1. BKK governor backs Transport Min’s plan to levy a congestion fee on vehicles entering central BKK streets to fund a flat Bt20 fare policy for every electric train line.
2. Tourism Ministry said collection of the Bt300 travel tax may start with air passengers in the 1st phase, with the system needing at least 6 months before starting.
3. Constitutional Court has yet to decide whether to accept for review a petition accusing former PM Thaksin and the ruling Pheu Thai Party of attempting to undermine the constitutional monarchy.
4. TH’s data center investment has the potential to grow 15%, giving it the 3rd-largest industry in SEA, if the govt provides more attractive incentives and enhances infrastructure.
5. Thailand on course for 2.8% growth: FPO chief anticipates 3% growth next year. The Finance Ministry expects the economy to grow by 2.8% this year and 3% next year, according to the head of the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO). Bangkok Post
6. Bangkok office vacancy rates rise: The vacancy rates for Bangkok office space has continued to rise, particularly in the central business district (CBD), driven by a significant increase in new premium-grade supply, according to property consultant CBRE Thailand. Bangkok Post
7. Car output target faces 2nd cut: FTI could announce new target soon. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) may revise down the car production target again this year amid a fall in sales and exports. Thailand’s total car manufacturing is unlikely to reach 1.7 million units in 2024 due to a plunge in domestic sales and exports, dealing a further blow to the sluggish automotive industry and prompting the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) to consider revising down the target for the second time this year. Bangkok Post
8. Thai card payments market to top $90 billion in 2028: Consumer shift to more electronic payments fuels growth, according to GlobalData. GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics shows that card payment value in Thailand grew to 2.2 trillion baht in 2023. The Thailand card payments market is forecast to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% between 2024 and 2028 to reach 3.3 trillion baht ($94.5 billion) in 2028, supported by a constant consumer shift towards electronic payments, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Bangkok Post
9. The local used car market is expected to remain sluggish as potential buyers cannot secure finance.: Thailand’s used car market will continue to post sluggish sales as prospective buyers are often rejected when applying for loans, says the Association of Used Car. The association earlier expected used car sales to improve in the latter half of 2024, pinning its hopes on financial service providers easing their lending criteria. Bangkok Post
10. Value of investment proposals surges 42% in first 9 months: Thailand saw the value of new investment project proposals soar by 42% year-on-year during the first nine months of 2024 to a combined 722.5 billion baht, the highest level recorded since 2015, according to the Board of Investment (BoI). The uptick in value was particularly apparent in the electronic products and data centre sectors. The adjusted investment value stood at 509.4 billion baht in the corresponding period last year. Bangkok Post

Bonus 1

Tourism: Lisa Manoban, a world-renowned Thai artist, has been confirmed to perform at TH Countdown 2025 event in BKK, Tourism Ministry.