The Fallout

[tb86]

Well the protests are over for now, and the streets are clear and its time to get back to buisness. This is for those of us who own buisness in bangkok. What if any preventative measures are you planning to put in place to help ease the slowing of revenu coming in to you restaurant, bar, ect. Unfortunatly for some of us buisness was picking up again and returning to a semi normal state, now who knows i guess its time to plan for the worst, id rather not lay anyone off but it looks like this month and next are going to be a wash........ What are you guys planning to do?

[bkkjingjoe]

I operate a tour business. Probably will have to shut it down soon as we have received too many cancellations.

I will not be able to pay the salaries and rent anymore. So, before having to file bancruptcy, I will close the business, take out my money and leave the LOS behind. Sad, but can't help it. And I assume, I am not the only one who is hit really hard. The next couple of months/ years will show how everything goes down the drain.

Cheers!

[BigSnake]

Fallout for sure but with a decent return of tourists, it all stay stable, most businesses will get back to normal quickly.

[JR Texas]

I operate a tour business. Probably will have to shut it down soon as we have received too many cancellations.

I will not be able to pay the salaries and rent anymore. So, before having to file bancruptcy, I will close the business, take out my money and leave the LOS behind. Sad, but can't help it. And I assume, I am not the only one who is hit really hard. The next couple of months/ years will show how everything goes down the drain.

Cheers!

I am sorry to hear about your business challenges.

The thing that strikes me most about tourism in Thailand is that the Dept. of Immigration seems determined to destroy it. Why they are allowed to do this is a mystery to me.

Toxin fanned the flames of xenophobia.......and started altering the visa rules to push the majority of expats (those that are not in the top 10% income unit) out of Thailand.

But that wasn't enough..........he initiated a series of visa changes to prevent "backpackers" and other similar tourists from entering Thailand. I still remember the Gestapo-like passport checks on Khao San Road (anybody remember).

Over the past two years there has been a blatant "visa attack" against foreign men married to Thai women (xenophobia again).

All of these changes were made under the guise of "national security."

I am sure you, like me, are angry at what has happened.

Maybe those that leave and start businesses in expat/visa friendly countries like Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia will be much better off in the future.

I know a lot of expats--good people--who already left Thailand for better places, taking their money and jobs with them. They simply could not take any more of the BS and instability.

Good luck. A lot of people are hurting and many are making the decision to jump ship before the Thailand Titanic goes under.

[Korat88]

Sorry to hear/see this bkkjingjoe. I hope you can avert it somehow. How many Thai citizens will lose their jobs with you? It is a shame that all those responsible for the troubles on both sides don't appreciate just how much their actions affect their fellow citizens.

[wasabi]

There still could be more riots and angry mobs when the economic impact of this comes home to roost. Thailand thinks we Farangs are the problem sometimes but when we are no longer showing up a new scapegoat will be needed. I see a period of calm but unless Abhsit addresses the massage unemployment wave coming to shore you ain't seen nothing yet.

[jamesjdaly]

the massage unemployment wave

??????

[lost_in_space]

If the current government plays this right, in terms of PR, it can claim that things are back to the good old days of stability and smiles. It will have to be pretty aggressive though, to get the message out.

Jingjoe, if you are talking about personal bankruptcy, you're doing the right thing. If not, maybe hang on for a while. Of course, high season is more than 6 months away, but maybe the baht will be more realistically before then.

[MeetJohnDoe]

The thing that strikes me most about tourism in Thailand is that the Dept. of Immigration seems determined to destroy it. Why they are allowed to do this is a mystery to me.

Can you enlighten us on this a little more...haven't visa regulations and fees been loosened over the past few months to encourage more tourism?

Toxin fanned the flames of xenophobia.......and started altering the visa rules to push the majority of expats (those that are not in the top 10% income unit) out of Thailand.

I would put it a little differently. The rules were changed to push-out the bottom 10% of the economically challenged expatriates, those staying without proper residency status, illegal business operators, and petty-criminals and child sex-tourists.

But that wasn't enough..........he initiated a series of visa changes to prevent "backpackers" and other similar tourists from entering Thailand. I still remember the Gestapo-like passport checks on Khao San Road (anybody remember).

Does anyone know of an actual instance of a "backpacker" [with proper documentation] being prevented from entering Thailand? A police check of IDs, which is common in most countries, is a "Gestapo" action when done in Thailand?

Over the past two years there has been a blatant "visa attack" against foreign men married to Thai women (xenophobia again).

