Thailand Tightens Rules For Foreign Visitors

[sabaijai]

Thailand tightens rules for foreign visitors

By Thomas Fuller International Herald Tribune

Published: September 15, 2006

BANGKOK "Thailand never turns away people with problems, no matter where they're from," run the lyrics to a famous Thai country song. "They cross the border, the Mekong River where the water is murky/To ask for the protection of Siam/We welcome them with a smile."

It would be hard to find a place with a more deeply ingrained sense of hospitality than Thailand. Tolerance of outsiders' quirks and an overall laissez- faire attitude make the country one of Asia's top tourist destinations, drawing more than 11 million visitors last year.

But Thais are now pondering, as they do periodically, whether the doors to the well-advertised "Amazing Thailand" have been opened too wide.

The country's Immigration Department on Friday took some small but symbolic steps in regulating foreign visitors, tightening requirements for entrepreneurs who come to Thailand to set up businesses and increasing scrutiny of marriages between foreigners and Thais.

"We will check whether they are really in love or not," Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, the head of the department, said at a news conference.

Suwat also announced new rules that effectively limit to three months the total stay of Western tourists without visas. The move should have a limited effect on most holiday-makers but could disturb the routines of retired people, long-stay backpackers and those who work or study in the country but who are registered as tourists.

"We want real tourists, not fake tourists," Suwat said.

The Friday announcement followed the high-profile deportation of an American, John Mark Karr, who famously and falsely confessed in August to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the Colorado girl found dead a decade ago in a case that captivated America.

Karr lived in the country on and off for almost two years, teaching English at two local schools. He stayed as a tourist and left the country periodically on "visa runs" to Cambodia and Malaysia when his tourist visa needed renewal - a practice that the new immigration rules seek to curtail.

Thais were shocked when Karr, who had taught elementary students, admitted to having a fondness for little girls.

"Thailand should check more carefully about the foreigners who come here," said Kritiyanee Petrpow, 28, a saleswoman doing her rounds in downtown Bangkok. "Schools should better check teachers' records," added Kritiyanee, who has a 9-year-old son.

Karr is just one of a roster of sex offenders, ex-convicts and other fugitives who turn up regularly in the freewheeling country. They are a small fraction of Thailand's tourist arrivals but they often make headlines. Add to this the country's image as a center for sex tourism and many Thais say they want some of the grime swept away.

"People think Thailand is cheap food and cheap girls," said Chantanee Seesang, a 25-year-old teacher sitting in a Bangkok coffee shop. "It would be a good thing if they tried to keep these types of people out," she said, referring to sex tourists.

Yet being more selective about who is allowed into the country is difficult if not impossible, said Pansak Vinyaratn, a top policy adviser to Thailand's interim prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

"It's difficult to tell who is who," Pansak said. "Sometimes the guy who looks like a creep is an investment banker."

Or both.

The last line of "Thailand, Land of Smiles," the Thai country ditty sung by the late, beloved Phumphuang Duangchan, comes with an instructive disclaimer. "If you respect the rights of Thais, you can live here as long as you want," Phumphuang sang. "Thailand always smiles."

Source: International Herald Tribune

[SamuiJens]

"We want real tourists, not fake tourists" Suwat said

Sh't, that pea's me off, LIKE IM NOT REAL? What's he on?And goes on to say "We'll check if they're really in love (with LOS) or not" Now how the hel_l does he do this, since only my heart knows for sure!

And much more, all about John Carr's teaching children when he stated he loved little girls! (Was this the first insident of this to date?)

All this shows is that Buch has given' them the message or we'll attack you while we're in the area!

Well I hope all us Americans vote Democratic this time around, and get rid of the Emporers (and his) Clothes, out of the white house, and change the name to the Green House! (To bad we didn't get Gore 6 years back!) IMHO

[Briggsy]

I suspect "fake tourists" mean people who wish to set up businesses using a marriage of convenience. There are many Chinese doing it in Chiang Saen and Nong Khai.

[Briggsy]

Actually rereading it, it could mean anybody at all!

[Steph1012]

So the love patrol will be upon us all next.

This is exactly the sort of quote that is going to appear in papers all over the world tomorrow and he was obviously too stupid to think before he spoke. "Thai Police grill couple over washing up row" Farang faces deportation if it is proved he didn't dry up properly.

Thais cannot be fussy when it comes to teachers. Despite this massive loophole in the law and all the illegal teachers here, there is still a shortage and the standard of English is appalling. Get it, real teachers are not going to uproot, spend 6 months hanging round waiting for a work permit, work for twenty percent of what they can get in Japan, South Korea, or Singapore.

A better idea would have been to grant teaching licences provided certain standards were set and follow up training undertaken. Perhaps the Universities could gain from this by offering courses. If it guaranteed people a shot at staying here legally, they would be very popular. Not a degree though as anybody with a rudimentary western education could teach the highest flyers in the Thai system. It the pay is increased here and teachers come, they will not stay here, mainly as when they hand out their first fail mark, are called in by the Director for the "this is Thailand, there is no fail here" they will become disheartened and leave. Thus no continuity. As the rules change and they have to spend hard earned cash taking days off to chase Thai Government Departments for permit extensions etc. They will also think about leaving.

