Thailand lures the rich as tourism revival hope fades

[poskat]

They must have some wheel of fortune type thing labelled with all the tourist schemes they have trotted out over the years, rich tourists, chinese tourists, indian tourists, etc; and just give it a spin and whatever it stops on is what they say is their new target demongraphic

[crazykopite]

1 hour ago, dg1980 said:

rich guys in, riff raff out.

 

seen this a dozen times before. probably wont happen but one can hope I guess.

If I’m one of the riff raff then I will go spend my monthly income of 80,000 bht in one of the neighbouring countries who I’m sure will welcome me with open arms . I haven’t left Thailand since 2009 I would like to think that I have helped the economy I know my little local shops enjoy my coming to them especially since Covid raised its ugly head without all us rif raff who have stayed during the pandemic the economy would be in a far worse position ! 

[10baht]

1 hour ago, Crash999 said:

Lacking in specifics. What net worth or income? What are the benefits? Thailand Elite already provides access to the country if you have money to spare. 

This is a little off. If you are out of the country, to return with an Elite visa, your COE needs some special Minister of Health approval and I believe the requests are done in batches and can take weeks to get. While an "O" or "O-A" visa's COE is done immediately on a individual basis. I kind of look at the Elite visa as a "scheme" and not the British definition (a large-scale systematic plan) but the American view (racket,  hustle).

[Zack61]

Not sure how a handful of people are going to fill all the hotel rooms and bring back all the lost jobs. These guys are on another planet or drugs.

[MasterBaker]

Pretty much says it all. there is nothing left for expats in Thailand, stop talking about it

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

This year will be worse for the tourism industry, as the Thai government stumbles to roll out vaccines and contain a worst yet wave of Covid-19 that has resulted in record daily new infections and fast-rising fatalities.

There is a solution to this man-made crisis... but the worms won't turn.

Time for an online vote of no confidence in the Prayut led government and force him and his cronies to step down.

[worgeordie]

They must think rich people are stupid....and what are they going to use as bait

to lure them

regards Worgeordie

[tjo o tjim]

37 minutes ago, Poet said:

Thailand actually HAD a visa system that was attracting a growing number of solvent foreigners to spend lots of time in the country. Not necessarily millionaires, but millions of them.

Chiang Mai, a nice but not particularly interesting city, had already established itself as the undisputed world leading destination for remote and online workers (a category that will rocket post-Covid). The secret of their success was that Thailand was easy, relaxed, and welcoming. It did not even matter that Thailand was no longer particularly cheap.

And then the army took over, bringing with them a nasty xenophobic tone that every Immigration Officer in every Thai airport picked up on.

A textbook example of a government calmy and methodically shooting off, one-by-one, its own toes.

Thailand was successful with remote work back when internet cafes charged 5Baht/minute… they just didn’t know it and couldn’t distinguish the people from backpackers.  I love Thailand, and enjoy being a long-term tourist.  It all started back when Mr. J handled “visa extensions” on Koh Tao… which gets to the root of the problem: When you have systems that actively make it difficult for people that are helping your economy to operate within a reasonable set of boundaries then they figure out better things to do.

[rumak]

48 minutes ago, Poet said:

removing this quote .....   not related to what i post below

 

Just to be clear.....i still like the PEOPLE .   I mean the normal 90% of the population.  

Like almost every country,   they have little or NO say in what the deleted    rulers and big business moguls do.  

SERFDOM  has been in existence for a long long time.   Actually the readership here are a small percentage also belonging to the privileged minority of the world population.  If some of you feel (rightly)  like things aren't "fair",    try to imagine what a hard working Thai or other third world country worker feels like,  with much LESS chance of reaching the monetary level that most of us have.

OK,  a bit off "subject".......  but bashing the small group of thai workers that feed off of tourists in tourist areas shows how uninformed those who do that are.  The majority of Thais are pretty darn nice. 

That said,  the rulers here ,  as elsewhere,  one would only hope that some day they would face the music.   Does Karma really exist ?    Or,  as i have often observed, is this a world where "no good deed goes unpunished"

Note to Poet:  i agree with your post which i copied in part.

   somehow i went off on another tangent   lol

Edited May 5, 2021 by rumak

[Lacessit]

With the speed of its vaccination rollout, America is rapidly morphing from a pariah nation to one that will be open for unrestricted business, trade and tourism in a very short time.

Thailand take note. You won't be open for tourism until you do the same.

[pagallim]

I think of equal if not higher priority to attracting the 'HNW' individuals, is to retain and maintain the numbers of expats who either retire here or have families.   The last couple of years has seen a decline in these numbers for a variety of reasons, with onerous Immigration requirements being foremost.   There just isn't the replacement numbers anymore for those who choose to move on to pastures new, or 'check out' permanently.

 

Those on modest incomes/pensions will still inevitably make capital purchases when here (accommodation/furnishings/transport etc), as well as in the main stable monthly incomes that contribute billions of baht a year to the Thai economy.

