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[mads]

In U.S.A the government bailout private companies. In Thailand the private sector has to bailout the government

[thaibkk]

in a land where rules for immigrants (who may spend many millions here but get nothing in return) may change every few times a year without any full ownership of business or land, one must be crazy to spend so much money on a piece of paper

I guess a lot of costs are made by the Thai wannabees who run the company ... 20 million baht golf fees, wow, smells like a good bribe... they can make and own many for that price... if you see a Thai labour earns not even 200 baht a day and land is cheap for Thais...

[grantbkk]

gr8fldanielle, on 2009-07-26 11:18:08, said:

I'm just surprised this is in the news. Didn't this go away once already? Is the dead horse that's kicking not dead? "I'm not dead"
"but you will be very soon"

The Elite Card program has survived a couple of near death experiences. The government needs a bit more time to come up with a solution that will "amaze" us. You can say TIT all you want but I suspect we will see a new level of dumbness of epic proportions. This has been a public relations nightmare for years and the various government agencies are passing Thai Elite around like a hot potato. preferring to confront the issue. If there is no money to siphon off there is no interest in dealing with the program.

[Siamfan]

I wonder why nobody here talks about the real point of the elite card..... At the beginning it was introduced, that every member could buy 1 Rai of land with house on his personal foreign name as freehold..... if this would have happened without restrictions I am sure they would have sold much much more cards! Why not use the bad times now, reinstall the old idea, and sell houses and land to foreigners like Malaysia’s Home away from home program. This would make life so much easier for so many here, and the Elite system would survive and work! Cut the golf, limo and spa crap and go for the real stuff that everybody wants: House, land and Visa ![/size]

[ovenman]

Siamfan, on 2009-07-26 11:29:29, said:

Why not use the bad times now, reinstall the old idea, and sell houses and land to foreigners like Malaysia’s Home away from home program. This would make life so much easier for so many here, and the Elite system would survive and work!

Perhaps because Thailand does not now nor ever has had any interest in selling even one square waa of its land to foreigners.

[chlear909]

BlackJack, on 2009-07-26 11:02:52, said:

You are all wrong and this is easily fixed

Bring back President Taxsin

all will be righted and the sun will shine again

great sarcasm,perfect,,bottom line is dont get involved in dum things,,rich people are stupid,,we dont have to follow,,let them go down alone,,they deserve it for their endless arrogance,, im sure they feel they have none of ,,
yeah im rich that makes me an expert,,duh
sure love thailand,,the world school carries on unabated thankfully,,great show

[CHINWA]

BlackJack, on 2009-07-26 11:02:52, said:

You are all wrong and this is easily fixed

Bring back President Taxsin

all will be righted and the sun will shine again

Agree with you. It makes sense to me!

[RKASA]

This is just an extension of the Elite Thai mind set thats not going to change soon, most Thai business only survives due to protection and payoffs.   

The people they want or would need to sign up, don't spend there money on stupid plastic cards and membership in third rate clubs,  they get invitations.  They go where they are wanted and treated well, both with their business and their money.  If you want to do business in Thailand you have to beg for basic rights and be subject to an uncertain future.  

Nobody worth having is going to join ether club.

[laceman]

PoorSucker, on 2009-07-26 10:24:56, said:

Let Thaksin pay, his idea-his money.
Take the frozen assets for this.

Teriffic idea and I am not even a member. Maybe this will be the suprise he plans to announce on his 6oth

[Nerone]

What a stupid idea for steal money!!! Hope not many joined this....
"Thai elite"

[CHINWA]

Siamfan, on 2009-07-26 11:29:29, said:

I wonder why nobody here talks about the real point of the elite card..... At the beginning it was introduced, that every member could buy 1 Rai of land with house on his personal foreign name as freehold..... if this would have happened without restrictions I am sure they would have sold much much more cards! Why not use the bad times now, reinstall the old idea, and sell houses and land to foreigners like Malaysia's Home away from home program. This would make life so much easier for so many here, and the Elite system would survive and work! Cut the golf, limo and spa crap and go for the real stuff that everybody wants: House, land and Visa ![/size]

The Malaysians are 50 years ahead of us...

[sriracha john]

sriracha john, on 2009-07-26 09:47:34, said:

{quote}

Thaksin's dream of luring the elite lies in tatters

It started with a flourish and some wildly optimistic predictions but it looks like it may end with a whimper
{unquote}

I guess that's what they mean by the "No Entry" sign on their door at the airport...

sriracha john, on 2009-07-26 10:40:52, said:

Thaising, on 2009-07-26 08:55:57, said:

In the first year of operation, the company sold 139 Elite Card lifetime memberships. However, the number so far this year is a measly two.

and Thaivisa has been privileged to hear from nearly all of these supposed members over the course of 82 threads covering the past five years.... and yet surprisingly....

Quote

Up to 200 complaints have been reported by TPC so far this year.

from all these alleged members posting, I can't remember a single complaint...

