Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Thai Immigration checkpoints, and specifically we are discussing what appears to be self-service counters and biometric reading stations which I've talked about that at length, but biometrics now is an integral part of international travel, seemingly all over the world whether we want it or not. But they are sort of rolling out some of this new stuff at immigration primarily with the incoming Songkran holiday coming; Thai New Year which does attract a number of foreign visitors.

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Suvarnabhumi Airport ensures smooth Songkran rush with free parking and smart check-in systems. Quoting directly: "Suvarnabhumi Airport is preparing to welcome increased numbers of travellers during the 2026 Songkran festival, prioritizing convenience, efficiency, safety, and hospitality. The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) announced that the Airport is coordinating with all sectors to improve operational efficiency, reduce congestion and ensure smooth travel during the peak holiday period. Suvarnabhumi Airport Director Kittipong Kittikachorn stated that from April 10 to 19, 2026, the Airport expects to serve about 1,820,000 passengers, or 182,000 per day. Although this represents a 1.9% decrease in passenger volume from last year, flight numbers are projected to increase by 4.6% to approximately 11,000. 9 airlines, including Air Macau, Bangkok Airways, and Thai Vietjet Air, have requested a total of 130 additional and charter flights. To reduce congestion and improve the traveller experience, the airport is promoting self-service technologies, including Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) kiosks" - which I am from Kansas; CUSS, like cuss words or something like that - that is immediately what I thought, I don't know, it's just me - quoting further: "Common Use Bag Drop (CUBD) systems, and biometric identity verification. These solutions aim to streamline processing and minimize document-handling delays." Be interesting to see how it works out.

Look, as I have discussed in other videos, this digitization or over reliance thereon in my opinion is actually kind of making things worse. That said, I do have to be honest. I have travelled recently internationally using the Thai Airport, Suvarnabhumi specifically. They do have their efficiency down pretty darn good, I do have to say. 

So if anybody can get this right I expect it is airport immigration and the folks over at the Airports of Thailand who are going to have to be dealing with what appears to be about 2 million people going to be coming through Thailand at least through that one airport. It's important to point that out. That is one airport. We also have Don Mueang which takes a number of domestic flights but also international flights. U-Tapao is down there which does occasionally take some international flights. It is my understanding Hua Hin can take International although it's not a particularly rare thing or a particularly common thing, and then we have got Phuket and Chiang Mai. So I expect we are going to see a pretty major incursion if you will of tourists this coming Songkran. It remains to be seen how many, but it's looking - I'm optimistic and even though they're talking "well it's like 1.9% down", hey! we're still holding our usual numbers, and in the aftermath of COVID frankly, I am grateful to be doing that.

The other thing is they sort of drew in a lot of people who would otherwise have travelled here kind of on a routine basis, but they are now on things like the Destination Thailand Visas. Some of them are in the LTR. Many of them have moved into things like standard Retirement Visas because they are now retirees and they are just done, and they're just here. So I think some of these numbers with regarding true tourism are a bit misleading when trying to look at how many actual foreigners are spending time in Thailand at any given time. That being said, exactly how this plays out remains to be seen, so we'll certainly be keeping you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.