Thailand steps up efforts to attract more expats

[CANSIAM]

55 minutes ago, edwarda909 said:

What about the millions of doses of vaccines donated?  You don't hear any official announcements of thanks.

And I doubt the LOAN of 300,000 AZ from Bhutan will not be returned by year end ( 2021 ) as per the deal several months back........

[dlclark97]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm guessing most of us invest about 2,000,000 baht minimum in thailand every 3 years, merely through expenditure. I think that should count for more than it does.  

Hell, I invest over 2.5 mil a year.  

[Flink]

5 hours ago, madmen said:

They been mulling this for 10 years and every final proposal is dependent on pensioners having 10 million baht in a Thai bank blah blah 

Of which they'll only ever get 1 million back

[sammieuk1]

The main focus of the attraction will be a wheelbarrow at Swampy for your wedge that can be proved to be refilled or you can do one ????

 

[Gottfrid]

13 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Actually that's pretty much what NZ required document wise For immigration so many posting  here really have not got a clue!!

 

 

 

What, are you telling me I do not have a clue. As far as I know NZ is a little tiny island in the middle of the water. Not so much connected to the real world.

Beware stranger! You will only reach us by water! Call K. Costner! Here comes the Waterworld!

[mberbae]

Giving the shaft to the thousands of expats who are raising Thai families here

including children from previous Thai husbands seems to count for nothing.

The rich will quickly see that bringing money INTO Thailand is Easy.

Taking it OUT, good luck with that.  They will go elsewhere.

 

[JCP108]

5 hours ago, mokwit said:

 

They have yet to perfect the "stay at home and send the money visa", but are sure with enough effort they can crack this one.

Evidence that you are right about this is the Thailand Pass which: 1) requires that you buy an expensive airline ticket, hotel room, PCR test, and insurance before applying, then, 2) frustrates the <deleted> out of the applicant making them want to give up on the trip altogether. 

[Blumpie]

Gentlemen... (ladies here?  Are there?)

The whole world only wants the rich.  Rich immigrants.  There is a mini war on earth wide for them.  It is much easier to get into a country if you are wealthy than not.  ????  Don't take it personal.

But look at how low Thailand is starting to go.  That is really what is remarkable.  

At this rate, it will be "Thailand, we will take anyone".  Send your invalids, sick, depressed to the land of smiles.  Thai food saves like jesus christ.  Come to the altar and bring your pension.  

Oh how the wine talks.  Oh how it does talk....

[freedomnow]

Ditiching 90-Day reporting, and the general way immigration interact with us would be a start.

 

Key - STABLE, WORKABLE SENSIBLE framework of rules instead of flip-flopping on the minutae all the time.

 

Keep the same frikin' rulles in place without changing them if they are well thought out and attract foreigners ultimately.

 

But yeah, just ditch that 90-day <deleted>, "assume alive and not doing criminal stuff' until otherwise indicated.

[atpeace]

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

plenty plenty plenty of dual pricing in USA... 

I'm sure you have examples but for the life of me I can't come up with one that that is a common occurrence or impacts may expats in America. 

 

Double pricing here only costs me 1-2k ( mostly public parks) baht a year unless I'm running races and then it can get to be ridiculous.  Some races have wanted 100% to 200% more and also excluded us from most the prize money.  In the end, it isn't a huge concern.

Edited November 9, 2021 by atpeace

[Blumpie]

5 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

Evidence that you are right about this is the Thailand Pass which: 1) requires that you buy an expensive airline ticket, hotel room, PCR test, and insurance before applying, then, 2) frustrates the <deleted> out of the applicant making them want to give up on the trip altogether. 

Keeping on my jesus theme (nobody else is noticing or caring, and rightfully so), I'd rather be nailed to a cross by my genitals than go through all that right now.  

I share your pain - it's beyond ridiculous and what in the living devil are you going to do there anyways?  Thailand we all knew is dead and gone.  

[1FinickyOne]

5 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I'm sure you have examples but for the life of me I can't come up with one that that is a common occurrence or impacts may expats in America. 

 

Double pricing here only costs me 1-2k ( mostly public parks) baht a year unless I'm running races and then it can get to be ridiculous.  Some races have wanted 100% to 200% more and also excluded us from most the prize money.  In the end, it isn't a huge concern.

