kinyara

Only if you entered on a tourist visa, if a retiree with a Re-entry permit then no.

That's the issue, what would you put in its place that would prove more popular ? The only thing I can think of is to turn it into a food destination with perhaps some permanent music entertainment at the open bit at Bali Hai pier. It capitalises on the foot traffic heading to and from Koh Larn all day, at the moment the street is pretty much deserted during daytime hours spending wise.

Fairly simple really, It's based on visa type as recorded in immigration system on entry. I don't think such a large number is skewed by some outliers, they are all spending money here after all.

Since I follow the tourist related threads closely I remember you also calling last years TAT target of 10 million hilarious, with your own " not far off " prediction being only 6 million. Although not officially confirmed yet it is looking like the final total was around 11.5 million. What are you predicting this year Nostradamus, 10 million ?

It's Prayuth's hand-picked unelected Senators who ultimately decide who is PM, I think it's far more likely that the wily Chidchob proxy Anutin will emerge as the only acceptable head of a Pheu Thai coalition. In terms of greed and personal enrichment they are on a par if not surpass the Shin's.

The Thai tourism deniers had a nice little run, 3 years of a gift to point to every little negative aspect of the country they could dredge up. Thailand's finished, they won't be back, people will realise there are better places elsewhere, too expensive, air fares through the roof, global economic recession, blah, blah, blah. With the main tourist market now able to travel, fast forward to this time next year and the whingers will be complaining it's too busy. ????

One of the downsides of that area is it seems to attract dodgy wide-boys like the OP. The Norwegian property ponzi scheme in that area pumped advertising revenue into this forum for years, perhaps unsurprising so little has been reported on that. Buyer beware.

Why do Americans go abroad when they love talking about themselves and their country so much ? Wouldn't it be much more enjoyable for them to remain in their own patch of global paradise. Not a thread goes by on here without an American trying to relate it somehow to their home country. I haven't read a single comment, just the headline and comment count is enough for me. ????.

Totally agree, an utterly pointless exercise for the general public, not the public officials and their contracting families and mates, given so far they can't hold any of the Jomtien beach events there due to the fact that narrow traffic lane stretch and surrounds can't support the number of people seen in Pattaya for the fireworks, music etc. Obscene corruption, but the locals had a chance to vote for change and didn't take it so up to them I suppose.

Congratulations.

Get your life set up properly here and you can enjoy your years without being overly concerned about money and comparing it to western norms, one of the best things about living here. I look at the vested interest blogger posting his money obsessed videos on here and just think what a grovelling schill he is.

Have any of you commenting regards Pattaya actually renewed your driving licence recently, to give us a feel for the current process ? I'd like to hear your personal experiences to assess the worth of using an agent. A friend who did so a few months ago explained what he got for his money, and even though I am someone who has done everything official myself here over the years and is dead against paying agents for anything , I'm actually contemplating it when mine is due. As I can't remember the exact details I don't want to post innacurate information, but I am sure it requires 2 visits now as opposed to one when I last renewed and with the particular agent it is a door to door service, which I'd value for a stress free experience given the motorway network has changed so much in the last 5 years. My thinking is also influenced by the fact it's a 1 in 5 year agent fee as opposed to an annual immigration type agent fee.

Yes but I don't see why you make a jump to your assertion that someone who has decided it is for them is somehow trying to influence other people just by relaying their practical knowledge and experience.

And yet here you are.

I'm far more interested in reading posts from people who have personal experience of a topic being discussed than those that haven't. It's like the guys from other parts of the country who feel a desperate need to comment negatively on all things Pattaya when they have no current relevant experience living in the city, utterly pointless.

Easily, 84% arrived by air back in 2019 which was an average of just under 92,000 a day. ( approximately 30,000 Chinese a day were in those numbers. ). It's very early days airport capacity wise with their 2023 forecast.

1,748,366 in November, just over 58,000 a day. December was higher although exact figure not confirmed yet.

I think you're asking the wrong people, get the vibe we're more of a Bamboo Bar ageing groover demographic than the Hip-Hop club homies of Walking Street.

Pattaya's mayor who appears to be making the decision was voted in by an election held in May this year.

I'm not in a position to or intending to do it, but what are the significant benefits to citizenship here ? I understand security of stay but is there anything else, I haven't found life too challenging here on non-immigrant status.

I've got a friend who used the agent route because he couldn't meet the requirements, when he came into some money and was able to it was just a case of paying a one-off fee, something like 10k, to get on the straight and narrow so not always a dead end.

One thing that can't be faulted is your honesty and openness in relaying progress and the problems you've faced, can't have been easy especially against the usual chorus of negativity. Hopefully the New Year brings you better fortunes with the project.

Maybe I got lucky with Jomtien immigration office but my first 90 day report online after receiving my new passport was successful. I had done the transfer of stamps from old to new prior to submitting the report of course. Always worth trying it first to see if it rejects or accepts.

At 69 with a healthy monthly income I'd get about enjoying yourself rather than overly focussing on any worrisome issues. As the great Bob Marley sang - " Don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be alright ". In fact 3 little birds will probably pitch up at your doorstep regularly if they hear you've got 6k a month.

It's a worrying thought we could only have 4 more years of your uplifting posts. ????