leemo

...I don't disagree with you on principle about a retiree programme but as mentioned earlier I think the focus should be on high net worth individuals, most of whom would only be here for a few months a year to escape the Winter.I disagree you on the worth of most existing retirees.Obviously not all by any means but many are frankly contributing very little.The country can certain do without most of them.Talking to Thai friends in the upper bureaucracy I am quite sure there is a strong wish to move the country's tourist industry up market.A good start would be to crack down hard on the vast numbers who abuse (by which I mean the spirit as much as the letter) the country's liberal immigration laws.THe intention of Thai Immigration to monitor closely these "tourists" is a very good start.

...Its supposed to be about the ability to afford to live in the ountry without recourse to public funds, and anyone can live here in this manner on the listed requirements as they currently stand. Retirees are goos news as they bring in foreign cash, feed domestic companies and services, can not work and often marry people that outlive them and thus the wealth stays in the country even without the farang. If anything, they shoul make it easier for visa renewals of all people here as expats as this brings in money, is not related to work in most cases (that's the work permit's job) and spend it here - there are no entitlements to visa holders to public funds, so its a win win really - heck we can't even compete with business or investments due to legal limitations. It merely stupidity, fear, general need for scapegoatism and the possible personal loss of back handers that stops trhis happening and becoming a foreign currency earning tool.