Phuket’s Russian Revolution 2022

[snoop1130]

PHOTO: Russian tourists enjoying Phuket's beach

 

Phuket is busy again, for the first time since April 2020 when the government closed off the airports and passenger arrivals into Thailand, because of the Covid pandemic.

 

Whilst the surge of tourists, principally from a couple of countries, is a very welcome return to business for many hotels, tour companies, restaurants and tourist-related businesses, the current arrival numbers could provide some stark warnings for the island’s sustainability as a tourism destination.

 

Without getting into the specific geo-politics, we should at least be completely transparent about how the current rush to repopulate Phuket with tourism customers may have some unforeseen consequences.

 

We should also acknowledge the influx of Russian arrivals, particularly since October this year (chart below). By a long way, Russians have become the predominant nationality fuelling Phuket’s recovering tourist economy. We should also acknowledge, anecdotally, that they are spending up big and, in many cases, looking to stay for an extended time.

 

This has been seen in many corners of the Phuket economy. Most of the people we’ve spoken to about the current immigration phenomena have asked not be named.

 

Four different hoteliers have all noted that many (in one case “nearly all”) of their customers were from Russia. Some of them have booked stays well beyond the common 1 – 2 weeks. And villa rentals have gone from ‘zero’ to ‘hero’ status as individuals and larger families are looking to enjoy extended stays in Phuket.

 

“Many customers are coming in with cash and happy to pay for 1, 2, even 3 months’ rent in advance.”

 

A car rental company, who even offered to rent my private car, said the island is almost fresh out of available cars, reflecting the notion that Phuket simply isn’t geared up for the current influx of holiday arrivals.

 

Tour companies are also reporting full boats, advance bookings into January, premium pricing and tour businesses scrambling for equipment and vans.

 

One boat tour company on the east coast, ALP, had 13 3-engine vessels departing today, with almost 100% Russian visitors.

One 3.5 star hotel in Kata told Phuket GO that Russians were around 4 times the number of the next most numerous tourists, from Kazakhstan, (followed by South Africans, Finns and Thais).

 

“We’ve had to increase capacity at the hotel much sooner than we had planned to reopen rooms – now running at 80% inventory.”

 

“Our reservation office is being overwhelmed by enquiries from Russian inbound tour operators.”

 

“Whilst the demand is there, the average room rate is lower than in 2019.”

 

But whilst Phuket is happily taking advantage of the much-needed flush of arrivals, and cash, onto the holiday island, the immigration numbers indicate a disturbing undercurrent.

 

Russian visitors have been a frequent member of the “Top 10 Arrivals” club into Phuket, but never in numbers like the past 2 months.

 

In 2019, according to c9hotelworks, Russian arrivals in Phuket made up 13% of the total traveller arrivals. 

 

• China – 38%

• Russia – 13%

• India – 6%

• Australia – 5%

• South Korea – 4%

 

For the past 2 months (from November 1 – December 22, 2022), the Russian market has made up 29% of the total inbound arrivals. Meanwhile, the proportion of other inbound markets has remained quite small, certainly in much smaller numbers than in the last full tourism year of 2019.

 

We note that Chinese arrivals in 2019, some 38% of the total, was also a potentially troubling trend, and particularly noticeable now by their absence (despite recent arrival numbers slowly rising again). 

 

So Phuket, again, is having to quickly adapt to a sudden surge of one particular nationality without looking to a time in the future when that market may not be arriving in the same numbers.

 

The good news, though, is that Chinese tourism is likely to kick in again from Q1 in 2023 with China removing most of the quarantine restrictions for people travelling to, or returning to, China. How quickly the Chinese arrivals will start stacking up, however, is anyone’s guess and will, mostly, rely on Chinese and Thai airlines putting their limited planes and staff resources onto China-Thailand routes again.

 

Many of the Russian arrivals, as you can imagine, are seeking stays of longer than the 45 days (plus 30 day extension) available to them. Phuket Go has spoken to 3 visa agents this week who say they are being “deluged with enquiries” for visas, “any sort or visa”, that will extend the stay for individuals and families.

 

“Many of them are happy to pay any amount of cash to secure a visa, making it more difficult for us to service our regular customers or new customers from other countries.”

 

“There has been a run on the Thailand Elite Visa, not cheap, but cost doesn’t appear to be an issue with many of them.”

So Phuket’s current Russian Revolution could be short lived, but a lot will depend on the situation in Russia, the tenacity of the Russian economy and the next phase of the Russia/Ukraine war.

 

For now, however, it’s “make hay while the sun shines” as Phuket’s tourism businesses and stakeholders are glad to see the return of flights and traffic jams.

 

But, to put everything in perspective, in 2019 the total number of international arrivals at Phuket Airport were 9,109,487. Since November 1 this year, the average number of daily arrivals has been approx. 9,500 (up to 11,900 on a couple of days), around 35-40% of the total average daily arrivals back in 2019. 