Thailand should play to its strengths. It is a fun country and many come here, fall in love and stay. Doesn't mean they would be bad teachers and there are benefits for all in this arrangement.... Un PC as it is to say. Trying to attract rich people with no need of poorly paid teaching work is not going to do much for the country and they will not put up with the shit as we do. They can afford to go anywhere in the world.

Edited September 16, 2006 by Steph1012

[usatrader]

"We want real tourists, not fake tourists" Suwat said

Sh't, that pea's me off, LIKE IM NOT REAL? What's he on?And goes on to say "We'll check if they're really in love (with LOS) or not" Now how the hel_l does he do this, since only my heart knows for sure!

And much more, all about John Carr's teaching children when he stated he loved little girls! (Was this the first insident of this to date?)

All this shows is that Buch has given' them the message or we'll attack you while we're in the area!

Well I hope all us Americans vote Democratic this time around, and get rid of the Emporers (and his) Clothes, out of the white house, and change the name to the Green House! (To bad we didn't get Gore 6 years back!) IMHO

As-sallamu aleykum! "Peace be unto you."

And, he, BUCH, the all-powerful wizard, destroyer of worlds, creator of all the world’s ills, all of which never existed before him.

It was this wizard of all ills, who created and thusly forced, from all corners of the earth, the lawbreaking unproductive exploiting faR’ang of Thailand that are now no longer welcomed.

It was this evil BUCH, who created and forced these down trodden, dirt poor, pot smoking, drug taking, drunken, back packing louts to Thailand that are now unwelcome.

It was he that created the atmosphere of exploitation where breaking Thai laws, committing criminal acts and or indulge ones lust of pedophilia, sexual exploitations, drug addictions, legal and societal escapisms from native lands has become the norm.

It was he that bred these faR’ang inadequacies that do not love Thailand, like many unaffected faR’ang so productively do, but instead, exploit her in a self indulging lustful sociopath derived largely in some distorted sense of superiority to her.

I ponder, for all those veteran expatriates out there who have been coming regularly or living in Thailand more than 10 years, do you suppose it was the BUCH’s of this world who created these bred of non-productive exploiting faR”ang the Thai’s now want removed from their country?

Where they not here and as distastefully so, long before BUCH the creator of all the world’s ills?

[boppia]

Thailand should do more screening. There are people who should be booted out. At the same time it should look at how foreigners coming from all backgrounds benefit the society. Money doesn't mean quality in all cases. I would say a lot of western countries are doing pretty well due to continuous immigration over the years. But the immigrants in the west are given equal rights which allows them to use their ideas to start new businesses etc. Most foreigners see Thailand as a place which can be enjoyable to live in. They can see opportunites which could be developed and never are due to laws etc. The most important reality of Thailand is that an investment here is never safe. It's like a bank you can't trust. The law is shakey here so safe investments turn out to be much higher risk investment than they would in the home countries of foreigners. On top of all this foreigners die in Thailand continuously. Why's that? Thailand has a lot to do to improve the country. Screening foreigners is important; most successful countries do it. Thailand also needs to have a government which makes laws which are best for the people- all people and a justice system which enforces the law sincerely.

[terryp]

I truly believe that the Western tourist & investors are slowly not being wanted in Thailand.

Overall I can see the trend and it’s not difficult to understand why…even if it possibly might come back to haunt Thailand….the magic Country being courted is China.

About 10 million International tourists a year come to Thailand…… by 2012 the expected arrivals JUST from China is projected to be 15 million?...and don’t forget Japan and Korea are also 2 of Thailand biggest growing arrival groups

As was shown after the Sars outbreak and the tsunami on Phuket, Asian tourists are very fickle and cancel very quickly at the slightest foreseen problem….many Tour Company’s that catered for the Asian package group tours were very quickly put out of business due to the mass cancellations due to the worry of Ghosts on Phuket Island.

Presently there are no Chinese ghetto bar areas like the European ones in Pattaya and Patong…which to be truthful the only positive that these offer is the billions of baht dropped into the Thai coffers by Investors….this weighed against massive growth in prostitution, street crime large amount of Foreign Criminals hiding out here ..it is quite understandable that Westerners are being shown the door ……the Medium class Thais arriving in Pattaya and driving along Beach Rd must be truly disgusted & think they have died and gone to hel_l…..Many believe this is well overdue

[astral]

Presently there are no Chinese ghetto bar areas like the European ones .............

There are no bars, but believe me the immigrant Chinese who arrived in the early part of the last century, are well established in the Thai culture.

Keep a look out for chinese temples as you drive round,

or at the ceremonies performed on the lunar days when decorations are burned in a tin in the street.

Alternatively look at the cabinet and senior government ministers.........

[Scott]

Overall, I think the tourists will continue to come. I just don't think the country is as likely to attract the long stayers, like before.

[boppia]

When Thailand gets rid of its apartheid system things should improve.

[veteran]

:TIT: Get used to it,TIT: