Thailand: the magnet for Spanish retirees

Why Spanish retirees are moving to Thailand

There is a country where a Spanish pension of 1,000 euros becomes an income that allows you to live comfortably, eat out every night and pay for private healthcare. That country is Thailand, and the story of a Spaniard who arrived in 2009 and decided to stay has revived interest in a destination that already hosts thousands of European retirees.

The estimate circulating among expatriates is that an average pension goes three times as far in Bangkok as in Madrid. Without giving up an air-conditioned home or getting around by public transport, the financial cushion stretches. The man behind the account, who has documented his life in more than 13,000 episodes of a personal series, has spent over 15 years showing how you can live with that margin.

The conversation, however, is not only about money. Thailand, a majority-Buddhist country, offers a tolerant society and an environment many perceive as safer than Spain's. In the south of the country there is a Muslim minority that has been behind episodes of tension, but the military response has contained the conflict, and visitors rarely notice it.

Among the comments, less openly admitted motivations also surface, linked to adult leisure tourism, which some acknowledge without embarrassment. It is not the only draw, but it is part of the landscape that explains a certain type of migrant.

With a pension that stretches further, a friendly culture and a relatively falling cost of living, Thailand has become the centre of gravity for many Spaniards who no longer think about going back. The question is how long the country will hold that advantage against inflation and mass tourism.