Is Thailand likely to see a mass exodus of expats?

[webfact]

 

by Michael Bridge

Every year from April to June many Europeans leave Thailand to fly back to enjoy the summer months back home.

They leave every year and generally return in October or November for six months like migrating birds heading for the warmer weather.

During the summer months, it gets noticeably quieter in the saunas, bars, restaurants, and on golf courses when they leave. 

The big question is how many of them will return in 2022?

The majority have retired, so they like to return home to see family and friends which is understandable.

However, this year many may decide enough is enough and will stay put.

Most have rented properties in Thailand before, so they do not need to keep paying rent.

Of course, some may have had partners or casual girlfriends here too, but some may fly off with their expat partners, while others will most likely return to stay with families.

However, with rents rising and the cost of living also going up, it is not that cheap to stay here anymore.

Obviously, if they also want to get around the price of fuel means the casual trip to other parts of Thailand can be very costly.

 

And talking about costs, the jump in airfares due to the increase in vacationers, coupled with the fact the planes from Thailand now must avoid Russian airspace, has made buying a ticket quite expensive too.

It is hard to find a return ticket for less than THB30,000 to Europe unless you want two to three stops.

Of course, the other reason these migrators may be reluctant to return is the uncertainty of how they will be received at immigration on arrival.

And as many are elderly will they be able to obtain a suitable insurance package at their age to allow them to stay and at what cost?

The Thai government most likely thinks this group is not helping the economy and the hospitality industry.

That said these expats will spend money here.

 

They go regularly to the supermarkets, pay for electricity, water and the internet, as well eating out at restaurants, drinking in the bars, renting bikes, playing golf, and visiting the massage shops.

And many like to take breaks in other parts of the country.

So, in a small way by making it hard for them to return, the government is missing out on the income they would spend in Thailand.

And with so few tourists around, surely the migrating expat would spend more in six months than a bus load of Indian holidaymakers on a budget trip to Thailand.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-06-08

 

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[jerrymahoney]

Well I guess that's one difference some of us non-European American expats have: No reason to return to Florida for the summer because it's as hot or maybe even hotter than it is here in LOS.

[BE88]

Many expats from Europe have already returned permanently, those who remain will make it more difficult to move to another country as they have families in Thailand so they will resist the rise in prices in Thailand because prices in Europe are also rising.

For the most part, the migratory birds of the six months have already found more hospitable places in the southern European countries and Arab countries.

[bkk6060]

I think it is just the opposite more want, and will come here.

It is literally 4 to 5 times more expensive to live in my home country now then here.  If a person has a fully paid off house or can stay for free with family back home, then I guess they can consider  it   Otherwise, most of the living expenses listed are way way up in western countries now compared to here.  Not to mention, all the political issues with hate being at an all time high.  And for men, younger attractive female company is non existent.

I am very happy remaining here thanks, go back once a year for a month to visit family that is more then enough.

Edited June 7, 2022 by bkk6060

[wasabi]

It is still relatively cheap to live here and the Thailand Elite Visa makes immigration easy. Air pollution is the number one reason I would consider leaving. 

[Orinoco]

We moan a bit.

Mostly in Soi 6.

But we still stay.

 

 

Edited June 7, 2022 by Orinoco

[Gecko123]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

a bus load of Indian holidaymakers on a budget trip

Was it really necessary to single out a specific nationality to make your point?

[RichardColeman]

I really do not like living in Thailand, I would much rather be living with my thai wife and daughter in the UK, but circumstances prevent that currently - though that issue is not financial.

 

So, I am here for my family, not as i want to be. We'd leave tomorrow if we could. 

 

As for others leaving, no idea, those I speak to are happy here and wont leave (even to the detriment of their own health) and there will always be a demand for horny old men to come and live near young sexy women !

[daveAustin]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

So, in a small way by making it hard for them to return, the government is missing out on the income they would spend in Thailand.

The government couldn’t care less and, yes, prices may be at an all time high in Thailand but are exponentially so in the West. It’s clearly not what it was, however, but nor is anywhere. The world is a complete shower of s***! Just find some measure of peace and hold onto it. 

[jerrymahoney]

14 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I really do not like living in Thailand

No wonder all your posted comments on here always seem so up-beat.

[Gecko123]

Leaving America to escape the rising cost of living may seem attractive, but it could all go up in smoke if either the USD is devalued or entitlement programs have to be cut.

 

The US debt and deficit are on a scary upward trajectory due to rising borrowing costs and burgeoning entitlement program payouts. The same is true for many other Western countries. If either the dollar devalues (think British pound post-Brexit) or entitlement programs are slashed, the incentive for moving overseas in order to lower living costs could disappear overnight.

 

Becoming an ex-pat for financial reasons becomes a rather dicey decision when you start pondering what the future might hold.

 

Edited June 7, 2022 by Gecko123

[ikke1959]

Expats could contribute much more to the Thai community. As we live here we spend our money and indeed go on trips all over the country and not to forget we pay taxes too. But we could also do some volunteer work, or do other things, but the Government doesn't allow anything. Even sometimes we read that darts or bridge are being fined as they everything as gambling. 

