Visa-Free Entry Should End, Says Ex-PPRP Figure Over Phuket Issues

What nonsense, nobody's setting up companies and buying houses, etc, et on visa free entries.

They already have visas, the visa free entries are for the tourists.

So it would decimate tourism - people don't like applying for visas and tend to just fly somewhere else with less hassle.

Maybe that's what he wants, I have no idea who this guy is or what he represents, and I don't care.

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He rejected suggestions that ending visa-free entry would damage tourism, arguing that Thailand should focus on attracting quality tourists who visit and return home rather than individuals seeking opportunities for illegal business activities.

I call on him to test this for a year, with any differences between tourism earnings currently and those of the year of experiment paid out of his pocket.

Put the money where your mouth is, Sir.

Now where I totally disagree with him - there is TDAC. Which literally provides same required information as visa application does. It should be not done 3 days or less before the trip. It should be done at least 3 days before the trip and up to say 3 months before the trip. Or a year. Whatever. Just buy that extra S3 storage, you cheap Somchai!

With that information, an AI agent they are using now for nominee business flagging could run over the data and flag anyone determined to have dubious motives, and mark immigration record for further scrutiny. On auto-gates simply not opening the doors and directing that person to immigration counter, there showing alert (possibly with the remarks on what stood out) for immigration officer to question individual and decide if flagging was justified or not, and whether they should be let in or not.

This would be far more effective, far less intrusive, than going through visa applications, unless they were like ESTA, a 15 minutes background check for a few bucks.

And if the volume of requests overwhelms them - why does a separate record need to be made for every entry? If it's the same person and TDAC was anyway for checking person's background before entering the country, a single registration should suffice for a year or 2 years, and get updated if he or she does something stupid.

I agree that something needs to be done for the crime to be stamped out. But this is not due to visa policy. It's not even because of lack of laws and regulations. It is a direct result of lack of enforcement and wide spread corruption in the police and government agencies. Ever thought of addressing that one?

'less willing to accept bribes.' The root cause of Nominee Businesses. The practice has been in open view for all the 20+ years I have lived here. Thai agencies and kindly Immigration Officers have routinely facilitated this AND got rich doing it. Now suddenly it's the 'dirty farang's' fault.

Confiscation of property (who will benefit from the sale? Massive fines! Prison time. Average income is already down 2.5% in the last 2 years. Anutin's millions will ensure he does not suffer but the Thai-in-the-street/farm will.

The trickle of expats moving to Vietnam/elsewhere will become a flood yet Ex-pats is the Golden Goose that TAT should be encouraging/supporting. We spend millions annually; we put children (abandoned by their Thai fathers) through school/college. We still spend during the low season yet we are being blatantly discouraged by the Authorities.

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3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

instead called for the complete cancellation of visa-free entry. He argued that all visitors should go through embassy screening to identify criminal backgrounds before arrival.

Perfect idea💗💗💗.Keep the Riffraff out!

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He called for central police units to investigate local influence networks, protection rackets and links to foreign nominee businesses, claiming authorities already know who is involved and which foreign groups are connected.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He proposed using Phuket as a model for dealing with influential figures... According to Suradej, the presence of central investigators would make local police and officials more cautious and less willing to accept bribes.

Absolutely correct! And yet he somehow goes from a logical plan that correctly identifies the problem at hand, to this nonsense:

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He said reducing visa-free stays from 60 days to 30, 15 or even 10 days would not solve the problem and instead called for the complete cancellation of visa-free entry.

So if I follow this, the problem is corrupt local officials and "influential figures" (i.e., local mafia), but the solution is to destroy the tourism industry by severely inconveniencing the 99.99% of foreign visitors who have nothing to do with illegal businesses? Methinks the gentleman may wish to take a refresher course in logical reasoning.

And if he honestly believes that "embassy screening" is going to somehow "identify criminal backgrounds", he's severely mistaken about how the visa process works...and is also making a huge logical leap in assuming that someone running an unlicensed hotel or dive shop necessarily has a criminal record.

criminals with money don't follow the rules, they abuse DTV

nothing will change

blame the farang

not the own corrupted police, lawyers, land department, immigration with agents

7 minutes ago, Jimbolkb said:

criminals with money don't follow the rules, they abuse DTV

nothing will change

blame the farang

not the own corrupted police, lawyers, land department, immigration with agents

Personally I have no problem with them blaming foreigners for their issues , be it tourists or expats. despite being one myself. I find it quite refreshing to see that the Thai authorities don't indulge in the self flagellation that is now so common in western countries. Governments should look after their own peoples interests before foreigners

Quote "He argued that Thailand’s visa-free entry scheme is no longer necessary and creates security risks by allowing large numbers of visitors to enter without prior screening."

