Have you ever been approached by a foreigner in Thailand, who simply asked for money? Well, I do! It's been a while since I was stopped walking on Sukhumvit in Bangkok by a clearly western tourist. If I could give him 100 baht, because he hadn't eaten that day - it was about five o'clock in the afternoon. His money was gone! When I said no, he asked if maybe 20 baht was possible, but I also refused.
t didn't sit well with me at first, because the man could well have run out of money due to unexpected circumstances. In the meantime I have found out that such a person tries to finance his travel and accommodation costs by begging money, so a beggar tourist, which is called a beg packer in English.
Begging tourists in Thailand
Thailand receives quite a few begging tourists – mostly backpackers – visiting each year. Young tourists, who soon run out of their travel money after arrival, are kicked out of the cheap hostel and in fact become homeless. Don't worry, that's how their stay was planned, because now they would simply beg or make some music in the street with a fake guitar, or perform an acrobatic trick.
Negative
You can – like me – think badly about it, but there are also voices who don't think it's a problem, because the begging tourists don't hurt anyone and if you don't want to give them money, you'll pass them by. If some begging tourists are arrested by the police and their story gets into the press, there will also be enough opponents who think that begging tourists should be deported from the country. Nobody, especially tourism in Thailand, benefits from these people, who behave like pariahs.
Positive
Begging tourists do not only occur in Thailand, of course, the surrounding countries also have to deal with it. It is therefore not surprising that a long plea was made for begging tourists on a website. It even goes so far that tips are given on how best to get money from others.
The plea goes something like this:
"Everyone wants to take a long trip to a distant country. You, why not? Traveling is the best way to spend your childhood before you are too old to really enjoy it. The problem with travel is that it costs money. And many of us don't have that money in abundance, because we quit our jobs to travel or maybe we never had a job. But don't let something as insignificant as money get in the way of your dream of seeing more of the world. Do you need money? There's a new way to get it: begging!
The story continues with some tips on how best to beg, you can read if you are interested at this link: thebackslackers.com/
The tips do not mention whether social shopping (i.e. stealing) in a supermarket is a good idea, and the possibility of retrieving food scraps from the garbage cans of restaurants, such as McDonald's, is not mentioned.
Tourism in Thailand
Tourism is an important source of income for Thailand, but begging tourists contribute nothing to it. On the contrary, they want to live, have fun, drink, sleep at someone else's expense. If you do have money and are quite willing to spare for someone else, there are countless ways in Thailand to help poor Thai people in any way possible. Thailand can miss these begging tourists as a toothache and my statement is therefore:
Thailand must deport beggar tourists!
Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Then respond.
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
Read the latest articles here
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Yes, you are better off spending your money on other things, I agree. But leaving the country is going a bit too far for me. Just keep walking. You don't come across them that often, do you? Are they a threat to national security?
If you agree with the statement, we should also deport the many pensioners without health insurance who regularly use Thai health care at the expense of the Thais. And those who do not pay income tax in Thailand, but do benefit from the facilities. And those who use illegal prostitution…..
Dear Tina,
This is super short sighted.
There are people who deliberately do not take out health insurance, like me.
If anything, I'll pay for it myself.
That is called taking a conscious risk with your own direction.
Then check whether someone could pay for serious recordings themselves!
HansG,
I've done volunteer work for old, sick foreigners. They provide millions of baht in debt to the (state) hospitals. You are an exception.
And a few more categories that Thailand needs to deport. People without a residence permit and people who work without a permit. Seems more logical to me than a few begging tourists.
Dear Tina,
about generalizing cq. talking about putting people in boxes! Of course, during your volunteer work you will come into contact more often with people who cause problems than with people who do have their affairs in order. Being able to obtain reasonable health insurance for the elderly in Thailand has often proved to be an impossibility. Inpatient sometimes manages to take out a complete insurance for a reasonable amount? Forget that, especially given all the exclusions. For the record I am fortunately not wrong yet and every time (and there were really few in the past 12 years) I have been able to pay outpatient costs in cash. Obviously having a piggy bank is necessary because if something happens I can meet my obligations. Take care of a family of 5 including myself and I'm fine with that. Even pay income tax. In addition, I know many foreigners who also have no insurance but do not rely on Thai health care without paying for it. Some choose state hospitals because of lower costs, some choose private hospitals. Freedom of choice in my opinion It is silly to point to Thailand, since fraud and misuse of facilities certainly also occur in the Netherlands.
