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- As Thailand moves toward a VAT increase, the bigger picture tells a deeper storyPATTAYA, Thailand – Recently, there has been growing discussion about the government potentially adjusting VAT from 7% to 10%. For many people, the immediate reaction is simple “Things will become more expensive. Life will get harder.” That feeling is completely understandable. But if we step back and look a little wider, this development may be […]
Rising talk of a possible VAT increase from 7% to 10% has sparked concern among many, with fears of higher living costs and added daily pressure. Yet beyond the immediate reaction, the conversation may signal a deeper shift in how the economy is being shaped—and what it could mean for the country’s future. PATTAYA, Thailand – Recently, there has been growing discussion about the government potentially adjusting VAT from 7% to 10%. For many people, the immediate reaction is simple “Things will become more expensive. Life will get harder.” That feeling is completely understandable. But if we step back and look a little wider, this development may be pointing to something far more meaningful.
Countries that gain confidence begin to tax more
Thailand has maintained a 7% VAT rate for a long time, even though the legal ceiling has always been 10%. The fact that the government is now even considering an increase
is not simply about generating more revenue. It reflects something deeper a growing belief that the system itself can support it. People are still spending. Businesses are still operating. The economy is no longer as fragile as it once was. It is the quiet confidence of a country that is beginning to stand firmly on its own.
Life in Thailand still holds value beyond inflation
Even if VAT increases, those who truly live in Thailand understand something important Quality of life here is not defined by tax rates alone. You can still Enjoy good food at accessible prices, Access high-quality healthcare, Live within a society that remains flexible and warm. These are forms of “value” that many developed countries are gradually losing.While the state collects more… it still chooses where to give
What makes this moment particularly interesting, is not only that the government may collect more but that it continues to choose where to give. Even as VAT increases are being discussed, Thailand continues to support investment through the Board of Investment Thailand, offering various tax incentives and privileges. At first glance, this may seem contradictory. But in reality, it reflects a clearer intention.
The state no longer aims to keep everything uniformly “cheap.” Instead, it is making deliberate choices To collect from general consumption, And to support what creates future value, This is not about taking or giving. It is about choosing.Thailand is no longer trying to be a low-cost country
In the past, Thailand was often seen as A source of low-cost labor, A manufacturing base, A destination for cost reduction. But that image is changing. The willingness to raise VAT, while continuing to offer incentives to selected industries, sends a clear message. Thailand is no longer competing to be “the cheapest,” but to offer “the right kind of value.”
For those looking from the outside
The real question may not be “Will taxes increase?” But rather “Where is the country heading?” And the answer is becoming clearer. Thailand is building a balance between living and growing. It is not accelerating so fast that life becomes unlivable, nor is it standing still until opportunities disappear.A potential VAT increase is not merely a small rise in cost. It is a signal of a country
that is shifting from being defined by affordability to being defined by value. At the same time, policies like BOI remain in place to attract what the country aspires to become. In the end, Thailand is not choosing one path over another. It is carefully designing itself
to be a place where living is still good and investment can truly grow over the long term.
21 April 21 2026Featuredhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=544931 - Hotel maintenance worker arrested in Pattaya after allegedly using master key to steal guest’s valuablesPATTAYA, Thailand – Police in Na Jomtien arrested a 35-year-old hotel maintenance worker within a day on April 20 at a housing unit after he allegedly used a master key card to enter a guest room and steal valuables worth more than 500,000 baht. The suspect, identified only as Suraphan, was charged with nighttime theft […]
Police arrested a hotel maintenance worker in Na Jomtien after he allegedly used a master key card to enter a guest room and steal valuables worth more than 500,000 baht. PATTAYA, Thailand – Police in Na Jomtien arrested a 35-year-old hotel maintenance worker within a day on April 20 at a housing unit after he allegedly used a master key card to enter a guest room and steal valuables worth more than 500,000 baht.
The suspect, identified only as Suraphan, was charged with nighttime theft or receiving stolen property. Officers recovered several gold items, cash and lottery tickets hidden inside his room.
