2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone dislikes the Thai system they are free to take their money elsewhere. Surprisingly, many do despite the "rules". I guess they like Thailand then.

 

I hope Thailand never becomes like a western country. If that's a problem for a farang, they know where the exit is.

If all westerns would leave there was not much left of Thailand

4 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

If all westerns would leave there was not much left of Thailand

You rate your value to Thailand much higher than  anyone else does or than is warranted.

Way too late for this rule, but +1 for trying.   

Reciprocal laws needed.

 

British people cannot own land or 100% of a normal business in Thailand?

 

Thai people can't own land or businesses in UK.

 

Simples. 

No matter what the authorities say, with increasing numbers of Chinese coming to Thailand the nominee problem is likely to become increasingly serious. Many Chinese visitors have no intention to return to their homeland.

31 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

You rate your value to Thailand much higher than  anyone else does or than is warranted.

there are 3 to 4 million foreigners working/living in Thailand.... They pay tax and spend money here.... What do you think do the contribute to the economy?? And that are not tourists 

2 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

there are 3 to 4 million foreigners working/living in Thailand.... They pay tax and spend money here.... What do you think do the contribute to the economy?? And that are not tourists 

The poster specified Westerners, not foreigners, there is not 3 to 4 million Westerners living in Thailand, there may however be 200,000 or so.

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So what? Why does everything have to be a competition? Life should be about more than greed.

Are you sure you are connected to the same planet like the rest of us? ????

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone dislikes the Thai system they are free to take their money elsewhere. Surprisingly, many do despite the "rules". I guess they like Thailand then.

 

I hope Thailand never becomes like a western country. If that's a problem for a farang, they know where the exit is.

And here we have it again! What a nasty statement when so many Thai's start and own businesses and own land and property in other countries. So many foreigners do leave as did their businesses in 2014-16. Just wait and see how many big foreign businesses who have already got their ducks in a row to pull out when the next election is rigged and an unelected PM is put back in office.

1 hour ago, nigelforbes said:

You rate your value to Thailand much higher than  anyone else does or than is warranted.

And you very much underestimate it!

Thailand has a high number of poor and uneducated people. Food preparation or food businesses are a primary source of entrepreneurship and economic development for these people. It is simple and easy to scale. Especially for women.

 

So it reasonable to exclude foreigners from this industry.

43 minutes ago, BritScot said:

And you very much underestimate it!

I did the math once. If you add up the annual financial contribution from every Westerner in Thailand, including their 800K in the bank for their visa and subtract it from GDP, if they all left tomorrow, the impact is about 3% of GDP......less than peanuts.

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

As one that lives in a country where IMO just about everything important is owned by foreigners I support the Thais 100%.

Why should foreigners be allowed to own anything in LOS anyway? If they want to they should become citizens.

 

Without that competition, product and service quality is always going to remain very low and the investment in people, virtually non-existent.

Competition isn't everything and the Thais have managed quite well so far. I'd rather live in LOS than in a western country which is all about greed profit over people.

 

I understand where you are coming from, Thailand has its unique charms and culture, and for many of us, that is one of the things that attracted us here.

 

Respectfully, however, I think that is an easier position to take coming into Thailand as a foreigner having had all the benefits of the system which is supported by 'greed/profit'.

Education, healthcare, work experience in desired industries and yes, financial security have, in many cases, given us as westerners financial and career freedom to either explore Thailand as a worker or as a retiree. That is, by definition, a wholly different experience to those born and raised here.

 

I can't speak for others but when I see this kind of pronouncement but national security is not the first thing that springs into my mind but rather a continuing ploy by a small, unelected group to keep firm control over business and national interests, more than likely to the overall detriment of the wider Thai populace. This would appear to be evidenced by Thailand's gini co-efficient and general poverty, educational and socio-economic measurements.

Interesting, everybody is equal in Thailand ....... some though are more equal than the others. 

Throw in skin colour, religion or cuisine into the equation and the result is, that non-Thais may not carve ice or run a barber/hairdressing saloon - among others. 

Thailand, when looked up, translates into "Paradise for dinosaur" - spot on, keep up the good work! 

9 hours ago, nigelforbes said:

Read my post again, all of it!

I did but I still don't understand why I will never, ever be allowed to buy a single small piece of land which would contain my main residence.

