marcusarelus

20 hours ago, dcnx said:

You are obviously unable to see the larger picture and piece together what’s happening nationwide. Don’t worry, they will get to you soon enough.

Been here 20 years 3 coups.  You don't think I can see the big picture?  I mentioned it before - it has nothing to do with us.  Think a bit.  What would you do if the two countries with the largest populations in the world were coming into wealth that made it possible for them to retire in you country for less than they could stay home?  You'd up the bar so only the wealthy could come. 

38 minutes ago, atyclb said:

 

 

and i left 20% tip for drinks at a sports bar in bkk and server openly expressed her unhappiness while pointing to 100 baht bills in change she gave me.

 

fact is at a. thai pub or bar the staff would never dare do that nor the band request tips for doing what they are paid to do, play music.

 

they just dont get it

 

nor do they learn

 

 

 

and for those of you that are here for the girls, forget it, most are fat. even at gogo's hard to find a normal weight one.  used to be some friendly ones would take initiative and sit on your lap and that was ok but now it actually hurts and impedes your breathing.

I've got the name of a good optometrist it's close to the Oasis.  I took the photo down.  I forgot how you fellows respond.  Pearls to ....... and so on.

Just now, Lee65 said:

I have done my part for Thai tourism: advised friends in other countries that Thailand has become an awful place to visit.

I've told my family not to come.  Don't like the government. 

6 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

That calculation would be: foreigners can't own land here. The house is usually part of the chanote. So the comparison makes little sense.

The price of rent and the price of housing for expats depends on the price of construction as you very well know.  I didn't say anything about the price of land anyway.  Farang can own a house or condo so the comparison makes perfect sense.

4 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

You nailed the over count issue—thanks. Will ad that some expats ( like me) travel back to home country 3-4 times a year.  So TAT counts me as 3-4 tourists every year.  What a farce.

What does your country count when Thais fly to Thailand 3-4 times a year?  Do they count them as tourists?

1 minute ago, thenewgoo said:

From Chiang Mai I found flights to Vietnam were cheaper than to the Thai beaches. I thought it was low season? Hotels seem more expensive than ever.

Maybe in Vietnam but I found a ton of specials lasts weekend in Thailand while looking for family to visit.

11 minutes ago, pokerface1 said:

You got that right my Thai friends give me a shopping list of items that are cheaper in Aust. To bring back to Thailand. It appears that the only cheap things here is street food and Thai hand crafts, rent of course and beer. Forget the rest. 

House Australia 10 mil baht.  House Thailand 2 mil baht.  You only need one calculation.  Housing is always your largest budget item and always the one people avoid when trying to convince Thailand is expensive.  Fall back position is but but the craftsmanship .......... ha ha. 

2 minutes ago, Centra said:

Not for long.

 

How long? Thailand has problems but Vietnam's government!  Forget about it. 

2 minutes ago, uncleeagle said:

It was entirely legal, they were granted visas legally, they entered the country legally and they contributed hugely to the Thai economy without taking anything drom it. It is only the narrow minded idiocy of Thai immigration to randomly deem their behaviour somehow illegal. Instead of their mindless hostility in branding these people as criminals they should have been on their hands and knees begging them to keep on coming back.

You don't have the grasp of the situation that the Thai Immigration people do.  They do not want to become the retirement home for India and China as the middle classes in those two heavily populated countries get more money. 

1 minute ago, Grandisse said:

It is true, it is more the Euro being made deliberately weak than the Baht being strong - still, the exchange rate is horrible. And I suspect some Thai people, influencial people, are not so unhappy about it, since it makes their own foreign investments more profitable.

The reverse.  Rich people are hurt the most by the high baht because exports are down. 

Just now, generealty said:

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. Thailand will go down hill fast if they do not APPRECIATE tourists, as apposed to exploiting them.

They never did appreciate the tourists.  20 years ago same as today.  Less money less Brits.  Appreciation the same. 