False, there can be prior screening if desired. As far as I know Most Air Passenger info is transmitted to the destination country once they have checked in and been counted on board the aircraft prior to departure to Thailand.

These digital manifests (API/APIS) send core info from the passport scan (Full legal name, Date of Birth, Gender, nationality, passport number, Passport country of issuance.

Interactive API systems transmit passenger data that is transmitted at check in. The destination country Immigration runs a basic background check on the info and issues a Board or Do Not Board directive message.

Your PNR Passenger Name Record with details like how your purchased the ticket (cash, credit), travel itinerary, baggage info, seat number, even special meal requests are all sent 24 to 72 hours prior to departure.

This is another case of use "Security Risk" to scare people into accepting and allowing you to do what you want

Yes.

Go for it.

If there is a chance of less people coming to Thailand.

i'm all for it.

"... Thailand should focus on attracting quality tourists..."

Thailand's preoccupation with quality tourists is as funny and delusional as Hyacinth Bucket!

1 hour ago, Jim Waldron said:

"... Thailand should focus on attracting quality tourists..."

Thailand's preoccupation with quality tourists is as funny and delusional as Hyacinth Bucket!

Yes.

Remember the call for well Heeled Middle Eastern tourists, a few years back

That went well.

On 19 June 2026, Suradej Yasawat said the reassignment of Phuket’s governor and two deputy governors was a response to symptoms rather than causes.

More likely, they were reassigned so they couldn't interfere with the investigations. Which makes sense, whether they're innocent or balls deep in the schemes.

There really is a lot of anti-foreigner and tourist sentiment these days here... but you can't have it both ways Thailand. You either put up with the tourists and take the dollars, or you clamp down into your nationalist wet dream and accept visitor numbers plummeting... this is 2026 and people have options despite your preferences. You have to make a choice but if you want the high rollers, then you need to seriously change things and the experience on every level, which I don't think you are prepared to do... join reality instead of living in fantasy land.

4 hours ago, J Branche said:

Quote "He argued that Thailand’s visa-free entry scheme is no longer necessary and creates security risks by allowing large numbers of visitors to enter without prior screening."

False, there can be prior screening if desired. As far as I know Most Air Passenger info is transmitted to the destination country once they have checked in and been counted on board the aircraft prior to departure to Thailand.

These digital manifests (API/APIS) send core info from the passport scan (Full legal name, Date of Birth, Gender, nationality, passport number, Passport country of issuance.

Interactive API systems transmit passenger data that is transmitted at check in. The destination country Immigration runs a basic background check on the info and issues a Board or Do Not Board directive message.

Your PNR Passenger Name Record with details like how your purchased the ticket (cash, credit), travel itinerary, baggage info, seat number, even special meal requests are all sent 24 to 72 hours prior to departure.

This is another case of use "Security Risk" to scare people into accepting and allowing you to do what you want

And what level of screening is possible when armed only with somebody's name and address? It may highlight a notorious international Terrorist that's all somebody who has misbehaved here before would already be on a blacllist ,

He si correct if he states that Thailand always response on symptons instead of the cause.. Corruption is huge in Thailand, but nobody really wants to tackle it or do something about it. Unfortunately for him don't do embassies a background check. If they did a lot of less criminals would enter Thailand. Ok maybe on a tourist visa but with strict rules and enforcing it, it would solve a lot of overstaying. TDAC, should be used to check if people indeed do as they have written down. But corruption, the greed for money of tourists, the lack of enforcing anything is making Thailand a country that seems to embrace unlawful practices. Chamber of commerce, RTP, immigration, and so on don't care about anything. Happily 90% or more of the tourists are normal good behaving people, but that is not what we hear about, only the few who think as they allowed to do everything are in the news. And never forget, that in almost all cases Thai people are involved too. Update laws that this can be prevented too

So, everyone has to obtain a visa. How to get less tourists? This sou ds like a great idea

11 hours ago, mikebell said:

'less willing to accept bribes.' The root cause of Nominee Businesses. The practice has been in open view for all the 20+ years I have lived here. Thai agencies and kindly Immigration Officers have routinely facilitated this AND got rich doing it. Now suddenly it's the 'dirty farang's' fault.

Confiscation of property (who will benefit from the sale? Massive fines! Prison time. Average income is already down 2.5% in the last 2 years. Anutin's millions will ensure he does not suffer but the Thai-in-the-street/farm will.

