Ok, with all the kerpuffle about this, has anybody given a thought to the impact this will have on the literally hundreds of comanies who have had a great part of their livelyhood taken away at a stroke?
I am talking about the Visa run companies, who will find no more (or very few) customers in the near future.
Pookie
Visa Runs ---- The Other Side Of The Coin
Visa Runs ---- The Other Side Of The Coin
The views expressed here are my own.......and bloody good they are too !!!! :)
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Guess
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There is that aspect to it and have had that topic of converstaion come up a few times lately and chatted to a couple I know who run sucha service. Most of these are so overwhelmed with business that they see Visa runs as a necessary pain in the arse that keeps the wheels turning during the low season. I don't think anybody relies on it for a living in Hua Hin. But take a look at the other half of the same side of the coin.
Up until the end of this year many people from Bangkok, down the coast all the way to Chumphon and on the other side as far down as Phuket were using the Ranong crossing every 30 days. On average 30 - 500 baht would be spent on transportation (more if you hire a car or get a taxi). Some of this would pay wages to the driver and some would go to the Thai authorities in fuel tax. 400 baht would go to a Burmese boatman, 600 Baht would go to the Burmese Authorities and only overstay (which will not really change much due to this regulation change) would go to the Thai authorities or towards the wages of officials and back into the Thai economy. Also the Thais would lose by people bringing back cheap cigarettes alcohol and viagra (dubious legality anyway). The lions share of the earnings went to Burmese and from ther into the hands of either the corrupt government or one of the criminal organised rebel groups.
So overall I thinks it is a good move. The big question is what will it be replaced by. What the Thais should be doing is a coordinbated study of immigration altogether and decide who thewy want and for how long and allow visas accordingly. We have all heard the stories of the international gangs of money laundering crooks with terrorist links that have been milking Thailand on land deals causing a knee jerk reaction by the Thai authotities with regards to land ownership, but the truth is that most foreigners that live here but have worked hard and ploughed all their money back into the economy. I personally have to work hard to provide my little bit to the Thai and farang community in Hua Hin that is a tiny part of the tourist and expat industry. There are many like me though. and all of us put together make up a significant portion of the tourist and ex-pat attraction to Hua Hin. I know that all members of the authorities that I know are fully aware of this.
To summarise I believe the authorities were quite right to stop the revenue losing repeat 30 day stamps (intended for passers through, businessmen and package holiday makers) so long as hardworking foreigners who add to the Thai economy growth and in many cases have Thai families should be allowed to stay here indefinitely hassle free while they are still of use and needed by the Thais.
Up until the end of this year many people from Bangkok, down the coast all the way to Chumphon and on the other side as far down as Phuket were using the Ranong crossing every 30 days. On average 30 - 500 baht would be spent on transportation (more if you hire a car or get a taxi). Some of this would pay wages to the driver and some would go to the Thai authorities in fuel tax. 400 baht would go to a Burmese boatman, 600 Baht would go to the Burmese Authorities and only overstay (which will not really change much due to this regulation change) would go to the Thai authorities or towards the wages of officials and back into the Thai economy. Also the Thais would lose by people bringing back cheap cigarettes alcohol and viagra (dubious legality anyway). The lions share of the earnings went to Burmese and from ther into the hands of either the corrupt government or one of the criminal organised rebel groups.
So overall I thinks it is a good move. The big question is what will it be replaced by. What the Thais should be doing is a coordinbated study of immigration altogether and decide who thewy want and for how long and allow visas accordingly. We have all heard the stories of the international gangs of money laundering crooks with terrorist links that have been milking Thailand on land deals causing a knee jerk reaction by the Thai authotities with regards to land ownership, but the truth is that most foreigners that live here but have worked hard and ploughed all their money back into the economy. I personally have to work hard to provide my little bit to the Thai and farang community in Hua Hin that is a tiny part of the tourist and expat industry. There are many like me though. and all of us put together make up a significant portion of the tourist and ex-pat attraction to Hua Hin. I know that all members of the authorities that I know are fully aware of this.
To summarise I believe the authorities were quite right to stop the revenue losing repeat 30 day stamps (intended for passers through, businessmen and package holiday makers) so long as hardworking foreigners who add to the Thai economy growth and in many cases have Thai families should be allowed to stay here indefinitely hassle free while they are still of use and needed by the Thais.
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