newnative

Covid has messed things up the past few years, of course, but from 2015 to 2019, Western tourists to Thailand did not actually decline. Only two countries, of those that are tracked, had slightly declining numbers over those years, Australia and Singapore. The Western countries had mostly modest gains, with some bigger than others, but none declined. In this same time period, Asian visitor numbers exploded, perhaps giving the impression that Western numbers were declining then. Not actually the case. Last year, 'Europe' visitors were 2.5 million vs. 6.7 million in 2019. 'Americas', 607,000 vs. 1.6 million in 2019. All segments were still in decline when compared to 2019, with 'East Asia' having the steepest drop, 16.6 million in 2019, to 1.4 million in 2022. So, last year, there were actually more 'Europe' visitors than 'East Asia' visitors--which had huge numbers in 2019. It will be interesting to compare the 2023 numbers to both last year, and 2019, to see how things are improving--or not improving.

Talk about dragging your feet . . .

I am doing the same as the OP. I have the free Medicare and I have a hospitalization health insurance policy with April International. I pay out-of-pocket for routine care, check-ups, etc.

Yes.

If you are finding things boring, take a look in the mirror. That's where the problem lies. I'm never bored. This year, my spouse and I have been building a house from the ground up since February. It's about done. The project has been sometimes challenging, sometimes frustrating, but always interesting--and never boring. Just before the first of the year, we visited Spain and Portugal. This year we took trips to several of the islands, and also to Japan. At the end of the month we are going to China--for the third time. We love to travel and visit new places--it's never boring. Wnen I have some free time I like to catch up on my reading--love mystery and suspense novels--and all the wonderful tv programs and movies being produced these days, from all over the world. Love some of the Korean shows. Finally caught Belfast, which was terrific. If a show seems boring, it's easy to switch to something else--there's so much content available now. Also not boring, swimming usually every day in my pool, going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week, meeting up with friends for a dinner out somewhere, spending time in Bangkok about once a month, overseeing some of our investments, and keeping up with things, while sometimes commenting on them, on Asean Now. I don't know your age but, at 71, I count every day as a wonderful gift, to be enjoyed as much as I can, and not squandered. For me, 'most things'--and I'm the one controlling what those 'things' are, are not boring. If you are finding 'most things are boring', you need to change, and maybe add to, what your things are.

Maybe the fruit seller was banking on the 10,000 baht digital wallet.

Thailand news, Visa issues/changes, Health topics, Pattaya news/topics, Life in Thailand topics, ASEAN news, Real estate topics, Entertainment/cultural topics, World news, Money/investent topics.

Off topic, I know, but perhaps this can be squeezed in under just 'managing forum'. Having just cleared my 'Notifications', I'm wondering why it takes 3 clicks when it used to be just 1. First you click on 'delete notifications'. A box comes up, asking 'are you sure?', with 'no' already checked as the default. So, another click to move it to 'yes', which should be the default since you originally clicked on 'delete notifications, with the intention to delete them. Then, a final third click to 'confirm' your choice. In between all that, an ad will also pop up that also has to be clicked on to remove it. Maybe, if possible, change it back to the easy way it worked before--we're not dealing with some earthshaking, momentous decision here.

Not at the two projects that we owned at, while we were there. But, that was a number of years ago. I think the first project has gotten tougher; I don't know about the second one. The problem of illegal short-term renters can be a tough nut to crack. Luckily, there is new technology that can be utilized--if the project wants to make it more difficult to do these rentals. With some of the big, new projects, with sometimes 1000 units or more, and many of the smaller units the ideal size to use as a hotel room, you have the conflict between owners living in the project or doing long-term rentals vs. owners who bought single or, in some cases, multiple units to specifically do short-term. Like the Chnese man I mentioned in an earlier post. With his 30 or more units, he wants to do whatever he wants, and feels, since he owns so many units, he can. Management, meanwhile, may or may not want to get rid of the illegal rentals. In some cases, staff might be profiting from them by assisting with the rentals. There also could be the problem, with some of the big, newer projects, of being voted out of the management contract at the AGM by unhappy owners, doing the short-term rentals, banding together. They could also vote together to get one or more of them elected to the condo board.

Something like this was the case in another condo project my spouse and I owned at. It was a large, new project with 1200 units, some only 23 sqm. Ideal for short-term rentals. Almost immediately, the project was overrun with just that, visitors staying a few days. At the one of the first AGMs, some of the owners complained about the problem. Then, a Chinese man stood up and said, 'I pay 1 million baht a year in condo maintenance fees, so why can't I rent my rooms daily?' If you do the math, you'll see he owned a lot of units--a 23sqm unit would have had condo fees at that time of around 15,000 baht a year. Basically, he was running a boutique hotel out of the project. To answer his question, if you want to own a hotel as a business, build a hotel to do that. Don't use a residential project as your hotel. In both of the condo projects I mentioned, there was not enough vocal support at that time from residents to seriously crack down on the problem. I remember my spouse and I standing up at the AGM at the first project and trying to get attention on the problem. A few others spoke up as well, but not enough. We didn't get enough support from the other residents at the meeting. Some even said they thought owners could do what they wanted with their condos--perhaps they were also doing daily rentals. Management at both projects, caught between the two sides, promised action but did nothing at that time. However, that was a number of years ago. I think the attitude has shifted somewhat with resident owners now that they have seen the damage caused to their projects by the constant moving in and out churn, short-term renters not respecting the property or the facilities, and demanding hotel services from condo staff. Not to mention the atmosphere of a hotel, rather than a residence. I think it's important to try to keep the owners at the project aware of the problem and informed. At one of the projects, my spouse set up a Line group of owners to try to both keep the owners informed on things and to try to have more voices responding to a problem--I think that helps a lot, to get more owners involved, if possible. You might try something like that. It sounds like your project is moving in the right direction and I wish you luck.

