LincsLad

What a sad move by the tourism organizations.

Why make Thailand like every other tourist trap?  A Disneyland theme park is simply an import of American culture. It will only appeal to Thais and close-by surrounding countries.  Maybe it will only help keep Thai travelers at home (strategy:  fight fire with fire).  

Furthermore, when the real Disney makes landfall, there's going to be H_LL to pay by all the rip-offs/knock-offs of Disney's images and characters throughout the Kingdom.  I live 5 minutes from a hugs swimming pool surrounded by Disney characters to attract the kiddies.  In the middle of Isaan, I suspect the rights to use Disney's images have not been sought out.  

Isn't the Thai food, beaches, culture, enough to draw a significant crowd interested in a country for it's own unique characteristics?  

I view this as an unneeded further Westernization of Thailand only to satisfy the tourist industry's greed for the whole tourist pie in SE Asia.

[edited to remove TAT references]

What is so unusual or unreasonable about a visa anywhere being contingent on proof of finances, hotel booking and outbound flight?

Also, many embassies take much longer than 4 days to issue a visa.

Let's face it, tourist visas are supposed to be for tourists, not people who live in one place for an extended period. There are different categories for those.

I'm always astounded by the number of people on this forum who think they are entitled to come in and out of the country as they wish and that the Thai govt. should bend over to help them.