 

Certainly during these times in many areas, it is the Expat population that is helping to sustain local businesses both Thai and Farang owned.

[tjo o tjim]

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

With the speed of its vaccination rollout, America is rapidly morphing from a pariah nation to one that will be open for unrestricted business, trade and tourism in a very short time.

Thailand take note. You won't be open for tourism until you do the same.

The US is having issues getting sufficient people to take the vaccine… issues that seem to be about more than politics (for once), and other countries are reporting similar results.  Wife just had second jab today at a place set up for 2,000 people per day that can only get 500 to come in.

[Poet]

2 minutes ago, rumak said:

 

Just to be clear.....i still like the PEOPLE .   I mean the normal 90% of the population.  

Like almost every country,   they have little or NO say in what the deleted    rulers and big business moguls do.  

SERFDOM  has been in existence for a long long time.   Actually the readership here are a small percentage also belonging to the privileged minority of the world population.  If some of you feel (rightly)  like things aren't "fair",    try to imagine what a hard working Thai or other third world country worker feels like,  with much LESS chance of reaching the monetary level that most of us have.

OK,  a bit off "subject".......  but bashing the small group of thai workers that feed off of tourists in tourist areas shows how uninformed those who do that are.  The majority of Thais are pretty darn nice. 

That said,  the rulers here ,  as elsewhere,  one would only hope that some day they would face the music.   Does Karma really exist ?    Or,  as i have often observed, is this a world where "no good deed goes unpunished"

Sorry, rumak, just checking: was my post the one you meant to reply to?

What you have written does not seem to fit with the content of my post. I did not criticize the people of Thailand and, in fact, emphazied their welcoming nature as one of three major draws.

Neither did I suggest that anything was unfair.

My point was that the government are once again engaging in gymnastics to attract foreign money when, in fact, they were already on a terrific trajectory before they started monkeying around with the visa rules in 2015.

 

[Poet]

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

With the speed of its vaccination rollout, America is rapidly morphing from a pariah nation to one that will be open for unrestricted business, trade and tourism in a very short time.

Thailand take note. You won't be open for tourism until you do the same.

Actually, vaccinated tourists won't care if the local population are vaccinated, and neither will these incoming tourists present any biological threat to the local population.

It would, of course, be good if the local population are vaccinated, but it has no bearing on the recommencement of mass tourism. The key factor is that all the incoming tourists are verifiably fully-innoculated.

 

Edited May 5, 2021 by Poet

[vacajan]

While I support the economy here, but especially poor people, I get no respect!  

I support my wife, her son and her parents.  Built a house and live the laws of this country!  

As a thank you, I have to sign up as a criminal every three months and ask for an extension every year to live here.  

What a crazy policy!

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, tjo o tjim said:

The US is having issues getting sufficient people to take the vaccine… issues that seem to be about more than politics (for once), and other countries are reporting similar results.  Wife just had second jab today at a place set up for 2,000 people per day that can only get 500 to come in.

The Russians and Chinese are mounting huge disinformation campaigns to cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of Western vaccines, it's just another salvo in the "grey war" being conducted in cyberspace.

It's unfortunate there is no vaccine or therapy for ignorance, and also unfortunate COVID is not selective for it.

[WineOh]

lord gimme strength.

 

can they for once change the damn record?

It's beyond embarrassing now, really.

 

Why do they constantly dream up these nonsensical schemes?

are they in competition with each other over who can dream up the most ridiculous idea known to man?

 

Be humble, Thailand.

You should be thankful for any kind of expats/tourism you get in the future, regardless of their so called wealth.

[rumak]

Just now, Poet said:

Sorry, rumak, just checking: was my post the one you meant to reply to?

What you have written does not seem to fit with the content of my post. I did not criticize the people of Thailand and, in fact, emphazied their welcoming nature as one of three major draws.

Neither did I suggest that anything was unfair.

My point was that the government are once again engaging in gymnastics to attract foreign money when, in fact, they were already on a terrific trajectory before they started monkeying around with the visa rules in 2015.

 

 

YES,  I tried with my edit to explain.   I started using your quote to AGREE with you .

The visa system worked fine for my first 20 years here.   

 

T

Just now, Poet said:

 

 

[Blumpie]

Oh they're at it again, the "high class tourist" nonsense.  ????

It's been a year and they're doing it again!  Its like a lousy computer program

10 print "lame"

20 goto 10

run

Oh god I spit my beer out!  

[Susco]

5 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The Russians and Chinese are mounting huge disinformation campaigns to cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of Western vaccines

 

And of course the Western media is innocent of doing exactly the same about the Russian and Chinese vaccines

[Andycoops]

Yet more non sensical jaw jaw trying to protect their menial jobs, yawn.

[Blot]

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

Might be a good idea to look to those long termers already here putting billions in to the economy.

That is something that is tangible not pie in the sky.

 

I agree with you.  Take care of what you have here already Thailand because no Europeans will travel to Thailand "as tourists" for the next 5 years at least.

[cheapcanuck]

Change will not happen until quarantine is gone.  

