Officials To Inspect Business Licenses Of All Foreigner Owned Tourism Businesses In Phuket

[animatic]

So as I see it, the taxi drivers are complaining about foreign tour operators who are moonlighting by driving taxi's and thereby stealing their jobs.....what a load of garbage

I think more they are complaining about outside operators coming in for less money and under-cutting them,

with Russian tour companies making non-local deals, because the locals won't let them be tour guides.

[RogueLeader]

Oh, and we may let you come do it, till we learn how to do it,

then we can rule that you can no longer do it, because we can do it.

There's not a country in the world whose immigration policies aren't an elaborate way of saying exactly the same. Even in the EU, despite free-movement regulations, most companies will look for a native speaker of the language in which they operate before they look elsewhere.

[Jimi007]

Attention to all interested in options and specifically to; spidermike007 & BTM & Skorz re their queries raised as copied below.

Time for us "Falangs" so say goodbye to Thailand and head for greener pastures.

and that is where?

Good luck with finding another country where you can get a decent ride, fresh curry and a beer for under 20 quid.

Please provide us with a list of your top five spots you are suggesting. Please bear in mind:

1. How delightful are the local people?

2. How reasonable is the place to live?

3. How food is the local cuisine?

4. What about the local women? Are they attractive? Open to relationships with foreigners?

It is fine to say you want to leave, but where to?

As I said earlier, Good luck with finding another country where you can get a decent ride, fresh curry and a beer for under 20 quid.

I have left Thailand after years there, so tired of the constant sticky little fingers in your pocket, and the list of wrongs perpetrated daily against Falangs is never ending, the lost deposits on rental properties & hire cars, bikes etc.

Let alone the violence, the pain re Visa`s and reporting, the need to have any property in a locals name by 51% to facilitate easy transfer of assets etc etc. The issues with banks and credit cards, the list is endless.

So in response to your request to identify a better location; I have relocated to Cambodia for 6 months now, some insights as to why I prefer it here;

No Visa issues, pay for a 6 or 12 month Visa endlessly extendible at any travel agent or hotel or rental condo.

You can be in business legally, you can buy property - with caveats, but easily do-able, the people in large are more friendly than in the major hubs of corrupt sleaze as Phuket & Pattaya, and now that disease has taken hold in the tourist areas of Chiang Mai also strongly.

It seems many Farang are able to convince them selves all is well in Thailand, as long as it is not them personally involved in a newsworthy spot of trouble, how short sighted, I decided not to stay & continue to give money to those who make no attempt to even appear as if they like or respect you for any reason other than your money - get some self respect and look elsewhere, or when your time comes to be in the cross hairs - dont complain.

Do not mistake this as all is bad in Thailand, I did have very warm contact with Thai people in a more local environment, it is the so called Hi So and tourism operators who soon see the advantage to be had by blatantly robbing tourists & falang residents there is no stopping them, and we have no rights unless you either can afford to or wish to be the highest bidder on the outcome of your life`s issue at stake to the BIB.

The sale of rose coloured glasses has been very successful in Thailand, why do so many like to live as an Ostrich, very sandy down there !

So apart from here in Cambodia, which is also rated as the 11 th fastest growing economy, or thereabouts - creating many opportunities then there is also parts of the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam as mentioned in another post.

The Farang food is way better here if you like that, see here - http://www.khmer440....dy-bars/ - so in relation to the 20 quid query, a first class Tournedos with wine x 2 at $1 per glass, albeit small, transport to & from all for about $12.00 & real American BBQ places, NZ Venison, the best Sous Vide cooked burgers at $5 etc etc

You can get real French style Baguettes - not sugar bread, a small thing - but a very pleasant change, the Tuk Tuks are Farang sized & cost way less than in Thailand, they have Casinos if interested etc etc

The chance of me going back to live in Thailand is about the same as fair trade to take wings in Phuket !

Fascinating thread. Thanks for that. Yes, Thailand requires a lot of stamina and patience. Most thai people really do not have a clue. I have been to Cambodia, and liked it. I despise the government, and Hun Sen is one of the worlds greatest pigs, but the people are nice. Did not like the local food nearly as much, but it is quite easy to beat the thai baked goods. Why can't the thai people figure out how to bake? One of my conclusions is that it is an enormous handicap for a country in asia to not have been occupied. Perhaps one of the greatest problems with Thailand is that they we never occupied by a Western country?

Pretty much, the first tourists, en-mass, to Thailand, were the American soldiers into Bangkok and Pattaya during the Vietnam War.

They came here and saw the sun, sea, sand, cheap beer and sex. many came back to Thailand after their tour of duty and told all their friends and family about Thailand. That basically kicked of tourism for Thailand.

By the 80's, Thailand was a global destination for a holiday and many expats started to retire here. It was at this stage I would say Thailand started to be occupied.

Most people think of occupation as an invasion by military forces. For Thailand, you can live here with a passport, and there are millions of foreigners doing so. 99% of them are with a Thai women. Many of them have children.