1 minute ago, Thomas J said:

I can only comment based on casual observation.  I live in Pattaya and it appears the traffic at Jomtien Beach, the stores, and customers in restaurants is way down from two years ago.  I suspect something might have to do with the more expensive baht but I saw this trend starting before the baht's surge.  I am a retiree so I can only comment on that versus a tourist but if they are making things as difficult for the tourist as they are the retiree, it is no wonder that people are choosing someplace else to vacation to. 

They aren't.  They are only making things difficult for the person who lives here and pretends to be a tourist. 

2 minutes ago, Bigstef said:

No one mentioned Pattaya nice beach and clean ocean water,katoys aggressions,taxi with no meter,restaurants that overbilling,nice big green parks....and the kindness of Thai drivers when you cross the street ???? I've been to Pattaya one time and it was enough for me,but I can understand single men that are going but even if I was single I would go somewhere else.....

Go a little further South.  Pattaya is for tourists. 

4 minutes ago, rodknock said:

how about being overcharged!!!

try getting a taxi!!

ripped of by lady boys!!

yea, let's go and get ------

Ya a couple of times in Vietnam but not too much. 

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The T.A.T propaganda game of Pattaya as a "family friendly resort" finally came home to roost.

Everyone else saw it and reported it for what it was. Rip-off city with only bars & prostitutes... nothing for a family. Finally the high baht has tipped the balance. Tourist have got tired of the same old seedy resort where vendors just wanted you money and made no bones about showing it, from the sharks on the beach, to the restaurants upping prices, double pricing, taxi wars you name it killed it !

Vietnam has always been a good destination with much to offer, with a government that is pro-active in increasing tourism... not just putting a spin on it !

Have you ever lived in Vietnam and gotten a retirement visa and got married? 

1 minute ago, Grandisse said:

I love Thailand, I speak, read and write Thai, so I have a general positive attitude towards Thailand and the Thais.

 

That being said, it seems to me the Thai government and actually a lot of Thais get crazier every day. The exchange rate is horrible, prices are going up for everything, the tourism sector transformed into a quick buck artists scheme rather than being a service industry, visa & immigration lawmakers and executives have taken leave of their senses. And then they really wonder why tourism is going down, especially in light of available alternatives?  Well, what can I say ... the Thai way of thinking, never cease to amuse me ... 

Your currency is horrible not the exchange rate.  Where can you go and not get beaten down?  Turkey or Egypt I guess. 

5 minutes ago, Bastos60 said:

True, I used to buy all my brand clothes in Pattaya back in the day, now they are cheaper when I buy at home.

I buy mine at Uniglo, Thai baht my currency is doing well. 

12 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

Thai government officials really have only the foggiest notion why foreign tourists come to Thailand and will be equally puzzled when they stop coming. 

With 20 million Chinese coming here I think they have an idea - cheap vacation. 

6 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

It may not have changed for you- but it has changed for mostly everyone else.

 

Not many people will put 800K in a Thai Bank and then leave it there for 5 months so the bank can use it at their discretion and then leave 400K permanently .  The whole purpose of the money in the bank is to use if for one's living expenses not to enrich the banking industry.

 

Retirees want long term stability

Everyone I know did, years ago.  You mention retirees want long term stability - that equals money in the bank. 

Do retirees have money in the bank at home where they live?  Of course they do. So, when they move to Thailand they put a sizeable chunk of money in a dependable Thai bank.  Same as home because Thailand is now home. 

The whole purpose of money in the bank is stability and security and interest.  I get 2% same as I'd get at home.  I pay the bank a commission same as in America to keep my money safe. 

1 hour ago, Pete Webb said:

Clearly, people are leaving it (Thailand).

How many? 

12 minutes ago, Sticky Wicket said:

Well done !! Two graphs with absolutely no headings or titles. GENIUS work!!

Tourist arrivals Thailand to Vietnam Millions to thousands.  Go to the website on the bottom of the graph to see Vietnam is not even in the ballpark.