Airbnb: Thailand Geared up for Digital Nomads and Work-Cations

[webfact]

Airbnb: Thailand Geared up for Digital Nomads and Work-Cations

Five reasons why Thailand is a preferred destination for living and working anywhere

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand, 11 November 2020 - As travel sees a comeback across Thailand in the new normal, Airbnb sees an emerging trend to extended work-cations around Thailand as people look to combine work, travel and living. 

According to a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Airbnb 87% of Thai people found an extended work-cation appealing. With an increased desire and ability to work from anywhere, Airbnb share five reasons why Thailand is a preferred destination for digital nomads.

1) Diverse locales
Whether you prefer mountains or beaches, cities or off-the-beaten-path destinations, Thailand can cater to all types of work-cation. The cool and mountains of the north, the history of the central plains and the world-class beaches on the Andaman and Gulf coasts, the options for an inspiring work-cation are limited only by your own imagination.

2) You’ll never go hungry
Thailand is famous for its cuisine and dining out is a part of daily life. You don’t have to be in the heart of a city to find great food options, the quietest rural neighbourhood can spring a food surprise and with street vendors ubiquitous the food options are endless. If you want to take your work-cation to the next level and learn how to cook, then take advantage of some great Airbnb Cooking Experiences.

3) Culture immersion and new experiences
Thailand is a land of diversity and from one destination to the next, cultural nuances abound. These can manifest in local dialects, beliefs and even cuisine! From reefs to rainforests to national parks and mountains, Thailand’s natural gems are complemented by the hospitality of local communities, their handicrafts and local way of life. These regional highlights are what makes a work-cation in Thailand so exciting; being able to combine work and travel with new experiences in vibrant local communities can be food for the brain and inspiration for the mind.

4) Connectivity
Thailand has fast and reliable wifi coverage throughout the country making the opportunity to work from anywhere, real. All you need is a laptop and you can connect with anyone, anywhere in the world at any time through Thailand’s omnipresent wifi. 

Thailand also has impressive transport facilities - domestic flights, interprovincial rail and bus, and an extensive road network - making it easy to get around in the country and to explore new areas anytime from your work-cation base.

5) Location, location, location
Thailand’s recently launched Special Tourist Visa is the first step in re-opening the country and attracting long stay international travellers. A well connected aviation hub with more than four billion people living within a 6-hour flight, the country’s central location makes it easily accessible and a popular destination for digital nomads. Its proximity to regional business centres means short business trips are easy; leave your Airbnb in the morning and be back in time for an evening swim and sundowners.

An established tourism destination that welcomed almost 40 million international visitors in 2019, Thailand remains popular with long-term visitors. And as the region starts to reopen borders, Thailand is well positioned to become the destination of choice for work-cations.

 

-- 2020-11-11

[tonray]

AirBnB Quarantine Work-Cations ? Can't leave your desk for 14 days ?

[Laughing Gravy]

Another delusional idea grasping at enticing people to Thailand. It isn't going to work in the current climate.

 

It has the word hub in the article, so destined to doom.

[Phuketshrew]

They clearly haven't read the memo about the latest visa restrictions .....

[JonnyF]

Isn't working as a digital nomad illegal in Thailand?

 

Aren't many AirBNB's also illegal in Thailand?

 

I wonder if AirBNB checked with the Thai government before releasing this?

[FritsSikkink]

Reason 6: it is illegal, so forget reason 1-5.

[racket]

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Isn't working as a digital nomad illegal in Thailand?

 

Aren't many AirBNB's also illegal in Thailand?

 

I wonder if AirBNB checked with the Thai government before releasing this?

 

No, only jealous losers make that claim. 

[racket]

11 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Reason 6: it is illegal, so forget reason 1-5.

No, you can't obtain a work permit if your job or source of income is destined in another jurisdiction. 

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, racket said:

 

No, only jealous losers make that claim. 

 

[bodga]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

As travel sees a comeback across Thailand

news to me...when did  this  happen?

[Pattaya Spotter]

Isn't AirBnB illegal in Thailand (at least for rentals less than 30 days)?

