Pull Factors Influencing High-Potential Foreigners to Reside in Thailand
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigates the pull factors influencing high-potential foreigners to reside in Thailand. It employs a quantitative research approach using in-depth interviews with high-potential foreigners residing in Thailand, including both retirees and working-age individuals between the ages of 25 to 65. Six key factors and 20 sub-factors were identified as pivotal in their decision-making process. The most important factors include affordable living costs that enhance the quality of life, Thailand’s friendly and hospitality culture, and easy access to world-class healthcare services. Working age participants prioritized career opportunities and diverse lifestyle options, while retirees emphasized safety, a peaceful environment, and favorable climate conditions. Notably, these foreigners are drawn to Thailand not merely for its low costs but for its capacity to offer an improved quality of life aligned with their desired lifestyles. The study underscores the importance of further enhancing quality of life to attract more high-potential foreigners. However, issues such as legal transparency, governmental stability, and policy continuity remain areas of concern and need improvement. This research fills a gap in existing literature by providing insights into the motivations and challenges faced by this demographic. The findings offer valuable guidance for future studies on legal frameworks and foreign homeownership in Thailand and suggest policy improvements that can foster sustainable national growth by addressing diverse needs.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Journal of TCI is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, unless otherwise stated. Please read our Policies page for more information...
References
Åkerlund, U. (2017). Strategic lifestyle management in later life: Swedish lifestyle movers in Malta seeking the 'Best of Both Worlds'. Population, Space and Place, 23(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.1964
Ariu, A., Docquier, F., & Squicciarini, M. P. (2016). Governance quality and net migration flows. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 60, 238–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2016.07.006
Athukorala, Prema-chandra. (2003). Foreign direct investment in crisis and recovery: Lessons from the 1997–1998 Asian crisis. Australian Economic History Review, 43, 197–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8446.t01-1-00051
Bai, X., & Chow, N. W. S. (2014). A life-course perspective on elderly residential mobility in Southern China: An adaptation of the amenity retirement migration model. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 23, 309–324. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2014.943868
Baker McKenzie. (2024). Global corporate real estate guide. https://resourcehub.bakermckenzie.com/en/resources/global-corporate-real-estate-guide/
Balkir, C., & Kirkulak. B. (2009). Turkey, the new destination for international retirement migration. In H. Fassmann, M. Haller, & D. Lane (Eds.), Migration and mobility in Europe: Trends, patterns and control (pp. 123–143). Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
Baltaci, F., & Cevirgen, A. (2020). The impacts of second home tourism on socio-cultural and economic life: The residents’ perspectives. Journal of the Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijic", SASA, 70(3), 273–288. https://doi.org/10.2298/IJGI2003273B
Basu, B., & Yao, J. (2009). Foreign direct investment and skill formation in china. International Economic Journal, 23, 163–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/10168730902901106
Benson, M., & O’Reilly, K. (2009). Migration and the search for a better way of life: A critical exploration of lifestyle migration. The Sociological Review, 57(4), 608–625. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2009.01864.x
BOI. (2022). Announcement of the Office of the Board of Investment No. Por. 2/2565: Qualifications, criteria, and conditions for long-term resident visa under measure to stimulate economy and investment by attracting high-potential alien persons to Thailand. https://www.boi.go.th/upload/content/por2_2565_EN.pdf
Breuer, T. (2005). Retirement migration or rather second-home tourism? German senior citizens on the Canary Islands. Die Erde, 136(3), 313–333.
Carlson, J. E., Junk, V. W., Fox, L. K, Rudzitisi, G., & Cann, S. E. (1998). Factors affecting retirement migration to Idaho: An adaptation of the amenity retirement migration model. The Gerontolist, 38(1), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/38.1.18
Casado-Diaz, M. A. (2006). Retiring to Spain: An analysis of differences among North European nationals. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 32(8), 1321–1339. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691830600928714
Casado-Diaz, M. A. (2004). Second homes in Spain. In C. M. Hall, & D. K. Müller (Eds.), Tourism, mobility and second homes between elite landscape and common ground (pp. 215–232). Channel View Publications.
Casado-Diaz, M. A., Kaiser, C., & Warnes, A. M. (2004). Northern European retired residents in nine southern European areas: Characteristics, motivations and adjustment. Ageing and Society, 24(3), 353–381. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X04001898
Chao, C.-C., & Yu, E. S. H. (2015). Housing markets with foreign buyers. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 50(2), 207–218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11146-014-9454-3
Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2008). Business research methods (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Creswell, J. W. (2008). Educational research planning, conducting and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. International Pearson Merril Prentice Hall.
