biggles45

It's just a guess. So to meet their high target all they have to do is 'guess' that the average spend rose. Easy. Pluck a target out of the air and adjust your guesses to meet it... and get paid for it!

The TAT tourist spending figures seem 'flexible' to me. Visited 4 times a year for ten years, NEVER asked for or provided data to a survey. I think they just pluck a figure from the air and It gets 'massaged' as it goes thru the bureaucratic layers.

Says it all really! Thainess at its best!

Philippines Options:- 1. Enter visa-free for 30 days, extend to total 59 days. Keep extending for a max of 36 months. Leave RP then return visa free entry and start again. No hassle from immigration for this. 2. Resident Retirement Visa. (SRRV) A bank term DEPOSIT needed, amount varies. USA service folk deposit only $1,500°. No reporting to an migration office, EVER. The PRA, a govt agency, issues a member card, valid 2 years. You show it entering and leaving country. Had my SRRV 14 years, never a problem. Never visited a immig office in that time. Google PRA Philippines SRRV for more

In the early days in England Dad was a coal miner. Mum rode a bike with me on the back a few km to local shops. Small village. Later, in OZ, they used public transport.

"Mostly on back-country roads. Rare on main roads." Really, Stand outside the school on Soi Arunothai at 4p when the BIB hold up traffic for the 2 and 3 up unhelmeted, unlicensed kids ride out. This school has 500+ kids

My parents never had a car or motorbike in their 40+ years of marriage. That includes 20+ years in OZ, where public transport is not great. Thais do it because there is no penalty, except perhaps dead children! A Thai neighbor told me that they wouldn't walk the 1.5km to school, justifying her letting under-age, unlicensed or insured children being on Pattaya roads.

It doesn't really matter. Both govt options seen intent, for some reason, to pursue this madness of illegal immigration. I would expect that under Labour, with their left-wing agenda, numbers will increase

Not from Labour who will do nothing to slow the fall of illegals into the country. Chicken and egg, no illegals the protests will fade away

What a great idea, tho I don't know how long he would last up there, it's pretty hot..... Oh, you meant create a face of him? No.

If he had been caught in Thailand he would have been able to pay off the right people and walk!

But isn't that what Democracy is about? Voters examine the available information, make an informed decision, and vote. Shooting a candidate, or encouraging someone to do it, is hardly part of that D process, surely.

Who are YOU going to believe, viral posts from people who are there, or visits from TAT employees!! They don't have a great record in counting.

Not sure I understand why 'the community is in shock'. The guy has always been a drunken, violent thug so they should have expected something bad to happen.

I remember 20 or so years ago it was a haven for youngsters seeking a relaxing 'medicinal' retreat. How times have changed.

I am retired in Philippines but spend 4-5 months a year in Thailand. A 60 day TV takes 2 business days to issue, so one night in Manila, not cheap, and a 250km round trip. This tourist is very pleased with the change.

I often think that many people involved in the initial process can foresee problems, but because of the 'loss of face' issue they are afraid to point out flaws in a superiors ideas

Yes, he was but the rhetoric that his election would 'be the death of democracy' and other over the top hyperbole only encouraged the attack. If you can believe that Trumps words led to Jan 6th then it shouldn't be too hard to see a connection here.

Perhaps you are misunderstanding the proposal? At the moment you can buy a condo and 100% own it. However, only a total of 49% of all the condos in the building can be foreign owned. It is proposed that the level be increased to 75%, making more condos (+26%) available for foreigner purchase. However, if you buy a unit in this 26% allocation you have no voting rights at all

'Cheek of these Thais, you would think they own the country!' Not all of it, especially public spaces where they just set up their, often illegal, businesses.

and stop talking about American politics in a topic about Thailand

I grew up in Qld in Australia, the place for skin cancers. Had lots removed over the years, mostly BCC but a few Squamous. No Melanoma fortuately. I now get them lasered at a clinic here in Angeles, done in the docs surgery, costs around 5-6000 pesos ($85-100) and takes around 15-20 mins

A close friends experience 12 months ago:- Now this relates to K Bank, South Pattaya Branch and it's manager, other banks may have a different result. Mate has lived in Pattaya 20+ years and goes home once a year to see family and get a medical checkup. He got stuck there with Covid and just as he was allowed to return had a mild stroke. Not able to travel anymore so can't return. He has a Retirement extension and 800k in Kbank. His son was coming for 20 days in January and he got a Power of Attorney, brought his dad's passport, his Thai will and bank book to the bank. Son was executor in the will. The bank manager could not have been more helpful. Gave him withdrawal forms to courier to his dad, said bring them in, signed and you can withdraw. And that's exactly what happened, 800k cash in his hand, he left the bank. The son had also arranged the sale of his dad's house thru an agent. This agent then sent the 800k to his dad's OZ bank account. When the sale happened 3 months later the agent sent the 2 million baht proceeds to the same account.

I grew up in 1960's Australia and one thing I did admire about Americans was their patriotism and how much they showed their love for their country. Sadly, that seems to have disappeared.

Ranked first, the world's richest monarch, is King Maha Vajiralongkorn from Thailand, with a net worth of $43 billion.