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!

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.

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.

They probably deserve more... According to Section 8 of the Act on Certain Offences Against Air Navigation, smoking on a plane carries penalties of imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to 40,000 baht, or both. If we multiply this by 5, it equals 200,000 baht and 5 years in prison for each of the two siblings.

I simply wanted to point out the potential economic benefits of Thailand becoming a sought-after destination for LGBTQ+ weddings and honeymoons. It's not about being money-focused, but rather recognizing the economic advantages that can come from catering to diverse communities. Indeed, neighboring countries like Vietnam and Cambodia have discussed legalizing same-sex marriage, highlighting the importance of Thailand remaining competitive in attracting LGBTQ+ tourist dollars. That's why I emphasized as one pro point, the need for Thailand to consider passing such a law—to ensure it remains an appealing destination for LGBTQ+ travelers and maintains its position in the tourism market. This is simply about smart leadership and has nothing to do with being obsessed with money. I would agree with you in that Thailand has a good reputation as a welcoming and tolerant place for LGBTQ+ individuals as it is now, but if Thailand were to pass such a law, it would undoubtedly set a powerful example in Southeast Asia, showcasing its commitment to human equality, and solidifying its reputation as a leader in promoting diversity and acceptance. The decision to legalize same-sex marriage should indeed be applauded, as it signifies a step towards greater equality and inclusivity for all Thai citizens. Let's remain hopeful that the Senate will recognize the importance of this decision and not hinder progress towards a more equitable society.

This hits the nail on the head. The big players didn't anticipate this taking off so quickly and tapping into the main revenue stream. Feeling left behind, they now want their "fair" share of the profits from the business. They aim to backtrack the progress made, allowing them to regain control of the dispensaries or at least secure a significant stake in the "pie."

There is nothing like the feeling of pulling out the old pistol and aiming it at the foot. This mask move is bound to play right into the "hate foreigners" playbook. If this gains traction, it could easily spiral into a nightmare for everyone. It's time to wake up the boys at the top and urge action. Someone needs to be reassigned to a "quiet" posting in upper Thailand before this situation escalates further. Just say it was a misunderstanding, a language barrier problem; you know.

Individuals like this should be prohibited from traveling altogether. Their behavior tarnishes the reputation of all travelers. They go on the no-fly/no-travel ban.

I'm not sure where "sex tourists" came from in your interpretation of my statement. It would be beneficial if you could focus and read my words carefully. I specifically discussed a new demographic of tourists choosing Thailand for vacations and marriage ceremonies in a gay-friendly environment, ideal for honeymoons. My point was unrelated to any potential involvement in the sex trade.

Until same-sex marriage is officially announced as being legal in the Gazette, it is only an idea. Legalizing same-sex marriages should have happened 15-20 years ago; Thailand could have been benefiting all these years from the influx of money and set the standard as the preferred destination for the LGBTQ+ community in Southeast Asia. It's not too late to turn this around and capitalize on it before neighboring countries legalize same-sex marriages and start aggressively vying for the "Gay dollar."

It seems like a missed opportunity for the PM of Thailand not to target Western travelers, especially considering the current travel landscape. With fewer flights and soaring airfare tickets in the West due to the recent pandemic, there's a significant demand for alternative destinations like Thailand. Thai Airlines could potentially tap into this market by obtaining FAA certification, dropping prices, and offering direct flights from Canada and the US. By filling the gap left by Chinese flights to the West, Thailand could attract not only tourists but also travelers with more disposable income. While the average Russian citizen might not have as much spending power as Western tourists, focusing on attracting visitors from the West could provide a boost to Thailand's tourism industry. Ultimately, prioritizing economic opportunities over political considerations could benefit Thailand in the long run, especially in the current global travel climate.

In Thailand's current legal approach to addressing complaints or reviews, there's a risk of exacerbating damage to their image. Accepting the inevitability of dissenting opinions, especially in the evolving landscape of social media and communication channels, might be a more prudent strategy. Adapting to this reality seems more constructive than engaging in legal battles that could potentially draw negative attention, bad PR, or inadvertently amplify the spotlight on those seeking to criticize or attack.