Seized items included a three-baht gold necklace with a gold-framed amulet, a 50-satang gold necklace, two gold bracelets, a gold ring, cash totaling 116,000 baht and several lottery tickets. Police said the total value of the stolen property exceeded half a million baht.
The case began on April 19 when a 42-year-old woman checked into a hotel in Na Jomtien and left her waist bag on a table inside her room. The bag reportedly contained gold jewelry and cash.Early the next morning, the woman discovered the bag was missing and reported the theft to police.
Investigators later learned that a hotel worker known as “Chang Mag” had borrowed a master key card capable of opening every room in the hotel, claiming he had forgotten some equipment inside one of the rooms.
Police traced the suspect to Suraphan and brought him in for questioning. He allegedly confessed to the theft and led officers to the hidden valuables inside his room.Authorities said the suspect has been handed over to investigators at Na Jomtien Police Station for further legal action.
Officers recovered gold jewelry, cash and lottery tickets hidden inside the suspect’s room after the theft at a hotel in Na Jomtien. 
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545052 - Indian nationals arrested in Pattaya villa raid over alleged stock trading scamPATTAYA, Thailand – Police raided a luxury pool villa in Pattaya on April 20 and arrested 20 Indian men accused of working illegally as online administrators for an alleged stock trading and investment scam targeting people in India. The operation was led by Napaspong Khositsuriyamanee and Prabda Suksuntree, along with immigration and tourist police officers, […]
Police raided a luxury pool villa in Pattaya and found more than 20 Indian men allegedly working on laptops and mobile phones as part of an illegal stock trading and investment operation. PATTAYA, Thailand – Police raided a luxury pool villa in Pattaya on April 20 and arrested 20 Indian men accused of working illegally as online administrators for an alleged stock trading and investment scam targeting people in India.
The operation was led by Napaspong Khositsuriyamanee and Prabda Suksuntree, along with immigration and tourist police officers, after authorities received reports that more than 30 Indian nationals were living together inside a house in the Chaiyaphruek 2 area of Nongprue.
Officers surrounded the two-storey luxury villa and found more than 20 Indian men sitting at laptop computers with dozens of mobile phones placed in front of them. Police said the house had been modified into a hidden office, with curtains covering windows and doors to block outside views.Investigators said the suspects were allegedly communicating online with people in India and persuading them to invest in businesses, gold trading, cryptocurrency and stock trading schemes. Authorities said the group appeared to be operating in shifts and had departments for call center work, marketing, finance and administration.
Police seized 18 laptop computers, 30 mobile phones and printed documents showing salary structures for different roles inside the operation. Investigators found some marketing staff were allegedly earning up to 100,000 Indian rupees per month, equivalent to about 34,000 baht.Officers seized laptops, mobile phones and salary documents during the raid on the Pattaya villa, where suspects were accused of targeting Indian investors through online trading schemes. All 20 men were taken to the Chonburi Immigration Office in Jomtien for further questioning. Police said the suspects admitted they entered Thailand during the Songkran holiday period and had arrived in the country around March. They allegedly confessed to helping run stock trading websites aimed at Indian customers in exchange for commissions from investors.
Authorities also found another 10 Indian nationals, both men and women, inside the property. They were accused of failing to report their place of residence to immigration authorities.
The 20 men working inside the villa were initially charged with working in Thailand without permission. Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether additional charges related to fraud or illegal financial activity will follow.
Recent raids in Pattaya have uncovered a growing pattern of foreign-run operations using rental villas as bases for online scams, gambling websites and illegal call centers targeting people overseas.
