The Thai Cabinet, led by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, approved on October 16th, 2023 for Russian tourists to stay up to 90 days, increased from 30 days, on a visa-free program.
The new program will start November 1st, 2023, and end April 30th, 2024.
According to Mr. Thavisin, the program is aimed at attracting more Russian tourists during the long holiday season when Russia traditionally has tough and cold winters.
Mr. Thavisin is also set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing China which runs from today until October 21st, 2023.
Russian tourists are the fifth biggest group by nationality visiting Thailand this year, with almost a million arrivals as of October 2023.
The decision to allow Russian citizens to stay longer in Thailand wasn't without controversy online as citizens of other nations complained that the measure didn't apply to more countries or criticized Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, stating that Russian citizens should not be given extra privileges at this time.
Tracking the growing Shinawatra influence in new Thai government
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Less than two months after taking power, Prime Minister SretthaThavisin appears to be overshadowed by the Shinawatra family, judging from the people around him.
A high proportion of his official and unofficial advisers, government appointees, and Cabinet colleagues are Shinawatra loyalists, friends, political allies, in-laws, or even family members.
Over the past month, PM Srettha has appointed 13 official advisers mostly linked to past governments led by Thaksin Shinawatra or his sister Yingluck.
Nine advisers were named on September 14: Kittiratt Na-Ranong, TewanLiptapanlop, Pichai Chunhavajira, Supanit Chaiyawat, Pimol Srivikorn, PichitChuenban, ChonlatitSurasawadi, Chai Watcharong, and SurayutThavikulwat.
Srettha appointed four more on October 4: TongthongChandransu, Paitoon Chutimakornkul, Arthit Suriyabhivadh, and Police General Chinnapat Sarasin.
PM's official advisers
Kittiratt, 65, served as deputy prime minister, finance minister, and economic czar in Yingluck's government. Formerly a deputy Pheu Thai leader, Kittiratthas now been hired to share his expertise as Srettha's chief adviser.
Srettha had backed Kittiratt for the post of new Football Association of Thailand president but seemed to change his mind a few days before being voted in as prime minister, saying he "would be better suited to helping out the government with its work".
Veteran politician Tewan, 63, is caretaker leader of the coalition Chart Pattana Kla Party. He is a former Thai Rak Thai Party executive, serving between 2004 and 2007. Founded and led by Thaksin, Thai Rak Thai was ousted from the government by the 2006 military coup before being disbanded by court order in 2007 for electoral fraud. Tewan was among its party executives banned from politics for five years.
Pichai, 73, has experience as a top executive in the petroleum industry. He was formerly chairman of Bangchak Corporation Plc and director of PTT Exploration and Production Plc.
He has also served as president of the Thailand Boxing Association, vice president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, and president of the Asian Boxing Confederation.
Supanit, 63, is a close ally and childhood friend of the prime minister. He is also an independent director of Sansiri Plc, the property giant that Sretthahelmed as president and CEO before entering politics early this year.
Asst Prof Pimol, 59, is a businessman and chief adviser to Pheu Thai's sports policy committee. He has also been president of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand since 2007.
Pimol was also a Thai Rak Thai executive, serving a five-year ban from politics following the party's dissolution.
Lawyer for two ex-premiers
Pichit, 64, is a veteran lawyer who worked for both Thaksin and Yingluck on legal cases stemming from their tenures as prime minister. He is well remembered for allegedly offering a sealed snack box containing 2 million baht in cash to bribe officials at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
Pichit's team was at the time representing Thaksin in a corruption case. In June 2008, the Supreme Court sentenced Pichit and his two junior colleagues to six months in prison for contempt of court. After the trio completed their jail terms, public prosecutors decided not to press the bribery charges against them. However, the Law Society of Thailand suspended their lawyer licenses for five years for breaching its code of conduct.
