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What utter crap. Ban the flights and send the Russians already here home. The only way to influence Putin and halt the chosen slaughter of Ukrainians is to assault Putin's base economically. Respectfully, any Russian in-country meets that definition. Putin's base is the oligarchs and the other wealthy people, not the average 'Ivan' on the street/farm nor members of government, etc. The best policy now is target the Oligarchs/Wealthy with everything that the West has; go after the foreign bank accounts, go after the property, remove the right of travel, target each and every investment, Sanction every private jet, drive the Ruble out of existence, sanction Russian families and low-level staff who hide their monies and don't let up. Those people need to learn the price of Putin, and to understand that it is not worth paying anymore. The lesson to drive home is that while perhaps Putin helped you get rich, you only stay that way by the graces of the more economically-powerful. If you don't comply, enjoy your holidays in North Korea. Follow the money, always follow the money.

Let's face it, Thailand has totally ruined its chances of attracting more than a handful of visitors by the never ending changes, dithering, draconian measures and the sheer arrogancenof those in power who think this country is peerless. Anyone planning a holiday outside their home country already has decided that there are better places to visit, where they are welcome, not treated as dirty farangs, continually subjected to restrictions nor ripped off. If this country hits 2 million visitors this year it will be a miracle and those will have to endure spending time in a veritable graveyard of bankrupt businesses, and never ending bureaucratic interference.

I'm sorry if this upsets anyone, but all Russians everywhere should be sent packing. They have put up with Putin and his criminals all these years. To slightly change a well known quote: you get the leaders you are prepared to tolerate. Send them all home.

I have comed to the point where I advise friends, family and business associates to stay sway from Thailand until they ease up with all the requirements to come here. The only way Thais learn is when it hurts in the pocket.

Pooh-Pooh go boo-hoo. Yer vax is shite pal. You want thanks? Thanks for giving the world the worst virus we have seen in recent times. Thanks for withholding information about it being transferrable between humans for two months, giving it time to spread far and wide. Thanks for selling your sub-standard solution to it. Thanks for sweet n sour fried chicken.

Amazing how little things can really make your day.

Well that's a nice publicity for the weatlhy tourists that they seem to want to target so much...

"misinformation" is how leftists say "I disagree with you, but I lack the mental faculties to make a cogent argument, so I want your opinion banned".

Twice as much per traveller in exchange for what? Fewer venues, lockdowns, alcohol bans on holidays, beaches full of garbage and soi dog poop? Yeah, that'll work.

They must leave. Any humanitarian sympathy must be reserved for Ukrainians.

"Among all the vaccines I have known in my life (diphtheria, tetanus,measles, rubella, chickenpox,hepatitis, meningitis and tuberculosis), I want to also add flu and pneumonia. I have never seen a vaccine that forced me to wear a mask and maintain my social distance, even when you are fully vaccinated. I had never heard of a vaccine that spreads the virus even after vaccination. I had never heard of rewards, discounts, incentives to get vaccinated. I never saw discrimination for those who didn't. If you haven't been vaccinated no one has tried to make you feel like a bad person. I have never seen a vaccine that threatens the relationship between family, colleagues and friends. I have never seen a vaccine used to threaten livelihoods, work or school. I have never seen a vaccine that would allow a 12-year-old to override parental consent. After all the vaccines I listed above, I have never seen a vaccine like this one, which discriminates, divides and judges society as it is. And as the social fabric tightens… It's a powerful vaccine! She does all these things except IMMUNIZATION. If we still need a booster dose after we are fully vaccinated, and we still need to get a negative test after we are fully vaccinated, and we still need to wear a mask after we are fully vaccinated, and still be hospitalized after we have been fully vaccinated, it will likely come to “It's time for us to admit that we've been completely deceived.

Stop using the word anti-vaxxer! These people are freedom fighters. Fight against the digital prison that the political elite is trying to implement via the digital vaccination passport, for the one and only purpose to get more controls. I personally predict that this digital prison will be completed by CBDCs on the one hand and a social credit system, like they have in China already, on the other hand. If you are regularly vaccinated with the newest booster shot and in general a „good citizen“, your social credit score is high and your status will be green. You can dine out, take a plane and a train, rent an appartment and find a job easily. If you are late to your monthly booster or recently posted a non-policital-correct message online, your status will be orange. You will have some kind of restrictions. And if you are completely unvaccinated and regularly criticizing the government, your social credit status will be red. You cannot go on any train or bus, you will not find a job and you cannot engage in any social activity. Essentially, you are being forced to live in a hut in the woods, but how you want to pay the property tax for that if your CBDC account is frozen due to your red score? Well, just „follow the rules“ you anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist! Anyone who is NOT opposing the digital vaccination passport, no matter if you are vaccinated or not, is partly responsible for the implementation of the digital prison.