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545048 - Pattaya plumbing shop owner arrested after allegedly pointing gun at Wan Lai crowdPATTAYA, Thailand – A 55-year-old plumbing supply shop owner was arrested after allegedly pointing a loaded handgun at a group of Songkran revelers during the Wan Lai Naklua celebrations in Banglamung. The incident took place on April 18 outside a tyre shop along Chaiyaphruek Road in Nongprue, East Pattaya. Police from Banglamung Police Station responded […]
Police arrested a Pattaya plumbing shop owner after he allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at Songkran revelers during Wan Lai celebrations in Banglamung. PATTAYA, Thailand – A 55-year-old plumbing supply shop owner was arrested after allegedly pointing a loaded handgun at a group of Songkran revelers during the Wan Lai Naklua celebrations in Banglamung.
The incident took place on April 18 outside a tyre shop along Chaiyaphruek Road in Nongprue, East Pattaya. Police from Banglamung Police Station responded after receiving reports that a man had aimed a firearm at people playing water nearby.
When officers arrived, witnesses pointed out the suspect, later identified as 55-year-old Amnat Sukkasem, who was standing outside his plumbing supply store. Police searched him and found a loaded .380 handgun with five rounds in the magazine. Officers said the weapon was cocked and ready to fire.According to witness Piyachok Arunsawat, he and his friends had parked near the plumbing shop while attending the Wan Lai Naklua festivities, believing the business was closed. He said the shop owner came outside angrily and complained that their vehicle was blocking the front of the store.
The group said they immediately tried to move the vehicle, but the suspect remained upset. When one of them told him to calm down, the man allegedly responded aggressively before walking to the back of the shop and returning with a handgun.
Witnesses said the suspect then raised the weapon and pointed it toward their group, causing people to scatter in panic for cover. They said several children were also in the area at the time.
Members of the group managed to record video footage of the confrontation, while CCTV cameras from a nearby tyre shop also reportedly captured the moment people ran for safety.
Police initially charged Amnat with illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a weapon in public without reasonable cause. Victims later filed an additional complaint asking investigators to consider an attempted murder charge.
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545039 - Pattaya Police add insulting officer charge against former cop in Walking Street shooting casePATTAYA, Thailand – Police in Pattaya have filed an additional charge against former police officer Pol. Sub-Lt. Jirasak Srikhathanam, also known as “Lieutenant Joe,” following the fatal shooting of a cannabis shop owner on Walking Street. The 54-year-old suspect had already been charged with murder and firearms-related offences after allegedly shooting 41-year-old Pattaratorn Jirachokchaikul, known […]
Former police officer Pol. Sub-Lt. Jirasak Srikhathanam, also known as “Lieutenant Joe” faces an additional charge of insulting an officer while on duty following his arrest in the fatal Walking Street shooting case. PATTAYA, Thailand – Police in Pattaya have filed an additional charge against former police officer Pol. Sub-Lt. Jirasak Srikhathanam, also known as “Lieutenant Joe,” following the fatal shooting of a cannabis shop owner on Walking Street.
The 54-year-old suspect had already been charged with murder and firearms-related offences after allegedly shooting 41-year-old Pattaratorn Jirachokchaikul, known as “King,” behind a cannabis shop on Walking Street Pattaya in South Pattaya.
On April 20, investigators at Pattaya City Police Station formally informed Jirasak of an additional charge of insulting an officer while on duty.The new charge stems from his behavior during the arrest on the night of the shooting. Police said patrol officers had already brought the situation under control when Pol. Lt. Col. Peerayut Borisuttham, superintendent of patrol and suppression, approached the suspect and tried to calm him down and persuade him to sit.
According to police, Jirasak responded with abusive language and challenged officers, prompting police to warn him that he could face an additional charge for insulting an officer. Authorities said he continued arguing despite the warning.
Reporters at the scene recorded both video and audio of the exchange, which later became evidence supporting the new charge.Jirasak did not answer questions from reporters while being escorted to acknowledge the additional accusation. Senior officers from Chonburi Provincial Police were expected to question him further before investigators prepared to seek his first period of detention at the Pattaya Provincial Court later in the afternoon.