Pichit was earlier tipped to join Srettha's Cabinet as a Prime Minister's Office minister for legal affairs, but he made a last-minute decision not to take the seat.
Chonlatit, 65, is a former director-general of the Royal Forest Department who was sidelined by the post-coup junta in 2017 over alleged irregularities, which he denied. He is a nephew of PlodprasopSuraswadi, who served as deputy prime minister in Yingluck's administration.
Chonlatit was approached by Plodprasop, a senior Pheu Thai adviser, to help draft policies on land distribution rights for the party.
Chai, 64, also doubles as spokesman for Srettha's government. The former veterinarian contested the general election in May as a Pheu Thai list candidate but failed to get elected.
Surayut is a former chief financial officer at BTS Group Holdings Plc, which owns Bangkok Mass Transit System, the BTS Skytrain operator. He quit the CFO post in March to contest the election as a Pheu Thai list candidate but failed to get elected.
Four more appointees
Adjunct Professor Tongthong, 68, is a former dean of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Law. He served as permanent secretary of the PM's Office under Yingluck's government and as legal adviser to the administration led by Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law.
Tongthong is the executive board chairman of Krung ThepThanakom Co Ltd, the business arm of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
Paitoon is a six-time president of the Sports Reporters and Photographers Association of Thailand and former executive director of Siam Inter Multimedia Plc.
Arthit is a former board member at Xspring Capital Plc, a subsidiary of Sansiri. He was also a member of Pheu Thai's economic policies team, which was headed by Kittiratt.
Chinnapat, 60, is fresh from retiring as a deputy national police chief at the end of September. He is the son of late former police chief Pow Sarasin, who once served as interior minister.
Linked to Shinawatra family
PM Srettha also has a host of Shinawatra friends and family members working in his government – either officially or unofficially, at the Prime Minister's Office and in various ministries.
Among them is Prime Minister's Office Minister PuangpetChunlaiad, who has enjoyed close ties with the Shinawatras for decades. Puangpet is among the family's most trusted politicians. She reportedly visited Thaksin many times while he was in self-imposed exile overseas.
As the only PM's Office minister, Puangpet has been assigned to oversee various agencies, including the Public Relations Department and state-run media firm MCOT Plc.
KhanapojJoemrith, a close friend of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been assigned to oversee PM Srettha's schedules. He accompanied the prime minister on his recent trip to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Khanapoj is former deputy secretary-general of Pheu Thai's now-defunct "sister party", Thai Raksa Chart.
Paetongtarn was one of Pheu Thai's three prime ministerial candidates and the youngest daughter of the party's patriarch Thaksin. She is tipped to become Pheu Thai's next leader.
Also working beside the prime minister is his bodyguard, Pol Colonel WatanyuWitthaypalothai, who did the same job for Yingluck from the first day she entered Government House in 2011.
ChayikaWongnapachant, the daughter of Paetongtarn's aunt, YaowaresShinawatra, is reportedly working for Srettha on foreign affairs. According to her LinkedIn profile, Chayikais a specialist in political marketing, public relations and foreign affairs at Pheu Thai.
PM Srettha also has three Pheu Thai political appointees serving as his deputy secretaries-general – SomkidChueakong, JakkaphonTangsutthitham, and PongsarunAssawachaisophon. The trio is tasked with screening ministry files and carrying out political chores for the prime minister.
The Thaksin factor
The prime minister drew criticism last month after telling reporters in New York that he would seek advice from Thaksin, who is serving a sentence for corruption and power abuse after ending his 15-year self-imposed exile overseas.
Srettha's remark was interpreted by the media as a hint that he would give Thaksin an advisory role in his government once the ex-premier was released.
PM Srettha quickly denied ever saying that he would appoint the ex-PM as an adviser. He explained that he would only seek advice from Thaksin as part of consultations with other former prime ministers.
The annual extension of stay, based on retirement in Thailand, is getting more complex.
