IamNoone88

There is no such thing as being "conned" into buying a land and house. Just plain stupidity.

Their numbers are way out. The industry was worth around $37 billion in 2022 and is set to grow to $80+ billion by 2030.

The best news all week - they are not coming!

If guilty, lock him up, throw away the key. I don't understand them, have no wish to understand them, much the same as I have no wish to understand all the gender nonsense the west seems to be distracted with.

Thai kids are tough. They shake it off. But in a country that has gone mad on health and safety I struggle to make sense of this. There is more to this.

1978 ......

why wasn't he in hospital? Don't tell me an ambulance strike or NHS strike or such like.

Not to ride a motorbike - you need the correct license. Yes, the hire companies are also at fault.

I surmise the insurance company refused to payout because she did not have either a Thai bike license or international bike license and therefore should not have been on it and was not covered. Tourists need to understand that hiring a bike without the proper credentials carries far more risk than a police fine. If you injure a local in an accident as well as yourself, then expect even larger financial implications. Ultimately, it is very simple - no license - no bike hire.

There will be a couple of fall guys, sacrificial lambs. These two, like Icarus, likely flew to close to the sun. The broader question ... just two? Unlikely.

Sounds like a manually collected tax upon arrival. That should do nothing to speed up the already embarressing delays at immigration arrivals.

I expect to read that Landy or Randy will have conveniently fled Thailand by the next press release.

Fifteen rental motorbikes were seized and legal action will be taken against motorbike rental operators for allowing drivers with no driving license to rent motorbikes. ....... At last they are going after the operators as well ... no license - no rent! Perfect.

Chinese occupants got out .... The cause of the fire is still under investigation .... I'll give you three guesses as to the cause ....

I hope he has good security.

The RTP will pull out all the stops to find this guy - I hope they are successful.

They do not need a shakedown for traffic violations in Phuket. The number reckless tourists on motorbikes without helmets and or a Thai motorbike license or International motorbike license presents easy bonafide revenue. Personally, when you see the dangerous driving by a large majority of these people I am thankful they get stopped.

If it is illegal, it is illegal until such a time as the law changes. You can't be half pregnant.

I wonder when the police will start enforcing the shisha laws on beach clubs and bars openly providing these services to tourists? Rhetorical question.

Just 200 tourists interviewed and I expect many of those were 'couples" so counted as two. A very small base. I have no complaints about BKK taxi's ... if no meter, I will get the next one. Always seem polite and courteous. If they want to gauge complaints go to Phuket - airport taxi rates, tuk tuks, jet ski's ... the list goes on and has been for years.

Quite useless and conflicting "advice"; 1. If they start talking about a fine, or a pay off, whatever the situation, just politely refuse saying that you’re waiting for an interpreter, consular official or tourist police. 2. ...be prepared to negotiate an on-the-spot fine and payment. Whatever the police want as a payment will be a lot less than the trouble you’ll have to go through if you choose to refuse their on-the-spot offer. If the Tourist Police, or a consular official, advise you to pay up, do so – they’ve been in these situations a hundred times before. Point 1; "whatever the situation" refuse. Point 2; Pay and shut up.

Crazy to let millions of Chinese in without a pre-covid check and double western vaccines .... how short peoples memories are ....

What is interesting is the reference to e-cigarettes which were found in her bag. E-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand as is vaping since 2014 - which I understand carries a THB 30,000 fine and up to 10 years in jail .... of course smoking pot is legal. An interesting news report here of a French woman who chose to go to court vs pay a THB 40k demand in Phuket in 2019; https://www.thephuketnews.com/frenchwoman-deported-for-vaping-70535.php She elected to go to court and was fined a small amount and then deported. Seems strange that Ms An claims all the fuss was about a valid visa shakedown and avoids the e-cigarettes discussion..... which she was let off with a warning. Vaping is bad for your health ..... and illegal.

I would not let my daughter travel there for fear of her safety and I would not go because I do not wish to support such a tainted economy until such a time it is clean.

A gun shop won't sell a firearm without the buyer having a license ... double standards?