reader Posted June 22 Posted June 22 From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The Thai prime minister’s campaign to introduce a Schengen-style visa program for travel across the region has become stuck in bureaucracy. Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos each has different travel regulations which are proving hard to disentangle. For example, Thailand now allows no-cost visa exemptions for tourist traffic from 93 countries, about half the number agreed by Vietnam. Cambodia charges almost all visitors US$30 on arrival or via e-visa application, while troubled Myanmar insists on a pre-purchased visa which can take up to two weeks to issue. Chief executive of VietSense Travel, Nguyen Van Tai, said that the ASEAN block should not rush into a common visa as political and security issues had not yet been resolved. The Cambodian immigration service last week reported there were no plans to lift the US$30 tourist fee. Marisa Sukosol Nunbakdi, a past president of the Thai Hotels Association, said any common visa would need to be 90 days, not 30 or 60, to reach its international potential. Thitian Pongsudhirak, a professor at Chulalongkorn University, stressed that standardized immigration procedures throughout the region were very rare. Another ongoing complication arises from bilateral (two-country) agreements. For example, the Russian private lender Tinkoff has now started making Thai baht transfers through the Swift messaging system which may explain to some degree why Russians love Thailand. The Russian bank in fact sends funds to around 30 countries including China and Turkey. But some of Thailand’s regional partners are unlikely to agree to link up with Tinkoff without lengthy discussion. Meanwhile, Schengen-style agreements are doing better elsewhere. The Gulf Cooperation Council – comprising the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – currently requires separate e-visas. But a Grand Tours visa is expected to be available by the end of 2024 and travel companies are expected to launch packages covering several mi-east countries once implemented. A similar common-visa initiative covering five southern African countries, spreading across massive nature reserves, is expected to popularize tourist attractions such as exotic wildlife and spectacular waterfalls. Schengen-style, visa-free travel in practice means seamless travel through the signatory countries without the burden of undue passport inspection. The concept creates a much more welcoming environment for tourists by simplifying the multi-entry process by air, sea and land. Given the hesitancy of ASEAN in agreeing any major policy changes and its history of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of member states, a joint visa plan by Thailand and her neighbors remains a worthy dream under discussion since 2010. ASEAN will sleep on it. Quote
Moses Posted June 22 Posted June 22 5 hours ago, reader said: the Russian private lender Tinkoff has now started making Thai baht transfers through the Swift messaging system which may explain to some degree why Russians love Thailand. The Russian bank in fact sends funds to around 30 countries including China and Turkey. But some of Thailand’s regional partners are unlikely to agree to link up with Tinkoff without lengthy discussion. Barry Kenyon is idiot and never checks facts. He collects urban legends and pretends they are true. Correct name of "lender Tinkoff" is T-bank. 5 hours ago, reader said: which may explain to some degree why Russians love Thailand This phrase is generally beyond comprehension; it could have been written by a person who believes that the wind blows because the mills are spinning. Thai Bahts are widely represented in exchange points in main Russian cities because of bidirectional money moving: here are a lot of Thai students, tourists and businessman because Russia is visa-free for Thais as Thailand is visa-free for Russians. Money transfers in THB and RUB exists more than 10 years in both directions. 5 hours ago, reader said: and Turkey T-bank doesn't work with Turkish lira 5 hours ago, reader said: to around 30 countries 12 countries "around 30 countries" - it is about Sberbank - #1 on Russian market. Both banks are under US sanctions, so their press releases should read “we can still transfer money to 12\30 countries.” There are more than 300 banks in Russia, about 20 of them are under sanctions and the possibilities of international transfers in them are limited. In order not to lose money transfer business, such banks advertise their transfer services “to certain countries.” In the remaining 280 banks, transfers are carried out worldwide. The whole article as a whole is nonsense, because it makes no sense to compare the South-Eastern region with Schengen: before the advent of Schengen, the European Union was first formed and after 20+ years some of the EU countries managed to agree on Schengen. I assume that the countries of the South-Eastern region will take significantly less time to form a visa union than the senseless bureaucracy of the European Union. Quote
