Thailand is considering raising its proposed tourist 'landing fee' to more than 300 baht as authorities work on a new collection system that would include premium insurance coverage for foreign visitors.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the government is finalising both the collection model and appropriate pricing to avoid negatively affecting tourists' travel experience.

Officals are currently studying two collection methods. The first option would include the fee in airline tickets, which authorities view as the most convenient approach because tourists would not need to make additional payments upon arrival. However, airlines currently cannot clearly separate Thai passengers from foreign tourists or business travellers. To address this, the government plans to create a refund application allowing Thai nationals and exempt travellers to reclaim the fee after entering the country.

The second option would collect the fee through the immigration system using electronic payment before entry into Thailand. While this method would allow authorities to clearly identify visa categories and traveller types, it may add extra procedures for visitors before arrival.

Surasak said the fee could exceed the previously discussed 300 baht because the government wants to provide premium insurance coverage for tourists immediately upon arrival in Thailand. The proposed insurance would include treatment at leading private hospitals and help reduce the government's financial burden when tourists' own insurance coverage is insufficient.

Authorities are currently holding discussions with insurance associations to determine an appropriate fee structure. Part of the revenue would also be used to support tourism development projects nationwide.

A polyamorous relationship between five men in California went viral on May 21, 2026, when Erik Wong, Hamilton Du, James Lee, Jonathan Chian, and Michael Lee launched a podcast called "The Cule Kids" to share their unique love story. The relationship began with James and Jonathan dating since 2013 before marrying in 2022, maintaining an open relationship from the start. They eventually met Erik, Hamilton, and Michael through friends and social gatherings, with all five committing to their polyamorous relationship seriously in 2024. The group lives life together through various activities including video games, travel, boating, and music festivals, with one key rule: anyone dating or engaging sexually outside the group must log it in a "Cule Log" for everyone's sexual health and safety. Currently, some members live separately but plan to move in together and have children, with everyone aligned on these goals. They acknowledge that coordinating five people's lives is challenging but view their relationship as one filled with love, understanding, and fortunate connection. Most members plan to come out about their polyamorous relationship to their families in the future, with currently only Hamilton having disclosed it. The podcast and their story have received mostly positive responses, helping people understand diverse relationship structures.

On May 21, investigators from the anti-corruption unit summoned Ajchariya Rueangrattanaphong, chairman of a crime victim assistance club, to the Criminal Division 6 office at the Supreme Prosecutor's Building on Ratchadaphisek Road. Investigators recommended pressing charges against him for defaming a government official performing their duties, making false and defamatory public statements, and providing false information about criminal offenses to prosecutors and investigators, potentially causing public harm and framing others for crimes. The incident stems from December 2 when Ajchariya gave a media interview in front of the Central Investigation Police Command, alleging that Nonthaburi provincial prosecutor Supaparni—known as "Prosecutor Dao"—improperly exercised discretion to file charges without legal basis, favoring boat suspects. Ajchariya also made distorted and false claims about the death case of Nida "Melon" to anti-corruption officials, accusing the prosecutor of violating criminal code articles 157 and 200. Ajchariya did not initially appear at the scheduled 10 a.m. summons, but arrived at 1 p.m. to meet with prosecutors. He has been scheduled to hear the court's decision on June 22, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

Nava Chantanasurachan, honorary chairman of the steel industry group at the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), along with executives from ten Thai steel industry associations, met with Industry Ministry officials including Deputy Permanent Secretary Wirut Wisetsinthu and TISI Secretary-General Ekkanit Romayanont to discuss the domestic and international steel industry situation and monitor progress on various steel product standards, licensing inspections, and product quality controls.

Nava revealed that the ten steel associations, representing over 500 Thai steel companies, presented their proposals to the ministry, which received them with genuine interest and committed to implementing concrete solutions and reforms. This reflects a true commitment to working for the public good and is part of regular ongoing meetings.

The industry praised the Industry Ministry and TISI for their courageous enforcement actions against non-compliant steel mills that fail to meet Thai Industrial Standards and cause pollution. "This demonstrates that the Industry Ministry is not just a licensing agency but one that dares to protect Thai people and Thai industry, where standards come first and laws must be respected and non-negotiable," Nava stated.

