Number of tourists?

[caller]

Caller was here the last time 10 years ago.

Just to clarify, I was last here in high season 10 years ago. I've been a regular visitor since then.

[margaretcarnes]

I think like hhfarang and some others said, you have to look at the time before Tsunami and after Tsunami. Caller was here the last time 10 years ago. That time i didn't even consider living here as i told my wife. It's a retirement house with walls arround it. It was totally quiet. After the Tsunami the same amount of people wanted to come to Thailand but Phuket was out of order. So they had to look for other destinations.
Not so many left. Pattaya, Samui, Bangkok, Koh Chang, not even Krabi.
The prices were blown up. Now Phuket has come back and the ammount of people chosing to go to stay at the substitute destinations was going down pretty fast. Not talking about the economic crisis.
What we have now is simply, IMHO, a basket of aching economy, coming back to normal tourist levels and current Thai political instability.
People are not stupid and a democracy where people are not even elected is, for me, not a democracy.
By the way, why are they doing it? Simply because if there were elections they would not have the majority.

Agreed - 10 years ago HH did seem quiet - on the surface. I arrived there late 99 and damn near turned straight round to head somewhere else! But even then there were a surprising number of farang, and farang run businesses. There was even the embryo HHHam and Bacon Co (without the bacon.) Just not nearly so many residential properties - and no Tesco of course. Not that we missed it too much IMO.
'Off tangent' for another point though. 'A democracy where people are not even elected.....is not a democracy'? Wow - that could be the UK. A Prime Minister who wasn't elected by the people - Ministers Without Portfolio deciding who knows what - sounds pretty familiar to me

[loverboy44]

Agree with you Margret but as far as i know Tony Blair was not kicked out by a coup and army tanks.

[richard]

Brown and gang should be though

[Condoking]

Agree that tanks on the street may not be the best way to social harmony, but can anyone tell me of a Democratic Country, by whichever means, actually works?

[drdod]

Brown and gang should be though

well i seem to hear this a lot lately..........but who would take his place.

there all a bunch of snide bxxxards.

who ever gets in will rob us all in uk.

i just carnt wait to retire ,as long as i ddont return to uk more then 62days a year .im tax free.

[loverboy44]

Sorry if i am off topic a bit but dr you are not 100% correct.
Only if you don't stay there AND don't have income in the UK you are tax free.
If you still have income in the UK you are tax liable.
Sorry again for being off topic.

[lindosfan1]

loverboyyou are incorrect you can have an income from the uk and elect to have your income taxed in the country of residence. Also you can visit the uk for 91 days not 62. This why a lot of fim and rock stars live abroad the tax is less in there country of residence. However if it is a pension paid by the government you cannot do this.

[drdod]

i think your right lindosfan1

but the problem i have is i am alandlord of a few dozen propertys .

so unless i sell up .ive goto pay tax somewere