Then you can have a big bank account, a little serious operation costs ten thousand + euros and you go through a whole process of such treatments or if something serious happens to a family member, the costs will increase enormously. Then I hope you have at least 1-2 tons in the bank. Or you have to think 'I pay for minor operations myself and if I get cancer then they just let me die', that is also an option.
example:
“The admission and treatment of a patient with non-small cell lung carcinoma costs an average of 33.143 euros in the Netherlands with a standard deviation of 7392 euros”
https://www.oncologieenpraktijk.nl/nieuws/ziekenhuiskosten-behandeling-longkanker/
Dear RobV,
assume you are responding to my response to Tino? Just for the sake of completeness: the other 4 in my household are Thai and all have (besides the Thb 30 card option that is not used) health insurance that I pay by the way.
Lost a brother to cancer, he didn't live past 32. My ex-wife had surgery for throat cancer. I'm really familiar with this kind of stuff. I will also refrain from commenting on this topic. There is an old proverb that says: A man suffers most from the suffering he fears.
Disagree and also a questionable mindset.
But while we're at it "they want to live, have fun, drink, sleep at someone else's expense". I know entire tribes who want that and to remain Thailand, special holiday resorts have even been set up for it.
What is the democratic solution to get rid of the local “beggars”?
I just leave them alone. I won't care what happens. Deporting or not, it is of little use to answer that. I don't think the Thai government has people working who read Thailandblog to see what some Dutch people think.
oh why not give 100 bath?
that's called helping and then yourself a beer less
I sincerely hope that you will never be in a position to ask for 100 thb yourself
enjoy your 100 thb
Honestly, I'm not familiar with this phenomenon at all. I have never experienced in Thailand that I was approached by a (Western) tourist to give money.
If I am approached by such a person who asks for money for food, I invite him to eat something at the nearest eatery … some of them refuse so it is clearly not for food but for money … but I also sometimes see a grateful look from someone who is really hungry and the conversations afterwards (depends on the nationality) are sometimes quite interesting
If anyone anyone is hungry I will always help him or her, if only to show a little humanity and not reject them directly
Begging tourists are indeed a kind of problem that can damage the image of other foreigners.
Should these people be deported?
My verdict in that statement – let the Thai government find that solution.
Totally agree with writer.
If someone has no money, he should stay at home and certainly bother other people with his nonsense.
I was sitting on the terrace drinking a cup of coffee when a Beg Packer asked for a cigarette. I refused and pointed it out to him at the 7-Eleven just down the road, where I had bought my package for only 60Bth. I got a middle finger and some curses from him.
Just ignore them, as long as they're not pushy I don't mind. And they will still have to return in time because these people will not have a visa (after all, there is an income requirement for which there is control). People who enter visa exempt must also be able to officially show money when they cross the border, if this really becomes a plague, you can filter out some of the real paupers with more control at the border.
Supports me from ThaiVisa in a message from a few months ago that a notorious beg-packer was deported or left Thailand and was then seen in Amsterdam doing the same trick. I don't remember his country of origin.
I choose to ignore (fake) beggars who are not pushy and who are not criminally active, instead of deporting them. If they do go astray, deportation to the country of origin is possible. If you feel sorry for a beggar, give them something to eat or drink. Although in a decent country no one should be condemned to poverty, of course, but that is another discussion.
Source: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15380-Questions-&-Answers-on-Thai-Visa.html
In a decent country, food banks shouldn't really be necessary.
In any case, that statement is entirely in the mind of the junta.
I find the term 'beggar tourists' rather derogatory. There are undoubtedly people among them who have unintentionally and unintentionally gotten into trouble and we all know that you can't count on help from the embassy. Gringo's post assumes that many tourists who beg do so with a preconceived plan and that is very much the question. And so what, if you don't like them then you ignore them anyway, but you can always have a chat with them. Sometimes they have their story written on a piece of cardboard and you can ask any beggar if that is true, but you can assume that they don't enjoy it and need money. But to expel them from the country for that? Ridiculous. And these are only a few exceptional cases, or does Gringo expect a plague (tsunami) of begging tourists in the near future?
I do have some trouble with the beg packers category. They come with a preconceived plan. Actually, in my humble opinion, they should be returned immediately upon arrival. Some countries do that as you see in programs like border control. Nobody is waiting for paupers.
