Jonathan Swift

I think there are many facets to this, as you say. I think they are using a very simplified logic in - the more people coming in and staying longer, the more tourist money, which is true on its face without looking at any down sides. It remains to be seen if crime rises as a result, when and if it does, there might be an about face, but if the advantage in more money coming in is sufficient, they might accept the risk. If there are 1 million tourists and 1000 undesirables now, and 5 million tourists under new rules, with 5000 undesirables, to them the math might make it worth it as to revenue, but we don't exactly know how much revenue that represents - perhaps they HAVE done the math. Remember how badly Thailand needs the revenue. This is merely my speculation, not presuming to know all the answers, been here on retirement 10 years and that is of no hassle to me at all. Pay 1900 baht once a year, 65,000 baht once a month in the bank, file 90 day TM47 online, they even remind you online for each of those, TM30s are automatically handled by room managers and tracked online, what's to complain about? If I want to travel to Laos or Cambodia I can do it as I see fit and not be forced to do it. All those elite VISAs seemed to make no sense to me, just a big waste of money.

I believe a few have already confirmed this - read on

Vientiane is still a nice place to visit, but yes, like I say someones, sometimes governments do sensible things. After all, as far as harmlessness, why should there be a necessity for border runs when everyone knows that so many do it repeatedly. Why not make it easier for people to come and stay here and spend their money on things other than "agents"?

One of my rules is, be mindful of your personal space at all times, especially when your wallet or money is out, even with your phone.

What are the police like in China? A communist totalitarian state. And you ask if Chinese are in fear of the police. Duh.

"overwhelming support they’ve received from their family, friends, and the New Zealand Government." Nothing about the widespread condemnation they deserved and got. They don't deserve anyone's support. What do you want to bet that they have a police record for the same thing in NZ?

Someone has grave misconceptions about the properties of reflective surfaces. A flat steel surface cannot focus sunlight in such a way as to cause a fire. If it were concave like the shape of a radar antenna or a satellite dish then yes, MAYBE.

Paint is not durable enough to with stand the expansion and contraction of metal with the range of temperatures, and would be unlikely to withstand the wear and tear of people sitting on it. The reason they used stainless steel is because it is durable in and of itself. and doesn't have to be painted to withstand weather. But anyone who has used tools in the sun knows that steel gets blistering hot unless you keep them shaded. Someone in the loop didn't understand basic physics.

He can't sue for libel or defamation, there is no liability for filming someone in public. If anything the guy should be arrested for disorderly conduct, or the Thai equivalent. . I don't know how you transfer money, but I use Wise to send money to Thailand and it usually comes in 12-24 hours, flat rate of $20, and they charge the actual exchange rate. I have an account at Kasikorn Bank, and their phone app lets me do international transfers back to the US, they convert it to dollars before it leaves, it shows up to my bank as a common ACH deposit with no fees on that end, and Kasikorn charges 250 baht. Thailand to the US in 12 hours. I send my income to Thailand once a month which covers me for my income requirements for my non O retirement visa, It appears once a month, and then it's back to me in 24 hours. Also, the phone is a machine and a tool, the problem is behavioral, the people who can't get their noses out of it and become addicted to it. It's like blaming the car for the accident. I use mine for phone calls, sometimes texts which include security codes that are necessary in today's world, I use it for shopping and other lists, it has photos of all my documents from drivers license to passport and bus/train/airline tickets, it's a guitar tuner, a flashlight, skype for free international phone calls, and a hundred other useful things. I'm sorry if you're having all this trouble in your old age, but old people always have a hard time keeping up with changes in the world. As to "normal", normal is not the things that once were, normal is in the now. It's as they say the new normal.

American here, yup. One of the reasons I moved here, too many entitled a$$h0Ies.

As far as I know per my experience with the 60 day tourist visa, it is treated no differently on arrival. You go through the line, they review everything, take your photo, stamp it, and you're on your way. The only difference is you get 60 days rather than 30. You can extend it once for another 30 days.

The percentage of "undesirables" will likely remain the same. So you're a little bit right, but mostly wrong. For every 1000 new arrivals there may be the same percentage, which is theoretically higher mathematically, but they will likely scrutinize these new categories more thoroughly, bringing that percentage down. Also, most undesirables won't qualify for these new visa categories - the bad apples primarily come on tourist visas, in which case the numbers will stay the same. Thailand desperately needs more income, and the bottom line is risk vs benefit. But yes, for a variety of reasons things like this tend to waffle back and forth.

It will have no effect on the criminal organization, they will find more people to do their dirty work. You can't prosecute the mafia.

Haven't heard that term since I was a kid in the 60s. haha

So that's your response to someone whose views are not the same as yours? You're right and everyone else is wrong or mentally ill? What does that say about you? You clearly overestimate your importance in the scheme of things.

hey Yingluck, if things don't work out come to the US, we need a presidential candidate who can actually do the job.

Guy can't take criticism, so he attacks his critic. Classic behavior of an immature person. Don't respond, he's just trying to goad you.

Import duty and taxes. End of story. Why do you have to have Heinz anyway?

Those prices wouldn't exist if people weren't willing to pay it. So someone's buying them.

Well that was an incredibly intelligent and educated statement. And well thought out. Are you a law school graduate and legal scholar? Truly a stable genius.

I had a case in Patong where we identified a thief and the police even had her ID and phone number from previous crimes, but they dropped it. So maybe it's 50/50

Sex change is in order as a treatment

"Once these tests, conducted in collaboration with AOT, are successful, the new gates will also cater to foreign travellers."

That's probably what will happen after serving jail time, then he will be forced to fight in Ukraine like other criminals.

There should be a sign on the beach: If you're going to walk on this beach make sure you have pepper spray and/or a dog bigger than Mr. Mario's.