waders123

After the big “C,” people were stir-crazy from lockdowns, and understandably, global travel skyrocketed. Many were escaping — often on borrowed money — after months of not working. That travel boom made governments like Thailand believe this tourist surge would continue long-term. But reality has hit. Travelers have become more cautious, choosing to stay closer to home and spend less abroad. That’s not being “less interested,” it’s being financially and mentally grounded again. Travelers are becoming more selective about where they choose to go. Thailand's push to promote more tourism is great in principle, but here’s some honest feedback on ways to improve the odds of bringing more tourists to the Land of Smiles: 🔹 Stop overcomplicating entry — Streamline visas and arrival processes. 🔹 Avoid fear-based tactics — Immigration raids and “scare press releases” about overstays sends the wrong message. Enforce laws quietly, effectively, and professionally. 🔹 Kill the "water-closet schemes" — Not every brainstorm needs to be a policy. Misinformation and red tape discourage visitors to Thailand. Tourists want a warm welcome, not warnings and crackdowns. They're on vacation! They don't want to deal with a hostile environment. Travelers are becoming more selective about where they choose to go. Thailand is an amazing place — let it shine by focusing on simplicity, hospitality, and clarity. These are some of the key factors that attract people — and keeps them coming back. 🌴🙏

Usually, the pit stop was in Taipei.

A direct flight from Seattle to Bangkok? That would be amazing—can’t wait to see it happen!

Moving toward a police state atmosphere—what could possibly go wrong with uploading raw public footage into an AI database? The constant buzz of drones overhead while trying to enjoy a peaceful holiday isn’t exactly inviting. Just what Thailand needs: another reason for travelers to consider neighboring countries where they can relax without feeling monitored or unwelcome.

From what I am getting out of the story, it appears she may have been acting as a "mule" for a drug trafficking operation—possibly manipulated through a romantic relationship or the promise of easy money. She seems like a young person who has a close family and an easy life before her travels, but was likely naïve and didn’t fully consider the potential consequences if things went wrong.

Isn’t the principle “innocent until proven guilty” still important? The details of the accident aren’t fully clear based on the information provided in the story. Let’s hold off on jumping to conclusions and allow the evidence to be presented before passing judgment.

On Monday, it snowed for the first time this fall in Southcentral Alaska. Do they declare it winter now, or should they wait for the official announcement out of Thailand? Will it be in the Gazette? I'm just asking for a friend. 🥴

What a colossal waste of time and money! This will only frustrate tourists and damage Thailand's reputation as a welcoming destination. It would be wiser to wait until the Thai economy recovers and operations are running smoothly before implementing such changes. These ill-conceived ideas should be put on hold until the situation stabilizes.

The ultimate goal of this scheme seems to be to transition everyone into a tax-based system, drain personal finances with variable/floating tax plans, and privatize the financial end of their Social Security system using insurance companies. This approach mirrors the U.S. healthcare model, where insurance companies have wildly profited while citizens struggle with inadequate coverage and significant out-of-pocket expenses. It's clear that this model is a failure and has impacted the American middle class the most. For the sake of Thailand's citizens, it's crucial that policymakers carefully consider the potential consequences of such a system and make informed decisions instead of making the insurance companies richer while their citizens become poorer. I wish the best for everyone.

Did the police track down the rest of the "group of friends" involved in "entertaining everyone" and charge them for breaking the law?

A Driver impeding an ambulance should be taken very seriously. Authorities should use the license plate to identify the driver and vehicle. The driver should be arrested and the vehicle impounded. A punishment suitable for such a crime would be a few years in jail, forfeiture of the vehicle, and a ten-year suspension of the driver's license with retraining to learn to drive. Such a punishment would send a clear message to others about the importance of yielding to emergency vehicles. If the driver could prove it wasn't them then whoever was driving receives the punishment, however, the vehicle is still forfeited. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

It's a real shame to see these beautiful villas demolished. Now that the money has been spent and the buildings are completed, it would be a waste to tear them down. Perhaps the villas could be repurposed into something useful, like housing for top government officials. 😋 Just kidding! That would be wrong.....or would it? Just a thought: Demolishing the villas without proper slope rehabilitation could indeed increase the risk of landslides, posing a danger to those living below.

Throw them into the jail system for the rest of their stay, then boot them out of the coutry with a ban from returning.

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot" a song called “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell comes to mind. Phuket won't be the simple paradise it was, once the "Tourist Money Machine" is completed. I feel fortunate to have had the chance to enjoy it in its past glory. Undoubtedly, there will be both pros and cons to the developments ahead.

And held his Tuk Tuk in impoundment for the 90-day suspension.