Mai khow chai...what's a "visa attack" ? Please expound on this point.

All of these changes were made under the guise of "national security."

Yes, since 9-11, things have unfortunately tightened-up in all countries.

I am sure you, like me, are angry at what has happened.

We can see that...the question is why? Take a chill pill dude

Edited April 15, 2009 by MeetJohnDoe

[Ulysses G.]

I enjoy usually JR Texas's posts, but I'm afraid that I agree with virtually everything that MeetJohnDoe said above.

[JR Texas]

I enjoy usually JR Texas's posts, but I'm afraid that I agree with virtually everything that MeetJohnDoe said above.

It would be a waste of my time to respond in detail. I have already done it so many times. Needless to say, I totally disagree with you and find it extraordinarily odd that both of you foreign expats......you have swallowed what the power elite in Thailand has fed you, hook, line, and sinker. The only thing we can possible agree on is to agree to disagree.

[phetaroi]

It's kind of difficult to take JR's two posts here too seriously. Consider the language he has chosen:

It would be a waste of my time to respond...

you have swallowed what the power elite in Thailand has fed you, hook, line, and sinker.

Toxin fanned the flames of xenophobia

the Gestapo-like passport checks on Khao San Road

blatant "visa attack"

[tb86]

guys lets stick to the topic of buisness owners in bangkok and things they are doing/ planning to help avoid slipping into the "red" during the upcoming slow times

[MeetJohnDoe]

I enjoy usually JR Texas's posts, but I'm afraid that I agree with virtually everything that MeetJohnDoe said above.

It would be a waste of my time to respond in detail. I have already done it so many times. Needless to say, I totally disagree with you and find it extraordinarily odd that both of you foreign expats......you have swallowed what the power elite in Thailand has fed you, hook, line, and sinker. The only thing we can possible agree on is to agree to disagree.

Reminds me of an old saying in my former life as a lawyer: If you have the facts on your side...argue the facts, if you have the law...argue the law, if you have neither...pound on the table!

[PatinBKk]

There is a worldwide economic slowdown. tourism and the associated spending that brings will be affected just the same as manufacturing will be. So for BKK and Thailand in general, that means, restaurants,bars,massage shops,dive companies, hotels and everything associated with them that will suffer.

The latest troubles will of course only add to this....I have been here for 5 years and nobody has ever bothered calling/emailing to see if I was Ok since the Tsunami.....so previous military coups etc havnt been reported that much...this week I have lost count of the people that have called to see if we are OK, so the reporting of the latest troubles have been extensivly publisised more than previusly...which of course will have a knock on effect.

Strong Baht is another problem which was being discussed on channel 3 recently by the BOT

The good times will return but we all have a bumpy ride for the next few years...unless you are a pawn shop.

[phetaroi]

I have been here for 5 years and nobody has ever bothered calling/emailing to see if I was Ok since the Tsunami.....so previous military coups etc havnt been reported that much...this week I have lost count of the people that have called to see if we are OK, so the reporting of the latest troubles have been extensivly publisised more than previusly.

I think you are correct on this. I am moving to Thailand on a retirement visa in late May and last night I went to dinner here in the States with 7 friends. I was surprised that all of them were very aware of the current situation. In fact, before we even sat down, one jokingly asked, "Are you a red shirt or a yellow shirt?" After we all had a laugh, another said, "But seriously, are you a red shirt or a yellow shirt?"

Where they appeared to be incorrect was in regard to how widespread the riots were. They tended to think that virtually all of Bangkok was shut down.

[Rinrada]

We have decided to flog the Laundry in Theparak...not enjough dirty underpants.....MPR...... ...one door shuts another.....

[Ulysses G.]

I enjoy usually JR Texas's posts, but I'm afraid that I agree with virtually everything that MeetJohnDoe said above.

......you have swallowed what the power elite in Thailand has fed you, hook, line, and sinker.

Your post is very anti-Thaksin and so are the "power elite in Thailand". Who has swallowed what?

[wasabi]

the massage unemployment wave

??????

I meant massive unemployment. Freudian slip?

[jubby]

The Big problem is that its not over and we all know it. Expats can see it for what it is , a Bizarre Soap Opera, we don't worry too much about it. We know its always going to go on and on. If I was a Tourist intending to Visit for the first time but hadn't yet booked the flights , Its highly likely I would look for an Alternative . Surely its common sense. The regulars will return no problems. As for International Business , surely , surely they've got to think Thailands a Basketcase.