Thai tourism targets expats with special deals

[webfact]

Tourism officials are hoping to persuade expats to do some travelling in the kingdom to help boost the tourism coffers. Nation Thailand reports that the Tourism Authority of Thailand has set its sights on expats with a new campaign called Amazing Thailand Expat Privileges.

 

The campaign hopes to encourage more people to travel and see more of the country during the forthcoming cool season. It offers promotions of up to 80% off accommodation, tourist attractions, restaurants, transport and health and wellness.

 

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the TAT governor, says the campaign is aimed at boosting domestic tourism and kick-starting the achievement of 2024 tourism targets. The government has a target of 3 trillion baht in tourism revenue for next year.

 

By Peter Roche

PHOTO: ScandAsia

 

Full story: PhuketGO 2023-11-23

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[TroubleandGrumpy]

I just had to check out this latest TAT BS - and yes it is total BS - yet again.

The TAT 'deal' is offering 42% discount on a rooms with BF at Hotel in Bangkok - 2800 Baht (no names).

I just looked at Expedia and the same room (with BFast) at the same hotel is 2600 Baht.

TAT are truly amazing - in that they still exist and still waste a lot of Thai tax money.

[Mike Lister]

6 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I just had to check out this latest TAT BS - and yes it is total BS - yet again.

The TAT 'deal' is offering 42% discount on a rooms with BF at Hotel in Bangkok - 2800 Baht (no names).

I just looked at Expedia and the same room (with BFast) at the same hotel is 2600 Baht.

TAT are truly amazing - in that they still exist and still waste a lot of Thai tax money.

We booked a hotel room at an Imperial Hotel in Central Thailand four weeks ago, it cost 831 baht for two people (no BF). The room was discounted as a promo from 2,600 which we didn't believe, until we got there. The entire front of the hotel, reception and two guests floors had been remodelled, it was easily worth 2,600 but you would never have got that price on a walk in basis. The fact is that many hotels discount their rooms to the likes of Agoda, all TAT has done is to act as an Agoda equivalent.

[mokwit]

Sorry but i might invalidate my TM30 if I traveled within Thailand. Thai government wants us to travel and do TM30. Can't have both. I'm afraid all these traditional handicrafts demonstrations being put on in villages in the middle of nowhere will just have to take place without me.

Edited November 23, 2023 by mokwit

[TroubleandGrumpy]

27 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

We booked a hotel room at an Imperial Hotel in Central Thailand four weeks ago, it cost 831 baht for two people (no BF). The room was discounted as a promo from 2,600 which we didn't believe, until we got there. The entire front of the hotel, reception and two guests floors had been remodelled, it was easily worth 2,600 but you would never have got that price on a walk in basis. The fact is that many hotels discount their rooms to the likes of Agoda, all TAT has done is to act as an Agoda equivalent.

Yes indeed - that is the way to go.  I find Agoda and Expedia are the best options - there is often some hotel under booked and they offer serious discounts to get more visitors on those days.  

[Mike Lister]

17 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Sorry but i might invalidate my TM30 if I traveled within Thailand. Thai government wants us to travel and do TM30. Can't have both. I'm afraid all these traditional handicrafts demonstrations being put on in villages in the middle of nowhere will just have to take place without me.

Nonsense, do you really think all other resident expats stay home and don't travel, just because of TM30!

[mokwit]

1 minute ago, Mike Lister said:

Nonsense, do you really think all other resident expats stay home and don't travel, just because of TM30!

I'm sure not, but this is my position.

[TroubleandGrumpy]

16 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Sorry but i might invalidate my TM30 if I traveled within Thailand. Thai government wants us to travel and do TM30. Can't have both.

Good point - and we both know that they have not even thought about that 'conflict'.