In an attempt to get this thread out of the toilet, and starting with the positives of life in Thailand, here’s my starters….. 1. When I arrive in Thailand I feel 10 years younger. A combination of the warm weather, lack of western woke culture and the odd nervous smile from a pretty girl lifts the spirits. 2. Food is great but you have to know what to order. I do wish menus in English would have the Translation from the Thai names. “Spicy minced pork or chicken with Royal basil leaves” is fine as a description, but it’s a bit hard to reorder Grapow Moo or gai when they don’t name it in English. (Sorry, that was a negative!). 3. Being able to park you motorbike anywhere you want (within reason) and your car almost anywhere you want. no need to pay crazy parking rates to pop to the shops. 4. Service in places like furniture and DIY stores. No carrying heavy flat pack furniture to your car and then spending an hour or more putting it together. Point to it, and pay for it. Next thing it arrives at your home and two guys put it together for you. 5. Being able to have a meal and a beer at any time of the day or night (excluding alcohol bans during the day in places like 7/11). Even in major cities in the West it can be hard to find a restaurant open much after 11pm. If they are then they are usually Asian! 6. It’s not just beer and food which has no apparent time limits. If you want a hair cut or a massage at 10pm, you’ll most likely find it. 7. Despite the many negative comments about the locals on this forum (including from myself), generally they are decent people (same most places in the world mind you). The news tends to focus on the bad rather than the good. I’ve generally found Thais to be fun loving and kind hearted. Just don’t upset them. They can flip at lightening speed and you won’t see the first blow coming! 8. Getting around the country by air and to neighbouring countries is relatively cheap. I can’t even get from Central London to Heathrow as cheap as I can get from Bangkok to Udon Thani by air. 9. The Thais are less judgemental about people. Particularly with how people dress or their age. They will take you for how they find you generally. 10. Finally one to get is heading back to the toilet. I do love the bum guns! The water sprays in toilets I’m referring to before any smart ass makes cheeky reference to Ladyboys! I’m sure there is more. Oh, did I mention the women who love to look and behave like women?

Who is Bob Scott. This article should not be put forward as a news article, it is an opinion piece poorly written. The article embellishes the USA as the bad guys on all fronts, not just China but as the instigator of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. the article calls the NATO alliance a guerilla outfit, as if it has used these tactics on Russia before the invasion. Then questions if USA would not have invaded another country if they were so threatened with weapons lined at them, conveniently forgetting the Cuba Missile crises. the article states China has never invaded another country since being under the control of CCP, has he not heard of Tibet, has he not heard of the Buddhist statues being demolished there and the persecution of monks. the original articles he quotes are well written, this piece is a poorly ascribed piece of USA bashing and does no service to the Taiger whatsoever.

I take every poll published on this site/in Thailand with a GIANT grain of salt; if the polling methodology isn't accessible then it is a waste of electrons. However, I do believe that the Land Of Smiles is smiling a lot less, and I blame Prayut and the Military & Co. I started visiting Thailand at the start of the '90s or so and fell in love; on every street, in every Soi, with every shopkeeper, with every street-seller, with everyone there was a sense of fun and a sense that literally anything could happen in the next few minutes. Globally, the entire world was watching Thailand as the NEXT BIG THING on the global stage, and everyone thought great things were just over the horizon. It was a glorious time when the Thai people began learning what they wanted and how to express it. Then the coup in 2006. Then again in 2014. The world isn't watching anymore, except with sadness. And the life began to get sucked out of Thailand, bit by bit by bit by bit. New laws/regs limiting the wildness, new laws/regs governing and limiting all aspects of life, new laws/regs giving the government the right to snoop, monitor and interfere at will, etc, etc, etc. By the way, before anyone starts whining "Thaksin was worse", let me say the Thai people elected him and his parties, and that is what matters. Moreover, while I didn't (and don't) like the guy, he was a good PM and infinitely better than the current one. Finally, it is apparent that the current lot are trying to re-create the ambiance and 'joie de vivre' of an Army base, except do it nation-wide, and sadly that have accomplished part of their goal. "Government angry Thailand came last in ‘Land of Smiles’ poll" Dear Government If you are angry about coming last in the poll, look in the mirror for the reason why.