Premier Srettha Thavisin's new Pheu Thai-led administration has already seen massive investment in Thailand's short-term visa programs. The mass market Chinese tourists are now 30 days visa-free, at least until February 2024, and appear to have no problem obtaining a further month at immigration if wished. The sports and tourism ministry is planning to spend 600 million baht in the next financial year to promote marketing campaigns abroad for tourism. There is talk that some visitors, including Europeans and Russians, might soon see the arrival of the 90 days visa exempt stay awarded on entry.
But around 250,000 expats, mostly men dependent on one year extensions of stay based on retirement or marriage, are increasingly feeling left out in the cold. Graeme Clifton, an American who retired to Thailand 10 years ago, said, "We only ever hear bad news for us such as more visa bureaucracy and threats of extra taxation." He added that renewing his annual extension at immigration was becoming a real hassle because of extra paperwork, some of it totally unexpected. Letters to the Bangkok Post and concerns at expat clubs up and down the country echo the same sentiments.
Although immigration offices have discretion about the detail, there is concern that the certificates from a Thai bank to show the applicant's cash balance or monthly transfer amounts have become more complex. There is also increasing emphasis on proving a Thai address, not only by the 90 days reporting, but by updates to the TM30 registration form after leaving the country for even a day or two. Many observers say the Cambodian address registration system for expats is preferable as it requires, just once, the downloading of an app. The stated address then remains valid until the expat changes it – although the penalties for updating or defaulting can be serious.
Another headache right now is the reinterpretation of Thai Revenue policy which means that foreign-derived income by Thais or foreigners, no matter the source, becomes liable for Thai taxation from the start of 2024. The issues are complex – a tax accountant's dream some say – but the worry of most retirees is that they live on pension income from the home country which has already been taxed there with or without a formal double-taxation treaty. Whilst there is no doubt the Revenue has principally in mind offshore and overseas income from businesses or windfalls or currency manipulation profits, the implications for the typical retiree or foreigner married to a Thai remain a mystery, for now. One scenario could be that the renewal of an annual visa might within a year or two require a TIN (tax identification number) obtained on application to the internal revenue service. Possession of a TIN does not necessarily mean tax is liable or due. But it would be another hassle.
Already many better-off expats, who are not in formal employment or claiming to be adult students of the Thai language, have moved to alternative visas which are less hassle but more expensive. A five year Elite multiple-entry visa now costs 900,000 baht. Although far from being bureaucracy-free, Elite has the advantage of not requiring medical insurance certification or ongoing checks about bank balances. There is also the 10-year Long Term Residence which has the intriguing reference to being "tax free", but has a weighty bureaucracy controlled by the Board of Investment.
The one year visa expats, mostly retirees on modest incomes, thus look to be wedged between the Thai government's concern to boost revenue by reducing the rules for short-term tourists and its preference for expats who are rich enough to invest in longer stay options. It will likely take several months before all the implications are clarified by several government sources. Even then, there will remain the thorny issue of whether use of visa agents might (or might not) be able to help with the rising pile of required documentation. Still, never try to hurry the Orient.
Mall shooting unlikely to impact Thai tourism, but other factors could rain on the parade
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Thai businesses remain optimistic about the outlook for tourism despite the shooting incident at Siam Paragon, but remain wary of unpredictable events.
The tragic incident happened on October 3 when a 14-year-old boy allegedly went on a shooting spree at the upmarket Siam Paragon mall in the heart of Bangkok. Two women — a Chinese tourist and a Myanmar national — lost their lives, while five people were injured.
The shooting incident was not only covered extensively by local media, but also drew a lot of public interest in China where many use Weibo, a Chinese social media platform to share information and debate issues.
Observers fear that it could potentially affect the tourism industry, as Chinese tourists might be concerned about public safety in Thailand.
The president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, holds a different point of view. "The shooting incident did not adversely impact tourism once it became known that a boy was allegedly responsible for the unexpected act," he said.
