Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing saying "Oh, that Old Chestnut", the Tourist Tax; we have been talking about this a couple of years. This whole Tourist Tax almost reminds me of the "Travel Bubbles" I was talking about during COVID. We made videos about it; they would talk about it and then nothing would happen. With regard to this Tourist Tax, I think even talking about it is counterproductive on the part of Officials because I think it really kind of rankles possible tourists. People hear about it and they are like, "Really? It's not enough that we travel here, you have got to hit us for a little more money?" 

Again, I made another video contemporaneously with this one where I was talking about this narrative shift to this notion of "overtourism" and how I think that is very nonsensical but I am kind of wondering if this whole overtourism buzzword is being utilized to perhaps try to push this whole Tourist Tax kind of thing. That being said I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that's pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Officials fear Pattaya and Phuket are overcrowded hotspots. As I said, I have discussed this article in a previous video. I urge those who are watching this, go check out this article in detail but I am going to quote a quick excerpt here. Quoting directly: "In recent months, Thai tourist numbers have surged partly as a result of the abandonment of holiday visas for huge markets such as Russia, China and India. In response, Thai Tourist Authorities are trying to promote second-tier provinces to take the pressure off traditional resorts. The Tourism Council of Thailand meanwhile is asking the Government to collect the 300 Baht entry fee to fund development and improvements but many travel gurus doubt whether such policies will actually deter overtourism." 

Again this narrative, this notion of overtourism; Thailand had no tourism or virtually no - I made the video, it was literally decimated. The tourism sector was literally decimated. I think we made that video in either January of 20, 21 or 22 about the fact that the tourism sector was literally decimated. So this whole notion of "overtourism" in the present context to my mind is just ridiculous. That said, I ask the question: "Is it being used to sort of push the notion of this Tourist Tax?" And meanwhile, what is this Tourist Tax going to be used for? Every time they talk about it, there is some amorphous notion of a fund that will be used for foreigners who get injured here, are they going to use it for infrastructure? Explain to me, not to get too deep into something, but it's one of these vague terms like 'climate change' where anything could be the solution. I mean what is the solution to 'overtourism'? I mean rescind the policies regarding the relaxation of the Visa exemptions if you don't want people to come in but I thought the point was we do want people coming in so they spend money, so the tourism sector thrives. Again if this is just sort of a cynical ploy to get another 300 Baht off of every tourist, I mean just do it already but quit using these weird terms like 'overtourism' and stuff. It's just silly.