Cuervo-Cazurra, A., Silva-Rêgo, B., & Figueira, A. (2022). Financial and fiscal incentives and inward foreign direct investment: When quality institutions substitute incentives. Journal of International Business Policy, 5, 417–443. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-021-00130-9
Dann, G. M. S. (1977). Anomie, ego-enhancement and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 4(4), 184–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(77)90037-8
Dann, G. M. S. (1981). Tourist motivation: An appraisal. Annals of Tourism Research, 8(2), 187–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(81)90082-7
de Haas, H. (2008). Migration and development: a theoretical perspective. IMI working paper series. International Migration Institute. https://www.migrationinstitute.org/publications/wp-09-08
Devesa, M., Laguna, M., & Palacios, A. (2010). The role of motivation in visitor satisfaction: empirical evidence in rural tourism. Tourism Management, 31(4), 547–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2009.06.006
Dheera-Aumpon, S., & Changwatchai, P. (2024). FDI in Thailand under the COVID-19 Pandemic. Review of Integrative Business and Economics Research, 13(2), 478–484. https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85188420921
Dixon, D., Murray, J., & Gelatt, J. (2006). America’s emigrants: U.S. retirement migration to Mexico and Panama. Migration Policy Institute. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/americas-emigrants-us-retirement-migration-mexico-and-panama/
Economist Intelligence Unit. (2005). The Economist Intelligence Unit’s quality-of-life index (White paper). https://www.rangevoting.org/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf
Elikucuk, S., & Polat, Z. A. (2021). Identifying key factors affecting foreigners' choice on real estate acquisition: The case of İzmir City, Turkey. Land Use Policy, 107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105512
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
Gibler, K. M., Casado-Diaz, J. M., Casado-Diaz, M. A., Rodriguez, V., & Taltavull, P. (2009). Late life second move housing choices of international retiree migrants. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 2(2), 190–210. https://doi.org/10.1108/17538270910963117
Haas, W. H., & Serow, W. J. (1993). Amenity retirement migration process: a model and preliminary evidence. The Gerontologist, 33(2), 212–220.
Hall, C. M., & Muller, D. K. (2004). Introduction to second homes, curse or blessing? Revisited. In C. M. Hall & D. K. Muller (Eds.), Tourism, mobility and second homes between elite landscape and common ground. Channel View Publications.
Hazelrigg, L. E., & Hardy, M. A. (1995). Older adult migration to the Sunbelt. Research on Aging, 17(2), 209–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027595172006
Henley & Partners. (2024). The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2024. https://www.henleyglobal.com/publications/henley-private-wealth-migration-report-2024
Hennink, M., & Kaiser, B. N. (2022). Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: a systematic review of empirical tests. Social Science and Medicine, 292, 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114523
Intaprasert, P. (2022). SDG Updates – World Investment Report 2021 Sustainable Investment. Centre for SDG Research and Support: SDG Move. https://www.sdgmove.com/2021/07/15/sdg-updates-wri-2021-sustainable-investment/ [in Thai]
International Organization for Migration. (2024). World Migration Report 2024. IOM UN MIGRATION. https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2024
Jankanakittikul, T., & Namnai, K. (2018). The application of theory in international investment. Journal of Research and Development Institute, 5(1), 249–258. [in Thai]
Janoschka, M., & Haas, H. (2014). Contested spatialities of lifestyle migration: Approaches and research questions. In M. Janoschka & H. Haas (Eds.). Contested spatialities, lifestyle migration and residential tourism. Routledge.
Jiaranairungroj, A. (2017). A study of investment promotion policy in Thailand in comparison with Vietnam: a case study of foreign direct investment [Master’s thesis]. Thammasat University. https://doi.org/10.14457/TU.the.2017.1007
Joungtrakul, J., & Wongprasit, N. (2019). Content analysis for data analysis in qualitative research. PAAT Journal, 2(2), 9–22. [in Thai]
Kim, H. M. (2020). International real estate investment and urban development: An analysis of Korean activities in Hanoi, Vietnam. Land Use Policy, 94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104486
King, R., Cela, E., & Fokkema, T. (2021). New frontiers in international retirement migration. Ageing and Society, 41(6), 1205–1220. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X21000179
Liang, Z., Luo, H., & Hui, T. (2023). Multiple measures of tourism-led migrants' subjective well-being. Tourism Management Perspectives, 45, Article 101047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.101047
Lipkina, O. (2013). Motives for Russian second home ownership in Finland. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 13(4), 299–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2013.863039
Maza, A., Villaverde, J., & Hierro, M. (2013). Explaining the settlement patterns of foreigners in Spain. Applied Geography, 40, 11–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2013.01.004
Matthew, S., & Lutter, S. (2025). An Exploratory Study of the Wealthy’s Investment Beliefs, Preferences, and Behaviors. Journal of Financial Planning, 38(3), 56–71. https://www.financialplanningassociation.org/learning/publications/journal/MAR25-exploratory-study-wealthys-investment-beliefs-preferences-and-behaviors-OPEN
Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative research: a guide to design and implementation. Wiley.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: a methods sourcebook. Sage.
