Russian tourist arrivals fall dramatically, many already stranded in Thailand

[webfact]

File photo: A traditional Thai statue wears a face mask as a campaign for travellers to prevent the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus at the departure terminal of Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok before the new year last year. Jack TAYLOR / AFP

 

The number of Russian tourist arrivals in Phuket has decreased by 75%, while 3,000 Russian tourists are stranded on the resort island due to the international sanctions being imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

 

President of the Phuket Tourist Association Bhummikitti Raktaengam, says that the conflict has affected tourism on the resort island and arrivals have decreased due to closed airspace.

 

At the same time, some Russian tourists already in Thailand cannot fly home, especially Russians who live near the Korean Peninsula and in Siberia, where flights have been suspended since last week. Direct flights from Moscow to Phuket have also been suspended.

 

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Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/russian-tourist-arrivals-fall-dramatically-many-already-stranded-in-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-11

 

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[RandiRona]

Russians are in demand in Ukrain. Putin Is sending them there...without visa!

[Onerak]

War is bad for everything. Stocks volatile and mostly down. Cryptos down. Gas up. Inflation up. Gold up. Dollar slightly up. 

[JoePai]

There is nothing stopping flights between Thailand and Russia - the only reason is Russia does not want them back

[vandeventer]

The 3000 Russians stranded in Thailand will grow because after this war nobody will want to live in Russia. It will become the land of red faces.

Edited March 11, 2022 by vandeventer

[FalangKino]

Their safety is paramount in these troubling times. I hope those stranded are safely repatriated back to their new homes in the ukraine.

[SoilSpoil]

41 minutes ago, JoePai said:

There is nothing stopping flights between Thailand and Russia - the only reason is Russia does not want them back

Russian planes are grounded. The Russians lease their airplanes and refuse to pay the lease as reaction to the sanctions. The moment an Areoflop plane lands in Thailand it will be seized by the owners. The Russians in Thailand are stuck. Maybe Thai Airways sees an opportunity to fly them back at highly inflated prices.

[Denim]

Oh well, a hub just fell of the tourist wagon.

 

But hey ho , in other news the Saudis are going to put it back on and Pattaya will once again be full of arabs.

 

Oh...and Indians. Dont forget the Indians.

 

Everything is coming up roses.

[DFPhuket]

It's still relatively easy to fly to Russia with a stopover on Turkish, Qatar, Emirates or Etihad airlines, so people are not stranded due to flights. They may, however, be unable to access funds or use their credit cards to buy a ticket or pay for their accommodations. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

At the same time, some Russian tourists already in Thailand cannot fly home, especially Russians who live near the Korean Peninsula and in Siberia, where flights have been suspended since last week. Direct flights from Moscow to Phuket have also been suspended.

Keep them happy in Phuket, Russian embassy will send food-aid each day.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Onerak said:

War is bad for everything. Stocks volatile and mostly down. Cryptos down. Gas up. Inflation up. Gold up. Dollar slightly up. 

I'm up, missus is happy.

[beechbum]

2 hours ago, Onerak said:

War is bad for everything. Stocks volatile and mostly down. Cryptos down. Gas up. Inflation up. Gold up. Dollar slightly up. 

Not entirely true unfortunately...m

[sammieuk1]

Looks like a by one get one free day today lovely jubile ????

[Cake Monster]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

There is nothing stopping flights between Thailand and Russia - the only reason is Russia does not want them back

Regular flights are available through the UAE, so the " Tourists " are not " Stranded "

Thailand just wants their Dollars and Gold

[JoePai]

45 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

Russian planes are grounded. The Russians lease their airplanes and refuse to pay the lease as reaction to the sanctions. The moment an Areoflop plane lands in Thailand it will be seized by the owners. The Russians in Thailand are stuck. Maybe Thai Airways sees an opportunity to fly them back at highly inflated prices.

But there are other airlines that can - and do - fly to Russia so no excuse

[Bkk Brian]

A worthy cause for helping out the Ukrainians stranded here..............

 

"Embassy of Ukraine in Thailand calls for help from locals to provide shelter for Ukranians in need through https://prykhystok.in.ua

The same platform can be used by Ukrainians looking for shelter"

 

https://twitter.com/PichayadaCNA/status/1501882047316770821

 

[Bkk Brian]

Thai humanitarian assistance to is ready. Medical & survival equipment, dried/infant food & care, consumer products worth 600K usd, to be transported from

@THEmbWarsaw. Ukraine Red Cross

https://twitter.com/NatapanuN/status/1502100524560437253

 

[Venom]

Collective punishment is good! 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

But there are other airlines that can - and do - fly to Russia so no excuse

Most Russian credit cards and ATM cards cannot now be used.

How do they pay for these flights that you recommend?

[JoePai]

4 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Most Russian credit cards and ATM cards cannot now be used.

How do they pay for these flights that you recommend?

How did Thais get back from Ukraine ?

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, Cake Monster said:

Regular flights are available through the UAE, so the " Tourists " are not " Stranded "

 

They are "stranded" when their credit cards and ATM cards are suspended thanks to sanctions.

How do they pay for these 'regular' flights?

We have guests that are checking out of their villas because they cannot pay the rent.

They do not know where to go or what to do.

I am not making a judgement on what is right or wrong - just saying that some visitors have serious issues to work through at the moment.

[Tropicalevo]

2 minutes ago, JoePai said:

How did Thais get back from Ukraine ?

Chartered flights sent by the Thai government.

[PoorSucker]

6 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

They are "stranded" when their credit cards and ATM cards are suspended thanks to sanctions.

And nobody wants rubles. 

[JoePai]

15 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Chartered flights sent by the Thai government.

Well done, now substitute Thai for Russian and see what you get 

[Seppius]

7 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Russians are in demand in Ukrain. Putin Is sending them there...without visa!

Many are on a one way ticket

[khunPer]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

They are "stranded" when their credit cards and ATM cards are suspended thanks to sanctions.

How do they pay for these 'regular' flights?

We have guests that are checking out of their villas because they cannot pay the rent.

They do not know where to go or what to do.

I am not making a judgement on what is right or wrong - just saying that some visitors have serious issues to work through at the moment.

The could contact their Russian embassy or consulate, which could arrange chartered flights back - the airspace between Russia and Thailand is not closed, or just charter one of Middle Eastern airlines for the job if Russian aircraft cannot operate abroad - just like Thailand does, when Thai citizens are trapped abroad.

[KarenBravo]

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

The could contact their Russian embassy or consulate, which could arrange chartered flights back - the airspace between Russia and Thailand is not closed, or just charter one of Middle Eastern airlines for the job if Russian aircraft cannot operate abroad - just like Thailand does, when Thai citizens are trapped abroad.

So.....just go to the embassy and request them to arrange a charter flight home. Brilliant idea!

[Lancelot01]

20 hours ago, Onerak said:

War is bad for everything. Stocks volatile and mostly down. Cryptos down. Gas up. Inflation up. Gold up. Dollar slightly up. 

Edwin Starr was right.