Thailand is catching up with Singapore as a preferred work destination for expats: Experts

[snoop1130]

 

The Thai office and co-working space industry, which had been hit hard due to a drop in local demand amid the pandemic, is now seeing a surge in occupancy rates attributed to expatriates working for multinational firms. This is according to IWG Plc, a UK-based office services company operating numerous brands.

 

Multinational companies are increasingly viewing Thailand as a favorable destination for their expat executives, much like Singapore. This is due to the Thai government offering tax advantages to foreigners on work visas. This was announced by Thitiwat Thanapornnithinan, the Thailand country manager for IWG, on Wednesday.

 

According to Thitiwat, Thailand boasts several merits over Singapore or Malaysia. It offers greater work-from-home flexibility, lower wages, and cost of living. Additionally, English is reasonably spoken by the local population.

 

During the pandemic and afterward, Thai companies have embraced a hybrid workspace model, enabling employees to work remotely as a means to reduce office rent costs.

 

From 2023, numerous office buildings have witnessed their occupancy rates dipping below 70%, leading some to slash rent prices by 25%, Thitiwat noted. To attract new tenants, others have introduced perks like shorter lease periods and collaborations with other co-working spaces to widen their range of services.

 

Thitiwat pointed out that multinational firms employing expats, particularly in the IT sector, have been quick to take advantage of these competitive office rental deals, with spaces up to 3,000 sqm available.

 

He further stated that virtual offices are also in hot demand among these firms. They offer a company registration address complete with phone numbers and a mailbox for document drop-off.

 

The recent trends in Thailand's office space sector are consistent with findings from a CEOWORLD magazine survey, which named Thailand as the most desirable country to visit in 2024 among its 295,000 readers.

 

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Google

 

-- 2024-05-03

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[orchis]

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Additionally, English is reasonably spoken by the local population.

 😵 that's a slight exaggeration. 

[Crossy]

Just remember that "ex" is a has-been and a "spurt" is a drip under pressure.

 

Hence my business cards saying "Specialist"

[dinsdale]

31 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Additionally, English is reasonably spoken by the local population.

e.g. "You want boom boom mister?" Bit harsh really. The better English speakers are the girls etc that work the bars.

[mfd101]

38 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand boasts several merits over Singapore or Malaysia.

 

38 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Additionally, English is reasonably spoken by the local population.

You wonder what world some of these 'experts' live in.

[lungbing]

17 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

 

You wonder what world some of these 'experts' live in.

A world sponsored by TAT.

 

[bob smith]

whatever.

 

bob.

[connda]

Probably because Singapore is one of the most expensive places on Earth to live.

[kickstart]

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

Just remember that "ex" is a has-been and a "spurt" is a drip under pressure.

 

Hence my business cards saying "Specialist"

You beat me to it.

I heard it  as ,(e)x, an un-known quantity, a Spurt, a drip under pressure.

[ikke1959]

It is what you believe

[zhounan]

Why some people are called expatriates and others immigrants?

[zhounan]

Singapore is a prison.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

According to Thitiwat, Thailand boasts several merits over Singapore or Malaysia. It offers greater work-from-home flexibility, lower wages, and cost of living. Additionally, English is reasonably spoken by the local population.

Questionable....

Where you come from

I'm fine thank you and you

Can I borrow.

[JoePai]

7 hours ago, zhounan said:

Why some people are called expatriates and others immigrants?

or even Aliens ?

[Hakuna Matata]

You cannot compare apples and oranges.

 

I worked in Singapore for one year.

[Hakuna Matata]

12 hours ago, connda said:

Probably because Singapore is one of the most expensive places on Earth to live.

 

Only if you like to eat Western food, drink much alcohol and smoke cigarettes all day long.

 

Otherwise not expensive.

 

Taxi is cheap and high class.

 

Asian food is relatively cheap.

 

A lot of fruits and seafood.

 

I lived and worked in Singapore in 2006-2007.