Thailand’s dependence on tourism means losing passport wars

[webfact]

 

By Pasuth Thothaveesansuk

 

For foreigners from the so-called ‘global north’ traveling to Thailand, for the most part, they can just come whenever they please without the need of a visa for stays ranging from 45 to 90 days.

 

Yes, this includes travelers from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Schengen member states, whose governments all make it an ordeal for Thais to get a visa to go the opposite direction. The European Union claims that its policy is to achieve full reciprocity with non-EU countries so that citizens of both parties can travel easily.

 

While EU citizens have been able to travel to Thailand visa-free for as long as I can remember, there has been absolutely no signs that the EU intends to begin liberalizing visa requirements to the Schengen area for Thai nationals.

 

Why are some people more privileged than others simply based on their passports? It’s not as if travelers with powerful passports never violate their entry conditions. Every year tourists in Thailand overstay their visa-free entry stamps, even if their governments have explained that there are consequences, and Thai authorities have reminded them that they cannot do so with impunity.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/47579/thailands-dependence-on-tourism-means-losing-passport-wars/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2023-01-24

 

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[Celsius]

I agree. Absolutely allow visa free travel to Thais and at the same time restrict them from

 

1 buying a  property

 

2 getting citizenship even if they have a family

 

3. Limit ownership of a business to 49%

 

etc, etc....

[MRToMRT]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Why are some people more privileged than others simply based on their passports?

It has nothing to do with "passport" it has to do with socio-economic standards and statistical likelihood of breaking visa conditions.

 

If the HiSo's here want to have their "passport" recognised on an equal basis then they should do more to liberate the poor, raise living conditions, improve the judiciary, raise wages and have democracy here.

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

While EU citizens have been able to travel to Thailand visa-free for as long as I can remember, there has been absolutely no signs that the EU intends to begin liberalizing visa requirements to the Schengen area for Thai nationals.

Classic EU. It's always take, take, take. What yours is mine, what's mine is my own. You cut, I choose etc. etc.

 

Never show any good will or reciprocity even when they claim that is it's policy. Projecting an image of virtue while (at least) one of their vice presidents does shady deals involving suitcases of cash. Don't hold your breath for any benevolence from the EU, Thailand... 

[Enzian]

Is the writer of this piece being intentionally dense? It's all a function of the fact that western countries have a normal income 3 or 4 X Thailand. Same as why half of Syria and north Africa wants to move to Europe. Enough.

[JustThisOnePostOnly]

Won't be long before no one will want to go to the U.S. or the E.U.  This is a problem that solves itself.

[MRToMRT]

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Projecting an image of virtue while (at least) one of their vice presidents does shady deals involving suitcases of cash.

They are as virtuous as the Mother Mary compared to this lot here. 

[ThailandRyan]

While we're at it add visa free travel for those from all Asean countries to go west like my Myanmar GF. We applied for her to obtain a visa to the US 18 Months ago and it's still in the first stage.  Trying to travel outside of South East Asia is an issue because they believe they will never return here. 

[Joebuzzz]

33 minutes ago, JustThisOnePostOnly said:

Won't be long before no one will want to go to the U.S. or the E.U.  This is a problem that solves itself.

I'm from the USA, and i don't want to go there.

[ikke1959]

Maybe Thailand could investigate why they need visas.. The North is not desperate in need for Thai tourists... Besides many Thais we have read  several times, come under false predictions in countries like Korea..... not as tourists but as workers...

I know someone who had a visa for Poland, but went working illegally in a massage shop in the Netherlands.. And be fair the EU/US have a lot more to offer than Thailand even if you stay illegally, you will not be treated as in Thailand. 

[PCUSHING]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Classic EU. It's always take, take, take. What yours is mine, what's mine is my own. You cut, I choose etc. etc.

 

Never show any good will or reciprocity even when they claim that is it's policy. Projecting an image of virtue while (at least) one of their vice presidents does shady deals involving suitcases of cash. Don't hold your breath for any benevolence from the EU, Thailand... 

Have you ever been to Thailand?

Do you actually spend time there?

I don't mean plane, Nam's Taxis, Soi Bukahow Hotel, Soi 6 and repeat for 2 weeks.

Your naivety is astounding about Thai nepotism and corruption.

Just keep ringing the bell on Soi 6, those bargirls really love you.

 

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, PCUSHING said:

Have you ever been to Thailand?

Do you actually spend time there?

I don't mean plane, Nam's Taxis, Soi Bukahow Hotel, Soi 6 and repeat for 2 weeks.

Your naivety is astounding about Thai nepotism and corruption.

Just keep ringing the bell on Soi 6, those bargirls really love you.

 

 

 

 

Not sure what any of that has to do with my post about the EU. ????

 

But since you ask, 17 years here, 15 of them working for a multi-national in BKK. You?

[Kwaibill]

1 hour ago, Joebuzzz said:

I'm from the USA, and i don't want to go there.

Ditto. From what I’ve been reading I don’t want to take my Asian wife somewhere that a complete stranger might walk up and punch her.

I also don’t especially want to be under the possible influence of some of the current crop of MAGGATs.

