4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I always think back to early Covid days, when I came across a group of Thai ladies on Pattaya Beach Rd, giving out free face masks. I was told they are not for faangs!

Rightfully so. I remember farangs in the free food lines.

Disgusting

4 hours ago, CMFarang said:

..

I suspect a redherring , so 300 B will go through as approved by respondents

Nothing has yet been approved to go through... by anyone.

In my opinion we are already taxed several times in our airplane ticket.

Then we have the dual pricing system at national parcs, etcetera.

Paying money for a retirement visa but still having to pay extra for re-entry permits.

Enough Thai who see me as an alien who has a money machine at home, printing my own banknotes on demand.

I am retired and stay here regularly about 6 months a year.

Sponsoring families and local businesses for more than 20 years already.

House, condo, cars, motorbikes, restaurants, insurance companies, public transport, etc. Everybody earns.

When I stay longer than 180 days a year, I automatically become a Thai income tax payer, so I already limited my stay.

I therefor also go to neigbouring countries regularly so I will stay within the 180 days income tax exemption period.

In other words: going in and out several times a year.

And now again a new way of grabbing money out of pockets.

Thailand does not do well: other countries have a better GDP; most families here in great debt. Expats considering alternatitve countries to settle down due to a.o. the Immigration red tape.

And now they ask us our opinion about a new tax on a website in Thai language. How customer friendly can you be.

My advice: count your blessings, Thailand. Be happy with what you (still) have and do not overask.

And if Thailand (understandably) not like to pay for stupid tourists without travel insurance, then just impose a new rule that travellers have to show a travel insurance policy; and in case they do not have one: let them buy one at the port of entrance.

Edited August 27Aug 27 by toho

Somehow after what happened to the local government recruitment examination fraud. This +450B PR survey makes me feel that all they need is names and nationalities. THEY will fill up the rest For you.

9 hours ago, marin said:

How about some of your ideas for more new attractions. Where and why do think would be suitable?

Thailand is still peddling the same thing for the last 4 decades +

some new alternative attractions other than the sex resorts and massage parlours

9 hours ago, rocketboy2 said:

Government.

Dog & Pony show.

As if they give a flying-F about what foreigners think.

Exactly , I can't believe some people actually tried filling it in must be the same people that religiously filled in the questions about ones earnings on the back of the old TM6

10 hours ago, marin said:

How about some of your ideas for more new attractions. Where and why do think would be suitable?

Come to thailand we now offer sidewalks and safe roads. A brand new concept sweeping the nation.

Youll have a blast walking down a real sidewalk. Forget those days of falling into open sewers....you can now thrill out on a normal functioning sidewalk.

Be ready for the excitement.

TAT.

11 hours ago, tokyoblond said:

Yes, typical of Thailand - here's a survey, everyone is invited to participate... oh, no - not you, dirty farrang!

I translated each question individually and replied.

Another tax - like, what happened to the medical tax imposed to help pay for those pesky foreigners who managed to escape security at the hospital (as if that is going to happen) and not pay their bills. What happened to that money?

2026 - Thailand's departure tax increased to 1,120 baht on June 20, 2026 (a 53% increase from previously).

2022 - 2023 - The Thai Cabinet approved a 300-baht fee for air arrivals and 150-baht fee for land/sea arrivals (wasn't this the tax that covered hospital bills?)

And what is this one? (Deep Arrival website) "Thailand is moving a flat 450-baht tourism entry fee for foreign visitors back toward Cabinet review, with air arrivals first in line if the plan clears every remaining step." They can disguise it by calling it a fee but it's still a tax.

Now, I will get jumped on here by a certain section of AN but we don't have a voice in Thailand. The many, many long-term residents here that have no input. Yes, we are 'guests', but why? Why do we, who contribute to the Thai landscape, who pay taxes, spend money long-term in this country, have no opportunity whatsoever to reply to government? The feeling that comes over again and again is that they don't want us. None of us, tourists included.

And I'm not speaking about the Thai people - mostly, they are very happy with well-behaving foreigners. No, it's the xenophobic government that (it feels like) doesn't want us here.

And, at the moment certainly, the Thai media has a lot to answer for as regards general Thai attitudes towards foreigners

I agree it is extra fee just as every country has a fee that's usually included in your trip.

Saying that they don't want tourists is rather ridiculous considering the country runs on tourism.

I do also agree that we don't count as long term.

The fee can be charged and the best way to do it is charge added to ticket although airlines will screm. Next make it part of the cost to get a visa.

As to where there should be a system set up through the hospitals and the money should be accountable on a website so people can watch it.

Every visitor yo Thailand should have a credit card that any medical care will cover.

16 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Come to thailand we now offer sidewalks and safe roads. A brand new concept sweeping the nation.

Youll have a blast walking down a real sidewalk. Forget those days of falling into open sewers....you can now thrill out on a normal functioning sidewalk.

Be ready for the excitement.

TAT.

Have a look at the sidewalks in Krabi town, Chantaburi town, Chiang Khan they also come with wonderful bike paths.

2 minutes ago, marin said:

Have a look at the sidewalks in Krabi town, Chantaburi town, Chiang Khan they also come with wonderful bike paths.

And the hundreds to thousands of other places in thailand not like.that ?

So this one time at band camp....smh.

I think it's hilarious that they ask Westerners to fill out a survey...But the survey can't be translated into English..At least not easily...

17 hours ago, HolmesEquivelant said:

Rightfully so. I remember farangs in the free food lines.

Disgusting

I also remember free food lines organized by falang businesses and groups, it brought out he best in many.

Considering all the money bought in by foreigners, such taxes are really not a smart move. But does anybody on the top really care ?

