About
the Elite Card program -
The Standard, October 23-24,
2004
Interesting explanation of the reasoning
behind the Elite Card program and
a scathing critique of what it became:
"Friends of mine liked the
ease of getting through the airport.
But the real thing was the right
to own land.'' Not so. Thai law
still prohibits the ownership of
Thai land by foreigners, so this
promise of the Elite Card was flawed
from the first.
...VIPs or not, Elite Card members
have to follow the same laws in
the end. The only difference is
that when a card holder eventually
chooses to sell the land, that sale
will be seen as a sale by an individual
rather than by a corporation, making
it liable for lower tax.
The five-year tourist visa also
sounds good too - except that again,
Thai law interferes and requires
Elite Card members, just like any
other foreigner in Thailand, to
report to an Immigration office
every 90 days.
As for the golf courses, news reports
say TPC has cancelled its golf course-building
and expansion plans around the country.
Card holders do get privileged access
to some existing courses, however.
A key card benefit remains having
just one number to call to arrange
everything one wants in Thailand,
from cars to roses to dinners and
appointments.
Additional scepticism exists in
some quarters about some of these
promises because any rich person
staying at a top hotel in Thailand
can enjoy such benefits through
the concierge and guest services.
Even non-rich people can have their
own cars and drivers, and can hire
fixers of many kinds...
About the Elite Card program
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