He said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had handled the situation very well, as he quickly explained the incident to the Chinese ambassador to Thailand.
Sisdivachr is optimistic that the number of tourists will hit the target of 25 million this year, or even rise to as high as 28-29 million.
Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, the president of the Phuket Tourist Association, shared a similar view, saying that the mall shooting had not impacted the tourism sector.
Free visa scheme
A temporary tourist visa exemption granted to Chinese nationals boosted tourist arrivals during the long golden week holidays in China from October 1-8, said Thaneth.
More Chinese visitors are expected to visit during the high season later this year and early next year.
The visa exemption scheme for the citizens of China and Kazakhstan runs from September 25, 2023 to February 29, 2024. During the five-month visa exemption period, Thailand is expected to welcome 1.9 million to 2.9 million Chinese tourists – a year-on-year growth of about 41-62 per cent – and generate tourism income of around 92-140 billion baht.
Thailand has forecast 129,485 arrivals from Kazakhstan, a 49.73 per cent increase over the same period last year, generating 7.93 billion baht in revenue, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol.
Uncertainty factors
Thaneth, however, is cautious that there are also uncertainty factors that could potentially impact tourism. "We don't know what the Chinese government's policy would be, as we had earlier witnessed during a road show in February that the government preferred its people travel within the country," said Thaneth.
"There have also been reports that Chinese authorities are not giving fast approvals for extension of passports that have expired," he said.
"The high price of air tickets also is an area of concern. We have seen a sharp increase in air fares for direct flights from China to Phuket Island after the Thai government announced in September the visa exemption for Chinese tourists," said Thaneth.
China's economic slowdown also will be a factor in the outlook for Thailand's tourism. Lately, the International Monetary Fund has revised down its economic growth forecast for China in 2023 to 5 per cent from 5.2 per cent.
Due to many factors, the recovery rate of Chinese tourists is less than 30 per cent of the pre-COVID-19 period.
Chinese tourists accounted for 11 million of the total 39.8 million foreigners who visited Thailand in 2019. This year, Thailand expects around 4.4 million Chinese tourists, just 40 per cent of the pre-pandemic peak.
TAT remains upbeat
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) appeared less concerned about any adverse impact from the shooting incident.
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, deputy governor for International Marketing – Asia and the South Pacific, consulted with the private sector, such as airlines and tour agencies, and was confident that the shooting incident would not deter Chinese tourists from visiting Thailand.
The government has been able to regain visitor confidence after the incident, he said. The proof is seen in the fact that on average 7,000-8,000 Chinese tourists enter Thailand every day.
TAT expects 4 million to 4.4 million Chinese tourists, making a total of 25-30 million visitors in total this year, bringing in 2.38 trillion baht in revenue.
From January 1 to September 10, Thailand recorded 2.3 million Chinese visitors, making China the second biggest tourist market after Malaysia. Without the visa exemption scheme, Thailand was expected to receive 3.5 million Chinese visitors in 2023 – about 31 per cent of the number in 2019 – generating 174.4 billion baht, according to the TAT.
Foreigners requiring service at Pattaya-Jomtien immigration (and Sri Racha) must have a TM30 form receipt in their passport dated since their last arrival in Thailand.
A recent change in procedure at Pattaya-Jomtien immigration (and Sri Racha) means that all foreigners requiring a service must have a TM30 form receipt in their passport dated since their last arrival in Thailand. This bureaucracy is quite separate from the 90 days reporting for expats which remains intact.
The TM30 form, which can be completed by the hotel juristic person or the owner of the residence or the newly-arrived foreigner, has in the past been used mainly when short-term tourists apply for an extension of their 30 days visa exempt entry. It should be completed within 24 hours (72 hours in practice) after arrival in the country.
