4 minutes ago, Leaver said:

I have no problem with Thai immigration getting rid of younger people living here on tourist visas, but working illegally.

 

However, to get rid of oil and gas rotation workers, as well as the miners, and snowbirds from Europe, who want 4 month here, not 3 months, without having to tie up their money here, was just crazy.

I got a long stay visa last year in Chiang Mai and the maze of hoops I had to jump through was incredibly difficult.  This year it got noticeably worse and so difficult to deal with I finally hired an Agent to handle it for me.  it's funny how money seems to grease the wheels of the Immigration process, and everything else when it comes to Thai bureaucracy.

22 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

I got a long stay visa last year in Chiang Mai and the maze of hoops I had to jump through was incredibly difficult.  This year it got noticeably worse and so difficult to deal with I finally hired an Agent to handle it for me.  it's funny how money seems to grease the wheels of the Immigration process, and everything else when it comes to Thai bureaucracy.

Why would many jump through the hoops when they can get a pay as you go visa in a nearby country, where accommodation and F & B are around a third of the price, and the beach and water is clean?

13 hours ago, Leaver said:

Why would many jump through the hoops when they can get a pay as you go visa in a nearby country, where accommodation and F & B are around a third of the price, and the beach and water is clean?

 

Why don't you enlighten us, you're still here ? 

11 hours ago, Leaver said:

Why would many jump through the hoops when they can get a pay as you go visa in a nearby country, where accommodation and F & B are around a third of the price, and the beach and water is clean?

Educated travelers will stay where they want to stay, after sizing up the options.  Cheap charlies view all countries as the same, only differentiated by cost of food and housing.  Sounds like your priorities are strictly cost based.  Don't assume all expats are struggling to survive, just most of the whiners on this forum.

44 minutes ago, kinyara said:

 

Why don't you enlighten us, you're still here ? 

I was thinking more of the global snowbirds, particularly the Europeans.  Staying that fourth month is now a costly option for them.

36 minutes ago, RoadWarrior371 said:

Educated travelers will stay where they want to stay, after sizing up the options.  Cheap charlies view all countries as the same, only differentiated by cost of food and housing.  Sounds like your priorities are strictly cost based.  Don't assume all expats are struggling to survive, just most of the whiners on this forum.

See Post #451.

 

Would you go jump through all the hoops, for 4 months of the year?

On 9/29/2019 at 2:28 PM, WaveHunter said:

everywhere I look I see massive new high rise condos being built. 

Build it and they will come.  ????

Tourism here will continue to decline (in quality and actual revenue) for decades to come. As Thailand becomes more expensive, and the neighbors try harder, and demonstrate vision, intelligence, law and order, public safety, and real hospitality, Thailand's share of the market will continue to shrink. Sure, they will continue to attract low and middle income Chinese and Indians. But, that does not benefit the vast majority of the millions of Thais employed within tourism. It is a national disaster, that the army has created, of their own accord. Astonishing hubris, incompetence, and arrogance has led to this. To some extent. There are dozens of problems areas that could have been addressed, but haven't been touched. 

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

and the neighbors try harder, and demonstrate vision, intelligence, law and order, public safety

You must be joking? 

2 hours ago, madmen said:

You must be joking? 

Vietnam has far more law and order than Thailand. So does Malaysia. Cambodia and Burma, what can one say? Laos? But, they are trying harder, and they are not nearly as arrogant and ignorant as the Thai officials and army. Few are. 

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Vietnam has far more law and order than Thailand. So does Malaysia. Cambodia and Burma, what can one say? Laos? But, they are trying harder, and they are not nearly as arrogant and ignorant as the Thai officials and army. Few are. 

Absolutely 100% not true. Both Vietnam and Cambodia being true 3rd world <deleted>holes are full of desperate men who's only source of income is snatching bags and will stab you without hesitation in broad daylight. Good luck getting treatment for a stroke or car accident in those 2, your insurance if your in the 5% that actually have it will send you back to Bangkok

Malaysia is 20 million Muslims still practising sharia law.. inbred folk with wing nut ears 3 inch thick glasses...Alalh ahkbarrrrrrrrr let us know when you move

3 hours ago, madmen said:

You must be joking? 

Ahhhh, I don't think they are joking?

 

Formula 1.

 

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.vietnam-gp-sneak-preview-of-the-hanoi-motor-sport-circuit.51uu7ts8hrQGMRWn8WPRth.html

 

Huge casino.

 

https://thegrandhotram.com/

 

Famous cable car.

 

https://banahills.sunworld.vn/en/experience/cable-car-network/

 

Thailand is falling behind.

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Tourism here will continue to decline (in quality and actual revenue) for decades to come. As Thailand becomes more expensive, and the neighbors try harder, and demonstrate vision, intelligence, law and order, public safety, and real hospitality, Thailand's share of the market will continue to shrink. Sure, they will continue to attract low and middle income Chinese and Indians. But, that does not benefit the vast majority of the millions of Thais employed within tourism. It is a national disaster, that the army has created, of their own accord. Astonishing hubris, incompetence, and arrogance has led to this. To some extent. There are dozens of problems areas that could have been addressed, but haven't been touched. 

Good post.

 

I agree with your assessment, and your prediction. 

1 hour ago, madmen said:

Absolutely 100% not true. Both Vietnam and Cambodia being true 3rd world <deleted>holes are full of desperate men who's only source of income is snatching bags and will stab you without hesitation in broad daylight. Good luck getting treatment for a stroke or car accident in those 2, your insurance if your in the 5% that actually have it will send you back to Bangkok

Malaysia is 20 million Muslims still practising sharia law.. inbred folk with wing nut ears 3 inch thick glasses...Alalh ahkbarrrrrrrrr let us know when you move

I do stand corrected. Malaysia has had a long history of being a tolerant nation, and a secular nation. But, those freedoms do seem to be eroding as of late. And it is scary. Very scary indeed. The statement about 20 million Muslims practicing Sharia is highly incorrect, though. There is a minority who support Sharia. And only a few states that seem to enforce it. Thankfully it has not taken hold nationwide, yet. But, the extreme ignorance behind Sharia seems to be spreading. And that is scary. There is absolutely no place for such intolerance in today's world. None.

 

There are laws in Malaysia’s more Islamic states that state anyone who misses Friday prayers three weeks in a row can be punished by six months in jail. Smoking, drinking or eating on Ramadan carry a jail term up to one year. “Perpetrators to sexual intercourse out of wedlock” can bring a sentence of two years. Occasionally sharia courts impose caning sentences on male Muslims caught drinking alcohol or committing adultery. Hugging or holding hands qualifies as “indecent behavior in a public place,” a crime that carries a six month prison sentence. There has been some discussion of passing laws requiring all Muslims to pay a zakat (religious tax) of 2.5 percent, with those not paying risking fine and up to three years in prison.

 

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Malaysia/sub5_4d/entry-3677.html

Please continue posting in of the other Pattaya is dying/ dead running topics

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