newnative

Normal.  Beach communities need to protect their biggest asset--the beach.  

      My Will has my signature and the witness signatures on every page.  You can keep possession of your Will but make sure your Executor knows where it is.  My lawyer also retains a copy.  

   I totally blame the airlines.  With Economy configurations these days with such tight space, allowing the seats to recline more than just a little makes for a bad experience for the passenger behind the reclined seat.  You end up with endless arguments on whether you should ever recline your seat at all.  Airlines need to step in and change their seat reclinement so that it only reclines a few inches--that seems to be the best solution to a bad situation--brought on by the airlines themselves.

On 6/6/2024 at 3:21 PM, DonniePeverley said:

Thanks to Wilcop932 for this write up, brilliant said :

 

 

Thailand’s Tourism Rebound is a double-edged sword. Tourism is a major component of the Thai economy, contributing roughly 20% of GDP. However, COVID-19 dealt a devastating blow to the industry.

 

 

 

Prior to the pandemic, tourist arrivals in Thailand steadily increased. COVID-19 brought travel to a near standstill from 2020 to 2022, with 2021 seeing rock-bottom numbers.

 

Determined to revive this vital sector, Thai authorities have implemented measures to jumpstart tourism. 2023, the first "COVID-free" year, witnessed a remarkable turnaround: visitor numbers doubled from 11 million in 2022 to over 28 million.

 

 

 

However, a significant shift in tourist demographics occured in 2023. Over two-thirds (20 million) of visitors originated from Asia, followed by Europe (6 million), the Americas (1.3 million), and the Middle East/Africa (around 700,000). This contrasts with the pre-pandemic visitor base, which leaned more heavily towards Europe and China then taking 25%

 

 

 

This surge in Asian tourists reflects a change in travel preferences. Many new visitors flock to established tourist hotspots catering to their specific interests. Regular visitors to these areas may have noticed increased density in 2023, while those returning might have observed some "derelict" businesses as the industry recovered.

 

 

 

The future: - Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels and Beyond

 

Tourist arrivals in Thailand have been steadily climbing since the pandemic, with projections indicating a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels (30-35 million visitors) by the end of 2024.

 

 

 

The first quarter of 2024 alone saw 10 million visitors, a 44% year-on-year increase.

 

The government's relaxed entry requirements further fuel optimism. These relaxed regulations, coupled with a potential increase in visa-free entry from 57 to 93 countries, are predicted to sustain growth at pre-COVID rates or even surpass them. Notably, relaxed entry conditions for countries like Russia, China and India are already leading to a noticeable rise in visitors from those regions.

 

Airlines, with underutilized fleets post-pandemic, are well-positioned to handle the influx of tourists.

 

 

 

While the tourism rebound is positive news, there are concerns. The focus on sheer visitor numbers might overshadow the "quality of the product" and the environmental impact on Thailand's natural beauty – the very resources that attract tourists in the first place.

 

 

 

So, I think that although Thailand's tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable comeback, ensuring sustainable growth requires a balanced approach that prioritizes not just visitor numbers, but also the quality of the tourism experience and the preservation of Thailand's unique environment. It seems that the current government is not interested in this.

        The tourism figures you quote for 2023 do not show a 'significant shift' to Asian tourists in 2023 compared to the period before covid.  In 2019, pre-covid, the shift had already taken place.  'East Asia' tourists that year were 16,600,000.  'ASEAN' tourists were 10,600,000.  'Europe' was 6,700,000. 'South Asia' was 2,400,000.  'Americas' was 1,600,000.  

       If your 2023 tourist figures are correct, you have Asia at 20 million, Europe at 6 million, and Americas at 1.3 million.  Not much different than 2019, especially Europe and Americas, and certainly not a big shift from what was already happening pre-covid.

Well, duh

17 hours ago, Sheryl said:

OK I see. So it is April International out of France (same as I and several others have) but apparently an old type of policy from long ago hence the different name and different zone coding, and inability to add a deductible.

 

I definitely do not recommend a switch to April Thailand. Keep what you have. If you like coudl consult a broker about whether there is a way to shift to one of April's newer policies that do allow deductible. AOC brokers seem familiar with April. https://www.aoc-insurancebroker.com/

Thank you so much, Sheryl.  Good advice, as always!

