Bangkok, 3 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomes Ko Samui’s first-place ranking in the Best Islands category of the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026, organised by Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau.

Ko Samui topped the Best Islands list, with Phuket sixth and Ko Chang tenth. In the Best Cities category, Bangkok ranked second and Chiang Mai tenth, giving Thailand five placements across the Asia Pacific destination categories.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “Ko Samui’s top ranking reflects the strength of Thailand’s island destinations, where quality hospitality, natural beauty, local identity, and responsible development shape the visitor experience. The recognition also affirms the appeal of Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Chang, and Chiang Mai, each offering distinctive strengths in culture, wellness, gastronomy, nature, and local connection. TAT will continue to promote quality travel that creates lasting value for visitors, communities, and destinations nationwide.”

Ko Samui’s recognition highlights its balance of international-standard resorts, sophisticated dining, beachside luxury, and enduring local character. The island offers coconut landscapes, waterfalls, jungle trails, fishing communities, and access to Ang Thong National Marine Park, positioning it as a refined island destination with a strong sense of place.

Phuket’s sixth-place island ranking reinforces its role as a major international gateway and complete island destination, combining beaches, marine tourism, culture, gastronomy, wellness, and urban lifestyle experiences. Ko Chang’s top-10 ranking supports TAT’s direction to promote destination dispersal towards nature-rich coastal destinations with strong local appeal.

Bangkok’s second-place ranking reflects the capital’s appeal as a centre of culture, dining, shopping, hospitality, creativity, and urban travel. Chiang Mai’s top-10 city ranking further highlights Thailand’s strength in culture-led, wellness-oriented, and community-connected travel.

The Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026 were based on a readers’ survey, with nominees selected by the Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia team of editors and expert contributors across the region. Voting was open worldwide from January to April 2026, with no pay-to-play participation. Category types and top-10 or top-five formats varied by country to reflect the size and strengths of each destination and industry segment.

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, Ko Mae Ko, Surat Thani, Surat Thani

Na Mueang Waterfall, Ko Samui, Surat Thani

Promthep Cape, Phuket

Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai

Laoya Island is located in Mu Ko Chang National Marine Park, Trat

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan, Bangkok

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On July 3, 2025, Poonpong Naiyanapakarun, director-general of the Department of Business Development under the Commerce Ministry, revealed that on July 1, his department's anti-nominee task force coordinated with Immigration Police to inspect two high-risk entities at a major shopping center in Bangkok's central business district. The agencies acted on information from Immigration Police regarding suspicious financial flows potentially linked to foreign business operations, investigating whether they violated the Foreign Business Operation Act of 1999.

The first company registered as a Thai entity on June 27, 2024, with 4 million baht in registered capital. Thai nationals hold 60% of shares and management positions, while Chinese nationals hold 40%. The company provides legal, accounting, tax, and business registration services. Initial inspection found eight Thai employees and two Chinese nationals, with a Chinese shareholder providing information to officials.

Document reviews and witness interviews revealed multiple indicators consistent with using Thai nationals as nominees. Investigators need to examine relationships between Thai and Chinese shareholders who claim to be spouses but lack marriage registration, control of business operations, service payment methods, and financial flows of all parties involved. Some findings align with issues Immigration Police are investigating.

The second company registered as a Thai entity on August 25, 2024, with 4 million baht in capital. Thai nationals hold 51% while Chinese nationals hold 49%. It provides educational consulting, international study guidance, and academic advisory services.

Inspectors found no board members or shareholders present. Thai employees reported that the person they recognize as manager issuing business directives is Chinese, and they have no information about Thai shareholders or board members. Thai staff only process visa applications; other matters are directed to Chinese shareholders via WeChat, and some service payments go to Chinese accounts.

Poonpong stated, "These facts are being documented to determine whether they constitute using Thai nationals as fronts or nominees, or foreign nationals operating businesses in violation of law."

The department has notified both companies' board members and shareholders to clarify facts and submit documentation regarding investments, fund sources, business management, and operations within a set timeframe. If sufficient evidence emerges of using Thai nominees or illegal foreign business operations, legal action will be taken and relevant agencies notified.

Violations of the Foreign Business Operation Act carry penalties of up to three years imprisonment or fines between 100,000-1,000,000 baht, or both. Courts may order business closure or cancellation of illegal shareholdings.

Astrologer White reveals the top 5 zodiac signs for the second half of the year who will encounter wealthy partners and prepare for prominent social roles with substantial financial gain. Each zodiac sign will experience changes—some positive and some requiring caution. Here are the top 5 zodiac signs:

Rank 1 - Virgo: Breaking free from single life with powerful energy. A true soulmate with an influential or prestigious aura is coming to boost your fortune with significant wealth.

Rank 2 - Gemini: Preparing to assume a prominent social position with a wealthy partner. Expect sponsorship and financial support.