Let's put the blame on road deaths where it belongs....IDIOTS and POOR ENFORCEMENT! A vehicle doesn't kill...The operator of the vehicle is to blame. Create and stick with stiff penalties for those who have bad behaviors. Don't let them buy their way out of it. Bad behavior is bad behavior whether straight, drunk, or high. Go after the individual; don't punish everyone for that idiot's actions. I'm afraid I have to disagree with placing the "blame" regarding road deaths on that green leafy stuff; I blame the idiot behind the wheel.

If Thailand bows to the CCP on censoring their news coverage then what's next? Maybe they will start demanding more control over the government's actions in other areas. It may be smart to tell the CCP to shove it. Look around at the countries that have gotten in bed with the CCP and see the skewed relationship they have. The CCP is the very definition of a bully and should be called out for it. Definition of a Bully: bul·ly /ˈbo͝olē/ noun A person who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable.

There must be a burning desire among some of the government officials to destroy the tourist economy. WHY pitch ideas like this at a time when the Thai government is trying to bring as many tourists to their shores as possible to boost the fragile economy? It seems like one hand doesn't know or care what the other hand is doing. They really need to have one central spokesperson to speak about public policy and that is only after it has been reviewed and approved by the chain of command. They really don't need any loose cannons making statements that pi$$es off the visitors thinking about coming.

Say it isn't so...he's friends with Pooh Bear too!?!? 555 Just Kidding....Everyone loves Pooh Bear....You know, A.A.Milne's Pooh Bear.

Phase 1: Airlines request volunteer passengers to weigh themselves and their luggage to gather average weight data. You know for weight distribution and fuel savings. Wink, Wink. If no real pushback from Passengers, Airlines will move on to the next phase. Phase 2: Airlines will demand passengers to weigh themselves and their luggage to gather average weight data. You know for weight distribution and fuel savings. Wink, Wink, and a Wei. Again, if no real pushback from Passengers, Airlines will move on to the next phase. Phase 3: Airlines will have a set weight limit for each passenger and their carry-ons, (weight limits will more than likely vary from airline to airline). An additional fee will be applied to passengers who exceed the limit. This is just another bad idea to float out there when every country's economy is in the toilet and desperately needs all the cash injection they can get! This is definitely not a positive PR move for tourism. I can see it now: Come enjoy what our beautiful country has to offer, but first, you need to step on these scales so we can extract more money out of your pockets and make you feel like s#&t and pi$$ you off. Welcome to our country! I would only hope there will be a LOT of passenger pushback to this sort of airline practice. Because, just like the seats, weight limits could be subject to smaller sizes/limits; in the end, everyone could be paying to collect weight information for weight distribution and fuel savings. Wink, Wink, and a happy Wei.

I hope they increase the police force and prepare for when the Russians start filtering in with this new 90-day visa. These folks are not the best-behaved group of denizens.

I am a pilot and have been flying since the early 70's so I do know a little about rules and responsibilities of the crewmembers and you are right they are there for the passenger's safety but they are also there to assist the passengers getting on and off the plane as well as if there is a beverage and/or food service, or assistance passengers to get settled in; the crew is there to assist and serve. I think possibly you are buying into the airline's new business model scheme. Which is: Everybody, shut your mouth, get aboard, sit down as quickly as possible, this cattle car is all about our profit's bottomline not for your comfort or your pleasure; you're lucky we let you fly with us. Airlines forget if it wasn't for the paying public they would not have an airline. As for the that cabin crew member you mentioned that made the smarta$$ remark, "Our job is to save your ass. Not kiss it.", needs to be fired or at the very least, retrained and disciplined. I don't know what really happened on this flight to cause such an issue, as the story here did not elaborate enough or give both sides of the story, but some folks do need a helping hand with the overhead luggage and THAT is the responsibility of the crew members to assist the passenger.

From the hospital suite, to a hotel suite, and then on to home. His health is to fragile to be left in a "prison". Nothing to see here...move along.

Ahhhhh.....The people have spoken and they have been heard....."Now go back to your daily lives and let us take care of Thailand for you as we know what's best." "Nothing to see here, move along." ~ New Ruling Class of the Empire