DonniePeverley

Fear of whom ? Whilst they kept neutral and allowed Russians to visit. I never quite understood why they then went overboard and gave them a 6 month visa (with an easy renew), when they didn't do that for any other nation. You were basically allowing mass settlement. Why ? Was someone benefitting from the steep rise in property prices in Phuket? Because the locals certainly were not and most have been driven out. And it is to locals who you answer to in the next election. Just some strange moves.

On course to smash 40 million visitors. It will be 50 million next year. Utterly horrific for anyone living here.

Who gave Russians a 6 MONTH VISA ?! And on top of that very easy to renew. What else did the expect the Russians to do to earn ? They knew these Russians were living here, and by all accounts now permanant immigrants. Why the hell was that allowed? Horrific

That makes no sense. Just use a calculator.

What is your motive behind this ?

Visa free access for Chinese. They're going to be moving here now in the millions. What happens when Russians go back ?

Horrific

Inflation incoming. An absurd policy.

Hmmmm ... crimes against tourists too, in tourist zones ?

Is Phili dangerous or what ?

Maybe reinstate visa fees for Chinese and Indians. That goes into billions.

Went a few weeks ago - Pattaya beach in the evening was awfully crowded, and very dirty - alot of litter around.

There needs to be an immediate return to a one month visa only policy for Russians. The 6 month nonsense has allowed them to live here.

Chinese tourism has resumed all around the world late 2023. There was no need to cancel the income from visa fees (which go into the billions), and the ensuing problems of visa waivers. Simply put they panicked for no reason at all. Once the covid situation resolved in China, outbound tourism were always going to resume. There is simply no evidence the stimulus had any effect. Otherwise why would the same volume of tourists be returning to Europe, America at the exact same time the tourist returned to Thailand ? Simply put ... where do you plug the hole that you have spent on wiping away the visa fees? Furthermore, you have now basically opened up the country to mass cheap tourism, instead of quality tourism (the exact type of tourism you strived not to repeat after covid). To repeat it for Indian tourists was simply scandalous. Naive to the chore to simply want MASS tourism. Eventually the local population won't like it. You see the signs now.

Most chinese go to South Korea for plastic surgery.

It's impossible.

Weed relaxation rules have come at the wrong time

What did they think would happen when they allowed Russians a 6 month visa. They weren't just going to sit in their rooms and play dominos. Clearly they don't want to be in Russia, and some will seek means of work/business. It's been clear for nearly a year they were buying businesses, and operating with free will. Sri Lanka recently had to stop their long visa for Russians as a result of the local population growing fed up. Now they've given Chinese the free visas to come and back and forth too. Same issue is going to start. The barriers Thailand had up to protect it's population (employment, rising rent prices from long stayers, etc) were just thrown away in a few days with some strange decisions.

If a Russian can kick a pregnant lady and get a 500 Baht fune - then nothing is going to happen to these Russians. Compare this to the Swiss guy treatment.

Kicking a pregnant lady and only getting a 500 Baht fine ?! There's a 'minority' of Russians who are just very annoying and have spoilt the great island of Phuket. It's been to clear to everyone they are working and buying up businesses for nearly a year now. It makes you question more the decision to give them 6 months visa.

I'm surprised he got a tuk Tuk driver to move his arse for more than 200 Baht. They are essentially floating around because tourists like to experience them - until they get the full whack of exhaust fumes in their face from the red diesel busses.

I agree with that too. But it's the same logic giving money to 'British' people who live abroad. Why does the UK allow dual nationality ? I have a baller uncle living in Canada - lived there for 40 years. Get's a pension in Canada , and unbelievably gets a pension from the UK too. He then comes back to the UK to get all his dentistry done too, because as he states 'he's still a british citizen too'. You also have guys in Pattaya, who have never been back to the UK for years, barely done any work in the UK, and are on pensions too, with the added security of returning home. They need to close dual citizenship, and stop being a british citizenship if you live more than 6 months outside the UK. Ridiculous THE WASTE.

No you haven't - they just tell you have made contributions. You still have dual citizenship too, something that should also be stopped. So you have that security of returning back home. If a Thai leaves the country they don't get a pension from the state.

Wasn't this one of the predicted worries of lifting visa free access to Chinese and allowing Russians to stay 6 months.

Is the scheme safe and sound surrounding inflation? The UK and USA suffered badly with inflation over the past few years - in 'part' due to some of the handouts during covid.