Expat exodus under way?

[a3tsw]

This morning on my way back to my home here in Nai Harn after doing my morning run I noticed a row of 6 small identical bungalows that are regularly rented out long-term to expats were all vacant. One of these houses was rented by an American guy for at least the last 10 years..

It would appear that the ending of the amnesty has forced a lot of people to leave Thailand and not just tourists who found themselves stranded here due to their flights being cancelled. The American guy referred to had a business building electric cycles/bikes here for many years..

I expect by Monday there will be a lot fewer expats around here..

 

[TheFreqFlyer]

Sounds like said American is either not eligible for a business visa or extension because he doesn't have the requisite number of employees and didn't get an embassy letter to extend his stay.

 

Or he just wanted to go home now anyway and return at some future date when things have improved. 

 

All the expats where I live are still here; then again these are retirees or working expats with families who work in factories or international schools. No one here works in tourism so things look the same as normal.

 

In recent years a few have left (most are still in Thailand but simply moved residences since my place is pretty far away from anything). Only one family might have possibly moved back to Germany (mixed Thai-German family)...that was about 2 years ago. 

 

Obviously tourist/expat areas like Phuket are totally different and as you say things are more noticeable. 

[a3tsw]

yes , there is definitely a thinning out happening here in Phuket as there is no people coming in to replace all those leaving , and I refer to expats only and this can only lead to a knock-on effect which in all likelihood will lead further numbers leaving , such as those expats in businesses whose clientele consists mainy of foreigners.. 

[Puchaiyank]

It is a necessary demographic realignment to prepare for the flood of Chinese coming in to buy up Thai properties when the baht tanks and property values decline...

[Old Croc]

The border bouncers have run out of options. 

[JusticeGB]

A huge number of farangs here were the border bouncers and probably Immigration was targeting them. Good riddance to people who were fiddling the system. 

[Katipo]

The term "Expatriate" typically refers to foreigners working/staying in a country other than their native one temporarily or fixed amount of time. Quite a few of these who were due to leave Thailand in July/August after their 2 to 3 year contracts finished are still here due to Covid, having their departure postponed. Likewise, some of the new batch coming in on rotation have had their arrival postponed too. The rest of us are carrying on as normal, having work permits and visas renewed without issue.

If your referring to immigrants, those who have decided to make Thailand their new home. Well yes, there are quite a few who don't meet the legal requirements who now seem to be out of options. The flexible law enforcement which so many complain about has also allowed a significant number of immigrants to stay in Thailand illegally, either through bribes or the use of agents. These people will either have to leave, or find a legal way to stay. I wish them all the best whichever path they take.

[ExpatOilWorker]

Not an exodus, but a constant trickle towards the exit door. Numbers for September will be out in a couple of weeks.

All in all Thailand have a net loss of 21,762 foreigners in August 2020 and oddly enough also lost 794 Thai.

 

Myanmar -10,188

Laos -4,201

Chinese -2,453

Russians -1,416

British -605

French -503

Germans -453

Philippines -256

Vietnamese -202

Ukrainians -200

Indian -185

Italian -168

Swedish -121

Swiss -117

Canadians -109

Pakistani -88

Malaysian -68

Dutch -64

Belgian -62

Spanish -47

Norwegian -43

 

A few nationalities have actually managed to enter in increasing numbers.

Cambodian +328

South Korean +303

American +209

Taiwanese +63

Australian +44

 

Source here.

[trucking]

14 hours ago, JusticeGB said:

A huge number of farangs here were the border bouncers and probably Immigration was targeting them. Good riddance to people who were fiddling the system. 

 

And where have you profited  ? How does it effect you ? Were they stealing from you in some way ?

 

Those people were still spending money here and their departure will not benefit the Thai economy in any way. Quite the opposite. They say they want tourists to return but the covid free ones they still have are being obliged to leave. Not very smart.

 

One day, the people with permanent resident visas ( the correct visa for living here full time ) will  probably say the same thing about you .....fiddling the system by extending ad nauseum.

