Give the Northeast new opportunities
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Udon Thani is the natural corridor north to Laos and China. Why anyone would plan a high-speed rail line to Chiang Mai is beyond me. Only ignorance allows such plans.
The Northeast also has a very large population of foreigners on long-term visas, all of whom invest heavily in the local area. One source says 10 per cent of the local population is foreign-born and their children make up another 5-10 per cent.
A retirement visa nominally requires an income of Bt65,000 a month, and all that money is spent here. Six million foreign residents translates into annual income of Bt3 trillion to Bt5 trillion, as compared to total tourist income of Bt300 billion to Bt400 billion.
Yes, long-term-visa holders bring in 10 times as much as the tourists, but is there a ministry for immigrant foreigners? No. Is there an easy path for citizenship? No.
Thailand bends over backwards for tourists, but does nothing to assist resident foreigners.
Mike W
Udon thani