Nava further noted that in 2568 (2025), Thailand consumed 18.5 million tons of steel, with domestic producers capturing only 35 percent of the market at 8.1 million tons, while imports reached 12 million tons. The steel industry faces two major problems: (1) foreign steel dumping from China, which exported a record 119 million tons globally last year, with various global regions implementing anti-dumping, anti-circumvention, safeguarding, and countervailing duty measures that redirect excess Chinese steel to Thailand; and (2) induction furnace (IF) steel mills previously shut down by the Chinese government as part of China's efforts to advance steel industry technology, with these outdated furnaces creating excess capacity that floods the Thai market.

On May 21, 2569, Sopon Sarirum, Speaker of Parliament and President of the House of Representatives, along with senior management from the Office of the House of Representatives, inspected the garbage storage room on B1 of the Parliament building. The inspection followed heavy rainfall the previous night that caused standing water and floating debris, which circulated on social media. Upon questioning the buildings and facilities chief, Sopon learned that the water visible in images did not result from internal building flooding, but rather from staff conducting routine cleaning operations to collect water and remove debris—exactly what media happened to capture, leading to misunderstanding. By morning, additional cleaning was completed and the area returned to normal use. "I conducted this inspection to verify the facts myself and understand what caused the situation and why those images circulated," Sopon explained. "The problem stemmed from heavy rainfall last night causing rainwater to flow into flat areas faster than our drainage system could handle. I have ordered staff to clear clogged debris and inspect the drainage pipes to ensure they can properly accommodate future rainfall."

Haier (Thailand), the world's top-ranked smart home appliances and electrical brand for 17 consecutive years, is pushing forward with its Smart Home to Smart Life strategy through the power of sports. The company has announced a partnership with the Physical Education Department to launch 'DPE x Haier CUP 2026,' marking Thailand's first official youth football competition for players under 16 years old. This initiative aims to create an opportunity platform for Thai youth to demonstrate their potential and spark inspiration toward future sports careers, reinforcing Haier's vision of transitioning to an AI Lifestyle Brand that seamlessly integrates technology into every dimension of life—health, lifestyle, and positive community engagement.

Mr. Dong Zhian Ping, Chairman of Haier Electrical Appliances (Thailand) Co., Ltd., stated: "Today's consumers increasingly value 'smartness' across multiple dimensions—not just technology, but also lifestyle, mindset, and living practices that reflect health and long-term quality of life. Sports has become increasingly important to younger generations, extending beyond competition to encompassing health, community, and life inspiration. This philosophy aligns perfectly with Haier's direction of expanding from Smart Home to Smart Life, creating smart experiences across multiple consumer dimensions. This is evident in Haier's various sports initiatives, including the Haier Run mini-marathon, Haier Cup badminton tournaments, sponsorship of major tennis events like the Australian Open and French Open, and official partnerships with world-class football clubs Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. These efforts not only provide Thai youth opportunities to develop their potential and compete at higher levels but also demonstrate Haier's commitment to building a sustainable sports ecosystem in Thailand."

Building on this success, Haier is expanding its sports ecosystem into football this year, a globally popular sport with significant appeal to younger audiences. Current global sports trends show football transitioning from a competition sport into a lifestyle platform connecting health, entertainment, and community. The 'DPE x Haier CUP 2026' youth and public football competition for players under 16 represents a significant step in providing Thai youth with opportunities to showcase their talents while promoting active lifestyles and growing Thailand's sports community.

Mongkol Wimalrat, Director-General of the Physical Education Department, stated: "The Physical Education Department prioritizes continuous youth sports development by creating sports opportunities accessible to young people nationwide, promoting sports as part of developing potential, quality of life, and essential skills for new generations—including discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and constructive use of leisure time. Football, being highly popular and significant in creating positive energy while connecting young people to society and sports communities, makes this partnership with Haier (Thailand) exemplary of public-private collaboration in building a tangible sports ecosystem. Together, we create a platform for Thai youth to develop skills and demonstrate their potential."