Now with the dual pricing that they start again even for expats here it will be less attractive to stay

[jacko45k]

We are well into June, I think those who have needed to get back to Europe etc, have gone already, before the school holidays really pumps fares up. 

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, with rents rising and the cost of living also going up, it is not that cheap to stay here anymore.

With no tourist, I expect rents to keep dropping.

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

With no tourist, I expect rents to keep dropping.

There are millions and millions coming from India!

[Mentors65]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

I think it is just the opposite more want, and will come here.

It is literally 4 to 5 times more expensive to live in my home country now then here.  If a person has a fully paid off house or can stay for free with family back home, then I guess they can consider  it   Otherwise, most of the living expenses listed are way way up in western countries now compared to here.  Not to mention, all the political issues with hate being at an all time high.  And for men, younger attractive female company is non existent.

I am very happy remaining here thanks, go back once a year for a month to visit family that is more then enough.

Same do i. I'm always thankful i don't have to stay more than 3-4 weeks once a Year in my home country

[sammieuk1]

One reason I like being here now is no gas bill no mortgage no HP no council tax it makes up for other shortfalls ???? 

[BE88]

22 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

One reason I like being here now is no gas bill no mortgage no HP no council tax it makes up for other shortfalls ???? 

They are good incentives and you also don't risk getting a bomb named Satan on your head now.????

[garyk]

1 hour ago, Gecko123 said:

Leaving America to escape the rising cost of living may seem attractive, but it could all go up in smoke if either the USD is devalued or entitlement programs have to be cut.

 

The US debt and deficit are on a scary upward trajectory due to rising borrowing costs and burgeoning entitlement program payouts. The same is true for many other Western countries. If either the dollar devalues (think British pound post-Brexit) or entitlement programs are slashed, the incentive for moving overseas in order to lower living costs could disappear overnight.

 

Becoming an ex-pat for financial reasons becomes a rather dicey decision when you start pondering what the future might hold.

 

Kiddo's may have something to worry about. We will be dead before it get to bad.

[Henryford]

Why would anyone leave? Great weather here, living costs 30% of the West, young female company.

[JonnyF]

I know a few who have left already, mainly for financial reasons due to Covid ruining their business.

 

Personally I like it. It's not perfect but you learn to mostly avoid the bad things and focus on the good things. The only bad thing I cannot avoid are the roads. Incredibly dangerous and I do at least a couple of thousand kms per month.

 

I have no plans to leave any time soon although my family sending me pics of their Mediterranean holidays does make me think about it sometimes. Clean beaches, beautiful water, cheap food and drink, looks great.

[freedomnow]

Just national rotation...then all the signs change to Indian next ?

 

If not for g/f here - it would be Sri Lanka/Vietnam and Costa Rica on rotation.

[Gecko123]

6 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

Just national rotation...then all the signs change to Indian next ?

 

If not for g/f here - it would be Sri Lanka/Vietnam and Costa Rica on rotation.

I take it you haven't been following the news on Sri Lanka's economy very closely.

[KhunLA]

Can't think of a reason to leave.  Most negative thing is a couple months of air pollution, and usually <100 AQI.  Outweighed by many positive to being here instead of elsewhere.

 

Too many disadvantages to returning to USA, mostly financial.   Too lazy to think about going elsewhere.  67 yrs old and rooted, with adult daughter.  Especially now, as just finished a house build, and picking up the adjacent lot, to that build today.

 

For us personally and Thailand, things are actually getting better & better every year.  Easy to adapt to the slight changes here in Thailand.

 

This is HOME, more so than any other place I've lived.  Until I win the PowerBall lottery, can't think of a better place to be.  If I hit that, I wouldn't be anywhere, and probably just live out of hotels worldwide.  If not traveling First Class, I don't see the point.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

There are millions and millions coming from India!

Perhaps you have not noticed. The Indians I have known, to a man, were as tight as a duck's bum.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Was it really necessary to single out a specific nationality to make your point?

With 5 million of them 'expected' in Pattaya in the rest of this year, YES !

[freedomnow]

23 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

I take it you haven't been following the news on Sri Lanka's economy very closely.

Er, yes I have...am I going there just now..no...will it always be like this....no.

 

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I am very happy remaining here thanks, go back once a year for a month to visit family that is more then enough.

I can talk to my son any time I want by DUO or ZOOM in Australia.

I haven't been back to Australia during COVID, can't be bothered with the hoops to jump through at either end.

Apart from the price of gasoline, I can't say there has been any increase in my cost of living, which would be a lot more in Australia and a lot of other countries. Lay that squarely on the Russian doorstep.

[Lacessit]

19 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Can't think of a reason to leave.  Most negative thing is a couple months of air pollution, and usually <100 AQI.  Outweighed by many positive to being here instead of elsewhere.

 

 

I have not needed my air purifiers this year in Chiang Rai, the rainy season started early. Dare I whisper the words climate change?

Be that as it may, I just crank up the air purifiers when the meter hits 100, the air I breathe is back down to 25 in 20 minutes.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

Why would anyone leave? Great weather here, living costs 30% of the West, young female company.

You forgot the temples.