Countries such as Thailand and the Netherlands can (and do?) do that too: you can ask at the border to demonstrate sufficient financial resources, and if this is not demonstrably sufficient, you will not cross the border. Yes, even if you fall into the 'Visa-free' category. Unfortunately there are no 'border control TH' and 'border control NL' on the TV. But it should also be clear that not everyone is checked, with a really good screening (papers, money, destination, etc.) of every foreigner at the border, the queues at the border would become gigantic.
In my view, there is a non-problem being touched upon here. Tourists get a visa for 30, 0 or 60 days. If they run out of money sooner, they can try to beg. I have never encountered one myself in 11 years, unlike Thai and other Asian beggars.
If they stay longer than their visa indicates, they will eventually be arrested automatically, or arrested at the airport, and after a hefty fine will also receive a red stamp in their passport stating that they will no longer be allowed to enter the country for the time being.
So it's all well arranged, in that respect.
Thailand, unlike our poor Netherlands, has guarded borders, with strict immigration officers.
And yet, Mr. Jasper, there are just as many illegal immigrants living in Thailand as in the Netherlands, perhaps even more. How is that possible?
What does your question have to do with begging tourists?
Illegal Asians are generally working in Thailand, for extremely little money and in full view of the authorities, simply because the nation earns a lot from it, and there are few Thais to be found who want to do the heavy work in construction and agriculture. doing.
Begging, non-productive foreign Asians are also dumped across the border in busloads every week, especially if they cannot pay a bribe.
In a country where there is so much poverty, I find begging by people who have money to fly to Thailand inappropriate.
Moreover, it is not at all certain that they have no money.
Maybe they just do it for the “sport”.
I wouldn't mind if they were returned.
In my opinion, that is also part of the “sport”.
Pensioners who benefit from health care at the expense of the Thais will probably not be many.
When I go to the hospital, I just have to pay my bill.
It may not be as high as in the Netherlands, but it is probably higher than that of a Thai.
ruud,I paid for an operation Baht 11000- (eleven thousand) Baht while the Thai son of a friend of my wife paid Baht 22000- for the same operation in the same state hospital. Why? Because I was retired and he works for a good salary. Has nothing to do with nationality. Have had several instances where I paid less than a Thai.
Never happened to ME in almost 10 years, but could be a coincidence.
humour: But in the Netherlands it is. In the guilder days, I was at the Central Station Amsterdam exit.
At the candy and drink machines where you had to pay with quarters.
A tramp asks: 'Sir, do you have 4 quarters for me?'
I think……..he wants to change…….and say YES, and give him 4 quarters. He says… THANK YOU
SIR…..and quietly walks away.
KhunBram
Dear Mr. chaste,
You are talking about farangs taking advantage of the Thai amenities here.
We, my Thai wife and I, were able to pay for a certain medical procedure for a relative of my wife because it was not included in the Thai health insurance package.
We support Thai family because the Thai state pension is 600 baht.
We pay the school fees for a private school for my Thai grandson, because he cannot go to a state school in the area.
I can go on like this for a while.
Can you tell me which Thai facilities I could use?
Yours faithfully,
L:E:Bosch
You are doing a good job, Mr. Bosch, kudos.
But I know from my volunteer work that there are many foreigners living in Thailand with no health insurance and very little money. They are still helped in acute cases, although they cannot contribute a single baht.
As far as I know this also happens in the Netherlands. So where's the problem?
Yes, that happens in the Netherlands, and all over the world, too. It's a problem everywhere. Is that why we can't talk about it when it comes to Thailand?
In all the years that I have been going to Thailand 12 years , I have experienced 2 times with a farang who asked me for money , one in Pattaya Thai and one on the Beach Road which I firmly refused as he was drunk . Besides , there are few of them left on the Beach Road . And another thai on the Second road who also asked me for money, and when I gave him Fruit that I had with me, he refused to look at me angrily and said Kiniauw (curvy) and walked away.
I still have to laugh when I think about it!!!
So far I have not been bothered by tourist bums, 2 years ago I handed over 100 Bht to an old Thai woman who bent over and pushed a cart with plastic waste, with teary eyes she managed to get me 8 wai's. This should be possible.
Greetz
100 baht no less? And I just think that only Dutch people are stingy 😉
And that once every two years
You obviously have no idea of the value of Thai money. Perhaps before responding, an idea to read / live in Thai culture?
@Aroyaroy class action
Perhaps an idea to look up the meaning of the word 'humor' again? Because that was the approach to the apparently noteworthy action of giving 100 baht, 2 years ago.
