Originally Posted by
divrdrew
Found that article to be very interesting. Is this information valid? Seems contrary to many reports we have gotten from people first-hand. Given the number of applications the pass system has gotten and how long in advance people need to make travel plans, I wonder if/when the increase will occur later in the month and into December?
The number of applications is in 100s of thousands, presumably intending to arrive over the course of a month or two.
The usual number of tourists in Thailand is closer to 3mil/month. So, the current numbers are perhaps 3-5% of the fully operational tourist industry.
Given the continued restrictions, and the cost and effort involved in the current system, there is exactly 0 chance tourism will return to anything resembling a viable norm anytime soon.
I would venture to say that even if Thailand dropped all restrictions and "opened up" fully tomorrow, it would still take a good 6 months to 1 year for things to pick up to a profitable level.
Great for the nature though. (Although I noticed they are opening Maya bay, that's unfortunate - it should not be accessible to for-hire vessels at all IMO)