Immigration chief: Don't scare the tourists away by being too strict - we need them and their money

[ICELANDMAN]

2 hours ago, sturdyd said:

I wish he'd apply the same logic to us long term expats.

 

I don't think it's good news for expatriates if he said we want their money

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

Shouldn't that be "fewer"?

 

I wonder what happens to all the posters after they've been used (just once, can they be printed on the back too?), some of our local shops / food outlets have recycled advertising posters as blinds, not seen an immigration/police one yet.

 

 

 

saw this morning with my own eyes (didn't had my phone with me to take a photo) the vinyl poster store/maker was burning a lot of old ones, lots of heavy smoke

[ICELANDMAN]

53 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I'm not convinced they discriminate between an expat and a tourist.

We're all tourists to them.

I agree we are all tourists but we expats have more value because every month with us come to Thailand milliards baths, but I fear that this IO big boss has not yet understood

[mok199]

Shameless lot...them

[jackdd]

29 minutes ago, SmartyMarty said:

As the chinese tourist average spend is way more than westerners

Only if you look at the spending per day. The spending per visit is less because they stay shorter.

Which explains empty hotels even though the arrival number rises.

[pattayadgw]

a 'little too late 'damage has been done'!!!

[lamyai3]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

1 hour ago, Jane Dough said:

Half way if you are a DIMWIT or a NITWIT but three quarters if just a TWIT.

 

regards,

 

Rooster

But not a halfwit though?

You could probably tell me in less than two seconds which of those words has the higher scrabble score too.

It's a shame PRAWIT isn't allowed, it'd beat all three. 

[alfalfa19]

i guess he missed the part of police training where they are taught to never tell the truth in public. 

 

[AsianAtHeart]

1 hour ago, jackdd said:

Vietnam isn't connected to Thailand by land ????

The foreigners could get a METV if they really visit Thailand often through land borders, of course the price for a METV could put some off

Apparently, you're not aware of the requirements for an METV.  Most of my friends who would like one are ineligible for one.  And, yes, the price is also part of why they don't go that route.  Who wants to spend money just to spend more money?  Just do your shopping locally, and maybe mail-order something from the homeland instead.

[lamyai3]

3 hours ago, digibum said:

4 hours ago, darksidedog said:

My goodness, what is this? An ounce of common sense? How the hell did that get into the country?

It entered on a 90-day tourist visa.  

Initially it was denied entry and flew out after two days in detention, but it then managed to get back in at the Laos border...

[Saint Nick]

2 hours ago, digibum said:

 

Ahh, the classic, “There are legitimate problems with immigration so I’m going to denigrate the entire country and ascribe everything to some sinister plot directed against me.”  Please don’t forget the “Expats are leaving in droves.  The planes at Swampy are full of people fleeing the oppressive Thai immigration.  Thailand will soon become a failed nation without our money.” BS! 

Did I say any of the tosh, you attribute to my post?

Or are you just dreaming stuff up?

[Saint Nick]

1 hour ago, SmartyMarty said:

Can you read? I never said there are no problems, I merely provided a counterpoint plus asked in what way Immigration could ease up on expats. And don't ever assume you can read into my inner thoughts with your "don't forget to ad, etc". Mind you, I note you are a "senior member" so perhaps your faculties are failing.

Okay...here is what you wrote: I'm a long stay resident and have had no problems of difficulty. I renew my visa every year, do my 90 day reporting (easy as), don't need to do TM30 if I travel within Thailand (as told by CNX Immigration), never have a problem with the RTP who are always helpful and polite. What's the problem?

 

no problems or difficulty...never have a problem...what's the problem.

All answering a person, who HAD problems!

Sooooo...where was I wrong to point that out?

[Momofarang]

3 hours ago, overherebc said:

Did he make it clear there is no 180 day law now????

If you stay more than a few weeks you are definitely not a tourist, so no need to talk about this 180 days limit, whether it exists or not.

[hansnl]

4 hours ago, keith101 said:

What and expats living here do nothing for the economy , maybe you should look at ways of helping us instead of making it harder .

Probably, in his train of thoughts, we are "glorified" tourists.

This is telling!

The razzias and strictness are indeed very bad for tourism.

And Thailand is feeling the crunch.

Other countries will gladly take over from Thailand.

In my circle, two farang went back home, one went to Vietnam, two went to Phillipines and one is selling things for relocating to Indonesia.

Me?

I am, after living in Thailand since 2005, preparing things to be able to depart within a week and making things possible in Manilla.

 

[Jane Dough]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

But not a halfwit though?

You could probably tell me in less than two seconds which of those words has the higher scrabble score too.

None of them are a match for COPULATIONWIT, or a word to that effect.