[bodga]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

hospitality of local communities,

my sides  my sides???????????? all Ive found is nosey busy bodies  happy  to make  up stories about you and  have the authorities  call round to check  out  their  numerous false  claims

[ChipButty]

36 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Isn't working as a digital nomad illegal in Thailand?

 

Aren't many AirBNB's also illegal in Thailand?

 

I wonder if AirBNB checked with the Thai government before releasing this?

Airbnb is not illegal in Thailand, renting for less than 30 days is illegal, that is down to the host

Edited November 11, 2020 by ChipButty

[ChipButty]

Did I read somewhere to get a tourist visa you need 500,000 Baht in a bank account..........?

[from the home of CC]

wherever the platform is used it has caused problems (except for those who have profited turning residential locales into hotels), Thailand was right to ban them except for home rental, trouble is this illegal rental plague has decimated the hotel industry ( well prior to covid). If and when life returns to normality the government would be well served in a strict enforcement policy to eradicate these vultures. Hotels with license pay taxes while those profiting from this illegal business evade taxes.. 

[2530Ubon]

11 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

Hotels with license pay taxes while those profiting from this illegal business evade taxes.. 

Don't forget about the thousands of unlicensed hotels already operating here which the government recently gave an amnesty to, those 'vultures' have been here a lot longer than this website.

 

This article is ridiculous, there is a freelancer visa coming next month from the Board of Investment, which would allow remote workers & digital nomads to live and work here legally (currently there is no law to regulate this industry.) However, there is no demand for foreigners to come here yet... the entry requirements are far too onerous and renting a place under 30 days is illegal.  

 

This bit in particular tickled me;

Quote

According to a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Airbnb 87% of Thai people found an extended work-cation appealing. With an increased desire and ability to work from anywhere, Airbnb share five reasons why Thailand is a preferred destination for digital nomads.

87% Of Thai people found work-cations appealing, then it starts talking about digital nomads! Would it not be better to talk about which percentage of digital nomads/remote workers found it appealing to come to Thailand? 

[PingRoundTheWorld]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Isn't working as a digital nomad illegal in Thailand?

Immigration officials made it clear on numerous occasions that they have no intention of going after digital nomads, and it would indeed be insane for them to do so - you're talking about people who are spending a lot of money creating jobs for Thais, while not taking up a local job themselves. Net benefit for Thailand.

 

Thailand should however create an actual visa for this, instead of having digital nomads live in constant uncertainty about their status. Especially now that tourism is dead and the only ones considering coming to Thailand are long-stayers. Every one of those digital nomads will bring Thailand more revenue than an entire group of short-term tourists, with less infection risk.

[jackdd]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Isn't working as a digital nomad illegal in Thailand?

No

 

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Aren't many AirBNB's also illegal in Thailand?

Only if renting out for less than a month and if they don't have a hotel license.

 

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

I wonder if AirBNB checked with the Thai government before releasing this?

They don't tell anybody to do anything illegal, so what should they check?

Edited November 11, 2020 by jackdd

[PingRoundTheWorld]

6 minutes ago, 2530Ubon said:

there is no demand for foreigners to come here yet

That is not true. I'm on a digital nomad group for people from my home country and just in the last few days I've heard a dozen people ask about entry requirements to Thailand. Digital nomads is just about the only group of tourists (because that's what they are essentially) who is willing to travel even with such severe restrictions. Unfortunately few of them meet the 6-months in bank account criteria.

[JeffersLos]

41 minutes ago, bodga said:

news to me...when did  this  happen?

 

The last few months, after the lockdown ended, and lots of Thais were employed again and able to travel. 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

According to a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Airbnb 87% of Thai people found an extended work-cation appealing.

 

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Immigration officials made it clear on numerous occasions that they have no intention of going after digital nomads, and it would indeed be insane for them to do so - you're talking about people who are spending a lot of money creating jobs for Thais, while not taking up a local job themselves. Net benefit for Thailand.

 

Thailand should however create an actual visa for this, instead of having digital nomads live in constant uncertainty about their status. Especially now that tourism is dead and the only ones considering coming to Thailand are long-stayers. Every one of those digital nomads will bring Thailand more revenue than an entire group of short-term tourists, with less infection risk.

