After Brexit, Thailand may be a better option for the old age of Britons than Europe. Simon Landy, vice president of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, says Thailand has a lot to offer retirees, such as the low cost of living, hospitable friendly locals and a wonderful climate.
The only drawback he mentions is the distance between the countries. For people who want to spend a few months or a year in Thailand, Thailand is a great option. However, the financial benefits will depend on the arrangements the UK makes with the EU.
George McLeod, manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, mentions the only downside is the weakening of the British pound, which fell to its lowest price in 31 years. But he expects the currency to recover soon.
The government expects Brexit to have no impact on Thailand's trade talks with the EU. Sirinart Chaimun, director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, says negotiations on the Thai-EU FTA (free trade agreement) that began in 2013 have come to a standstill because EU commissioners do not want to talk to Thailand while the junta is in power . In June, the EU said it would suspend signing an agreement on closer economic and political ties and demanded a swift return to democracy.
Sirinart says the United Kingdom now has its hands free to conclude a bilateral trade agreement with Thailand, because it no longer has to wait for approval from the EU commissioners. Nopporn Thepsithar, chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council, also thinks that trade talks with the United Kingdom will become easier in the long term thanks to Brexit.
Last year, Thailand exported US $ 2 billion to the 28 EU countries, 6 percent less than a year earlier. Exports to the United Kingdom had a value of 4 billion dollars.
Source: Bangkok Post
can't think of why Brexit is a better option for UK retirees. is also not indicated. Doesn't really make any sense either. On the contrary. The British get less baht for their English money. Other than that nothing has changed!!
Thailand is a very friendly and hospitable country as long as you have your visa extension completed on time and plenty of money. It will be significantly different, if that changes and you have to turn to the "Assistance". I also still have very big questions about entering Thailand if your health is less, especially mentally. Quite a few older relationships (73+) suddenly appear to be completely missing for some time.
Curious view that Thailand's attractiveness to the older British would now have increased relative to Europe. I do not have the impression that Thailand's climate and hospitality have changed/improved decisively due to Brexit. And with regard to costs: the British pound has fallen even faster against the world currency than against the Euro. We can assume that British people who move to the European mainland have very different considerations than a comparison with Thailand.
Last year, Thailand exported US $ 2 billion to the 28 EU countries, 6 percent less than a year earlier. Exports to the United Kingdom had a value of 4 billion dollars.
Source: Bangkok Post
Isn't there a "mistake" there? If you exported 2 million to the 28 EU countries, to which the UK belonged at the time, how can you declare that you have exported 4 million to the UK? Was that an export in the black?
I feel like the Bangkok Post has been dropping a lot lately and you should always take their numbers with a big grain of salt…. or do they count on Zen Thai there?
“Sirinart says the UK now has its hands free to conclude a bilateral trade deal with Thailand, as it no longer has to wait for approval from EU commissioners.”
When the exit from the EU is actually a fact, the UK will have to conclude bilateral trade agreements with just about the entire world – including the EU – and that will take many years. Whether Thailand is then high on the list of priorities for the UK, I strongly doubt. Such negotiations – I have been professionally involved myself – often take years.
Incidentally, there has never been any question of needing permission from EU Commissioners: the power to negotiate trade agreements has been unanimously transferred to the European Commission by the 28 Member States, with the Member States ultimately deciding on the results of those negotiations.
This is a weird article. Living in Europe as a pensioner has, apart from the fact that English is spoken everywhere, and that you can get "normal" English food everywhere, the advantage that the health costs are covered everywhere from your home country. Whether that will still be the case for the British in the future may have to be negotiated.
In Thailand it is certain that you are not automatically insured, and therefore have to take out very expensive health insurance (the older the more expensive).
With that, a “cheap” country to live in suddenly becomes a rather expensive country. On top of that many English and the Thai summer is much, but then also much too hot.
So I really don't see the benefits!
Moderator: Your response is off topic.
Eventually, I think the phenomenon will die out. The retirement age is being raised in more and more European countries. With me already 67, with my Thai wife, younger is already unknown. Depends on average age expectancy. In Thailand people are still found who have been there since their 60th or even 55 years of age. All in the past in, I estimate, 10 to 15 years. am 62 i have 5 more years to go. I can hardly get down without giving up a lot. Moreover, the funding ratio is increasingly affected and pensions are therefore reduced.
In addition, who will actually want to move at the age of 70? You should do that sooner. In addition, many have to rely on social assistance until their 67th or perhaps even their 70th birthday because they have lost their job and have no chance on the labor market.
Their power has probably already been severely damaged.
Similar developments are taking place all over Europe. This will have more impact than a Brexit in 10 years.
Happy those who can still benefit from the old situation.
I also have an Englishman as a good friend who told me if this continues I have to go home it's that bad.
A week or two ago I read a story of a UK national living in Canada on his UK pension that he was forced to return to the UK as his and most Britons living abroad have their pensions frozen. .
He even had to surrender. He could no longer care for his sick wife or life partner.
So then I wonder if things are going well with the British here in Thailand. They also have that problem….
Here is just one of the articles and it started way back in 2014. The article I read was posted on the online AD two weeks ago. I can't find it that fast, but this is also an example:
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/22/retiring-abroad-state-pension-freeze
Low cost of living? That was one time! I stayed here 40 years ago because it was dirt cheap here then and I was relieved of the rules of the country NL. For example, I went out all night and never had more than 1000 Baht in my pocket. Came home at 0400 in the morning and sometimes still had 200-300 Baht left. Tuk-tuk was Baht 5- and to Lad Prao, where I lived, Baht 10-. Once had a taxi with me all night for Baht 200-. This has changed and it is just expensive here. Fortunately I have a Thai wife who is very good with money, so I still live well.