Yes, I think these are the two best ways. Both, as you say, need to have limits as to how often they can be changed, with a steep charge, higher than the average room rate, in my opinion, to make more than 1 change per month. The person being added should need to be vouched for by the condo owner. The goal should be to make it not just too inconvenient but also too costly to do short-term rentals. It's encouraging that condo projects can change. We moved out of a project in Pattaya some years ago due to short-term renters. Recently, my spouse assisted with what the rental agent thought was a long-term rental client for a Bangkok friend who owns a rental condo at the project. The tenant started renting the room short-term, and, very quickly, management was aware of it and they contacted the Bangkok owner to both tell her to put a stop to it and, I believe, also fined her for the violation. That's quite a change from when we were there, with some front desk staff at that time assisting with the short-term rentals.

Yes, thanks!

As always, way too slow to do anything. As always just talk, talk, talk.

I remember a number of years ago Bangkok decided to enter its water in some international water tasting competition. Of course, universal derision of what was then ThaiVisa. However, it was explained, just as you have, that the water was actually very good, and safe to drink--at the source. But, once it traveled through who knows what sort of pipes, in who knows what condition, the safety of the water could no longer be vouched for. Not sure how they'll ever solve that problem.

Correct. I wasn't the first poster to ask you to provide statistics. That was vangrop: Come on man before spitting the usual BS, give us at least some stats to support your theory I was doing followup, asking how you were doing in finding those statistics vangrop asked for. Since it's obvious, except perhaps to you, that there are no such statistics to be found, I drew things to a close on that by letting you off the hook, although without running it by vangrop first. I think that sums it up, regarding your above post and, yes, let's end it at that.

Very poor article with questionable statistics given with absolutely no data to back up the statistics. Worse, none of the article was about 'family tourism rises'. Complete waste of time.

Wow! It 'appears to be' that someone is doing some fancy backpedalling! Nice try but it's not fooling anyone. Your meaning was quite clear. Of course, you didn't say you would find any statistics. Who would? It was me asking you to produce them. If an apology is in order, it would be from you, to the residents of Pattaya. There's the slander. In any case, I think my previous post covers all I want to say.

Well, in a later post I left you off the hook in locating those pesky statistics. It would have been a futile search, as there would be no statistics to support such a ridiculous claim. Also ridiculous, making your 'assumptions' in such a way as that--which you once again describe, hilariously, in your above post. I read the Bangkok Post now and then and it doesn't mention crime in Pattaya very often at all. Should I then make the 'assumption', pulling figures out of thin air like you, that crime in Pattaya is only, say, 1% of Thailand's crime, based on the Bangkok Post, and 99% happens elsewhere? Enjoy your day.

I think resorts like Centara in Wong Amat, Cape Dara, and Centre Point Space offer more than regular hotels and certainly do more than put a 'spare bed in a double room'. Centara, for example, right on the beach, has lots of water activities, including a wonderful 'lazy river'. Plus, a very nice gym, sauna, steam rooms, kids play room, several swimming pools, water slides, playground, spa, beautiful grounds, restaurants, etc., all on a large property with a jungle theme. I've focused on Centara because my spouse and I are there several times a week so we see the tourists enjoying the resort. Likely not for you but popular, especially with families, and much more than just a 'simple hotel'.

70 is the new 80. Get out there and live--and feel free to stop looking for those pesky statistics.

Thank you. Good to know. How are you doing with finding any statistics supporting your claim that Pattaya is responsible for 90% of the crime in Thailand? Any luck? Now that I've given it some more thought, I'm not even sure Pattaya could be found to be responsible for 90% of the crimes deemed newsworthy by Asean Now, let alone all of Thailand. Every now and then other cities slip in. But, happy to be corrected.

Quel surprise.

Actually, a lot of the list would appeal to adults. My spouse and I have enjoyed Sanctuary and Nong Nooch--we've been to both several times or more. We also liked Underwater World--I love aquariums. Terminal 21 is a fun place for all ages. Centara, Cape Dara, and Centre Point Space are all nice resorts to stay at, with or without kids. And, of course the ocean activities; we've had wonderful half-day boat trips with snorkeling in the morning followed by a delicious seafood lunch with lots of different selections, eating on the boat, before the fun boat ride back to the port in Sattahip. Also, overnight trips to nearby islands. I didn't mention it, but there are a number of nice golf courses for golfers.

Most of the above list you'd find in a lot of beach cities in America. Substitute crocodiles with alligators when you hit Florida. Apparently, none is attractive to you, but they are to lots of vacationers who find their way to tourist spots on the ocean every year. When you start forgetting what a big attraction the ocean can be to the many who don't live that close to an ocean, then, yes, perhaps, you have 'been here too long'.

Exactly the point I made in my earlier post, which, from your clueless post above, proves my point better than I ever could. What I said: As a big city, yes, there will be some crime. I feel safer here than I did in the large American town I lived in. As noted, a lot of the Pattaya crime seems to take place in the wee hours of the morning. Each incident, and I don't think there have been that many for a big city, seems to be played up by Asean Now as a big news event. Someone mugged and their cell phone stolen or gold chain snatched would likely not get even a mention by the news in any American city of similar size. Here, it's always the headline on AN, which leaves the false mpression that crime is a big problem in Pattaya. It's not. Forget Asean Now, give us the actual stats that back up your claim that 90% of Thailand's crime is in Pattaya, not false impressions from AN.