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What are the new prices for the Elite visa in Thailand and how do they compare to previous costs?

Elite VisaThai Visa PricesVisa ExtensionsImmigration NewsExpat CommunityNon-O VisaLTR Visa
Aug 6, 2023
a year ago
Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
For those of you have or considering getting an Elite visa you may want to know that prices are going up substantially. if you have an existing Elite visa and want to extend at existing prices you have until 15 August
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the recent significant price increases for Thailand's Elite visa, urging current holders to extend their visas before August 15 to retain existing pricing. Commenters share their views on this change, expressing concerns about the rising costs and the perceived lack of respect for expatriates. Discussions also touch on the Elite visa's impact on the Thai economy, comparisons to other visa options like retirement visas, and speculation about immigration policy changes, particularly regarding the LTR visa.
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David *********
Look into LTR visa!
a year ago
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Kay ***********
a year ago
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Kay ***********
a year ago
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Kay ***********
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Huy ******
@René **************
a year ago
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Jack *********
Why do you reckon
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jack ********
 they want to push people to LTR
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Geoff ********
a year ago
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Paul *********
High season half a year. Half a year the Thais who work in the tourist towns sit around begging for money with little or no money. not a smart move and many Westerners looking at other countries now, me included.
a year ago
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Alistair **********
@Paul ********
 21k elite visa holders, they're not holding up Thailand's economy.
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Alistair *********
 collectively Westerners on say
*****
baht/month pensions must add up to a lot of money for the Thai economy?
a year ago
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Alistair **********
@Paul ********
 so the elite visa is estimated to contribute about 100mil USD to the thai economy per year. So about 0.
*****
%. 35% of elite visa holders are Chinese
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Alistair *********
 sorry I've got my wires crossed. I was referring to the supposed raising level of the retirement visa
a year ago
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Oliver **********
@Paul ********
 what supposed raising level of the retirement visa?
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Oliver *********
 have you not been keeping up with the Thai news?
a year ago
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Oliver **********
@Paul ********
 i don't see any indication anywhere that requirements are changing for retirement visas. Can you please elaborate?
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Oliver *********
 Bangkok post. Feel free to read yourself. I don't really have the time to explain the latest Thai immigration news to you
a year ago
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Mika ********
@Paul ********
 what you just talked about is ( so far ) speculation - it’s certainly not “ latest Thai Immigration news”
a year ago
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Oliver **********
@Mika *******
 even if it was "immigration news", it's far from common knowledge. I found the article here at last, no thanks to this diligent genius Paul fellow. It was an offhand comment from Big Joke:
**************************************************************************
*****
73/driving-out-the-gangs
a year ago
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Mika ********
@Oliver *********
 exactly- it’s total speculation as of now
a year ago
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Oliver **********
Oh I'm definitely lazy, but not as lazy as you! You can't even back up a simple assertion on a group which is devoted towards helping people find answers to visa questions! That's almost surely because you are incorrect. However, I'd be happy for you to prove me wrong. If you're so smart and hard working it should be no problem for you to find a simple link to an article!
a year ago
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Oliver **********
@Paul ********
 you are on a forum where people ask questions about Thai Visa issues. Someone asks you a question about something you've written. Your response is "I don't have time to explain the latest Thai immigration news to you." So either you have no idea what you're talking about, or you're a terrible person. Which is it?
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Oliver *********
 I never offered to explain the Thai immigration system. I just made a comment on someone's post about the current situation. You expect everyone to find out for you because your too lazy to do your own homework? Your either dumb or lazy. Which one is it?
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ********
 oh that’s as trustworthy as CNN
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Jo *********
 OK crack on you know better than me
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Oliver *********
 agree there is not
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ********
 they need to stop the 90 completely useless, stupid,irritating and insane.
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Jo *********
 not much we can do mate. We are guests to this country after all
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
 well that sums it up. good perspective
a year ago
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Alistair **********
@Paul ********
 if they're on a pension, then they can just get a retirement visa. What about the near 40 mil tourists a year?
a year ago
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Jeff *********
@Paul ********
 yes
a year ago
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Jeff *********
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
 imagine if they created there own small city and all lived there. would be weird
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Jeff *********
@Paul ********
 and after reading the Bangkok Post article about the motorcycle gangs and ways to rid Thailand from them would be to increase the cost for the retirement extension substantially, I guess thinking motorcycle gang members don’t have much money lol makes me wonder 🤔
a year ago
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เตเต้ ******
@Jeff ********
 there’s a motorcycle gang problem here? Interesting 🤔
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Jeff ********
 exactly mate. The "criminals" will always have the money whereas retired ex pat's don't but collectively still contribute to the Thai economy
a year ago
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Jeff *********
@Paul ********
 I agree
a year ago
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Jeff *********
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ********
 good point
a year ago
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John *******
@Jo *********
 Yes indeed, but old hands will tell you it’s been made for almost as long as lao kao. 😀 Life goes on with or without.
a year ago
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John *******
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Jae *******
Was considering an Elite visa as an option, but not now, if the extensions are increasing substantially.
a year ago
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Henrik ****
Have the new prices been disclosed?
a year ago
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Ivan ************
@Henrik ***
 not officially but the range quoted has been 900k - 5m.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
 yep
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Bruce ***********
Just greed end of story
a year ago
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Geoff ********
They jumped the prices after covid started, offering a promotion of anadditional 6 months @ 500,000 baht starting price. Then afterwards it was raised to 600,000 baht and reverted back to the normal five year visa term.

