The govt need higher numbers of low-spend tourists to meet it's revenue requirement. They could have pushed for lower numbers of high spenders but chose not to, sad to say.
Used not to be the case. In the old days people here with money kept a very low profile. Increasing Chinese influence changed all that, and showing off has become the norm.
Yes indeed. A Japanese friend told me recently he no longer wanted to holiday in Thailand because of the numbers of chinese to be found all over the country.
Never once used an agent in over 60 years of visiting, living, working and now in retirement in Thailand. However, as age catches up with me, I will likely need to do so at some stage. Currently 82 years old.