nigelforbes

Sorry, I couldn't resist......TOT is the phone company, TAT is the Tourist Authority of Thailand!. Exports have been down because China is Thailand's second biggest trading partner for exports and the country has been closed, other countries on ASEAN are less reliant on China. Cumulative tourist arrivals for 2022 are forecast to come in at 10 mill, 1.75 mill. arrived in November alone. Once again, China is Thailands biggest single tourist source so doubling the figures to 20 mill. in 2023 doesn't seem that much of a stretch, covid notwithstanding. Other exports may well be lower, much will depend on the demand from exporting countries and governments control of THB which looks set to grow stronger than is helpful.

I don't think the telephone company has a role to play in any of this....:)) There's a relationship between the number of arriving international tourists and the money they spend, and the value of other exports. A combination of 15 million tourists plus other exports of over USD 20 bill. per month will put the current account in surplus and cause THB to maintain its value or to strengthen. Add more tourists and substract some other exports, or visa versa and the impacts are the same.

Not so, read the link, you might be homeless and still eligible.

The subject of free NHS eligibility by Thai based UK expats who suddenly return to the UK for medical treatment, prompted me to dig out the UK Gov. Ordinary Resident tool which is linked below. There is no question that a UK citizen who returns to the UK for settled purposes, is eligible for free NHS treatment from day one. Questions arise however when expats return to the UK, solely to use free NHS services, without any intention of becoming ordinarily resident once again. When I looked into the issue a few years ago, I found that the NHS was paying far more attention to fraud and abuse of the system by non-residents and that specialist staff had been recruited to determine eligibility. One of the tools in use is the Ordinarily Resident test which is linked below. Looking at the questions that are asked, makes me wonder how some expats who think they are eligible to use the service free of charge, would fare. Some may find the questions interesting: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-for-nhs-to-recover-costs-of-care-from-visitors-and-migrants/settled-purpose-tool

I haven't checked anything else, I just wanted to verify that the number of arrivals at airports was possible, which it is. But the 2.38 trill. number looks off since Thai GDP is 16.4 trill. and international tourism is 8 or 9% of that. Who knows, the way the numbers get miscommunicated, passed along and misquoted, it's much like, "send three and fourpence we're going to a dance".

There is no restriction but they must show their passport.

Of course they haven't. The dude thinks this world is an all or nothing place.

Opticians/optometrists work in private practise and occasionally in eye glass chains (but rarely). Opthamologists work in hospitals.

Knowing how many OA visa's there are might help. Anyone?

You mean, drive like a local and follow everything the car in front does? No thanks, I'd rather use independent judgement and have a clear line of sight, as far as I possibly can. We drove down to Bangkok a couple of months ago and took a two lane interchange road that connects two motorways, the queue to get there was long and slow but only a single lane, the other lane was empty. Eventually I said, screw this and moved into the inside lane and went forward. We passed over 100 vehicles, all following each other unquestioningly, nobody was thinking, everyone was looking only at the car in front. Crazy.

Think, captive audience and low hanging fruit, that's what we are, I am at least. I spend 50k a month whilst Mrs Nigel does her own thing because she has her own business. So the GDP take from me personally is not that far removed from the average Thai at 40k that you mentioned, plus, I spend 125k per year on my insurance, which basically covers ingrown toenails, (left foot only). On top of which, the private hospital system gets the pleasure of my money from time to time. I can't see why Thai Gov. would want to give up that income and further stretch an already stretched health care system (which is only going to get worse, by virtue of an ageing population.

I agree completely, that would be the sensible and caring thing to do The only flaw in that approach is that it doesn't derive any income from foreigners, for the Thai insurance industry hence it doesn't increase GDP.....which is the main purpose of allowing foreigners here in the first place. Every aspect of allowing foreigners to remain here is intended to benefit the economy, no measure will ever be enacted that doesn't accomplish that. Even leaving the country means buying a re-entry permit.

Plus, AOT's six airports are not the only ones that serve international flights, several regional flights do also hence those passengers must be factored in. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airports_of_Thailand

Oh, OK, I'll do it then... Assuming 80% arrive by air at one of the 6 International Airports, that's is an average of 7733 at EACH ONE = 322 pax PER HOUR AT EVERY ONE FOR 24 hours EVERY DAY or roughly one aircraft. Possible? 322x24x6x365= 16,924.320 Possible? Yes, only half capacity.

During 2019, there was approximately 200,00 international flight arrivals at all airports here that disembarked 34,687, 259 passengers. https://investor.airportthai.co.th/transport.html

Yes they are wrong! You have assumed all the tourist revenue is from International tourism. All tourism accounts for a sum equal to 19% of GDP (pre-covid), of that, 11% was obtained from international and 8% from domestic.

Oh wait, requesting donations to the Neil Forbes Beer and Party Foundation is hardly begging, give freely, it's Xmas (PM for bank account details, Paypal accepted).

If it's small enough you may be able to get is sealed which is a good and cheaper option. I have used a windshield repair/replacement company just off Narawate in Chiang Mai, they are used by the major insurance companies and do good work. https://www.facebook.com/pslglass

I think the markets may surprise and I'm definitely not a contrarian..

I've driven here every day for the past 20 years, around 300,000 miles I guess. Driving here is very dangerous but less so if you know what to expect, which is anything and everything, all the time! When you think you've seen the height of stupidity, something else comes along that beats it. You have to eliminate any thought that the other driver would never do something like that or that a particular maneuver is complete and safe, until long after it's actually been completed. Pity the poor driver from the West who has driven without an accident for two decades or more, used to be a professional driver or holds an advanced drivers license because those things don't count for much here. Driving risk here is a mindset, you can never let your guard down or think it's safe or ok, never.

Any and all rent is taxable under the Thai tax code.

That is not a measure of <PM2.5, it looks like it might be PM10. A PM 2.5 reading of 35 would be very unhealthy, 50 would be dangerous. PM10 figures on the other hand tend to be higher. 80-120 is poor, more than 300 is extremely poor/dangerous. https://www.indoorairhygiene.org/pm2-5-explained/#:~:text=Most studies indicate PM2.,breathing issues such as asthma.

I've just read that the Baht is destined to be Asia's second best performing currency this year, behind SGD, Looking at the rates a moment ago, against GBP it's 40.71 and against USD it's 34.27. It might just be that the strength of the Baht is the thing that makes some people reconsider where they will live, sad but true.

Sorry, yes, you are absolutely correct, visa's cannot be extended, only extensions of stay can be. My poor use of terminology. "But I'm not sure what you mean by this, "The record that his original visa is a non O-A determines the requirements for his ongoing extensions". Once the visa has expired there should be no need to reference it ever again. Extensions are extensions and are based on whatever criteria the applicant requests, albeit the applicant must request a change of reason.......or am I missing something?

Yes, sort of. He doesn't actually have any visa any longer, just an extension. The underlying visa on which the extension is based, WAS an OA. I know this sounds like nit picking but it's this level of detail that many people don't understand, that causes the confusion.