 

However - there is a way around the TM30/28 'problem'. Are you married or have a Thai GF. If you do then open booking account/s in her name. Make the booking/s in her name - herself plus 'husband' (no name asked for)  When you arrive she goes and checks in - stay back in the foyer/etc and dont go near the counter/desk.  The hotel does not want all the crap with TM30 reports etc - and if booking is in a Thai name for 2 people, there is no problems for them.  Only downside I can see is if you have a car accident or get into trouble with local officials - not having reported you being somewhere else - but IMO they would likely be less than interested in getting involved in that and you have bigger problems anyway. 

 

[Mike Lister]

4 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Good point - and we both know that they have not even thought about that 'conflict'.

 

However - there is a way around the TM30/28 'problem'. Are you married or have a Thai GF. If you do then open booking account/s in her name. Make the booking/s in her name - herself plus 'husband' (no name asked for)  When you arrive she goes and checks in - stay back in the foyer/etc and dont go near the counter/desk.  The hotel does not want all the crap with TM30 reports etc - and if booking is in a Thai name for 2 people, there is no problems for them.  Only downside I can see is if you have a car accident or get into trouble with local officials - not having reported you being somewhere else - but IMO they would likely be less than interested in getting involved in that and you have bigger problems anyway. 

 

Better still, travel with somebody else's wife or girlfriend, that way the booking can never be traced back to you.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourism officials are hoping to persuade expats to do some travelling in the kingdom to help boost the tourism coffers. Nation Thailand reports that the Tourism Authority of Thailand has set its sights on expats with a new campaign called Amazing Thailand Expat Privileges

How about equal rights at the national parks?

Last time I went to Erawan waterfalls they wanted 10X the Thai admission price..
40 baht for nationals 400 baht for me.

I traveled with a Thai family group with nine Thais and me.

My admission was more than theirs combined.

I never returned... so tell me how that benefits tourism?

[Guderian]

I might bother going somewhere if they stopped the double-pricing racism at national parks and other tourist attractions. Until then, TAT can whistle for my custom.

[daejung]

3 hours ago, mokwit said:

Sorry but i might invalidate my TM30 if I traveled within Thailand. Thai government wants us to travel and do TM30. Can't have both. I'm afraid all these traditional handicrafts demonstrations being put on in villages in the middle of nowhere will just have to take place without me.

I read it was not necessary to  make a new TM30 when you are back home after travelling.

At Chaengwattana, I showed the same TM30 after travelling. No problem

[still kicking]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

How about equal rights at the national parks?

Last time I went to Erawan waterfalls they wanted 10X the Thai admission price..
40 baht for nationals 400 baht for me.

I traveled with a Thai family group with nine Thais and me.

My admission was more than theirs combined.

I never returned... so tell me how that benefits tourism?

Same happened to me on the weekend but different place nine family members paid 30 baht each I had to pay 300 which is more than the 270 baht the Thais paid.

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, daejung said:

I read it was not necessary to  make a new TM30 when you are back home after travelling.

At Chaengwattana, I showed the same TM30 after travelling. No problem

Should be the case but there are reports of new TM30 being required - often due to not able to do 90 day online because of travel address in system.

[Mike Lister]

1 hour ago, mokwit said:

Should be the case but there are reports of new TM30 being required - often due to not able to do 90 day online because of travel address in system.

We travel within Thailand frequently, in the past four years I've not needed a new TM30 once, or needed to register again etc etc. My wife books the hotels in her name but I always show ID also and am registered as a guest. You must be doing something wrong if TM30 is an issue for you.

[bignok]

I pay 600 baht for good rooms. 2600 baht no thanks. Even got a rooftop bar with 600 baht.

[El Matador]

Had a look at the official website.

Disappointing. Just a little website with some exagerated discounts. Nothing of value. Lots of talk for nothing once again.

 

They seem to be keen on using the world "privilege" a lot like for the new Thai Elite visa.

 

Just move on faster on longer visa exemptions guys instead of creating things people will never look at. The high season has already started. 

[Ben Zioner]

Sorry guys but the Revenue Department has just decided that taking holidays abroad will save me 30% of the value of the trip in income tax. I might even bring back some spare cash to add value to my trips. Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia have more to offer for cheaper anyhow.

