A decade later, it reads less like a novelty and more like a preview of the direction Thailand's tourism economy is taking. Instead, it has entered the global festival circuit in a way few predicted. This matters because Thailand's tourism machine was built on predictability. Global festival brands go wherever conditions suit them. What began with Wonderfruit no longer sits at the edge of Thailand's cultural map.

Is demographic decline reversible? But the decline in the fertility rate was inevitable, like a boulder rolling down a hill. China's current policies are a scaled-down version of Japan's ineffective response to demographic decline. With China facing even deeper structural demographic constraints, it is not surprising that its fertility rate has already fallen below Japan's. Worse, the share of unmarried women aged 25-29 surged from 9% in 2000 to 33% in 2020, and to 43% in 2023.

Campaign for referendum gains paceListen to this articleA 2015 photograph shows a draft of the 20th constitution during a vote by members of the country's National Reform Council (NRC) in parliament. On Feb 8, eligible voters will give their opinion in a public referendum on whether the country needs to write a new one. (Photo: Reuters)Despite a rough start, the campaign for the Feb 8 charter referendum has gained momentum, with a higher chance of public approval. Now that the referendum campaign has become a public issue, the former ruling party has decided to jump on the charter-rewriting bandwagon. Yet a major obstacle lies ahead, as the referendum requires a double majority -- a majority of eligible voters and a majority of those casting ballots.

Thai rising stars Pitchamon Opatniputh and Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul advanced to the semi-finals of the BWF Indonesia Masters on Friday but Ratchanok Intanon was forced to pull out with an injury. World No.6 Ratchanok pulled out of her match against Nozomi Okuhara of Japan after what appeared to be a knee injury. Men's singles hope Panitchaphon matched Pitchamon's success and made it to the Super 500 semi-finals for the first time. The 21-year-old knocked out seventh seed Lakshya Sen of India 21-18, 22-20 in the quarter-finals on Friday. However, fourth seeds Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue of France lost to sixth seeds Jafar Hidayatullah and Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu of Indonesia 13-21, 22-20, 21-16.

(Photo: Bhumjaithai Party)Since entering politics in 2008, the Bhumjaithai Party has never experienced the momentum and opportunities it now enjoys under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Mr Jatuporn said that historically, Bhumjaithai struggled to gain traction in general elections. And the Bhumjaithai Party has done a great job," he said. "At the time being, Mr Anutin is the politician who fits with the Thai political context," Mr Jatuporn said. Despite his optimistic outlook for the party, Mr Jatuporn warned that electoral success alone would not guarantee national progress.

CPN invested B1.7bn to update Central PinklaoListen to this articleThe façade of Central Pinklao after the renovation. SET-listed Central Pattana (CPN) has invested more than 1.7 billion baht to transform the shopping mall Central Pinklao into a premier lifestyle landmark. Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, chief marketing officer at CPN, said Central Pinklao was the company's third mall and has been part of western Bangkok for more than three decades. The property's refreshed design combines a classic-modern façade with an interior that balances elegance and creativity, according to CPN. Following the renovation, total sales at Central Pinklao increased by around 30%, noted CPN.

Analyst queries Telenor's True saleListen to this articleThe Telenor sale of its shares in True is unlikely to have fundamental impact on the latter, according to an analyst. Telenor's sale of its shares in True Corporation may be based on the calculation that it is more difficult to achieve strong profit margins in the Thai telecom sector after 2026, says an analyst. True group chief executive Sigve Brekke held a conference call with analysts to discuss Telenor's divestment. Mr Pisut said Telenor's remaining 5.35% stake in True is likely to be locked up and sold in the market after two years. True recruited Mr Brekke, former chief executive of Telenor Group, in early 2025 shortly after he left Telenor.

Populist policies such as Khon La Khrueng place an increasing burden on the government's fiscal position. The plan emphasises fiscal consolidation under a framework of fiscal discipline, transparency and concrete implementation of management. Public debt, which tallies 64.8% of GDP, may not be reduced rapidly as this depends not only on fiscal discipline, but also on economic conditions. State agencies are required to avoid approving grant-type subsidy projects that do not contribute to productivity improvements in the agricultural sector. All of these measures are intended to signal to the public and credit rating agencies the government's commitment to enforcing stricter fiscal discipline.

