I flew into BKK from Samui today, then had to go through immigration on my way to Saigon.

Normally when I pass through, all the booths are open, and the queues are long. It takes forever.

Today, only four booths open, and about five or six people in the queue for each booth. I don't know if I just caught them at a quiet time, but I have never seen it like that before.

Also Samui is very quiet. Tourist numbers are well down this year.

What time did you pass through? I'm gearing myself up for that dreaded line.

Thats the result of the "Redshirts". Also here in Hua Hin, the hotels, the beaches totaly empty.

A sad time for our beloved country... I have not seen much in the way of special airfares from Thai International either... they should be dropping their pants to get people from cold crappy places like Australia (where I am now unfortunately)...Sydney...sunny but bloody freezing...! Cant wait to get home again...

yeah, its quiet everywhere !!!!

came thru the airport 6.30pm friday. airport deader than a dead thing. one person in front of me for THE line. stayed at sheraton, wifes daughter works there. dead. went to river city for dinner. dead. 2 taxis outside sheraton. maybe 6 roadside stalls. unbelievable. red shirts, take a deep bow. you've managed to do what no one else has been able to do. scare all the countries tourism money away. great stuff.

greezy. i'm in freezing warwick queensland....sitting in front of the tv now watching the australia/germany SOCCER world cup game. 4AM. yawn.

I bet those Samui hotelers have their hands over their eyes and ears and are trying to charge as much as ever despite the general worldwide economic slow down and the Thai Red Shirts scaring away tourist.

it will take sometime to gain back tourist...

hey johnno try coming down to melbourne it's heatwave here about 14 cel!!!!! lol

I left yesterday, and they changed the queues at immigration. Instead of long lines at each booth they now use the same routine as Hong Kong. Everyone stands in one line and then goes up to the immigration officer position when someone leaves - keeping two people in the queue at the desk. There were probably 90 - 100 people in the first queue but it went pretty fast. This was about 3 pm.

Teddy...It was about 12:45pm