Only rich digital nomads welcome - Countries are experimenting with selective entry policies for tourists

A good part of the article is just speculation but it looks like the music has actually stopped.

Bali considers banning backpackers (people who stay on visa extensions, without investing and starting a local business), Thailand seems to be moving in that direction too, a bunch of other countries is requesting proof of yearly income over 80.000 USD to issue visa.

Here's the archived link from euronews(.)com - https://archive.is/eVxW9

These countries receive more backpackers than digital nomads. They'll be doing more harm to their economy. There is a reason very few digital nomads open a local business. The purchasing power in these countries is not that great, that is why digital nomads stick to online businesses. These countries in fact should be thankful that these people are spending money in their country while earning from elsewhere.

NirvanaWolf said:

There is a reason very few digital nomads open a local business. The purchasing power in these countries is not that great, that is why digital nomads stick to online businesses. These countries in fact should be thankful that these people are spending money in their country while earning from elsewhere.

Click to expand...

IMO the govt is just trying to get more tax money. If every foreigner is forced to provide their income statements and then set up a local business, the govt will get more tax revenue.

The mom and pop businesses who have been until now profiting from backpackers will suffer but the govt will get more money.

Are they fed up of penniless entitled backpackers and traveler's living in paradise but still fighting over beer prices down to the rupiah?

K-One said:

Are they fed up of penniless entitled backpackers and traveler's living in paradise but still fighting over beer prices down to the rupiah?

Click to expand...

Come on why take the rage bait

You can't just force them to build businesses that aren't viable
As overall trade plummets, govt will ease

Local business doesn't mean that it is an offline business, it just means that it is registered locally.

This is only a ploy to extort unnecessary tax from tourist and nomads, it can only go south in the long term.

ExperimentalSEO said:

Local business doesn't mean that it is an offline business, it just means that it is registered locally.

Click to expand...

This makes more sense.

Who wants backpackers? They rarely spend any money. No offense to them, but it is the truth. They are living on $4-5 per day. They are more likely to bring trouble.

These countries should do the same thing as Estonia did. Offer them an E-residence and visa. Let them start a company and tax them 20% flat. Countries like Thailand or Indonesia could profit a lot from that. So many people would do that. But did anyone try to incorporate a company in Thailand for example? As a foreigner, it's difficult as fuck and they require so many things, which often don't make any sense or are dangerous/not smart.

Right now I know so many guys "living and working" in Thailand without paying any taxes there. Government loses so much money on it, because they are not flexible at all. And these guys I know are not scammers or criminals, they just don't have an option to do it correctly without getting scammed by themselves.

You know how this will play out. One of those countries will start doing it at some point and then the rest of them will just copy this model.

sci0n said:

A good part of the article is just speculation but it looks like the music has actually stopped.

Bali considers banning backpackers (people who stay on visa extensions, without investing and starting a local business), Thailand seems to be moving in that direction too, a bunch of other countries is requesting proof of yearly income over 80.000 USD to issue visa.

Here's the archived link from euronews(.)com - https://archive.is/eVxW9

Click to expand...

Who will go to south east asia if they are making 80k, a very few people, if not nobody. The whole point to go to south east asia is to lower down expanses.

nakamura said:

These countries should do the same thing as Estonia did. Offer them an E-residence and visa. Let them start a company and tax them 20% flat. Countries like Thailand or Indonesia could profit a lot from that. So many people would do that.

Click to expand...

Yeah except I don't think the Estonia model would be successful in SEA.

I have one company in Estonia and a lot of people I know have one too. Everyone did that because yes it's super easy to do and the tax laws are straightforward, but at the same time you gain an entity in the European Union, bank accounts in EU and USD, VAT number and so on. It has a lot of network advantages because it's in the EU.

What do you gain from having a business registered in SEA? For vast majority of people nothing, just a tax liability.

The announcements of the imigration of bali we all know, in 2 days when thousands of people will be indignant they will return on this announcement X)