madmitch

20 years ago I set up a cmpany using Thai nominees. I had no idea that what I was doing wasn't legal but I think every year since then there has been a crackdown on the practice. I closed the company long ago. I doubt I was ever on the radar of those policing this but who knows. In the digital age it should be quite easy to track farangs who appear to own 49% of a business and the rest being split across various Thai persons but I'm not sure Thailand has an easily accessible database ot its companies. Looking forward to next year's crackdown already.

We had a similar incident at our guesthouse a few years ago when a British tourist fell through a window. Apparently he decided to sit on the external a/c compressor unit to have a smoke. He fell feet first through the roof below and landed in a twin tub washing machine! The roof was repairable, the washing machine was a write- off! But he and his friend did agree that paying for the damage was a better option than us calling the police. The guest was pretty much unscathed apart from a few minor scratches! Lucky man!

Not quite sure why a motorbike taxi is complaining; who is going to take a motorbike to the airport? It's also a fact that many of the so- called taxi mafia have now signed up as drivers with the various apps, realising it's actually more lucrative than joining a queue, waiting to get a ride. Finally, it's great to see all the Phuket haters out in force whenever they see a headline like this. If you don't like it don't go there.

Isn't Mafia-like intimidation is on the list of jobs reserved for Thais?

They announce this the week before it's due to start yet it must have been in the pipeline for some time. Let's hope it's been properly tested. Hope it's a bit more state of the art than the ancient webcams used at the immigration desks.

60 was far too young for compulsory retirement. Now it's 65, can they please apply this to MPs😁

So many comments that make it obvious the posters have either not read or understood the original article. Collection via the ETA system will negate the need for a booth at the airport. Many countri scalread have such systems and it has not affected tourism. Many more countries, including the Schengen area and the UK will be introducing such systems soon. My concern is that by offering this "insurance", some tourists may not purchase travel insurance. This is not a replacement, it is basic personal accident cover and unnecessary in my opinion.

I'm sure the loan sharks won't be reducing their interest rates

Why the negativity re the ETA? The whole world seems to be moving in this direction. Can you imagine the manual work required in processing the TM6 when all this will be processed electronically through the ETA. It's the future of travel and we have to learn to live with it.

Because he is a celebrity.

If the business is legal and the foreigners selling the tours have work permits then they are doing nothing illegal. No different to to the many foreign owned dive shops that have been operating for years. Many Russians prefer to deal in their own language

The article makes it all sound so easy. I'd like to know how they spend a mere 1100 baht a week on food and essentials as well as the visa issues. And I wonder where the five year old will go to school?

Falling asleep in Parliament is fine. Assaulting a reporter is fine. Having a criminal record for drug smuggling is fine. But make an innocuous gesture whils wearing a paramilitary dress uniform is a breach of political ethics, in the same way hosting a cooking programme on Tv was a few years back. Is there any hope for Thai politics?

Id like to know where they get their information from. For a start the article mentions the 300 baht tourist tax, which has yet to be implemented, and the top three destinations all being Thai looks fishy to me. No mention of certain Greek or Spanish islands and major cities.. I think the data may be based on a ratio of tourists to locals. It is well known that Phuket's so- called population is undercooked as most residents are registered elsewhere in Thailand. That's probably true of Pattaya and Krabi too. Phuket is overcrowded in high season but so are many others. Worst in the world? I doubt it

She won't be. She's already the second prime minister of this term!