It's more than that. Retirees essentially are a mostly trouble free demographic. Being older, they're much, much less likely to be involved in mild or violent confrontations. For the same reason, they're less likely to be casualties of jet skies, motorcycles, or scooters. As they usually have an income of some sort, you'll not find them running online scams or frauds or stealing from people. And after years and years, here, they probably will not engage in stupid/dangerous arguments with immigration, police, or anyone else they've adjusted to. And I really don't want to hear about the medical costs they are said to incur. I, for one, have never been able to leave a hospital--and I've been in one for overnight stays and procedures about four or five times during my 12 years here, as well as visiting a physician every two months at least for an ongoing condition--without an escort to the payment window first or receiving a receipt for a transfer of funds. Frankly, it is encouraging to see Prayut respond to the news positively. He could have shrugged it off, not taken notice, or made a dig against retirees.