Bangkok (VNA) – The Airports of Thailand (AOT)expects that foreign arrivals will increase sharply during the comingLunar New Year holidays.
Early this week, Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisinmade a surprise visit to Suvarnabhumi airport and instructed officials to speedup immigration and baggage claim procedures for travellers.
AOT Director Kirati Kijmanawat said on February 6 thatthe number of passengers flying into Thailand is expected to jump by 206%,compared to the same period last year, as the country has now fully reopened toforeign visitors.
He said the government's visa-free policy for tourists fromcountries has given the industry a much-needed boost.
Thailandis applying visa exemption for visitors from Kazakhstan and China for 30-day stayuntil February 29. Russian passport holders can stay in Thailand for 90days until April 30, while Indian and Taiwanese tourists can also enjoy a30-day stay until May 10.
Recently, Thailand and China signed an agreement on areciprocal visa-free scheme that will take effect from March 1. Under theagreement, holders of valid, ordinary Thai passports and Chinese holders ofpassports for public affairs and ordinary passports will be exempt from visarequirements for entering, exiting or transiting the other country for up to 30days.
𒈔 Kirati also said that self-check-in kiosks had beeninstalled at AOT's six international airports – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang,Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Chiang Rai – so that passengers can check in upto six hours in advance.
The Suvarnabhumi airport has 210 self-check-in kiosks while 50 areavailable at Don Mueang, Kirati said, adding passengers can save time and avoid longqueues as the service only takes a few minutes. According to the official, about 17% of passengers use theself-check-in system, and AOT plans to increase the number to 50%./.
On the occasion of the New Year of the Dragon, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura spoke to Vietnam News Agency about major achievements in the Vietnam-Thailand relations last year and prospects for 2024.
Thailand’s authorities said for the fifth consecutive year, Thailand recorded a trade deficit with China in 2023, the highest yet at 36 billion USD, up from 29 billion USD in 2022.
Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in Japan, Australia, Algeria, Thailand and Laos celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival at gatherings held in their host countries as the national biggest traditional festival is approaching.
Thailand's headline inflation fell for the fourth consecutive month to 106.98 points in January, the lowest since February 2021, said Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director-General of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO).
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Illustrative photo (Photo: nationthailand.com) 
