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.

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

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.

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

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...

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.