SCB EIC has revised its economic forecast for Thailand in 2025 to 1.7% from 1.4%, driven by strong Q1 expansion and government support measures. However, economic growth remains concentrated in certain sectors, particularly technology-related businesses, reflecting a fragile recovery as Middle Eastern conflict risks increasingly impact the Thai economy.

Latest economic data shows heightened impact from Middle Eastern tensions, with general inflation accelerating to 2.9% in April—the highest in over three years—following domestic oil price increases and cost pass-through to consumers, especially prepared food prices. Producer inflation has surged more dramatically to 9.1%, reflecting businesses absorbing higher production costs. This gap suggests cost pass-through to consumer prices will gradually increase ahead, though gains will be limited amid weak economic expansion pressuring business profit margins, particularly for SMEs.

Business dynamics have deteriorated, with new business registrations declining while business closures increased in the first four months of 2025. Business and consumer confidence have weakened sharply since March. Foreign tourist arrivals contracted 7% in April and 3% in the first 17 days of May. Overall exports expanded strongly at 18.7% in March but concentrated in electronics (with Middle Eastern markets collapsing 57.1%), while imports surged 35.7%, resulting in a Q1 trade deficit.

SCB EIC raised its 2025 forecast to 1.7% from 1.4%, though growth concentrates in sectors benefiting from AI and digital trends. Key adjustment factors include: (1) The 400 billion baht emergency loan decree will support growth by approximately 0.6%, with 274 billion baht entering the economy this year—comprising 198 billion in relief programs (like Thai Help Thai Plus) expected to ease cost-of-living pressure from June, and 76 billion for clean energy transition spending from Q3-Q4; (2) Exports and investment show improving trends on Q1 momentum, with sustained high BOI investment approvals and promotion certificates, particularly in AI and data centers; (3) Import values show strong upward pressure, partly reflecting higher import prices, especially global crude oil; (4) The 2025 foreign tourist forecast has been reduced to 31.7 million visitors from 33.2 million due to reduced flights and higher airfares, alongside dampened tourist confidence from safety concerns and weakened purchasing power.

The 1.7% growth forecast represents a significant slowdown from 2.4% in 2024 and 2.9% in 2023, reflecting underlying economic fragility and additional pressures from Middle Eastern conflict. General inflation for 2025 is projected at 3.6% annually, sharply reversing from -0.1% last year, reflecting production cost pressures from the prolonged war. The Bank of Thailand is expected to maintain its policy rate at 1.0% throughout 2025 given the protracted Middle Eastern situation.

The 2026 Malaysia Masters, a World Tour Super 500 tournament with a total prize purse of $500,000 (approximately 16.25 million baht), took place at Unifi Arena Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur on May 22. In the women's singles quarterfinals, world number seven Mai Ratchanok Intanon faced Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt, ranked 17th. Mai continued her strong form with a dominant straight-set victory, 21-16 and 21-11, advancing to the semifinals where she will meet Denmark's Line Hejmark Kiersfeld, currently ranked 23rd in the world. Meanwhile, Pink Picchayamon Opassanichpat, ranked 27th globally, fell short against China's fourth-ranked Chen Yufei, losing 19-21 and 9-21 to exit the tournament.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Watcharapol Khwaokhum announced urgent measures at the Department of Fisheries on May 22, 2026, to combat the black chin tilapia outbreak that continues to spread across multiple regions. While the Department of Fisheries has maintained ongoing control measures and daily situation reports, the minister emphasized the need for intensified efforts given the direct impact on communities. He outlined three primary strategies: maximizing efforts to contain the spread, accelerating eradication of the invasive species, and maximizing the value of captured fish through processing and utilization. Directors, deputy directors, and provincial fisheries officials have been instructed to implement these measures immediately without delay.

"This is an urgent matter with direct impact on the public," Watcharapol stated. "I have ordered administrators and provincial fisheries officials in high-risk areas—including Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Samut Prakan, Chonburi, and Rayong—to deploy and implement control measures every day without any flexibility in timelines to stop the outbreak as quickly as possible."

The ministry is also promoting the processing of black chin tilapia into various products including sun-dried fish, fish sauce, and fermented fish paste, as well as biological fertilizer production, which has received positive responses from farmers in multiple provinces. Watcharapol confirmed that the fish is safe for regular consumption with a taste no different from regular tilapia. The government aims to promote full utilization to reduce the impact of the outbreak while generating income for communities. Additionally, the ministry continues to monitor progress on population control efforts using sterile chromosome 4n tilapia, an initiative previously launched in Phetchaburi Province.

The show goes on! A wedding battered by heavy rain saw the bride, groom, and guests press ahead undeterred, continuing their celebration and meal in the middle of floodwaters.

On May 17, Chinese social media erupted with images of a viral wedding in Weiyang, Shaanxi Province, after intense rainfall caused the venue to flood. Undeterred, both the couple and guests soldiered on, continuing the event and dining without hesitation.

Photos showed hundreds of guests remaining seated and eating amid water that rose to ankle height, while servers waded through the flood to deliver food to each table.

A guest named Wang revealed that heavy rain began immediately after the bride's procession ended, causing rapid flooding. Despite waiting over two hours for food, all guests stayed and continued dining until early afternoon—around 2 to 3 p.m.—before gradually wading home as rain persisted.

"This rain cooled the air down nicely and everyone ate happily," Wang said. "A wedding meeting water is considered a symbol of good fortune and a good omen."

Another guest disclosed that the event had over 30 dining tables with approximately 200 to 300 guests in attendance.

According to Weiyang Meteorological Station data, a blue alert for heavy rainfall was issued at 11:37 a.m. on May 17, with some areas expected to accumulate over 50 millimeters of rain within 12 hours.

Thailand's State Railway will introduce dedicated prayer carriages on southern train routes from 22 May to accommodate Muslim passengers travelling during the upcoming Eid al-Adha festival.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn ordered the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to modify train carriages into "prayer cars" to support Muslim passengers returning to their hometowns for the holiday, which falls on 28 May this year.

The move is aimed at allowing Muslim passengers to perform religious practices comfortably and in accordance with Islamic principles while travelling.

Acting SRT governor Anan Phonimdang said the railway has converted third-class passenger carriages into dedicated prayer areas with four partitioned rooms, separated for men and women. Ablution areas have also been installed to allow worshippers to perform ritual cleansing before prayers.

The prayer carriages will operate on Rapid Train No. 171/172 between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and Sungai Kolok, as well as Rapid Train No. 169/170 between Krung Thep Aphiwat and Yala.

Authorities also stressed security measures ahead of the holiday travel period, including stricter inspections of trains and equipment, CCTV monitoring at stations and onboard trains, and coordination with railway police.

The SRT said the initiative reflects efforts to accommodate passengers of all faiths equally, noting that reserved seating for Buddhist monks has also long been available on third-class trains.

Eid al-Adha, also known as the "Festival of Sacrifice", is one of the most important celebrations in the Islamic calendar and is widely observed by Muslims around the world.

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiyachon Chidchob announced after the ministry's fourth top executives meeting of 2025 that discussions focused on tracking progress of government policies, including energy efficiency measures and various technology initiatives. Projects under review include an AI Passport to expand Thai citizens' access to artificial intelligence technology, a public welfare data platform, and development of a comprehensive ONE ID system using digital identification data.

Responding to recent earthquakes and heavy rainfall affecting multiple regions, Chaiyachon directed relevant agencies to prepare disaster mitigation protocols. The Meteorological Department will enhance weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities in coordination with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to deliver timely public warnings. The National Statistics Office will establish standardized disaster data collection procedures to facilitate information sharing and develop a national public disaster database covering alerts, evacuation records, affected persons, damages, shelter information, and post-disaster recovery data, with proposals to be submitted to the cabinet.

Telecommunications Authority of Thailand (NT) presented a Public Safety Mobile Network (PSMN) project utilizing 850 MHz and 700 MHz frequencies to establish emergency communication channels for disaster alerts and relief operations. The project will deploy 350 base stations across 253 districts in 75 provinces, prioritizing high-risk disaster zones and economic areas including Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla, Phuket, and the Eastern Economic Corridor (Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, and Rayong), based on eight years of historical disaster data.

The network will operate with roaming capabilities for maximum coverage and stability, with all base stations equipped with backup power generators and satellite backup systems covering 10 percent capacity for continuous communication even if primary networks fail. Accompanying applications will support mission-critical push-to-talk communications, video surveillance for emergency personnel, and public assistance request reporting with location coordinates.

The government is implementing comprehensive disaster management policies through integrated data sharing and inter-agency cooperation, emphasizing timely public alerts, immediate response, and rapid recovery operations to establish standardized disaster prevention and mitigation procedures.