How have the farang expat demographics changed?

[moontang]

Since last March, how do you think the demographics changed in Thailand for farang expats? 

[Kwasaki]

Didn't change anything for me where I live.

So I guess it depends on where falangies live.

[TSF]

Same for me, nothing has changed really. I live in a very small village in rural Korat. The only thing that has changed in my life since last March is I'm just stuck here and can't really move. Normally I would have made a couple of trips to Lao/Cambo/Nam and would have made a trip back to Aust for Xmas/Summer. But as far as just living my retirement in Thailand nothing has changed.

[bkk6060]

Why would anything change?

Most that were here in March are still here doing what they did before.

Edited January 1, 2021 by bkk6060

[RichardColeman]

6 hours ago, moontang said:

Since last March, how do you think the demographics changed in Thailand for farang expats? 

Well, if they don't open up soon, farang expats will start to get less as they die off and are not replaced.

[polpott]

A lot of "snowbirds" haven't returned. I haven't seen one that I know. The majority in my area were French, so less French.

[scammed]

over the years, the demographic turned from being older than me to younger than me

[kokesaat]

I'd have to guess that fewer retirees are making any plans on relocating to Thailand given the covid situation and exchange rates and far fewer tourists who decide to decide to return because they fall in love with the country.  If so, that leaves a declining expat population at least for the foreseeable future.  It would be interesting to see any government stats on longstay visas

[metisdead]

An post with offensive allegations has been reported and removed. 

[tonray]

9 hours ago, moontang said:

Since last March, how do you think the demographics changed in Thailand for farang expats? 

Aside from now being in a higher cost insurance age bracket...my demographic has not changed

[Dumbastheycome]

So far the numbers in the holding pens have remained steady.

The new Year may see that change .

[UKresonant]

27 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Well, if they don't open up soon, farang expats will start to get less as they die off and are not replaced.

 

Less replacements (from UK/EU view) will be the trend, thinking about a few issues ;-

Less stable requirements and attitudes seem to be getting reported and experienced for Visa and insurance from first half of 2019 anyway. In addition the not so useful insurance requirements for certain visa classes. Declining exchange rate, which managed to leave a slightly "getting to expensive" taste in relative newbies opinions (They said). Though the exchange rate was about 35 the first time  I visited Thailand.

There will be a couple of years discontinuity of new customers visiting probably, to experience Thailand's great first impression, that may trigger ex-pat ambitions.

The current requirements are to much of a financial, time, and insurance cover gamble, likely deters many at first glance. 

I may of been an "Ex-pat" by now, but after being there substantially over an almost two years, I never formed a feeling that I could ever feel secure, wearing that badge. Anyway the can has been kicked down the road, at least until the Son completes High School in the UK. ( we left Thailand a couple of days after the"state of Emergency back in March.

COV-2 Shall certainly impact replacements;-

% adversely affected by Covid direct earnings, therefore will not travel there.

% of Pension plans that have been stalled by "no overtime" no spare money, unemployment etc

% Deterred by "Foreigners associated with Cov-2" negative statements..

Generally;-

% that may be deterred by the Thai insurance criteria, which is viewed as an extension of the Visa/Extension fee in some cases.

%The number of immigration issues that require interaction with the holding of a Thai Bank Account, but Newbies get told at the bank you must have a work permit, and I presume a big chunk of EX-pats are not Employed in Thailand.

 

Balancing that I would  think;-

If you are Employed in  Thailand with a reasonable Salary, the exchange rate is probably quite helpful if you still have commitments in Home Country..

and....

 

Oh, look at the time, Bedtime, perhaps someone else shall list more positives for Ex-pat..

 

Goodnight.

 

[BritManToo]

9 hours ago, moontang said:

Since last March, how do you think the demographics changed in Thailand for farang expats? 

The hiking club I belong to has changed from almost all white to almost all Chinese.

The Chinese tend to be entire families, where the white folk were mainly single, or married to locals.

Last hike was 2 Brit guys, one Russian lady and about 20 Chinese.