[crazykopite]

My local coffee shop that had a really good customer base closed its doors last weekend without any notice the Thai owner must have had financial issues as it’s been cleared of everything with a big For Rent sign on  it very sad as it did a wonderful coffee.

[Guderian]

I was taking an afternoon stroll along Dongtan Beach yesterday afternoon and it struck me that there were far fewer farangs walking along there than normal. The weather was perfect for walking, lots of rain cloud around but no rain, and a strong sea breeze to keep you cool, so it wasn't the weather that was keeping people away. My immediate thought was that perhaps a lot of people who were staying here on short-term visas had finally given up with the amnesty ending and had headed back home.

 

My neighbour opposite, who's here on a tourist visa since March, has decided to fly back tomorrow with Qatar. He says it's because a lot of things have gone wrong for him in the last six months and he's getting fed up with Thailand, but I think he probably left it too late to get a new visa, or else the price was too high.

[ExpatOilWorker]

3 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

My local coffee shop that had a really good customer base closed its doors last weekend without any notice the Thai owner must have had financial issues as it’s been cleared of everything with a big For Rent sign on  it very sad as it did a wonderful coffee.

What part of Thailand?

[Antonymous]

35 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Not an exodus, but a constant trickle towards the exit door. Numbers for September will be out in a couple of weeks.

All in all Thailand have a net loss of 21,762 foreigners in August 2020 and oddly enough also lost 794 Thai.

 

<snip>

 

 

 

 

Very interesting stats.

 

Could you provide the source please?

[Seik]

Very curious to see the September numbers as well.

[ExpatOilWorker]

3 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

 

Very interesting stats.

 

Could you provide the source please?

August 2020 Arrivals.xlsx

[Antonymous]

6 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

August 2020 Arrivals.xlsx 475.57 kB · 14 downloads

Thanks. Really detailed. I searched the Excel file, but still couldn't find the source.

 

Is there a link to the department website that produces these stats each month? I'd like to follow updates.

 

 

[Destiny1990]

Its a very good time to buy that secondhand expat car and or washing machine there are adds everywhere. 

[Destiny1990]

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Not an exodus, but a constant trickle towards the exit door. Numbers for September will be out in a couple of weeks.

All in all Thailand have a net loss of 21,762 foreigners in August 2020 and oddly enough also lost 794 Thai.

 

Myanmar -10,188

Laos -4,201

Chinese -2,453

Russians -1,416

British -605

French -503

Germans -453

Philippines -256

Vietnamese -202

Ukrainians -200

Indian -185

Italian -168

Swedish -121

Swiss -117

Canadians -109

Pakistani -88

Malaysian -68

Dutch -64

Belgian -62

Spanish -47

Norwegian -43

 

A few nationalities have actually managed to enter in increasing numbers.

Cambodian +328

South Korean +303

American +209

Taiwanese +63

Australian +44

 

 

 

Not a surprise that thailand lost just in the month of August 21000 departing foreigners while at the same time Cambodia gained 300 foreigners. Where did u get that data from?

[flynn]

39 minutes ago, Guderian said:

I was taking an afternoon stroll along Dongtan Beach yesterday afternoon and it struck me that there were far fewer farangs walking along there than normal. The weather was perfect for walking, lots of rain cloud around but no rain, and a strong sea breeze to keep you cool, so it wasn't the weather that was keeping people away. My immediate thought was that perhaps a lot of people who were staying here on short-term visas had finally given up with the amnesty ending and had headed back home.

 

My neighbour opposite, who's here on a tourist visa since March, has decided to fly back tomorrow with Qatar. He says it's because a lot of things have gone wrong for him in the last six months and he's getting fed up with Thailand, but I think he probably left it too late to get a new visa, or else the price was too high.

My friends are flying out tomorrow on Lufthansa to Manchester, they were booked on Emirates but cancelled because you need a Covid-19 test and have to do the 14 day isolation because you transit Dubai, they would have stayed longer but had to jump through to many hoops to stay, they were big spenders, 

[crazykopite]

44 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What part of Thailand?

