Karma80

Spot on. That said, at least there is solid investment. Unlike Thai property which just goes sideways.

LOL he died of "stress"? Welcome to Thailand 2023, where the BiB know they don't even have to bother with a good story.

Make ED visas a max of 6 months unless you're enrolling in an accredited university. Suddenly nobody will be very interested in pretending to learn Thai and the Russian population suddenly declines.

Prices are going up because someone sees the opportunity to make money. And most people will nod and say - oh yeah, the war, inflation and stuff. A reality check - corporate profits are the leading cause of inflation globally, including the profitability of quasi-state operations.

I'm just glad there's no prostitution. Can you imagine the harm to the image that draws all the targeted high-end wealthy tourists?

Stay classy, Thailand. The uncontrolled weed shops outnumbering 7-11 is a great look...

This is how Phuket tourism looks with the top five arrival nations.

Safe? Ha. I was in Chalong Villa Market a couple of days ago when a Russian swaggering around ended up in a bloody fistfight with an Eastern European. Trashed the shelves and sent the staff screaming before the blood started flying. Took over 30 minutes for the cops and ambulance to turn up. The hospital is literally over the road from the supermarket and Chalong police box 5 mins slow walk. Welcome to Phuket.

I'm not entirely certain why the Chinese are making all the headlines. Come to Phuket and have a go at the Russians working without a work permit. Share the love.

I live in Phuket, and seen a noticeable drop in people and traffic. I think the surge post covid is done and now you see the reality of high travel costs and economic wariness start to bite. That at the air Is crap, weather is hot and Phuket is boring compared to the other possible destinations for Chinese, like Japan.

Wonderful. Now we should expect prohibition type raids on entertainment venues with visas and drug tests. Meanwhile, you can buy the drugs next door or at any of the weed stores that outnumber 7-11's. Or perhaps one of the girls who you have been buying drinks for all night, who are definately "not" prostitutes, could vouch for you. I'm also sure it's just coincidence that only East Asians were targeted. Ah Amazing Thailand. Fun fact thought. Koreans who smoke cannabis or use drugs illegal in Korea, but legal in the country they actually partake, can be sentenced for up to 5 years in prison on their return to Korea.

SE Asia. Where human rights and democracy go to die.

I'm probably down for wearing a mask again. Not for this, but just the cancer giving joys of the PM2.5 cloud.

In my job, when I offer up estimates and forecasts I'm asked to demonstrate how I got to that. I don't think my CEO would be too impressed if I whipped out a strawberry fanta bottle and spun it with some numbered amulets. TAT - the best job in the world where you are paid to be ridiculous.

High flight costs are here to stay for the next couple of years. It costs a lot to bring planes out of hibernation, rehire staff in a competitive labour environment, amongst the many other post covid issues. Perhaps more importantly - roar back with those best ever corporate profits year after year! .

Got to have something to distract from the PM2.5 blanketing the entire country causing respiratory issues I guess.

I live in Phuket and can say there are plenty. Of course, in the major tourist areas you are going to see tourists, but look to the more residential parts and sometimes you think you've landed in PhuketGrad.

Russians overstaying visa's and working without a work permit? Nobody could have ever seen that coming, surely ???? I wonder if the Russian representative turned up, as they weren't listed as present in the meeting. Or if it was like some UN gaslighting session.

But let's double the tourists. Truly this man is a space time wizard. But if you could maybe just give it go with about 50% of the Russians, that would be a good start.

The problem with it is the design. Because the work from Thailand remote criteria is so badly drawn up and ignores modern cross-border employment standards, you're effectively left with retirement and straight-out buy property investors in the main. So it actively encourages that, rather than people who would make their homes whilst working here.

What you mean that demand is softening after the high season ends? Who would have thought! But the Russians are well and truly everywhere in Phuket and the enterprising sign writers are starting to churn out things in Russian is seems. I applaud my Ukrainian neighbour who has made them feel at home with Ukrainian flag draped over the balcony.

I took professional expat tax accountant advice, and agree that people are seeing what they want, rather than an unpleasant reality. I would be performing work in Thailand, albeit for an overseas company. The LTR personally allows for a tax exemption, but in no way addresses the broader issue of creating a PE, which may or may not be captured conclusively under the relevant DTA. The Thailand Revenue Department has not issued any regulations and exemptions from taxation for foreign employers with staff working in Thailand under a work-from-Thailand professional visa. The visa in relation to remote workers can leave people and their employers in a very precarious position and ill-thought-out. I think it wildly misses the mark. A person capable of remote work and already outside their employer's home economy is likely already a contractor through their own corporate entity to facilitate cross-border employment, and unable to meet the financial requirements of the LTR It would only be a very unique subset of people that could avail themselves of this visa without significant tax risk to the company or themselves. And I, for one, have no intention of being that crash test dummy.

Yes, but how many of these are just existing retirement visas converted? Seems to make up most of this thread contribution. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's not really much benefit to the country.

I was saying to a friend only yesterday - Fark...I miss covid Phuket. I think we've been annexed by Russia.

Russians aside, beg-packing and begging by foreigners should not be allowed and they should be banned from entering the country again.