Edited January 2, 2021 by BritManToo

[moontang]

4 hours ago, UKresonant said:

 

Less replacements (from UK/EU view) will be the trend, thinking about a few issues ;-

Less stable requirements and attitudes seem to be getting reported and experienced for Visa and insurance from first half of 2019 anyway. In addition the not so useful insurance requirements for certain visa classes. Declining exchange rate, which managed to leave a slightly "getting to expensive" taste in relative newbies opinions (They said). Though the exchange rate was about 35 the first time  I visited Thailand.

There will be a couple of years discontinuity of new customers visiting probably, to experience Thailand's great first impression, that may trigger ex-pat ambitions.

The current requirements are to much of a financial, time, and insurance cover gamble, likely deters many at first glance. 

I may of been an "Ex-pat" by now, but after being there substantially over an almost two years, I never formed a feeling that I could ever feel secure, wearing that badge. Anyway the can has been kicked down the road, at least until the Son completes High School in the UK. ( we left Thailand a couple of days after the"state of Emergency back in March.

COV-2 Shall certainly impact replacements;-

% adversely affected by Covid direct earnings, therefore will not travel there.

% of Pension plans that have been stalled by "no overtime" no spare money, unemployment etc

% Deterred by "Foreigners associated with Cov-2" negative statements..

Generally;-

% that may be deterred by the Thai insurance criteria, which is viewed as an extension of the Visa/Extension fee in some cases.

%The number of immigration issues that require interaction with the holding of a Thai Bank Account, but Newbies get told at the bank you must have a work permit, and I presume a big chunk of EX-pats are not Employed in Thailand.

 

Balancing that I would  think;-

If you are Employed in  Thailand with a reasonable Salary, the exchange rate is probably quite helpful if you still have commitments in Home Country..

and....

 

Oh, look at the time, Bedtime, perhaps someone else shall list more positives for Ex-pat..

 

Goodnight.

 

I have been through the same WP questions, and showed them the EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITTED stamp on my original OA, too many times.  Getting a yellow book ended enough of it, but the satellite branches of the banks are something to avoid.   

 

General paperwork headaches are a deterrent, no doubt.  Often, it is the uncertainty of things.  Filing taxes has been a breeze, but that doesn't make up for the simple task you are doing at Immigration the next day more like a military tribunal. 

 

The insurance thing is much more useful to some than others, but for me it is a 6000 THB annual expense.  

Edited January 2, 2021 by moontang

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

In the realm of teaching, the shortage of incoming farangs has shown some have come out of retirement, while many moved up to better schools. Then to fill the mid-level positions they left, more Filipinos were taken in to replace them, that perhaps would not have been considered before. Many other positions were simply left empty.

 

I last remember the biggest change like this was about three years ago, when I was out in Issan. That was right around when immigration got tougher, the exchange rates took a dive, and the embassy letters stopped. The customer base at the local farang watering holes dropped dramatically over a few months. Before that I had met a variety of wonderful people, young and old, teachers and travelers, and retirees, who had eventually disappeared.

[thaisabai]

On 1/2/2021 at 12:28 AM, moontang said:

I have been through the same WP questions, and showed them the EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITTED stamp on my original OA, too many times.  Getting a yellow book ended enough of it, but the satellite branches of the banks are something to avoid.   

 

General paperwork headaches are a deterrent, no doubt.  Often, it is the uncertainty of things.  Filing taxes has been a breeze, but that doesn't make up for the simple task you are doing at Immigration the next day more like a military tribunal. 

 

The insurance thing is much more useful to some than others, but for me it is a 6000 THB annual expense.  

do you have more information about this 6000 Baht Insurance? (company, what is covered, etc)

thanks

Thaisabai

[moontang]

It covers the minimum required by immigration for OA... Company is LMG.  Over 60 is more.  Deductible is 200k.

[ChrisKC]

On 1/2/2021 at 8:02 AM, UKresonant said:

 

Less replacements (from UK/EU view) will be the trend, thinking about a few issues ;-

Less stable requirements and attitudes seem to be getting reported and experienced for Visa and insurance from first half of 2019 anyway. In addition the not so useful insurance requirements for certain visa classes. Declining exchange rate, which managed to leave a slightly "getting to expensive" taste in relative newbies opinions (They said). Though the exchange rate was about 35 the first time  I visited Thailand.