The trickle of expats moving to Vietnam/elsewhere will become a flood yet Ex-pats is the Golden Goose that TAT should be encouraging/supporting. We spend millions annually; we put children (abandoned by their Thai fathers) through school/college. We still spend during the low season yet we are being blatantly discouraged by the Authorities.

Not sure what you're on about?? how do you go from nominee ownership to own a house to a Thai famers will suffer?

Also, nobody is trying to chase expats out of Thailand.

You make it sound like expats are some kind of golden charity. Most of us came here for our own reasons ie work, retirement, lifestyle, family, etc not to save Thailand.

Sure, some people help local families, schools or charities but that's being part of the community, not being a savior.

I agree that nominee ownership has been going on for decades. When I first moved here, plenty of people told me it was normal and nothing to worry about. I still chose to buy a condo because I've never trusted the idea that a law can be ignored forever just because everyone does it and just because something has been tolerated for years doesn't make it legal.

Governments can decide to start enforcing existing laws at any time.

Same thing happened with illegal immigration in the US. Crossing the boarder without authorization was never legal. Millions did it and for years enforcement was inconsistent.

Then enforcement changed. The law didn't change, the enforcement did.

Nobody should be shocked that authorities are enforcing laws that have been on the books for years.

It's not like this is something new this has happened in the past, every few years they make noise about nominee ownership.

Typically a few weeks and then all is quite again. It will be interesting to see how long this will last.

Please raise retirement extension bank balance to 4 million baht too.

24 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Please raise retirement extension bank balance to 4 million baht too.

that would clean this forum up

21 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

And what level of screening is possible when armed only with somebody's name and address? It may highlight a notorious international Terrorist that's all somebody who has misbehaved here before would already be on a blacllist ,

Maybe you missed it.

"These digital manifests (API/APIS) send core info from the passport scan (Full legal name, Date of Birth, Gender, nationality, passport number, Passport country of issuance."

Additionally

"Your PNR Passenger Name Record with details like how your purchased the ticket (cash, credit), travel itinerary, baggage info, seat number, even special meal requests are all sent 24 to 72 hours prior to departure"

Actually they can gain a lot of info about a person from this info.

Why do you think people are frequently caught at the airport attempting to leave or enter the country.

Quote

"Thailand's Immigration Bureau denied entry to 29,490 foreign nationals during the first five months of 2026."

"This figure comes from the enforcement of the strict "Three No's" strategy (No Entry, No Stay, No Escape), a nationwide campaign targeting transnational crime, scam networks, and visa abuse. Under this initiative, Thai authorities utilize the Advance Passenger Processing System (APPS) to block suspicious travelers or those on the blacklist before they can board flights to Thailand."

20 hours ago, J Branche said:

Maybe you missed it.

"These digital manifests (API/APIS) send core info from the passport scan (Full legal name, Date of Birth, Gender, nationality, passport number, Passport country of issuance."

Additionally

"Your PNR Passenger Name Record with details like how your purchased the ticket (cash, credit), travel itinerary, baggage info, seat number, even special meal requests are all sent 24 to 72 hours prior to departure"

Actually they can gain a lot of info about a person from this info.

Why do you think people are frequently caught at the airport attempting to leave or enter the country.

Quote

"Thailand's Immigration Bureau denied entry to 29,490 foreign nationals during the first five months of 2026."

"This figure comes from the enforcement of the strict "Three No's" strategy (No Entry, No Stay, No Escape), a nationwide campaign targeting transnational crime, scam networks, and visa abuse. Under this initiative, Thai authorities utilize the Advance Passenger Processing System (APPS) to block suspicious travelers or those on the blacklist before they can board flights to Thailand."

I don't think I missed anything, my point is, that even when armed with the advance passenger information there is a limit to what they can find out about people, beyond what they may have done previously in Thailand.

I am not sure what this guy means by "embassy checks" but they could if they wished, end visa free entry and amend visa requirements to require criminal record checks for everybody , and see how that affects the quality of tourists coming here and indeed the overall numbers.

Every country seems to have their share of clueless Ex politicians with something to say along with a few fading celebrities too, they really should realise their own irrelevance and simply keep their mouths shut

,

11 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

I don't think I missed anything, my point is, that even when armed with the advance passenger information there is a limit to what they can find out about people, beyond what they may have done previously in Thailand.

I am not sure what this guy means by "embassy checks" but they could if they wished, end visa free entry and amend visa requirements to require criminal record checks for everybody , and see how that affects the quality of tourists coming here and indeed the overall numbers.

Every country seems to have their share of clueless Ex politicians with something to say along with a few fading celebrities too, they really should realise their own irrelevance and simply keep their mouths shut

,

Definitely limits.

