16 will further promote public understanding of the technology.

These developments are reinforced by the entry into force of the U.S.–Thailand Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement on July 9. Known as a “123 Agreement,” the pact provides a legal and regulatory basis for peaceful nuclear collaboration, including the transfer of technology, materials, and expertise. The agreement emphasizes nonproliferation and energy security and is expected to deepen commercial ties between U.S. nuclear firms and Thailand’s energy sector.

Thailand’s earlier attempts to adopt nuclear power in the 1970s and again under a 2010 energy strategy were shelved due to domestic gas discoveries and post-Fukushima safety concerns. [Bangkok Post] [U.S. Department of State]

Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) sector, once lauded as a model for green industrial transition, is now grappling with serious structural issues driven by a surge of Chinese imports, inadequate after-sales support, and unmet local production targets. Central to the controversy is Chinese EV brand Neta, whose rapid collapse has exposed weaknesses in Thailand’s EV policy framework and broader vulnerabilities tied to China's overcapacity and price-driven export model.

Chinese EV brands—led by BYD, with a near 50 percent market share—now dominate over 70 percent of Thailand’s EV market. Aggressively supported by Chinese industrial policy and drawn by Thailand’s EV incentive schemes (EV 3.0 and EV 3.5), firms like Neta, MG, GWM, and Changan entered Thailand with promises of local production, competitive prices, and long-term sectoral development. But many second-tier players have failed to deliver.

Neta, which once controlled 12 percent of EV sales in Thailand, has now seen its market share shrink to 4 percent. Its parent company in China entered bankruptcy proceedings in June 2025, while its Thai operations are the subject of mounting legal disputes. Over 220 consumer complaints have been filed, citing unusable vehicles, spare part shortages, and abandoned service responsibilities. Thai Neta dealers are seeking more than THB 200 million (USD 6.17 million) in unpaid contractual support, and consumer groups are preparing class-action litigation.

At the policy level, Thailand’s requirement for EV makers to match import volumes with local production by 2024 was unmet by many brands, including Neta. The government responded by deferring the obligation to 2025 but raised the matching ratio, signaling tighter scrutiny going forward. Neta’s failure has since raised calls for more stringent regulatory safeguards, including mandatory service coverage within the first year of entry, spare parts guarantees, and greater transparency in brand commitments.

Analysts now warn that the Thai government’s initial focus on market penetration and foreign investment may have come at the cost of consumer protection and industrial credibility. With over USD 3 billion in Chinese EV investments already committed, including assembly plants and research centers, the government is eager to preserve Thailand’s regional leadership in automotive manufacturing. Officials from the Board of Investment and the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand maintain that Neta’s collapse is an isolated incident—not indicative of deeper flaws in Thai industrial policy.

However, industry observers caution that Thailand’s ambition to make EVs 30 percent of total auto production by 2030 could be undermined if structural gaps in after-sales support, regulatory enforcement, and financial vetting are not urgently addressed. [MSN] [Bangkok Post]

A new medical device manufacturing facility is set to open in Pathum Thani, Thailand, as part of a joint venture between Taiwan’s Diamond Biotechnology and Thai partners K.N.A. Inter Pharma and aesthetic clinic executives. The plant will focus on producing devices for aesthetic medicine, reflecting rising domestic and regional demand for cosmetic surgery.

With a total investment of THB 3 billion (USD 83.1 million), approximately THB 500 million (USD 13.9 million) will go toward constructing the facility, scheduled to break ground in January 2026 and begin production in 2027. The remaining funds will support research and development for four patented medical devices.

Seventy percent of output is expected to be exported, primarily to China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, while the rest will be sold within Thailand. Diamond Biotechnology will continue to use its Taiwan facilities to serve European and American markets.

The investment aligns with Thailand’s broader ambition to become a regional hub for medical services and manufacturing. The Thai cosmetic surgery market is projected to reach THB 76.5 billion (USD 2.1 billion) in 2025, up 2.8 percent from the previous year, according to domestic research data. Though growth is moderate amid a sluggish economy, long-term prospects remain positive, driven by demographic changes and growing demand for aesthetic services in an aging society. [Bangkok Post]