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Thailand’s Tourist Towns Deal With Their Own Russian Invasion

I t’s just past 11 p.m. on Phuket’s neon-festooned Bangla Road and revelers are out in force, though the heady atmosphere is distinctly more Sochi than Southeast Asia. TVs overhanging the sprawling beer bars show ice skating instead of soccer; Cyrillic signage proliferates; and Russian-speaking touts dispense flyers for pole-dancing clubs exclusively featuring women from former Soviet republics. “Russians, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Kazakhs,” says one tout in dark Ray Bans and a skin-tight Armani polo shirt. “We have them all here.”

The war in Ukraine has entailed an incalculable human toll, while roiling markets, disrupting supply chains, and sending inflation soaring across the globe. But in Thailand, the two-year-old conflict is also having a profound social effect despite being over 4,000 miles away. While many Western nations have shut out Russian air travel in response to Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Thailand sees Russian arrivals as key to reviving its pandemic-ravaged tourism industry. In October, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended 90-day visas upon arrival for Russian passports, insisting in a February interview : “We’re not part of the [Ukraine] conflict. We are neutral.”

Read More: 5 Takeaways from TIME’s Conversation with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin

Last year, Russians ranked top for tourist arrivals in Thailand from outside of Asia with 1.4 million visitors. Meanwhile, Russians were top overall on the southern resort island of Phuket, which has long been a favorite haunt. Last July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Phuket to inaugurate a new consulate to cope with surging visitor numbers. A month later, the Phuket Tourist Association sent a delegation to St. Petersburg and Moscow seeking to court even more vacationers.

In the first three months of this year, 366,095 Russians arrived at Phuket International Airport, almost double the same period of 2023 and transforming the island’s commercial and social life. (That figure doesn’t include the significant number who transferred via Thailand’s main gateway of Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.) But while a boon for the macro economy, the influx has chafed with locals who increasingly complain that Russians are stealing jobs and upsetting cultural mores. Across Thailand, lurid headlines such as “ Rabid Russian assaults police team in Phuket after going berserk at a city centre hotel ” and “ Russian tourist kicks pregnant Thai woman after asked to leave shoes outdoor ” are both a symptom and cause of alarm. (However, transgressions involving New Zealand , Swiss , and Portuguese nationals admittedly proliferate also.)

“Russia and Thailand are so different and sometimes they don’t understand Thai law and culture,” Lieut. Colonel Akachai Siri, chief inspector of Phuket Tourist Police, tells TIME. “Sometimes they break the law and they don’t recognize we have law enforcement.”

Nevertheless, Thailand’s Russian incursion appears here to stay. Other than the preferential visas, sanctions on Russian air carriers and reciprocal bans on Western airlines have slashed the destinations where Russian nationals can escape their frigid winter, making already-popular Thailand an easier choice. And then there are the not inconsiderable numbers fleeing economic doldrums and a war of choice that they had no part in choosing—not least since the Kremlin has ramped up military conscription amid mounting casualties .

“That was the final straw for us,” says Mark, a Russian who fled to Thailand with his boyfriend after an initial draft announcement in September 2022 and asked that TIME use a pseudonym for security. “We understood we can’t go back because anyone can be called to the army and just die in the war.”

As a result, the number of Russians choosing to stay in Thailand long-term is soaring. Beyond 90-day visas upon arrival, thousands are applying for one-year business or education visas. Arnold, who asked that TIME use only one name for fear of reprisals in his homeland, moved from Moscow to the Thai resort town of Hua Hin permanently last year and has noticed an increase in what are colloquially termed “ relocants ” fleeing the “various negative things which are going on back home.”

The affluent are acquiring luxury cars and yachts and renting or purchasing villas. Phuket’s plush Laguna beachfront complex of villas, ornamental lake, and 18-hole golf course is now dubbed “Little Moscow,” says Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, advisory chairman to Phuket’s Tourist Association. Over half of all residents across its 1,000 acres are Russian, according to the Laguna real estate management office, which employs two native Russian speakers to deal with the shifting demographic. Across Phuket, real estate prices have bumped some 20% owing to the Russian influx, says Bhummikitti.