Koh Phangan

[Susco]

10 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Not a surprise that thailand lost just in the month of August 21000 departing foreigners while at the same time Cambodia gained 300 foreigners. Where did u get that data from?

 

Yet he posts a list, without source or explaining what the numbers mean.

 

I also very much doubt the number of US and Aussies that have entered, knowing the situation there

[RichardColeman]

Being stuck outside of Thailand it is hard to comment of this, but my wife stuck in Pattaya assures me daily that more houses are going up for rent and sale in our housing estate. Prior to the pandemic, there was usually about 5 or 6 vacant in the 3-400 housing estate, now that number is about 20-25 and increasing. 

[Destiny1990]

7 minutes ago, Susco said:

 

Yet he posts a list, without source or explaining what the numbers mean.

 

I also very much doubt the number of US and Aussies that have entered, knowing the situation there

Huh foreigners entering ? His list only mentions about foreigners departing.

[Susco]

2 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Huh foreigners entering ? His list only mentions about foreigners departing.

Duh

 

A few nationalities have actually managed to enter in increasing numbers.

Cambodian +328

South Korean +303

American +209

Taiwanese +63

Australian +44

[natway09]

The first 2 Thai flights to Sydney  booked out at 24,000 Bht one way, just registered my mate at his Embassy for the next 2, so yes folks are moving out, no doubt repatriating Thais on the return or those that have jumped through hoops to get back to their Thai family

[from the home of CC]

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

I was taking an afternoon stroll along Dongtan Beach yesterday afternoon and it struck me that there were far fewer farangs walking along there than normal. The weather was perfect for walking, lots of rain cloud around but no rain, and a strong sea breeze to keep you cool, so it wasn't the weather that was keeping people away. My immediate thought was that perhaps a lot of people who were staying here on short-term visas had finally given up with the amnesty ending and had headed back home.

 

My neighbour opposite, who's here on a tourist visa since March, has decided to fly back tomorrow with Qatar. He says it's because a lot of things have gone wrong for him in the last six months and he's getting fed up with Thailand, but I think he probably left it too late to get a new visa, or else the price was too high.

yes I believe money (the lack of) is the biggest de motivator to staying here, there were many here that in most countries would not of made the cut for residency..

[donnacha]

3 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

yes I believe money (the lack of) is the biggest de motivator to staying here, there were many here that in most countries would not of made the cut for residency..

 
Most of those on low resources would be inclined to stay put. Unless you're a boozer, living cheaply is easy in Thailand. Upping sticks to another country and going through all the rigamarole of staying in a hotel while finding a new place to live, all of that is expensive. So, while some of them may HAVE to leave for various other reasons, the cost of living here would not be the reason.

Meanwhile, people with lots of money find it far easier and more fun to make the jump to other countries. I reckon the big spenders will be the ones leaving more than any other group.

 

 

[Pravda]

Yes I heard it all before... expats are leaving and Pattaya is dead. 

 

Oh wait... It's 2020. Pattaya IS dead! 

[Boomer6969]

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

American +209

Taiwanese +63

Australian +44

Guess the Americans were refugees, but can't see why Aussies would come to Thailand these days? 

[from the home of CC]

1 minute ago, donnacha said:

 
Most of those on low resources would be inclined to stay put. Unless you're a boozer, living cheaply is easy in Thailand. Upping sticks to another country and going through all the rigamarole of staying in a hotel while finding a new place to live, all of that is expensive. So, while some of them may HAVE to leave for various other reasons, the cost of living here would not be the reason.

Meanwhile, people with lots of money find it far easier and more fun to make the jump to other countries. I reckon the big spenders will be the ones leaving more than any other group.

 

 

 IMO I think most of big spenders will hunker down and avoid travelling altogether. It's those who had to border bounce to keep their visa active due to not having money in the first place that will end up out of here or fined/jailed/deported for overstay..