I've been travelling around Asia since the end of the pandemic and have been in and out of Thailand several times, always arriving by land, no more than two entries in the same calendar year, always at least one month away before returning, and no overstays.
I've been asked to show proof of onward travel quite a few times but as far as I can recall always by the airline when boarding a flight and never by border officials at a border checkpoint.
Until yesterday. I returned to Thailand after three months in Malaysia via the Padang Besar crossing. The staff asked me how long I planned to stay in Thailand and I replied "60 days I hope". He asked me where I was going next and I told him I was planning on flying to Japan. He asked if I had a ticket yet and when I said no he told me to book it now. Once I did I was granted entry.
My question is Is this normal now? Usually I prefer to have no plan for maximum flexibility. Are other countries doing this now too? Should I now arrange to have proof of onward travel every time I cross a border as well as every time I board an international flight? Just for Thailand?
I hopecaused them to doubt. I always give specific plans and was never ask on entry. By air, yes, at the departure airport before boarding the leg to Thailand, they did ask me. This is anecdotal as I've only crossed the Thai border a handful of times.