wensiensheng

As you say, It was packed with family groups because Safari World is a family type tourist offering. The mass sexpat market won’t go there nor will the alcoholics. They are all in the go go’s and bars.

Said many times. The tourists that visit are a reflection of what is on offer. i’m in Danang for a short trip atm. It was an American R and R destination during the Vietnam war, as was Pattaya. The difference between the two now is that Danang does not have the sleaze trade that Pattaya does. The sleazy side of Thai tourism is on the Thais, not the tourists.

The fact that you say some business men favour the new arrivals because they can make more money from them, says it all really. Thailands problems often stem from the fact that Thais encourage bad behavior because they can make money from it.

At the traffic stop near me, on a daily basis farang are pulled over, helmet or no helmet. The police catch a lot of people who don’t have an actual motorbike licence. Of course, if no helmet then for sure a farang is stopped. Rarely do I see Thais pulled over although in low season it does happen occasionally. So, wear a helmet and have the right licence. Then when you are pulled over, and you will be pulled over, there is no fine imposed and you can go on your way. Of course, the alternative if you don’t have helmet or licence is to pay a fine and THEN go on your way. And THAT is the issue. The police shouldn’t let people they have just fined for no helmet and/or licence, just carry on riding just because they paid a fine. Make them walk and they won’t risk it again

“Perhaps a dedicated task force comprising tourist police and related authorities could manage the swell in tourist numbers," suggested Mr. Chaivit” Or, perhaps the police could consistently enforce Thailands laws on a day in, day out basis?

Cool, it’s so hard to buy a drink in Pattaya so this is obviously welcome. ” many of whom seek to immerse themselves fully in the local culture and entertainment.” By drinking alcohol 24/7/365?

He is very lucky. Not because of all the help he received and in not having his wallet stolen, but quite simply because he is still alive. if he has finally found his way to Koh Tao, I hope his luck stays with him and that he stays alive. Others haven’t been so lucky.

The rule is ridiculous because determined drinkers will be aware of it and circumvent by buying before the time starts, or by buying at a place that ignores the rule. Only occasional drinkers or people buying alcohol as part of a weekly shop, are caught out by it. So it should be scrapped as being not fit for purpose. Equally ridiculous however is the theory that tourism levels are effected by it. Most tourists will be unaware of it before coming, some will take delight in participating in Thai culture by avoiding alcohol on religious days, some will be annoyed they can’t get a drink the instant they want one, but won’t care once they work out where they can get one.

Don’t be silly, it’s the case world over that gambling is not about punters winning overall. The odd punter may win (for a while), in fact the industry wants SOME winners, because it attracts more losers. But overall, the math is set that punters lose overall. It’s how the industry makes money.

In another headline today, Thailand slipped to 107 on a worldwide corruption index. So how does that affect all the transparency noises mentioned in this article. And as for effective regulation, that is laughable in its face.

I can see the point of stricter visa rules for several of the countries that you list, but why Switzerland?

Thanks for that info. But I don’t believe Hua Hin is mentioned as being on the list of alternatives. It does seem that you have a chip on your shoulder about the place though

People who get stopped at the airport with a short overstay get charged 500 baht a day. Those who get scooped up in a prostitution raid get slammed into a detention centre. Not saying what happened in this case, but those are general facts.

Refusing to pay a bill at a girlie bar doesn’t usually end well

Pathetic isn’t it. Ok, I get that the overstay is just a quick way to take him into custody for the time being, so has to be mentioned, but clearly it is dwarfed by the crimes he is alleged to have committed in the USA. The main issue for Thai people is that an alleged foreign pedophile has been living in their midst. i also wonder what he did to be deemed “suspicious”, resulting in a tip off to the Thai police. If not for that, he would continue to live in Thailand under the noses of the local cops.

I actually wonder whether he is working for wages, or just messing about as a one off joke. I can’t see it being a long term occupation for a farang here

Singapore also has it. On the other hand, it’s clear what to do and how to do it. Most the posts I have read on this thread aren’t criticizing the existence of the system, merely its opaque requirements and introduction. Still, there is another two months for things to get sorted out, or delayed.

Other than his last port of call and the fact that he is dead, there are absolutely no details to this “story”. Sad that a young life has been lost.

Probably need to read the article to see the words Thai airline mentioned. They mean Thai airways

Ya think?

One good aspect of all the Russian mafia “tourists” is that the Thai taxi mafia now have some competition in the gang beat down stakes. Pass the popcorn and let the show roll on

Why? Is he a beautician?

The article states in her name. And she is entitled to keep it as a “gift”. The argument is over U.K. assets as far as I can make out. She wants a share of those too.

That particular hill doesn’t suffer from gridlock. Traffic flows in both directions until it hits the junctions at either end. But how or why anyone would be speeding is beyond me. It’s been well publicized previously by way of previous accidents, plus signage and loads of road paint. It’s pretty clear to anyone that it’s not a road to speed on. i do wonder how long it will take to replace the road metal railings and whether they will use the upgraded new style with yellow revolving buffer buoys, such as has been installed in a couple of other places in the island? Places where traffic is often at a standstill and where there is no risk of plunging down a ravine I might add.

That is for sure. My nephew died while on holiday overseas ( not Thailand) and the reporting of the incident by the UK press, Daily Mail included, bore no relation to the actual truth whatsoever.