    The right turn from the Motorway was STILL closed the other day--this after weeks and weeks of being closed.   Unbelievable it is taking so long at such a key intersection.

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

It sounds like you may have April UK policy?

 

April International (France), April Thailand, April UK --- all vpmpletely different.

 

Please check your policy documents. Who exactly is the contract with and who is listed as underwriter? 

     Thanks, Sheryl.  I had no idea there were different Aprils.  I checked my original policy documents and I have April International Expat, a subsidy of April International.  It seems to be run out of the AI Paris office, and my dealings have always been with the Paris office--and my billings always in Euros, with documents in French with English translations.

    I could not find any reference to an underwriter in any of my paperwork and it's been so long that I can't remember how I learned of, and got signed up with, AI Expat in the first place.  I used to have to fill out paper claim forms but now I have a phone app to use, Easy Claim.

    There are 3 zones with AI Expat.  A, the most expensive, covers the US, Switzerland, Japan and a few others.  B zone, a long list, is mostly other 1st world countries, including GB, Germany and a number of other European countries, plus others scattered around the world.  Zone C, the least expensive, is every country not covered in A or B, including Thailand.   

    I guess in a few months when I get my renewal notice I'll see if Thailand will be bumped up to Zone B.  Hopefully not.  I think in the meantime I will check with Paris to see if I can switch over to April Thailand, if it would be cheaper and with no wait periods.

19 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

It wasn't a good decision 

Now you have NO property to go back to ???

    Nonsense.  It's what works for the individual.  So what if he has 'NO property to go back to'.  Neither do I.  It's not like you lose your citizenship if you don't own a property in your native country.  Why keep a place--with all the expenses--if you are not there and have no intention of being there--or being an absentee landlord?  If I ever return to the US--doubtful--I'll just buy a property at that point.  

52 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Mirrors part of my like in the USA, aside from 1 employer, me-30+.   

 

Overpaid for my 1st house (from parents) after first divorcee @ 27 yrs old.   Big ol' 4 bedroom house, detached 2 car garage on double lot, which required a complete rehab.   In the process, turned it into a triplex.   With that minor investment & sweat equity, I also was off to the races, (for me, retire ASAP) and RE provided rent free housing, basically the whole time I lived in the USA onward, after 1st house.   Then it was the next house, then the next.   Same as in TH now, with 3 RE investments.  If something works, stick with it.

 

USA RE provide a small income, if any, since most went to paying down/off the mortgages in about 5 yrs.  Renter paying, and I got 3 free houses out of the deal.  Liquidated and rolled over into the stock market.   Making retirement easy & early.   Lots of work & time invested for ~5 yrs, then 10 yrs of fun, before coming to TH.   

 

The rest is history ... 

Thanks for sharing--so interesting to read!

     It's all up to the individual.  I retired at my regular job at a college library in my early 50s and then worked part-time at the same job until age 59.  Then it was off to the races to do something completely different--fixing up a condo, living in it for awhile, and then moving on to the next one.  Did that in the US, starting when I was still working at the college, and now here with my Thai spouse since 2010.  We've since moved on to houses in 2020 and are currently on our 4th one.   I'm 72 but I still like to keep active and engaged in what interests me--it's whatever works for you.

Yes, a man should know how to use a drill, and all the other basic tools.

15 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

And Trump was handed a booming economy by Obama, it took him no time at all to start dismantling it and borrowing money for tax cuts to the hyper wealthy.

 

    Yes, and the tax cut for the hyper wealthy was all he accomplished.  Everything else was just housekeeping--and bad housekeeping, at that.

Great.   More encouraging news.

     Hi, All.  I've been following this thread and I wonder if anyone has April Interntional insurance like mine, which seems to be somewhat different than what is being discussed--which I did not realize until I started reading this thread.  I have had April insurance since 2011 and my plan is Ambassade Essential.  

    When the thread started to discuss the change from Zone 3 to Zone 2, I decided to check what zone I was in, only to discover I am in Zone C.  Not a typo, a letter rather than a number.  At least not the Twilight Zone--yet. 