9 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I also remember free food lines organized by falang businesses and groups, it brought out he best in many.

True. For the Thai people who suffered much worse.

Farangs were voluntarily guest. Supposed to be self sufficient.

If they couldn’t afford to feed themselves in Thailand without assistance they shouldn’t be here.

Edited August 27Aug 27 by HolmesEquivelant

6 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

Considering all the money bought in by foreigners, such taxes are really not a smart move. But does anybody on the top really care ?

As I mentioned before I don't think the Tourist will really care. If they sell it as the money is used for the tourist benefit by providing medical insurance, maintain the parks, improve the experience most will accept it as reasonable.

Additionally, Tourist/Thais already pay a 10% fee in their hotel bill when staying, which is higher than the proposed fee

For us long stay residents we receive some benefit from taxes paid elsewhere through subsidized fuel, electric, LPG Gas, etc. Maybe rice, oil, sugar.

9 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

The fee can be charged and the best way to do it is charge added to ticket although airlines will screm. Next make it part of the cost to get a visa.

Adding it to the ticket cost is not the best way, the tax is for tourists not citizens.

Change the cost of the TDAC from free to Bt.450!

.

.

Edited August 27Aug 27 by Ralf001

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Adding it to the ticket cost is not the best way, the tax is for tourists not citizens.

Change the cost of the TDAC from free to Bt.450!

.

.

Yes, that was always expected from it's conception.. despite what we were told. Now it will be harder to avoid the scam sites!

I'm not as concerned about the 450 baht as I am worried that they'll implement another queue on arrival to collect it. I'm hoping they just add it to the airfare, even if that means putting in some kiosks for Thai people to scan their boarding pass and 450 baht pops out (or gets deposited into one of their QR accounts).

It's a lot more palatable to queue up to get money than to give it.

56 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, that was always expected from it's conception.. despite what we were told. Now it will be harder to avoid the scam sites!

“Harder to avoid the scam sites”

Never had a problem. Use official government website.

13 hours ago, marin said:

Have a look at the sidewalks in Krabi town, Chantaburi town, Chiang Khan they also come with wonderful bike paths.

The bike paths will probably end up like the ones in Udon Thani. Unusable due to poor planning prior to installation and no maintenance

27 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

The bike paths will probably end up like the ones in Udon Thani. Unusable due to poor planning prior to installation and no maintenance

No they wont I go every year and they have remained fine. Pity you have such a negative attitude. I try to look for the good things in life and there are plenty here in Thailand if you simply take the time to look.

2 hours ago, marin said:

No they wont I go every year and they have remained fine. Pity you have such a negative attitude. I try to look for the good things in life and there are plenty here in Thailand if you simply take the time to look.

Really? You go to Udon Thani every year and the bike paths are fine?

If you are referring to those within the confines of Nongprajak park, then yes, I’ve cycled round the park on those many times. No cars there of course though.

But the cycle paths outside the park? They were death traps when first installed and remain so now. I certainly would not consider cycling on them as it’s too dangerous and it seems many people agree with me because I don’t see anyone else using them. Literally, no one.

I think my negative attitude as you call it, is being realistic. Presumably you regard yourself as optimistic, which I would call rose tinted glasses.

I’ve been here 21 years so I know the good and bad things that Thailand offers. Maintenance of newly completed projects isn’t high on the list of things Thai’s do well imho.

I have two mountain bikes, a cheap road bike and a Specialized S works which you can borrow or buy if you need them, split between Phuket and Udon.

Enjoy your cycling.

1 minute ago, wensiensheng said:

Really? You go to Udon Thani every year and the bike paths are fine?

The three towns I mentioned Krabi, Chantaburi are done at least once a year. Chiang Khan say once every other year. All maintained and kept up, also swept clean each morning before 6am. Guess it depends on the municipality.

3 minutes ago, marin said:

The three towns I mentioned Krabi, Chantaburi are done at least once a year. Chiang Khan say once every other year. All maintained and kept up, also swept clean each morning before 6am. Guess it depends on the municipality.

It’s been a while since I did the Chiang Khan road race. In fact I never even knew there is a cycle path there. It’s kind of a two horse town at best. But my friend does it every year. I’ll check with him as to how the cycle paths are in the village. It’s not much of a town really.

Just as a matter of interest, how do you know that cycle paths so far apart as Krabi, Chantaburi and Chiang Khan are swept clean every morning? Or do they do it only when you’re visiting?

I’m just kidding. If you’ve had a good experience of cycle paths in those locations, then good. I hope it continues. Krabi and Chiang Khan are close enough to Phuket and Udon Thani respectively for me to give them a try at some point. All I need to do is load up the bike rack on my car.

18 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

ust as a matter of interest, how do you know that cycle paths so far apart as Krabi, Chantaburi and Chiang Khan are swept clean every morning? Or do they do it only when you’re visiting?

I am assuming as every time we go we are up very early and see them sweeping. Here is a shot of the river walk/ride in Chiang Khan from 2025. We flew up to Loei and rented a car so just cheap knock around bikes.

Edited August 28Aug 28 by marin

If you want to encourage tourism you don't increase the prices, you reduce them. Make it more financially attractive to tourists.

3 hours ago, marin said:

I am assuming as every time we go we are up very early and see them sweeping. Here is a shot of the river walk/ride in Chiang Khan from 2025. We flew up to Loei and rented a car so just cheap knock around bikes.

Ahh, now I see the difference. These are cycle paths that are not on normal roads. Just like in Nongprajak park in Udon.

I was referring to what I suppose are more accurately described as cycle lanes on the normal roads in Udon. Can barely see the blue any more on those.

So really we have been talking at cross purposes. 😅

UPDATE

Tourist fee survey for foreigners available only in Thai