It's very hard to go ANYWHERE in Thailand without seeing other farang. Even up in the villages of Issan, you will see farang.

So, in my opinion, Thailand has been occupied, and will continue to be occupied.

Thailand missed a great opportunity during this occupation, and they continue to miss that opportunity to this very day. They have highly skilled and experienced expats living here, but they will not issue work permits to them so they can teach Thai's.

For example, why not issue 100 work permits for tiling. Tilers would come here, start a business, teach Thai's how to do tiling, properly, and then those Thai's go and start their own business and teach other Thai's how to lay tiles properly as well..

As the years pass, the issuing of work permits for farang tilers can be reduced until there are no work permits for farang tilers anymore and the occupation of tiler is now reserved for Thai's only.

This would have been a cheap way to train Thai's how to do tiling, properly. Instead, what Thailand done was ban ALL farang from tiling and we have terrible tiling to this very day. Showers in 5 star hotels in Thailand are only marginally better than a cheap guest house for tiling. They could have done this with electrician, plumbers, carpenters etc etc.

Anyway, the old saying, "They don't want us here, just our money" seems to have some truth, but if they would issue a work permit for retired expats to do a few days, work, here and there, not for the money, but more to keep active in retirement, the Thai's could gain a lot of knowledge from such individuals and it would benefit Thailand.

Wow that was a long post. I understand what you are saying and mostly agree. Yet the law here does not and will not permit it, to the detriment of all who live here. There is a list of about 40 jobs that are Thai only. Funny that laborer is included in that list, as most Thais don't want to do those type of jobs. They would rather sit around all day for a 600 Baht or more fare for their "taxi."

[NamKangMan]

Attention to all interested in options and specifically to; spidermike007 & BTM & Skorz re their queries raised as copied below.

Time for us "Falangs" so say goodbye to Thailand and head for greener pastures.

and that is where?

Good luck with finding another country where you can get a decent ride, fresh curry and a beer for under 20 quid.

Please provide us with a list of your top five spots you are suggesting. Please bear in mind:

1. How delightful are the local people?

2. How reasonable is the place to live?

3. How food is the local cuisine?

4. What about the local women? Are they attractive? Open to relationships with foreigners?

It is fine to say you want to leave, but where to?

As I said earlier, Good luck with finding another country where you can get a decent ride, fresh curry and a beer for under 20 quid.

I have left Thailand after years there, so tired of the constant sticky little fingers in your pocket, and the list of wrongs perpetrated daily against Falangs is never ending, the lost deposits on rental properties & hire cars, bikes etc.

Let alone the violence, the pain re Visa`s and reporting, the need to have any property in a locals name by 51% to facilitate easy transfer of assets etc etc. The issues with banks and credit cards, the list is endless.

So in response to your request to identify a better location; I have relocated to Cambodia for 6 months now, some insights as to why I prefer it here;

No Visa issues, pay for a 6 or 12 month Visa endlessly extendible at any travel agent or hotel or rental condo.

You can be in business legally, you can buy property - with caveats, but easily do-able, the people in large are more friendly than in the major hubs of corrupt sleaze as Phuket & Pattaya, and now that disease has taken hold in the tourist areas of Chiang Mai also strongly.

It seems many Farang are able to convince them selves all is well in Thailand, as long as it is not them personally involved in a newsworthy spot of trouble, how short sighted, I decided not to stay & continue to give money to those who make no attempt to even appear as if they like or respect you for any reason other than your money - get some self respect and look elsewhere, or when your time comes to be in the cross hairs - dont complain.

Do not mistake this as all is bad in Thailand, I did have very warm contact with Thai people in a more local environment, it is the so called Hi So and tourism operators who soon see the advantage to be had by blatantly robbing tourists & falang residents there is no stopping them, and we have no rights unless you either can afford to or wish to be the highest bidder on the outcome of your life`s issue at stake to the BIB.

The sale of rose coloured glasses has been very successful in Thailand, why do so many like to live as an Ostrich, very sandy down there !

So apart from here in Cambodia, which is also rated as the 11 th fastest growing economy, or thereabouts - creating many opportunities then there is also parts of the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam as mentioned in another post.

The Farang food is way better here if you like that, see here - http://www.khmer440....dy-bars/ - so in relation to the 20 quid query, a first class Tournedos with wine x 2 at $1 per glass, albeit small, transport to & from all for about $12.00 & real American BBQ places, NZ Venison, the best Sous Vide cooked burgers at $5 etc etc

You can get real French style Baguettes - not sugar bread, a small thing - but a very pleasant change, the Tuk Tuks are Farang sized & cost way less than in Thailand, they have Casinos if interested etc etc

The chance of me going back to live in Thailand is about the same as fair trade to take wings in Phuket !

Fascinating thread. Thanks for that. Yes, Thailand requires a lot of stamina and patience. Most thai people really do not have a clue. I have been to Cambodia, and liked it. I despise the government, and Hun Sen is one of the worlds greatest pigs, but the people are nice. Did not like the local food nearly as much, but it is quite easy to beat the thai baked goods. Why can't the thai people figure out how to bake? One of my conclusions is that it is an enormous handicap for a country in asia to not have been occupied. Perhaps one of the greatest problems with Thailand is that they we never occupied by a Western country?

