The Phuket Periodical - 0114 - 20.04.2025
The "almost back to work time'' Issue
Sawadee Khrab Dear Reader,
The holidays are offically over and most people are slowly dragging themselves back to work after sobering up from 2 weeks of intensive drinking and partying.…
... On with the news.
Wacky Racers
During the 'Seven Days of Road Safety Campaign' for Songkran (April 11th – April 17th) 2025, Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported 1,538 road accidents, resulting in 1,495 injuries and 253 deaths.
Bangkok recorded the highest number of fatalities with 19 deaths, while Phatthalung in southern Thailand had the highest number of accidents and injuries, with 63 and 61 respectively.
Excessive speeding and drunk driving were the primary causes of accidents. Most accidents involved motorcycles and occurred on highways between 3:01 PM and 6:00 PM.
Road Rage
A German couple was critically injured in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, on April 15th when a speeding pickup truck struck them at a zebra crossing near Bang Niang Beach.
The victims, identified as Phillip David Lothar, 34, and Linda Raub, 32, were pushing their one-year-and-eleven-month-old son in a stroller. Dashcam footage showed a car had stopped for them, but the pickup, driven by a 60-year-old Thai man (identified as Choei), hit the parents as they crossed. The stroller with the child miraculously rolled to safety, leaving the child unharmed.
Phillip and Linda are in intensive care with severe injuries. The driver, Choei, was arrested and charged with reckless driving causing injuries.
Lertsak Ponklin, of the Phang Nga Tourism Business Association, stated that accidents are frequent at this high-traffic crossing due to drivers failing to slow down. He urged caution and highlighted uncertainty about the pedestrian lights' functionality.
This incident echoes a 2022 crash where a Czech couple was seriously injured in similar circumstances in Khao Lak. Local authorities are investigating. The child's care arrangements are currently unknown, but authorities confirmed the child is safe.
Land Grab
Phuket's protected wildlife reserve in Wichit is facing increasing threats from illegal land grabs driven by tourism and development. Officials have launched a fresh investigation into suspected encroachment, raising concerns about the environmental cost of the island's economic growth.
MP Chalermpong Saengdee highlighted the pressure on Phuket's natural resources due to rapid urbanization. Wichit, despite its protected status, shows signs of deforestation for alleged agricultural use, a tactic often used to claim ownership.
Investigations focus on suspected fake land claims, potentially aided by forged documents and nominee buyers, both Thai and foreign. Officials are creating digital maps to verify land boundaries.
This is not a new problem; a similar investigation occurred in 2020. Encroachers often degrade the land to falsely suggest long-term farming use. Concerns are mounting about the destruction of Phuket's "green lungs" and the urgent need for stronger enforcement to balance economic development with environmental preservation.
Recession Looming
US President Donald Trump's tariffs could trigger a contraction in Thailand's GDP growth for two consecutive quarters, according to economists.
Pongnakorn Pochakorn, Senior Economist at the Fiscal Policy Office, made these remarks during a roundtable session titled “Trump’s Global Quake: Thailand Survival Strategy”. He forecast that global economic growth could fall from 3.2% to 2.8% due to the US tariffs, adding that Thailand, heavily reliant on exports, would likely face two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
Piyasak Manason, Head of Economic Research at InnovestX Securities, warned that the global economy could face a severe recession if multiple countries retaliate with their own trade barriers. He estimated that if trade negotiations fail, Thailand could suffer a 1.1% contraction in GDP growth and a 5% contraction in export growth.
Nonarit Bisonyabut, Research Fellow at the Thailand Development Research Institute, cautioned that Trump’s trade policies could escalate the US-China trade war, with smaller countries like Thailand caught in the crossfire. He urged Thailand to prepare strategically for negotiations and to focus on domestic economic stimulus.
Further Reading
some of the best reads from about the kingdom from around the web this week:
Is Phuket facing a future of resale rot?
The views and opinions expressed in linked articles are those of the respective authors or publications and do not necessarily reflect The Phuket Periodical's official policy or position. We provide links to external articles for informational purposes only, and the inclusion of these links does not imply endorsement or agreement with the content presented. Readers are encouraged to exercise discretion and critical thinking when accessing external content.
