Just back from Sizzlers in MV. Place absolutely full to the last chair with Thais. Same with the other restaurants on the same level. Going there I went along Naebkehard, full with cars outside the good restaurants along the road. Cars, that in most cases, would make your Fortuner look like a very poor cousin.
Made me think if we expats not are exaggerating our economic importance in Thai society and our contributions to the same ? I am fully aware of, that the restaurant-patrons are not exactly the ricefarmers from Surin, but I am sure that the spending by the well-of Thais over the weekend beats that of the expat-community many times over. So maybe that should be reflected in our attitude towards the Thais. You still meet quite many expats here, who seriously think, that their being here, are saving the "natives" from starvation, and behaves accordingly.
I am not talking about "follow the umbrella tourists", who ofcourse is a good business for the kingdom, big daily spending over a short period of time.
You often hear, that there are approx 3000 farangs living in HH. Where is that number from, and who is counted ?
thaiorchid

Thaiorchid, can you explain the reason for why you posted this thread under 'Health Issues'. I simply do not get the connection, is there anything I missed?

G.

Thaiorchid I think there is a lot of truth in what your saying, there are a lot of very wealthy thia's around and if Tourism is 6% of Thailand GDP how much do ex pats contribute. I think because we live in an ex pat town where we are here in some numbers, we can be forgiven for thinking its our money that runs this town and to some degree it is but how many towns are there in Thailand and how many have ex pat communities in any great number ? 8 maybe ? Although the money we bring in to buy house's and our day to day living must help these towns and create many job's, in the whole scheme of thing's taking Thailand as a whole I am not sure we really make that much difference and I think we all get a bit up our own backsides at times or am I talking out of mine ? just my thoughts and not based on any facts.

If we look up the average Thai monthly salary at present (assume around 8,000 baht?) and given that they spend it all, compare it to what you spend into the economy each month and you get your 1 farang (you) = how many Thai's ratio. Not science but gives an idea. Pete

HH is one town which gives quite a false impression of Thailand, and really can't be taken as the 'norm'.
It does have its fair share of very poor Thai people, as Sarge well knows. But those people aren't going to benefit by farangs throwing money around, because they are often excluded from working in the types of industry which farangs support financially.
At the other extreme HH has its' regular weekend influx of wealthy Bangkok Thais. Evidence of which you have no doubt seen last night. It's nothing new. HH is in easy weekender travelling distance of Bangkok and has a status which other resorts don't have.
Should we worry about 'saving' a country which has such an obvious class divide? Personally I don't think we can, or should, interfere with a system which Thai people themselves seem comfortable with, (and which Pete can explain in much more detail!)
Even if the estimated 3000 HH expats all got together and threw money directly at what they see as a problem, cultural differences within Thai society would still prevent the poor from moving up the social ladder.
The poor are probably best helped in more practical ways with small offerings of food etc, simple acts of kindness which in fact require much more time and effort than simply pouring cash into the local economy.

I don't know if they're too comfortable Mags. It's reported the red shirts have 5 million signatures now to request a pardon for Thaksin.

I think the lid is going to blow off the class/money divide issue sooner rather than later. Pete

Electronic Petition/signatures are not legal and you can only get a Pardon once you are in Prison!
Not much going to happen on either of those fronts for a very long time.

Judging by most of the comments on HHAD Forum, the farangs round Hua Hin are all for trying to find cheap options to do everything and are hardly likely to even be able to splash out like the Bangkok Influx (yacht Regatta this week end?). Perhaps some Posters are envious of the position of these week end visitors, to be so involved with investigating them, and how they spend their money?

Hua Hin is a unique town, as Mags points out, but it is hardly Thailand, culturally or economically and I think residents should get about a bit and see how the rest of Thailand operates for a change.

Alot of people retire here (Hua Hin), and while their own money has been consumed in the Global Hole of recent months, you will find the rest of the world is still making money! Sad but true.

Now, wait for the replies!

Agree that tourists and expats financial importance to the country is over-estimated by farangs, as said international tourism has been around 6.5% of GDP. Data says that in 2007 international tourists spent on average 4,120 Baht per person/day, a nice amount but only over a short period of time, but that equates to just 100 Baht/day per tourist over the whole year.

The following data from the Tourist Authority of Thailand put things in a bit of perspective and is quite surprising:
Average for years 2006, 2007 and 2008:
- International tourists made up 57% of overall tourism revenue.
- Domestic tourists made up 43% of overall tourism revenue.
During those years Hua Hin had on average approx. 1 million visitors per year (based on accomodation check-ins), of which 60% were Thais and 40% Foreigners.

2009 forecasts are International 45% of overall tourism revenue and Domestic 55%, but there's obvious reasons for this.

Oh and just a final note, outside of Asia the consistantly highest number of visitors per year are from ........... the UK

SJ

Mags

Class status?

Marry a peasant girl from Isaan and move her up a class

Guess that is why many middle class Thais despise farangs with Thai wifes. We are perceived to be breaking the class rules (push the sh1t down)

UK 50 years ago?????

Roll on 2060 then

Hold on a minute Richard, if you check the UN's 'World Status Guide 2008' I think you'll find Yorkies are two classes down from Isaanian's

Actually totally agree with what you say about .... "Guess that is why many middle class Thais despise farangs with Thai wives. We are perceived to be breaking the class rules".

SJ

SJ

now hang on. Most real Tykes have left Yorkshire and the remainder come from Bombay or Calcutta

Anyway I have always thought of myself as being a pleasant peasant despite my public boarding school upbringing

Where's there's muck there's brass. Still looking though:(

Falangs absolutely over-estimate their importance. But they do that in every country where the locals don't have white skin. Half the twats holding down bar stools on Binthabaht think Thailand will collapse without their 10 beers a day for 2 weeks.
HH is a tourist town but many/most of the "tourists" are middle-class Bangkokians with plenty of money. HH may have 3000 falang but are they all in town at the same time?

Interesting subject.
As a future ex pat as opposed to THOSE IN THE KNOW.
I personaly think , and i have heard it before.
We are only guests of Thailand.
You pay your cash and take your chance.
I am not sure which is better.
Get caught on a speed camera and a £60 fine and 3 housepouints on your licence in the UK or the odd 500 baht offence in the LOS.
I do know i woud rather wake up with sunshine in the LOS than., a cold November morning in the UK.
Even if it does rain.
From what i have read a lady is trying to help the soi dogs.
The Pranburi orphange is being helped out by good people.
And a whole load of people are spending there time making passably computers for kids.
All you guys should be proud of yourselves.
Except you ain't going to change the politics.
Free voting in the UK.
Which "Cameron" do you want to vote for?
I accept i am ranting again.
Let's be positive.
You are good people.
hugs
Jon.

Just curious, but what prompts the messianic impulse in westerners?
Why can't we just leave people alone in their own countries? We can't save our own asses from national bankruptcy.

Visit Thailand, live there, fine. But leave "saving" for the bank.

Richard - if you're still looking for that pile of muck theres one on Ferensway at the mo - used to be LAs I'm afraid duck!

Agreed with all who comment about farangs who splash the cash in HH in the vain belief they are helping to support the local economy. Just an excuse IMO for downing the Singhas. Do they think the same way in the Dog and Duck back home?