Russian invasion creates a multitude of problems for tourism

[shackleton]

Well interesting times coming up for the Immigration authorities sorting out the visiting Russian and Ukrainian tourists now here in Thailand with no money flights ect 

Hoping their is a positive  outlook for them ????

[cocoonclub]

28 minutes ago, Wongkitlo said:

I guess Russians can still fly to China and from there to Thailand. 

No average Russian will fly anywhere soon regardless of airspace restrictions. The average Russian will have other problems than spending his last money on two weeks vacation in Thailand and he would probably need to charter a separate airplane just to carry all the Rubles he needs for a dish of Pad Thai. AirBnB and OTAs don’t work in Russia anymore so he will have to book directly with the hotel for which he would need a credit card which doesn’t work anymore either. Hotels will want to see hard cash but in USD, EUR or GBP, which the average Russian can’t get anymore. 
 

Guess why Russian airlines stopped all international flights as of tomorrow. They know they wont have passengers anymore. 
 

Likewise not many foreigners will have an appetite traveling to Russia anytime soon. 

[JohnHans]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Very telling that Thailand does not see the events in Ukraine as a humanitarian disaster, but as a tourism disaster !

Of course, the heartless bastards will always think about the monetary side.

[Freddy42OZ]

2 hours ago, wombat said:

 

How is that going to work if credit cards don't work?

The suggestion to book an Airbnb is to 'donate' money to the owner of an Airbnb "in the Ukraine"   

The idea is to help someone in the Ukraine by sending them some money via the Airbnb system.

It has zero to do with Russians (or Ukrainians) stuck in Thailand, nor does it have anything to do with Russian's credit cards. 
 

[Chongalulu]

2 hours ago, micmichd said:

Thailand is not NATO nor Russia nor EU. Thailand is a sovereign country that cares most for itself. Which is understandable IMHO. 

That might be the illusion/delusion, but certainly in terms of the government there is little doubt about where their sympathies/under who’s influence they lie. As both Finland and Sweden have admitted ,and Ukraine painfully discovered,there is no real neutrality which might absolve you from conflict . The former 2 will join NATO as a result of this and the latter should they eventually emerge as a result of Russian failure will be anxious to join both that and the EU. 

[superal]

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Yes, and Russia will never recover if the rest of the world weans themselves off their oil and gas (goes green fast) since the country offers little else. Xi probably wouldn’t want to gamble the potential massive fallout with the rest of the world (given the BIG Ukraine reaction) should he attack Taiwan , esp during an election year.

 

As to Thailand’s dilemma regards lack of visitation revenue; that could be put right (partly) in a heartbeat. I mean, just open up already and quit with the unending puerile entry requirements. Duh!

I do not want to digress from the main topic but my thoughts are relevant . 

Russia is the 2nd biggest supplier of oil and gas in the world and any halt on buying either of the commodities will drive up prices at the fuel pumps and domestic heating bills to an extent that many families , globally , will be unable to run a car or heat their house . On the other hand , continuing to buy from Russia will fund Putins atrocities . International tourism will soon be put on the back burner because flying will become expensive and unsafe . Thailand needs to change its mindset and come to terms with the fact that the good old days are gone , drop all entry restrictions to fully vaccinated tourists or simply close the country to tourists completely , thus ending all the confusion on entry compliance to Thailand as a holiday or retirement destination . Also , never mind the tourism , Thailand needs to wake up and be thankful to and respect the expat retirees who support many Thai families and businesses . 

[Harveyboy]

im sure all those Ukrainian families living in fear amongst the rubble of their city's will be praying for Thailand and the return if its money making tourist industry..my heart bleeds for the poor  LOS  

[Ricebarnandrooms]

2 hours ago, wombat said:

How is that going to work if credit cards don't work?

Airbnb will pay the money into the hosts bank account directly. How long the banks will survive is the unknown question. 

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

Oh dear, how sad, never mind, what about the thousands DYING IN UKRAINE , sorry if this is upsetting your False Tourism figures, please explain to the Ukrainians how this is affecting you will youi.............!!!.

