The estimated value of Thailand's grey market is 8 trillion baht, accounting for 40% of the GDP! A recent major crackdown on the grey market might be on the horizon again...
This means that the once "casual Thailand" is now entering a phase of "standardized" rectification.
Today, the term "grey market" in Thailand generally refers to all informal industries and their illegal incomes.
Although it's said "where the water is too clear, there are no fish," this "liberal and relaxed" land now declares to reclaim everything.
The grey market is rampant! The total value of Thailand's grey market actually accounts for as much as 40% of the GDP!
The Thai government hopes to remove the "Myanmar" attribute, increasingly resembling "Singapore".
According to Thai media, the president of the Thai Chamber of Commerce University and the director of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting revealed that the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council's study on informal industries (also known as the grey sector) found that Thailand's GDP totals 19-20 trillion baht, with the grey sector amounting to 8 trillion baht, representing 40% of Thailand's GDP.
He stated that the informal sector is mainly divided into illegal online gambling and smuggling industries. Previous data from a gambling issue research center showed that the gambling industry accounts for 10% of Thailand's GDP, with a total value of 2 trillion baht; the illegal smuggling industry also accounts for 10%, with a total value of 2 trillion baht; and the prostitution industry accounts for 10%, with a total value of 2 trillion baht.
However, due to the difficulty in data collection, the university has not yet obtained precise statistics, but it is evident that the online gambling industry is growing significantly, with most registrations under foreign domains.
The number of illegal gambling cases seized by relevant government departments is also gradually increasing, expected to maintain a double-digit growth rate.
Furthermore, he further stated that regarding Chinese grey market activities, the Thai National Police are currently following up with investigations, and news about the Chinese grey market is gradually increasing, with both Chinese and Thai authorities looking for solutions together.
According to data from the Department of Business Development of the Thai Ministry of Commerce, the Special Case Division, in collaboration with the Department of Business Development and related departments, conducted investigations on agency businesses in tourist cities such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, and conducted in-depth investigations on businesses engaged in tourism, catering, car rental, hotels, resorts, and real estate, eventually identifying 419 suspected agency businesses, of which 313 applied to submit additional documents for verification, with 59 of them located in the Phuket area.
In addition, the Department of Business Development will also conduct on-site investigations with related departments, investigating illegal businesses, including equity structure, industry type, and sources of investment funds.
If found in violation of Article 36 of the Foreign Business Act, penalties include imprisonment of up to 3 years and fines ranging from 300,000 to 1 million baht; for ongoing violations, daily fines of 10,000 to 50,000 baht will be imposed.
Previously, Thailand's numerous "laissez-faire" policies led to countless "tightenings," often criticized as "fattening before slaughter." Even Thailand's "turn a blind eye" "money-making loopholes" attract countless "fringe strugglers" every year.
Making money in Thailand comes from its "easy negotiations."
They say, "stop at the right point," not to delve too deep, not to take things seriously, not to be strict, that's what makes Thailand most charming, and these places are filled with the smooth sensation of "backdoor dealings," "under-the-table money," and "finding special connections."
The same actions in other countries might result in "several years in prison" or being "stung like a wasp," so only in Thailand can such "leniency" exist...
The slow-paced, casual, and fate-accepting Thailand, "makes people yearn."
"Drunk driving?! Thai police uncle, I have 3000 baht, do you want it, if not enough I'll go get more for you!"
"Speeding?! Thai police uncle, I have no money, just like last time, fine me 50 push-ups, 50 frog jumps?"
When foreigners commit crimes in Thailand, after 2-3 years, the public memory fades, and with a bribe and connections, what was "public crime" becomes "personal dispute."
Foreigners "entering Bangkok's red-light district," one red envelope here, a gift there, a meal to the south, a talk with the "local cobra" to the north about how to split the earned money "twenty-eighty," thus, this "prohibited" activity is uniformly opened to the world.
By the same token, in Thailand, many things that foreigners can't do, as long as "the interest is right," anyone can do them, accumulating over time, and thus, the GDP has been made into "40% grey market."
And these are just the "tip of the iceberg" that has been discovered. The invisible ones, those with means to hide, are far more numerous.
So, why has Thailand allowed this situation to exist for so long?
Of course, because "grey income" is several hundred times more than "legal income."
There's a saying in Thailand that hits right at the "essence of the existence of the grey market," this saying is — "ตกลงกันเอง" (negotiate it yourself).
A tour guide introduced a "non-metered" taxi driver to a foreign tourist, then told him: "ตกลงกันเอง" (negotiate it yourself), meaning that later, the naive foreign tourist, instead of the metered fare of 120 baht, might have to pay 500 baht or even more... If the tourist refuses to negotiate, then he might find no cars in remote places... and if the tourist needs a car, he can only "ตกลงกันเอง" (negotiate it yourself), without any legal fare standards.
How to explain this phrase?
This is the disgusting part of "ตกลงกันเอง" (negotiate it yourself). Strictly speaking, these "price discriminations" are part of the informal, illegal fees of the "grey market," those non-metered Thai drivers are actually part of the "grey market."
In other industries, locals have one price, foreigners another, all triggered by "ตกลงกันเอง" (negotiate it yourself) leading to "price discrimination" — the original standard fee of 200 baht, Thai businesses refuse, playing with the highest price you can afford, possibly 20,000, or even 200,000.
What they want is to dig out the "maximum benefit," not to follow a "unified standard."
The Thai amulet industry for foreigners also operates on the principle of "ตกลงกันเอง" (negotiate it yourself).
The same principle, "ตกลงกันเอง" (negotiate it yourself) can also be applied to all matters in Thailand, as long as the conditions of the other party are met, "all roads lead to Rome through the back door."
To sum it up in one sentence: as long as you add money, enough money, any "impropriety" can be "negotiated," standards can be lax, back doors can always be open.
And previously, the biggest mistake in Thailand's crackdown on the "grey market" was letting foreigners "take full blame," bearing all responsibilities, that is, although it was a negotiation between both parties, Thailand only blamed foreigners as the sole source of the problem.
During that time, the "Chinese group" was viewed with an alternative perspective.
Do not believe that this matter will still carry a "target," nor believe that this matter will develop into a "targeted nationwide crackdown."
As of today, under the administration of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Without rules, there is no square circle.
Thus, the current momentum to restart the crackdown on the grey market in Thailand is more about enhancing safety levels, protecting tourists, and expanding the scope of surveillance deployment.
The habitually "ตกลงกันเอง" (negotiate it yourself) Thailand, it's time to shift from this "extreme casualness" to a "clearly standardized" order.
One tourist pays 300, another 800, the next one 10,000, this complaint rate will never disappear, and the so-called "grey market soil" will also become exceptionally fertile due to these "ambiguous" practices.
The kind Thailand, the fierce Thailand, any foreigner who has been in Thailand for a long time can experience this kind of "shocking and startling" dual nature.
It is essential for Thailand not to confuse "rigidity and flexibility," the fierce look of Vajrapani and the compassionate heart of a Bodhisattva should be categorized separately. To the groups that should receive gentleness, send a smile, and for actions that compromise safety, "show them the door."
But this integrity surpasses countless phrases of "tourist safety propaganda."
"Easy to negotiate" does not mean "easy to bully."