I agree with the statement, deport begging tourists from the country, if you come to Australia and they see that you have no money to spend, you immediately return, very good attitude
If someone asks me for a cigarette, whether it is a farang or a Thai, I always give 2 cigarettes.
It is also quite funny that a farang = foreigner in Thailand thinks he can judge who can and who cannot stay in Thailand.
It is also sad that apparently a begging tourist can affect the "good" of the farrang. Very far fetched, count the number of tourists in a tourist area who walk with bare torsos, tourists who walk around drinking beer in the street, etc. Enough "tourists" who affect the “good” of the farrang. I don't like tourists who don't understand much about Thailand, but that's why they are tourists.
Never encountered a begging tourist in recent years. Many Thai beggars. I only give this category some money (100 baht) if I am sure that he or she is indeed beggarly. The number of begging tourists may not be so large, not so large that it is really a problem. Moreover, such beggars are probably mainly found in Pattaya and Bangkok. Here in Udon I have never seen one.
I would understand if the Thai government were to evict these begging tourists, as well as all overstay farang and farang without adequate health insurance (unless one can demonstrate sufficient funds to pay for medical care themselves).
So far I agree with Gringo's statement.
It seems to me that it is mainly up to the Thai residents and their government to find something about this.
Whether the image of farang will be damaged by this? You might as well argue that these beggars can lead Thai to the conclusion that there are poor farang in addition to rich (something that I personally would sometimes find pleasant)
In another post on this blog, it was about whether foreigners are allowed to work in Thailand. Yeah I checked too. Farang are allowed to work in Thailand with a permit. However, with the exclusion of a number of professions, including beggar!
The question that arises may then be: does the Thai judiciary enforce sufficiently? There are many other posts on this blog about that.
Beggars can be found in every country, sometimes foreigners and sometimes its own citizens. Sometimes they beg to survive, sometimes it's a chosen way of life and sometimes it's a secret source of income.
So it has little to do with Thailand in my opinion, but more with everyone's (personal) value (pre-)judgments…
Years ago I once met a Dutch beggar between asoke bts and sukhumvit mrt with a nice sign with the text something like “i need money for an airplane ticket”……etc etc. Didn't give him anything by the way………..i have learned……..if you want something you just work for it. Holding hands is so easy.
I ironed my heart once, in the early 1s when you still had to pay tax at the airport of Thb 90. Then 500 NL boys were almost crying that they didn't have that anymore and you couldn't leave without that tax ticket. Then gave them that money and some extra for something to eat and drink. One guy asked for my bank account and promised he would transfer it.
My wife did not believe it, but a week and a half later the money was back in the account.
As so often these days, we want to have everything and not save for it.
Fortunately, I was brought up with the idea of saving before buying or enjoying.
When I wanted to go on holiday in the past, I first stuck asparagus and picked strawberries and beans, then it was double enjoyment of the holiday. I also saved up for the first time to TH, cost me a rib from the body, but a nice memory.
With everything I need (or want) I see if I can afford it, if not then save for 1 or 2 months, but nowadays everything is immediately available on installment and the “old phone” has not yet been paid off or it new model is already here.
On the other hand, I can occasionally give something to a beggar, of which I think he really has nothing.
For example, there is an old man in our neighborhood who is looking for plastic and paper / cardboard to sell with a cart. I don't give this man any money, but I save all plastic and cardboard for him.
if your budget is not sufficient, stay at home!
I think it's putting the shit to the grind.
perhaps some are already speculating on this BEFORE their departure
so no, I don't give to those paupers who want to jump longer than their stick is long!
Nice discussion
Thailand would rather lose the farang beggar than get rich.
Should Thailand deport them to a neighboring country = shift the problem.
Or should Thailand arrange a ticket for them = make the problem bigger.
M.vr.gr.
Many responses show that hardly any expat regularly experiences this 'problem'. In the 12 years that I have lived here I have never seen a foreign beggar. So a non-problem. Let's worry about the real problems of this country. But then many expats are 'not at home', so we shouldn't interfere because we are only guests here.
Expel a begging tourist?
If this tourist cannot keep his head above water by begging, he will soon find himself with his back against the wall when there is no further help available, and his problems become even greater.
The step to crime, such as bottle pulling, robbery, deceit and theft, is then forced to become smaller and smaller.
Moreover, with these types of people, there is a chance that they will leave the Thai community with the costs of treatment in the event of a traffic accident or possibly acute illness.
All risks that can move a country to get rid of these people as quickly as possible.