The Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2026 celebrations have begun! Shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and amusement parks are beautifully decorated with Christmas trees, Santa Claus, gifts, and more.

Some malls, hotels, and restaurants have created selfie spots for Thais and tourists strolling through business districts, shopping areas, and tourist attractions to capture private photos with friends or family.

The festive atmosphere has been present in shops, restaurants, hotels, and shopping malls for several days now, but the most bustling areas are shopping districts and tourist attractions in Bangkok, major tourist cities, and smaller cities throughout Thailand.

Even though the overall Thai economy isn't very bright, due to the sluggish economic conditions and the impact of the floods in the South and North, and the ongoing conflict between Thailand and Cambodia,

even with Santa Claus... The government launched the "Half-Price Plus" campaign in phase one, followed by phase two, to support low-income earners and workers, as well as stimulating the economy through tax reductions for shoppers, e-book buyers, and other consumers.

However, many working professionals and salaried employees of large companies are left wondering whether they will receive their year-end bonuses as usual, or if they will receive smaller bonuses.

Amidst the crisis, there may be new opportunities and new avenues for starting a new life and adopting new ways of earning a living, with a greater chance of survival in the future.