Local county golf courses charge more for people out of county....

 

State Universities are far more expensive for people in state than out of state...

 

Thai pricing at public parks doesn't bother me at all... 

[Orinoco]

6 hours ago, RafPinto said:

Do i count as "highly skilled"?

 

I master the art of bringing happiness to women.

What you go to the ATM every day, then hand it all over to them.

Nice one . !!!!!! LOL

 

[Caldera]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said there are still many pros and cons to consider before any formal announcement regarding long term residency for foreigners is made.

Of course. This proposal will be handed down from one committee to the next, and ultimately die a slow death or get implemented in the most convoluted and unattractive form possible.

[atpeace]

15 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Local county golf courses charge more for people out of county....

 

State Universities are far more expensive for people in state than out of state...

 

Thai pricing at public parks doesn't bother me at all... 

I doubt these impact many expats in the USA but probably better examples.  Not a big deal here either but the National parks usual at least 5x more and sometimes 10x more.  That is a little excessive?

[Rocking Robert]

And on U Tube. They show you how to retire in Thailand on 1000 usd A month

[Rayfromwangchompoo]

Get rid of the dual prices for

Farangs

[JCP108]

55 minutes ago, Blumpie said:

Keeping on my jesus theme (nobody else is noticing or caring, and rightfully so), I'd rather be nailed to a cross by my genitals than go through all that right now.  

I share your pain - it's beyond ridiculous and what in the living devil are you going to do there anyways?  Thailand we all knew is dead and gone.  

I'm a motivated traveler. I had retired to Thailand pre-pandemic, had to come back to the U.S. during the pandemic for some urgent family matters, and want to get back to Thailand to be with wife (who is waiting a very, very long time for her U.S. visa due to the Trump administration completing <deleted>-ing up the immigration process). So, I'm not a typical tourist (like many others trying to travel to Thailand right now). If I were just looking for a nice holidy, no way would I put up with all of these frustrations. I expect that is true for many and their insane system will deter many would-be tourists. 

[koele2]

All these ministers and high level officials probably don’t even know one expat living here.  Nor do they mingle with the foreign tourists.  They stay in their comfy little bubble acting smart and important.

[Jen65]

7 hours ago, pkrv said:

How about a little more consideration for those of us who are here? Regardless of income bracket, most are supporting the economy to one extent or another, but perhaps those in charge are simply just looking only at how many zeroes are on the end of our wealth with no further analysis needed.

absolutely no consideration for the average retired expat / family here who have supported Thai's in their time of need , donated food and /or assistance or employment  .   

[ttrd]

 

The expats would be divided into four groups:

 

 1. ‘Rich’ global citizens

 

2. ‘Wealthy’ retirees

 

3. Digital nomads - or professionals working from Thailand

 

4. Highly skilled professionals

 

---------------

 

* So what can one understand from this - that skin color does not seem to be important as long as you have enough money ...?... 

[ChrisKC]

I would like to tell my prospective tourists that during the time Thailand was closed due to Covid  we have been working hard towards improving aspects that we know needed serious attention, so that the amazing Thailand you once knew really is more amazing!

 

We have cleaned up all of our Country, our beaches  are clean, the sea is warm and refreshing and clean.

 

Many organisations at local level especially in main tourist areas have been working together with Hoteliers, transport, particularly taxis and local businesses who know only too well that the new cleaner Thailand is ready to provide quality service with the famous Thai smile and be sincere with it!

 

Come to Thailand and enjoy yourselves; you are very welcome and you will feel welcome, safe and hopefully our efforts to educate people who might otherwise try to cheat you have understood the message, that leaves their customers wanting more and keep coming back!

 

Sincerely,

 

All of the Thai Government and Tourism agencies.

 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by ChrisKC
typo

[ddotmark]

7 hours ago, mokwit said:

They have yet to perfect the "stay at home and send the money visa", but are sure with enough effort they can crack this one.

They already have that Visa...it's called the "Bar Girl Visa". 

 

Very simple to obtain...no paperwork...no visits to Immigration.  Any bar girl can issue this Visa. 

[moe666]

8 hours ago, mahtin said:

Big bucks only need apply.