The change in procedure means that the requirement is now extended to any foreigner seeking a re-entry permit, a renewal of a one year extension of stay (including retirement and marriage visas), extension of Elite, certificates of residence for driving licences, opening bank accounts etc. All these categories must now have a TM30 immigration receipt in their passport issued after their most recent entry to Thailand by air or land or sea. A TM30 receipt issued before the last entry to Thailand will be regarded as out-of-date and no longer acceptable.
It is recommended that all foreigners check in their passports that they have a TM30 receipt issued since their most recent arrival in the country. This now applies to long-term expats as well as short-term tourists. Updating records now could save inconvenience later when applying for an immigration service. Foreigners in other areas of Thailand need to check the specific regulations of TM30 in operation there.
The Minister of Tourism and Sports in Thailand recently revealed that the number of foreign tourists has decreased after the mall shooting in Bangkok and the war in Israel.
Ms. Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, told Thai media, "The number of tourists has decreased from last week, especially Chinese which saw only 75,093 tourists arriving. We have determined this is because some Chinese went traveling before their Golden Week, a major holiday, to avoid crowds. Additionally, some Chinese are still worried about the Siam Paragon shooting."
"The long holidays for Chinese have ended and another school semester in Asia, East Asia, and Oceania has started. As a result, the total number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand last week was at 497,966 which was 54,453 less than the prior week or about a 9.86 percent decrease. (From the latest update on October 8th)," Ms. Sudawan explained.
"The top five foreign visitors are Malaysian, Chinese, Indians, South Koreans, and Laotians. Laotians have decreased 1.16 percent, Chinese, South Korean, Malaysian and Indians have decreased in order 29.47 percent, 26.77 percent, 20.43 percent and 8.22 percent. Tourists from East Asia and Oceania are expected to be continually decreasing in the next few weeks as they are worried about the war in Israel and potential impact on flights," Ms. Sudawan added.
Thailand is moving toward greater tax compliance from the hundreds of thousands of expats living in the kingdom. At the same time, banking facilities at home are being challenged. They are likely to be more expensive as the world moves towards based on Environmental, Social and Governance values driven by the United Nations 2015 Sustainable Development Goals.
Government agendas and leading firms, including banks, are increasingly dominated by environmental, social, and governance values pushed by bodies such as the United Nations and intergovernmental panels. This trend especially includes the financial industry. This growing impetus has begun to impact Western expats living in Thailand, challenging their lifestyle with the curtailment of trusted bank facilities in their home countries. There is also an increased push towards the global taxation principle targeting those who have sought a better lifestyle abroad and, in many cases, more personal freedom.
UK expats in Thailand are increasingly anxious about their financial arrangements. The situation has come about due to moves by leading UK banks to restrict services to overseas residents and a new push by the Revenue Department in Thailand to widen its tax base, targeting tax residents in the kingdom deriving income from abroad.
The latest challenge to UK pensioners comes with new rules from the HM Revenue and Customs tightening the rules on transferring pensions amid turmoil in the pension markets over the value of long-term bonds.
Under the new rules, pension holders no longer resident in the United Kingdom cannot transfer their pension to another provider.
New rules make it more difficult for non-UK residents to control pension pots or access retirement benefits in addition to new banking restrictions
The new rules also make it more complicated for non-residents in the UK to claim their pensions with the prospects of higher taxes on the final pension pot being raised unless some accommodation is found to allow expats access to managing their funds from abroad just the same as UK tax residents.
UK financial services firms in the financial services market are increasingly restricting access to their services amid a drive for tighter compliance with money laundering regulations, business efficiency and a need to meet vaguely defined but growing Environment and Social Governance ethos driven by top management.
These goals are based on the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
These were 17 goals adopted by the world body in 2015 dealing with climate action, social justice, eradication of hunger and poverty, clean and affordable energy, eradication of inequality, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities, health and wellbeing, responsible consumption, education, clean water and sanitation.
The goals are increasingly at the heart of decisions made in government and business around the globe.
