Immigration chief: Don't scare the tourists away by being too strict - we need them and their money

[ThaiBunny]

9 hours ago, noone223 said:

You want smart , check out Japan , Korea, Taiwan.

If you check it out, the Nobel Prizewinners from those countries are almost all ex-pats. It's well known that research in their own countries is stultifying because of traditions around respect for elders, no confrontation, no criticism. Most successes (take transistors and Japan, for example) are incremental improvements on inventions made elsewhere

[BobinBKK]

All foreigners will be inspected, camera phones and video equipment will be searched upon leaving the country. Any negative images found (photos and/or video) of crimes committed against foreigners or solicitation of prostitution (including but not limited to pornographic videos taken in hotel rooms that end up on pornographic websites) that can potentially be uploaded social media will bring charges of defamation of character. The equipment will be confiscated, the foreigner will be prosecuted, fined, deported and banned from re-entry for life.

[josephbloggs]

28 minutes ago, BobinBKK said:

All foreigners will be inspected, camera phones and video equipment will be searched upon leaving the country. Any negative images found (photos and/or video) of crimes committed against foreigners or solicitation of prostitution (including but not limited to pornographic videos taken in hotel rooms that end up on pornographic websites) that can potentially be uploaded social media will bring charges of defamation of character. The equipment will be confiscated, the foreigner will be prosecuted, fined, deported and banned from re-entry for life.

What on earth are you talking about?

[josephbloggs]

18 hours ago, yogi100 said:

I've only personally met one fellow who was accused of working by the IO at the airport. I know for a fact he's never even considered working in the LOS.

 

They let him in after a 40 minute interrogation. He was telling the complete story when he told me about it. He was shocked at the unwarranted aggressive attitude and the rudeness of the woman who grilled him.

 

He's now showing an interest in going to Vietnam. The whole episode definitely convinced him we're not wanted in the LOS any more.

 

 

 

 

 

And how long had your friend spent here previously?   You seemed to have left that bit of information out.

 

[noone223]

19 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

how long

There is no law written about how long is legal or illegal to spend in Thailand on tourist visas.

Yes, there is common sense, but IOs have been aware of this for years.

 

All of a sudden they've pulled down a plug on this, and pretend as if we're all criminals who illegally infiltrated the country.

TM-30 changes, the huge bank accounts required, the crack down on B2B Tourist visas...

That's why this year the numbers have seriously decreased, that's why this year so many expats left.

Even this topic's title, didn't exist in 2016 or 2018. It's only this year.

 

You westerners who are married to a former lady-bar employee are so quick to judge and attack.

Sorry, but blaming us for leaving you with your stubby holder, cheap chang, and Issan family won't help.

It's the government who's behind this stupidity. Not us, your ex-fellow countrymen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2019 by noone223

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, noone223 said:

There is no law written about how long is legal or illegal to spend in Thailand on tourist visas.

Yes, there is common sense, but IOs have been aware of this for years.

 

All of a sudden they've pulled down a plug on this, and pretend as if we're all criminals who illegally infiltrated the country.

TM-30 changes, the huge bank accounts required, the crack down on B2B Tourist visas...

That's why this year the numbers have seriously decreased, that's why this year so many expats left.

Even this topic's title, didn't exist in 2016 or 2018. It's only this year.

 

You westerners who are married to a former lady-bar employee are so quick to judge and attack.

Sorry, but blaming us for leaving you with your stubby holder, cheap chang, and Issan family won't help.

It's the government who's behind this stupidity. Not us, your ex-fellow countrymen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, touched a nerve there did we?

Thanks for your incredible rudeness but I am neither married to a bar lady nor do I live in Isaan or have any family there.  Can't stand Chang. And I live and work in Bangkok if that even matters to anything (it doesn't).  And I only asked a simple, non offensive question, so why the unpleasantness?  

Anyway you didn't answer the question and just went on the attack which tells me all I need to know.

Nobody arriving here for a normal holiday gets turned away or interrogated.

Edited December 11, 2019 by josephbloggs

[GeorgeCross]

1 hour ago, noone223 said:

You westerners who are married to a former lady-bar employee are so quick to judge and attack.

Sorry, but blaming us for leaving you with your stubby holder, cheap chang, and Issan family won't help.

It's the government who's behind this stupidity. Not us, your ex-fellow countrymen.

 

oh dear we do have a chip on our shoulder don't we 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2019 by GeorgeCross

[noone223]

25 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

oh dear we do have a chip on our shoulder don't we 

 

 

projection ... feels good ha?

[yogi100]

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

And how long had your friend spent here previously?   You seemed to have left that bit of information out.