Allowing Russian flights to continue might be good for the economy but it is tacit approval for one of the most brutal and unwarranted events I have seen in my lifetime.

How did this woman have the bare faced cheek (pun intended) to complain. she was clearly the aggressor and caused the poor man to defend himself and he showed great restraint. I also must say the woman’s husband needs praise for staying calm throughout his wife’s attempt to assault the poor man. I feel a couple of days in a cell and forced to leave Thailand will sober her up and teach her a lesson in calmness and respect (she is clearly not a Buddhist.

Do you have a contact number for a hitman near you? I have a job for him….

Article quote: Then they marched out the usual trope they’ve been proclaiming for years: Thailand needs to stop worrying about bringing in the most travelers and instead focus on quality tourists, leaning again on the government’s penchant for attempting to wrangle a few rich tourists instead of millions of backpackers and travelers they consider low-quality. The sooner all of these Junta jerks, the elite, the hob knobbing Thai socialites, the convicted drug trafficker, and silver spoon engineer moonlighting as a Health minister are made to leave, the sooner Thailand can recover and get back to its normal way of life. There is nothing new and positive being pushed, but just the contrary as negative and destructive. One would consider them to be low quality snobs.

I can’t disagree with the article at all. However, the real hidden issue here is what comes next. This is a slow drip feed of further restrictions and hence it only affects a sub-group each time a change is made. By doing so (calculated or otherwise) you limit the outrage and those unaffected fail to support any complaints. With these latest changes as with the change to people on OA visas, anyone on a Non-O simply shrug and say “it doesn’t affect me”. The problem is, what happens when it does? If they introduced rules that affect Non-O in terms of health insurance, many people aged 60 or below would shrug and say “it’s not too expensive for me as I’m under 75”. Until recently, it was my plan to retire in Thailand once I reach my early 60’s. The things that have happened over the past few years have made me totally reconsider this idea. If I move to Thailand full time and as a single man I would most likely end up meeting a local woman. In no time I could find myself as many do, fully integrated in to a Thai family and be happy to be there. Imagine then when I hit 70 or 75 and then rules change making it impossible for me to finance my stay. Potentially having to leave a person and lifestyle you love and return to a country you have perhaps not visited for many many years. Having to start again at 75 and trying to get back on the property ladder while all the time trying to support a lady back in Thailand. A simply cruel and horrific scenario for someone in their final years. I have no problem with a country changing its rules and strengthening its policies to support a strategy of change. But these changes should not be retrospective. They should be for new applicants only. How can you plan your future when at any moment a new rule demanding anyone on a Non-O must hold 5 million baht in a Thai bank. Once again, those with 5 million to spare would shrug and say “it doesnt bother me”, and on it goes. If we are bothered now, wait another year and see what’s next…. Good luck to all of you retired in Thailand and having to consider such matters.

And what kind of circle are you hanging in? With my friends being from all walks of life, they want the choice to have a martini or beer or whiskey where ever they feel like on holiday or business. The ban is a huge thorn in this countries throat. My thinking is it isn’t high quality but the wealthy they want. And the wealthy drink expensive alcohol. And may I ask what you really think a high quality tourist is? Do you think Russel Crowe doesn’t drink? Or are they missionaries in your eyes? Just wondering what your idea and thoughts are.

This govt couldn't arrange a shag at Soi Cowboy

That's rather small-minded, in their thinking, eh? "What do rich people like?" "Booze and cigars. We know this because we watch movies." "If we drop the duties on those things, millionaires will flock to Thailand." "Good idea." Not

555 cue the “blame it on the masks” crowd. Between knife wielding taxi drivers and stern faced Immigration officials I am not surprised.

What a ridiculous thing to do …has the Vice Governor Pichet Panapong understand what the rest of the world is doing to Russia in response to its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine…? Wake up and smell the coffee…what a clown!

30m baht is a fair price to be allowed work in a shop, like a hairdresser for example. Making up to 18k baht a month could be a dream come true for a millionaire.

