Why would you consider it strange for the embassy to ask for proof of financial liquidity or an itinerary? This is standard procedure in today's range of consular services. Things and processes change and evolve.  Here in the east too. Not only in the west. 

 

You might have forgotten that we Asians are required to show far far far more than USD 700 and a simple itinerary when wanting to travel to the US. 

 

"...made me feel like I wasn't really welcome to visit Thailand. I really don't think this is a good way to promote tourism."

 

That's amusing. Tantrums and temper go hand in hand.

 

Reciprocity is they keyword. Feeling welcome here means giving visitors to your own country an equally welcoming feeling.

 

 

 

 

So you feel that you should be able to come to Thailand without showing return flights or a bank account statement? Would you be Okay with Thai people visiting the US without such proof/ documents. The USA is one of the hardest places to get a tourist visa for...Arrogance is a word that comes to mind.

2 hours ago, claffey said:

So you feel that you should be able to come to Thailand without showing return flights or a bank account statement? Would you be Okay with Thai people visiting the US without such proof/ documents. The USA is one of the hardest places to get a tourist visa for...Arrogance is a word that comes to mind.

While I do not disagree completely with what you write:

• for many nationalities, getting an ESTA for normal visits to the US is very easy;
• for African nationals especially, getting visas to visit Thailand is very difficult.

Sure, someone believing they should be able to waltz in and out of Thailand without any control is arrogant. That said, some of the immigration rules are not particularly rational.

22 hours ago, claffey said:

So you feel that you should be able to come to Thailand without showing return flights or a bank account statement? Would you be Okay with Thai people visiting the US without such proof/ documents. The USA is one of the hardest places to get a tourist visa for...Arrogance is a word that comes to mind.

Are you aware of the problem we have in the USA of people coming in and working illegally?  To my knowledge, there is no similar parallel of people traveling from nations with higher pay to take jobs in nations with lower-pay.  A few backpackers teaching English is hardly comparable to the scale and depth of the huge problem we have in the West with uninvited guests.

 

This problem is destroying the ability of our American citizens to work and survive on their incomes.  A huge portion of the US-Population is now taking govt-handouts to buy food, to pad those citizens' falling-incomes, due to competition from foreigners willing to work for next-to-nothing.  As is (even with the new president), if you want to live in the USA, just travel to Mexico and come in illegally - and stay forever.  If you get caught, you will get a court-date years in the future, and be set-free (Catch and Release policy) to enjoy your illegal-stay; few ever show up for those court-dates, as there is almost no enforcement at jobsites, checks by local police, etc.

 

Although Thailand has similar "illegal worker" issues with people from neighboring, poorer nations, they are not restricted as harshly from entry and stay, as are those of us from Farang-land.  Go figure.