wensiensheng

I can quite see that 21 days would be the average stay for working people coming on an annual holiday. But what this ignores is the “snow birds” , typically retirees, who are looking to spend 2/3 months away from colder climes. These are usually a sought after demographic because they tend not to cause trouble and spend steady money over an extended period of time. I’m sure that the 60 day visa period is very attractive to them given that it is also possible to get an extension. Canadians flying to Florida and Cuba are a typical example. Scandinavians flying to Thailand are another. As are other Western residents who want to escape winter in their own country. One wonders why TAT doesn’t make a big thing about attracting this demographic?

If ASEAN now is this desperate for news, I stubbed my toe walking from the bedroom to the bathroom this morning.

Oh COME ON. Don’t let facts get in the way of making racist comments. Whatever next 🤦‍♂️

After filtering out any that aren’t 5 stars, how many are left? Even assuming 4 star hotels are considered good enough, do you really think it’s enough? I mean, Singapore hotels are choc a block on race week and the week before and there are a heck of a lot more hotels there than Burilam.

Exactly. Do the rich types want to rub shoulders in Monaco, or Burilam? Every F1 location has some kind of cache to it, even Detroit as the historic auto capital of the world. Burilam is hard to get to, doesn’t have enough hotel rooms and is altogether too down market. Seems clear to me it would have to be Bangkok or within an hours drive of it.

For the last 5 years or so F1 in Thailand has been reported as though it’s about to happen any day now. Even in this article it says F1 in Thailand is on the “brink”, but also says talks have just been “initiated “. In other words the process has just moved from only being talked about within Thailand and the minds of people here, to the initial discussion with F1 people. So the first step has been made after five years of jaw boning over nothing. Whether it comes to anything other than initial pleasantries, we will see. Thailand might be surprised at the incredible complexity that surrounds an F1 race, and the F1 people might be posturing as though they have an open mind simply to make sure Singapore knows that there is a competitor waiting in the wings if they don’t offer a good enough deal.

How do they know he is a “leading” British cannabis smuggler? Is there some kind of league table tracking these things? Sounds more like a newbie who thought he had stumbled on a sure fire supply of cheap cannabis that could be sold at a large mark up in Europe. I don’t think the big boys would have been so amateurish with their scheme. I mean, even the hotel staff noticed something odd and reported him!

He may have to watch over his shoulder though, if they really mafia connected, or even if they aren’t.

“In Phuket, licenses for 15 tour companies were cancelled due to violations. There was even an instance involving a Thai committee member appearing as an owner across five different company names, further highlighting the exploitation of business regulations.” Eh hem. How did they jump from this, to 60 days visa free being the cause? Is there any need for a discussion about Thai people exploiting business regulations?

I believe that the post was intended as irony, in so far as reducing the visa free period to 30 days would have had no effect whatsoever in respect to this, and most any other, tiff between a ladyboy and a tourist.

So I am a “bad apple” or want to illegally operate a business in Thailand. Why wouldn’t I apply for a visa and then get a one year extension on the grounds of retirement or being a student? Or if I want to avoid all the bothersome details, just pay a visa agent 35k baht to get one. i mean, the point I am making is that visas are easy to get. I don’t really see how they act as a deterrent or hurdle to bad guys at all.

It says in the article, and has been said many times times before, there is no new legislation, just a different interpretation of existing legislation

It says they sold the villa. They can own that. Perhaps you are referring to the land that the villa sits on and that they presumably leased for 30 years.

Is this a PR piece written by the Bangkok British Embassy?

I’m sure there will be lots of rules on that front. Just like you have to wear a helmet and have a licence to ride a motorbike. And be 16 years old. it’s never about the rules. It’s about the enforcement

“Such concerns underscore the need for clear, robust regulations to safeguard the integrity of Thailand’s financial landscape.” Absolutely. Thailand is great at writing screeds on clear and robust regulations. Don’t often see them in action though. But, never mind. Let’s do it anyway.

“As both local authorities and businessowners ponder over solutions, “ Earlier closing hours? Responsible bar owners who don’t let patrons get falling down drunk? Effective policing to eliminate prostitution? Effective policing of drunkenness laws and misdemeanors such as dine and dashing? Thought not. Bangla road is a self enforced and self regulated Wild West late at night. Get with the program or steer clear

I believe that it is illegal to smoke weed in public. Routinely ignored by all and sundry alike, to the extent that you don’t even know it’s illegal

Personally, I’d rather have both laws enforced. And actually, I’d have no problem with all laws being enforced uniformly and consistently nationally. I’d lose some personal freedoms, but maybe life would be safer for everybody

I think it has to be pointed out that the attackers have brought a court case, which I guess is their legal right. It hasn’t gone to court yet, so there is no miscarriage of justice. Reading about the evidence, it seems quite likely that the case will be dismissed and justice done. I mean, you only have to look at the USA to know that frivolous litigation is brought all the time in the hope of making a buck or getting out of trouble by filing a counter suit

The issue is the likelihood that middle class Thais will become poor Thai’s due to gambling losses. The average rural farmer already tend to lose their money playing cards or on illegal lotteries, so may not be affected by casinos. But middle class Thais will have another avenue to becoming poor.

Agree. What do people mired in debt due to gambling do? Turn to crime is often the answer.

Might be true, might not. But in reality it’s just an unsubstantiated rumour not backed up by fact

Not sure if you read the article or not. You know, the bit which describes what actually happened, rather than your surmising what didn’t happen.

Not sure why so much emphasis on it being Israelis. The dispute was between local ladies and wannabe ladies. Two tourists tried to help out and got clattered for their sins. it’s nice to try and help people, but the height of stupidity in Thailand. Not only are you likely to come off worst, but also you’ll be in a headline that implies blame on your part.