Rank 3 - Cancer: Locking in a foreign spouse. A good person full of resources will support you and make you forget what poverty feels like.

Rank 4 - Dragon: An introverted homebody who enjoyed solitude has become an expert at being alone. However, this year fortune brings someone who has already achieved wealth.

Rank 5 - Aries: Preparing to end single life with a soulmate of equal virtue. This partner serves as both a financial sponsor and a karmic friend.

On July 3, 2026, at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) headquarters at Thungsong Hoang in Bangkok, officials detained 43-year-old Thai national Adit and 42-year-old Lao national Tatsaporn, a married couple, for investigation following discovery of their involvement in transporting packages concealing heroin.

Deputy Secretary-General Areepakdi Ngenbarung, acting as ONCB spokesperson, disclosed that multi-location search operations across Bangkok, including Rangnoi and Ramkhamhaeng areas, uncovered packages. Upon tracing the sender to Chiang Khan District in Loei Province, the packages were identified as belonging to the couple, who facilitated illegal heroin smuggling into Bangkok.

Home searches of both suspects revealed nothing unusual. Officers then invited them for questioning. Investigation revealed the wife is Lao while the husband is Thai. His role involved receiving pre-packaged boxes and delivering them to postal offices. The packages were prepared from neighboring countries. Whether the suspects knew the boxes contained contraband remains undetermined, requiring further investigation into the wife's connections to foreign smuggling networks.

According to Areepakdi, investigators found the couple received 8,000 baht per shipment. Heroin was concealed within fabric, cloth bags, and various Thai merchandise to evade inspection before distribution throughout Bangkok.

When asked if the couple's arrest relates to the 'Mina' air hostess case, Areepakdi stated she believes they likely belong to a network arrested in previous operations, though no direct link to the Mina case has been established.

Areepakdi acknowledged an air hostess involvement, connected to another air hostess arrested March 27 in Chachoengsao Province. Investigators are determining whether they operate under the same network.

Additionally, recent operations in Rangnoi alley uncovered another air hostess implicated. Officials are investigating her possible links to the Mina network after discovering money transfers back to heroin operations. However, it remains unclear whether this person is a victim or knowing participant, given the transfer patterns appear designed to deceive.

BANGKOK — The government has welcomed Thailand being ranked the world's eighth-best healthcare system in 2026 by the Numbeo website, saying the result reflects the country's efficient healthcare management and broad access to medical services.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesangjan said on Friday that the ranking was published by Numbeo, the world's largest crowd-sourced cost-of-living and quality-of-life database, which compiles user-reported data on healthcare, housing, crime, transportation, cost of living and other indicators. According to the 2026 survey, Thailand ranked eighth globally for healthcare.

The top 10 countries with the best healthcare systems in the 2026 survey were:

Taiwan — 87.1 points South Korea — 82.9 points Netherlands — 81.1 points Japan — 80.1 points Austria — 78.9 points Ecuador — 77.7 points Finland — 77.6 points Thailand — 77.5 points Denmark — 77.2 points Spain — 77.2 points

Ploytalayx said Thailand's healthcare system has been recognised for combining affordable medical costs with high-quality services, efficient administration and broad access to treatment.

She also highlighted the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), commonly known as the 30-baht scheme or Gold Card scheme, which allows eligible Thai citizens to receive healthcare using only their national identification card. The programme covers a wide range of medical services, from common illnesses to chronic and high-cost conditions, through Thailand's network of public and participating private hospitals.

The government noted that the latest ranking also reinforces Thailand's reputation as one of the world's leading destinations for medical tourism.

Phayao residents have spotted a curious phenomenon on Doi Pa Chom Piang: white powder or mist drifting from a plant's flower clusters, resembling smoke rising from the tree. Botanists are being asked to investigate further to identify the plant species and determine whether the white substance is produced naturally or represents a natural phenomenon.

On July 3, a Facebook user known as "Khao Mun Gai Lung Dam - Paa Chao" posted videos and photos from a nature walk on Doi Pa Chom Piang, showing a plant with white particles dispersing from its flower clusters that resembles smoke billowing from a tree. The footage has generated considerable interest among viewers.

Based on initial observations, the plant appears similar to species in the ginger family and thrives in humid mountain forests. It has an upright stem, long narrow alternating leaves, and small white branching flowers at the branch tips. However, the exact species cannot yet be determined and requires further examination by a botanist.

"Paa Chao," who discovered the phenomenon, explained that while surveying a nature trail, she observed the white mist dispersing from the plant in intervals. The hikers ahead of her group noted a substantial amount, while her group trailing behind also observed it but in smaller quantities. Initially thinking it was smoke from a fire, upon closer inspection she found no burning smell, no burn marks, and no recent rainfall in the area, leading to speculation that the white substance is either naturally produced by the plant itself or a natural phenomenon.