Earlier Reports: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-police-shooting-suspect-refuses-questioning-case-to-be-sent-to-court-544838
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545036 - Two 15-year-old boys seriously injured after motorcycle crashes into broken-down car near PattayaPATTAYA, Thailand – Two 15-year-old boys were injured, one seriously, after their motorcycle slammed into the back of a broken-down car near a U-turn point on the inbound road to Bo Win in Banglamung district. The crash happened at around 10 p.m. on April 17 near the Forestry Department U-turn in Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict, […]
Two 15-year-old boys were injured after their motorcycle crashed into the back of a broken-down car near a dark U-turn point in Banglamung. PATTAYA, Thailand – Two 15-year-old boys were injured, one seriously, after their motorcycle slammed into the back of a broken-down car near a U-turn point on the inbound road to Bo Win in Banglamung district.
The crash happened at around 10 p.m. on April 17 near the Forestry Department U-turn in Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict, in the jurisdiction of Huai Yai Police Station.
Rescue volunteers from the Sawang Boriboon found a black Honda Wave 110i lying in the middle of the road with severe front-end damage.The driver suffered serious injuries including a badly deformed left wrist and left shin. Another passenger suffered abrasions across his body.
Both boys were given first aid at the scene before being rushed to hospital.
Investigators found a gold Chevrolet sedan parked on the roadside nearby, believed to be the vehicle the motorcycle crashed into.Initial reports indicated the boys were riding home when they reached the dark U-turn area, where lighting was poor and the broken-down car was parked on the shoulder of the road. They reportedly failed to see the vehicle in time and crashed directly into the rear of it.
Police are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the crash.
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545028 - Pattaya rescues stray dog seriously injured by dart attackPATTAYA, Thailand – Officials in Pattaya rushed to help a stray dog after receiving reports that it had been attacked with a dart lodged in the middle of its chest, leaving it seriously injured. Veterinary staff were called to the scene and safely sedated the dog before taking it for urgent medical treatment. Once the […]
Mayor Poramet Ngampichet says the city is stepping up sterilization and shelter efforts to tackle the ongoing stray dog problem. PATTAYA, Thailand – Officials in Pattaya rushed to help a stray dog after receiving reports that it had been attacked with a dart lodged in the middle of its chest, leaving it seriously injured.
Veterinary staff were called to the scene and safely sedated the dog before taking it for urgent medical treatment.
Once the dog has recovered, it will be transferred to Pattaya’s animal shelter for rehabilitation before being matched with a suitable new home.
Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said the stray dog problem remains one of the city’s major concerns and that Pattaya has continued to expand sterilization, vaccination and population control programs in order to reduce the number of stray animals and lower the risk of disease.He added that the city is continuing to improve its animal shelter facilities so stray dogs can be cared for more systematically, while also encouraging residents to live alongside animals in a more humane and sustainable way.
Veterinary teams rescued a stray dog in Pattaya after it was found seriously injured with a dart lodged in its chest.
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545024 - Pattaya launches ‘clean before dawn’ mission after Wan Lai FestivalPATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya City Hall launched a major overnight clean-up operation immediately after the end of Wan Lai Pattaya on April 19, deploying staff and machinery across the city to wash roads, beaches and public areas before sunrise. Officials from the city’s sanitation and environmental teams worked through the night using high-pressure water trucks […]
Pattaya sanitation crews worked through the night after Wan Lai celebrations, using high-pressure water trucks to clean roads, beaches and public areas before sunrise. PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya City Hall launched a major overnight clean-up operation immediately after the end of Wan Lai Pattaya on April 19, deploying staff and machinery across the city to wash roads, beaches and public areas before sunrise.
Officials from the city’s sanitation and environmental teams worked through the night using high-pressure water trucks and specialist cleaning equipment to remove powder stains, mud, sand and rubbish left behind from a full day of Songkran water fights.
Main roads, beachfront areas and major tourist locations were targeted so that residents and visitors could return to normal travel conditions by morning.The overnight effort highlighted the work of Pattaya’s “orange-shirt knights” — sanitation workers who raced against the clock to restore order and cleanliness across the city before daybreak.
