File photo 

 

The BBC's Thai service went to Phuket to report on the increasing number of people choosing Thailand - and the southern Thai island in particular - as a place for so called workations.

 

This is the by now familiar joining of the words "work and vacation".

 

But it is not just a temporary thing for a few weeks or months.

 

Many digital nomads who can work distantly are virtually living in Thailand while working for their companies abroad. 

 

After all what is the difference with working from home just kilometers from your office when you can live somewhere better on the other side of the world and do the same job.

 

The BBC interview a man called Andy Lee, a US national of South Korean extraction, who they found in his new Phuket "office" - a coffee shop.

 

Andy, a company owner, said that he took advantage of the Phuket Sandbox back in August for a holiday and after 45 days on the island and a subsequent trip to see cousins in Korea decided to return on a more permanent basis.

 

He got a Special Tourist Visa that would give him 9 months in Thailand. 

 

The 34 year old notes that Phuket was known as a party island but given his age he was not really interested in that now. He was more interested in the place as somewhere to work and live.

 

Prior to arriving in Thailand he would work and holiday in the USA but now he has swapped that life for Thailand. 

 

He loves his office where he can have a great beverage or something nice to eat while contacting his customers in the US or elsewhere. 

 

The BBC found him perusing Brand Name products on his screen in a corner of the coffee shop.

 

Not that he needs to hide. The Thai authorities under the auspices of the TAT are promoting the country under their "Workation in Thailand Plan".

 

Previous fears that there would be crackdowns on people working in the country without a permit are now rooted in the past.

 

The government are actively trying to entice digital nomads - especially the well-heeled variety to come to the country and use it as their base to work. They are even offering work permits to some in plans announced recently. 

 

Many workers are choosing Phuket with its pleasant climate and great facilities as an ideal place for workation. 

 

The BBC called this a burgeoning new market that is growing fast. 

 

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Did they get sent a TAT press kit to rewrite?

 

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

Previous fears that there would be crackdowns on people working in the country without a permit are now rooted in the past.

 

The government are actively trying to entice digital nomads - especially the well-heeled variety to come to the country and use it as their base to work. They are even offering work permits to some in plans announced recently. 

Cognitive dissonance.. The ability to keep 2 mutually incompatible beliefs at the same time. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Previous fears that there would be crackdowns on people working in the country without a permit are now rooted in the past.

They'll be back!

On 12/7/2021 at 4:29 AM, webfact said:

Many digital nomads who can work distantly are virtually living in Thailand while working for their companies abroad. 

So where are they actually living then?

Cue the usual NO WORK PERMIT bunch with nothing better to do.

 

Like many other teachers, before and after work I teach online. Not a fabulous amount of money, but it does help.

 

The gas tank's empty again, the poo poo tank's full again, the ToSoKo's after their debts again. A regular infusion of USD goes a long way out here in the moo ban.