 

He's been holidaying in the LOS for years on Visa exempt 30 day holidays, occasionally as often as 4 or 5 times a year. Then he goes back to the UK until he wants to have another holiday just like thousands of other Westerners do. And when he gets to Thailand he spends lots of money. Is that a problem?

 

What has my leaving anything out got to do with it. Surely if you owned a hotel or a business that catered for tourists you'd want more punters like him not less of them. You'd welcome holiday makers like him with open arms.

 

Try asking some Thai people who rely on us for their livelihood exactly what they think of Prayuth and his flunkies with their attempts to limit the time and money we can spend in their country.

 

Ask any Thai when did they last see an Indian or Chinese spend 1,000 baht in a day let alone the 20,000 a day the government tourism wallahs are crowing about.

 

It's high season now and most attractions are going to be busy but in a few weeks time when the two, three and four week wonders go home it will be as dead as it was just a few short weeks ago. 

 

Those who want to spend more time in Thailand are going to be put off by the complications and rigmarole involved when getting the necessary visa. They'll go elsewhere instead, some are already talking about how cheap and relaxed Vietnam is.

[prb]

5 minutes ago, yogi100 said:

Those who want to spend more time in Thailand are going to be put off by the complications and rigmarole involved when getting the necessary visa. They'll go elsewhere instead, some are already talking about how cheap and relaxed Vietnam is.

Yeah... but Vietnam is not Thailand.

I've heard long term expats retirees talking during hours about how bad Thailand has become and how good Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam are..

But years after years they are still here...

[yogi100]

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:

Wow, touched a nerve there did we?

Thanks for your incredible rudeness but I am neither married to a bar lady nor do I live in Isaan or have any family there.  Can't stand Chang. And I live and work in Bangkok if that even matters to anything (it doesn't).  And I only asked a simple, non offensive question, so why the unpleasantness?  

Anyway you didn't answer the question and just went on the attack which tells me all I need to know.

Nobody arriving here for a normal holiday gets turned away or interrogated.

One of my friends did and I don't know that many people who holiday in the LOS any more. There must be many others who we don't get to hear about. Only a tiny percentage of visitors read or post on Thai Visa.

 

Most of my old pals have stopped coming anyway but that's because of the journey, their age, health, the expense and sadly sometimes their death.

 

As others hear about these latest issues they're hardly going to spend 20 hours or more and lots of money travelling to a place where they're not welcome nor wanted.

[yogi100]

45 minutes ago, prb said:

Yeah... but Vietnam is not Thailand.

I've heard long term expats retirees talking during hours about how bad Thailand has become and how good Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam are..

But years after years they are still here...

All of them? And for how much longer? It won't just happen overnight!

 

We all know Vietnam is not Thailand but it's proving to be a favourable alternative for the newly retired and long term visitors. And who can blame them.

 

These immigration issues, the associated financial requirements and the health insurance racket have only been introduced recently. The O ME visa based on retirement was only phased out this year! They are no longer available. Give it time for the brown stuff to hit the fan.

 

It takes time for people to up sticks and move on especially when they're often elderly and have bought houses or condos which they are going to have difficulty selling. And then there are those who have started families and may have been in the LOS for decades.

 

They can't just say "Sod this, I'm off, get me a taxi to the airport". Life is not quite like that for many people. Some have nowhere to go and insufficient money to do anything else.

 

The title of this topic would indicate that the Immigration Chief might be realising that he's made a mistake by introducing all these unnecessarily authoritarian and harsh measures. Some expats are obviously hoping he'll do an about turn.

 

Not many men will be happy supporting a family who live in a country that he's been forced to leave or kicked out of. I for one wouldn't do it. Let Prayuth and his flunkies feed and keep them.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2019 by yogi100

[CLS]

15 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

So how is it when discussing the list of SE Asian alternative countries to move to, Taiwan is never mentioned? Is it time we had a Taiwan thread started by someone who has been there?

Taiwan is for skilled people seeking gainful employment.

Vietnam and Thailand for holiday makers and retirees.

[noone223]

13 minutes ago, CLS said:

Taiwan is for skilled people seeking gainful employment.

Vietnam and Thailand for holiday makers and retirees.

Not necessarily, its just that people in Taiwan don't really want pattaya / lady bar clientele.
 

 

13 minutes ago, CLS said:

So how is it when discussing the list of SE Asian alternative countries to move to, Taiwan is never mentioned?

What are you expecting? The president of Taiwan to open a thread in Thaivisa and personally invite you?

If anything , its quite the contrary, most expats in Taiwan would rather keep this thing on the hush.