[robertson468]

4 hours ago, 10baht said:

Help the Ukrainians - book a room om AirBNB but don't go of course. That's sending really needed money to the Ukrainian people.

But are Airbnb giving up their commission?

[Enzian]

Was reading that Greek hotels expect to lose more money from reopening than they were losing when totally shut down, because of price of fuel, inflation etc., and we should expect to see similar stories coming soon from many places. This is a minor matter compared to the ongoing death in Ukraine, but it speaks to the complexities that lie ahead. 

[John Drake]

Immigration apparently giving Russians special preference on visa extensions. Don't see similar news for Ukrainians, although article mentions something about email clearances for Ukrainians. BTW does Phuket have its own separate immigration policy?   https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-immigration-gives-russians-extensions-to-stay-83350.php

Edited March 7, 2022 by John Drake

[bkk6060]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm not a great mathematician but how on earth do you get over 100% cancelation rate ?

It is an estimate of people that thought about coming, but canceled in their minds.   ????

[John Drake]

30 minutes ago, superal said:

I do not want to digress from the main topic but my thoughts are relevant . 

Russia is the 2nd biggest supplier of oil and gas in the world and any halt on buying either of the commodities will drive up prices at the fuel pumps and domestic heating bills to an extent that many families , globally , will be unable to run a car or heat their house

Start rationing. I remember doing it in the 1970s with odd and even license plates.

[Iron Tongue]

You guys are too negative, you should think more positively  like TAT!

 

I understand that they're working on a new plan to attract 1,000,000 Iranians a year to the LoS!

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, arithai12 said:

thanks for this. Most people don't realize that sanctions, no flight zones, bans on exports and bank transfers, actually work both ways.

 

Yes they do, but to nowhere near the same extent.

Gold is currently USD 1990 an ounce. Now point me to any gold trader in the world who would be accepting rubles as payment now.

We can expect price increases in fuel and grains, but there are plenty of other sources lining up to fill the gap. Flights will have to be diverted around Russia,at increased cost. Who wants to transfer funds into Russia? Possibly only the oligarchs seeking forex, everyone else is scrambling for the exits.

Putin has made Russia into a pariah nation. Nobody wants to do business with Russia anymore.

Ironically, Putin's actions have unified Europe, NATO and the US in an unprecedented way.

[Jonathan Swift]

5 hours ago, jaiyen said:

Take all the Russian tourists to the Russian Embassy and let them sort it out !

Brilliant! Let’s make you president of the world! And what sort of magical powers do you suppose the embassy has over these circumstances? You may  not like Russians personally, but they are innocent civilian tourists and deserve basic human respect as well as sympathy, they are victims of the war

[connda]

4 hours ago, Isaanlife said:

I wonder how they are surviving financially?

 

VISA and MasterCard cancelled in Russia now as well?

Russia is issuing different cards in partnership with China's UnionPay. Big win for UnionPay as they pick up all of the business in Russia that MasterCard and Visa rejected.

[tonypattaya]

3 hours ago, rupert the bear said:

 

 

 

Edited March 7, 2022 by tonypattaya
Repeat of post in error

[tonypattaya]

The 70% of Russians who support Putin, must carry the same blame for this murderous state.

[Iforbach]

Title does me thailand is suffering as to no russians coming x?  maybe financially but nothing compared to Ukraine and people ..I can't get over putin logic but what do u expect from him ..although I never thought he would do the  un thnikable

[Whale]

2 hours ago, cocoonclub said:

Only Putin and his cronies are guilty. 

But only the common Russian citizen can change the mind of their regime. Make all Russians hurt until they end this madness, if we don't make them hurt they will never have an appetite to challenge Putin by protest or make change.

 

 

[Martin Brit]

4 hours ago, vandeventer said:

There is only one man in this world to blame for all of this ,and he's having a good laugh. 

Tell the Russians not to vote for Putin in 2024.