Considering it is estimated Tourism accounts for an estimated 12.8% of GDP and accounts for 20% of National Employment they need to be careful about what Limits they put on travel to Thailand.

The Message gets out and people start going to other countries, automation, more competition, maybe unfavorable currency exchange rate and a crisis occurs.

Definitely a balancing act.

And how, pray, are the Thai embassies going to screen all tourists for criminal background checks?

Are they going to handle well thousands of Tourist visas ?

They are not equipped and cannot answer simple demands when asked at the moment.

They are not equipped with modern technology and the waiting currently for simple visas can be ridiculous and annoying.

The fault all comes down to crooked officials, lawyers and Thai landowners and the RTP who are all out to make a quick buck.

So , Thailand, clean that up first, or you will be shooting yourself in the foot. Thailand has already lost its shine with lack of investment in safety issues such as urban planning , chaotic roads , shanty Style city centers and poor education all round.

Thailands present reputation is for drug shops on every corner ,prostitution and violent lady boys, tourists falling off balconies every week and young people dying on motorcycles.

Clean up your act before blaming others.

On 6/20/2026 at 12:03 AM, ukrules said:

What nonsense, nobody's setting up companies and buying houses, etc, et on visa free entries.

They already have visas, the visa free entries are for the tourists.

So it would decimate tourism - people don't like applying for visas and tend to just fly somewhere else with less hassle.

Maybe that's what he wants, I have no idea who this guy is or what he represents, and I don't care.

He's just crying out for a big fat brown envelope.

20 hours ago, geisha said:

And how, pray, are the Thai embassies going to screen all tourists for criminal background checks?

Are they going to handle well thousands of Tourist visas ?

They are not equipped and cannot answer simple demands when asked at the moment.

They are not equipped with modern technology and the waiting currently for simple visas can be ridiculous and annoying.

The fault all comes down to crooked officials, lawyers and Thai landowners and the RTP who are all out to make a quick buck.

So , Thailand, clean that up first, or you will be shooting yourself in the foot. Thailand has already lost its shine with lack of investment in safety issues such as urban planning , chaotic roads , shanty Style city centers and poor education all round.

Thailands present reputation is for drug shops on every corner ,prostitution and violent lady boys, tourists falling off balconies every week and young people dying on motorcycles.

Clean up your act before blaming others.

That is probably what's coming in the future , banks already communicate internationally to ensure they know all about our finances , no doubt, in the not so distant future, countries will share criminal records too. along with everything else about us . Throw in a bit of AI and bobs your uncle,

People need to be very careful what they wish for

That long forgotten night 50 years ago, when you were wrongly arrested and advised to plead guilty to guilty to "drunk and disorderly" could suddenly see you barred from Thailand , separated from your family, and effectively homeless ,

The super wealthy have their haunts in Monaco and Monte carlo Families with their screaming kids have endless holiday options around the world with disney land and other such attractions, (to be honest kids should be banned from flights until they are old enough to behave themselves ) and there are plenty of unspoilt jungles for the more adventurous , so can we please just leave this place as it is , otherwise where will all the nutters and mongers go ?

11 hours ago, SunsetT said:

He's just crying out for a big fat brown envelope.

But from who? Putin or Xi jinping

There is a bit of anti foreigner sentiment about at the moment , he is just jumping on the bandwagon , keeping his post count up , his followers happy and trying to appear relevant , by commenting and criticising from the sidelines Its what ex (failed) politicians do Tony Blair has formed a "foundation" for that very purpose and I believe he does very nicely out of it

5 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

But from who? Putin or Xi

Of course not! From those using foreign nominee shareholding and grey capital.

1 hour ago, SunsetT said:

Of course not! From those using foreign nominee shareholding and grey capital.

okay, so why would they give a back hander to an ex politician what could that achieve ? If one is going to pay a bribe it would be a good idea to pick somebody who has the required influence

On 6/20/2026 at 2:15 AM, tomazbodner said:

Now where I totally disagree with him - there is TDAC. Which literally provides same required information as visa application does. It should be not done 3 days or less before the trip. It should be done at least 3 days before the trip and up to say 3 months before the trip. Or a year. Whatever.

On 6/20/2026 at 2:15 AM, tomazbodner said:

And if the volume of requests overwhelms them - why does a separate record need to be made for every entry? If it's the same person and TDAC was anyway for checking person's background before entering the country, a single registration should suffice for a year or 2 years, and get updated if he or she does something stupid.

TDAC as it currently stands needs to be done in this tight time frame to ensure the Health Declaration is current.