Random Observations of a Tourist 2025

[Gaybutton]

This is deviating from the topic and getting too involved with the Thai language. I suggest starting a separate topic for that and letting this topic get back to tourist observations.

[Jun]

I'd have thought any of the random observations could be discussed until the next one pops up.

There seems to be a trend to construct 7-Elevens with extensive parking. There are several in Pattaya. Why do people need to drive everywhere in an urban area?

Also, the very large plot that was creared of vegetation on the hill out of Pattaya has now been planted with neat rows of something. I suspect a tax avoidance scheme here. A few years ago, the Thai government introduced a tax for development land that was not utilised. I suspect they intend to avoid that tax by using it for agriculture.
There's an even more obvious example just off Pattaya second road, where a demolition site has a grid of holes smashed in the concrete and a similar crop has been planted.
I'd be interested if anyone could confirm or disprove that.

[Gaybutton]

I'd be interested if anyone could confirm or disprove that.

Google can:
__________

Land in Thailand used for agriculture is not completely exempt from taxes; rather, it is subject to a tax with an exemption on the first THB 50 million of appraised value for individual owners. For values exceeding this amount, a low tax rate applies.

Agricultural Land Tax Details

* Exemption Threshold: Individual owners are exempt from the Land and Building Tax if the total appraised value of their agricultural land and buildings does not exceed THB 50 million.
* Tax Rates: If the value exceeds the exemption threshold, the land is taxed at progressive, low rates, starting from 0.01%. The maximum potential rate for agricultural use is capped at 0.15% of the appraised value.
* Purpose Verification: To qualify for the agricultural tax rate, the land must be used for genuine agricultural purposes, such as farming, crop cultivation, or livestock farming. Local authorities can verify the use (e.g., a minimum number of plants per rai may be required).

This system encourages efficient land use and discourages land hoarding by taxing vacant or unused land at a much higher rate (up to 1.2%, increasing over time).

https://www.google.com/search?q=does+la ... eMPhtiIqAg

[Dodger]

GB...the information you posted regarding land taxes is spot on.

We purchased a small parcel (4 rai) of farm land a while back just as an investment due to its proximity to the NASCAR Race Track and Chiang Stadiums in Buriram. We currently lease it to a local farmer who uses it for rice farming, although, due to it's location, this may change in the future. The property is now worth four times what we paid for it.

We never pay any tax, although someone from the local land office visits the property once per year to verify it's being used for agriculture.

[Jun]

So in Jomtien, the tax system has resulted in them clearing a patch of woodland and planting a crop, with the widest spacing they can get away with. In the dry season. This morning, it was possible to see the swirls of dust blowing off the site.

[Gaybutton]

So in Jomtien, the tax system has resulted in them clearing a patch of woodland and planting a crop

Exactly. And if the right offer comes along to buy the land for development, you can count on harvest season beginning that very day . . .

Who know? Maybe that Foodland that was supposed to be build on Thepprasit, but never was, will end up on that patch of land.

[Dodger]

So in Jomtien, the tax system has resulted in them clearing a patch of woodland and planting a crop, with the widest spacing they can get away with.

What you're looking at could be rubber trees which have to be planted 4.5m apart because of their large root systems.

Rubber is extremely profitable and I've seen Thais try-their-hands at growing this on smaller parcels of land, but in-all-honesty, they need +100 Rai because of the spacing requirements to make some real money.

Thais either grow something on a field or they don't. If they plant a crop to primarily avoid paying taxes, they still do their best to make their crop profitable. Rarely does a Thai waste land. Land is expensive - labor is cheap.

[Jun]

Some rows are spaced far more widely than others. So it doesn't look like the most professional farming operation.

[Jun]

Well, New Year is over and Pattaya quietens down, which is welcome.
Visitors arrived with all kinds of transport. There were a few examples where people were apparently camping in the back of pick ups, including one bright red Songthaew.
Simultaneously, at the point of maximum demand, quite a few local Songthaew drivers had knocked off to join in celebrations. I estimated the number of Songthaew was 30%~50% down on New Year's Day, resulting in some seriously overcrowded vehicles.

And more recently, I noticed a petite young "lady" sat opposite on a Songthaew had more leg hair than any of the male farang on the same vehicle. Quite a rare sight, as most ensure the grooming is coherent.

[Jun]

Earlier in the week, I was walking through Sunee Plaza towards Tuk Com.

They were building a full height wall around the former Wonderbar (??) premises, across from Forest House.
This has a verandah, with concrete columns and a tiled floor. The objective appeared to be to convert that verandah area to indoor space.

The construction was very shoddy. The wall was built directly on the tiles, without the use of a spirit level and at the corner, the blocks were not properly overlapped.

By Thursday, this wall had already been removed. So it lasted a maximum of 2-3 days.