 

12 hours ago, nigelforbes said:

I don't know if this is xenophobia or just plain greed, or perhaps fear of competition from people more capable, but this exclusion of foreigners in almost everything becomes stifling after a while. I understand foreigners not being allowed to own land but even companies must be 51% Thai owned. Plus as the article says, there's a long list of professions and jobs that are closed to everyone apart from locals. Apparently, local Thai's need protecting from foreigners, that's why the country imports so little, to protect home grown industries. Without that competition, product and service quality is always going to remain very low and the investment in people, virtually non-existent. It is ironic that 11% of Thai GDP comes from foreigners who are actively sought to vacation here.

Bingo.

 

I believe you just hit on all the reasons why Thailand is destined to remain a “developing” country in perpetuity.

27 minutes ago, fusion58 said:

Bingo.

 

 

Gambling is illegal in Thailand, I will not participate.

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

I did but I still don't understand why I will never, ever be allowed to buy a single small piece of land which would contain my main residence.

 

Because in the 1960's, when it was legal for foreigners to buy land, wealthy Indian's bought up large amounts of land from impoverished Thai's, at knock downprices. Before long, Thailand's land ownership started to head in the same direction that the US and the UK's did. Local people couldn't afford a roof over their head, because foreign buyers had driven up prices so government stepped in, just like the US and UK's government should have, and said, no more. You want to own your plot of land here for the same reasons the Indians did, because it's good value or cheap and because you can afford it whilst many locals can't.

What an absolute laugh

 

I was just down in mbk. I've not been inside in at least ten years. I think perhaps three times since my first visit in 1992.

 

The shops were just lousy with foreigners running the little shops. I'd put Thai ownership / clerks I'd seen at 10-15%.

14 hours ago, freedomnow said:

What do you understand about this ? They can own land in majority of developed world if they have the cash.

What is a developed world?

I bet that most of the posters complaining, wish their country was doing the same. ????

13 hours ago, nigelforbes said:

You rate your value to Thailand much higher than  anyone else does or than is warranted.

Well put it that way if all western invention was to be pulled out of Thailand, they would not even have the toilet roll on the restaurants table 

54 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Well put it that way if all western invention was to be pulled out of Thailand, they would not even have the toilet roll on the restaurants table 

Rubbish! Give us three examples of that intervention, easier still, give us one.

And when thais are in places like Australia the are free to operate any business they like and own land and see it as their right.   They even see Australians as farangs in Australia.

2 hours ago, still kicking said:

Well put it that way if all western invention was to be pulled out of Thailand, they would not even have the toilet roll on the restaurants table 

I have never understood the concept of having toilet paper on the dinning table. My wife insists on a roll loo paper even tho we have napkins available 

15 hours ago, Don Chance said:

Thailand has a high number of poor and uneducated people. Food preparation or food businesses are a primary source of entrepreneurship and economic development for these people. It is simple and easy to scale. Especially for women.

 

So it reasonable to exclude foreigners from this industry.

I so wanted to retire there and open a roadside stand selling grilled field rats.  SIGH.

On 1/16/2023 at 9:11 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

As one that lives in a country where IMO just about everything important is owned by foreigners I support the Thais 100%.

Why should foreigners be allowed to own anything in LOS anyway? If they want to they should become citizens.

 

Without that competition, product and service quality is always going to remain very low and the investment in people, virtually non-existent.

Competition isn't everything and the Thais have managed quite well so far. I'd rather live in LOS than in a western country which is all about greed profit over people.

 

 

Thailand has the greatest wealth inequality of any SE Asia country.

A tiny fraction of society own virtually everything.

Ask the Isaan slaves to their Bangkok masters about greed over profit.

 

 

2 hours ago, PCUSHING said:

 

Thailand has the greatest wealth inequality of any SE Asia country.

A tiny fraction of society own virtually everything.

Ask the Isaan slaves to their Bangkok masters about greed over profit.

 

 

Er, is that because Thailand has more poor people or is it because their economic growth over the past two decades has created more wealthy people, you know, job creators and the like...asking for a friend.

3 hours ago, nigelforbes said:

Er, is that because Thailand has more poor people or is it because their economic growth over the past two decades has created more wealthy people, you know, job creators and the like...asking for a friend.

Show your friend these articles -

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/economy/40021361

 

https://theaseanpost.com/article/growing-gap-between-richest-and-poorest-thais

 

https://www.aseantoday.com/2019/01/thailands-wealth-inequality-is-the-highest-in-the-world-what-does-this-mean-for-upcoming-elections/

 

In 2019 1% of Thailand owned 67% of it's wealth.

 

As for their "wealth creators", i think you mean the same families and clans, many with Chinese lineage.

Nepotism at it's finest.

 

 

On 1/16/2023 at 9:13 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

So what? Why does everything have to be a competition? Life should be about more than greed.

I agree, life should be about more than greed. But business and the economy is about money.