Ministerial Regulations prescribing characteristics, procedures, and conditions for acquiring land for residential use by foreigners B.E. 2545. (2002). Ratchakitcha, 119(7kor), 8–10. https://dl.parliament.go.th/handle/20.500.13072/248546
Montezuma, J., & Mcgarrigle, J. (2018). What motivates international homebuyers? Investor to lifestyle ‘migrants’ in a tourist city. Tourism Geographies, 21(1), 214–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2018.1470196
Müller, D. K. (2011). The internationalization of rural municipalities: Norwegian second home owners in Northern Bohuslän, Sweden. Tourism Planning & Development, 8(4), 433–445. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2011.605384
Nagatomo, J. (2015). Migration as transnational leisure: the Japanese lifestyle migrants in Australia. Brill.
Nazlı, M. (2019). Second home owner's tourısm perspectıves: a case study in the Aegean region. Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal, 67(2), 171–184.
Nikuze, A., Flacke, J., Sliuzas, R., & van Maarseveen, M. (2022). Urban induced-displacement of informal settlement dwellers: A comparison of affected households' and planning officials’ preferences for resettlement site attributes in Kigali, Rwanda. Habitat International, 119, Article 102489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2021.102489
NTRC. (2018). Comparative corporate income taxation in ASEAN member-countries. NTRC Tax Research Journal, 30(1). https://ntrc.gov.ph/images/journal/2018/j20180102a.pdf
Ono, M. (2008). Long-stay tourism and international retirement migration: Japanese retirees in Malaysia. Senri Ethnological Reports, 77, 151–162. https://doi.org/10.15021/00001277
Özyurt, P. M., Başaran, M. A., & Kantarcı, K. (2018). Residential tourists' perceptions of quality of life: Case of Alanya, Turkey. Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR), 6(2), 147–168. https://doi.org/10.30519/ahtr.424437
Pampel, F. C., Levin, I. P., Louviere, J. J., Meyer, R. J., & Rushton, G. (1984). Retirement migration decision making: The integration of geographic, social, and economic preferences. Research on Aging, 6(2), 139–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027584006002001
Paris, C. (2013). Second home ownership since the global financial crisis in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Z. Roca (Ed.), Second home tourism in Europe: Lifestyle issues and policy responses (pp. 3–31).
Pizam, A., & Mansfeld, Y. (1999). Consumer behavior in travel and tourism. Haworth Press.
Priyadi, U., Susantun, I., & Shidiqie, J. S. A. (2024). The impact of policy quality and political stability on foreign direct investment in ASEAN countries: An institutional economics analysis. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(6), 1561–1572. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i6.4104
Puapan, P. (2014). Assessment of FDI impact on Thailand's production sectors: Implications for investment promotion activities (IDE Discussion Paper No. 443). Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). https://doi.org/10.20561/00037727
Rodriguez, V., Fernandez-Mayoralas, G., & Rojo, F. (2004). International retirement migration: Retired Europeans living in Costa del Sol, Spain. Population Review, 43(1), 1–36.
Rodríguez, V., Fernández-Mayoralas, G., & Rojo, F. (1998). European retirees on the Costa del Sol: a cross-national comparison. International Journal of Population Geography, 4, 183–200. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1220(199806)4:2<183::AID-IJPG101>3.0.CO;2-8
Salami, M. A., Tanrivermis, H., & Aliefendioğlu, Y. (2023). Interdependence between foreigner housing acquisitions and housing price increase in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic era. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 16(3), 575–597. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHMA-08-2022-0109
Salt, J. (1997). International Movements of the Highly Skilled (OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers No. 3). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/104411065061
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2009) Research methods for business students. Pearson.
