Popular Post webfact Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 Tourists coming to Thailand - they must have enough funds to support themselves, says business leader A leading member of Thailand's business community told the media that tourists want to come back to Thailand and the kingdom has the potential to cater to them. But Suphan Mongkhonsuthee, chief of the Federation of Thai Industries stressed that any visitors must comply with all the visa paperwork and prove they have plenty of funds so that they are not a burden on Thailand. This comment given to Thai PBS seemed to mean they must be able to pay if they end up having the virus. In a predictable report they quoted tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan on Saturday as saying that he was waiting for a report from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) about their detailed measures and plans for opening up the country. This would then be forwarded to a committee of ministers in the government for approval. Both he and Chatthathan Kinchor na Ayudhya, a senior TAT marketer, stressed the need to choose participating countries carefully based on their coronavirus handling record. And that tourists who get the much vaunted Special Tourist Visa (for stays of up to 270 days) must follow all the rules and quarantine for 14 days. The plans have been widely ridiculed online, notes Thaivisa, with many people suggesting that few people want to travel these days and fewer still are prepared to jump through the hoops the Thai authorities are placing in their way. Source: Thai PBS -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-09-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 4 1 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Airalee Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) I’d be curious to know exactly how much the hospital bills have been for the Thais that have been hospitalized here for coronavirus, and if it even comes close to the US$100,000 coverage that they require foreigners to carry. The ฿400,000-800,000 insurance requirement to extend my “retirement visa” now basically jumps to a ฿5,000,000 policy requirement (The ฿3,000,000 pacific prime policy won’t be sufficient according to my insurance agent) if I, as a retiree, ever want to leave and then reenter Thailand for any reason. Edited September 14, 2020 by Airalee 24 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rott Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 Is there any history of foreigners becoming a burden on Thailand.? Have the full rules been published yet so that these potential troublemakers know what it is they are required to comply with,? Those that are selected that is. 44 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jeffandgop Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 So they're going to force tourists to deposit 800,000 baht in a Thai bank and stipulate it must remain untouched and nothing withdrawn during their stay in Thailand? 5 1 39 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BritManToo Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) Can't imagine any tourists coming to Thailand under the current entry conditions. Despite all the talk, I guess they don't really want foreign tourists any more. Edited September 14, 2020 by BritManToo 98 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Reigntax Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) With the number of buffalos i have fixed and cared for they should be opening their arms and be welcoming me. Im sure others are the same. Edited September 14, 2020 by Reigntax 26 1 61 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post twocatsmac Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 7 minutes ago, rott said: Is there any history of foreigners becoming a burden on Thailand.? Have the full rules been published yet so that these potential troublemakers know what it is they are required to comply with,? Those that are selected that is. The “go fund me” crowd without adequate insurance have received extensive coverage in the Thai press. Whether or not they were a burden, who knows but it’s imprinted in their skulls that we’re milking them. 15 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tonray Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 7 minutes ago, jeffandgop said: So they're going to force tourists to deposit 800,000 baht in a Thai bank and stipulate it must remain untouched and nothing withdrawn during their stay in Thailand? I'm only laughing because the answer is likely YES ! 8 1 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sambotte Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 Ridiculous... Farangs are a burden to Thailand now. Does he forget the 50 years of mass money they bring in ? Seriously this country become officially xenophobic. Good luck with tourism. 68 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Poet Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) After half-a-century of Western tourists sponging off Thailand and sucking the economy dry, the Thais are about to discover the heights they can attain now that these leeches are finally off their backs! Edited September 14, 2020 by Poet 33 2 2 2 108 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Parting tourists from their funds before they start their holiday during or after ???? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Poet Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 Post-covid, the only questions should be "Are you actually willing to get on a plane?" and "Are you willing to pay for a ticket to Thailand rather than somewhere that doesn't treat you like a mole that needs to be removed?" They need to be thinking less along the lines of "These farangs don't look rich to me, why aren't they wearing gold?", and more along the lines of "Sexy man! Where you go?!!" 25 2 2 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sheryl Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 22 minutes ago, rott said: Is there any history of foreigners becoming a burden on Thailand.? Have the full rules been published yet so that these potential troublemakers know what it is they are required to comply with,? Those that are selected that is. Unfortunately yes, many cases of foreigners becoming a burden in Thailand, especially (but not only) as regards hospital bills No, the details have not been released and probably not yet even worked out. If history is any guide they will be very convoluted, poorly explained, subject to varying interpretations and very hard to implement. A similar scheme to allow medical tourism to resume that was supposed to be in effect in July is still largely dysfunctional. 