Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing, there seems to be something of a backlash if you will regarding certain aspects of long-stay visas that are being utilized here in Thailand that allow those who buy condos, or even rent certain types of property in Thailand, to be able to get a one-year renewable visa. That said, the thrust of the analysis on the Visas itself I get into in other videos. 

That said, I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Phuket up in arms on long-stay visa. "Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, said although Phuket has generally been less successful than cities such as Chiang Mai in attracting long-stay travellers, due to its higher cost of living, operators are concerned the new regulations would make it too easy for foreigners to acquire property in Thailand." 

So yeah I have discussed in other videos that this whole nomad phenomenon it's actually happening at a really kind of transitional moment in, really Thai history, in terms of the political turbulence we had last year going into the Parliamentary dissolution in the fourth quarter of last year, leading to the election early this year, and now the win by the Bhumjaithai Thai Party who now apparently have enough to form a coalition and we're looking at seeing that government form no later than sometime in April. All of this is sort of happening sort of background/foreground, but I think it's important to understand that look I'm not making these videos to scare anyone, or to make Thailand look like they're extremely xenophobic. They're not, actually quite the opposite. Thailand is very welcoming of outsiders. That said, there are concerns by locals that they can be overrun - and I have done videos contemporaneously with this one especially talking about how in Mexico for example there was a backlash against nomads - Thailand is on a different cycle, and Thailand sort of does things its own way. It remains to be seen if there is going to be a heavy backlash but again issues such as property, and issues such as foreigners simply being here and living here without any particular reason, especially for a long period of time, and by long we mean years, I'm not talking about months on end, but years, I don't think that the electorate is exactly on board with throwing the gates open if you will. Now, folks who are watching this will say, "Well they're not exactly throwing the gates open", well they're not but politics is perception and as you can see the Head of the Phuket Tourist Association is voicing concern about these things; it's not something to just dismiss out of hand. 

That being said, there are options for foreigners owning property including condo ownership here in Thailand. That being said, these folks that are "up-in-arms" over this whole thing, it more has to do with the nexus between real estate and immigration; I get into that stuff in other videos. That being said, those who would like to either get a visa for Thailand or possibly purchase property and find themselves overwhelmed, it may not be a terrible idea to contact a legal professional, gain some insight guidance into how best to proceed.