Not only do you win todays prize for the most ignorant comment. You have also excelled yourself in the utter ignorance of your post. It never ceases to amaze me why people turn to the internet in order to make such vile and nasty comments. An utterly disgraceful and unqualified comment. Try doing some research before you decide to spread false information

Thanks for the reply . Get some help mate. You clearly have been hurt by something associated with alcohol, or maybe have had your heart broken by a bar girl in the past. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and there are people who can help.

PM Prayut urges a new Thailand Ok, so when are the elections?

1 person spending 1,000,000 bhat (not even high class) will spend it in one place, and make a rich thai richer, 100 people spending 10,000 each will give it to low so's and make the quality of thier lives better. Coming from the UK as a capitalist i never realised how important social policies were. I've lived here long enough to see this country needs the social policies that Thaksin and Yingluk had to make the farmers not so poor. They skimmed, as do the current leaders, at least they helped the poor farmers. I'm rambling, but my point is i dont think getting super rich tourists to give thier money to super rich resort owners is very good for thailand

They just really don't get it, do they? Yes, cutting down on the quarantine is a good thing, but if you are allowing fully vaccinated people (2 shots) into the country, then why do they need to quarantine at all? Further, given that most Thais don't have 2 shots, aren't Thais actually more dangerous than an visitor? Hint: yes, they are! However, this is still only one part of the problem: Getting a COE is too difficult and time consuming. Getting 100,000$ of insurance is too difficult, too expensive, and if Thailand is safe, why is it needed? Getting tested and tested and re-tested with an overpriced test is dumb and insulting to visitors. Getting an over-priced hotel is just a blatant rip-off, and people know it. Getting limited on where you can eat and drink is a turn-off. I could go on, but what's the point? I think it is good for Thailand to re-open, even through it is not without risk. BUT, if Thailand is going to re-open, then it should re-open; half-assed re-openings just piss people off.

This has to be the "joke of the year". Thailand has made billions of baht from the flow on of that movie through tourism. To now make a claim against the producers is a serious slap in the face. Say good bye to future movies on location in Thailand. Cost - a few more billion baht lost to gain a quick 10 million. Govt must be in serious financial difficulty to start this crap. Mindless idiots.

Shameful.

Everything in life is what you make of it. There are worse (and maybe even better) places to retire, but if you are looking for happiness to come to you you will never find it anywhere, regardless. Love yourself, enjoy the moment, and stop stressing. I've frankly never been happier then I am now living in Thailand, but that still doesn't stop me from rolling my eyes occasionally.

"In addition, while the tourists were arrested for using unregistered vehicles, the police have confirmed it’s not possible to register electric scooters under the existing laws of the Phuket Provincial Land Transportation Office." Hmm... They were arrested for unregistered riding of something that can't be registered. Will they be arrested and fined for riding Unicorns next? Just askin'

Maybe some member enjoy to watch this one.

I arrived in Phuket about 2 weeks ago. I did not see any real tourists. The people I met all had a connection with Thailand, like having a family, a job. These were all people who had to go back, and were willing to jump through all hoops for that. In the main street of Patong most things were opened, but not all. But if you walked a little further, most shops, restaurants were closed. We also went to Kamala, it looked like a cemetery. Almost everything closed, there was nothing to do. They made it much too complicated an expensive for real tourists.

Seems like they're having more fun than those in the Sandbox

Nearly impossible to tell if it's his mouth or his anal orifice making these noises.

Wearing a mask is not only to protect yourself but also others. Don't forget to charge his gf too, she's not wearing mask either.

Cutting through all the nonsense. Quick questions: How many of you think Putin is simply a 5 Star CU*T? If you do. I know I do. I think the man is deranged.

Lipstick on a pig!

Reducing prices to what the market will accept could be one way to get things moving. I’ve seen houses stand empty for 10 years or more because the owner wanted 18,000 baht a month rent and the highest offered was only 15,000. So rather than make 1.8m in rental over 10 years, they held out trying to get 2.16m and ended up getting nothing. Beyond words!! I’ve seen plots of land stand idle for years and when I asked why, I was told the owner wants 5m and the most anyone offered was 3m. Well maybe the land is only worth 3m. Madness and no concept of the idea that something is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.