[cocoonclub]

14 minutes ago, Whale said:

But only the common Russian citizen can change the mind of their regime. Make all Russians hurt until they end this madness, if we don't make them hurt they will never have an appetite to challenge Putin by protest or make change.

 

 

While I wholeheartedly agree to the sanctions put in place and western companies pulling out of Russia, I doubt it will lead to a regime change anytime soon. Let’s face it, the majority of Russians has been brainwashed by Putin. Try convincing an anti-vaxxer or Trump fanboy in the US and then add to that the fact that many Russians don’t speak English (ie., don’t consume Western media) and are old (ie., get most of their information from Russian TV stations). Those that haven’t been completely brainwashed by his gaslighting, lies and propaganda face prison if they protest.
 

Again, I think the sanctions are absolutely right and we should continue turning Russia into an isolated pariah state. But let’s also be clear that most Russians equally are victims and collateral damage of their dictator. 

[Sigi]

 

                                                                           Economy  -  Military

 

[Alex2554]

31 minutes ago, Whale said:

But only the common Russian citizen can change the mind of their regime. Make all Russians hurt until they end this madness, if we don't make them hurt they will never have an appetite to challenge Putin by protest or make change.

 

 

Putin signed a new law on Friday that would punish anyone who shares "false information" about the war in Ukraine. 
The law would punish those who support sanctions against Russia or call for Putin to end the attack in Ukraine
Under the new law, penalties for such actions include serving up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to 5 million rubles ($45,000)

[Colki]

I would consider the russian people also have a responsibility in this invasion. Who supports this madman and who pulls the triggers killing and maiming people including civilians in a country other than their own.

Russian oil is an issue but I think Iran will fill some of that void and other middle eastern countries eg. Libya have the potential to increase production.

Let Russia fester in a cesspit of its own making.

[trainman34014]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Brilliant! Let’s make you president of the world! And what sort of magical powers do you suppose the embassy has over these circumstances? You may  not like Russians personally, but they are innocent civilian tourists and deserve basic human respect as well as sympathy, they are victims of the war

I don't like or dislike Russians personally but their President started this War; so his Officials can take the responsibility of helping Russian people......wherever they are !

[keystonecoppers2]

 

 

 

             Maybe I am off the topic (tourism), but just look at the

             maps of Russia at the time of, say 1986 and 2016.

             There is the answer why all this <deleted> is going on.

             They have lost so much territory over the years and Putin

             can see that and now he says : Enough is enough!

             I can`t blame him, although I don`t condone what he is doing

             right now. He is a maniac and will NOT back down. But he will be

             remembered in the history books, for the outcome of his megalomaniac

             brain (If somebody can write the history by then!).

 

             Embrace yourself,  And cheers (as long as you can!).

        

                                             

[Tony125]

4 hours ago, rupert the bear said:

i have read some of the comments and theyve bewildered me.these people are on holidays or staying here just like  most other readers,they are the same as us.they do not make foreign policy or move chequers on the map,western banks have screwed them and said sanctions were supposed to be directed at the top not the ordinary person in the street and as for the rest of this verbal garbage what of blair and bush and their weapons of mass destruction?napalmed kids in the countries next door,libya and syria beirut and kabul where USA stole half of a starving populations money and left with a targeted rocket attack that killed a bus full of children.democracy ?what was manning and assanges mistake?telling the truth and exposing USA war crimes-look what happened to them.as our lord said he who has not sinned may cast the 1st stone.of course theres iraq and that illegal war so what of that and the responsibility of all you westerners from the countries that played a part in that then?your all guilty just like these people who have great problems not of their own making,shame on you,fools and racists,obviously basic concepts of humanity and understanding are far from your grasp.uncle sams old logic of  'surround everyone with everything weve got and let em have it' is also your mantra of the day

Sorry for the average Russian but your leader started this war, was warned that there would be a high price to pay if invaded Ukraine so he ignored the warnings. By seizing oligarts ships, properties bank accounts and stranding his citzens  around the world puts pressure on him to knock off his bullying or continue for even more sanctions and pain. Go pick up your citizens from around the world as we won't transport them.