The incursion has also increased pressure on Akachai’s Tourist Police, which has only 60 officers to assist the 2,000-odd regular Royal Thai Police and 60 dedicated Immigration Police across both Phuket and the larger adjacent province of Pha Nga. In addition to swelling tourist numbers, whereas 60% of tourists before the pandemic traveled on tour groups with guides and agents on hand to smooth any problems, today, 70% are independent travelers, which means the Tourist Police are increasingly called to mediate all manner of conflicts.

Relaxed entry requirements have also attracted a criminal element. In early February, Phuket police arrested five suspected Russian gangsters for the kidnapping and extortion of over $800,000 in cryptocurrency from a Belarussian couple that Akachai says was retaliation for a financial dispute back home. And last month, a 42-year-old Russian man was found stabbed to death in a rented house that was being used as a cannabis farm. The chief suspect is a Tajikistani man who fled Thailand for Turkey just hours after the murder.

Yet Akachai says most crimes relate to illegal work involving Russians determined not to return home while the war rages but without the means to support themselves indefinitely—not least since international banking sanctions have rendered accessing savings more difficult. Many Russians have set themselves up as unofficial tour guides, car and motorbike rental services, real estate agents, hairdressers, or even sex workers, advertising online via Telegram groups.

Yet not all aspects of the phenomenon are troublesome. Other than Russians, a significant number of Ukrainians have fled their war torn nation for Thailand, potentially creating a tinderbox atmosphere. But Akachai says he has not encountered a single skirmish or negative incident between the two nationalities in Phuket. Yury Rozhkov, 46, a Russian national who works for a travel agency in Bangkok, says he regularly meets Ukrainians staying in his apartment building and relations are nothing but cordial.

“They understand it’s Putin, it’s not Russia, Russian people are different,” he says. “And I’m sure Russians who have money to travel to Thailand do not support Putin and the war in Ukraine.”

In Hua Hin, Arnold is a member of a Russian-language Telegram group with more than 4,500 members from across the former Soviet bloc, but he says he cannot recall a single politically charged message among the 400 or so posted every day. “99.9% of discussions are where to find the best pad thai, current prices in the local market, how to rent a car, or where to get a vaccine,” he says.

Perched by the main gate of Phuket’s Laguna resort, the d’Odessa restaurant serves Ukrainian syrniki pancakes and smoked salmon croissants slathered with gold leaf. The tablet menu has options for Ukrainian, English, and Russian—and staff say the majority of clientele speak the latter. “There are many Ukrainian restaurants filled with Russians in Phuket,” says Bhummikitti.

Ultimately, both sides caught up in this senseless conflict share a desire to stay out of harm’s way by whatever means necessary. Mark is still employed by his Russian IT company thanks to an understanding boss despite remote working being strictly against company policy. Every day he fears a draft ticket or internal enquiries by higher management could spell the end to that vital paycheck. If that happens, “I will try to find a local job or another [remote] job in Russia,” he says. “I will try every way I can not to go back.”

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Write to Charlie Campbell / Phuket, Thailand at [email protected]

Russians flock to Thailand as tourism rebounds from collapse

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Israel is voicing concern that the International Criminal Court could be preparing to issue arrest warrants for government officials on charges related to the conduct of its war against Hamas.

Tajikistan's foreign ministry summoned Russia's ambassador on Monday to protest over what it described as unfair treatment of its citizens by Moscow, in a rare dispute between post-Soviet allies.

Thailand still wants Russian tourists – and direct flights are making it easy to get to Phuket

• Direct flights between Russia and Thailand's largest island, Phuket, resumed on October 30.
• Russians made up Phuket's biggest group of tourists in early November, per the Phuket Express.
• Their arrival was celebrated as a boost to the island's tourism-dependent economy.

Russian tourists have been flocking to Phuket – Thailand's largest island – after direct flights from Russia resumed at the end of October.

Numbers dipped in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as Western sanctions reduced travel capacities , but Russian tourists are returning to Phuket in droves.

In the first 10 days of November, Russians made up Phuket's biggest group of tourists accounting for 18,370 out of 75,247 international arrivals, according to the Phuket Express .

President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, told a Thai newspaper that tour operators in Phuket were unprepared for the sudden influx of arrivals. 

The first direct flight from Moscow to Thailand since the war broke out in March was a charter flight by Ikar Airlines. It arrived in Phuket on October 30 and was met with a reception from airport staff celebrating the return of Russian tourism, according to the local newspaper The Thaiger.

On the same day, the Russian state-owned airline Aeroflot restarted direct flights to Thailand, India, and the Maldives. 

