Thai tourism: Joy as the Russians come back in their thousands!

 

FILE photo

 

Thai media has reported that Russians are flooding back into Thailand on special charter flights. 

 

Beneficiaries include Pattaya and Koh Samui and neighboring islands after dozens of Russian only charter flights were confirmed to have either already landed or are due between New Year and Songkran.  

 

Naew Na reported that Nong Nuch gardens was giving a big "Nobro pozhalovat' v Tailand" (welcome to Thailand) for the Russians. 

 

The gardens put on an exclusive sound and light and Thai cultural show to showcase Thai culture for the Loy Krathong festival from Monday to Wednesday this week. 

 

Kamphon Tansajja said that 4,000 Russians came in three batches of 1,300 a time on charter flights organised by three companies. They were all given eco-friendly krathongs to take part in the cultural extravaganza.

 

But this was only the start. The Russians - once scared off foreign travel including Thailand due to the collapse of the rouble - are now back in droves. 

 

They will help ensure 40 million visitors a year after further positive news regarding Chinese and Indian visitors. 

 

Elsewhere it was reported that 32 charter flights from one company alone will deliver 12,760 Russian tourists to the province of Surat Thani between December 27th and April 22nd. 

 

Nongyao Jirandorn - director of Samui TAT - had been in touch with her counterparts in Moscow. All the tourists would be arriving 440 at a time on chartered B777-200s and going direct to the south.

 

She was clearly very happy about this. 

 

They would stay for between 11 and 12 days each and take in tours to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. 

 

Surat Thani governor Wichawut Jinto told Thai media that the Russians would give a great boost to the local tourism scene and he was delighted to have them back. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-11-14

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Methinks the tourist authorities are clutching at straws.....

Velcome back Ivan

2 ruble = 0.93 baht, hardly big spenders, on the exchange rate,

the joy may be not the cash cow they expect.

So they're going crazy about 4000 Russians - 0.01% of the year's visitors?

Russians & Indians.  A match made in hell. lol

It's true I spoke with Inoff the Red the Russians are coming to Phuket

29 minutes ago, petermik said:

Methinks the tourist authorities are clutching at straws.....

Agreed. Sounds like desperation in putting a brave face on a very ugly and depressing situation. It will take more than a few plane loads of Russians to solve the empty shops, bars and restaurants around the country.

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

But this was only the start.

I would say it's more like the end, the death-throes.

Nice to know that the Russians are the answer to the tourism dilemma .

Personally i find groups of Russians not only extremely rude and pushy, but loud and arrogant. Pity the locals having to put up with them in large numbers again.

 

 

""""They will help ensure 40 million visitors a year after further positive news regarding Chinese and Indian visitors.  """""

 

Before last months speaking only 36 million, every month growing 1 million, funny Thai mathematics

Chinese, Indians and Russians.

Spitting, shìtting and shouting.

39 minutes ago, SteveK said:

So they're going crazy about 4000 Russians - 0.01% of the year's visitors?

I think it's not about the quantity more like the quality.. and with the Russian winter starting to bite, many more will come...

I think the restaurants will do well. At least according to what I see in the picture accompanying this article.

Troll post removed

1 hour ago, leeneeds said:

2 ruble = 0.93 baht, hardly big spenders, on the exchange rate,

the joy may be not the cash cow they expect.

They spent large in Pattaya before the last mass evacuation. Prices went up significantly in food courts they used.

IF it's true, the TAT's bacon has been saved at the last minute.

After all, all they care about is numbers through the turnstile, not how much they spend.

With every rise in numbers visiting, the quality of LOS as a destination goes down. Ruination on ruination.

It's so bad now that I can say what I never, ever thought I'd say- I don't mind not being in LOS now. I just never thought they'd be so desperate for numbers that they are happy to ruin the country in pursuit of the masses.

I dont have a problem with anybody who's giving me money and I think the Russians are great they know how to spend money

Thai air must be flying them in for free

16 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IF it's true, the TAT's bacon has been saved at the last minute.

After all, all they care about is numbers through the turnstile, not how much they spend.

With every rise in numbers visiting, the quality of LOS as a destination goes down. Ruination on ruination.

It's so bad now that I can say what I never, ever thought I'd say- I don't mind not being in LOS now. I just never thought they'd be so desperate for numbers that they are happy to ruin the country in pursuit of the masses.

Always have and always will have a short term mindset

4 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Thai air must be flying them in for free

Nothing is free in Thailand! 

Seems like the only group of tourists that TVF posters approve of are the knuckle dragging, bar stool sitting sexpat in Pattaya. 

2 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

Seems like the only group of tourists that TVF posters approve of are the knuckle dragging, bar stool sitting sexpat in Pattaya. 

Good of you to be the voice of TVF

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

It's true I spoke with Inoff the Red the Russians are coming to Phuket

I talked to Billy Ards - he said the same.

yeah, similar to the chinese tourist groups.  But how many Thai girls, or I guess guys really want to hook up them and move to Russia? Very small percentage compared to those that would want to go to the USA or the UK or Germany et al.

2 hours ago, Sticky Wicket said:

Chinese, Indians and Russians.

Spitting, shìtting and shouting.

They finally got the tourists they deserve.

1 hour ago, Gweiloman said:

Seems like the only group of tourists that TVF posters approve of are the knuckle dragging, bar stool sitting sexpat in Pattaya. 

To be fair, Pattaya did just fine financially with that lot for decades.

The Russians - once scared off foreign travel including Thailand due to the collapse of the rouble - are now back in droves. 

 

Rouble has fallen further against the US dollar so this is total bull s%%t media piece. I have been in Russia for the last two years on assignments, first year exchange rate was 55 rouble to $1, last year it got worse to 59 rouble to $1. Currently today is peaking downhill at 64 rouble to $1. Pity the writers dont check their facts before making up stories.

The bar owners will not get their trade,some may the Russian tea room will.lets wait and see