 

Rooster

[Taco]

All talk no action.  Too little too late.  Want tourists to come back?

 

offer 1 year visas multiple entry like Cambodia and Vietnam.  

 

Reduce taxes on import items that tourists consume on holiday in like wine

 

Make Thai's accountable for their misdeeds to tourists.  Put scamming taxi drivers in jail for a week.  Punch a tourist unprovoked, jail for a month.  More serious offences more time.  Take Thai's away from their phone, food and family they will change.

 

Then maybe just maybe the Western tourism can improve.  

Possibility for any one of those things happening >1%

[Docno]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

His statements seemed to be a softening of the "bad guys out" rhetoric replacing it with a "please come back to Thailand we need you" message, observes Thaivisa. 

I'm not sure that "bad guys out" and "please come to Thailand" are contradictory messages, unless they want more 'bad guys' to come... 

[somtumwrong]

I'm happy in a way about Immigration being such badass - I fly in and out of Swampy once a month to Europe. There used to be long immigration queues, but nowadays I can watch people walking to short immigration queues only. The premium lane or whatever they call nowadays usually only has a queue of 2,3 people and I get the 3 month stamp very fast. This at 7:30 in the morning. Now, I considered going to Pattaya to one of the more peaceful 5 star hotels, but no need to book yet, even for the crowded Xmas days. There are plenty of vacant rooms. Never happened before in that family friendly resort. Love it. Can you keep it this way? And clear the plastic from the water please. Sorry for the Thai bashing, but it resonates how you treat your 'guests' who are not allowed to say anything bad about their hosts. Well, then we can tell each other about it - and family + friends back home.

[Orton Rd]

We don't like you but want your money would have been more honest

[zyphodb]

Well my first thought is they're closing the doors long, long after the horses have bolted...

[hottrader77]

4 hours ago, keith101 said:

What and expats living here do nothing for the economy , maybe you should look at ways of helping us instead of making it harder .

exactly all these skilled and also unskilled tourists who could work and stay and pay taxes to thai government ridiculous how thailand does not want that , think its too late to get tourists to trust immigration anymore , GBP at 39 baht to pound scares me , also only a 2 month visa and cannot do more than 3 months a year , one squirt and its 2000 baht wish i was on 50 pounds an hour , they should be glad i did not go to another country that appreciates tourists , i will be next year going elsewhere 

Edited December 9, 2019 by hottrader77

[soalbundy]

4 hours ago, darksidedog said:

My goodness, what is this? An ounce of common sense? How the hell did that get into the country?

a mistake, it will be revoked, he was misunderstood.

[zhounan]

Sorry men, it's too late, we already felt in love with Vietnam and Malaysia. Everyone gathers what they sow

 

[BigFun]

Cash cow abattoir 

[GeorgeCross]

32 minutes ago, hansnl said:

Probably, in his train of thoughts, we are "glorified" tourists.

This is telling!

The razzias and strictness are indeed very bad for tourism.

And Thailand is feeling the crunch.

Other countries will gladly take over from Thailand.

In my circle, two farang went back home, one went to Vietnam, two went to Phillipines and one is selling things for relocating to Indonesia.

Me?

I am, after living in Thailand since 2005, preparing things to be able to depart within a week and making things possible in Manilla.

 

 

even the thai's in my circle are now holidaying in Vietnam, one (my physiotherapist) has been there 4 times this year.

 

why?

 

"cheap cheap" he said - 1200 baht flights and 400 baht lobsters!

 

 

Edited December 9, 2019 by GeorgeCross

[banagan]

Sort out the Thai baht.
Scrap the pointless T-M30.
Scrap the 90 day reporting for long term expats.

Fix the toxic air for 1/4 of the year up north.

 

Probably too late to un-5hit the bed.

 

[tingtongtourist]

Yes, do not do it!!

we prefer to scare people away by silly rules and forcing them to pay good money for a rubbish insurance policy 

to funny

5555

Edited December 9, 2019 by tingtongtourist

[uffe123]

Say what? Nothing about immigration is easy here. Treated like rubbish, wait in line all day. . Every year they come up with new rules. They don't want expats to stay here.

After living here for 20 years, I'm outa here. Will just come back a few month out of the year.

 

[malibukid]

4 hours ago, SmartyMarty said:

there's still well over 35 million coming here annually.

CM very dead now, words out.  i have been double charged by red cab drivers now to make up for the drop in numbers, thinking i am tourist man.

Edited December 9, 2019 by malibukid

[yellowboat]

Wake up and smell the coffee.   Somebody reigning in government gone wild.  One of the worst parts of the coup was the entitlement and lack of accountability bestowed on the the less than civil service.