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Phuket is heavily reliant on tourism . Before the pandemic, the travel industry accounted for about 80% of the island's economy and provided more than 300,000 jobs, Insider previously reported. 

Many of these tourists come from Russia, but numbers dropped sharply following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In January, 24,000 Russian tourists arrived in Phuket. These numbers dipped to between 3,200 to 4,200 a month between May and September following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, per The Thaiger.

International flights out of Russia were largely suspended  as sanctions left Russian airlines scrambling for supplies.

Now that direct flights have returned, Russian airlines are fast expanding their routes to Thailand, according to The Thaiger.  

Aeroflot is opening up services to Phuket from the far-eastern city of Vladivostok , while Siberia Airlines will carry passengers from Irkutsk , a mid-sized city in Siberia.

Thailand has maintained a neutral stance on Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine. It hasn't participated in any bans or sanctions on Russian nationals and makes it easy for them to obtain visas. 

The country aims to welcome 1 million Russian tourists in 2022, per DW , with numbers forecast to peak in the coming winter as Russians trade cold for tropical beaches.

Aeroflot, Ikar Airlines, and Thailand's tourism authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.

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Thousands of Russians scramble to leave Thailand as sanctions hit

Bangkok (AFP) – Thousands of Russian tourists in Thailand are struggling to find a route home, Thai officials said Sunday, as international sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine hit holiday-makers.

Issued on: 13/03/2022 - 11:32

Russia's invasion in February provoked a host of international measures targetting businesses and banks, with some Russian carriers cancelling flights and global payment firms suspending services.

Russians tourists have been among the largest group of visitors to return to Thailand's beachside resorts since pandemic restrictions eased, but many now find themselves without a return ticket.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya said 3,100 Russians were stuck in Phuket, while just over 2,000 were in Samui, and smaller numbers were in Krabi, Phang Nga and Bangkok.

The ministry was working on helping those who wanted to return home, he said, including "discussion on return flights which could be regular or special flights".

Russian tourist and mother-of-three Evgenia Gozorskaia said her family discovered their return Aeroflot tickets had been cancelled.

"We are very nervous because the children are very small, we don't have enough money to live here," said the 41-year-old psychologist who arrived from Moscow with her husband and children -- aged seven, four and two -- on February 27.

"We want to go tomorrow to the airport, but I don't know what the situation will be," she said from Phuket, adding that they were supposed to fly home March 28.

She said while some people had their tickets replaced others -- including her family -- had not been so lucky.

"They say that they cannot do it and put the phone off," she said.

While Thailand has not banned Russian flights, international airspace restrictions have seen some firms -- such as Russia's flagship Aeroflot -- cancelling services, leaving tourists to seek alternative routes, such as through the Middle East with different carriers.

Many tourists have also been hit by Visa and Mastercard suspending operations.

"We have seen instances of difficulty in card payments by Russians in Phuket due to how Mastercard and Visa have suspended services in Russia," said Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association.

He said officials were considering adopting the Mir system -- a Russian electronic fund transfer structure -- as well as digital currencies.

Local communities across Thailand were also stepping in.

"We will pay for water, electric, everything for them," said Archimandrite Oleg, representative of the Orthodox Church in Thailand, who said they were helping at least one family with four children stranded in Koh Samui.

Pandemic travel curbs have hammered the kingdom's tourism-dominated economy, but 2022 saw a surge of visitors as restrictions eased.

Around 23,000 Russians travelled to Thailand in January this year, according to the country's Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Tourists from Russia previously accounted for the seventh-largest share of visitors to the kingdom, with around 1.5 million travelling to Thailand in 2019.

While Bangkok has backed a United Nations resolution calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, it has stopped short of imposing sanctions.

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Phuket has become a luxurious new playground for rich Russians fleeing Vladimir Putin's war, but some locals aren't happy

An influx of Russians is transforming the holiday island of Phuket, driving up property prices as well as fuelling local resentment over the flow of money into the country.

On Bangtao beach, on the western side of the island, 22-year-old Russian tourist Dasha said she has been enjoying her time abroad.

"I love Phuket because it's warm here and very beautiful and smiley people and tasty food and very spicy," she said.

While Western countries have sought to isolate Russia with sanctions, Thailand has welcomed Russian visitors as it tries to rebuild its tourism industry post-COVID.