If I had to pay this I'd go live in another Asian country because forginers are not respected by the government or rich Thai people, only by the every day Thai. We have saved Thailand from hell by our huge ongoing financial conrubution to the Thai economy. We are NOT respected properly. Backward thinking still prevails.
a year ago
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Mika ********
@Geoff *******
 that’s not what happened - the additional 6 months was given to Existing members because of Covid / subsequent difficulty of traveling in and out of Thailand therefore not being able to utilize our visa’s

It never reverted back to 5 years simply because had never been increased to 5.5 years

You are correct that the price was increased to 600,000 b ( for the TE Easy Access Visa )
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Derek Lode Vietnam has been colonized too many times so they are bitter. fact
a year ago
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Frank **********
Ferm Erace I still don't get it bruh
a year ago
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Frank **********
Ferm Erace who's a sexpat??
a year ago
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Gio *****
@Geoff *******
 you never be respected, always a third zone citizen
a year ago
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Nishant ************
@Geoff *******
 I guess moving to Vietnam might be a better option now as their visa regime is much cheaper than Thailand's visa regime.
a year ago
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Alex *******
@Nishant ***********
 What visa regime in VN are you referring to? It is very difficult to get a long term visa and they only very recently reintroduced 3 months visa
a year ago
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Nishant ************
@Alex ******
 Well, I'm referring to the 3 months e-visa as it's much cheaper than Thailand's 15 days visa on arrival for me with less documentation.
a year ago
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Nishant ************
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Richard *******
@Nishant ***********
 , or Bali, retirement visa approx $600 per year, no 90 day reporting..
a year ago
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Frank **********
@Richard ******
 Indonesia is a mainly Muslim country that has strict laws concerning religion. Some provinces even follow Sharia Law. I think I will stay away from living there, lol.
a year ago
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Kevin **********
@Frank *********
 Bali is Hindi
a year ago
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Frank **********
@Kevin *********
 okay but Indonesia us the largest Muslim nation according to Goggle but there are other religions. I didn't know Bali was different lol.
a year ago
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Kevin **********
@Frank *********
 Well you just learned something. Bali is like 90% Hindu. I'm already respected in our village. I'm married to Chao Pho's youngest daughter
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kevin *********
 yes and it’s quite a different branch of Hindu. You can eat pork. and roast pig is one of the best specialties on the Island
a year ago
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Kevin **********
@Jo *********
 I've taken the ferry from Gillimanook to Banuwongi several times and the difference between the 2 cultures couldn't be more profound
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *********
 Bali is administered differently. lol
a year ago
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Frank **********
@Jo *********
 okay good.
a year ago
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Frank **********
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Brandon ************
@Geoff *******
 they're not interested in foreigners who think their money is the greatest thing Thailand has ever seen and should bend over backwards for it. Thailand would get along just fine without them if they needed to.
a year ago
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Martin ********
@Brandon ***********
 I think Covid proved that isn't the case.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Martin *******
 not at all. When your business relies 75% on alcohol sales and alcohol is banned for months, foreigners don't matter. When most of your customers eat at your restaurant and that becomes illegal for months, foreigners don't matter. Sure there is an impact without foreigners but it's nowhere near the primary impact caused by covid.
a year ago
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Edna *******
@Brandon ***********
 Thais love to drink too.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 This is factually expressed through other countries and non touristic communities. In the Netherlands there was a covid impact study. Businesses closed because they lost customers mainly National not from abroad. However, consider certain businesses were overly reliant on Chinese tourists and they were wiped out. So people form conclusions from this.
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Geoff ********
@Brandon ***********
 your talking rubbish. Have you lived in Thailand during COVID?? HUH. You don't have the facts whatsoever.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Geoff *******
 yes. Sure some businesses that rely only on tourists suffered. But the general business malaise had a lot more to do with the closing of all restaurant dining rooms, closing of all malls, closing of all gyms, etc. Thailand can survive without foreigners, they would adapt. Foreigners thinking they're the only thing keeping the economy is going is laughable and assanine.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I agree, but the subtle point is that there were nearly 30 million chinese tourists in 2019.but still In 2021, Thailand generated around 5.28 billion US dollars in the tourism sector alone. This corresponds to 1.1 percent of its the gross domestic product and approximately 47 percent of all international tourism receipts in Southeast Asia. So yes I agree. But the people who are effected are the poor
a year ago
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Barry *******
@Jo *********
 how can you claim accuracy with these figures? How many local businesses declare their income?
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Barry ******
 your right most people in tourism do not declare their income. These are governmental figures
a year ago
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Barry *******
@Jo *********
 a town like Hua Hin for example. The amount of cash handed over between all bars, restaurants, massage, salons, markets would be a tidy sum!
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Barry ******
 agree and the number of businesses that were destroyed are significant
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
but in the greater context they are accurate
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 yes true
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
sorry for continuing but your comment inspired me. the problem is that Covid decimated the poorest people in Thailand. I saw business people who lived off the tourists take up immigrant work in Sweden picking blueberries. I agree with you the overall impact is minimal. Thailand is a successful export nation. I saw a lot of businesses close. From a humanitarian perspective the impacts were massive
a year ago
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Geoff ********
@Brandon ***********
 they would adapt as a power county. If you have no choice you adapt. Are you not aware of the revenue forginers spend in Thailand.
a year ago
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Barry *******
@Brandon ***********
 Nearly every business in Hua Hin suffered. Bluport shopping mall loft more than have its shop owners and never recovered
a year ago
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Frank **********
@Brandon ***********
 not saying foreigners are the only lifeline for Thailand but they are ripple effects. No tourist, some restaurants close, hair and nail salons, massage parlors, bars, hotels, etc. Why do you think Vietnam is trying to attract more pensioners and tourist. Even a poor pensioner contributes to the local economy spending on food, rent or whatever. Yes Thai people just like the rest of the world can adapt for sure. There were places in the US that have had to close when tourism died. How many restaurants and small store still remain closed because of lack of tourist.
a year ago
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Frank **********
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Frank **********
@Brandon ***********
 not true. Thailand needs tourists, well off pensioners and foreigners to invest in Thailand whether it be a small business or larger. Without these Thailand would struggle as you seen during and after Covid. The amount of tourist is still not up to pre-covid levels but it is slowly improving. I don't think most foreigners are asking for any special treatment just want to be seen as equals and not just cash cows by the government.
a year ago
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Alex *******
@Frank *********
 Thailand needs tourists - yes. Thailand needs low income pensioners - probably not really.
a year ago
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Frank **********
@Alex ******
 they still contribute to the local economy, food, a place to live, maybe new clothes.
a year ago
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Alex *******
@Frank *********
 That is mathematically true, but for the overall economy the impact is rather negligible
a year ago
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Frank **********
@Alex ******
 agreed.
a year ago
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Barry *******
@Frank *********
 well said Frank.