Besides, lots of sexpats from Pattaya would be disappointed in Taiwan. Which is a great thing.

You really don't wanna spoil something good. Look at the last 2 years "cities-for-expat rankings".

It's not accurate on KL or Ho Chi minh true that,

But Taipei won #1 city for expats, two years in a row, advertised & mentioned here, doesn't get clearer than that.
That's just Taipei, Kaohsiung is a bustling city too.

But once again, considering the percentage of people here that are into the Go-Go, Boom Boom and Soapies, it's clear why it isn't mentioned.

 

 

Edited December 11, 2019 by noone223

[PaceArrow]

Someone from Thai Visa needs to inform the Big Immigration Chief he forgot to mention one of the most important groups in his comments:  "The Expats living in Thailand that also contribute immensely to Thai economy and are the most subjected to constant variations of ever-changing Immigration policies which are perceived as unfriendly is a major obstacle"!!!

Why didn't he mention this group???

[Ventenio]

This article was surprising, and I don't get surprised easily.

 

I'm sure in a few days there will be another article, "We want the richest and less problematic tourists, so all travelers must show 300,000 at the airport.  Unless you have a Chinese passport, then you will be labeled VIP and given a free visa for 100 years."  

[metisdead]

Some off topic posts, offensive posts and the replies have been removed. 

[noone223]

3 hours ago, PaceArrow said:

Why didn't he mention this group???

The fact that he admitted (indirectly, but still) making a mistake is huge by itself.

To expect him to phrase it specifically at certain groups is unrealistic... Not impossible, just unrealistic.

However, lets see how this upcoming month goes for tourism, who knows -

he might aim his next apology directly at you ????

(IE: "Sawadee khrab Khun PaceArrow majak Thaivisa forum, Khothot mak khrab, Please come back, Love you long timeee, you take care of me)

 

 

Edited December 11, 2019 by noone223

[pixelaoffy]

I think the phrase is " shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted"

[bander]

"Immigration chief: Don't scare the tourists away by being too strict - we need them and their money"

I think the statement above need some modification: "Don't scare the tourists away BEFORE we have all their money."

 

[bander]

6 hours ago, Ventenio said:

This article was surprising, and I don't get surprised easily.

 

I'm sure in a few days there will be another article, "We want the richest and less problematic tourists, so all travelers must show 300,000 at the airport.  Unless you have a Chinese passport, then you will be labeled VIP and given a free visa for 100 years."  

I hope he does and make the final nail in the coffin to Thailand as a tourist destination.

[garyk]

Luckily there are other places in S.E. Asia you can travel with less hassles.  

As far as expats go, they are easy targets for the government. Suck em dry, or kick them out... haha

Edited December 11, 2019 by garyk

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

As others have said, how about a break for the long term inmates. Dump 90 day and TM30s. Those who have worked here and have a social security card should not need health insurance. Others with a security deposit in a Thai bank as per current requirements are covered by that for most of the proposed new regulations.

 

Holiday insurance is cheap and easy for two-three weeks, even for the over 60s (read the small print as motorbike hire, paragliding etc is not included).

The unpaid hospital bills are not expats, but repeat tourist visas visitors.

 

 

 

 

 

[CALSinCM]

On 12/9/2019 at 8:37 AM, webfact said:

But don't be too strict and scare away the tourists and other foreign visitors.

Instead, when you're feeling the need to make life difficult on a foreigner, try singling out farangs on Non-O visas.  Make their lives as difficult as you wish.  Farangs aren't coming here anymore anyway so feel free to hammer the ones that stayed behind.  Have fun!

[Sujo]

Too late. They already scared this tourist away.

[Momofarang]

 

[Sonhia]

Give foreingers a chance.

 

Stop the extortion, double standards, red tape visa BS, ownership of a business plus property etc...

 

Thai nationals in other parts of the world are able, in most cases, to blend into the community living a normal exsistance unlike foreingers in Thailand who are normally treated as low life individuals by most Thai in a racist manner.

 

 

[globalspark]

Start with your goose in Canberra and teach him how to handle visa applications. Cost of goods are out of control same runners in Australia were over 30% cheaper. Tourist are not stupid.

[taiping]

On 12/9/2019 at 11:18 AM, BritManToo said:

I'm not convinced they discriminate between an expat and a tourist.

We're all tourists to them.

We are not "tourists" to them, We are "Aliens."

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, taiping said:

We are not "tourists" to them, We are "Aliens."

Foreigners are "aliens" pretty much everywhere.  The UK even has an immigration law called "The Aliens Act".