Vasilis Stergiou, a digital marketing entrepreneur based in Thailand, spoke to Voice of Greece radio and the program “Our Global Voice” with Dimitris Kontogiannis about the current situation in the country.
He noted that there are no actual fuel shortages, as Thailand produces and exports oil. However, he pointed to speculative behavior driven by public anxiety, with large numbers of people rushing to petrol stations and forming long queues.
Mr Stergiou, who moved to Thailand in search of work during the Greek financial crisis, stressed that conditions today are far more challenging for foreigners looking either to find employment or to start a business there. As he explained, certain professions are legally restricted to Thai nationals—for example, barbers—while foreign investors are required to partner with a local associate who must hold a 51% stake in the company.
He also underlined that Thailand, a major tourist destination in Southeast Asia, has become significantly more expensive in recent years—now comparable, in terms of prices, to upscale areas such as the southern suburbs of Athens, as well as popular Greek destinations like Mykonos and Santorini.