The Thai government has recently moved to increase the length of Russian tourist visas from 30 days to 90 days.

Almost half a million Russians arrived in Phuket in the first half of this year and more than 9,000 of those were granted long-stay visas.

To cater to this market, Russian restaurants and businesses have begun popping up, while signs and menus have been translated into Cyrillic.

Russia has even opened a new consulate on the island this year.

Real estate agent Kristina Kamysheva said there were a few reasons why Russians were drawn to the tourist hotspot.

"Russians love Phuket because Phuket is a very nice place to live and spend your holiday," she told the ABC.

"The weather is good and we don't have an ocean in Russia so that's why Russians love to travel where they can swim and relax on the beach because we don't have it in our country."

Russians are also now the number one foreign buyer on the island and account for around 40-60 per cent of condominium sales to foreigners.

But while this is good news for real estate agents and home owners, the sheer volume of visitors appears to have changed the dynamic with Thai citizens.

Phuket draws in wealthy Russians

At the Sole Mio complex, which is located near Bangtao Beach and includes a rooftop pool, sauna, cryosauna and steam room, Ms Kamysheva says 80 per cent of the owners are Russian.

Interest from Russian buyers has contributed to a surge in property prices this year.

"Usually it's 5 per cent every year the price increase but this year I think it boom[ed]. So it increased 10 to even 20 per cent (on the western side of the island)," she said.

Property expert Chatchawan Wattanachote said the property boom driven by the new arrivals has also had an impact on rental prices.

"In the first quarter of 2023, Russian people who've come to visit Phuket surged by 1,000 per cent and that's made rental prices rise," he told the ABC.

"The luxury condominium rental prices have risen by up to 300 per cent and you have to book up to a year in advance in the western part."

But he said that hasn't flowed through to the more inland parts of the island where local workers live.

"The worker area has not seen a similar surge because Russian people, rich people come to the tourist area and make prices [rise] by spending a lot. But the worker area is not like that," he said.

Sakol Sutthichareon, who owns a guest house in Patong, said part of the problem is because Russian property buyers are renting out their properties to fellow Russians.

"Russian people run their own hotels, they provide car rental services and tour packages for Russian customers," he told the ABC.

"They come as a group and they will stay at hotels owned by Russian businessmen … my hotel is small so I won't get any benefit from it."

Local taxi drivers like Sanya Kritsan share similar anecdotes about Russians using their own drivers and visiting their own restaurants, so their money doesn't benefit the local economy.

"The reason local taxi drivers like me don't earn much from Russian tourists is because they download foreign apps and use services from those apps so income doesn't reach local taxis," he said.

Locals worried about foreigners working illegally

There are also fears among some locals about Russians working illegally or engaging in criminal activity and attracting business rivalries.

In June, a Kazakh man was arrested in relation to the shooting of a Russian man in front of a cafe in the middle of the day.

But these concerns are not reflected in the statistics.

Between January and August, 635 foreigners were charged with offences, according to the local police department, and only 78 were Russian nationals, representing roughly 12 per cent.

Police said most cases were work-related offences and there was no evidence of a Russian mafia presence on the island.

Local Move Forward Party politician Thitikan Thitipruethikul said   locals welcomed foreign visitors but wanted to benefit economically as well.

"When the Russian people flee from the war and they buy a lot of property here they make a lot of business. So some local people get a benefit, but not most of them," he told the ABC.

He said he has heard many stories from his constituents about Russians working illegally on Phuket.

"I get complaints from local residents that some Russian people are working in the jobs that are prohibited in Thailand, such as hair salons and driver for the taxi," he said.

"Thai people welcome foreigners to stay in Thailand but everyone needs to comply with the law.

"Some of them are working illegally and that is not fair for Thai people."

But instead of cracking down on illegal Russian businesses, Mr Thitipruethikul's party, Move Forward, wants to make it easier for Russians to work legally in Thailand.

"We're trying to propose a new law to update the immigration law so they can work properly and then at least they can pay tax," he said.

"When they work illegally they cannot hire Thai people and they're not paying tax.

"So we think that if we bring everything down from the earth … I think it's going to be better for all stakeholders."

More tourists over winter

Ms Kamysheva denied there were tensions between Russians and locals on Phuket.

"Locals are so happy with Russian tourists coming here … and with the amount of people moving here," she told the ABC.

"They go to the beach, to local vendors that didn't have any money during COVID … so it's very good for [the] local population to earn more money."

