Tourist Arrivals Counting Method - Tourist Or Not?

[SamGio]

I have for some now been trying to understand tourism numbers in Thailand. Been here for 19+ years and during that period I have probably departed Bangkok (Don Muang first and now SuvaBKK) 15 times on average per year due to meetings and consulting abroad.

Every time, I fill out the arrival/departure slip with the usual no's (not charter, no not staying at a hotel in Thailand etc.)

However, I fill out the page with job title, salary and so on as well.

I wonder if I am registred as a tourist every time I arrive? ( I am on a yearly Thai Wife visa, so not a resident or citizen of Thailand). Anyone out there on TV with facts on this?

If I am registred as a tourist with each arrival, it seems to me that there is a bit of overcounting in the tourist numbers, as the number of people staying on yearly or three-month visa's for eternity shouldn't really be classified as tourist.

Anyway, who cares.......Probably or certainly not TAT - better get the numbers up anyway possible.

[cardholder]

I suspect that you and I, SamGio, represent 25 tourists p.a.

[Chicog]

Why on earth would you share personal information with the Thai government?

They can have my passport details but what I earn is none of their ****ing business.

[SamGio]

True, I don't argue with you on what info is given and the accuracy of the given info.

I am just wondering how many millions of long term "residents" on thaiwife and other similar visa's are counted as tourists. Perhaps there are almost no tourists here..... Just saying

[Eff1n2ret]

I can't remember all the boxes that have to be ticked on the arrival card, but part of the info on the front includes 'visa number', so if you have either a visa issued abroad or a re-entry permit, they could perhaps extrapolate some info from that.

But please don't lose too much sleep over it...

[LongTimeLurker]

Next time don't fill in the salary details and when you check the tourist figures next year if they are down by 1 you'll know why.