Bangkok, 14 August 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) concluded a series of international creator and media journeys in Phuket and Phang-nga: the Amazing Thailand Surf & Wellness Journey and the Amazing Thailand x Insta360 creator itinerary. Both initiatives brought international media representatives and creators from key markets to experience Thailand’s surf, wellness, nature, community and cultural offerings while reinforcing “Healing Is the New Luxury”, TAT’s international communication direction for meaningful travel that supports physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

This international engagement builds on the development of Thailand Surf Therapy under Thailand Health Excellence 2026, through which TAT and partners are applying international surf therapy knowledge and science-based wellness principles to Thailand’s tourism context. Designed as a structured wellness experience rather than a medical treatment, the concept combines surfing, nature, physical movement, mindfulness and positive social connection, drawing on knowledge shared by South Africa-based Waves for Change.

The Amazing Thailand Surf & Wellness Journey, held from 8–13 August, brought eight international media representatives and KOLs from the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan together with Thai tourism and wellness partners. The group comprised Tom Dickinson of lifewithtommm and Lauren Mackenzie of wheres.loz from Australia; Andiana and Mike of wander.licious and Chess Sayer of chess_sayer from the United Kingdom; and ri_asiajapan of runbkk.net, Ame Ayumi of amemi8 and Ken Yashiro from Japan.

In Khao Lak, Phang-nga, one of Thailand’s most established surf destinations, participants experienced guided Thailand Surf Therapy at Memories Surf House, with sessions covering water safety, movement and progressive surf skills. The wider itinerary connected surfing with wellness at Devasom Khao Lak and La Vita Sana, forest bathing at Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park, kayaking at the Little Amazon in Takua Pa, cultural experiences in Takua Pa Old Town and Phuket Old Town, farm-to-table activities and dining at Michelin Guide-listed restaurants.

Content produced by the participants during and following the journey, including Instagram Stories, carousel posts, Reels and TikTok videos, will extend international visibility of Thailand’s surf and wellness experiences while strengthening the Amazing Thailand brand and the ‘Healing Is the New Luxury’ message.

Running alongside the journey, the Amazing Thailand x Insta360 collaboration brought 18 creators from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand on a dedicated itinerary across Phuket and Phang-nga from 8–12 August. Participants took part in activities woven into the same “Healing Is the New Luxury” narrative, including guided Thailand Surf Therapy sessions, nature- and community-based wellness experiences and local cultural engagements. Their content captured these experiences for global audiences.

The two groups converged on 9 August at “The Wave of Healing” Networking Dinner at La Solaya in Khao Lak, supported by TAT’s Tourism Products Department and the TAT Phang-nga Office. The industry-focused evening connected international participants with TAT executives, tourism operators, wellness partners, community representatives and project stakeholders to exchange perspectives on Thailand Surf Therapy and future tourism product development.

Ms. Eurblarp Sriphiromya, Executive Director of TAT’s Tourism Products Department, said, “Healing Is the New Luxury reflects a shift in what travellers increasingly value: meaningful experiences that reconnect them with nature, support their wellbeing and create lasting value. Thailand Surf Therapy brings this to life by combining international knowledge with Thailand’s coastal assets, wellness expertise and hospitality. Through this journey, TAT is connecting international storytellers with Thai operators and communities while showing how science-based wellness can develop into distinctive tourism experiences for global markets.”

Thailand Surf Therapy incorporates the five-step “Take 5” framework of Energise, Check-in, Breathe in, Play and Check-out, using movement, reflection, breathing, recreation and positive interaction within a structured surf experience. The project has built capacity among facilitators from seven Thai organisations: La Flora Group, La Vita Sana and Memories Surf House in Phang-nga; Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus; Chanthaburi Surf Tribe; I use my palm in Nonthaburi; and Chann All Soul. They are now extending the initiative through tourism product development, coach networking, learning resources and further research.