[mrmicbkktxl]

Total nonsense to compare a jungle country like Thailand with Western Europe or USA.Ask the Japanese,Koreans and Singaporeans what they think about visa free travel for Thais.How many Americans,Europeans etc.will overstay their visa,disappear and work in massage,brothel or on a farm.In the 80’s and 90’s it wasn’t that difficult for Thais to get a visa,but a lot of them overstayed or and just disappeared.By the way once Thais have a long term visa they can work,buy land…..no immigration officer will bother them,after a few years they even can ask for citizenship.

Thais need a visa to travel and is ok like that.A country where people get 600bt pension,or people have a monthly salary of under 15000bt,or people sit in prison for criticizing the government deserves exactly that.Like someone else said maybe the rich and beautiful should share their money and wisdom

[Thomas KH]

Mr Pasuth Thothaveesansuk, you're delusional. Not happening anytime soon. EU and Thailand not same same.

 

 

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

There's a reason that Thais need to be scrutanised carefully before they are issued with a visa. They are known to be brazen liars who say whatever is convenient for them regardless of the truth. EU and other countries know that Thais can't be trusted. They've also heard every story under the sun countless times. They don't make up these rules on a whim (unlike Thailand), they do so from experience.

[San Fran Dan]

3 hours ago, Joebuzzz said:

I'm from the USA, and i don't want to go there.

Quit being a lil girl 

[Bim Smith]

And I can visit Malaysia on a UK passport and get 90 days. 

[Muhendis]

3 hours ago, Joebuzzz said:

I'm from the USA, and i don't want to go there.

I don't blame you feeling that way'

I'm not from the US and I don't want to go there either.

[MrJ2U]

Thai passport holders have a bad reputation of staying longer and working in prosperous countries. 

 

Thus the term  "Ghosts" when referring to Thai "tourists".

 

 

[biggles45]

'because they believe they will never return here.' 

And I would imagine that they would have the data on overstays by Thais to support theire stand. 

[Sydebolle]

Well, the dirty farang, the stinky South Asian, the impolite rude Chinese etc. are proof enough that Thailand still believes being populated by the superior upper crust. 

If the endless corruptions everywhere on each and every level would be brought to a halt (wishful thinking, I know) then it would communicate a first step in the right direction. How many Thais get deported, without jail sentence of fine, from North Asian or European countries for overstay? No European country has a photocopy-phobia insisting on signing photocopies with blue ink only. 

Thailand's biggest problem is the attitude of their own people among themselves, among authorities and the fact, that the people must serve the government, i.e. police and army - whereas in other countries (which reached the 21st century) it works the other way round. 

Your call! 

[Photoguy21]

Maybe the countries cited in the article should impose a minimum of 4 locals in the country Thai business have set in, and that the Thai owners can only own 49%. Do you really think the Thai people would be happy with that? I would doubt it.

[Stocky]

1 hour ago, Bim Smith said:

And I can visit Malaysia on a UK passport and get 90 days. 

...and Malaysians get 180 days visa free entering the UK.

[bangon04]

1 hour ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Total nonsense to compare a jungle country like Thailand with Western Europe or USA.Ask the Japanese,Koreans and Singaporeans what they think about visa free travel for Thais.

and the OP writer could ask why the above mentioned Japanese, S Koreans, Singaporeans (and HongKongers, still) plus Brunei, UAE, etc (despite being "Asian") rarely need a visa to travel because they are trusted not to overstay, work illegally on the balance of probabilities.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Why are some people more privileged than others simply based on their passports?

Could ask the same question of expats with families living in Thailand that are treated as tourists and not residents.

[allanos]

The headline of this piece, and, indeed, the premise of

the whole article, is phony!

 

The disparity in entry conditions between "western"

countries and Thailand is due to relative economic

strength between the two. The West is First World

whilst Thailand is a Third World,  or at best, "emerging"

economy. GDP per head of population is heavily-

tilted toward the west, including, if you will, countries

like South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

 

Europe and the USA are a magnet for economic

migrants, despite the spin about fleeing "wars"

and the like propounded by leftist "activists".

The last thing they need is a mass of Thais also

beating down their doors in search of an,

arguably, "better life".

 

Until Thailand bootstraps its way out of relative

poverty, there is no way it can expect a relaxation of

travelers' entry conditions (and the writer of the

mischief-making article probably already knows this)!

[w94005m]

6 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

While we're at it add visa free travel for those from all Asean countries to go west like my Myanmar GF. We applied for her to obtain a visa to the US 18 Months ago and it's still in the first stage.  Trying to travel outside of South East Asia is an issue because they believe they will never return here. 

Agreed and that reason is often given without justification and cannot be challenged. I would love to know the official percentage of SE Asian visitors to the west travelling with a long time partner, who stay illegally The reality is that a lot of these decisions are made for the UK by non British nationals working in India who have a maximum quota of people they can allow in or lose their job. 

 

In fact, my nephew could not get a visa to visit with his gf and ended up getting a fiance visa to marry and live in uk, which ridiculously was easier to get. It wasn't long before his wife missed Thailand too much and they returned to Thailand.

 

[happydreamer]

6 hours ago, Enzian said:

Is the writer of this piece being intentionally dense? It's all a function of the fact that western countries have a normal income 3 or 4 X Thailand. Same as why half of Syria and north Africa wants to move to Europe. Enough.

Article seems like it was written for the sole purpose of conjuring up another 16 pages of back and forth bickering over which passport is greater than others.  

[VocalNeal]

I believe Thais can visit Denmark visa free ???? It is reciprocal.