reader Posted June 22 Author Posted June 22 I’m sure Barry holds you in highest esteem, Moses. floridarob and vinapu 2 Quote
Moses Posted June 22 Posted June 22 3 minutes ago, reader said: I’m sure Barry holds you in highest esteem, Moses. At least I read his nonsense Sometimes I think: Barry Kanyon = Pattaya Mail... 1:1. Editor, writer, secretary, courier and cleaner. "5 in 1". Quote
reader Posted June 22 Author Posted June 22 Yes, but with good pension from His Majesty’s Service. Quote
Moses Posted June 22 Posted June 22 6 minutes ago, reader said: Yes, but with good pension from His Majesty’s Service. This explains a lot. It is difficult to expect much from a person who receives nothing for his work. And obviously you shouldn't expect quality. If you're not Barry, but you know him, tell him about сhatGPT. Quote
reader Posted June 22 Author Posted June 22 41 minutes ago, Moses said: This explains a lot. It is difficult to expect much from a person who receives nothing for his work. And obviously you shouldn't expect quality. If you're not Barry, but you know him, tell him about сhatGPT. I’m sure you’re in a good position to judge, having the experience of witnessing the great quality of Prince Putin.🤣 floridarob 1 Quote
Moses Posted June 22 Posted June 22 16 minutes ago, reader said: I’m sure you’re in a good position to judge I'm sure too. If you want to joke about Putin, correct is "Tsar" - at least it has sense Quote
Keithambrose Posted June 22 Posted June 22 4 hours ago, Moses said: I'm sure too. If you want to joke about Putin, correct is "Tsar" - at least it has sense Putin is not a joke, he is evil. Ruthrieston, vinapu and t0oL1 3 Quote
Moses Posted June 22 Posted June 22 34 minutes ago, Keithambrose said: Putin is not a joke, he is evil. Risking to derail visa thread, but can't not say: why whole world trades with evil then? Even these countries which nonstop talking and brawling about "sanctions" more than 2 years already? Why each year 2-3 additional countries make visa-free entrance for Russian, why Thailand just few days ago participated in BRICS session in Russia and send letter of joining to BRICS? Quote
floridarob Posted June 22 Posted June 22 47 minutes ago, Moses said: Why each year 2-3 additional countries make visa-free entrance for Russian Money...it's always about money. Straight guys sucking cock, money...killing people, money....getting sex, money. Allowing people that will spend money into your country, money. Allowing poor people into your country with no money, NO WAY! vinapu, reader and khaolakguy 3 Quote
Moses Posted June 22 Posted June 22 2 hours ago, floridarob said: Allowing poor people into your country with no money, NO WAY! Read above: Thais have visa free enter to Russia. Can US, UK, Germany or any other country from EU tell the same? Since 1992 Russia has absolutely clear and civilized practice: if country gave visa free enter to Russians, then Russia gives visa free enter to this country. Can you tell the same about your country? "NO WAY!" How many "money country" you see in this list? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Russia Pay attention: even now Ukrainians are free to enter to Russia via some check points. My Thai friends already visited me few times, I just send them letter what I will host them, because on the border tourist should show reservation of hotel, so they show this letter instead. Quote Thailand passport holders can enter Russia visa free for up to 30 days. For longer periods of stay they have to apply for appropriate visas at the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Bangkok. https://thailand.mid.ru/en/consular-services/visa_information/ Quote
floridarob Posted June 22 Posted June 22 3 hours ago, Moses said: Can you tell the same about your country? "NO WAY!" Because people want to STAY in USA, Australia and other first world countries...Can you tell the same about your country? "NO WAY!" 😝😝😝 You've heard the expression "Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there" .... 🙄 unicorn, reader and t0oL1 3 Quote
Members unicorn Posted June 23 Members Posted June 23 9 hours ago, Moses said: Read above: Thais have visa free enter to Russia. Can US, UK, Germany or any other country from EU tell the same? Since 1992 Russia has absolutely clear and civilized practice: if country gave visa free enter to Russians, then Russia gives visa free enter to this country. Can you tell the same about your country? "NO WAY!" How many "money country" you see in this list? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Russia Pay attention: even now Ukrainians are free to enter to Russia via some check points. My Thai friends already visited me few times, I just send them letter what I will host them, because on the border tourist should show reservation of hotel, so they show this letter instead. https://thailand.mid.ru/en/consular-services/visa_information/ Factually false. This is the current situation: Visa requirements for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports Russia Unlimited Visa not required Visa on arrival eVisa Visa available both on arrival or online Visa-free for group tourists Visa required Admission generally refused Quote