The work is also taking shape through practical visitor programmes. In Khao Lak, partners have developed a five-day, four-night Surf Therapy programme combining structured surf sessions with accommodation packages that include wellness activities, meals and nature-based experiences, demonstrating how the concept is evolving from capacity building into market-ready tourism products for international visitors.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn disclosed the details after chairing the second 2026 meeting of the Unified Fare Policy Committee at the Transport Ministry. Attending were Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkaskulkiat, Permanent Secretary Chayatharm Phromsri, and representatives from related agencies. The committee reviewed implementation of the 2025 Unified Fare Management Act, particularly the drafting of secondary legislation, criteria, standards, and oversight mechanisms to ensure the system works in practice. Officials also discussed revenue management systems and negotiations with service providers and concessionaires to align fare structures with government policy on reducing living costs, upgrading public transport, and ensuring affordable, efficient travel options. The goal is to launch the unified fare measure by January 1, 2027.

Ratchakitprakarn explained that the measure sets unified fares for participating rail lines in Bangkok and its surrounding areas, with an initial entry fare capped at 17 baht and a maximum total fare of 45 baht per trip. The system will eliminate duplicate entry charges when passengers transfer between lines, subject to the measure's terms and conditions. Guidelines for transfer journeys are being prepared to align with relevant laws, unified fare standards, and system readiness. The initiative targets reducing commuting costs especially for those using multiple rail lines daily, and aims to encourage greater public transport use, reduce fare redundancy, and develop an integrated, efficient multi-line network.

Regarding the Central Clearing House mechanism to collect, settle, and distribute fares between operators, the committee tasked the Transport Ministry with expediting a ministerial announcement on licensing criteria for the CCH and consulting the Finance Ministry on appropriate operational formats in line with a cabinet resolution from June 23, 2026. The system will comply with the 2025 Unified Fare Management Act and related secondary legislation to ensure standards, transparency, auditability, and efficient multi-line transaction processing before presentation to the policy committee.

Meanwhile, the committee assigned the Mass Transit Authority, the State Railway of Thailand, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to accelerate negotiations with concessionaires on fare structures, revenue sharing, and related terms so the system can support unified fares within legal and contractual frameworks while considering public benefit, fairness to all parties, and long-term sustainability. The committee also approved a draft secondary law under the unified fare management act.

Panapetch Chuanphatthalung, a former amateur international boxer for the Thai national team, has criticized what he describes as standard practice at the Amateur Muaythai Association in recruiting famous fighters to join the national roster, despite having experienced this exclusion himself despite winning national team trials. Panapetch posted his complaint after the Amateur Muaythai Association recently recruited Nabil Anane, a prominent Muaythai fighter from ONE Championship, to try out for the national team with the goal of pursuing an Olympic gold medal in boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

In his post, Panapetch Puang-kaeo wrote: "Why all the drama? There was a time I won every championship in Thailand, competed in the Royal Thai Army Games, and beat 2-3 people for the national team. People I defeated went on to compete in the Olympics. I won the national championship, defeated a super bantamweight fighter from Rattanabandit University by more than 20 points, but two months later the association hired that same super bantamweight for the national team at 10,000 to 20,000 baht per month. I'm confused."

Panapetch, from Satun, is a former Muaythai boxer and ex-Thailand champion in the 130-pound weight division who switched to amateur international boxing before moving to Pancak Silat, where he won a gold medal at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore and became a world champion.

However, Nabil must first be selected for the national team to represent Thailand in the Olympic qualifying round in order to earn the right to compete in the final Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States in 2028.

A 4-year-old boy accidentally swallowed a button battery from a remote control while adults were distracted. His grandmother attempted to use a folk remedy by giving him sesame oil to induce vomiting, but doctors warn that inducing vomiting is dangerous because it can cause the battery to move around and severely damage the esophagus, with risk of aspiration into the airway.

The incident occurred over the weekend when the boy's mother, Xiaoming, called a friend in panic after her son removed the battery from the remote and swallowed it. The grandmother immediately suggested giving the child sesame oil to make him vomit, but Xiaoming stopped her after recalling information from a pediatrician online warning that parents should not induce vomiting or attempt to remove objects from the throat, as this can worsen the situation.

