wensiensheng

I don’t see why renewing his U.K. passport whilst in overstay is a big deal. The UK authorities don’t ask for evidence of his ability to stay in Thailand before renewing it. So they would just renew it, as they would for any British citizen. I can see the point of routinely checking for criminal convictions in the UK, but let’s face it, the guy has been in Thailand for 25 years so recent UK criminality is unlikely. more than likely he is someone who has just led a quiet life in Thailand without bothering anyone and so never needed to be bothered by officialdom

It’s the same with any subject you care to mention. All the laws and rules in the world are useless without enforcement and Thailands police enforcement of laws is haphazard at best, non existent at worst

Just as well since you just cancelled all tourist visas 😂

I don’t get it. If a visa free period is only 7 days, so what? The visas are handed automatically, assuming the applicant isn’t already blacklisted. So the visa period doesn’t make one whit of difference to whether the tourist coming in is a bad person or not. And the new online application requirement ( that isn’t a visa) requires the same information as a visa application. So the purpose of reducing the visa period is……what?

And yet the police find no evidence of prostitution in Pattaya…..

It’s interesting that there is nothing wrong with the system per se. The article talks of the system being maxed out and of unpaid license fees. So the issue is, as usual, one of maintenance. Whether it’s tsunami warning systems, speed cameras or immigration systems, they can all be installed and work correctly at first, but give it a few months or a year and gradually it all breaks down due to no maintenance being performed. Why? Well maintenance is low cost and low margin, therefore low opportunities to skim off the top. Big new installations to replace poorly maintained systems/equipment are a gravy train.

President? Of which country would he be President?

Billions. billions of baht is what they claim to be missing out on.

But will people having your “ drink in the afternoon” bring in the billions of baht which they project? I doubt it very much

Mass tourism is ok in and of itself. The issue is the readily available sex activities in Thailand which result in the mass tourism consisting of sexpats, rather than family groups. Eliminate what attracts these people and they won’t come!

Wasn’t really much of a relationship. In the good times she used to see him 3/4 times a year and didn’t seem that worried when she didn’t see him for 2 years. Sounds to me like the guy used to see her when he happened to be in Pattaya and maybe even didn’t know that he was “married”.

Unless it was a short term transaction and he only knew him biblically

Bangkok hospital, one of the most expensive hospital chains in Thailand and experts at finding a way to charge unnecessary exorbitant fees.

Maybe he doesn’t use prostitutes. Not everybody does

I’m not quite sure that I follow you, perhaps because I’m not on a bar stool. but a quick google shows that Danang was indeed a major R and R destination during the war, partly because of its location near China beach. Pattaya also an R and R destination at the time. Pattaya now, go go’s rampant prostitution, Danang none of it. Why? Yep, the Thai desire for quick bucks fulfilling the expats desire for quick…..

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.