General Reports

[EihTooms]

A possible re-opening for tourists:

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/artic...vid/index.html

"I have asked the prime minister for approval to set October 1 as the date to allow (inbound) tourists to enter," he said. "I also have requested to use Phuket as a pilot model ... and have received approval from the Center for Economic Situation Administration."

Of course, only time will tell if this tentative restart actually happens then, later or at all. But when I posted earlier that I had a feeling the September 26 deadline for short term visa amnesty would likely serve as the dividing line for "out with the old, in with the new" and that a new way for tourists to enter via international flights would follow shortly thereafter, even I didn't predict it might be less than a week thereafter. LOL.

I swear I had no CESA insider information on which to base my guess. It was based solely on my observations of the general Thai mindset and behavior over the years.

[WestCoast1]

A possible re-opening for tourists:

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/artic...vid/index.html

[Banana Boi]

And the guy told me the prices I saw 2 rows and asked about that?

He said white guys are charged more LOL.

There are tons of non P4 P places in Thailand where Farang are charged more than Thai most noticeably at tourist traps like Art in Paradise, Pattaya Floating market, etc. There is no hiding it. Signs clearly list different pricing for Thai and tourists. IIRC Thai leaders have recently said this can no longer be done in hopes of bringing back more tourists when the borders open again.

Even with every day taxis, motorbikes, and tuk tuks. Farang get charged much higher than Thai. Farang are stupid enough to pay it so why not charge more.

[MarquisdeSade1]

"Thailand outperformed Russia and India by becoming the most unequal country in the world according to the 2018 report released by Credit Suisse.

According to the findings of the 2018 Global Wealth Databook 2018 report, statistics compiled by Credit Suisse in 40 countries show that the richest 1% of Thais control 66.9% of the country's wealth.

At the same time, 50% of the poorest Thais (25 million people) held 1. 7% of the country's wealth, while 70% (35 million) controlled 5%.

Two years ago, Thailand ranked third in the report, after Russia and India.

In 2016, the richest 1% of Thais (500,000 people) held 58.0% of the country's wealth. In 2018, they controlled 66.9%, overtaking their Russian peers whose wealth share rose from 78% to 57.1%.

These three countries are followed by Turkey where the richest control 54.1% of the wealth.

Apart from these four countries, there is no country in the world where the richest 1% control more than half of their country's wealth.

Go to Moscow, I read a couple years ago when I was there, there were 65 billionaires in the city, more than anywhere in the world, what do you think P4P prices are like LOL?

I'm surprised PI isn't #1, walk down a dirty busy road with dead dogs and women sleeping in the dirt with their infants in their arms or whole families.

Parents old people children and infants sleeping on a tiny section of sidewalk by JJ market, or even Mexico my god the disparities there are eye popping as well.

[LittleBigMan]

Wow, For years whenever politics conversation came up I always without reading any stats just threw out that 1% of the richest Thais ran this country but down deep gave them the benefit of the doubt and just round it off to 5%.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

"Thailand outperformed Russia and India by becoming the most unequal country in the world according to the 2018 report released by Credit Suisse.

According to the findings of the 2018 Global Wealth Databook 2018 report, statistics compiled by Credit Suisse in 40 countries show that the richest 1% of Thais control 66.9% of the country's wealth.

At the same time, 50% of the poorest Thais (25 million people) held 1. 7% of the country's wealth, while 70% (35 million) controlled 5%.

Two years ago, Thailand ranked third in the report, after Russia and India.

In 2016, the richest 1% of Thais (500,000 people) held 58.0% of the country's wealth. In 2018, they controlled 66.9%, overtaking their Russian peers whose wealth share rose from 78% to 57.1%.

These three countries are followed by Turkey where the richest control 54.1% of the wealth.

Apart from these four countries, there is no country in the world where the richest 1% control more than half of their country's wealth.

The most equitable countries are Belgium, where the richest 1% own 20.1% of the wealth, followed by Australia (22.4%).

Credit Suisse global wealth report"

What in 2020 after drastic covid19 Thailand lockdown ?

[Turgid]

When I was last in Bangkok I hung out with a non-pro I met online. When I went shopping she showed me so many places where I should not shop which included all malls which she told me she never stepped foot in. The places she took me to had good quality items at amazingly low prices. I saw absolutely no obvious tourists in these places. She also took me to many Thai and Chinese restaurants that were frequented only by locals and had fantastic food for a fraction of the prices of other restaurants. In one of the Chinese restaurants she took me to I had the best tasting meal I've ever had in a restaurant.

[HorseTrader]

The Thai people don't have little, the poor Thai people have little. The same as the poor Americans or poor anybody else has little. Who is this "we" you speak of? The well off Thai people have way more than my broke ass. Have you seen all the Mercedes rolling around this mf? Meanwhile I am on a 6000 baht bicycle.

I didn't write specifically, "we" was a bad word. By "we" I was referring to western tourists who have a normal life in a western country and make regular trips to Thailand for holidays.