These decisions need to be more responsive to government mandates, controls and protections despite many of the banks in the United Kingdom being government-owned following rescues during the 2009 banking crisis.
New banking drive is clearly to eliminate banking services to non-resident nationals while offering new, more expensive 'international' banking options
The UK banks have adapted themselves to a trend which is reducing the level and scope of services to citizens living abroad.
The move by UK banks and, by and large, other financial service providers is to eliminate the provision of services to UK nationals no longer living in Britain.
Initially, this was a response to Brexit.
It has, however, taken on a drive of its own as an increasing number of financial services firms, including major banks, decided that the provision of routine services to UK residents should not be extended to former residents, as has been the case up to now for many decades.
Figures released in 2022 suggest that 560,000 UK citizens had left the country to live long-term abroad, while figures from 2021 showed that at that time, 14.5% of the United Kingdom's population were born abroad or 9.6 million people.
The latter figures rose for only 5.3 million foreign-born residents in 2004.
Barclays Bank advises UK nationals abroad to open an account in the Isle of Man or Jersey with a £40 monthly charge if the balance is under £100,000
The new business dispensation sends a very unwelcome message to UK expats living abroad and in this increasingly politically polarised world.
In recent months, Barclays Bank, one of the leading financial service providers and banks in the United Kingdom, announced that it was withdrawing the provision of banking facilities to current and savings accounts linked with nationals no longer resident in Britain.
The bank is offering an alternative service to international customers where they can register with the banks and open accounts with the bank's branches in the Isle of Man and Jersey to avail of specialised service with a monthly fee of £40 if the balance in the account is below £100,000.
Many Thai-based UK pensioners are currently making alternative arrangements to receive their pensions from the United Kingdom, with the latest restriction on expats coming into effect in mid-November.
Use of residential addresses linked with relatives is discouraged along with the new rules and is not recommended to UK non-resident nationals
Barclays Bank has defended its decision to withdraw such services based on commercial viability, saying that its products and services are specifically tailored to UK residents, with the bank making it clear that maintaining an address at a relative's or some other arrangement will be viewed as a breach of the agreement with the client going forward.
For some UK residents in Thailand, the changes impact not only the payment of their pensions but also arrangements regarding investments and credit card facilities.
The situation with Barclays Bank's proposed curtailment of services now aligns it with other UK banks who also insist that its specialist arms should provide services to non-resident individuals.
Lloyds Bank, for instance, no longer provides standard services to non-UK residents but does provide a banking service to expats and prospective expats through its Lloyds Bank International unit.
Lloyds Bank offer an international current account
The International Current Account requires an annual income of £50,000 sterling but offers a worldwide Internet banking facility.
The news of restrictive practices linked with pensions and bank account facilities is not limited to the United Kingdom, with similar provisions also being made recently in the Netherlands and other European countries.
It is a concerted move by banking institutions and government regulatory authorities worldwide to deal with the growing number of pensioners and adults deciding to live the expat lifestyle.
As governments and officials see it, the UN goals do not favour the expat lifestyle that relies on cheaper air travel, generally promoting additional consumption and a more individualistic, less compliant focus, often leading to lower costs and taxation.
The trend is coming as Thailand is negotiating more bilateral tax treaties.
The change in the revenue interpretation of its tax code announced on the 15th of September will also mean greater accountability and oversight powers for Thai tax collection authorities as it would income crossing into Thailand from a foreign country and being paid to a Thai resident or a foreigner resident in Thailand will be automatically subject to tax unless the tax resident or foreigner can show that tax has already been paid in respect of the income in the country of origin.
Tax regime in Thailand from January 2024 means more accountability for expats with income from abroad due to a change from the 1985 interpretation
The previous directive, issued in 1985, designated that any income earned in a foreign country in another tax year is not taxable in Thailand and offered a vast loophole for many to avoid tax accountability in Thailand.
