Archive
September 7, 2026
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The government expects tourism to recover from this year's worst-case forecast and is targeting 32.6-33 million foreign arrivals and 2.7 trillion baht in revenue. About 10 major events fall in Q4, including Vijit Chao Phraya (Nov-Dec), Amazing Thailand Marathon (Nov 28-29) and Loy Krathong in Ayutthaya. The Thai Teaw Thai Plus domestic co-payment scheme is expected to open for registration on 1 October and launch in November, with 4 billion baht for 1 million privileges. The accommodation subsidy design is still being negotiated: the Tourism Ministry wants a percentage co-payment rather than a flat rate, so final terms may change before cabinet approval next week. Businesses in hospitality, transport and retail in event areas should prepare for a Q4 demand lift and check eligibility once rules are published.
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The cabinet has approved in principle a National Disaster Insurance System starting in October, covering 30 million households against floods, windstorms and earthquakes. The state will budget about 15.5 billion baht a year for premiums. Initial payments are due within 15 days, with further compensation based on actual damage, capped at 100,000 baht per household per incident. Families of people killed in a covered disaster get 2 million baht. For a small business, this is household-level cover, not business interruption or property cover for the shop itself, so check whether your own insurance and staff/family situation overlap or leave gaps. Details are still being finalised by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation with the Office of Insurance Commission.
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The government plans to launch a national disaster insurance scheme in October covering 30 million households against floods, windstorms and earthquakes, with the state paying about 15.5 billion baht a year in premiums. Initial payments are due within 15 days, with further compensation based on actual damage, capped at 100,000 baht per household per incident. Death benefits are 2 million baht. The scheme is not yet fully detailed and will be coordinated with the Office of Insurance Commission to avoid overlap with existing relief. For a business owner, check whether your premises or stock losses are covered by existing policies, since this scheme targets households, not businesses, based on the article's description.
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Activist Sondhi Limthongkul has launched a "Take Our Thailand Back" campaign to monitor the government, with a rally at the Israeli embassy planned for Thursday and regional meetings to follow. The Election Commission's ruling on the 2024 Senate poll collusion case is due 14 Sept, and Sondhi says protests could escalate if it doesn't pursue charges. For a small business, the practical risk is possible street demonstrations and traffic disruption in Bangkok, especially around the embassy and the EC decision date. No direct change to tax, costs or regulation is announced.
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The draft Thailand Power Development Plan (PDP 2026) has passed sub-committee review but is not final. The first public hearing is on 8 September 2026. Under the draft, consumers can install their own solar and batteries and buy power from other sources, and private firms take a larger role in supply. Clean energy share is proposed at 65% to 80% by option, and the plan's clean-energy push is tied to CBAM and NDC 3.0 pressure on exporters. For a Thai SME, this is a planning signal, not an immediate cost change: if you are considering rooftop solar or battery storage, watch the final plan and its tariff rules. Hearing comments are open now if you want your views on record.
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The Consumer Council says the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has 148 agenda items waiting, including post-merger telecom measures and the future of digital TV, because the commission cannot hold regular meetings. Only 3 of 6 invited commissioners attended a 7 Sep 2026 discussion. Digital TV operators say some are cutting content and production spending ahead of April 2029. For most SMEs this changes nothing today. Watch for telecom service price changes and SMS-scam measures, and if you rely on TV advertising or production, expect slower clarity on channel plans.
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The Thai Shippers' Council (TSCA) says exports could grow 8–10% or more in 2026 if the Thai-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) lands well and geopolitical risks do not worsen. It warns that H1 growth was driven partly by electronics and tech goods, so Q3 and Q4 need close watching. For SMEs, track the ART outcome for your US-bound products, especially food and agricultural goods; plan for volatile baht, energy, freight and marine insurance costs; and avoid over-relying on one hot export sector.
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An independent energy economist says the draft PDP 2026 has unclear points: the 200 billion baht government loan has no defined spending plan yet, and rapid growth in rooftop solar self-generation (IPS) could push actual grid demand below forecast. Load factor is also falling, and time-of-use tariffs and demand response may reduce peak needs. Costs for new technologies (SMR, CCS, green hydrogen) remain unclear. For a business, this matters mainly for planning power costs and whether grid tariffs may change. Watch for the final plan and any TOU or rooftop solar rule changes.
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LINE's Thai app update began rolling out from 1 September. The VOOM button on the main tab is replaced by OpenChat, and LINE VOOM closes at the end of September, so Story and birthday cards stop working too. Once you update, you can no longer open VOOM. If your business posts on VOOM or uses its Story or birthday cards for customers, move that content to OpenChat, your LINE Official Account or other channels before month-end.
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SCB EIC raised its 2026 GDP forecast to 2.2% but expects 2027 growth of about 2.1%. Private consumption grew only 1.9% in Q2, the weakest in years, due to fragile jobs, high household debt and slow income recovery. Investment (near 5% in 2027) and exports are carrying growth, but imports are up almost 30% and gains are concentrated in electronics, tech and data centres. SME revenues remain below pre-COVID levels, and SME loans have contracted for 16 straight quarters. For a small business, plan for softer domestic demand and keep tight control of credit and cash flow, since bank lending to SMEs is not recovering.
