By Nop Meechukhun

 

Surat Thani – Russian and Ukrainian tourists in Surat Thani, Phuket, Pattaya, and other tourist destinations are starting to face financial transaction and travel problems following a ban of selected major Russian national banks yesterday, February 28th.

 

The Russia-Ukraine war has now affected the economic system and the tourism business in multiple Thai areas focused on tourism, including Samui, after Western nations and their allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Canada, and Japan have expanded sanctions against Russia, resulting in the ban of many international financial transactions.

 

As of today, March 1st, both Ukrainian and Russian tourists as well as tour companies arranging tourists from both countries were now having difficulties in making and receiving payment via credit cards and international transfers.

 

It was found that hotel room payments and other expenses made via credit card were not possible while Ukrainian tourists on Koh Samui wanted to stay longer and pay for extensions to witness and closely monitor the situation of their own country. Additionally, some citizens of both countries were now “stuck” because of flight bans, and some were limited on funds, made more difficult by new sanctions.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/03/01/russian-and-ukrainian-tourists-in-thailand-beginning-to-face-financial-transaction-and-travel-problems-due-to-sanctions-invasion/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-03-02

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

With all the travel restrictions and hoop jumping to get through, it's unlikely there are many Russians or Ukrainians in or about to travel to Thailand anyway, However a more interesting question might be, How much Russian currency is Thailand holding in foreign reserves now that the Russian currency is all but useless?? which brings back a thought of years ago, when it was not known as Rubels but "RUBBLES" 

 

Just a Question to ponder for the illustrious P.M. and his Hub of finance. 

And the low exchange rate of the Russian ruble, also very helpfull.

51 minutes ago, Anna Rak said:

With all the travel restrictions and hoop jumping to get through, it's unlikely there are many Russians or Ukrainians in or about to travel to Thailand anyway, .....

There was much Russian to be heard around Beach Road in Pattaya as recently as on week ago. The impression was that the Russians could well have been the major tourist community.

Their accounts were blocked, whether cc or by bank transfers. 
Also they cant use anymore insurance bought at their countries. 
They were coming before war in large quantities, also by travel agencies charter flights. Especially recent months, when conflict escalated. 
still, they might be coming from the third countries in europe, where they escaped over the land borders. 
They dont need visa to thailand. Possibly they might claim an asylum, if run out of visa extension problems. 
there is a large trade between thailand and russia, ukraine - that includes also armaments to thailand. But it's mostly export from thailand. Agricultural products, especially winter time. 
with all different sanctions and blocks thailand will have to find new ways of trading

Talked to a friend in Udon Thani a couple of days ago and they said the plane they were in was mostly all Russians.

They arrived from Europe right before the invasion.

2 hours ago, Anna Rak said:

With all the travel restrictions and hoop jumping to get through, it's unlikely there are many Russians or Ukrainians in or about to travel to Thailand anyway, However a more interesting question might be, How much Russian currency is Thailand holding in foreign reserves now that the Russian currency is all but useless?? which brings back a thought of years ago, when it was not known as Rubels but "RUBBLES" 

 

Just a Question to ponder for the illustrious P.M. and his Hub of finance. 

The issue isn't tourists who may come in the future, it's the large number of Russians in Thailand on long stay. Jomtien is full of them. How they survive is going to be problematic. 

11 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

The issue isn't tourists who may come in the future, it's the large number of Russians in Thailand on long stay. Jomtien is full of them. How they survive is going to be problematic. 

Rumor is they are going to invade Jomtien! 

Not much sympathy for the Russians but certainly the Ukrainians should be helped. 

I'm glad there are no Russians where I live as I would get in trouble for telling them what I think of their leader. 

12 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Not much sympathy for the Russians but certainly the Ukrainians should be helped. 

I'm glad there are no Russians where I live as I would get in trouble for telling them what I think of their leader. 

Yes.  I would let the Ukrainians stay for free.  The Russians can fend for themselves good luck.

There are some hotels in Phuket doing the right thing and offering free accommodation to Ukrainians who are stranded here. Respect.

17 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Not much sympathy for the Russians but certainly the Ukrainians should be helped. 

I'm glad there are no Russians where I live as I would get in trouble for telling them what I think of their leader. 

You might be surprised how little trouble you might get. I don't think that a leader who acts like that finds much sympathy from his countryman. I think that guy betrayed his own country by leading innocent people into a war that nobody wants. On the other hand..... our western leaders are not much better. They didn't invade, but as far as I have learnt they ignored all agreements from before by insisting to militarize the Ukraine against Russia.

