AloisAmrein

Really a nightmare in Honolulu. Here in Zurich, Switzerland, there is a Thai consulate, efficient, fast, friendly, perfect. Whenever I need a visa, it's done in 2 days. No hassles, really perfect service. They even advice you, which visa is the best for you, depending on what you want to do and how long you want to stay.

And what about the thousands of Thais working illegally in Europe, should we send them all home?

One more example of reckless manners of Thai drivers. It's not only very dangerous to drive a car or motorbike in Thailand, even pedestrians are not save.

I don't experience and see the Russian wealth the article is talking about, but also, nowhere in the article does it meet the headline: why Phuket needs the Russians. It does meet the stereotype of the Russians though: ill mannered, even those with money.

There is one more line in the article that is important: "This, of course, is by no means all Russians. Some, like many of the

Chinese, do come on zero-dollar packages, with flights, accommodation, meals and tours prepaid, and spend little in the local market."

I wonder how the writer reached the conclusion 'some', because in my experience and from what I see this is a vast, vast majority of the Russians, not just 'some'.

It seems you are a little racist. You forgot to mention all the Cheap Charlies from the US, who spend as little as US$ 20 per day...

From a selfish standpoint, I hope they find a deep problem with money laundering, and it makes the US dollar stronger against the baht. I need to hope!

The US $ is going down the drain. Just compare it against strong currencies like the Swiss Franc or the AU $. Now even the Thai Bhat seems to be stronger than the US $. And why? Because the US spend too much money on wars worldwide, money which is needed desperately for internal social and economical problems in the US. When I was a young boy in the sixties, one had to pay 7 CHF for 1 US $. Now 1 US $ is worth less than 1 CHF (-.93 actually).

Do not use ATM's. Withdraw money from your bank account or use TC's. ATM's are more and more unsafe due to skimming, not only in Thailand, also in some countries in Europe. Even in Europe some banks try to decline their responsibility and customers have problems to get back the money. So the best is to boycott ATM's until the banks provide a truely save system. ATM's were introduced to reduce staff costs in the banks, so it is their responsibility to provide a save system.

Lack of control and maintenance. Thai Airways is on place 57 of the 60 saviest airlines worldwide. Not really a reference. No 1 is Finnair.

Very funny, some people do a visa run to Laos and forget to visit this nice country. If I need a new stamp in my passport, I travel to Pakse or to Vientiane and stay in Laos 15 days. And for this 15 days I do not need a visa, since up to 15 days there is no need to make a visa for Laos (for Japanese and Swiss only). And if I want to stay 30 days in Thailand, I fly back from Vientiane. Also no need to get a visa for Thailand.

Road safety in Thailand: worse then in India... Every year about 6500 deaths on Thai Roads, no wonder with these habits. Drunk driving, driving without licence, etc.

Once again Thailand is denying the own truth. What cannot be true, is not true... The Thai government should admit finally that Thailand has become the world's biggest brothel, with the help and tolerance oft influential police forces, government members. Officially prostitution is illegal - in contrary to most Western countries - but thousands of corrupt police men and politians make a good living out of tolerating prostitution. Very big hypocrisy. Thailand does everything for money: selling children, prostitution, bombing neighbouring countries, if the Americans ask them to do...

Well IMO a strong currency is a wonderful problem to have. Enjoy lower imported energy, technology and material costs. Invest in improved infrastructure and see a general drop in domestic prices and wage pressures. Weaken the currency only to see the export gains evaporate in high input costs and increasing domestic inflation. Thailand is on track for a very sound economy if Kittiratt is successful resisting populist political pressure to devalue the currency.

Ask Switzerland how wonderful it is to have a strong currency. Many parts of their economy are struggling because of the real strong value of the Swiss Franc against the Euro.

The Swiss Franc is a strong currency and the economy is in good shape, in better shape than in all countries of EU. And the unemployment rate is the lowest in whole Europe.

Good advertising for Phuket as a tourist destination. Phuket (same as Pattaya) as become a place to be avoided. And I tell it to anyone who wants to go there. Go to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, all more save then Thailand today. Thai police is unable to crack down crime.

Not surprising, normal on Thai roads. Just over New Year the death toll was about 330. Police is unable and unwilling to change the situation. Drunk driving unad driving without license common. Most of Thai drivers would not pass any driving test in Europe or Australia.

It seems Americans have a pretty bad taste when it comes to places for retirement. Not surprising.

“Thailand is now opening up to more foreigners, which is causing more problems. We must now be very strict,” she added.

More idiotic double talk...botom line it has been getting MORE difficult for the past 5 years..I was forced onto a retirement visa only last year by Huil instead of my normal multi B that is required under Thai immigration rules!!!!!!

Less and less reasons to stay in Thailand and spend the money in this country. Elsewhere you are very much more welcome. P.e. Malaysia, Indonesia.

And when you want to get rid off of all the visa hassle, best is South America. No visa requirements for most European countries. Just go, have your passport stamped, valid 3 months. Then go to next country and you come back. Again 3 months. And much more friendly than Thailand.

Tax avoidance and money laundering is a crime, not only in Australia, also in the USA, in the EU and all other civilized countries. So it's good he has to return to Australia to face court charges.

Logical consequence of the too liberal Arms law in the U.S., where every criminal can buy arms in the next shop around the corner. Responsible is at the end the Republican Party, which opposites any change to arms trade laws.

And how many 1000 Thais are driving without a driving licence? Every year more then 6500 killed on the road.

Information in this article is partially wrong. Prostitution in Switzerland has always been legal, not only since 1992. Illegal is the enforcement of people to work in prostitution, as in the case shown here. Many Thai women in Switzerland work as prostitutes on their own decision, and some of them bring friends or family members and force them in the same business, which is clearly illegal. As far as I know, prostitution is also illegal in Thailand... but law enforcement in Thailand or in Switzerland are 2 quite different things...

I buy real Rolex only, not in Thailand, but in Switzerland, where Rolex is made.

Travellers with Swiss passport do not need a visa for Laos for up to 14 days. This makes the visa run much easier.

So the best is to avoid the U.A.E. and boycott the Emirates Airline. If they are loosing a lot of customers and visitors, these ignorants may change the policy. Thanks for the information, next time I will NOT fly with Emirates.

Why do the Swiss have so many guns and armed service/ex service personnel? They were a neutral country in WW II.

I think they border 6 or 7 countries, some of them ex USSR, so the plan is the ex service personnel can grab their gun and join the fight if invaded.

You think really wrong. Switzerland has only 5 neighbours, France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. None of these country is ex USSR. Your knowledge in geography needs an update.

Abhisit is a Hero. His only mistake was not authorizing the use of deadly force sooner. The Army should have been able to neutralize the terrorist red shirts after they attacked and murdered the general with hand grenades.

Abhisit is the contrary of a hero. He was not able to manage the crisis in a human manner and so he is personally responsible for the death of the people killed in the confrontations. Democracy is other then did Abhisit. Even if the oppositional Red Shirts used at times illegal means, this not justifies the killing of more than 70 protesters. Killing is not an argument.