It is the same in every country if you have big bucks the red carpet is rolled out. Half a million will get you a green card from day one in the US

[moe666]

7 hours ago, Fujionrye said:

I'm in Canada and, as of today, I can drive across the American border with proof of Vaccination and my passport. That's it. No Covid insurance, Covid test, foolish paper work, visa, or quarantine. With my Canadian passport, I can stay six months Go anywhere, stay anywhere and not report anything to anyone. So that's the competition Thailand. Go for it.

Yes it is easy but at the end of the day you will be either in Canada, US or Mexico, big deal. prefer to be in Thailand.

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

I doubt these impact many expats in the USA but probably better examples.  Not a big deal here either but the National parks usual at least 5x more and sometimes 10x more.  That is a little excessive?

well, 5x 30 is 150 baht... = $5

 

golf in usa?? - maybe 2x ?? but 2x $50 is much more to be concerned about. 

 

There are all sorts of things, Sr. Discounts etc... but basically, you are in another culture with their own way of doing things... as in your culture, you have your own way of doing things - - I mean, you don't come to Siam and expect everything to be the same as St. Louis, right? 

[rudi49jr]

Why not concentrate on ‘the average’ expat? I think that is the biggest group by far, and if you make it easier for them to come and live in Thailand, that would probably attract the most money. Start by getting rid of all the (or most of the) ridiculous hoops that expats have to jump through in order to be able to live here. Other countries can do it, so why not Thailand? Then get rid of the dual pricing system. Also maybe educate Thai people that expats/farangs are not just walking wallets or ATM’s, we are not all infinitely rich. And then maybe actually start doing something about the increasing air pollution, because Bangkok is getting to be very unhealthy to live in for at least six months a year, and northern Thailand is mostly just a blanket of haze and smog for 4-5 months every year. 
All this ain’t never going to happen, of course. The powers that be have their own ‘sources of income’, regardless of how many expats come to Thailand, so they don’t give even the tiniest little sh*t. And it shows, because these ideas to attract more expats have been floated for as long as I can remember, and nothing ever came of it.

[atpeace]

34 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

well, 5x 30 is 150 baht... = $5

 

golf in usa?? - maybe 2x ?? but 2x $50 is much more to be concerned about. 

 

There are all sorts of things, Sr. Discounts etc... but basically, you are in another culture with their own way of doing things... as in your culture, you have your own way of doing things - - I mean, you don't come to Siam and expect everything to be the same as St. Louis, right? 

No, just a discussion of double pricing.  Think you may be taking it too seriously.  Anyhow, wish it didn't exist but it is what it is.  Most parks I go to are more than 150.  Closer to 400 but get your point.

[spidermike007]

This is so bizarre. These prehistoric creeps have little understanding of the most basic fundamentals. There are countless reasons why only 15 ex-pats may apply for this program. I could go on all day. Won't bore you with stuff you already know. 

 

A friend of mine uses a foreign lawyer in Bangkok, who is one of the top attorneys around. He said his office cannot find enough hours in the day to meet with expats who are leaving, with their Thai spouse or family, and dealing with trusts and wills for their remaining Thai families, properties, etc. He said he has never seen anything like it, in the 30 years he has been in practice here. Tens of thousands of expats are leaving. Many with significant assets. Guess they want to replace us with only fat cats. I have some news for the fools. Fat cats have zero interest in Thailand. 

 

Woe is Thailand. Where is the hope for the future? 

The dinosaur dunces are moving this nation backwards at a breakneck pace. Truly regressive reptilian leadership. 

[SymS]

3 hours ago, BE88 said:

1. ‘Rich’ global citizens                                                                       Replay.  Thailand no, I am global

 

2. ‘Wealthy’ retirees                                                                           Replay.  Thailand is it a tax haven?

 

3. Digital nomads - or professionals working from Thailand         Replay.  May be, but "Not tax free offer"

 

4. Highly skilled professionals.                                                          Replay.    Pattaya closed

 

5. Retirement 0-A   O                                                                         Replay.    Many of my friends have already left and others are leaving

 

                                  Mistake # 5 was not mentioned

 

Considering you are not taxed for oversea income, Thailand can be made a tax haven. Of course, it depends on circumstances, tax treaties, and so on.