[hadock]

I do not understand the fuss about TM30...does every immigration office handle this in a different way?

 

  I can only speak for immigration BKK CW. My condo owner registered me one time in the year 2016  when I moved in. Since then I have made many trips. I stayed all around Thailand , all kinds of Hotels and AirBnB, all bookings in my name, and always showed my passport for registration. And I never had anything to do with TM30 again.  I make my regular 90 day reports, my yearly visa extension, and not one time I have been asked about TM30 again...  

[Mike Lister]

3 minutes ago, hadock said:

I do not understand the fuss about TM30...does every immigration office handle this in a different way?

 

  I can only speak for immigration BKK CW. My condo owner registered me one time in the year 2016  when I moved in. Since then I have made many trips. I stayed all around Thailand , all kinds of Hotels and AirBnB, all bookings in my name, and always showed my passport for registration. And I never had anything to do with TM30 again.  I make my regular 90 day reports, my yearly visa extension, and not one time I have been asked about TM30 again...  

Exactly, it's the same in Chiang Mai, perhaps in Nakon Nowhere things are more strict.....but I seriously doubt it.

[swm59nj]

Special deals are good.  But from the economic position of many expats.  They still won’t be able to afford it.  Even with the discounts.  

[bignok]

9 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

Special deals are good.  But from the economic position of many expats.  They still won’t be able to afford it.  Even with the discounts.  

500 baht rooms are common. 

[Barnet1900]

Yet again, call on the expats to bail them out when they have no other options.

 

When the goose fattens up, cut it open. 

 

They offer nothing but hostility when the tourists poor in so they can shove their requests up their proverbials.

 

How about treating expats who contribute towards the economy 365 to better healthcare and more respect and then ask for some assistance.

[bkk6060]

7 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

Better still, travel with somebody else's wife or girlfriend, that way the booking can never be traced back to you.

Yes, and she puts it all on his CC while he is back in the UK.  Great advice.

[Geir Rasch]

8 hours ago, mokwit said:

Sorry but i might invalidate my TM30 if I traveled within Thailand. Thai government wants us to travel and do TM30. Can't have both. I'm afraid all these traditional handicrafts demonstrations being put on in villages in the middle of nowhere will just have to take place without me.

Many years since I stopped filing TM30, can’t remember I ever did. I book rooms in my name, never had any issues with immigration about this.

[TheFishman1]

They wanted both ways they want more Expats to travel and all the parks and other places you have to pay 10 times the price of locals TIT

[bignok]

37 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

They wanted both ways they want more Expats to travel and all the parks and other places you have to pay 10 times the price of locals TIT

10 times? No. Some are free. Some are 5x but only 100 baht.

 

 

[Mike Lister]

4 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

They wanted both ways they want more Expats to travel and all the parks and other places you have to pay 10 times the price of locals TIT

Such melodrama about something so trivial and inexpensive,  do you not make up that difference from other savings that result from living here!

[mokwit]

5 hours ago, Geir Rasch said:

Many years since I stopped filing TM30, can’t remember I ever did. I book rooms in my name, never had any issues with immigration about this.

Why don't you tell us the full story e.g which Imm Office or whether you are on a visa where you leave the country every 90 days  and have no contact with immigration.

 

If you are saying staying away from your home province doesn't require a new TM30 then the system is working as it should, but others find it doesn't always.

Edited November 23, 2023 by mokwit

[Skipalongcassidy]

14 hours ago, hotchilli said:

How about equal rights at the national parks?

Last time I went to Erawan waterfalls they wanted 10X the Thai admission price..
40 baht for nationals 400 baht for me.

I traveled with a Thai family group with nine Thais and me.

My admission was more than theirs combined.

I never returned... so tell me how that benefits tourism?

Waaaa!  You are not and never will be Thai... In Thailand you are a tourist and as such will pay the going rate for tourists... this is done on a worldwide basis... citizens always get discounts in every country even yours... you want a discount go home and get it.