Doctors have reported cases where children who were induced to vomit at home suffered severe burns to the esophagus requiring ICU admission. Another 2-year-old experienced severe injury when the battery corroded through the body, damaging vital organs including the heart, liver, and kidneys, ultimately causing respiratory failure and death.

Physicians explain that button batteries contain alkaline chemicals. When the battery contacts saliva, water, or oil in the esophagus, an electrochemical reaction begins producing corrosive alkaline substances that destroy surrounding tissue continuously. Severe cases can cause esophageal perforation within just 1 to 2 hours.

Doctors warn that attempting to induce vomiting causes the child to cry and struggle, making the battery scrape against the esophageal wall and worsening injuries. Inducing vomiting also increases the risk of the battery entering the airway, blocking the breathing passage and endangering life. Giving sesame oil does not help and wastes critical time needed to rush the child to hospital.

Doctors also caution against other folk remedies like drinking vinegar to soften the battery or eating kohlrabi to wrap around and expel it—these beliefs are dangerous and should never be used.

After stopping her mother-in-law, Xiaoming took two correct actions: she brought the remaining battery and its packaging in a plastic bag to the hospital, and immediately took the child to the nearest emergency room without giving him any food or water.

At the hospital, doctors performed an X-ray and found the battery lodged in the upper part of the esophagus. Because the child received prompt treatment, doctors used an endoscope to remove the battery quickly, though a small burn was found in the esophagus.

PHAYAO — Relatives and residents in Phayao broke down in tears of relief after two villagers who had been missing for seven days in forest in Chiang Muan district were found safe.

The two men, identified as 74-year-old Nak Kamlue and 20-year-old Rames Jan Daeng, both residents of Ban Pin, Moo 3, Chiang Muan subdistrict, disappeared after entering a remote forest area and lost contact with their families.

Earlier on 14 August, relatives and local residents performed a traditional ceremony known as "opening the forest", making offerings and asking forgiveness from the spirits believed to protect the land and mountains. They prayed for the forest to open a safe path for rescue teams to locate the missing men and bring them home.

The breakthrough came when search teams operating deep inside the forest contacted the joint search command centre by radio to report that they had found both missing men.

The news immediately brought an emotional scene at the command centre in Chiang Muan district. Relatives who had been anxiously waiting for updates burst into tears, hugged one another and cried with relief after spending a week fearing for the men's safety.

Officals initially reported that both men were safe. Rescue teams were working to bring them out of the forest and hand them over to medical and public health personnel for health assessments and first aid.

The discovery followed seven days of intensive search efforts involving rescue workers, officials, community leaders and local residents. Search teams had faced dense forest and difficult terrain that made access to the area challenging.

Authorities are still awaiting further details, including the exact location where the two men were found, their physical condition and the route used by rescuers to reach them.

The Chiang Muan Subdistrict Municipality's joint missing-person search command centre is expected to release further official information.

Aurora Design Company Limited, one of Thailand's major gold retailers, reported strong first-half 2025 results amid volatile gold prices. Operating revenue reached 29.7 billion baht, up 67.9% year-on-year, with net profit of 928.5 million baht, up 22%. The growth was driven by the Modern Gold business and the gold-pawning service under the brand "Gold Comes Money Goes."

According to Anipat Srirungtham, Aurora's Chief Marketing Officer, Modern Gold generated 28.3 billion baht in the first half, up 69% from the same period last year. Diamond and design gold jewelry revenue grew 27.3% to 679.7 million baht, while interest income from gold-pawning services surged 74.4% to 687.8 million baht. In the second quarter alone, operating revenue reached 13.9 billion baht, up 57.9% year-on-year.

The standout performer was the "Gold Comes Money Goes" pawning brand, with customer loan portfolios reaching 10.5 billion baht as of end-Q2, up 59.8% year-on-year. The company expanded its branch network to 667 locations, adding 120 branches from the previous year, generating interest income of 361.8 million baht in Q2, up 67% year-on-year. However, gold prices fell sharply at the end of Q2, declining from a high of 81,850–81,950 baht per baht of gold in the first half to 64,050 baht by end-June, forcing the company to adjust inventory valuations and impacting Q2 gross profit at 1.04 billion baht with a gross margin of 7.4%.