Ms Kamysheva is expecting yet another influx of Russians arriving on Phuket in the next few weeks.

"Winter is coming and we expect a bigger amount of tourists coming here because Russians don't want to be [frozen]," she said.

"And that's good for business."

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Russians putting down roots in kingdom

Visits are up, along with real estate holdings, shares in local business

PUBLISHED : 13 Mar 2023 at 04:30

NEWSPAPER SECTION: News

WRITER: Wassayos Ngamkham, Mongkol Bangprapa and Achadthaya Chuenniran

Russian tourists have been flocking to Thailand since pandemic travel restrictions were eased, with many choosing to invest in the kingdom's real estate sector after an extended holiday in the country.

Since January, over 370,000 Russian tourists have visited the country, according to Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart, deputy commander of the Immigration Bureau -- a sharp increase compared to last year, which only saw about 435,000 Russians visit the country in the entire year.

Despite the influx, there has been no indication that Russian criminal figures have snuck into the country through illegal channels, he told the Bangkok Post , noting most legal issues involving Russian citizens in Thailand were minor offences, such as traffic violations.

No 'mafia' here

Pol Maj Gen Phanthana said authorities in Phuket, Koh Samui in Surat Thani and Pattaya -- tourism hotspots known to be popular among Russian visitors -- have not detected the presence of any Russian citizens who might pose a threat to national security.

"There are those who have been convicted for petty offences, such as shoplifting and traffic violations, but they are not that big a problem. Those with serious criminal records, however, are barred from entering the country," he said.

According to the IB deputy commander, while some Russians are choosing to stay in Thailand to avoid fallout from the war in Ukraine, others may have a different reason to visit.

Under the law, Pol Maj Gen Phanthana, accommodation providers must notify their local immigration office of any foreigners staying there. "This will help police find those who are wanted in other countries," he said.

Pol Lt Gen Sukhun Prommayon, commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau (TPB), said no Russian organised crime rings have been detected amid the recent influx of visitors.

"Most Russians visiting Thailand are affluent holidaymakers and prefer to visit seaside provinces," he said. "Large numbers of tourists will also benefit the economy."

Real estate windfall

Phatthanan Pisutwimol, president of the Phuket Real Estate Association (P-REA), said the real estate business in Phuket has recovered quickly as the island is popular with foreign tourists looking to escape the cold weather in the Northern Hemisphere.

He said the prospects for pool villas and horizontal property projects are improving while condos are also popular among foreigners looking to invest.

"Russians are visiting Phuket in large numbers, which has helped the tourism sector here. They stay between one week and up to six months and most prefer to rent pool villas," he said.

"Many want to buy and live in pool villas rather than renting them. The most popular zones are tambon Choengtalay [in Thalang district], tambon Kamala [in Kathu district], and tambon Rawai in Muang district.

"Many Russian investors have also bought and resold them, or rented them out to others,'' Mr Phatthanan said.

"Spending by Russian tourists has boosted the local economy in Phuket. Local tourism-related businesses hit by Covid are making a quick recovery,'' he said.

Some Russians also have bought cars and motorcycles and rented them to their compatriots.

Boon Yongsakul, vice-president of the P-REA, said Phuket's sea and beaches are popular among Russian tourists.

Many Russian families are affluent and can afford to rent houses in the island province for two to three months rather than condos which have limited space, he said.

"Since the Russians arrived, rental homes on the island are almost fully occupied. This also benefits hotel maids, gardeners, swimming pool cleaners, and restaurants.

"The downside is that large numbers of foreign arrivals may lead to traffic congestion, accidents, and petty law violations,'' he said.

Mr Boon also said Russian investors are seeking to invest in the real estate sector in Phuket as some have lived there for several years and are familiar with the law in Thailand.

Some are interested in investing in horizontal property projects, condos, and mixed-use property projects, he said.

Escaping bad weather

Bhunanan Patanasin, president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, said about 300 Russians were arriving every day after Thailand reopened its borders and eased travel restrictions late last year, and since then the number has increased to 500-700.

Many Russian tourists spend about 10-20 days in Pattaya, he said.

"Jomtien Beach and Wong Amat Beach are full of Russian tourists. They are everywhere in Pattaya. Most tourists in Pattaya are Russians,'' he said.

