And so the exodus of quality expats begins. This time it's personal

[oldcpu]

4 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I would not want to take a TukTuk anywhere, I drive my car, so why would I want to go in a death trap?

 

Patong, on no not again, 1% of the total area of Phuket defines the other 99% of Phuket.

 

 

For those who dislike Phuket, it does mostly read that they base their assessment on Patong.

 

My wife and I both live in the far south of Phuket, and we have 2 cars, so that we can each share our individual interests.

 

I recall back in 1997 to 1999 (before I was married when a few times/month I would visit Patong) that parking in Patong was difficult, but doable.  In the handful of years before COVID (on the occasional about once/year when I drove there to meet friends who were staying there) the parking was ugly and far far far worse than in 1997 to 1999.  In my last visit (after COVID) which was about a year ago - parking was just as ugly as before COVID.

 

I don't know of any expat who would want to live in Patong - yet many seem to judge Phuket by their Patong experience.

 

I concede I can be selfish, and hope that many do judge Phuket by Patong, and thus stay away from the other more pleasant (for expats) areas of Phuket.

[newnative]

On 10/29/2024 at 12:11 PM, oldcpu said:

 

IMHO it is similar with regard to Pattaya .... where many think it is only about Walking street (and a couple of other smaller areas) which are in essence RLD spots ... Where there is a lot more to Pattaya and Jomtien than such spots.

 

I have a number of friends who live in Jomtien - and its very good ... for most of the same reasons as Phuket ...  Good shopping, not too far from an International Airport (in this case @ Bangkok), lots of banking facilities ... many international schools .... and more isolated spots for those looking for such away from the main madness.

 

Obviously I prefer the relatively 'out of the way' spot I found in Phuket, but I do note Pattaya/Jomtien have some pretty good spots - with many condos with fabulous views ... close to a beach where one can go to exercise.  As noted, Pattaya is the location of choice of a number of my friends who never visit the night life areas.

        Totally agree.  I am another Pattaya resident who 'never visits the night life areas'.   You can live a very nice life here and never go to those areas.  In the 14 years we have been here, my spouse and i have lived in Jomtien, Pratamnuk, North Pattaya, and Wong Amat--and have liked each of those different areas, each with its own vibe.  

        Now, we are in a nice pool villa in yet another area, the Darkside, and we are liking it here, as well.  There's a whole different world on the east side of  Sukhumvit we are enjoying discovering.  I think there are many Pattaya residents like us who recognize all that Pattaya has to offer to full-time residents.  I've posted that I think Pattaya is actually a better place to live as a resident than to visit as a tourist and that gets truer the longer I live here.  

[zzzzz]

well it seems ALL the expats have left already as nobody has anything left to say about Phuket   
55555

[London Lowf]

Or maybe it's all been said already?

 

I'm still around, but stories of the steadily increasing traffic and hotel rates as we head into high season are not really of much interest.

 

It's been in the news elsewhere, but there seems to be a large influx of African workers hanging around Bangla and Beach Road this year.

[chercheur888]

It is the confirmation that Phuket is a nice place and everybody is living in perfect harmony👌👍

[StraightTalk]

[quote]And so the exodus of quality expats begins.[\quote]

I don't think so. I believe the situation might be the opposite. If the (imaginary) exodus were to occur, the so-called "quality expats" (especially retirees) would likely stay, while those with less education and unrealistic expectations - such as seeking voting rights, free healthcare, or free beer, or those hiding in the shadows without having contributed a single baht (other than VAT) - would eventually leave. This could include individuals who provide little value to the Thai government, particularly those who stubbornly refuse to comply with the upcoming changes to the country's tax laws. Tough titties.

[3NUMBAS]

Bear grills had a house there and sold it to move to an island of Ireland with no other humans

[ChasingTheSun]

If the tax laws change to include a new taxation of an expats non-Thai/worldwide income, regardless of if/when it is remitted, you will indeed begin to see a very serious “mass exodus of quality expats” from all over Thailand.

 

 

 

[oldcpu]

7 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

If the tax laws change to include a new taxation of an expats non-Thai/worldwide income, regardless of if/when it is remitted, you will indeed begin to see a very serious “mass exodus of quality expats” from all over Thailand.

 

I suspect all that will happen at most is there will be a 'changing of the guard' ... where those thriving on the current tax breaks (and worried of the future) will depart ... and those where the taxation is not an issue will very very VERY quickly fill the place of each and every one of those who depart.

[ChasingTheSun]

9 hours ago, oldcpu said:

 

I suspect all that will happen at most is there will be a 'changing of the guard' ... where those thriving on the current tax breaks (and worried of the future) will depart ... and those where the taxation is not an issue will very very VERY quickly fill the place of each and every one of those who depart.

i doubt that there will be a “changing of the guard.”

 

Low income expat pensioners cannot replace an exodus of wealthier expats.

 

[oldcpu]

1 hour ago, ChasingTheSun said:

i doubt that there will be a “changing of the guard.”

 

Low income expat pensioners cannot replace an exodus of wealthier expats.

 

 

I think those expats with an LTR visa (such as myself) would beg to differ.

[ChasingTheSun]

4 hours ago, oldcpu said:

 

I think those expats with an LTR visa (such as myself) would beg to differ.

As long as they dont start to include worldwide taxes on those visas you would be safe. 

[oldcpu]

10 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

As long as they dont start to include worldwide taxes on those visas you would be safe. 

 

As long as Thailand continues to respect the DTA  for the worldwide income for a number of us (where we have already,  consistent with the DTA of our income source countries PAID income tax), then even if the LTR tax exempt status (per Royal Decree) were to be cancelled, it would have minimal effect on us. 

 

Frankly, IMHO,  the risk of taxation on expatriates to Thailand is MUCH more likely to affect the expatriates who live from pay check to pay check,  than it is to affect the more wealthy expatriates. 

 

The more wealthy know how to manage their tax strategies and are not likely to run away at such taxation concerns without first investigating their options.

 

So I would argue its those who are borderline (paycheck to paycheck) who are more likely to depart due to taxation, than it is for those who have the wealth to come up with alternatives permitting them to spend a good portion of their time in Thailand - and FURTHER, currently we are seeing just that. 

 

More and more expatriates are flocking to Phuket (where these new comers ARE wealthier)  in comparison to those departing.  Ergo the title/premise of this thread is flawed.

 

Having typed that,  from a selfish perspective of one who lives in Phuket,  I would be happy to see the numbers decrease like the topic title suggests,  ... but I from what I can see day to day - such is not happening.  More wealthy are coming to Phuket.

 

[Tom100]

On 2/9/2024 at 5:39 PM, Lacessit said:

IMO Chiang Rai probably has one of the lowest costs of living in Thailand. Property prices and rents simply don't seem to move.

Chiang Rai has three private hospitals, an army hospital, and two government hospitals. It's not as if it is short on infrastructure.

Thanks Lacessit. Well said.

I moved from BKK to CNX after 2 years b/c BKK was crazy. CNX is far better. If it gets too busy I may go to Chiang rai too.