IMO there is too much complication and too much risk to travel to Thailand right now. The risks are not only catching Covid in a place where the medical system is not always the best overall, and is very much at breaking point - but there is the huge risk of testing positive on arrival or during the trip. Richard Barrow has just published this story about someone that tested positive. They are a family of four who came here for a 13-day holiday. The father tested positive and was sent to a hospital for ten days. The mother and the two children, aged two and four, are close contacts and so were told to stay in the quarantine hotel. Obviously at their own expense. He believes they will have to do another test on day 3 or 4 and if they test negative, then they might be able to go. But they would have to go without him as he is expecting to stay in hospital for at least ten days. He doesn’t have any symptoms and he is really hoping his insurance will cover the cost. He thinks it will cost him around 350,000 baht. What a nightmare and not really a good advertisement for coming to Thailand. Do not travel to Thailand now is my advice - too complicated and way too risky. We will be travelling to Thailand when/if they make it easy to apply and get a Tourist Visa (as in the past), when there are no tests required on arrival or at anytime during the stay (unless one gets sick), when more things are open and all the curfews are dropped, when inter-provincial travel is again easy and no worries about new rules suddenly emerging, when airfares are again at a reasonable level, when we do not have to book and pay for hotels etc all in advance before even applying to travel there, when we do not have to provide all of our private data to a Thai organisation that is IT illiterate, and when we do not have to load a Thai tracking app on our smartphones for the duration of the visit (like in China). Happy to have vaccination certificates provided (here) and happy to test negative (here) and have travel insurance (from here) - but nothing else.

"Phisut Sae-Khu from the Thai Hotels Association says tourists should still be allowed to pre-register under the Test & Go system and obtain their Thailand Pass for a future date, even if they can’t currently enter under the scheme at the moment. He says this would at least allow people to book future trips and arrive when the Covid-19 situation is under control." what an idiot.. when you apply for TP you have to put your flight info, hotel booking, insurance etc. no one shells out for all that in the expectation that things MIGHT change at some UNSPECIFIED time in the future that allows them to enter on the dates registered in the system. Amazing Thailand indeed....

OPINION Quite clearly the Government has simply not thought through the impact of the insurance provisions imposed by the Thailand Pass on “budget tourists” and likewise on current and prospective retirees in Thailand. The sobering reality is that it is well nigh impossible for individuals, 70 years and above, to obtain health insurance other than at exorbitant rates. The insurance requirements, USD 50k (1.6m THB), while rational on the surface, will undoubtedly block the backpacker/budget tourist cohort and simultaneously devastate those long-term elderly Non-Resident Visa holding retirees, many of whom live on fixed pensions and have been attracted to remain […] The story Killing off retirement opportunities in Thailand – OPINION as seen on Thaiger News. Read the full story

"According to the Reuters report, Chinese tourists accounted for 25% – 30% of business at Phuket’s Laguna resorts prior to the pandemic. Managing director Ravi Chandran says they’re now focusing their attention on the European, US, and Middle Eastern markets." I think it is a really good thing to re-build Thailand's tourist industry without the Chinese; it is a good long-term strategy to have a diverse customer base and thus not become reliant on any one country and/or group. Yes, China is a large and lucrative market which should be pursued, but there is also an inherent danger in becoming reliant on it; ask the South Koreans from 2017 when they wanted to incorporate a THAAD system into their country's defenses. The short story is that China used their tourist numbers as a political weapon and I can't think of a reason to believe that they won't do it again against others. If Thailand becomes reliant on China tourist numbers, it is certain that it'll be used against the Kingdom if/when they next have a dispute. Re-build the tourism industry, but keep China as a source of extra, bonus profit, not as the main customer.

I totally agree with the writer.

Europe+US+Canada = 1 billion people who can travel without local quarantine to: 1) central america + caribbean with 2 does of vaccine, most countries do not require pre-flight or post-arrival tests 2) zanzibar, mauritius, dubai, seychelles, maldives with 2 doses of vaccine + pre-flight (40eu in EU) and post-arrival tests (25$ in Zanzibar) after this you are free to do whatever you want to if someone really expects these people spending Xmas/NYE in Thailand and get CoE, covid insurance, 7+7 sandbox, 3 post-arrival tests for 250$, quarantine risk, SHA+ hotels, sealed routes, no beer...well good luck with that

Congratulations! That is the dumbest thing I've read in awhile.