UK warns British tourists to behave in Thailand or face jail time

[webfact]

The United Kingdom Foreign Office issued a travel warning to British tourists heading to Thailand ahead of the summer holidays: “Behave, or end up in jail!”

 

The Foreign Office advised British holidaymakers flying to the Land of Smiles to be cautious of the new visa rules.

 

“From 1 June 2024, British passport holders arriving by air or land can enter Thailand without a visa (visa exemption) for tourism and short-term business engagements for a period not exceeding 60 days. If you intend to stay longer (for work, study, or other reasons), you need to obtain a visa before you travel.

 

“If you stay beyond the period of your visa, you will be fined 500 Thai baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. You risk being held in detention.”

You also risk being “deported at your own expense” and “banned from re-entering Thailand for up to 10 years.”

 

The Foreign Office warns that “conditions in detention centres can be harsh.” It adds that holidaymakers can find more information on visas or entry requirements by contacting the Royal Thai Embassy or the local Immigration Office.

 

 

Tax duty

 

The UK Foreign Office has explained that there are strict regulations regarding goods that can be brought into and taken out of Thailand. Holidaymakers must declare any items that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. The Foreign Office has specifically issued a warning about importing cigarettes, reported National World.

 

“It is illegal to import more than 200 cigarettes per person into Thailand. This is enforced at customs on arrival. If you go over the limit, you could be fined 10 times the value. Furthermore, your cigarettes will likely be confiscated.”

 

The UK Foreign Office also revealed details regarding passport validity requirements.

 

“Your passport must remain valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Thailand.

 

Entry to Thailand may be denied if your passport is damaged or has missing pages.

 

“If you’re a dual national, to avoid problems at immigration, you must leave Thailand on the same passport you used to enter. If you need to renew or apply for a new British passport, see overseas British passport applications.”

 

In related news, last month Police in Phuket detained a British national following an altercation involving a tuk tuk driver, where the foreigner was accused of physically assaulting the driver over a fare dispute. The incident, which was captured on CCTV footage, garnered significant attention on social media, leading to a swift police response.

 

 

by Bob Scott 

Picture courtesy of Stay in Thailand

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-04

 

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[daveAustin]

They won’t listen. While my country has nice, polite people that often find their way here, it also produces scummy bogun types. I’m all for turning them around or better still send them to Oz. Oh wait! 😜

[Dmaxdan]

All they have to do is search their luggage before they board the plane a Heathrow. If they find wife beater vests, football shirts or union jack shorts just don't let them board the aircraft. Easy. 

[brianthainess]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

“It is illegal to import more than 200 cigarettes per person into Thailand.

Why on earth would anybody import cigarettes into Thailand, And the 60day visa on arrival still has not been implemented, The UK  FO needs to catch up. 

[MalcolmB]

19 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Why on earth would anybody import cigarettes into Thailand, And the 60day visa on arrival still has not been implemented, The UK  FO needs to catch up. 

To avoid paying the tax. Much cheaper.

i have been buying some from Cambodia I think. Cheaper and none of those stupid warnings on the packets. I bought them from a Burmese guy in Patong.

 

I applaud this warning from the UK Foreign Office.

what I have noticed in the short time I have been here is the terrible behavior from the Brits. Murders, trying to rip off poor sex workers, bashing the elderly Thais, human trafficking and child molesting etc etc

 

It is disgusting. 
And ironically most of the Brits I have met here are constantly criticizing Russians.

People in glass houses should have a good hard look in the mirrors.

[brianthainess]

1 minute ago, MalcolmB said:

i have been buying some from Cambodia I think.

They are all copies, unless you buy Texas which the street vendors never have.

[Mavideol]

wonder if anybody will listen 555

[MalcolmB]

3 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

They are all copies, unless you buy Texas which the street vendors never have.

They are not the best, but ok, I promised myself I would quit when moving here.

Doing ok, just hard when drinking beer. 
Beer and cigarettes compliment each over.

[freeworld]

54 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Why on earth would anybody import cigarettes into Thailand, And the 60day visa on arrival still has not been implemented, The UK  FO needs to catch up. 

Where smoking is still popular

[wensiensheng]

The headline is totally fictional.

It states that British tourists have been warned about their behavior, implying/suggesting that the warning is about drunkenness, disorderly behavior, maybe not having sex on a beach, kicking people in the back, that sort of thing.

 

in actual fact, the article goes on in some detail to talk about visa rules and the need to comply with them.

 

sensational headlines don’t make a story, they make the writer look incompetent 

[cjinchiangrai]

12 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

To avoid paying the tax. Much cheaper.

i have been buying some from Cambodia I think. Cheaper and none of those stupid warnings on the packets. I bought them from a Burmese guy in Patong.

 

I applaud this warning from the UK Foreign Office.

what I have noticed in the short time I have been here is the terrible behavior from the Brits. Murders, trying to rip off poor sex workers, bashing the elderly Thais, human trafficking and child molesting etc etc

 

It is disgusting. 
And ironically most of the Brits I have met here are constantly criticizing Russians.

