peter48

Thailand is not Pattaya. Millions come here without going there. But it does indicate like Hua Hin there is a fall off of travellers but I expect BKK or ChangMai or Koh Sumui are still busy. The strong baht has not helped. Reducing Visa time in a new age of different types of travel, working, flexibility is so critical for an economy like Thailand and it should not put up more barriers. Look how Dubai took off. I know less about Portugal or Costa Rica but I bet their increased popularity for Europeans & others is based on a welcoming visa attitude for long stayers not a restrictive bureaucratic one.

The Midfle East situation by the way is not about wait a few weeks and see. Read the FT last week end and all top experts believe this is biggest upset since 1970s for oil and gas. Air tickets will rise exceeded high & already companies are cutting like BA flights to Asia via the Gulf. not now but into May, June etc. Prices are doubling to BKK or are being held back. And of course we are not even talking about all those tourists who will face high prices at home this year before they consider taking off on long haul flights. You sound harsh. Vietnam is a longer visa stay. People, young like gap year students, or mid lifers having a break or older travels may have more open plans and want to stay longer. Today ppl working on line can be anywhere. Why are you being so inflexible in your approach. This is not Europe or Trumps USA, its Thailand facing serious economic issues & highly dependent on tourists, travellers & new types of independent workers like Dubai or Portugal or Costa Rica. Thailand is at its best when its is flexible, open & progressive not restricted.

Reduce Visa length time. Sounds effective as Thai Tourist numbers seriously drop even before Trump's global turmoil & air travel impacts.seriously hit. tourism. Veitnam economically improves based on different approaches. Thailand faces serious debt issues for many people & its economy is challenged. But yes let's reduce visa length & make things harder for longer stays.

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.,

Yes makes you think: enjoy your life as much as possible as long as you can. Trouble is as you get into later 70s & 80s your health is less predictable, eyes, legs, mobility. Etc . Although I know a 100 yr lady who goes to philosophy classes & asks intelligent questions.

Really is there no hidden enjoyable bar off the beaten track less visible with lovely staff

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.

So whatever, he is rescued by fellow humans and let's rejoice at that. Have faith and belief for God's sake , he was only 19 yrs old not 69 yrs.

We rejoice at this good news anyone who has had a teenage child knows the agony they went through. God bless all concerned and the family.

Should they really be in jail for that? You would have to lock up half the rich of London or New York or any major capital city in the West. Yes its recreational and illegal but prison come on that should be for drug gangs, violence, robbery, attacks on ppl etc

Maybe but we all learn from experience where ever we are and we still do silly things when we are young or middle aged. In our day we used to drink more than Gen Z and alcohol is a major drug in excess. We look back on experiences and think would I do that again? Thailand gave us all different things opportunities some good some bad. I guess the young are lucky often getting a lot from travel, new relationships etc., If I was travelling around at 60 or 70+ I would know that for Thais money is everything because it is such a very unequal society so I would be aware of everything I did. Unlike UK or Europe thete is little or no welfare state and life can often be hard.

I hope they find him soon, for his mum and family we pray for a save return. 19yrs is not that old, likely & typically age you leave 6th form or college. God speed.

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.,

Its made worst in Thailand compared to Western nations: very high inequality, relative and absolute poverty, massive over borrowing for cars, houses, medical fees, etc by Thais is on large scale so they always need money especially the less well off country ladies. There is no welfare state or family support if woman left by Thai husband. The bars are full of girls for those reasons. Any younger chaps ( or older newbies) be aware when you buy land and property for Thai lady that's your money flowing into fixed Thai assets. Additionally you need to help with mortgage payments, medical events and monthly incomes for said lady. So what are the odds of living happy ever after and don't forget you have your own costs of living in UK, Europe or Australia etc. Its a one big long term gamble you take and really I don't think there's a simple answer. Thai Farang marital relationships rarely last for decades.

Humanity. Never heard of the Good Samaritan.

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