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Free Rahmani haunts India-Bangladesh ties

Thailand tourists warned of heavy rain

Tourists planning a trip to Thailand this week may need to prepare for wet weather, possible travel disruptions and rough sea conditions, as the country's meteorological agency has forecast widespread rainfall and thunderstorms across several regions. According to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), a strong south-west monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand, combined with a low-pressure system off the coast of Vietnam, is expected to bring persistent rain across the country on June 2. Authorities have warned of heavy rain in several provinces and very heavy rainfall along parts of Thailand's west coast in the south. The weather conditions could trigger flash floods and runoff in low-lying areas and locations near waterways. Which tourist areas could be affected? Popular destinations on Thailand's west coast, including Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Trang and Satun, are expected to see the heaviest rainfall, with thunderstorms forecast across 80% of the region.131421089 In eastern Thailand, tourist destinations such as Pattaya and coastal areas in Rayong and Trat could also experience thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain. The forecast for Bangkok and surrounding areas indicates thunderstorms in around 60% of locations, with isolated heavy downpours possible. What should island-hoppers and beachgoers know? Travellers planning boat trips, island tours or water activities should closely monitor local weather advisories. The TMD has warned of rough seas in both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Wave heights in the upper Andaman Sea, including waters around Phuket, are expected to reach 2-3 metres and could exceed 3 metres during thunderstorms. In the lower Andaman Sea, including waters near Krabi and southern islands, waves could rise above 2 metres during storms. Authorities have advised vessels to proceed with caution and avoid sailing through thunderstorm zones. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea have been advised to remain ashore. How could the weather affect travel plans? Heavy rain may lead to delays for ferry services, island excursions, outdoor sightseeing and adventure activities. Tourists visiting beaches, national parks and mountainous areas should be alert to local weather warnings, particularly in regions vulnerable to flash flooding.

Royal Challengers bang for the buck

Air passenger traffic drops in April

New Delhi: Domestic air traffic declined 4.2 per cent to little over 1.38 crore in April compared to March amid multiple headwinds, including relatively softer travel demand.The latest data from aviation watchdog DGCA showed that carriers flew more than 1.38 crore passengers in April, 3.47 per cent lower than over 1.43 crore passengers carried in April last year.Also Read: Delhi airport, SpiceJet issue travel advisory: Bad weather likely to affect flight operationsThe decline is 4.2 per cent compared to the traffic of 1.44 crore passengers recorded in March."Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January - April 2026 were 575.49 lakhs as against 575.13 lakhs during the corresponding period of the previous year thereby registering an annual growth of 0.06 per cent and monthly growth of -3.47 per cent," DGCA said in its report for the month of April.Airlines have been facing multiple headwinds, including rising operational costs due to higher fuel prices and relatively slower demand.Amid the challenging scenario, carriers have also temporarily trimmed their network.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data showed that IndiGo's market share rose to 65 per cent in April from 63.3 per cent in March while that of Air India Group fell to 24.7 per cent from 26.2 per cent.The market share of Akasa Air inched up to 5.8 per cent last from 5.4 per cent in March and that of SpiceJet declined to 3.4 per cent from 3.8 per cent during the same period.Also Read: India's domestic air passenger traffic grows 1.4 pc to 1,677.4 lakh in FY26: ReportIn April, state-owned Alliance Air's share shrunk to 0.3 per cent from 0.6 per cent in March.A total of 3,266 passenger-related complaints were received by scheduled domestic airlines in April and the number of complaints per 10,000 passengers carried for the month stood at 2.36, as per DGCA.In terms of On-Time Performance (OTP) in April, IndiGo topped the list at 88.5 per cent, followed by Air India Group (82.4 per cent), Akasa Air (81.4 per cent), Alliance Air (71.2 per cent) and SpiceJet (31.2 per cent).OTP is computed for ten major airports -- Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Guwahati and Lucknow.Last month, around 1.12 per cent of the flights were delayed by more than two hours.According to DGCA data, over 1.35 lakh passengers were affected by flight delays and airlines shelled out little over Rs 2.41 crore towards facilitation whereas 77,065 passengers were impacted by flight cancellations and in this regard, carriers paid Rs 2.04 crore towards compensation and facilities.A total of 641 passengers were denied boarding and the airlines shelled out Rs 57.65 lakh for compensation and facilities.

Thailand may get costlier for intl tourists

Thailand is considering increasing its long-planned foreign tourist entry fee beyond the proposed 300 baht as authorities review rising insurance and healthcare costs associated with international visitors. The proposal was announced by Surasak Phancharoenworakul, who said the fee, first proposed in 2020 but never implemented, may need to be revised upward to reflect inflation and higher insurance expenses, according to a report by Bangkok Post. The move comes a day after Thailand announced plans to shorten visa-free stays for travellers from 93 countries. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, most of the revenue generated from the fee would be used to provide insurance coverage for tourists, while the remainder would support the maintenance of tourist attractions and tourism-related infrastructure. Government reviewing collection methods Authorities are currently finalising how the fee would be collected without affecting traveller sentiment. One option under consideration is adding the charge to airline tickets. However, airlines have reportedly raised concerns because they would be unable to distinguish between Thai citizens and foreign passengers when collecting the fee. Another option is to collect the fee through the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which foreign visitors are required to complete before entering the country. Officials said the final fee amount will depend largely on projected insurance costs and medical treatment expenses at private hospitals. Visa policy changes The announcement comes as Thailand ends the current 60-day visa exemption for travellers from 93 countries and territories. Authorities are considering a return to shorter visa-free stays and visa-on-arrival arrangements similar to those in place before the recent expansion of visa privileges. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has also proposed adjustments for certain key markets. Indian travellers will qualify for visa-on-arrival facilities, and the ministry supports introducing a 15-day visa exemption for visitors from India.