Showing 1 - 10 of 54
City's green spaces losing ground
Oped, Thunpicha Greigarn, Published on 30/03/2026
» Like the body, most of Bangkok's battles happen beneath the surface. By the time you notice, the damage is already done.
Global travel erases places we love
News, Richard Florida and Carlo Ratti, Published on 17/03/2026
» Venice is drowning -- not just in rising waters but also in tourists. The city is charging a day-tripper fee and has banned large tour groups and loudspeakers in an effort to curb the crush. Barcelona residents march with squirt guns and "Tourists go home" signs to protest rising rents and crowds. Amsterdam is moving to cap and eventually ban ocean-going cruise ships to reduce pollution and visitor pressure.
Phuket stands at a tourism crossroads
Oped, Ajaree Tavornmas, Published on 12/03/2026
» Phuket has long stood as one of Asia's most celebrated destinations. Framed by the Andaman Sea, its turquoise waters, rich cultural fabric and globally recognised hospitality have attracted millions of visitors for decades. Tourism accounts for approximately 95% of the province's economy, generating more than 500 billion baht annually from over 14 million Thai and international travellers. With around 1,500 registered hotels and more than 100,000 rooms, the island is undeniably a cornerstone of Thailand's tourism industry.
Flood resilience a national imperative
Oped, Srinivasa Popuri and Kotchakorn Voraakhom, Published on 18/12/2025
» The twin cyclones Senyar and Ditwah that struck South and Southeast Asia in November caused unprecedented flooding across the region, with Thailand among the most severely affected.
AI double-edged sword in floods
Editorial, Published on 14/12/2025
» The flooding in Hat Yai has exposed not only how inadequate the Thai bureaucracy is in managing a major disaster, especially one involving complex weather data and a high-density urban area, but also how innovative technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a profound double-edged sword.
Flood response fix
Postbag, Published on 07/12/2025
» Re: "New sub-committees 'to boost readiness'", (BP, Dec 5) and "Disaster struck as preparation fell short", (Opinion, Dec 3).
Hat Yai flood a saga of merry fools
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 01/12/2025
» Most people are aware of the complete failure of the Anutin administration's failure to handle the flood disaster in Hat Yai.
Banned bets
Oped, Postbag, Published on 24/10/2025
» Re: "Anutin bans poker, sports gambling nationwide", (BP, Oct 23). So, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has banned gambling again. The prohibition specifically aims at poker and other similar sports-themed card games. The Ministry of Tourism and Sport earlier classified poker only as a sport? Well, it's not, is it -- it's a card game that is invariably played for money, unlike many others, such as bridge, which are not.
Authoritarians' brave new cities
Oped, Robert Muggah & Carlo Ratti, Published on 23/09/2025
» Few policy ideas are as radical -- or as misleadingly packaged -- as "freedom cities". Championed by Silicon Valley's techno-libertarian elite and recently embraced by right-wing politicians like Donald Trump, the idea is to create digitally powered, master-planned enclaves of deregulated innovation.
Floods 'a recurring nightmare'
Oped, George G van der Meulen & Chamniern Vorratnchaiphan, Published on 16/09/2025
» Thailand has faced floods for more than a century. Some years are worse than others, but the pattern is consistent. The catastrophic 2011 floods remain the most painful reminder: according to the World Bank, they caused US$46.5 billion (1.5 trillion baht) in economic losses, displaced 13 million people, and claimed approximately 800 lives. Much of the country's industrial heartland was submerged for months, severely impacting global supply chains.