Tourists coming to Thailand - they must have enough funds to support themselves, says business leader

[dallen52]

5 hours ago, Airalee said:

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.

They get treated free.

In a private hospital the bills can be sent to the government. 

[Jaxxper]

I thought there was a requirement that if asked you should be able to show Thb / 10,000/ person or Thb 20,000 / family in cash ( or equivalent) if asked.

Do I remember that issue or am I just having a senior moment ?

BTW I know the sums are probably not enough to holiday on for probably more than 4/5 days even if you’re careful.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Poet said:

This demonstrates the flaw in the 800K scheme, which is supposedly meant for precisely this eventuality.

Replace it with comprehensive insurance and trust that your farang retirees will probably end up spending the remainder of their 800K in Thailand anyway.
 

That would be nice in theory. However, some of us the insurance companies won't insure , too old and/or with pre-existing conditions.

Certainly, I anticipate living the rest of my life here. I'd be slashing my wrists if i was in Melbourne.

[dallen52]

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

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.

Appears that they are more than happy to subsidise their own people to the tune of 40% on accommodation and travel. 

They are doing just fine...????

[dallen52]

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Maybe they could offset foreigners unpaid hospital bills against Thai Airways unpaid foreign bills (200BillionBht).

332 billion. Baht. 

The case for rehabilitation is being heard today..

[vandeventer]

42 minutes ago, PEE TEE said:

i do not think you can open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa ?

A new rule, yes you can! But only Americans must have it in cash in their wallets.Also does these rules apply to Chinese? Or are they let off once again?

[John CS]

Does anybody really listen to the "Circus" anymore? 

these socially removed wealthy Govt personnel & their mouthpieces

confound every possible kind of reason or Logic...for governance

Get real & know when to get off the COVID roundabout of nonsense...before it becomes too late

[nickmondo]

im just here until it is impossible for me not to be here.

until then, I will enjoy all of the delights this place has to offer

i dont really give a monkeys about tourists coming here.

i am glad they are not here

[Almer]

What a sad sorry comment from the chief of thai industries, tourists must have plenty of money, maybe if his super business people didn't dual price we wouldn't have to bring plenty, ah i get it now.

[Almer]

30 minutes ago, Jaxxper said:

I thought there was a requirement that if asked you should be able to show Thb / 10,000/ person or Thb 20,000 / family in cash ( or equivalent) if asked.

Do I remember that issue or am I just having a senior moment ?

BTW I know the sums are probably not enough to holiday on for probably more than 4/5 days even if you’re careful.

Yes but, what they would like is due to far fewer numbers coming  they want the few to cover the missing millions, give them credit they do try.

[belfast3]

Seems reasonable - I never go anywhere without travel/health insurance for my *own* benefit – especially in Thailand and driving on Thai roads. Insurance for most tourists is cheap as chips for a few weeks of cover. Even a longer annual policy is not that expensive in the UK and provides millions of £ of cover. 

[Pattaya46]

5 hours ago, Poet said:

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. //

4 hours ago, Oldie said:

Many old retired expats can't get a health insurance. So better to increase for uninsured people the 800.000 Baht deposit amount. //

When will some TV members stop to talk about these 800'000B as if it was a mandatory deposit?

It's only one of methods to get a yearly extension. I would bet most retires don't use this method; they prefer to keep their money in their home country.

 

I am very unsure that the Immigration Officer at the entrance can know which method you used, so it must not be possible to take this in account as "support" while in Thailand.

[Letseng]

5 hours 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.

 

 

Why does Thailand not make medical insurance (travel insurance) for duration of stay compulsory? Thais have to show insurance when applying for a Schengen visa. 

[sitti]

Longer this goes on, more a country naturally adapt to it. Even though tourism is currently around 16% of GDP (before covid19), Thailand has far more important industries that play significant part of economy. Businesses and their employees that relies on tourism take a hit, but others that don't rely on tourism are surviving and will adapt to new environment. After this pandemic, most of business models will change. Less businesses will be relying solely on tourism. Small businesses that can't adapt will just disappear, something new will take over. Tourists aren't the holy grail for solving the problems. Seek good in bad. I think this is a great opportunity to "fix" the businesses that rely too much on tourism. Don't put all eggs in one basket. Of course, some people will suffer in the process.

[Razek]

They are only waiting for USA burder's opening  to open here.

Nothing else. 

[NoshowJones]

5 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.

Can't speak for other countries, but how many foreigners have had free treatment in UK hospitals?

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, Airalee said:

Really what?  
 

I’m a cash pay patient and the bill was ฿109k.  Even when I finally sign up for one of their ridiculous insurance policies here, I will still be a cash pay patient and only use insurance if something truly catastrophic (and expensive) happens. 

You are very lucky to have had such a low bill. Unusual.

 

Even in govt hospitals bills can reach a million baht if ICU care, specialized surgery etc required.