Phuket, Samui, Pattaya and Hua Hin were all dead when there was flight restrictions and little to no tourists.

Thais queuing up to receive food hand outs.

Anyone that thinks Thailand doesn’t need tourists is a clown!
a year ago
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Jae *******
@Barry ******
 But nobody was discussing tourists...
a year ago
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Stéfan ********
@Jae ******
 in the eyes of immigration and ALL Thais, every expat is a tourist.
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stéfan *******
 ok, don’t disagree. But it’s no different in any other country. Even in my home country the liberal Netherlands.
a year ago
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Stéfan ********
@Jo *********
 Ok
a year ago
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Geoff ********
@Jae ******
 I discussing ALL forginers here on tread!
a year ago
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Barry *******
@Jae ******
 read the comment above mine.
a year ago
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Geoff ********
If anyone here thinks that 40 million visitors contributed to the Thai economy by 35 % of income they are WRONG
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Geoff *******
 interesting but i don’t understand completely. not you but me. Can you elaborate
a year ago
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Geoff ********
@Jo *********
 typos corrected
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Geoff *******
 it’s clear and factual. I like it
a year ago
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Geoff ********
@Barry ******
 why don't you not comment anymore you lost the way here.
a year ago
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Barry *******
@Geoff *******
Not at all just bored of the comments from people who don’t know what their talking about.

My wife has a restaurant that suffered badly during covid due to the lack of tourists and expats stranded out the country.
a year ago
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Barry *******
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Geoff *******
 many years ago it was very different
a year ago
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Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Geoff *******
 i meant how foreigners are treated
a year ago
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Jo **********
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