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545021 - Heroic rescue saves motorcyclist seconds before train passes in PattayaPATTAYA, Thailand – A motorcyclist narrowly escaped death after crashing through a railway barrier and falling onto the tracks just moments before an approaching train passed in Banglamung district, Chonburi. CCTV footage captured the dramatic incident, showing the rider driving through the lowered crossing barrier before losing control and falling directly onto the railway tracks. […]
Railway workers and a passing Good Samaritan pulled a motorcyclist from the tracks just seconds before an approaching train passed through a crossing in Banglamung. PATTAYA, Thailand – A motorcyclist narrowly escaped death after crashing through a railway barrier and falling onto the tracks just moments before an approaching train passed in Banglamung district, Chonburi.
CCTV footage captured the dramatic incident, showing the rider driving through the lowered crossing barrier before losing control and falling directly onto the railway tracks.
Railway staff and a passing Good Samaritan who witnessed the crash immediately rushed to help, pulling the injured rider away from the tracks only seconds before the train passed through the crossing. The incident happened near the railway crossing on Chaiyapornvithi Road, Soi Prapa, East Pattaya.
When reporters visited the scene, the damaged railway barrier had already been cut away and placed to the side of the road to allow traffic to pass normally.A blue-and-black Honda Wave was still parked nearby with visible front-end damage.
Suriya Plueangna, an employee of the State Railway of Thailand at Pattaya’s Prapa crossing point, said railway staff had followed normal safety procedures by lowering the barriers and activating warning signals before the train arrived.
However, the rider still attempted to cross and struck the barrier before falling onto the tracks.
Suriya said staff and another good Samaritan immediately ran to the scene and managed to pull the rider clear of the tracks in time.
The near miss comes only weeks after another fatal railway crossing accident about five kilometers away near Huai Yai Railway Crossing, where two people were killed earlier this month.
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545018 - Pattaya joins Chonburi drive to turn province into MICE hubPATTAYA, Thailand – Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Pinijkarn joined a meeting of the tourism promotion and MICE development committee in Chonburi Province on April 20 as local authorities stepped up efforts to strengthen the province’s tourism industry and position it as a leading regional economic hub. The meeting, chaired by Chaiporn Paepiromrat, Deputy Governor of Chonburi […]
Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Pinijkarn joined provincial officials and tourism leaders in Chonburi Province to discuss new strategies for strengthening the MICE industry and attracting more national and international events. PATTAYA, Thailand – Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Pinijkarn joined a meeting of the tourism promotion and MICE development committee in Chonburi Province on April 20 as local authorities stepped up efforts to strengthen the province’s tourism industry and position it as a leading regional economic hub.
The meeting, chaired by Chaiporn Paepiromrat, Deputy Governor of Chonburi Province, brought together committee members, working groups and representatives from related agencies at Chonburi Hall inside the provincial government complex.
Officials discussed progress on tourism promotion and the development of the province’s MICE sector, which covers meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The province has established dedicated committees and working groups to ensure tourism and MICE policies are implemented more effectively and with stronger coordination between government agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders.During the meeting, participants reviewed past performance and explored new ways to improve Chonburi’s tourism potential so it can host more national and international events. Authorities also discussed strategies to create unique attractions, strengthen the province’s competitiveness and generate greater long-term economic value from the MICE industry.
For the overall tourism picture in Chonburi, the province recorded 10,363,660 visitors between January 1 and April 12, 2026. The five largest international markets were visitors from China with 1,659,777 arrivals, followed by Malaysia with 1,093,636, Russia with 792,629, India with 712,913 and South Korea with 439,277 visitors.
Although visitor numbers remain above 10 million during the early part of the year, officials noted the total is slightly lower than the same period last year. Tourists from China continue to rank as the province’s largest overseas market.
Provincial leaders said closer cooperation between all sectors will be essential in helping Chonburi continue developing as one of Thailand’s major tourism and business destinations, while supporting long-term government goals for sustainable economic growth and tourism development.
20 April 20 2026Pattaya-Thailandhttps://www.pattayamail.com/?p=545045