"Russian tourists spend an estimated 3,000-5,000 baht each per day in Pattaya. Most spend time on beaches and go shopping. Many signs in Russian are erected in Pattaya,'' he said.

Many Russian tourists also stay and rent condos in Pattaya for extended periods, Mr Bhunanan said, adding that no Russian mafia have been found in Pattaya as authorities have stepped up crackdowns on illegal activities.

He said the number of Russian tourists will fall after this month or April as many will return home and they will be replaced with tourists from China and India, Mr Bhunanan said.

He said the main reason for Russians visiting Thailand is because they want to escape the cold weather in their country while the Russia-Ukraine war has little bearing.

"I organised a roadshow to promote Thai tourism in Moscow, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the war did not have any impact.

"Russia is a huge country and the fighting scenes are far away and have little impact on other parts of the country,'' he said.

Damrongkiat Pinitkarn, secretary to the Entertainment & Tourism Association of Pattaya City, said Russians were among the first group of foreign visitors to return to Thailand after the country reopened.

"According to immigration officers in February, Russians were the third largest group of foreign visitors to Thailand,'' he said.

"They come in family groups to escape the cold weather and can afford to pay travel and accommodation expenses and Thailand can respond to their needs,'' he said.

Chayapol Intarasupha, the chief of Koh Samui district in Surat Thani, said more than 100,000 foreigners visited Koh Samui in January, generating more than 1.3 billion baht in income. Russians were the largest group of foreign tourists, he said.

Ratchaporn Poolsawad, chairman of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, said Russian investors have invested in real estate businesses, hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops and other tourism-related businesses in Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in Surat Thani.

"Their businesses are beginning to hurt Thai-owned businesses as they snatch foreign customers away,'' Mr Ratchaporn said.

In January, about 8,885 Russian tourists visited Koh Samui, the largest number among foreign tourists.

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Why Thailand Is the Best Bet for Russian Tourists These Days

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

January 9th, 2023 at 6:30 AM EST

Thailand needs tourists and Russians need to travel. The equation seems to have worked out pretty well so far for the two countries.

Peden Doma Bhutia

An innkeeper in Bangkok’s Sathorn area has been desperately looking to hire more staff to cater to the increasing number of tourists at his place.

Crediting the Russian tourists for this windfall, he said 25 of his 30 rooms have been taken up by travelers from Russia, with the average length of stay being between 10-15 days.

The innkeeper, who wished not to disclose this name or address so as to keep his Russian tourists safe, told Skift that “Russians have helped bring business back to establishments like mine that had been battered by Covid .”

The arrival of sanction-hit Russian tourists increased sevenfold in Thailand in November to 109,000 compared to 16,000 in September and this has been facilitated largely by the resumption of direct flights.

The demand from Russian tourists has also surged forward bookings. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, expects more than one million Russian tourists in 2023, closer to the 2019 figure of 1.5 million.

Direct Flights and Increased Connectivity

Russian operators like Azur Air and Ikar Airline have started operating charter flights from Moscow, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok to Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

On November 12, Russian state carrier Aeroflot said it would add 14 more flights a week to Phuket.

Between November 1 last year and January 2, Russia made up the largest source market for Phuket tourism as the island welcomed 167,698 Russians, according to Phuket immigration.

Before Covid-19, China had been Phuket’s biggest tourist market.

What’s more, in the first quarter of 2022, Russians bought the maximum number of apartments in Phuket buying 74 properties worth $7.3 million, according to a Thai real estate consultancy firm.

Thailand: A Friend of Russia

Ever since the Ukraine conflict started, traveling has become an ordeal for us Russians, said Katarina, a tourist holidaying in Thailand.

“Many countries have closed their airspace to Russian carriers and then there are some destinations who are not giving us visas,” she said, calling Thailand a friend of Russia.

Katrina and her boyfriend had to cancel their Thailand trip in March last year as hotels in Thailand were then calling for a cash-only policy from Russian tourists.

However, while she’s glad that the past few months gave her a chance to explore domestic tourism within Russia, she was quick to hop on a plane once direct flights started from her hometown in Vladivostok to Thailand.

“We are only too glad to be able to escape the biting winter cold at home, where the temperature is around -5 degrees centigrade. This weekend we head off to the sunny beaches of Phuket,” she said, as she highlighted how a strong rouble against the Thai baht has made holidaying more affordable.