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The Monetary Policy Committee held the policy rate at 1.00% on 26 Aug 2026, citing weak, uneven growth and shrinking SME credit. FETCO's chairman says a hike is not expected for the rest of 2026, though policy will be reviewed again in the first half of 2027. For SME owners, this means floating-rate loan costs are unlikely to rise near term, so it is a reasonable window to plan financing. Inflation driven by costs or supply, rather than strong domestic demand, would not by itself prompt a hike, so watch cost pressures in your own inputs. This is one commentator's view, not a central bank forecast.
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GHB (ธอส.) has allocated 20 billion baht for a promotional housing-loan package. First 3 months at 0.73% a year, months 4-9 at 1.73%, then MRR-based rates. Free mortgage registration (1% of loan, capped at 200,000 baht) for refinancing from other banks, and free appraisal for refinancing applications submitted until 30 Sep 2026. Useful for owners with property who are refinancing or looking at a loan for premises or equipment. Check the full rate schedule and terms with the bank, since the low rates apply only for a limited period.
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The Thai Capital Market Business Council (FETCO) is proposing four measures to lift national savings from about 25% to 28% of GDP: higher TISA investment limits, compulsory provident-fund saving, Trust and Family Office law changes, and a 2-year income tax exemption for Thai overseas investments brought home, which must be invested in Thai capital markets for at least 1 year. These are proposals only, with cabinet consideration expected within 1-2 weeks. No action is needed from a small business yet; watch for TISA and provident-fund changes that could affect staff savings and owner personal investing.
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The Department of Business Development and the Land Department are cross-checking about 125,600 companies under DBD supervision that hold land or condos, with tighter document rules for new firms since 1 August 2026. Most Thai SMEs are not affected, but companies with foreign shareholders (especially 0.01-49.99% foreign stakes) may face closer checks on registration, land holdings and BOI or industrial-estate status. If your company has foreign shareholders or nominee-style arrangements, review your shareholding and documentation now.
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Bangkok signed a 1,330 million baht contract (7 Sep 2026) for a 4-lane road, about 5 km, linking Tepharak Road to the east outer ring road, with an elevated section over Watcharapol Road. Construction runs from 8 Sep 2026 to August 2028. Land acquisition of about 1,400 million baht covers 122 plots and is 90% done. Phase 2 (8 lanes, to Nimit Mai Road) is still waiting for budget. For a business in the east of Bangkok, this means possible traffic diversions and access changes along the route over the next two years, and possibly better logistics later. No action needed now.
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Thailand's headline CPI rose 2.53% year on year in August 2026, the fifth straight monthly increase, driven by fuel, ready-cooked food, eggs, chicken and fresh produce. The Commerce Ministry's full-year forecast is 1.81%, but it expects fuel prices to rise another 24.48% from September to December and forecasts ready-food prices up 3.0%. It also puts an 81% chance on a strong El Niño from October to December 2026, which could push up fresh food and meat prices into early 2027. The "Thai Chuay Thai Plus" handout ends in September. For a small business, plan for higher fuel, delivery and ingredient costs in the coming months, and check whether your menu or product prices need adjusting.
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The Department of Business Development reports 7,913 new registrations in August 2026 (up 3.56% year on year) and 60,198 for January-August (up 1.70%). Clothing retail (up 87%), internet retail (up 52%) and restaurants (up 21%) grew fastest. Closures rose 17.38% over eight months to 11,420, and registered capital for new firms fell 6.53%. For your business, expect tougher competition in clothing, online and food retail, and watch your own cash flow given the rise in closures and energy-cost pressure.
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From the September 2026 bill, homes on temporary electricity meters (no permanent house registration) that have paid for at least 6 months move from 6.80 baht/unit to the household rate. The first 200 units are capped at 3 baht/unit. Check whether your bill has changed. If it has not, report it to ERC via LINE @ERCvoice or call 0-2207-3599. Relevant if you run a shop or rental where staff or tenants live on temporary meters, or if you can pass the saving on.
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The US naval blockade has stopped most Iranian crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz since mid-July 2026, with August volumes estimated at 220,000-255,000 barrels/day versus about 2 million in March (Vortexa, Kpler). The US has also begun striking Iranian tankers under a new "tanker for tanker" policy from 1 September, which raises the risk of supply disruption in the Gulf. For a Thai SME, this is a signal to watch diesel and fuel costs, transport surcharges and energy-linked input prices over the coming quarter, rather than an immediate action item.
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The SEC has released a draft rule raising the annual fee for investment advisers from 25,000 baht to 50,000 baht, and charging forex dealers 50,000 baht a year. It also widens the fee base for fund distributors and forex agents, including overseas and off-exchange deals. If you run a securities or derivatives-related advisory or dealing business, budget the higher fee for 2027. Comments are open until 5 Oct 2026 via the SEC website or the law portal.
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