DonniePeverley

European and Chinese tourists with money, families, don't want to go to places where there is crime galore, Bendirom Brits partying on drugs and full of violence, Russian draft dodgers looking for fights in Thailand but ironically not in Ukraine, Indians sleeping 12 to a room or on a beach, and viewing every woman as a prositute, scam artists everywhere, violence, drugs. The reputation of the country worldwide has been tarnished, and it's attracting cheap trash.

It's the DTV they need to address.

Welcome news. Sheer volume of horrific behaviour, illegal workers is out of control. Will it happen? Nope.

A digital nomad is a back packer with a laptop

Thailand is a developing country ... it's not a major superpower. Nearly every developing nation in the world reserves jobs for it's own population (eg India, China, etc). The minium wage for many Thai's is 400 Baht a day (of course many earn more). What jobs there are they must be protected for Thai's, so they can earn, and hopefully in time see an increase in their wages. If you simply allow foreigners to come and and steal their jobs, buy property on mass, push up rents, then the fragile eco system of a developing nation begins to crumble. These jobs must be protected. These tour guides are offering a load of nonsense, that most Thai's do daily, but they are clever at marketting it and charging massive inflated fees (and then not paying any tax on that income) - leaving Thailand the loser. No doubt there are back handers here involved as these guides are so blatant despite the warnings. The British, Russians, Isrealis are all at it. One female American on instagram is so blatant about it and says she is not worrried about any reporting.

Most of these are blatantly advertising this online. I'm shocked at how open it is. There needs to be an immediate return to 30 day visa, to reduce the volume of long stayers exploiting the system.

Completely agree. We walked around, and were faced with countless gigantic tour busses heading into tiny alleys. Absolute no control at all. I suppose i'll take it, over pen pushers who start banning things that make the city unique.

This. It's attracting an awful crowd.

Good on the bouncers for decking him.. Pattaya, and most of Thailand is slowly turning into a dogs breakfast ... Maguluf, Benidorm.... awful to see. This idiot would have not have behaved this way in Dubai, or Singapore. He feels embolded to do this in Thailand. Do we have a nationality yet ?

His hypocrisy on free speech is astonishing ... when you consider the curbs on free speech going on in America rite now.

Who on earth is the IMD World Competitiveness Centre ?

Yeah on the 26th December, you don't have countries like the UK, or USA able to report the financial outcome that quick after the Christmas rush. These are countries where most of the economy (not all) has shifted digitially, and they still cannot get that financial information out the next day (it usually takes months). In Japan it takes time for any financial reports for the whole country to hit when Golden week finishes. I can't ever recall America able to release financial details for the whole country the day after Thanksgiving for that holiday. THAILAND IS LEADING THE WORLD IN ACCOUNTING. THEY CAN EVEN GAGE HOW MUCH VENDORS, STREET FOOD VENDORS, MARKETS, MASSAGE PARLOURS, INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS, BARS, CLUBS, MECHANICS, ARE MAKING IN CASH because they are all friends.

Or .... Christmas could be everyday. And Songkran on the evenings everyday.

I've noticed there are some cool bars, but locals don't really enjoy foreigners going in them. You are made to feel welcome like you got covid when you walk in.

Finished the first episode of Mob Land .... not that great so far. Loved the 'Gentleman' which is from the same production team i believe. Pierce Brosnan is a top guy, but his acting is hammy and unwatchable at times with that accent. Will give it more time though.

Any cities you recommend ?

How do they gage such an accurate amount when it literally just finished a few days ago ? What mechanisms are they using? Tax recipets already? Spending? Are all vendors reporting to the government the day after songkran? Not doubting it was busy with cheap mass tourism, but where are they getting their figures from THAT QUICK ?

In my younger 20's ... i loved the buzz of these big cities. Would love the hussle bussle, good museums, and that chaos i loved. Not so much now. As time has gone on these cities now are starting to look the same - the same exact thing everywhere here in Asia.

Are the worst than the Benidorm Brits though ?

Unfortunately Thailand is heading the same way.

Wait ... Indians are exempt? WTF how did they come up with that logic with their 'wanting to be enviromentaly sustainable' excuse for the charge and to deter tourists ?

Why does Bali get such a bad rep? Is it full of Benidorm Brits and cheap australians ?

In what way ? Have you been ?

Imagine if Thailand did that. Would be a dream.

In Pattaya and with a Thai partner half his age? Of course mate.