you can choose to refinance the loan, pay it off, or do nothing. if you prefer the latter but your ex-bird has a strong enough preference to avoid that, you can suggest her to offer something in return for your cooperation. i can't really see what the problem is for which you require a solution.

@Edward *******

the night bazaar is a mecca for backpackers and they are long gone. retail in thailand revolves around the malls and over time more so on ecommerce (lazada, shopee, etc). these companies are creating loads of jobs for thais just as amazon is in most western countries. obviously loads of uneducated people are struggling to find work these days but that is a global phenomenom, and the only solution is for them to learn something, rather than artificially prolonging the life of doomed companies or sectors.

@Edward *******

go to any mall (paragon, centralworld, mega bangna, central ladprao, etc etc)

at the weekend or evening; they are all packed. some people might be struggling but many more are not. it's nowhere near the apocalypse many (including myself) were predicting when things first kicked off. hence, when surveyed the majority dont even want tourists back.

@Michel **********

what are these 10 million jobs you are talking about? international tourism stopped more than half a year ago in thailand and there is NOT a serious furlough scheme. if there are jobs to be lost, they are lost already. the only way is up from here.

@Michael *******

very true. backpacker hostels are screwed but most mid-range to high-end hotels within driving distance from bangkok are busy. i bet most of your wife's ex-colleagues found work in retail e-commerce. that sector is hiring like crazy now in bangkok.

@Michel **********

domestic tourism is 30% of tourism and other sectors are growing, hence why the overall economy is only estimated to contract by around 5% this year. thailand definitely needs to arrange travel bubbles to avoid quarantine at either end, with other covid free (or nearly covid free) asian countries, which also make up most of international tourism revenue (and that proportion will continue to trend up over the coming decades). i'm not sure what other solution you are suggesting but i can guarantee they won't be allowing westerners in without quarantine for a very long time.

@Michel **********

things are not as bad as you make out. tourism is down 70% (only domestic left) but the overall economy is only down around 5%. most hospitality workers who haven't been able to go back to work have long since moved to other sectors. whenever thailand sorts out travel bubbles with other covid free asian countries, the tourism industry will only be missing the 20-30% of westerners and the economy will otherwise basically be back to normal.

@Michel **********

huh? informal workers who lost their jobs went back to isarn in march and most have returned to bangkok since june as everything reopened.

@Michel **********

covid is endemic in many Western countries. it's certainly not in Thailand, nor most of the East.

Your local Thai embassy should update their website if and when retirement visa holders can apply for a certificate of entry. I doubt having a vaccine will have any relevance to this situation as no vaccine is 100% effective and Thailand is committed to being 100% covid free.