Top spots to retire?

BANGKOK Thailand and Malaysia were identified as good value destinations for retirees along with five other destinations in South America, according to a recent report “The World’s 7 Most Retiree-Friendly Nations” published by The Huffington Post, a US-based online news blog.
The popular online news site is US centric in its preferences with five of the preferred retiree destinations located in South America, but Thailand and Malaysia figured as the sole countries in the Asia Pacific.
The blog looked at countries, which have legislation in place to make it easy for non-native pensioners to apply for a long stay, visa and had user friendly rules on monthly remittances, age limits and import of cars and personal goods.
The list of recommended destinations comprised of Belize, Ecuador, Panama, Nicaragua, Malaysia and Thailand were identified for their friendly retiree visa policies and low monthly financial requirements.
The blog singled out New Zealand and Australia for criticism due to strict visa requirements, although feedback from readers noted that both have easier visa rules for retirees from Commonwealth nations.
Just two destinations outside of the Americas shone in the Huffington Post assessment.
Thailand gained points for its low living costs and a one-year retiree visa that requires a THB800,000 bank guarantee.
Malaysia, which promotes it programme under the tag “Malaysia My Second Home” offers a renewable 10-year visa and allows retirees to buy freeehold properties or lease for 30 to 99 years. It sets a minimum monthly retainer of USD3,125 or MYD10,000. The retiree plans is open to people 50 years or old. They can import a car and personal used items such as furniture.
Thousands of retirees have made Thailand their home using long-stay retiree visas that are renewed annually. The threshold age is also 50 and the basic requirement is that they have THB800,000 in an overseas bank account that is notified as a guarantee for the visa.
They must also show proof of a monthly income of around THB65,000 (around USD2,100) a month from a pension or savings.
There has been a mark shift in where retirees settle since Thailand introduced its retiree visa some 20 years ago. Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket the initial destinations attract fewer retirees today due to rising costs of living while destinations such as North Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces are fast becoming the destinations of choice for retirees.
Commenting in a press release on the Huffington Post blog Tourism Authority of Thailand, governor Thawatchai Arunyik said: “Retirees discover that Thailand offers other advantages than just the cost of living savings. They recognise that Thai people respect senior citizens and the country has round-the-year warm weather, easy access to international luxuries and a range of easily accessible accommodation.”
In 2013, Thailand recorded 26,546,725 visitor arrivals, representing a 18.76% increase over 2012. Tourists spent an average of USD150.23 a day in 2013, contributing a USD39,282.32 million tourism receipts to Thailand. During January to July, this year, there were 13,626,929 visits during January to July.
Forbes magazine also lists the top retiree destinations for North Americans, which is much the same as Huffington Post but features just Malaysia as the choice in Asia, based on the the use of English as an unofficial second language.

sourced:ttrweekly.com