Will Thailand always remain a Third World Country?

[Cameroni]

12 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

They're fixed a lot faster in the US than here. Roads don't go years until they're repaired. People complain as soon as a pothole appears. New Jersey, where I was born, has more traffic then almost anywhere on earth, and the potholes are there because of the traffic, salt and extreme weather changes, but they're fixed very fast because they know people need to use the roads daily. Here they go years  before they get to them, along with the nonsense practice of repairing roads that don't need repair to justify the money for the next year. .I've not been to the UK yet so I'm not aware how fast they're repaired there unless people from there talk about it. When I hunted Mexico for three years, the roads there weren't as bad as those I see here, and it's a poor country also. Canada, from what I've seen, hasn't any problems on the main roads I was on, although it's a huge country and I've only been in three provinces.

That's a fair point, the authorities here barely do anything, witness traffic enforcement. Eventually the potholes are repaired in Thailand, but when they do so poorly that it has to be repeated within a few months. Then again the heat here is extreme which has specific challenges.

[rough diamond]

17 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's a much better place than Australia, it's going backwards. 

 

From your many postings, I see nothing but negativity from you, It's time for you to go home mate. 

 

I reckon you'll be back here quick smart with a positive attitude. 

 

 

 He would have to come back but I doubt if Bob is capable of altering his deeply ingrained and jaundiced views on ANY subject never mind Thailand

[fredwiggy]

5 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

That's a fair point, the authorities here barely do anything, witness traffic enforcement. Eventually the potholes are repaired in Thailand, but when they do so poorly that it has to be repeated within a few months. Then again the heat here is extreme which has specific challenges.

True. In New Jersey it's the snow, heat then cold, rain and salt. Here it's the rain and heat. Potholes appear here very soon after a road is repaved, which means somethings' not being done right. They repair the surface but underneath it's still damaged.

[proton]

18 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

In your mind maybe.... but on the world stage, Thailand aint 3rd world.

 

It is where we live 😁

[DonniePeverley]

Thailand has been told many times by economic forums to diversify it's economy, and stop relying on tourism.

 

Instead it constantly doubles down on mass tourism (now on steroids). This then addicts the work force into short term fixes as the population goes straight for the quick fix into working. 

 

Mass tourism is the problem. They need to bring the numbers down, push for quality tourism, then get Thai children into education. 

 

Go see Vietnam for how quick their economy is surging, because their economy is so diversified. If there is a war in the world, or some crisis effecting tourism Thailand will be in the dog poo again. 

[Robert_Smith]

2 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Thailand has been told many times by economic forums to diversify it's economy, and stop relying on tourism.

 

Instead it constantly doubles down on mass tourism (now on steroids). This then addicts the work force into short term fixes as the population goes straight for the quick fix into working. 

 

Mass tourism is the problem. They need to bring the numbers down, push for quality tourism, then get Thai children into education. 

 

Go see Vietnam for how quick their economy is surging, because their economy is so diversified. If there is a war in the world, or some crisis effecting tourism Thailand will be in the dog poo again. 

Pure laziness comes to mind.

 

Tourism = easy money.

 

regards,

bob.

[ColeBOzbourne]

18 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

...you could've fooled me!

The bar is set very low on that one. 

[DonniePeverley]

1 minute ago, Robert_Smith said:

Pure laziness comes to mind.

 

Tourism = easy money.

 

regards,

bob.

 

That's the crux Thailand cannot get out of. Each government wants quick fixes, don't have long term visions - so they will just take the quick fix. 

 

No chance to diversify the economy when the whole population is working in some way to service tourism. Parents won't send their kids into long term education, when they can get out there and earn money straight away. 

 

Thailand simply don't have to do things this way. But even now when their economy is sluggish, what do they do ? They open the door FOR EVEN MORE TOURISM. 

[Robert_Smith]

1 minute ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

That's the crux Thailand cannot get out of. Each government wants quick fixes, don't have long term visions - so they will just take the quick fix. 

 

No chance to diversify the economy when the whole population is working in some way to service tourism. Parents won't send their kids into long term education, when they can get out there and earn money straight away. 

 

Thailand simply don't have to do things this way. But even now when their economy is sluggish, what do they do ? They open the door FOR EVEN MORE TOURISM. 

They need someone like this.

 

Lee Kuan Yew would have dragged Thailand kicking and screaming and turned it into an efficient, economic powerhouse.

[Cameroni]

2 minutes ago, Robert_Smith said:

They need someone like this.

 

Lee Kuan Yew would have dragged Thailand kicking and screaming and turned it into an efficient, economic powerhouse.

 

I doubt it. Real countries, ie countries with history and populations over 40 million people are a different organism to little tiny city states.

 

Tiny states, Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, Singapore etc always have it much easier to railroad policies. To accomplish them in a real country is much more difficult and a different ball game entirely.

[Robert_Smith]

Just now, Cameroni said:

 

I doubt it. Real countries, ie countries with history and populations over 40 million people are a different organism to little tiny city states.

 

Tiny states, Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, Singapore etc always have it much easier to railroad policies. To accomplish them in a real country is much more difficult and a different ball game entirely.

How about Japan? The USA? Germany?