Moses Posted June 23 Posted June 23 10 hours ago, floridarob said: Because people want to STAY in USA, Australia and other first world countries...Can you tell the same about your country? "NO WAY!" 😝😝😝 You've heard the expression "Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there" .... 🙄 You are victim of Western propaganda. Welcome to real world: Russia is third in World and next after US country by incoming migration. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_sovereign_states_by_net_migration_rate&diffonly=true And to talk about Australia is funny: whole continent has population just a little bit more than population of Moscow and 10 mln less than living in Jakarta (Indonesia). Quote
Moses Posted June 23 Posted June 23 3 hours ago, unicorn said: Factually false. This is the current situation: Your pic is wrong. Ukrainians still able to visit Russia without visa. t0oL1 and floridarob 2 Quote
floridarob Posted June 23 Posted June 23 10 hours ago, Moses said: You are victim of Western propaganda. And your rose colored government issued lenses see things very differently, as a good comrade should or is that must?? vinapu 1 Quote
Moses Posted June 23 Posted June 23 16 minutes ago, floridarob said: And your rose colored government issued lenses see things very differently If you see the same table, as I see, then there are only 2 options: we are booth wearing the same lenses, we are booth without lenses. Quote
floridarob Posted June 23 Posted June 23 2 minutes ago, Moses said: If you see the same table, as I see, then there are only 2 options: we are booth wearing the same lenses, we are booth without lenses. There's looking at tables and then discerning what they say/mean.... I'll leave that to experts that do this as a job. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states-2024 Worldwide, the United States is home to more international migrants than any other country, and more than the next four countries—Germany, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United Kingdom—combined, according to the most recent UN Population Division data, from mid-2020. While the U.S. population represents about 5 percent of the total world population, close to 20 percent of all global migrants reside in the United States. reader 1 Quote
khaolakguy Posted June 23 Posted June 23 13 hours ago, Moses said: You are victim of Western propaganda. Welcome to real world: Russia is third in World and next after US country by incoming migration. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_sovereign_states_by_net_migration_rate&diffonly=true And to talk about Australia is funny: whole continent has population just a little bit more than population of Moscow and 10 mln less than living in Jakarta (Indonesia). On the other hand if you trust Wikipedia and look at the total number of net immigrants per 1,000 of the population Russia comes in at Number 71! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_net_migration_rate reader 1 Quote
khaolakguy Posted June 23 Posted June 23 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_net_migration_rate Quote
Moses Posted June 23 Posted June 23 24 minutes ago, khaolakguy said: On the other hand if you trust Wikipedia and look at the total number of net immigrants per 1,000 of the population Russia comes in at Number 71! It is not "another hand" it is another year... by the way: number for 2023 in WIKI is wrong - in 2023 should be negative number... 2022 is also out of trend - Ukrainian migration... But you may see trend in which Russia always was more attractive for migration than most countries of EU here: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM?end=2022&locations=RU-GB-DE-AU-FR&start=1991 Quote
khaolakguy Posted June 23 Posted June 23 5 minutes ago, Moses said: It is not "another hand" it is another year... This is the same page. Both are titled: Country or territory Total net migration (2022)[2] Net migration per 1,000 people (2023)[3] So the net migration figure that I quoted(with Russia at 71) is the latest figure(2023), and as a proportionate analysis probably more relevant to these posts. Quote
Moses Posted June 23 Posted June 23 1 minute ago, khaolakguy said: as a proportionate analysis probably more relevant to these posts So you have above proportional migration for past 30+ years from World Bank. Russia is more attractive than most EU countries. Quote
vinapu Posted June 24 Posted June 24 3 hours ago, Moses said: Russia is more attractive than most EU countries. too bad Russian oligarchs and top level politicians don't know it and are still sending their families to EU countries plus UK and USA and buying real estate there right , left and center. Ruthrieston, reader, khaolakguy and 1 other 4 Quote