The change in tax interpretation in Thailand in a directive issued on September 15th, 16/2023, is widely expected to be challenged in the courts on the basis that it is only a revised interpretation of an existing provision of the Thai tax code, which has been accepted for 35 years.
The change in the tax code interpretation was clarified by the Director General of the Revenue Department on the 19th of September after days of clamour, with officials also announcing that a focus group had been established to deal with issues that may arise between now and the 1st of January 2024.
Thailand remains a favourite country for retirees or middle-aged people seeking a second life abroad, and these challenges are not insurmountable
In recent decades, Thailand has become a trendy country for the middle-aged and pensioners, particularly men, seeking to retire because of its warm and sunny climate and lower cost of living.
Thailand, along with countries like Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Belize, has become a popular retirement location for Western retirees from Europe and the United States.
Not only are foreigners retiring to Thailand, but many are experiencing a second life, often establishing new relationships or even secondary incomes.
The endeavours often include fledgling small business interests, challenging the old order, driven by increased mobility offered by lower airfares in the last few decades and the internet.
Sense of personal freedom living abroad
Many availing of a new lifestyle are also looking for more or a sense of personal freedom, which comes from living abroad but is challenged by the recent move towards global compliance and accountability.
Under Thailand's retirement visa regime, which is available to foreigners over 50 years of age with ฿800,000 on deposit or an income of ฿65,000 per month, there is an explicit requirement that the holder will not be working or engaged in commercial activity.
At the same time, foreigners are also restricted from various commercial activities in Thailand under the Business Act.
Foreign retirees must negotiate these existing restrictions carefully and respectfully if seeking to pursue interests in Thailand.
They now face new challenges regarding greater tax accountability and restrictions imposed on them from their home countries.
Foreign retirees in Thailand are also constrained by other requirements of the kingdom's immigration laws, whose enforcement by the Immigration Bureau can vary from province to province regarding specific details or minutiae.
The current changes in banking originate from the top of large financial institutions in Western countries.
Expats can get organised on an even stronger footing in a country where personal taxation is still remarkably low. Attention to detail is now required
Expat retirees can get properly organised and even end up on a firmer footing by ensuring compliance with all the requirements both in the country of origin and in Thailand, where personal income tax is still notably low.
However, what is clear is that the free-for-all of the last few decades is coming to an end, and what is required is careful attention to detail.
There have already been problems with foreign retirees needing help to avail of increased benefits associated with their pensions, which the government in the United Kingdom has frozen for retirees living abroad.
UK authorities have, point-blank, refused to entertain representations made by residents from outside the jurisdiction in the same way as the country's Home Office enforces demanding visa requirements for Thai women or wives of UK partners going in the opposite direction to live in the United Kingdom.
United States social security benefits can be paid into Thai bank accounts, but US citizens must file annual tax returns on a global income principle
In the United States, the situation is different because American citizens are still required to file annual tax returns based on a global income principle.
At the same time, before coming to Thailand, most US retirees will have registered with the US Social Security Administration or, in some instances, by doing this online from Thailand.
The United States operates a facility where American Social Security benefits for American citizens can be paid by direct deposit into Thai bank accounts, including Thailand, through arrangements with large US banking institutions.
The US Social Security Administration also sends retirees a questionnaire at regular intervals to be completed and returned to US authorities.
Failure to do so can see benefits disabled until the questionnaire requirement is fulfilled. Such questionnaires are sent every one to two years to establish if the recipient of US benefits is still entitled to do
Trapped Thai worker says Thai death toll in Israel higher than reported
The number of Thais killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict since Saturday is higher than news reports indicate, according to a Thai worker who is hiding in a bunker near Gaza.
Facebook user Tew Nakongpen told local media that he is one of 16 workers hiding in a 4x4-metre bunker just 2 kilometres from the Gaza Strip.
Speaking in a video call, the 25-year-old Udon Thani native said that there were around 100 Thai workers trapped in the same area.