22 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post petermik Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 I have posted this same comment many times..."as for all tourists entering the Kingdom it would be much more appreciated if you emptied your wallets and purses in the bins provided in Immigration and returned back by the same means you tried to enter by"....thank you for your understanding we do not want you just your money... 44 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bluespunk Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 37 minutes ago, webfact said: But Suphan Mongkhonsuthee, chief of the Federation of Thai Industries stressed that any visitors must comply with all the visa paperwork and prove they have plenty of funds so that they are not a burden on Thailand. Those pesky foreigners, why oh why won't they just send their money over and stay in their own countries. Pure selfishness on their part. ******** 16 1 2 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post petermik Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 7 hours ago, Sheryl said: A similar scheme to allow medical tourism to resume that was supposed to be in effect in July is still largely dysfunctional. As per the folks here supposedly running the country....largely dysfunctional 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Banana7 Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 22 minutes ago, rott said: Is there any history of foreigners becoming a burden on Thailand.? Have the full rules been published yet so that these potential troublemakers know what it is they are required to comply with,? Those that are selected that is. Some foreigners die here, after being in the hospital for numerous days. I know one guy in Pattaya, had a bill of over 1,000,000 baht from the Bangkok Pattaya hospital, when he died. The hospital tried to locate his friends to pay the bill. Needless to say, no one admitted being his friend. I imagine he isn't the only foreigner who has left a hospital with an outstanding debt. 10 1 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Poet Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 1 minute ago, Sheryl said: Unfortunately yes, many cases of foreigners becoming a burden in Thailand, especially (but not only) as regards hospital bills I take your word for it but, honestly, I have no idea how that is actually happening. Anytime I have gone to a hospital, paying has not been optional. Same goes for restaurants, 7-Eleven, my hairdresser, massage shops. How hard can it be to prevent sick people from doing a legger? I've never heard anyone talk about doing it. Could the extent of this problem genuinely outweigh the money made from tourism, retirees, remittances to girlfriends etc? It seems to me that can't possibly be true. Perhaps you have some chancers, but that shortfall is surely just a rounding error when set against spending by Westerners in general. That is the big picture they should be focusing on, and not screwing up their main gig with complicated and ever-changing requirements. 30 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JonnyF Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 This is sure to make foreigners feel welcome. After watching the TAT commercial showing young foreigners attending full moon parties, swimming on beautiful beaches, taking boats to islands and being wai'ed by pretty, polite waitresses serving them cocktails at the beach bar, they will land at the airport and be slapped in the face by reality - the scowling immigration officer. HEY YOU, FARANG. SHOW MONEY. NOW. 14 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ezzra Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 14 minutes ago, Sheryl said: Unfortunately yes, many cases of foreigners becoming a burden in Thailand, especially (but not only) as regards hospital bills No, the details have not been released and probably not yet even worked out. If history is any guide they will be very convoluted, poorly explained, subject to varying interpretations and very hard to implement. A similar scheme to allow medical tourism to resume that was supposed to be in effect in July is still largely dysfunctional. Would love to see true and untwisted statistics showing the "burden" foreigners putting on local health authorities, Thailand is crying for tourists now and as a country who get about 40 millions or so tourist a year should be able to contain the possibility that some will need all sorts of help while in Thailand and TAT should allocate funds for such needs... 18 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post petermik Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 7 hours ago, Banana7 said: Some foreigners die here, after being in the hospital for numerous days. I know one guy in Pattaya, had a bill of over 1,000,000 baht from the Bangkok Pattaya hospital, when he died. The hospital tried to locate his friends to pay the bill. Needless to say, no one admitted being his friend. I imagine he isn't the only foreigner who has left a hospital with an outstanding debt. In my experience they will not admit anyone into hospital here unless they get proof of eventual payment beforehand..... 