Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing, we're continuing to discuss, issues associated with nominee provisions in Thailand, Anti-Nominee Law Enforcement activities and also the issue of Zero-Dollar tourism. For those who are not aware, especially if you are newer, if you go back prior to - the zero-dollar thing has got to be at least 7 years old now, maybe even 8, 9, might even be 10 years old - in any event, going back about a decade, maybe a little less because that was before “Big Joke's” time so that goes to before '18 and '17 so yeah, it could be around 2016 or a little even earlier, there were major issues involving what were called Zero-Dollar tours. Basically what was happening here was - it was especially prominent amongst Chinese travel, the Chinese travel sector. My understanding is the way it would happen is for example mainland Chinese for transfer money me to a travel agency, oftentimes in Hong Kong. They would then hold the money and then they would have their own sort of closed circuit of operators and hotels and things here in Thailand where they would make the arrangements these people would travel throughout Thailand; usually that closed circuit involved essentially operations that were directly connected to the travel agent themselves and then they would leave. But basically, very little money actually made its way to Thailand; that was the big issue.

That said, it appears that the current initiative to stop nominees in Thailand or the practice of using nominees to act as fronts to allow foreigners to operate illegally in Thailand, is having an impact on what was once called Zero-Dollar tourism. I thought of making this video, after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Tourism statistics and enhanced corporate oversight reflect Thailand's tourism landscape and benefits in May 2026. Just one just sort of comment, comes to titling articles, sometimes less is more, just, you know. 

That said, quoting further: "Chinese visitors remained the leading group with weekly arrivals averaging between 100,000 and 120,000, while Zero-Dollar tour networks and gray capital operations relying on illicit proxy shops and restaurants slowed down due to anti-nominee measures. Free Independent Travellers or FITs as well as younger demographics with high purchasing power fill the gap. This influx kept total Chinese arrival numbers firmly at the top spot."

Well, look, they went after the Zero-dollar thing some time ago. I imagine one of the upshots of this recent initiative if you will is the fact that yeah, these Zero-Dollar tour systems aren't going to be able to operate in the way that they once were able to. They don't have the ability to put up the fronts they need to to allow for sort of the closed circuit of tourism that allowed them to sort of keep the money unto themselves. Now again, I am not saying that this has totally destroyed it but I think it has probably had and will continue to have a major impact. It is also having a major impact on standard travellers to Thailand - well not tourism, but folks that come in for business purposes etc. - if they are using a structure that is not optimal, that is not in line and in compliance with Thai Law. 

That said, this situation continues to basically shift as we are moving forward. It has been interesting to watch this, so we will certainly be keeping folks updated on this channel as the situation evolves.