Arrivals during Lunar New Year expected to pick upListen to this articleTourists take a photo in front of the Grand Palace. Mr Thanapol said this event should help boost demand this year, as Atta predicts 39 million foreign arrivals, including 9 million Chinese. Atta plans to attend a roadshow hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in March, targeting Chinese tourists in Shanghai. Despite concerns over call scammers and earthquakes, he said Thailand remains a top five destination for Chinese on the platform. According to Tuniu.com, 67% of Chinese visiting Thailand are independent tourists, while the remainder come with tour groups.

Listen to this articleAuthorities gather outside a house in Watthana Nakhon district of Sa Kaeo, where they found an 11-year-old Finnish girl who said she had been confined and abused by two Finnish adults. (Photo: Sa Kaeo Public Relations Office)SA KAEO - An 11-year-old Finnish girl has been rescued from a house in this northeastern province, after she sent an email to police in her home country saying she had been confined and tortured by two Finnish adults. The group found the Finnish girl along with two Finnish nationals — a 56‑year‑old man and a 47‑year‑old woman. The girl is now under the care of ministry officials and will be taken to the Finnish embassy for further assistance. It remains unclear what relationship the Finnish man and woman have to the girl, and what the motive for the abuse is, as the investigation is still ongoing.

Central Restaurants Group Co., Ltd. (CRG), one of Thailand’s leading restaurant operators, continues to expand its portfolio with the acquisition of the master franchise rights for “Hanam BBQ”, a premium Korean BBQ brand from South Korea. The Thai restaurant market was projected to reach approximately 572 billion baht by 2025. Investing in Hanam BBQ strengthens CRG’s Korean BBQ portfolio, making it more comprehensive and well-positioned for future growth.”Hanam BBQ, widely known in South Korea as Hanam Pig, is a leading Korean BBQ brand with strong recognition in its home market. Hanam BBQ meets these expectations through its signature stone grilling method, premium ingredients and international standards of restaurant management. Under its business plan, Hanam BBQ is set to open its first branch in Thailand in mid-2026.

Abdulla Dayakaev and Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon both enter the clash on four-fight win streaks in ONE Championship – and both believe victory should push them straight into the title conversation. “I’m going to give my fans a new record,” Dayakaev told the Bangkok Post, laughing. “When I heard that the fight was cancelled, I felt a bit dead,” he said. “I think he might already have had pain two or three days before the weigh-in,” Rambolek said. “I think the reason he talks that much is because he did it before,” Rambolek said.

Thailand watches out for Nipah casesListen to this articleDr Montien Kanhaswad, director-general of the Department of Disease Control. Dr Montien Kanhaswad, director-general of the department, said that five cases of Nipah virus infection have been confirmed in India and three of them were detected early this week. “Indian authorities speed up implementing disease control measures. In Thailand, according to Dr Montien, travelers with high fever or suspected symptoms of Nipah virus infection will be examined at quarantine facilities and undergo specified procedures. “Nipah virus infection is transmitted from animal to human and is highly severe.

Sabalenka digs deep as Alcaraz sets sights on Melbourne last 16Listen to this articleAryna Sabalenka hits a shot against Austria's Anastasia Potapova. The 21-year-old has won the US Open and French Open, but her best performance in Melbourne is the semi-finals. The 22-year-old Spaniard is bidding for a career Grand Slam of all four majors. "I'm still getting used to the conditions, getting used to playing better," said the six-time Grand Slam winner. Russia's Medvedev, a three-time losing finalist in Melbourne, faces a tricky encounter against Hungary's Fabian Marozsan.

Listen to this articlePhoto credit: Amporn SangkaewPATTAYA - Police arrested a foreign man and a Thai woman after they were found engaging in oral sex on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of Friday, just metres from a local police station. Officers were alerted around 4am by beachgoers who reported witnessing the sexual act along the beachfront, which reportedly shocked nearby tourists. The foreign man appeared intoxicated and was unable to give coherent answers during initial questioning, officers said. Police have recorded the arrests and confirmed that legal action will proceed under Thai laws pertaining to public indecency. On Thursday, police were called to Pattaya beach after a Norwegian tourist was spotted walking naked along the shore.