 

All seem to be doing just fine with large populations and some of the best infrastructure/educational institutions in the world.

 

Now go on, tell me about the US homelessness and drug issues..

 

regards,

bob.

[rough diamond]

18 minutes ago, proton said:

 

It is where we live 😁

Then move to where it is not 3rd world.  Your choice.

[DonniePeverley]

5 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

I doubt it. Real countries, ie countries with history and populations over 40 million people are a different organism to little tiny city states.

 

Tiny states, Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, Singapore etc always have it much easier to railroad policies. To accomplish them in a real country is much more difficult and a different ball game entirely.

 

Nonsense. Go look at Japan. Explain to me why Vietnams economy is surging, set to leave Thailand behind. Vietnam has a diversified economy.  Hell there birth rate is also going up ! 

[Robert_Smith]

2 minutes ago, rough diamond said:

Then move to where it is not 3rd world.  Your choice.

...or why doesn't Thailand try looking inward for once at all their obvious faults and try to better themselves and their nation? 

 

Could be a good starting point...

 

regards,

bob.

[Rimmer]

An overly derogatory defamatory slur has been removed

[Robert_Smith]

Just now, DonniePeverley said:

Hell there birth rate is also going up ! 

....I wouldn't mind contributing my genes over there.

 

those white skinned beauties make a man weak at the knees!

 

regards,

bob.

[proton]

14 minutes ago, rough diamond said:

Then move to where it is not 3rd world.  Your choice.

 

Only here for the music

[rough diamond]

31 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Only here for the music

Then I suggest you should not make posts that seem to  look like you are complaining like Bob.

[Thingamabob]

Anyone who has lived in what used to be called a third world country would not apply that description to Thailand. A developing country would be more appropriate.

[rough diamond]

1 hour ago, Robert_Smith said:

They need someone like this.

 

 

would have dragged Thailand kicking and screaming and turned it into an efficient, economic powerhouse.

And turned Thailand into a sterile concrete jungle where the leader had to be obeyed.

He once stated "that "If Singapore is a nanny state, then I am proud to have fostered one".

[Celsius]

5 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Anyone who has lived in what used to be called a third world country would not apply that description to Thailand. A developing country would be more appropriate.

 

I asked meta.....

 

 

[Robert_Smith]

49 minutes ago, rough diamond said:

And turned Thailand into a sterile concrete jungle where the leader had to be obeyed.

He once stated "that "If Singapore is a nanny state, then I am proud to have fostered one".

Thailand can only dream of what Singapore has achieved. 

 

They are not even in the same league.

 

Not by a country mile.

 

regards,

bob.

[rough diamond]

1 minute ago, Robert_Smith said:

Thailand can only dream of what Singapore has achieved. 

 

They are not even in the same league.

 

Not by a country mile.

 

regards,

bob.

Thank God.  I would hate to live in that sterile concrete jungle now.  It used to be like HK Jakarta etc.

Just look at what they did to Raffles and Boogie street as an example of ruining a citiy's character.

[Ralf001]

7 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

Why is it stupid?

 

Thailand isn't developing well at all in most of the critical areas.

 

In fact on could argue that it is actually going backwards!

 

regards,

bob.

 

Its not 3rd world... 4th world is some made up <deleted> <deleted>.

[Eaglekott]

On 3/6/2025 at 6:45 PM, Robert_Smith said:

It is Ralf.

 

Regards,

Bob.

No Its not...

 

Thailand is not a third world country, but rather an upper-middle income economy. It's considered a developing country that's making progress towards becoming more developed. 

Thailand has a growing economy and is considered a middle power in global affairs. 
It's a founding member of ASEAN and has the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia. 
Thailand's income per capita has increased, and its poverty rate has decreased. 
It's considered a newly industrialized economy, with manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism as leading sectors. 
Thailand is making progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. 
However, some say that Thailand has pockets of poverty, and that the country's structural transformation has stalled since the mid-2010s. 

[Eaglekott]

8 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

I asked meta.....

 

 

AI give like 80% un-correct answers... you have to fact check them. 

[Harrisfan]

8 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

Thailand can only dream of what Singapore has achieved. 

 

They are not even in the same league.

 

Not by a country mile.

 

regards,

bob.

Singapore is to Asia what Billy Ray Cyrus was to music.

[Marco100]

I have been coming to Thailand  and lived here since  10 years . I love that little bit of anarchy and freedom there is in Thailand  .

You can go back to Europe  or America if you want law n order . Unfortunately things will change with OECD trying to bring their bs to Thailand  . Hope Thailand keeps neeing the land of the Free . 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[baansgr]

Bins emptied every fortnight, street lights shut off at night, pot holes a major problem, 9 million people claiming benefits, postal service prices increased 125% in 4 years, not safe to go out let alone your children play in the park, thousands of stabbings every month....that is 3rd world....UK and probably most of Europe..no place like Thailand and definably far from 3rd world

[baansgr]

15 hours ago, rough diamond said:

Thank God.  I would hate to live in that sterile concrete jungle now.  It used to be like HK Jakarta etc.

Just look at what they did to Raffles and Boogie street as an example of ruining a citiy's character.

And Top Ten club 😁