peter48

What are you on about? Visas for legal immigrants which are over 95% + into UK are now the most expensive in Europe. You try bringing in a foreign born lady wife for example. Moreover legal migrants do a lot of work like carers, cleaners, Amazon deliverers, kitchen staff, construction work etc Illegal migrants, boat ppl etc are often escaping wars and awful oppression like Afghanistan or Africa etc. Moreover under human rights laws established post Holocaust when Jews were killed in their millions we created human rights for Asylum Seekers. Maybe your reading the papers for elderly right wingers like Daily Mail or Daily Express which peddle much nonsense.

Another thing a high baht surely must damage Thai exports? ( of course Tourism here is a form of exports like UK earns millions of £££ on fees from richer foreign students). I guess rich Thai owners get more revenue from high priced exports but also can purchase foreign assets at lower prices.

The strong baht is first,second & third reason for Thailand's tourist decline. How on earth do you maintain the Baht rate so high for ppl from developed advanced economies like UK. Recently as low as 41. Thailand is not an advanced economy but a strongly emerging and developing one. When Brits were buying up Thai property before and in early 2010s baht £ rate was circa 55.

The number one problem for Thailand is the strong baht. So despite border Wars, Trumps Tariffs, changing government's etc the £ falls and falls and I think it dropped below 42 baht to 41 last week. For Tourists thats not good nevermind ATM charges of over £5 a time etc. For younger tourists nevermind oldies etc Cambodia or Vietnam offers more value.

Not sure on that , each bit from whoever lifts the fares and the strong baht becomes an obstacle to some tourists young or old. Even in quiet months you dont get little change from. £700+ (indirect) on the main airlines. Some want to come twice a year etc. With rising cost of living in Europe/ UK its obviously cheaper to fly 3 or 4 hrs to Southern Sunny Europe like Spain, Greece etc.,

Can't believe there are anti vaxers here. Imagine your in a rural area you get Flu or Covid, you're a senior, you're lungs are seriously affected, you're gasping. Have they got good well experienced medics, have they got ventilators, good scanners? In these smaller hospitals? Elderly are vulnerable thats why better off nations give vaccinations.

Intelligent and educated and knowledgeable people like here in UK & Europe get a Flu jab and over 70s a Covid jab. The point is if you are medically vulnerable , over weight etc or elderly you are likely if unlucky to suffer from lung issues, you can deteriorate quickly and go down hill quick. Moreover if you're in a local hospital in a rural area its likely you would not get high medical expertise, resources etc Not having a vaccine in 2025 is so medieval.

Without doubt the high strength of the Baht is a factor. How can a country affected by Trump's high tarrifs have such a strong currency? Something does not seem logical. Inflation has affected many ppl in Europe, UK included. The fares are higher even if you come indirect. Back under Thaksin in the early 2000s it was far better as for example £ was getting 55 baht and middle aged/older farang bought property. Not now its far more challenging. Moreover the younger travellers keep favouring Vietnam for friendliness and likely costs.

Yes, Chang Mai has always been popular and busy with younger middle aged couples , younger tourists, students, gap year, better educated Scandinavian/EU tourists, etc - its obviously not for the older chaps of wild west Pattaya because Chang Mai offers something different and is closer to borders as often Western Pack backers are going further a field to neighbouring countries. Also of course last 5 weeks or so is European peak summer holidays for colleges and universities etc

Things we notice : An an everlasting strong baht meaning wars, Trump high tariffs, tourist numbers down, ever growing job lay offs, can happen but Thai Baht always remains strong. Why? 250 baht charge for all Tourists using ATMs Why is it up? Bank ATM, tourist currency rates, quite unfavourable for the pound, dollar etc.,

I will always remain confused by the strength of the Thai baht especially over last month when 1. Thailand was at war. 2. Trump's tariffs on Thai exports to US will deeply effect Thai economy & lead to layoffs. Also I think the charge at Thai ATMs of 250 baht on every withdrawal is very high, for Brits that £5.70 per visit at a baht £ rate below the real market one. This will dissuade use of banks & for larger transactions we will use Monzo or Starling bank fee free transactions in larger shops etc

A strong baht surely means its cheaper for elites to buy assets from other countries like NY or London , far east etc be it shares ( nice dividends), good property for long term investment. Its capital chasing more capital for better and future returns. The downside it effects exports and tourism as foreigners are getting smaller amounts for their currency.

