@Stephen *******
if you get more right as an tourist it is, like i say i have thai family's work in immigration in Thailand, and they see it as a longer tourist visa nothing else.. but many falang thing they have more right.. 100% same rules for you and a tourist, even a tourist can make a business account, if they present them self as investors.. you cannot vote you cannot buy land own 100% your own company, only if you invest 40 mill. just tell me one thing you can more then a tourist, Elite VIsa 5 years is also a tourist visa, just longer... here you get bank account, 5 years to stay in thailand,