DonniePeverley

I thought he was going to solve everything on day 1 ?

When you have hardcore policing and no messing around - like you see in Dubai (try steal something there and the consequences are horrid), Singapore, Vietnam, China ... you will find even the most hardcore of idiot tourist will behave. You have soft policing in Thailand (we cannot upset tourist) which invariably leads to more crime. The safety aspect of Vietnam is why many (Chinese at least) are heading there. Along with the effects it's a new destination, improving infustruscture, and it has a history that is steeped in modern culture.

I wonder why Bendiorm Brits, draft dodging Russians, racist Aussies, and cheap Indians all behave in Vietnam ? You dare not mess with the police there.

The landscape in parts of Thailand is beautiful, and could possibily be fixed to cater to high end tourism. But nope, always the easy option. LET THE MASSES IN, LET THE CHEAP TOURISTS IN. This current regime has opened up the borders like never seen before.

They've opened the borders to cheap mass tourism by opening up their visa system. They then want quality tourists. Something is a miss there. If you want quality high spending tourists - go look at Barbados, Maldives, St Lucia, etc If you want cheap trash, high crime, visa free look at Thailand.

I did a thread on these similar goings on from Indian tourists .

If they are running out funds waiting for this visa, then it tells you all you need to know how wrong this visa is. It's not designed for backpackers - but is being abused by them (and criminals).

I've had this happen to me. What the hell is about ? After a few pints and a bloated stomach they come up to you and start pointing at your stomach. Honestly anywhere else and i would deck them. What is the bloody scam ?

True. As i said, most cities around the world have red light districts. My point is i have never seen open disgusting solicitation like this anywhere Even 2 years ago you could walk along Beach Road during the day and not see anything remotely sexual. Now, large groups of Indian men are on the prowl during the day. That's the point i am trying to make it has become so out of control, so in your face. If any guy on here thinks of approaching a prostitute, most educated decorum would be to try and be a tad discreet, quiet word with the lady, etc. If you saw little children and families walking past, you may keep it even more discreet. But the problem with this wave of Indian men is they simply do not care - it's a remarkable feature to have no shame at all.

You do hear this often from Thai women. Who do you despite most, they always say Indians. My local worker, his wife works in a legit massage shop, she's in her 50's. He hates the fact his wife has to massage Indian mens feet - he feels that is the ultimate shame in his eyes, to the point he despises his own wife for doing it.

I'll be honest i saw loads of Russian shops. Maps in Russian only. We approached a guide and she said she only catered to Russians. Russians signs. Maybe it was just a certain area, and definately not as bad as Phuket.

Was there 10 years ago, and the level was far above beyond what we see now. Problem is the good ones, the ones with ambition have headed abroad - and know they can make more money over in the middle east - albeit they may have to be shat on to earn it.

Of course red light area of Beach Road is the worst. It's always been seedy in the midnight hours. But last few years it's gone crazy ... even during day light hours. Scores and scores of indian on the prowl up and down. It's never been on this level before. And it's this level that is really disturbing to see. Seeing a prostitute get into a Grab with 5 indian men (no matter what race to be honest) - that is one of the worst sights on this planet. How vulnerable she has to be go through with that. And it's done out in the open.

With the vast number of Indian male visitors, comes with it new problems. It's really begin to bother me around Bangkok and Pattaya, how open and unashamed Indian men seem to be out solicitation of prostitutes. There is decorum, no attempt at being a little discreet, no soft tones. It's loud, in your face, no shame, and open. I have not seen this open level of disgusting solicitation anywhere else in the world. Regions of Thailand have always been this way, but the level of solicitation has increased ten fold over the past few years as Indian visitors have been let in visa free. Walking down Pattaya with my family (not even on Beach Road), around Jomtiem, walking around certain areas of Bangkok - you see alot of Indian men just openly soliciting. If families are around, children, smart people, they do not care. It's loud. They will often be in groups too, often haggling for a discount. You have a vulnerable Thai (or most likely now Burmese, Laos) lady having to take on 5 men as she needs the money. Her rationale will be 'i can take 5 men and take their 4000 baht, or wait for a couple of guys to give me 2000 baht'. Her logic will be to take indignity of going with 5 Indian men. Often, like a trading block, they will bargain with the large group to get a discount per man. The disgusting shame of being the 5th man in that group makes me want to vomit. This bartering, negotiations are loud, open, public and unashamed. No attempt at all to be discreet or have shame. No attempt to keep the sound down, or go stand in the corner. Nope, it's their loud in your face. Like a little child has walked into a toy shop and can't contain his excitement. It's as if the shame o'meter has left their soul when they reach Thailand. When our female work mates came to Pattaya, they could not wait to leave as Indian men simply viewed them as prostitutes. This can't be rite. You simply cannot go up to random women and assume they are prostitutes and begin to proposition them. I walk around with my partner, my children, and often it's absolutely horrid to see. I am by no means a prude. Every place in the world, be it the UK (Soho), Tokyo, Vegas, cities in Germany with legal red light districts, China all have their red light areas. It's a part of life. But i have not seen this open level of disgusting solicitation that we have seen in the past few years by Indian visitors. I love India by the way. I love the country. Many Sikh soldiers died fighting for the UK in world wars, but there is a certain amount of horrid visitors to Thailand. What do you all think? Can anything be done?

These interest groups ramp up the doom every low season. Then during peak season it will be back to 'record breaking numbers'. They have let in so many cheap awful tourists they will get high numbers. But revenue will be down. Culture will be destroyed as you let in so many undesirables. Remember Europe, UK, USA could easily smash billions of tourists every year if they had the same open door visa policy as Thailand - but they chose quality tourism over mass cheap tourism. No other country has adopted this ridiculous approach that Thailand has. Shameful that India doesn't even let Thai's enter their country without a soul destroying visa process.