1 hour ago, Danderman123 said:

The issue isn't tourists who may come in the future, it's the large number of Russians in Thailand on long stay. Jomtien is full of them. How they survive is going to be problematic. 

They could call Putin to stop his stupid war and things would be good again

12 minutes ago, Deli said:

They could call Putin to stop his stupid war and things would be good again

Good luck telling Putin to do anything.

36 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Not much sympathy for the Russians but certainly the Ukrainians should be helped. 

I'm glad there are no Russians where I live as I would get in trouble for telling them what I think of their leader. 

No one citizen has anything to do with their leader's actions so why would anyone care what you thought. "I'm going tp give them a piece of my mind" is quite funny.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

As of today, March 1st, both Ukrainian and Russian tourists as well as tour companies arranging tourists from both countries

nonsense, sanctions are Russia only..................unless of course..........

43 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Not much sympathy for the Russians but certainly the Ukrainians should be helped. 

I'm glad there are no Russians where I live as I would get in trouble for telling them what I think of their leader. 

Not sure all Russian’s support this madman. Putin demands their support with threats of imprisonment or worse. Perhaps they come to Thailand seeking a reprieve from this nutter. 

First we had covid extensions for aliens marooned in Thailand and now there could be refugee status offered if the situation worsens in Europe from the invasion of Ukraine by the Russians .

 

37 minutes ago, Thaijack2014 said:

our western leaders are not much better. They didn't invade, but as far as I have learnt they ignored all agreements from before by insisting to militarize the Ukraine against Russia.

are you for real, western countries are providing them with tools to defend themselves, if you have a problem with that then you are part of the "problem".     #####

5 minutes ago, itsari said:

First we had covid extensions for aliens marooned in Thailand and now there could be refugee status offered if the situation worsens in Europe from the invasion of Ukraine by the Russians .

 

Like to see how the economics of supporting yourself indefinitely without any income would work out on that one

59 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Not much sympathy for the Russians but certainly the Ukrainians should be helped. 

I'm glad there are no Russians where I live as I would get in trouble for telling them what I think of their leader. 

Russians should be made as uncomfortable as possible then maybe they will see the rest of the world are not going to stand for actions brought about by there leaders.

1 hour ago, Danderman123 said:

The issue isn't tourists who may come in the future, it's the large number of Russians in Thailand on long stay. Jomtien is full of them. How they survive is going to be problematic. 

Perhaps we should invite them to stay in our homes ????

Hello TAT they aint got any money and very unlikely to get any ????

These guys watched way too many James Bond films, threatening to crash the ISS into Europe, putting nukes on high alert (against who? Ukrainian civilians?) threatening military intervention in Finland and Sweden, inviting Lukashenko to the party. Really now Dr. Evil, 007 always prevailed, who you gonna call? And, even the Taliban condemned the invasion, that’s really bad. 

57 minutes ago, Thaijack2014 said:

You might be surprised how little trouble you might get. I don't think that a leader who acts like that finds much sympathy from his countryman. I think that guy betrayed his own country by leading innocent people into a war that nobody wants. On the other hand..... our western leaders are not much better. They didn't invade, but as far as I have learnt they ignored all agreements from before by insisting to militarize the Ukraine against Russia.

Am I missing something here, who invaded who. Do not deflect responsibility. Putin ordered the invasion of the Ukraine a legal and recognized country. Yes there are policies on both sides that should have been handled different but invasion is invasion. Ukraine was not a military threat to Russia.

Do not attack the citizens of Russia they have no control over the mental health of their leader or his decisions to invade Ukraine. Russian people in Thailand now find themselves in a fix not of their actions.

I'm disgusted with the negativity shown towards Russians by members on this thread.

Speak to a Russian and ask what their opinion is before decrying them.

When I saw George Bush calling out Putin for invading a sovereign nation with no provocation was when I went.... what the fornicate?

2 minutes ago, wombat said:

I'm disgusted with the negativity shown towards Russians by members on this thread.

Speak to a Russian and ask what their opinion is before decrying them.

When I saw George Bush calling out Putin for invading a sovereign nation with no provocation was when I went <deleted>?

Take the bahtbus from Jomtien to Patts if you need to remind yourself why folk are 'negative'! 

12 minutes ago, wombat said:

I'm disgusted with the negativity shown towards Russians by members on this thread.

Speak to a Russian and ask what their opinion is before decrying them.

Maybe you could supply the forum with pictures of these good hearted Russians holding up their Ukraine flags and end the war placards in any demonstrations for us all to see ? 

2 hours ago, garyk said:

Rumor is they are going to invade Jomtien! 

I heard that 55555