The workers are unable to contact their employer, he added.
He said they had managed to pack up their belongings and were ready to return home. However, they have not been able to contact anyone for help.
He said his group had been hearing continuous explosions and gunfire for days. They have no idea whether the area they are located in is safe or not, he explained.
Local media reported that during the video call, airstrikes were visible and explosions could be heard in the background.
Tew is one of around 30,000 Thais thought to be in Israel. Most work in the agricultural sector via agreements between the Thai and Israeli governments.
The reported Thai death toll rose to 18 on Tuesday, based on information from Israeli employers.
Thailand is currently hosting approximately 10,000 Israelitourists, a situation that arose due to the recent Israel-Gaza conflict. The country's Tourism and Sports Ministry is monitoring the effects of this situation on its tourism sector.
Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Tourism and Sports Minister stated that while numerous airlines have suspended flights between Thailand and Israel, El Al Airlines, Israel's national airline, has maintained its regular flight schedule. Additionally, all airlines have provided options for flight cancellations and delays to support travellers affected by the ongoing conflict.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourism Department have been directed by the ministry to track the situation closely and ensure the welfare of any tourists stranded in the country.
Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, the TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, noted that outbound flights to Israel are nearly fully booked, indicating a potential shortage due to Israelis' concerns for their families.
"El Al will continue to operate 11 flights per week between Israel and Thailand, including 8-9 flights to Bangkok and 2-3 flights to Phuket."
In the case of stranded tourists, the agency plans to collaborate with private operators to offer assistance, such as temporary accommodation and food provisions.
Inbound tourism from Israel
Cheawsamoot acknowledged that the conflict would likely impact inbound tourism from Israel, which has seen about 190,000 visitors in the first nine months, nearing the annual total of 194,081 tourists in 2019. He noted that this market typically stays for an average of 18 days, often travelling as family units or as remote workers.
Projecting the impact on nearby markets is premature, according to Cheawsamoot. He believes the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East will have lesser repercussions on European markets than the Ukraine war, which has strained European economies due to sanctions. In the first nine months, Thailand received 4.1 million European tourists, with the number expected to hit six million this year.
The TAT anticipates at least 800,000 visitors from the Middle East this year, including the Israeli market.
Suksit Suvunditkul, president of the Thai Hotels Association's southern chapter, stated that the Israeli market in Phuket had grown by 623% in the first nine months of this year, attracting 51,651 visitors. This is a significant increase from 2019, which saw 12,746 visitors in the same period, reported Bangkok Post.
While some Israeli guests have cancelled their trips to return home due to the attacks, the effect on Phuket's hotels has not been severe. Although Israel is recognised as an emerging market this year, its visitor numbers are relatively small compared to other major markets, such as Russia.
12 Thais may have been killed in Hamas attack in Israel
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As many as 12 Thais may have been killed in the Hamas attack on Israel, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkaphong Sangmanee in his post on X Sunday night.
He said that Israeli officials have confirmed the deaths of two Thai nationals, but Israeli employers claim that ten more Thai workers were killed, but no details about their identities are available so far.
He also said that eight Thais were injured, two of them seriously and 11 have been abducted.
Three of the Thais abducted have been identified as Anucha Angkaew, a resident of Udon Thani, Natthaporn Onkaew, a native of Nakhon Phanom and Ovart Suriyasri.
The parents of Anucha told the media yesterday (Sunday) that their son had been working in Israel for almost two years, earning about 50,000 baht per month.
The mother said she learned from relatives in Bangkok that Anucha is being held captive by Hamas and pleaded with authorities to secure his safe return.
The parents of Natthaporn said that they last spoke with their son on Friday night, adding that he has been working in Gaza for almost two years and is also earning about 50,000 baht a month.
Ovart's wife said she last spoke with her husband on Saturday night. He said that he heard gunshots and then the line went dead. She subsequently learned from her husband's relatives that he had been kidnapped.
