Aiming To Retire In Thailand? Consider These Disadvantages First

The Current Thai Political Instability

I would advise you to reflect on how your strategy to retire to Thailand may be shaped by the ongoing political and economic conflict in Thailand .

From 2008, we have seen escalating political trouble in Thailand, the long-term political consequences are until now not known. The emergency, and principally the protest at Bangok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, caused intense international press coverage on Thailand, with countless high-profile reports ignoring Thai traddional about public debate of the role of the monarchy in the emergency and even comment on the King's successor.

The escalating political and economic trouble in Thailand are funded and planned from a distance by Thaksin Shinawatra, a former police officer who created a telecommunications company in advance switching to politics and being elected prime minister in 2001. Thaksin diverted government money to the farmers in the far-flung districts of Thailand, buying their affection. But he was also widely seen as authoritarian and the other side accused him of corruption. Principally, he was accused of republican tendencies in a country that worpships King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been on the throne from1946, much longer than than Britain's Queen. The king is well-liked and honored. Nevertheless there are worries about what transpires when he has departed.

You might not have expected that that political termoil could impinge on the character of your retirement ideas in Thailand. Nevertheless a study of some recent uprisings in Thailand and around the planet ought to persuade you that the political world is in an extremely frail state and that the state of affairs can promptly depart from the established order.

The events I'm alluding to obviously are the recent (February 2011) events in the Middle East including Egypt, Bahrain and Libya. Thailand is not safe from trouble as was witnessed all through the occupation by the People's Alliance for Democracy at Bangok's new Airport that closed the airport in November 2008 and the street fights in Bangkok last April (2010). These second disturbances did not have an effect on the government in Thailand nor did they influence the ability of retirees to stay in the Kingdom.

But come the death of the revered King Bhumibol coupled with the re-emergence of exiled Thaksin Shinawatra from his exile and Thailand could conceivably be heading towards an alarmingly dodgy political period when laws governing foreign retirees may perhaps change drastically.

For instance consider the existing retirement visa laws for a moment. One major requirement is that the prospective retiree must have a bank account holding 800,000 Baht or 80,000 Baht a month income. A radical government could well double those figures and can you image the disatrous effect that would have on a would-be retiree then if he is just about satisfying the current laws?

Those farangs who are pondering retiring in Thailand need to take the present political state of affairs into account.

The Hurdle Of Being Understood In Thailand

If you are planning to retire to Thailand you really need to be primed to become an integral part of the Thai society. That means it will be obligatory to study Thai and that is something notoriously tough to achieve. I know that from my own experience as I have been trying to learn the Thai language for greater than 30 years and I still find it difficult to speak with the Thais and to get the Thais to comprehend what I am attempting to say.

You Cannot Get Free Hospital Treatment In Thailand

Hospital care in Thailand is of decent quality and reasonably priced in comparison with the West. In fact Thailand has become famous as a world center of medical excellence and is the destination of choice selected by masses of people a year. Remember that medical treatment in Thailand is not free. In case you are european you in all probability receive medical care free of charge, but you will not have that service while you retire to Thailand. In case you fall dangerously sick you may have no choice but to revisit your country for hospital treatment and will have to be able to pay for for your air tickets. Moreover preparinging for this possibility may demand that you keep your own property in your native country so that you have a house to live as you restore your health.