There's no volatility when Brits only get 43.5 to pound and when most ATMs drop that further. Whatever happens in Thailand Brits get less. Of course Johnson / Farage Brexit took it down to 34bht but that's because Tories & BBC conspired to hide truth: Brexit was severe self harm to UK economy for decades ahead ...We still suffer Farage idiocy. You may ask why? Because UK pays more to trade in Single Market of 500 million Europeans from Norway down to Switzerland to Spain to Greece. In one research in 2023 UK is estimated 2nd most unequal society in Europe bar Bulgaria. That's the rich concentrated in SE vs regions to North etc

No matter what with low season looking really low and war issues the pound gets even less & less baht. Unbelievable. at 43.38. No wonder more empty beaches and quiet hotels.

Yes the Johnson Brexit effect. Hitting ourselves in the head. Its like Trump & Farage their far right economics never helps the working man.

Yes but UK lower income kids get more help. 1 Parents dont pay as much for the maintenance part because parents pay for that side & low incomes means state helps more. 2. Any low income kids can go university if reasonable A levels and pay back fees according to their future income 3. Agreed England has some of highest uni fees in the West as what Tories did in 2010

I believe the strong baht versus Farang currencies is the main reason why Tourism from such countries have declined. It sends flight prices high. It stops families coming and its noticeable that when I taught UK students they really liked Vietnam somewhat more saying friendly vibe. Under Thaksin in the early 2000s we got 55bht to £ and more of us came. And buying houses was better. Of course Brexit did not help as rest of world understood better than Brexiteers that the £ dropped as it affected our future trade, foreign investment into UK and the long term effects on our economy.

OK I see that part of the argument. In UK especially in nice areas you send kids to good 6th forms all free. Kids get A levels and then go to University and generally are made for life job wise as graduates. Yes as parents we have to help and help out money wise but again its relatively free. In my area in a commuter town 25 mins from Lodon 75 to 80% of kids go Uni. We have at least 6 great schools.

So why do you live here then ? Why wait till your old and miserable to move here. We know there are many risks. But you and I know there are tons of Farang who come to Thailand. I wish him well and yes Thailand with its high baht strength is not as appealing as it was under Thaksin when we got over 55 baht. Hua Hin was thriving in those days. But family place certainly without wild west of Pattaya or Phuket.

Its an interesting one. Its a big thing. There are language issues, there's healthcare, there's education. Hau Hin is relatively more expensive than many places. The baht is still too strong as reports say visitors are down. (How does Trump impse 37% tariffs but Baht strengthens???) Very challenging. Guess he has no Thai family to look after. Can ppl just come and stay? Guess you need some capital or savings.

The point is how these high 35% tariffs will impact the Thai working classes and the Thai economy and its exports. It will be massive and will effect many. Globalisation has been very good for South East Asian countries giving a higher standard of living for more folk.. With less exports to the USA and higher prices over there on Thai exports this will reduce demand for such things. The only possibility as some FT writers and others are suggesting is if Europe, Latin America, China, Asia and SE Asia can circumvent US Trump and increase their trades outside the US hegemon. A kind of substitute approach

Is it common for over 75's farangs to have swollen feet only in Thailand not UK. I did at Songkran when over & temps were very high. I got water tablets but they were not a great solution although the 3rd Pharmacist gave me some better ones to take. Likely I need to talk to my GP before coming over for several weeks next month etc.? My bedroom had no air con but very big fan. Thanks

One thing's for sure the damage Trump is doing to the world is massive. Globalisation raised all boats particularly for countries like Thailand with cheaper popular exports to USA and China. Thats falling now although I think its being hidden a bit. . Thailand is going to get poorer like most developing countries as World bank are predicting. When trade is reduced and exports prices rise ppl suffer. That's started. And 9 yrs ago the Brexit idiocy hit UK and now they are poorer as their trade, exports, inward investment, and growth has sunk. As always the very rich suffer far less than the average family who have less assets. It's happening already.

The moral of the story always let someone close to you ( son, daughter, family ) know where your going in Thailand. Most especially if you are new to Thailand, travelling alone,going to remoter parts. I think this applies, young or old. If it's a new online person you're meeting do so in a busy town or resort. Most Thais are great people but as everywhere large scale inequality makes life tough for some.

To lose your daughter in these tragic circumstances demands sympathy, empathy and support. Clearly the roots of this are criminals who sell harmful dangerousl drugs. Tourists need protecting wherever they are in Thailand & these deeply sad stories need police investigations, local solutions not finger pointing. I hope the mother can help stop these serious problems somehow.