bkk_bwana

On 12/8/2020 at 9:02 AM, IvorBiggun2 said:

No it won't if your pension is index linked.

Yes, it will. UK Pensions are paid in GBP, not Thai Baht. If the Pound goes down in value and you are living in Thailand, your spending power will drop.

This was a truly remarkable survey. It revealed the fact that people spend according tho their means. Amazing. I've never heard of that before.

Read the heading and the first line "The government has made improving the business environment in Thailand a key policy by setting a goal to raise the ranking of the ease of doing business to be among the top 20 countries in the world" 

They understand that things are not easy, they have come out and admitted it and have set a goal to improve it. All you guys do is continue complain about 49%, visas, work permits etc etc. That's what they are trying to improve. Why don't you say "that's a really good idea"?

Most of you complaining have never run a business in Thailand. Probably never even run a business anywhere else either.

On 11/16/2020 at 7:46 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

You miss the point, IMO. The hi speed railway isn't, IMO for the benefit of the Thai people, though they will be expected to pay for it.

If it was for the Thais, the first line would be to Chiang Mai IMO, and not to the Laos connection to China.

What's wrong with a railway that links China to Thailand? Do we NOT do business with them? If America or Europe were in the same geographical location as China, would it be OK then?

There is a lot of negativity about the Chinese and this railway. Anyone who has ever been to China and used their railway network knows that it is both excellent and extremely reliable. China knows how to build railways.

14 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

 

 

Do you need citizenship to get a Thai ID card ?

Yes. There's a whole thread on this in the forum.

On 11/9/2020 at 2:17 PM, Neeranam said:

I'm going there as soon as I get my Thai ID car this year! 

When you do get your Thai ID card it gets interesting. I received mine about a year ago. The technique I have developed involves immediately pulling the card out and showing it to whoever is on the door/booth, before you engage in conversation. This allows your fellow citizens not to lose face when they challenge you, as they inevitably will. 
 

23 hours ago, Maverell said:

Firstly, why is a tourism chief wearing a uniform,

All Thai government employees have uniforms. Typically they are worn on Mondays, special occasions and quite often for announcements.

On 10/26/2020 at 6:11 PM, Peter Denis said:

Yes, that's a very interesting one!  Once they open the land-borders with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar will Thai Embassies or border-immigration also insist on a 100.000 US $ health-insurance for those entering Thailand that way.  Making ASEAN-nationals exempt for that insurance requirement is an option, but that would rightfully be met with outrage as there is no rational argument to impose it only on non-Asean nationalities.

 

OK, so why do Thai people need compulsory insurance to visit Europe (Schengen visa) and Europe's neighbouring countries people do not?

There is a very comprehensive thread on PR in this forum that you can search for. Also http://thaicitizenship.com has some good up to date articles on PR.

17 hours ago, jerolamo said:

no, they didn't have to request an insurance when they come in EU (4 years ago, not, now i don't know).

But why not an obligation to get an insurance at reasonable price and from your own country ? But force to get one from the country you go is a mess and dangerous, it can not be acceptable.

It's been in place since 2010.  
 

Extract from “Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009”, which entered into force on April 5 of 2010:

“… Applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States.
The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen Area Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30,000”

22 hours ago, madmen said:

Why do so many TV posters assume everyone must live on the outskirts of Bangkok and must get cheap housing? 

There are plenty of expats who have money and want a lifestyle in the heart of the action . I've been lower suk 14 years and like my buddies here would never contemplate living on the outskirts of Bangkok especially with the overcrowded BTS system which are full of English teachers heading into Asoke Nana for happy hour ???? ????

You have hit an interesting point there @madmen. There is this assumption that everyone wants things 'cheap' in Thailand. This is especially true in the retiree community who want to stretch out their pensions or savings. There is so much online activity about retiring cheap in Thailand, especially on YouTube. Is it any wonder that retires get a bad image - and get to the back of the line to return to Thailand during this crisis? I don't think that the On Nut area is "outskirts of Bangkok" though. I'd call it East Central, and there are plenty of expensive properties that way too.

22 hours ago, madmen said:

Why do so many TV posters assume everyone must live on the outskirts of Bangkok and must get cheap housing? 

There are plenty of expats who have money and want a lifestyle in the heart of the action . I've been lower suk 14 years and like my buddies here would never contemplate living on the outskirts of Bangkok especially with the overcrowded BTS system which are full of English teachers heading into Asoke Nana for happy hour ???? ????

On 10/23/2020 at 3:45 PM, robsamui said:

The same way we're given the accurate figures for Thai road deaths??

 

You do hear about road deaths. All the time, on Thai news channels, newspapers, and on social media.

Good. All travelers should have health and accident insurance, no matter where they visit in the world. Thai people (not married to an EU citizens) traveling to Europe in a Schengen visa have required insurance for as long as I can remember. I have never heard anyone complain about that.

And?

OK, so he did not have a wonderful experience. However, he is back and should stop complaining. Suck it up. 

Finally. This is a start. Things have to start somewhere. Chinese tourists make sense because it is the #1 tourist group in terms of numbers, it is nearby with thousands of 737s lined up ready to go, and is low risk.

I fully expect to be shot down in flames.

 

14 hours ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

Would digital nomads pay tax... that depends on Thailand, but I expect it to be based on existing tax policy.  A person is resident if they live more than 180 days out of the year here, and Thailand taxes based on world-wide income..

Thailand taxes on income derived from business or employment carried out in Thailand, not world-wide income. If you earn abroad and it is remitted into Thailand then you liable to be taxed on this too. 

19 hours ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

Well then, it is lucky you are in a democratic country where the government listens to the wishes of it's people...

Does that relate to my question asking if digital nomads would pay tax?

On 10/15/2020 at 7:55 AM, bkkcanuck8 said:

That really is none of your business.  It is up to the issuers (the Thai people and their government) and the people they issue visas for.  

I am Thai. 

Don't underestimate the importance of domestic tourism right now. Domestic tourism is worth 1/3 of total tourism revenues. They do spend, quite a lot, but in different places and on different things. Domestic tourism is being promoted and encouraged. Those that go free to Nong Nuch will have to stay somewhere, they will have to eat too. Plus, they will stop at the side of the road on the way back home and spend a fortune on overpriced local delicacies as gifts for everyone they know back home.