The Standard Long Steel Association has emphasized that Thailand's steel industry must learn from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which severely impacted the sector through currency weakness, foreign debt, and reduced steel demand. Since steel manufacturing requires high capital investment in factories, machinery, quality control systems, and environmental management, many producers faced financial hardship and took decades to recover. This lesson underscores the need for major transformation across efficiency, quality, safety, and environmental performance. Pravit Horungrem, board member of the Standard Long Steel Association, stressed that upgrading industrial standards should not be viewed as anti-competitive but as setting uniform benchmarks to enhance the nation's long-term competitiveness.

Regarding the expansion of induction furnace technology, Pravit argued that the critical factor should not be the technology's origin but the production results—quality control capability, product consistency, and safety, especially for steel used in building and infrastructure where public safety is at stake. Public hearings on the new steel standards draft will open August 17. Pravit called for constructive dialogue with a shared goal: raising Thai steel standards to ensure effective quality and safety management.

"History teaches us—we must not repeat the IMF crisis. Thailand's steel industry must upgrade its IF standards," Pravit said. He noted that steel sector competition affects not just factory operators but also workers, families, contractors, transporters, scrap dealers, and the entire supply chain, so standard-setting must consider the industry holistically rather than individual operator costs.

TIS criteria should apply equally to all operators regardless of nationality. Any technology meeting stricter standards can compete fairly; those facing limitations should upgrade their production processes and technology to ensure reliable quality control across every output, not just sample testing. Pravit added: "Thailand needs foreign investment, including from China, but it should bring capital, technology, knowledge, and higher standards—not competition through downgrading to support lower-cost technology. Factories can be improved, machinery replaced, technology upgraded, but public safety standards must never be downgraded."

Pravit reiterated that Thai steel industry growth should be strong and sustainable, covering efficiency, quality, social responsibility, and the green industrial transition. Future competitiveness will not be measured by cost alone but by quality, safety, energy efficiency, and environmental impact.

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.

At 10:30 a.m. on August 14, a 31-year-old motorcycle taxi rider named Aman (surname withheld) filed a complaint seeking justice with Ekkapon Luang Prasert, founder of the Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page, after being unexpectedly charged as a defendant in the case despite initially being called as a victim. Aman explained that on the day of the incident, he was transporting a passenger from the Ratchada area to Chulalongkorn University. At the Makkasan intersection, traffic was heavily congested with many vehicles clustered at the junction while the railway crossing barrier had not yet descended and no train signal was audible. He therefore rode into the intersection and stopped at the yellow line to avoid the railway tracks. Moments later, a train struck a bus, which then collided with several other vehicles and motorcycles ahead, damaging his bike and causing minor injuries to him and his passenger. He immediately took his passenger to Rama 9 Hospital for treatment, then to another facility, and later filed a daily report and gave a statement to police as a victim, while ensuring his passenger also provided a statement as requested. His insurance subsequently paid 31,000 baht in compensation for his motorcycle damage, which he used as a down payment on a new bike.

In July, Aman received notice to meet with the prosecutor and discovered he had been charged alongside six other individuals involved in the incident, including the bus driver, train driver, railway flagman, truck driver, and another motorcyclist. He was unaware of his defendant status until he had to arrange bail money and was detained in jail for one night. Aman expressed particular concern about drug possession charges appearing in his case alongside negligence and railway obstruction charges, despite his firm denial of any involvement with drugs. He stressed that he was not the operator of the train, no passengers died, and cannot understand why he was included in charges related to deaths and drug use. Being listed as a defendant in connection with drug charges could severely damage his reputation and future employment and job applications, as he is a working man supporting a family.

Ekkapon Luang Prasert stated that preliminary investigation and video evidence show the rider stopped in the yellow line zone where stopping is prohibited, potentially establishing negligence and railway obstruction charges if passengers were injured. However, the key issue requiring clarification is why the rider was included as a defendant in charges related to deaths and drug possession, as this could impact his record and future career prospects. Meanwhile, Pol. Lt. Col. Uramphorn Khundetchsamrit, commander of Makkasan Police Station, said the case is currently at the prosecutor stage and requested verification of information first. He noted that being named a defendant reflects the alleged facts cited in the indictment and does not necessarily mean he will face all charges equally as other defendants, and that drug charges would require corroborating evidence to proceed according to factual grounds.

On August 14, a meeting of the Digital Economy Development Fund (DE Fund) management committee was held at the Ministry of Finance, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ek Niti Nitithanprasad. Digital Economy Minister Chaiyachon Chidchob subsequently revealed that the TH-AI Passport project will continue using DE Fund resources for fiscal year 2025, though funding for fiscal 2026 remains undecided pending evaluation of the first phase. The ministry has been ordered to provide detailed project specifications following criticism that earlier documentation lacked sufficient detail and scope. The DE Fund currently holds approximately 2 billion baht.

Regarding the project timeline, Chaiyachon stated that the Digital Economy Ministry has reviewed contract details sent back by the Office of the Attorney General and is ready to proceed. A project briefing is expected within one to two days. The system testing phase opens August 19, with an official launch on August 28 and full operational rollout on August 31, 2025. Citizens can register via a QR code provided by the ministry and verify their identity using the ThaiD application.

The staggered timeline is designed to reduce congestion and prevent system crashes. Public registration for system testing begins August 19, with full registration and operational access opening August 31, 2025. The programme caps eligible recipients at 5 million people with a pay-per-use payment model. When asked why he did not attend a parliamentary budget committee meeting chaired by opposition MP Ratchanok Srinok, Chaiyachon said he had delegated relevant officials to provide testimony and had not avoided the process.

Authorities received a report on August 14 of a missing child in the waters near Stone Cape Point, Koh Rad village, Loei Yueng subdistrict, Takua Pa district, Phang Nga province, after three boys had set out to spearfish from Phuket's Thalang district. Initial investigation found the group consisted of two 18-year-old teenagers and one 8-year-old boy, with only the teenagers entering the water while the younger boy remained on the boat.

During the incident, one 18-year-old went missing underwater while wearing a black shirt and has not been found. The second 18-year-old was struggling in the water and losing strength when a passing villager spotted them and intervened in time, rescuing both survivors and bringing them ashore near the village.

Following the incident, officials and residents have been conducting continuous search operations with volunteers, provincial administration boats, rubber boats from local yacht harbor teams, and local fishing boats spread across the area. Rescue volunteers from Khok Kloi have also been coordinated to search the shoreline of Koh Rad village. All teams are working at full capacity in hopes of locating the missing teenager as soon as possible.