Pretty much, the first tourists, en-mass, to Thailand, were the American soldiers into Bangkok and Pattaya during the Vietnam War.

They came here and saw the sun, sea, sand, cheap beer and sex. many came back to Thailand after their tour of duty and told all their friends and family about Thailand. That basically kicked of tourism for Thailand.

By the 80's, Thailand was a global destination for a holiday and many expats started to retire here. It was at this stage I would say Thailand started to be occupied.

Most people think of occupation as an invasion by military forces. For Thailand, you can live here with a passport, and there are millions of foreigners doing so. 99% of them are with a Thai women. Many of them have children.

It's very hard to go ANYWHERE in Thailand without seeing other farang. Even up in the villages of Issan, you will see farang.

So, in my opinion, Thailand has been occupied, and will continue to be occupied.

Thailand missed a great opportunity during this occupation, and they continue to miss that opportunity to this very day. They have highly skilled and experienced expats living here, but they will not issue work permits to them so they can teach Thai's.

For example, why not issue 100 work permits for tiling. Tilers would come here, start a business, teach Thai's how to do tiling, properly, and then those Thai's go and start their own business and teach other Thai's how to lay tiles properly as well..

As the years pass, the issuing of work permits for farang tilers can be reduced until there are no work permits for farang tilers anymore and the occupation of tiler is now reserved for Thai's only.

This would have been a cheap way to train Thai's how to do tiling, properly. Instead, what Thailand done was ban ALL farang from tiling and we have terrible tiling to this very day. Showers in 5 star hotels in Thailand are only marginally better than a cheap guest house for tiling. They could have done this with electrician, plumbers, carpenters etc etc.

Anyway, the old saying, "They don't want us here, just our money" seems to have some truth, but if they would issue a work permit for retired expats to do a few days, work, here and there, not for the money, but more to keep active in retirement, the Thai's could gain a lot of knowledge from such individuals and it would benefit Thailand.

Wow that was a long post. I understand what you are saying and mostly agree. Yet the law here does not and will not permit it, to the detriment of all who live here. There is a list of about 40 jobs that are Thai only. Funny that laborer is included in that list, as most Thais don't want to do those type of jobs. They would rather sit around all day for a 600 Baht or more fare for their "taxi."

I know the law here doesn't permit it, my point was Thailand missed a great opportunity to have free on the job training for Thai people in the trades.

It's one of the reasons why workmanship is so poor here. It's not always from laziness. Many times it's from lack of education and training.

They are so afraid of a farang earning a baht here that they miss all the positives that a farang working here can bring to the Thai people, and many other industries, not just the tourism industry.

[muratremix]

Yesterday I went on a speedboat tour to Phi Phi. At last stop, which is Kai Island, I noticed something unusual. A russian man holding 3 small monkeys and offering them for your leisure photo for 100 baht. Sounds familiar? Yes! That petty job is for Thais (Remember slow loris? Iguana? Eagle? Tiger?). I am positively sure there is no job description of Monkeys or pets involved in this Russian man's workpermit (if he has one of course!).

First they steal tour guide jobs from Thais in Phuket, then they steal taxi / van / bus jobs, and now this? How can somebody wants to do a job so low?

I would like to report this incident to Authorities, anybody know a number or office dealing with illegal workers?

[NamKangMan]

Yesterday I went on a speedboat tour to Phi Phi. At last stop, which is Kai Island, I noticed something unusual. A russian man holding 3 small monkeys and offering them for your leisure photo for 100 baht. Sounds familiar? Yes! That petty job is for Thais (Remember slow loris? Iguana? Eagle? Tiger?). I am positively sure there is no job description of Monkeys or pets involved in this Russian man's workpermit (if he has one of course!).

First they steal tour guide jobs from Thais in Phuket, then they steal taxi / van / bus jobs, and now this? How can somebody wants to do a job so low?

I would like to report this incident to Authorities, anybody know a number or office dealing with illegal workers?

Did it ever occur to you he was approached by the owner of the animals to do this work because he speaks Russian?

As I previously stated, the TAT want the Russian market, but will not allow a few concessions for some Russian speaking, reading and writing staff to work, in order to deal with this market with its very difficult language.

The real owner, most probably Thai, was probably not making any money because he would stand there and say, "Photo, photo" and the Russians had no idea what it was all about. He gets the Russian guy to do it and they both make some money and the tourists are happy because they have a photo holding a monkey in Thailand.

It's called "business" and has been operating this way in Pattaya for some time. "Planet Phuket" however, is different.

Edited February 7, 2013 by NamKangMan

[taninthai]

You gotta laugh at how it works you can have a fully licensed registered business with work permit and they are going to investigate you, however you can be working illegally in an unregistered business and they won't investigate you as they dontveven know where or what you are doing.

So obviously honesty is not the best policy over here.