[fraggleRock]

2 hours ago, Ludo55 said:

You seem to forget about the Expats that go through Agents that pay Immigration. No Health Insurance, no 800,000 in the bank, and normally very little money. Then you have all the pretend bar managers and others on ED and Volunteer Visas that have no Insurance and very limited finances 

I had insurance, and the dumbas* insurance company refused to pay... 157k Bhat lost..... so insurance is pointless with crooked Thai insurance co. I left  for this issue, they are just a big scammer as the jet ski guys... and its a requirement now... scam after scam .. Thailand LOS ‘ Land of Scammers’

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, sitti said:

Longer this goes on, more a country naturally adapt to it. Even though tourism is currently around 16% of GDP (before covid19), Thailand has far more important industries that play significant part of economy. Businesses and their employees that relies on tourism take a hit, but others that don't rely on tourism are surviving and will adapt to new environment. After this pandemic, most of business models will change. Less businesses will be relying solely on tourism. Small businesses that can't adapt will just disappear, something new will take over. Tourists aren't the holy grail for solving the problems. Seek good in bad. I think this is a great opportunity to "fix" the businesses that rely too much on tourism. Don't put all eggs in one basket. Of course, some people will suffer in the process.

Almost all Thai industries are being flushed down the toilet at the moment.

Everything is too expensive for foreign countries to buy.

 

What Thai industry do you think is a success? 

Apart from 'massage', Thai's just aren't much good at/for anything.

Edited September 14, 2020 by BritManToo

[owenm]

Bring on a compulsory tourist insurance, that was mentioned as a government suggestion pre-covid, to be paid on arrival at the airport. While we still have a threat of someone arriving who is Covid positive, have a Covid supplement added to the premium.. 

 

The premiums quoted pre-covid were going to be rediculously cheap, I think from memory about 200-300 baht per visitor trip, to recoup the unpaid hospital bills from either skint travellers without the ability to pay for medical care, or those who elected to do a runner without paying. 

 

Multiply this small premium x up to 40 million passengers (pre-2020) and it was going to be a profitable money spinner for previously unpaid medical treatment. 8-12 trillion baht in a year. A 500 baht insurance policy, on arrival, even with 20 million passenger arrivals over a year would still generate 10 trillion baht in a year. This is guaranteed positively geared income for Thai health providers, and also more convenient and cost effective than a seperate insurance policy that includes up to US 100k Covid coverage.. 

[TEFLKrabi]

5 hours 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.

 

 

Although there may be many cases I’m sure it’s a tiny percentage of the 30 million who come and are not a burden. There’s always too much focus on the small minority. 

[Khun Paul]

Xenephobic nitwit, no more needs saying 

 

[Leef]

6 hours ago, Poet said:

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!

 

Exactly. 

[ThaiFelix]

And in return will Thailand provide ferries and tour boats that dont sink or are not unsafely overloaded?  Will they provide tour buses that have brakes and dont have a drugged up psycho as a driver?  Will they provide a real police force that will protect us from the constant scams and corruption?  Will they stop encouraging the population to only see us as filthy aliens with full wallets that need emptying?

I could go on all day but then I would be lowering myself to this guys racist level!

[Clarkey611]

4 hours ago, yang123 said:

Easy!  Re-introduce the airport Departure tax: takings to be stored for disbursement against medical bills of runners. 

It's already in the current Air Fare at THB 700, but now it is collected by the airline.

[Changbeer4me]

Why is it always Thailand that has this problem.

 

No other Country complains and makes up yet more way to kill of Tourism.

 

They forget there are other Countries who have a much simpler

Systems in place and value Tourist

more.

 They need better, smarter people with experince.

 

Or this Economy is going to tank.

 

Just Insane the ideas they just

Throw out each day only to put it in the bin the day after.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DaveCW]

6 hours ago, Sambotte said:

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.

I'd go further and suggest the biggest burden to Thailand is the extreme levels of corruption from all sectors of Thai officialdom. 

[Leef]

4 minutes ago, DaveCW said:

I'd go further and suggest the biggest burden to Thailand is the extreme levels of corruption from all sectors of Thai officialdom. 

Plus their lack of brains and surplus of arrogance.

[connda]

Thais in general including business "leaders" and government officials don't seem to understand that Thai tourism is on life-support and the prognosis for recovery is grim.

And yet, most think that by placing additional restrictions on the patient's treatment that somehow they will miraculously spring back to life and get back to normal. 

There are a load of really daft Thais so filled with their own self-importance that they are completely unable to read the writing on the wall.  So be it.

[bkk6060]

1 hour ago, vandeventer said:

A new rule, yes you can! But only Americans must have it in cash in their wallets.Also does these rules apply to Chinese? Or are they let off once again?

Unless you have some updated link, your comment is totally false "a new rule". 

A new rule where and by who?

Edited September 14, 2020 by bkk6060