People in glass houses should have a good hard look in the mirrors.

None of these stereotypes are strictly British. There are bad people everywhere. There is no country that has a monopoly of sending trashy people to Thailand. It is good that the UK government called it out though.

 

The Chinese are the most proactive, they will prosecute people that get deported from foreign countries.

 

Fortunately the football thugs can't afford the tickets. 🙂

[wensiensheng]

17 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

To avoid paying the tax. Much cheaper.

i have been buying some from Cambodia I think. Cheaper and none of those stupid warnings on the packets. I bought them from a Burmese guy in Patong.

 

I applaud this warning from the UK Foreign Office.

what I have noticed in the short time I have been here is the terrible behavior from the Brits. Murders, trying to rip off poor sex workers, bashing the elderly Thais, human trafficking and child molesting etc etc

 

It is disgusting. 
And ironically most of the Brits I have met here are constantly criticizing Russians.

People in glass houses should have a good hard look in the mirrors.

Other than the cigarette thing, none of what you lost is in the FO “warning”.

 

got to actually read the article before getting on your soapbox

[brianthainess]

1 minute ago, MalcolmB said:

They are not the best, but ok, I promised myself I would quit when moving here.

Doing ok, just hard when drinking beer. 
Beer and cigarettes compliment each over.

Agree, also for me in social situations I also smoke more, I try limit myself to one pack a day, 

I buy a carton of 10 packs of Camel from D-Save work out at about 70b per pack. The copies just make me cough even more. Still better go before we get accused of hi-jacking the thread, and condemnation for smoking. 

[Nickcage49]

Should they even have to say that to supposed adults? There's a long history of Brits getting in trouble here.

 

If you can't hold your alcohol then don't drink!

[Tropicalevo]

56 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

All they have to do is search their luggage before they board the plane a Heathrow. If they find wife beater vests, football shirts or union jack shorts just don't let them board the aircraft. Easy. 

Not all tourists fly via Heathrow.

In fact I suspect that most do not.

Too many cheaper, easier, more comfortable options.

I have flown to Thailand many, many times since the early 90's. Never once through Heathrow.

I avoid it like the plague.

[hotchilli]

Backpackers, sex tourists and cheap Charlies won't listen.

Quality tourists largely don't come here.

 

[Sheryl]

Unfortunately they have misinformed people re the 60 day visa exempt entry. It is now June 4th and not being provided yet,

[Regyai]

BS clickbait title

 

Infers admonishment regarding 'behaviour'

 

when only a regurgitation of standard overstay warnings and 6 months left ofn your passport

yadda yadda

[brianthainess]

36 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

wonder if anybody will listen 555

And I wonder how many Brits would read travel advice from the FO before coming to Thailand for a holiday. 

[Gottfrid]

Ok, at least the country feel the need to inform their own citizens. That must mean many of them gone far over the line. However, it will fall for deaf ears as usual. Just maybe, I have not been so wrong reacting on the problem and thinking the same a little bit earlier. But, we all know how quick authorities catch up on things. 

[Gottfrid]

9 minutes ago, Regyai said:

BS clickbait title

 

Infers admonishment regarding 'behaviour'

 

when only a regurgitation of standard overstay warnings and 6 months left ofn your passport

yadda yadda

No, not quite. It was a whole lot more, if you´d bothered to read the article.

[Chongalulu]

48 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

People in glass houses should have a good hard look in the mirrors.

Mixing your metaphors? 

”People in glasshouses shouldn't m@sturbate with the light on”.... How about that..? 😜 

[Dr Jon]

39 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

They are not the best, but ok, I promised myself I would quit when moving here.

Doing ok, just hard when drinking beer. 
Beer and cigarettes compliment each over.

Many discover that lung cancer and cigarettes compliment each other.

[Chongalulu]

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Unfortunately they have misinformed people re the 60 day visa exempt entry. It is now June 4th and not being provided yet,

Perhaps the UK FO should be admonishing the immigration authorities?! 

[shackleton]

Well the Brits are building up a  bad reputation now

No matter where they go

The few bad apples  are tarring the many  good Brit Tourists who abide by the rules 

Thailand has seen a spike in the numbers recently of incidents involving Brit tourists and Expats 😱

[Ironmike]

I had to laugh they only mentioned the idiot that was cctved slapping the tuk tuk guy what about the genius pom that entered with cocaine in his passport

[Will B Good]

I imagine every fat-bellied, gold chain wearing, tattooed Brit always read up on the FO advice before they travel anywhere.

[chris carre]

1 hour ago, Dmaxdan said:

All they have to do is search their luggage before they board the plane a Heathrow. If they find wife beater vests, football shirts or union jack shorts just don't let them board the aircraft. Easy. 

Don,t forget the frey bentos pie

[bob smith]

ENGLISH AND PROUD!! 

 

'It's coming home, it's coming home...!!'

 

ENGLAND!!

who's got the cans?

 

bob.

[ronster]

Guess the Russians didn't get issued a similar memo .

British won't be a problem anyway as they will all be in Germany causing chaos at the euros throwing chairs around 😀