 

Yes, that's my point. They might be of benefit in terms of revenue, and immigration might not go after them (for now) but the visa and work permit status is not really clear. Many of them are probably on visa types that forbid working in Thailand. 

 

Same with AirBnb. Many will be renting out daily/weekly and breaking the law.

[JonnyF]

47 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Airbnb is not illegal in Thailand, renting for less than 30 days is illegal, that is down to the host

 

But many owners rent them our for less than 30 days. That's their entire business model. So in many cases it is illegal.

[2530Ubon]

13 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

That is not true. I'm on a digital nomad group for people from my home country and just in the last few days I've heard a dozen people ask about entry requirements to Thailand. Digital nomads is just about the only group of tourists (because that's what they are essentially) who is willing to travel even with such severe restrictions. Unfortunately few of them meet the 6-months in bank account criteria.

Yes, that was exactly my point... they see the requirements and the demand is gone! As a remote worker myself, I disagree with your assertion that few of us can meet the 500k in 6 months requirement - I earned a lot more than that over the last 6 months.

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

Reason 6: it is illegal, so forget reason 1-5.

YOu are correct.   Plus the geniuses running the country now want foreigners to show B500K before entering Thailand.    Malaysia and Vietnam look better all the time.   Hope those highschoolers and college kids can straighten the country out.  Their parents are not up to the job.  That is for sure. 

 

 

[from the home of CC]

44 minutes ago, 2530Ubon said:

Don't forget about the thousands of unlicensed hotels already operating here which the government recently gave an amnesty to, those 'vultures' have been here a lot longer than this website.

 

This article is ridiculous, there is a freelancer visa coming next month from the Board of Investment, which would allow remote workers & digital nomads to live and work here legally (currently there is no law to regulate this industry.) However, there is no demand for foreigners to come here yet... the entry requirements are far too onerous and renting a place under 30 days is illegal.  

 

This bit in particular tickled me;

87% Of Thai people found work-cations appealing, then it starts talking about digital nomads! Would it not be better to talk about which percentage of digital nomads/remote workers found it appealing to come to Thailand? 

you're right about illegal hotels, there's 190 under investigation in Hua Hin alone. That's just another reason to head this off. That last bit about a survey - I call pure bs on that stat..

[NCC1701A]

[fangless]

52 minutes ago, 2530Ubon said:

I disagree with your assertion that few of us can meet the 500k in 6 months requirement - I earned a lot more than that over the last 6 months.

People that earn lots of money do NOT keep it in a bank account earning near zero interest.

[2530Ubon]

11 minutes ago, fangless said:

People that earn lots of money do NOT keep it in a bank account earning near zero interest.

 I haven't (and couldn't of,) managed to save any of it anyway...  ????

Edited November 11, 2020 by 2530Ubon

[bkk6060]

1 hour ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Every one of those digital nomads will bring Thailand more revenue than an entire group of short-term tourists,

I would say from my experience this is false.

The 2 week millionaires spend much more then the mostly inconsistent online sales granola eating stay in a hostel digital nomads.

They come here to live cheaply as opposed to the tourists who are here to enjoy a holiday spending more money.

[2530Ubon]

27 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I would say from my experience this is false.

The 2 week millionaires spend much more then the mostly inconsistent online sales granola eating stay in a hostel digital nomads.

They come here to live cheaply as opposed to the tourists who are here to enjoy a holiday spending more money.

Hang on, I thought you were describing the average O visa crew, the pensioners.

 

We can make grand assumptions like the one's you and I just made, or we can accept that there are plenty of both knocking about in Thailand.

 

Not everyone under 50 is a backpacking tourist shacked up in some dingy hostel with an oversized backpack stuffed to the seams, or a struggling youtuber quaffing micro brewed coffee in an overpriced cafe.

 

Similarily, not everyone over 50 is going to marry a young Thai bar girl, whom they picked out from one of the gogo clubs where they frequently nurse a single, lukewarm Leo/Chang beer in all night.