[george]

[wrecker]

Thamassat is spot on with the cnclusion that the spin-off is huge. the problem however with this government and the former military government is that they cannot pocket the billions of baht spend by these wealthy foreigners and that is what it is all about. Nobody in his or her right mind will pay golf courses huge amounts. Especially the reinstated courses have received fine amounts of money and belong to the clique of Sanan. On the other hand court cases will be rare. I do not see any businessman going to court for a loss of less than 30,000 US and last but not least the government could still decide to keep them main privileges intact being express access to the country by allowing the holders to check in at a sparate immigration counter and allowing them a five year visa.
People who hold these cards seldom want to be seen to ask for a rebate by flashing the card, they will be far more interested in beating red tape.
This government lacks plans, lack creativity and is made up out of individuals who are used to think of themselves first instead of the country, therefore it might be better to forget about terminology like "Spin-off" and "investment", the main goal of this kind of governments is not to get foreigners in but to get foreigners out.
They complain on the one hand that Tourism is at an all time low, yet they are cracking down on the use of tourist visas, they find the time ripe to kill the elite card program, they crack down on nominees holding land. What more proof is needed that Thailand likes to become an isolationist country. Thailand is becoming inhospitable, and their slogan is really "spend an awful lot, but do not stay too long" and that will backfire.

[Nerone]

Siamfan, on 2009-07-26 11:29:29, said:

I wonder why nobody here talks about the real point of the elite card..... At the beginning it was introduced, that every member could buy 1 Rai of land with house on his personal foreign name as freehold..... if this would have happened without restrictions I am sure they would have sold much much more cards! Why not use the bad times now, reinstall the old idea, and sell houses and land to foreigners like Malaysia's Home away from home program. This would make life so much easier for so many here, and the Elite system would survive and work! Cut the golf, limo and spa crap and go for the real stuff that everybody wants: House, land and Visa ![/size]

too good to be real...
[snip]

[rippedoff]

I saw it coming. Just a matter of time and we all get rippedoff

[rufanuf]

One things obvious from the popularity and tone of nearly every thread on Thaivisa placed by expats. Most of us would be more than happy to part with $25000, just to be treated fairly in Thailand. No cheap golf or massages, just a willingness on the part of Thai's to except we are human beings too.

[jfchandler]

I agree about this idea....

IF IF IF there was a way to legally/irrevocably guarantee the right to buy property here....and combine that with a hassle free five-year renewable visa, I think they'd have a lot of buyers...and it wouldn't cost them anything... except their own skim out of the program ( )

Forget all the expensive BS about BMWs and golf courses and spas.... Give folks a easy long term visa and a sure path to owning their own home... I'd say that would be worth 1 million......

Siamfan, on 2009-07-26 11:29:29, said:

I wonder why nobody here talks about the real point of the elite card..... At the beginning it was introduced, that every member could buy 1 Rai of land with house on his personal foreign name as freehold..... if this would have happened without restrictions I am sure they would have sold much much more cards! Why not use the bad times now, reinstall the old idea, and sell houses and land to foreigners like Malaysia’s Home away from home program. This would make life so much easier for so many here, and the Elite system would survive and work! Cut the golf, limo and spa crap and go for the real stuff that everybody wants: House, land and Visa ![/size]

[hungryINbangkok]

Instead of an "Elite" card....convert the program to an "Every Man" card. For 100k baht...they could sell a more limited version specifically to ex-pats who know they will stay here for 5 years or more.....A 5 year visa? Renewable? I would buy it! Add in a few golf courses, or free domestic airline trips and they'll be lined up around the corner!

[simcity]

I wonder if they are going to sale it to a factice company, in few months it will go all under without recourse for members for lawsuits

[PaulHamon]

319 million rai in thailand... if every thai visa member want to purchase 1 rai, they'd still have 318million left LOL.

[walterego]

Siamfan, on 2009-07-26 15:29:29, said:

I wonder why nobody here talks about the real point of the elite card..... At the beginning it was introduced, that every member could buy 1 Rai of land with house on his personal foreign name as freehold..... if this would have happened without restrictions I am sure they would have sold much much more cards! Why not use the bad times now, reinstall the old idea, and sell houses and land to foreigners like Malaysia's Home away from home program. This would make life so much easier for so many here, and the Elite system would survive and work! Cut the golf, limo and spa crap and go for the real stuff that everybody wants: House, land and Visa ![/size]

Here Here! i would shell out for that in the blink of an eye!

[oswego]

As my Thai friends tell me. There is English and then there is Thai English. The corollary to that statement is that there is Logic and then there is Thai Logic. 30,000 Chinese members?! Most of my Chinese friends always ask me if Thailand is a safe country to come for vacation and I always tell them, yes, of course! They never believe me and thus far none of them visits me here 30,000 members indeed.

[PeeKay]

My darling wife summed this fiasco up rather nicely:

"Pom mai son jai, wellah kon luay le takiattakai siang gnun, som nam nah".

Quite happy we are neither 'luay' or 'takiattakai'.

Subscribing to 'any' scheme in LOS where one has to part with cash for so called promises, is delusional at best.

PK

[hhiser]

 Well at least Thailand is trying to discourage Tourism in all sectors. Way to be "fair and balanced", like Fox News!!

Edited by hhiser, 2009-07-26 12:40:00.