newnative

Anybody else's eyes glaze over while reading TAT's plans?

Good to know. If an agent can do that it would certainly be helpful for some.

I agree with #1, but with #2 and #3, why would your passport be more secure with an agent, especially since you are adding a third party? You, or the agent, mails the passport to the American Embassy. I don't see how the agency would be more secure with the mailing. With the return of your new passport, the Embassy mails it and you include a 100 baht bank draft with the application to handle the passport being mailed back to you--so, again, you have the possibility of lost mail whether you use an agent or do it yourself. My comments only apply to American passports--with other countries the agent may be able to hand deliver and pick up the passports. I just sent in my American passport for renewal and I had to pay for the new passport by using a government website. The application requires that I print out a confirmation email, that I received at my email address after payment, verifying that I have paid the fee. This printout needs to be included with the application--not sure how that would be handled with an agent.

One key question would be exactly when the order was given to abandon ship. I suspect the Admiral may be proven incorrect.

And, very well-deserved.

I admire him for at least recognizing the problem and attempting to do something but I doubt anything will come of it. Some time ago I think there was going to be a crackdown on the horrendously noisy motorcycles--so annoying even with closed windows. That went nowhere.

I certainly hope not--as there certainly will not be an 'upgrade' to Pattaya's infrastructure to handle the percentage of that many tourists choosing to visit Pattaya. Pattaya could barely handle the traffic with the 2022 tourist numbers.

Teach him a hard lesson.

Split the 100 million with the families of the dead servicemen, who died due to the incompetence of the Navy. Leave the cursed ship where it is.

Pattaya's roads and improvements to public transportation will likely not be ready.

Possibly true of other areas but, pre-covid, Pattaya had become busy year-round, with the large influx of Asian tourists who were traveling year-round, not just during the winter months. These numbers, from China, India, and the rest of Asia, dwarfed the numbers from Europe and North America. Also adding numbers, the increasing visitors from Bangkok on weekends, coming to their getaway condos. There was no longer a 'low season' and a 'high season'. Instead it was more 'busy season' and 'busier season'.

I agree. Thailand had around 11 million tourists in 2022. Pattaya seemed quite busy in the latter half of the year and there were lots of traffic jams. The road system as currently configured, with curb parking still offered on the major roads, just can no longer handle the increasing amount of traffic, especially on weekends when all the Bangkokians come to town. My partner and I have rearranged our routine to try not to be in the congested areas on weekends or when special events are going on but even during the week some areas are traffic-clogged. The city has been doing drainage work all over town and, while needed, adds no lanes and does nothing to alleviate the traffic jams. Pattaya remains with too few traffic lanes to handle the ever-increasing traffic as it continues to rapidly grow. Meanwhile, the clueless city added a parking lane to Beach Road, making that road even more traffic-clogged, with one fewer traffic lanes. Of the three underpasses planned for Sukhumvit Road, only one has been built. So, that's the situation at 11 million. What's it going to be at 20 million? Or if Thailand gets back to 40 million at some point?

And, plenty of land for all of that.

Total a-hole whether drunk or not.

I saw one of the surviving, horribly burned and scarred victims on tv the other day. No amount of money would compensate but it certainly should be more than this woefully inadequate, miserly amount.

Hopefully the two Ps and Anutin will all split the clueless vote and allow a Move Forward candidate with hopefully some new ideas and energy to win as PM. Is it too soon for the new mayor of Bangkok to run?

If you use 2019 tourist numbers and spending stats, he would not be far wrong.

Incorrect statement.

The majority of the Chinese visiting Thailand were not in tour groups in 2019.

I can't think of too many regular businesses on Beach Road that have closed but I'm sure there are some. Most, if not all, of the big hotels are open, D-Beach Hotel added a third highrise wing. A-01 Hotel has re-did it's beach frontage outdoor space. One of the beach-adjacent hotels has opened a roof top 2-tier restaurant/night spot called Virgin Pattaya. Beach Quarters restaurant opened by Amari. An old building on Beach Road near A-01 was torn down and a nice, new coffee shop has opened in the space.

This is a persistent myth that is false and with no basis in fact. In 2019, the majority of Chinese tourists were independent travelers and not in tour groups, budget or otherwise. Whether traveling independently or in a tour, they spent over 500 billion baht in Thailand, the most of any country, and most of that was not spent in 'chinese owned hotels, restaurants, and chinese owned shops'.

The majority of Chinese tourists in 2019 were independent travelers, not in tour groups. Whether traveling independently or in groups, they spent over 500 billion baht in Thailand--not exactly 'zero dollar'--and more than any other country.

Some of those tour groups may have been from Taiwan. My partner and I ran into several tour groups from Taiwan on our December trip to Europe.

I think those last two requirements involving the airlines are non-starters.

I think those last two requirements involving the airlines are non-starters.