Thailand’s New Entry Rules

However, in preparation for the arrival of Chinese travelers — its biggest source market — Thailand’s aviation regulator on Saturday had brought back its requirement for all incoming international travelers to be doubly vaccinated, a rule that had been scrapped in October.

Also, those without a vaccination certificate would need to submit a doctor’s report stating recovery from Covid-19 or furnish a medical reason for not receiving the vaccine.

On Monday, Thailand scrapped the measures .

Speaking during the weekend before the new entry requirements were withdrawn, a Bangkok travel agent had said he expects the government to revisit the rules as unlike other countries the Thai government cannot afford to not listen to the pleas of the tourism industry.

Why Thailand Needs Russian Tourists

Russia was Thailand’s third largest source market for tourism arrivals, right after Malaysia and India, according to the November 2022 figures.

And now as India imposes fresh Covid restrictions on arrivals from Thailand , calling for a mandatory PCR Covid test not older than 72 hours before departure, Indians are either delaying their trips or cancelling them.

This could lead to Russia moving up the tourism arrival charts.

Thailand knew that to prop up its Covid-battered economy it would have to allow entry to Russian tourists.

According to a bilateral agreement between the two countries Russians do not require a visa to enter Thailand. Through this visa exemption, Russian tourists are allowed to stay in the country for a period of 30 days.

What’s more, from October 1 onwards, Thailand extended the visa-exemption stay for 64 countries, including Russia, from 30 to 45 days.

However, Russians arriving in the country in droves comes with its own set of problems. Two Russian men were recently arrested for begging on the streets of southern Thailand. 

The men held a placard that read, “Help! I am fleeing war in Russia. My money has run out. I do not want to return to the war. Can you help by donating? Do you have any free food for me?”  

Thailand Doubles Tourism Target

However, the innkeeper in Bangkok called such incidents few and far between.

Even smaller hotels are now looking to cater to these tourists by offering rooms at discounted rates. One such advertisement read, “Room for rent, $22.5 for a day, $80 for four nights, $284 for a month. Electricity, water, Wi-Fi, cleaning, linen and towels included.”   

Thailand’s visitor arrivals for 2022 exceeded the 10-million mark generating around $15 billion in international tourism revenue.

The country has doubled its tourism target for 2023 to 20 million, and expects international tourism revenue to touch around $45 billion closer to its pre-pandemic earnings of $70 billion.

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Tags: asia monthly , charters , china outbound , coronavirus recovery , india outbound , phuket , russia , sanctions , testing , thailand , Ukraine War

Photo credit: Russian tourists are back in droves to Thailand, the result of direct flights. Ted's Photos / VisualHunt

Russians make Thailand a refuge as Ukraine war enters second year

Russians are buying up property in Southeast Asian country to avoid conscription and the economic ravages of the war.

Bangkok/Pattaya, Thailand – Since Russia invaded Ukraine  on February 24, 2022, a growing number of Russians have looked to Thailand as their ticket to a new life.

Tens of thousands of Russians hoping to avoid the threat of conscription and the economic ravages of the war have travelled to the kingdom in the year since the invasion, many of them seeking a new home.

Keep reading

Photos: russia’s silent calls for peace, russians who fled war win case to end stay at south korea airport, for many ukrainians, everyday russians are as guilty as putin, ukraine warns it may boycott 2024 olympics if russians take part.

In Phuket, a popular resort island, Russians are buying off-plan condos with half a million dollars or more to facilitate their relocation or provide a landing pad for a future time when they may feel forced to leave their homeland.

Between November 1, 2022, and January 21, 2023, more than 233,000 Russians arrived in Phuket, according to data from Phuket International Airport, making them the biggest group of visitors by far.

Phuket has long been a favourite escape from the harsh Russian winter but property sales have surged since President Vladimir Putin in September ordered Moscow’s first wartime mobilisation since World War Two, suggesting many arrivals are intent on staying well beyond the length of a typical holiday.

“My clients are mostly young, 30-35… they’re wealthy, high-budget clients,” Sofia Malygaevareal, a real estate agent in Phuket who originally hails from Russia, told Al Jazeera.

“A lot of people have decided to move to Phuket from three to six months… to one year.”

To stay on the idyllic island, Russian arrivals need homes, schools, jobs and visas – which takes time in Thailand, where obtaining long-term residency rights can be difficult to achieve.