[Dukeleto]

Still trying to flog that old dead donkey. People with wealth usually have brains. The article talks about deregulation and possible relaxation on Property ownership laws etc but everyone of us who has been here for any amount of time understands it’s the same old baloney that gets spewed up when they are in trouble only to reverse it all and add further regulation when mass tourism returns. They also talk about 200 million retirees world wide they want to tap into and provide and I quote:

“I would group them into two groups – basically mainly retirees, pensioners getting their pensions from the government or a private company, who don’t want to do anything, just find a nice place to stay in Thailand which offers good health care, nice weather, nice food.”

But prior to Covid the same Government we’re doing there very best to make retirees lives anything but! Perhaps they are relying on old peoples short memories!

 

You simply cannot trust anything that say or do because what they change today can and often is changed the next day which doesn’t really lead to a relaxing retirement or investment. If there is one thing you can guarantee with Thailand is that they will always bite the hand that feeds them. Now that you can take to the bank and make money on!

 

[Blumpie]

2 minutes ago, Blot said:

I agree with you.  Take care of what you have here already Thailand because no Europeans will travel to Thailand "as tourists" for the next 5 years at least.

That's a little long but is it possible or even probable?  Yes.  

2023 is a pipe dream.  

For real, forget 2021 / 2022 high season.  It is toast.  There is simply not way that high tourism is going to happen yet again.  Then low season will come and people will be freaking out.  

[ChipButty]

32 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

If I’m one of the riff raff then I will go spend my monthly income of 80,000 bht in one of the neighbouring countries who I’m sure will welcome me with open arms . I haven’t left Thailand since 2009 I would like to think that I have helped the economy I know my little local shops enjoy my coming to them especially since Covid raised its ugly head without all us rif raff who have stayed during the pandemic the economy would be in a far worse position ! 

Without the farang in my area it would have passed away long time ago most of the bars and restaurants that are still going are farang owned, I still see villas being built and one out the back of my house so that has kept them guys in work for over 12 months lots of people benefit from that one villa being built, 

[faraday]

Baldrick: I have a cunning plan.

 

Edmund: Yes, perhaps, but I think I may have a more cunning one.

 

Baldrick: Well, mine’s pretty cunning, My Lord.

 

Ad infinitum.

[ThailandRyan]

17 minutes ago, Poet said:

Actually, vaccinated tourists won't care if the local population are vaccinated, and neither will these incoming tourists present any biological threat to the local population.

It would, of course, be good if the local population are vaccinated, but it has no bearing on the recommencement of mass tourism. The key factor is that all the incoming tourists are verifiably fully-innoculated.

 

But they will care that the places close down by 10, 11 pm, and you can not dine-in or drink a glass of wine with your dinner.  There are no National Parks, Historic venues and such open either for the near foreseeable future and hotels that were closed will stay closed and those that are open have at best a 3 month liquidity of cash.  Quarantines for those vaccinated is now 14 days again, and who in their right mind, unless you are returning here to get home, would really even punish themselves for a 2 to 4 week vacation.  Of course that is my opinion and view and we agree to disagree on your view as well.  People may have money since they saved during the pandemic for those that worked, but it does not mean they are willing to throw it away when they can go elsewhere and vacation with no quarantines in place for the same prices.

[thailand49]

Thai business 101?   When business is down charge more to make up the difference.  Throw out the Elite Visa again and raise the price when already there are no takers, get into the quarantine business, get into the insurance business, then the endless talk of high end tourist and investors, funny since the outbreak started in December no more talk about plane loads of Chinese?  ????

[Poet]

35 minutes ago, tjo o tjim said:

Thailand was successful with remote work back when internet cafes charged 5Baht/minute… they just didn’t know it and couldn’t distinguish the people from backpackers.  I love Thailand, and enjoy being a long-term tourist.  It all started back when Mr. J handled “visa extensions” on Koh Tao… which gets to the root of the problem: When you have systems that actively make it difficult for people that are helping your economy to operate within a reasonable set of boundaries then they figure out better things to do.

Yes, it essentially boils down to a very low level of intellectual ability among the departments being paid to think about this stuff.

If any of us were running Thailand as a business, with the aim of providing maximum employment and economic opportunity to the citizens, we would replace the entire visa system (tourist, education, marriage, retirement, business etc) with a free one-year visa waiver that could be renewed every year without limit and without needing to leave the country. Hell, I would make it renewable at 7-11.

Working on the basis that every foreigner contributes to the economy, you would maximise the number coming in but retain the right to boot anyone out if they cause trouble.

If the supposed problem of foreigners doing a runner on their hospital bills is an actual problem, I suppose you could insist that everyone coming in have insurance, but this complication would inevitably reduce the number coming in and I suspect that most hospitals are actually pretty good at collecting their money.

If you do insist on comprehensive insurance, okay, probably a good idea anyway, but it should also completely replace the current bank deposit scheme for marriage and retirement extensions.

In short: Make it easy to come and spend money in Thailand.

 

Edited May 5, 2021 by Poet