Long-stay limbo
Re: "Omnibus law sought to unlock investment", (Business, Feb 25).
Your article addresses a few important issues regarding foreign investment. Nevertheless, there are other obstacles that put Thailand behind neighbouring countries.
Although visa applications are much easier and there are more options than in 1995 when I moved permanently to Thailand, long-term visitors or residents never lost the feeling that Thai people love them, but the authorities don't. Some people have been married to their Thai spouses for decades and still have to do this one-year extension. In most home countries of farangs, you would get permanent residency or a passport within 5-10 years.
Many farangs are living on a farm in Isan in a nice house built with their money, but picking mangoes or bananas on the farm could mean illegal work!
An easy investment would be a holiday/second home in the form of a condo. After the initial purchase, frequent visits will contribute to the local economy. But now you cannot open a bank account with most visa types, although you are eligible to buy a condo!
One of my best friends has owned his condo for more than 20 years, visiting Thailand three times a year and spending 100,000 baht per month. Last month, he booked a ticket for a six-week trip to Thailand in October. At the time of booking, his UK passport would have given him 90 days of stay. Now, he has to apply for a visa or rely on local immigration to extend, or he is in danger of being refused boarding at the UK airport … I could fill a whole page in the Post with more examples.
Most farangs nowadays are spending significantly more on accommodation, food, cars, and properties than 30 years ago, not because of inflation but because Thailand is now a destination for higher-spending tourists. This seemed to be wishful thinking by the government 10 years ago, but it became a reality after the Covid crisis was over. It should be easy to build upon this trend for the benefit of the country; hopefully, politicians understand this!