I'm happy paying extra to the people who serve me directly. Taxi. Restaurant tips. Housekeeping. Hookers. Street food vendors. Tour guides. The tricky area for me is hotels because I have no idea who gets my money. I do know that my favorite Samui hotel is owned by two friends and they aren't driving luxury cars.

I agree that you do see a few luxury and hot sports cars in Thailand, but that is a tiny percentage when compared to those traveling by foot, baht bus, motor scooter, and motor scooter taxi. I video chat with various Thai girls who share 3000-5000 THB / month apartments that are tiny and in dismal parts of town. They have no recreation other than temple visits because there is no money. Staff houses for luxury hotel workers are dismal. Try video chatting with the Issan girl when she is at home on the farm, it's probably dismal and understandable why these girls send money home. I don't mind helping because all the Thai people have always treated me well.

[PinkPearl]

Where are you pulling that 3. 9% inflation from?

Officially, average annual inflation was 1. 6% over the last 10 years, and 2% over the last 20 years. source. I feel consumer prices have risen faster, but that's the official data.

So, if ST cost 1000 baht in 2010, should be 1170 baht in 2020 due to inflation.

The 10 years I referred to were 2004 to 2013. I said:

"My research regarding the period from 2004 through 2013 concerning NEP area street walkers found that prices did not go up. Neither did service or attitude go down."

I didn't pull the 3. 9% inflation percentage from anywhere, as it was a qualified hypothetical "if" statement. However in looking at the chart at the following URL, the figures for 2004 to 2013 are generally much higher than the 1. 6% figure you mention over the last 10 years.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...e-in-thailand/

[Franciscass]

The richest in the poorest countries have vastly more than the average citizen of the richest countries in the world. That really isn't the metric to judge relative poverty levels. Neither is the usual GDP per capita stat, failing to account for wealth distribution. A better gauge is the number of people on or below a poverty line which is usually defined as an income sufficient to cover basic needs. More important still are whether there are social welfare programs to take care of the less fortunate. Thailand is not a poor country but there are far more people poor here than in developed countries. There is no welfare safety net to speak of and with a minimum wage of $10 a day it behooves on us living here not to take advantage and to be generous when and where we can with the usual caveats of not being a chump and according to our means. Its simply treating the less fortunate with a sense of decency and humanity.

[Mr Enternational]

I was warned about this by my Thai friends in USA before my first trip. I don't mind paying the extra. The Thai people have always been kind to me and they have so little and we have so much.

The Thai people don't have little, the poor Thai people have little. The same as the poor Americans or poor anybody else has little. Who is this "we" you speak of? The well off Thai people have way more than my broke ass. Have you seen all the Mercedes rolling around this mf? Meanwhile I am on a 6000 baht bicycle.

[Goferring]

I was warned about this by my Thai friends in USA before my first trip. I don't mind paying the extra. The Thai people have always been kind to me and they have so little and we have so much.

This is where it becomes somewhat of a grey area: even in areas where I have been a long term resident, speak the language and am very well aware of true pricing, I'm also happy to leave a tip for good service.

But what is a tip? $2? $20? A 10 fold markup? Some are reasonable but some are just an invitation to be regarded as a easy mark. I have NEVER seen the latter result in better service as some would suggest. If anything, it's an invitation to give minimal service to someone who will not know the difference and happily pay for it.

Cheers. G.

[HorseTrader]

What many also fail to recognize is that most of Asia operates a split pricing system for everything from carrots to pussy.

I was warned about this by my Thai friends in USA before my first trip. I don't mind paying the extra. The Thai people have always been kind to me and they have so little and we have so much.

[Goatscrot]

Somehow I ended up in a facebook group about dual pricing in Thailand. I just laugh and laugh at these people. And at least they tell you upfront by having it on the sign; not like they are being dishonest and hiding it from you. People should be used to it by now. Their country, their rules. You don't have any rights in a country that is not yours. But people's home countries have them with a sense of entitlement and believing everything should be fair. Thailand still operates in the real world and not the everybody gets a trophy world. This is not my country. All I can do is stay in my damn lane and thank them for allowing me to come here.

Well stated and my stance as well. We are guests.

[AggieDad1]

What many also fail to recognize is that most of Asia operates a split pricing system for everything from carrots to pussy.

There are "prices" for fresh off the boat tourists, knowledgeable residents and locals. Yes there is some wiggle room between the categories but the girls are very aware of what the different guys are able and willing to pay.

Your example of 3500 newbie, 1500 repeat customer (my guestinate) and 500 long term resident pricing FROM THE SAME GIRL is not exceptional.

Enjoy. G.

I remember a conversation a few years ago with a PHD economist from the USA that was teaching at Nottingham University in Ningbo China. He said he had hired a female student of his to do all of his shopping for him. He had done the math and a Chinese person shopping would get the Chinese price, and the difference between the Chinese price and the Laowai price was great enough that he was still coming out ahead paying her to do the shopping for him.