Tourism Authority of Thailand reports more than 200 Chinese charter flights to Thailand cancelled due to global jet fuel price spikes, prompting extension of the Thailand Summer Blast campaign through September.

• Chinese market saw 11-23% April declines in top source countries amid Middle East unrest.
• Thai airlines face higher operating costs, with electricity tariffs also rising for large households.
• TAT considers promotional extensions to offset the 3.45% YoY arrival drop in first four months.

Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee kept the one-day repo rate at 1.00% in its April 29 meeting, citing appropriate support for recovery amid energy-driven inflation risks.

• Headline inflation forecast revised to 2.9% average for 2026, up from prior 0.3%, driven by global energy prices.
• GDP growth lowered to 1.5% for 2026 and 2.0% for 2027 due to cost pressures.
• Core inflation expected to remain subdued at 0.83% in April print.

Stock Exchange of Thailand index ended the week at 1,538.67 after gaining 6 points, with financials sector leading 3.3% weekly gains amid broader 30.8% 1-year advance.

• SET50 hit 1,002.25, up 0.15% daily and 4.46% monthly.
• YTD performance at +22.15%, supported by earnings growth forecasts of 10% annually.
• Market value reached 60B baht daily turnover on 10.6B shares.

Board of Investment refreshed promotion measures from January 2026, targeting AI, digital platforms and advanced manufacturing with up to 13-year CIT exemptions.

• Q1-Q3 2025 applications surged to ฿1.37 trillion, +94% YoY, led by data centres.
• Approved projects expected to create 170k jobs and ฿1.4T export revenue.
• New rules require annual SSC evidence for all BOI firms from 2026.

Foreign arrivals totalled just under 12M in first four months, down 3.45%, with April at 2.37M (-7% YoY) amid airline schedule cuts.

• Revenue reached ฿584B, -3.28% YoY despite April uptick in per-head spend.
• Top markets posted 11-23% declines in three of five largest sources.
• TAT extends Summer Blast to counter fuel-driven cancellations.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Cabinet approval on May 19 to cancel the 60-day visa-free scheme, reverting to 30 days effective immediately for eligible nationalities.

• Grandfather clause protects applications before May 25.
• DTV updates confirm language schools no longer qualify as supporting documents.
• TDAC remains mandatory 72 hours pre-arrival, free of charge.

Excise Department introduced Wine Fast Track clearance at Suvarnabhumi Airport, streamlining duty-paid wine imports for eligible passengers.

• Upgrade applies to all travellers carrying duty-paid bottles.
• System reduces processing time at arrival halls.
• Ties into broader tourism recovery push amid fuel and visa shifts.

Norwegian artist Peder Elias performs his Northern Lights Tour at Lido Connect on Thursday May 28 at 8pm. Solid mid-week escape for expats craving live indie-pop without the weekend crowds.

Dennis Gold headlines SIN Rooftop Bar on Friday May 29 at 10pm. Rooftop views and soulful sets make this a reliable Friday unwind for Sathorn-based professionals.

A Journey Without a Map runs through May 31 at RCB Galleria 1; The Hero Within at RCB Photographers’ Gallery until May 24. Contemporary travel-themed shows worth a quick riverside detour before Visakha Bucha.

National holiday for Visakha Bucha falls on Sunday May 31 with Monday June 1 as the observed day off. Markets and government offices closed; expect lighter traffic but plan banking and SET trading around the long weekend.

Bangkok highs 34-35°C with 60% rain chance daily through May 30. Monsoon onset means afternoon downpours; flooding risk low but monitor drainage in low-lying Sukhumvit and Thonglor areas.

First-four-month tourism revenue at ฿584B reflects lower arrivals offset by higher spending per visitor, underscoring resilience in high-value segments even as charter volumes collapse.