For many of the newcomers determined to swap a home on a war footing for a life in the Thai sunshine, money is not a problem. Realtors in Russian-dominated areas of the island say the influx of wealthy visitors, fuelled by the growing realisation the war has no end in sight as it enters its second year, has driven prices up to record levels.

Luxury condos that until recently were available to rent for about $1,000 a month can now go for three times that. Meanwhile, extravagant villas on the market for $6,000 or more are booked out up to a year in advance.

The buyers’ market is similarly red hot. In 2022, Russians bought nearly 40 percent of all condominiums sold to foreigners in Phuket, according to the Thai Real Estate Information Center (REIC). Russians’ purchases amounted to $25m in sales – several times the amount spent by Chinese nationals, the next largest group of buys, according to the REIC.

Some buyers have spent upwards of $500,000 on luxury off-plan homes by the sea, according to local real estate agents.

“The situation has changed at home,” Malygaevareal said, referring to the tough economic conditions in Russia. “People who have money come abroad and are ready to pay money for international school, which costs less than in Moscow.”

A Russian travel agent in Phuket, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said some Russians have arrived on one-way tickets and tourist visas. “[They] just do not go home… they are here to get away from conscription.”

The mass influx of Russians is also reflected in other popular tourist areas such as Koh Samui, Thailand’s second-biggest island, and the eastern seaboard resort of Pattaya, where there has been a sizeable Russian community concentrated in the beach town of Jomtien for years.

“More Russians have moved to Pattaya since October. They’re mostly young couples who fear for their safety,” Mikhail Ilyin, the head priest of the All Saints Russian Orthodox Church in Pattaya, told Al Jazeera.

But the impact of Putin’s invasion works both ways.

Dar, a Thai masseuse in her 40s, said she left her job at a high-end spa in Moscow as the rouble collapsed and her salary – which was generous by Thai standards – plummeted in value. Dar has found new work in Jomtien, where her rare language skills win over repeat Russian clients.

“The women tell me they are desperate to get their husbands, boyfriends or children to come over here to stay,” she said, asking to be referred to by only her first name. “So they come over first and find houses and try to make visas for their men.”

Visas, though, are not as easy to obtain as they used to be after a major scandal was uncovered in November involving Thai immigration police helping the Chinese mafia bring thousands of people into Thailand through fake work and volunteer schemes.

That means Russians who can afford it are having to apply for expensive property ownership visas known as the “Elite Card”, which allows a long-term stay for a family for approximately $25,000.

“It’s not as easy as they think to do long-term living here,” said IIyin, the priest. “Some are thinking of returning as they run out of options.”

The flow of Russians and Russian money into Thailand is also generating resentment in some quarters.

On Phuket, which was hit especially hard by the collapse of global tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some local tourism businesses have expressed anger about Russians allegedly taking local jobs.

Tourism operators have complained about Russian taxi drivers shuttling their compatriots around the island and leading tour groups around Phuket’s historic Old Town, often without the required permits or visas.

Earlier this month, Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, complained about the prospect of Russians cutting into locals’ livelihoods.

“If it’s true they’re taking our jobs in our own home, we can’t allow this to happen,” Ruktaengam wrote on his Facebook page.

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Thailand Extends Longer Visa-Free Stay for Russians Until July to Boost Tourism

(Bloomberg) -- Thailand’s cabinet approved a plan to allow Russian tourists who enter the country without a visa to stay for a maximum of two months as the Southeast Asian country bets on tourism to support an economic recovery.

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Russian passport-holders who arrive in Thailand between May and July can stay up to 60 days per trip under the new measure, according to deputy government spokesperson Rudklao Suwankiri. The new rule will kick in after the current arrangement that allows Russians to stay up to 90 days lapses at the end of this month, she told a briefing after a weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Tourism-reliant Thailand last year relaxed visa rules for travelers from some of its main markets including China and India. Russians are the third-largest group of visitors to Thailand so far this year, after Chinese and Malaysians.

“This is a special case and it’s temporary,” Rudklao said referring to the cabinet nod for Russians. “The extension will help attract more Russian tourists during those three months, generating more tourism income and boost the economy.”

Tourism is one of Thailand’s key industries accounting for about 20% of total jobs and making up about 12% of the nation’s $500 billion economy. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration has set a goal of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027.

Russian tourist arrivals have topped 700,000 so far this year, on course to beat 1.48 million in 2023, according to data from the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

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©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

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