Savaş, E. B., Henkens, K., & Kalmijn, M. (2023). Who is aging out of place? the role of migrant selectivity in international retirement migration. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 50(2), 461–482. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2023.2252993
SCB economic intelligence center. (2018). Thailand's ability to attract foreign investment compared to competitors. https://www.scbeic.com/th/detail/product/6358
Schaeffer, Peter V. (2023). Life course and structural migrations: Refining migration classifications. Journal of Regional Analysis & Policy, 46(4), 359–380. https://doi.org/10.1177/01600176221145885
Soltani, A., Heydari, M., Aghaei, F., & Pettit, C. J. (2022). Housing price prediction incorporating spatio-temporal dependency into machine learning algorithms. Cities, 131, Article 103941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103941
Spaan, J., Henkens, K., & Kalmijn, M. (2023). Understanding motives for international migration: A survey of Dutch retirement migrants in forty destinations. Population, Space and Place, 29(8), e2691. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2691
Spalding, A. K. (2013). Lifestyle migration to Bocas del Toro, Panama: exploring migration strategies and introducing local implications of the search for paradise. International Review of Social Research, 3(1), 67–86.
Stokes, D., & Bergin, R. (2006), "Methodology or “methodolatry”? An evaluation of focus groups and depth interviews. Qualitative Market Research, 9(1), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.1108/13522750610640530
Sudas, I., & Mutluer, M. (2010). Towards a better life: Lifestyle migration. Aegean Geographical Journal, 19(1), 31–47.
Sunil, T. S., Rojas, V., & Bradley, D. E. (2007). United States' international retirement migration: The reasons for retiring to the environs of Lake Chapala, Mexico. Ageing & Society, 27(4), 489–510. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X07005934
Taylor, S. J., & Bogdan, R. (1984). Introduction to Qualitative Research Method: A Phenomenological Approach to the Social Sciences. Wiley.
Teeranantawanich, N., & Fongsuwan, W. (2015). Determinates of foreign real estate investment within Thailand’s special autonomous systems (SAS) of Bangkok and Pattaya city. Research Journal of Business Management, 9(1), 88–105. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjbm.2015.88.105
Tintani, W., Banchirdrit, S., Sriharun, B., & Suvannin, W. (2015). The factors that attract foreign direct investment in Thailand. Journal of Graduate Studies Valaya Alongkron Rajabhat University, 9(1), 54–63. [in Thai]
Thai Embassy. (n.d.). Thailand Visa Options: Thai e-Visa & Non-Immigrant Visa. https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/thailand-visa-types
Thailand Law Online. (n.d.). Thailand condominium buying and foreign ownership. https://www.thailandlawonline.com/article-older-archive/thailand-condominium-buying-foreign-ownership
Üngüren, E., & Kaçmaz, Y. (2021). Identifying the factors affecting second-home purchase decisions of foreigners in Turkey: an exploratory mixed-method approach. Tourism, 69, 163–179. https://doi.org/10.37741/t.69.2.1
Warnes, A. M. (2009). International retirement migration. In P. Uhlenberg (Ed.), International handbook of population ageing (pp. 341–362). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8356-3_15
Warnes, A. M., & Patterson, G. (1998). British retirees in Malta: components of the cross-national relationship. International Journal of Population Geography, 4(2), 113–133. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1220(199806)4:2<113::AID-IJPG98>3.0.CO;2-H
Whittemore, R., & Chase, S. K., & Mandle, C. L. (2001). Validity in qualitative research. Qualitative Health Research, 11(4), 522–537. https://doi.org/10.1177/104973201129119299
Wong, K. M., & Musa, G. (2014). Retirement motivation among 'Malaysia my second home' participants. Tourism Management, 40, 141–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.06.002
Wong, K. M., Musa, G., & Taha, A. Z. (2017). Malaysia my second home: The influence of push and pull motivations on satisfaction. Tourism Management, 61, 394–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.03.003
Wu, M.-Y., & Pearce, P. L. (2014). Chinese recreational vehicle users in Australia: a netnographic study of tourist motivation. Tourism Management, 43, 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.01.010
Yin, R. (2014). Case study research: design and methods (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Zaiceva, A., & Zimmermann, K. F. (2016). Migration and the demographic shift. In Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging (Vol. 1, pp. 119–177). North-Holland. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.hespa.2016.08.002
Zoomers, A. (2010). Globalisation and the foreignisation of space: seven processes driving the current global land grab. The Journal of Peasant Studies. 37(2), 429–447. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066151003595325