20 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sheryl Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 11 minutes ago, petermik said: In my experience they will not admit anyone into hospital here unless they get proof of eventual payment beforehand..... Private hospitals yes (but even there, bills can mount up and exceed what was originally verified, and be impossible to recoup - especially if the patient dies. I personally know someone living here who fled the country to avoid arrest for an unpaid bill at a large private hospital - his insurance had paid some but not all and he couldn't come up with the more than 1 million unpaid balance. Government hospitals have no choice but to admit in an emergency even without any sort of payment guarantee. The govt hosp in Phuket in particular has lost a lot of money over the years on unpaid bills for expats. This is what led to the (very badly designed) mandatory insurance provision for O-A visas. But with the mandatory insurance requirement this should not be a problem as long as the insurance is valid for the whole duration of stay. There has been talk for years of setting up some sort of simple, government run insurance scheme for tourists and it was starting to look like it might actually come to pass but then COVID crisis intervened. Other than hospital bills, shiort stay tourists are not usually a problem in terms of burden but issues occur regularly with resident expats growing old, being unable to care for themselves anymore/pay their rent etc. Usually end in deportation but often with outstanding bills left behind and having to hit up relatives back home to pay for the return flight. But if they start giving tourist visas that can extend to 270 days, they will start getting people who are not real tourists but rather seeking to live here and from experience not all of them will have planned realistically for costs, and some will plan on working illegally. It's not an unrealistic concern. Now whether measures put in place for such visas will be appropriate and practical, is a whole other question and my bet would be no. 13 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Poet Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 3 minutes ago, Banana7 said: Some foreigners die here, after being in the hospital for numerous days. I know one guy in Pattaya, had a bill of over 1,000,000 baht from the Bangkok Pattaya hospital, when he died. The hospital tried to locate his friends to pay the bill. Needless to say, no one admitted being his friend. I imagine he isn't the only foreigner who has left a hospital with an outstanding debt. Would you mind me asking, how old was this guy? I would imagine that most of those who die in hospital would be here on retirement, so, there is notionally 800,000 to be recovered right there, and possibly a house or condo too. If it is the case that some of these deaths are young folks, possibly here on a work visa, education visa, or perhaps even tourists, well, okay, I'll reluctantly admit that there is some argument for insisting that everyone be insured. Before they put an additional burning tire on the neck of their tourist industry, however, they should be absolutely certain that this genuinely is a problem big enough to be worth crippling that income. In fact, I would argue that, at the same time as introducing an insurance requirement, they should balance it out by getting rid of all short-term visas (tourism, education, volunteer, medical etc) and simply have an up to one year visa waiver for all countries eligible for the current visa waiver. You present your insurance cert, from any credible insurance company, and the IO stamps you in until the final date of your coverage. In a sense, your insurance becomes your visa. 5 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post fdsa Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Banana7 said: had a bill of over 1,000,000 baht from the Bangkok Pattaya hospital In my contry Thailand was added to the "expensive countries" list by the insurance companies a few years ago, thanks to the Bangkok Hospital. I.e. when you order a health insurance and choose "World" coverage it costs 1500 USD and if you choose "World excluding US, TH, JP" coverage it costs 500 USD lol. Edited September 14, 2020 by fdsa 12 2 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post scammed Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 53 minutes ago, rott said: Is there any history of foreigners becoming a burden on Thailand.? Have the full rules been published yet so that these potential troublemakers know what it is they are required to comply with,? Those that are selected that is. there has been a few that runs from hospital bill, but imo thats a predictable cost of doing business, set the safety bar too high and tourism/income will drop more then the savings 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orlov Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 42 minutes ago, tonray said: I'm only laughing because the answer is likely YES ! Tourists cannot open a Thai bank account. You have to prove some form of residency before a Thai bank will consider your application. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Seismic Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 26 minutes ago, Banana7 said: Some foreigners die here, after being in the hospital for numerous days. I know one guy in Pattaya, had a bill of over 1,000,000 baht from the Bangkok Pattaya hospital, when he died. The hospital tried to locate his friends to pay the bill. Needless to say, no one admitted being his friend. I imagine he isn't the only foreigner who has left a hospital with an outstanding debt. One million baht at BP Hospital, So he was in for an ingrowing toenail???? 6 1 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Seismic Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 Just now, orlov said: Tourists cannot open a Thai bank account. You have to prove some form of residency before a Thai bank will consider your application. I opened my first two accounts here on a 28 day Visa Waiver without problems. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BritManToo Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) 34 minutes ago, Banana7 said: Some foreigners die here, after being in the hospital for numerous days. I know one guy in Pattaya, had a bill of over 1,000,000 baht from the Bangkok Pattaya hospital, when he died. The hospital tried to locate his friends to pay the bill. Needless to say, no one admitted being his friend. I imagine he isn't the only foreigner who has left a hospital with an outstanding debt. Maybe they could offset foreigners unpaid hospital bills against Thai Airways unpaid foreign bills (200BillionBht). Edited September 14, 2020 by BritManToo 11 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Oldie Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) 46 minutes ago, Banana7 said: The hospital tried to locate his friends to pay the bill. Needless to say, no one admitted being his friend. I imagine he isn't the only foreigner who has left a hospital with an outstanding debt. It is the same if a dog bites you. Suddenly nobody is the owner. Edited September 14, 2020 by Oldie 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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