There will be a couple of years discontinuity of new customers visiting probably, to experience Thailand's great first impression, that may trigger ex-pat ambitions.

The current requirements are to much of a financial, time, and insurance cover gamble, likely deters many at first glance. 

I may of been an "Ex-pat" by now, but after being there substantially over an almost two years, I never formed a feeling that I could ever feel secure, wearing that badge. Anyway the can has been kicked down the road, at least until the Son completes High School in the UK. ( we left Thailand a couple of days after the"state of Emergency back in March.

COV-2 Shall certainly impact replacements;-

% adversely affected by Covid direct earnings, therefore will not travel there.

% of Pension plans that have been stalled by "no overtime" no spare money, unemployment etc

% Deterred by "Foreigners associated with Cov-2" negative statements..

Generally;-

% that may be deterred by the Thai insurance criteria, which is viewed as an extension of the Visa/Extension fee in some cases.

%The number of immigration issues that require interaction with the holding of a Thai Bank Account, but Newbies get told at the bank you must have a work permit, and I presume a big chunk of EX-pats are not Employed in Thailand.

 

Balancing that I would  think;-

If you are Employed in  Thailand with a reasonable Salary, the exchange rate is probably quite helpful if you still have commitments in Home Country..

and....

 

Oh, look at the time, Bedtime, perhaps someone else shall list more positives for Ex-pat..

 

Goodnight.

 

Oh, look at the time, Bedtime, perhaps someone else shall list more positives for Ex-pat..

 

It looks like you posted at 5.16 am - have you been on the night shift? Though I think you are at present in the UK. Which bit of my comment is wrong?

[natway09]

I do not see a great change in the "true" expat that lives here all year, obviously very few of the nomad variety (6/7 months a year) as I know of 25 at least that are missing in action (Covid restrictions) & only seen 4 that have been through quarantine to get back.

But this is no doubt not attributable only to Thailand as the whole world is going through the wringer

[Didhe]

I live south of Bangkok and the nutty farangs have got nuttier due to drinking way too much booze over the period.   The expats that have kept busy whether work wise or via a hobby carry on as normal.

[Pilotman]

the age profile seems to have changed around Pattaya. The single, fit  and young have been replaced by the long married, old,  knackered and limping.  Quite a change. 

[Darkside Gray]

Can you exain please the differance between a Farange expat and a expat?

[Thaifly88]

On 1/2/2021 at 6:25 AM, scammed said:

over the years, the demographic turned from being older than me to younger than me

That’s strange, I wonder why ?

[scammed]

2 hours ago, Pilotman said:

the age profile seems to have changed around Pattaya. The single, fit  and young have been replaced by the long married, old,  knackered and limping.  Quite a change. 

i think the exact opposite happened, when i was young and fit

i saw nothing but ole farts surrounding me,

now most of them are young and fit, all the while i am old and crippled

[scammed]

18 minutes ago, Thaifly88 said:

That’s strange, I wonder why ?

dark magic

[BritManToo]

19 minutes ago, scammed said:

i think the exact opposite happened, when i was young and fit

i saw nothing but ole farts surrounding me,

Before

Sports clubs had many young male and female white members.

Old white guys hung around in bars.

 

Now

Sports clubs are full of Chinese.

Old white guys are too frightened to leave their rooms.

Edited January 3, 2021 by BritManToo

[Thingamabob]

I doubt much has changed since March. 

[UKresonant]

Re ChrisKc post about 12 hours ago..

 

Child care, late supper snack requested & an interesting page on the motorcycle hobby, distracted. 

I Informed within the text that we were in the U.K. ???? anyway that time, is only marginally early for Dayshift.....

As he continued reading, in the stress free dining room......

 

Edited January 3, 2021 by UKresonant

[wavodavo]

On 1/2/2021 at 8:21 AM, polpott said:

A lot of "snowbirds" haven't returned. I haven't seen one that I know. The majority in my area were French, so less French.

Well whats wrong with that ???

[moontang]

14 hours ago, Darkside Gray said:

Can you exain please the differance between a Farange expat and a expat?

India, African, Chinese, Japanese can be expats, but obviously not farang.