     With my plan, I am also unable to add a deductible, which I checked on in 2023 and got this response from April:

Dear sir,

If you choose to be covered ofr Essential Hospitalisation only 100%, your premium will be 1 492?,00 € / trimester.


We also remind you that you cannot select  a deductible on your contract as this is the Ambassade offer from the 3rd generation 2011. 

     I have no idea what exactly the '3rd generation 2011' is, nor exactly how it differs, but apparently that's my plan.  As you can see above, I was paying 1,492 Euros (disregard the question mark typo) a quarter or 5,968 Euros a year, about $6,487 a year, for 100% hospitalization in 2023.  This year, it's 1,666 Euros a quarter, or 6,664 Euros a year, about $7,243.

     I am 72 and male. When I signed up in 2011 my only health issue was elevated cholesterol and I have just had routine medical expenses since then.  No big health bills for anything.

    It looks like most of you have a much better April deal and plan.  At this point, at my age, and since I have been with April so long, I will likely bite the bullet and not try to change to something else.   I have not heard anything about any upcoming change of zones for my policy but my renewal is not until October.  
 

Encouraging.

8 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

With mine, they became suspicious because a British couple had just passed a few minutes ago, and they were triggered another british couple were also looking for a visa on arrival.

 

We got taken to further 'interogation' where she literally tried to tear my passport with a screwdiver, because she felt that we had a forged passport. I asked what made her think that, when we had nearly 40 stamps around the world, including USA arrivals. She didn't answer why she though that. At one point, i became so concerned she was going to rip my passport up with the screwdriver i was about to tell her to leave it. No trip to Disney was worth a damaged passport and would have left me in limbo to even get back to Thailand.

 

Eventually she gave up, then put me back in the queue. But she seemed very angry. I didn't quite work why she was so annoyed my passport was legit. 

 

But we did think this wasn't worth it 

      Interesting.  Thnks for sharing.

Darn, thought it might have been the Red Bull guy.

Can't they run his fingerprints to identify him?  I've lost count of how many times I've given mine going thru the airport.

Great, but let's get same-sex marriage already.  Taking forever.

     Like you, here 14 years, too.  Have experienced no crime here whatsoever.  In the US, my car was broken into and another time all 4 tires were stolen--and, no, it wasn't parked in a high-crime area.  I feel much safer here than the US.

On 6/2/2024 at 2:51 AM, DonniePeverley said:

 

Sounds interesting, but i can't be bothered to go to China again. Trying to get to Shanghai with a visa on arrival was soul destroying and they were determined to not let me in, to the point the immigration person was almost ripping my passport up in their belief it was a forged document. 

       I had a bad experience this past December, as well, and this was on my 3rd tourist trip to China--this time to the Hunan area.  I have a 10-year tourist visa but I was stopped at arrivals and taken out of the line and into an office where I was interviewed by two Immigration police.  They first pointed out that my 1-year China tourist visa had expired.  I then showed them the other page in my passport that had the 10-year unexpired visa. 

     This part of China apparently does not get many Americans and I rarely saw any westerners the whole trip--although it was off-season.  The officers were rather hostile and clearly didn't know what to do with me and they started asking all sorts of ridiculous questions, like what college did I go to and what did I major in.  Mind you, my college days were over 50 years ago!

      Finally, after about a half hour, they told me to get back in the Immigration line but when I got to the officer at the booth I was taken out of line once again and sent to another office, to talk to a more senior official.  There was also one other American that was having the same problem as me.  This official looked through my passport again for a long time, made a call to someone else, and finally stamped me in.  All in all it was somewhat scary as I was being treated like a criminal and I wasn't sure I would even be allowed in.  I like visiting China, there are lots of places still to see, but I didn't feel very welcomed this last trip.

22 hours ago, morrobay said:

No you or they about have that backwards : 2019 , 2 trillion baht/40 million foreigners=50,000 baht/foreigner. 2023, 1.3 trillion/28 million foreigners=46,428

 * Best to do two searches for each year : 1) total foreign revenue. 2) total foreign visitors

    I'll stick with the google figures I found.  But, even using yours, 46,400 vs. 50, 000 baht would not qualify to be called 'much less' spending by 2023 tourists vs. 2019 tourists.