 

Take the huge number of current Russian arrivals out of that mix and Phuket would be languishing around 30% of the international arrival rates of 2019.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-travel/phukets-russian-revolution-2022/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2022-12-27

 

- Cigna 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.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

[Hamus Yaigh]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Take the huge number of current Russian arrivals out of that mix and Phuket would be languishing around 30% of the international arrival rates of 2019.

I expect most other nationalities are trying to avoid the ruskies.

[London Lowf]

9 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

I expect most other nationalities are trying to avoid the ruskies.

Do you really believe that significant numbers of tourists are scrapping their Thailand holiday plans in case they come across some Russians?

 

I can think of two other nationalities, one of which will soon be returning, that have a far greater negative impact!

[JoseThailand]

10 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

I expect most other nationalities are trying to avoid the ruskies.

At least they're better than the Chinese.

[ozimoron]

Those figures are from 2019. I suspect (know) they are far higher than that now. In Pattaya too. Pretty soon I'll be able to speak Russian if I keep hearing it everywhere I go.

[ozimoron]

13 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

At least they're better than the Chinese.

I find the Chinese pretty quiet and well mannered (by comparison since somebody laughed).

[JoseThailand]

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

I find the Chinese pretty quiet and well mannered.

Are you sure they were Chinese and not Japanese or Korean?

[ozimoron]

2 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Are you sure they were Chinese and not Japanese or Korean?

Yes. 90% of the time I can tell the difference immediately. The three languages are quite distinct. I've spent enough time (decades) in Thailand and the Philippines to know.

[IamNoone88]

The Language schools are doing a fantastic business even as the class rooms remain "empty". Strange that ...

[Salerno]

8 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

I find the Chinese pretty quiet and well mannered.

The FITs (free and independent travellers) I'd agree with, but the tour groups, not so much. I've had the pleasure of being on a river dinner cruise with them in Bangkok, sad to say I witnessed the "stereotypical" videos of mainlanders at various buffets played out live in front of me (the Thai crew actually took pity on us and brought meals to our table so we didn't have to wade in). I also screwed up once and booked an unknown, to me at the time, hotel in Pattaya while driving back on the last leg of a road trip, four coaches in the parking lot didn't bode well and it's the only time in my life I've actually lost it and gone into the corridor shouting at them to shut the F up (after three hours of them running from room to room, slamming the doors and "talking" at a ludicrous decibel level). A few months later I read a report the hotel had been raided, Chinese owned incorrect licences from memory.

 

They just need time to adjust to the social norms of the wider world. I have no doubt in a few years the stereotypes around them will fade into the history books as has, IMO, the "ugly American" stereotype.

 

I've also been lucky enough to have met some very pleasant Chinese travellers be it singles, couples or small family groups, and enjoyed the time I had with them discovering new things.

[mushroomdave]

13 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

I give them a pass for at least not participating in the war. I don't blame individual Russians anymore than I blame fellow Aussies for the transgressions of out own government. I don't even blame Americans for voting for Trump. Oh wait, I lied ????

They may be made to participate once they arrive back home.

[CANSIAM]

19 minutes ago, mushroomdave said:

They may be made to participate once they arrive back home.

Thus doing what ever it takes to stay longer, abuse of the education visa, since when do Ruskies want to learn another language lol. I've read it may be very difficult soon to get the ' I don't want to go home' education visa......

[Social Media]

Reported troll comment removed

[Mickeymaus]

11 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

I expect most other nationalities are trying to avoid the ruskies. 

I like them here in Pattaya. Many of them are not the typical sex tourists that you see in droves here. I'm always surprised when I see families with their children or normal couples where both are farang - I am in Pattaya... In Phuket the situation is more family friendly. 

[mushroomdave]

1 hour ago, CANSIAM said:

Thus doing what ever it takes to stay longer, abuse of the education visa, since when do Ruskies want to learn another language lol. I've read it may be very difficult soon to get the ' I don't want to go home' education visa......

I'm sure with a leader like they have, he will not forget......and you have to go home someday......just saying!!

[Srikcir]

I would call it a "Russian Revival." 

A "Russian Revolution" usually means civilians die vs going on vacation.

[Deli]

2 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

At least they're better than the Chinese.

Different but better ? Both worship their Dictators, though.

[stoner]

1 hour ago, mushroomdave said:

2 hours ago, ozimoron said:

I give them a pass for at least not participating in the war. I don't blame individual Russians anymore than I blame fellow Aussies for the transgressions of out own government. I don't even blame Americans for voting for Trump. Oh wait, I lied ????

They may be made to participate once they arrive back home.

wait....trump was spotted in phuket ? im confused. 

[jacko45k]

Meanwhile in Kiev.........

[JimHuaHin]

A similar "invasion" in Hua Hin.

 

A farang friend recently noted that Russian is now the second most spoken language in Hua Hin, having displaced Esarn from second place.

[nickmondo]

3 hours ago, ozimoron said:

Those figures are from 2019. I suspect (know) they are far higher than that now. In Pattaya too. Pretty soon I'll be able to speak Russian if I keep hearing it everywhere I go.

true.  the number of Russians here in Jomtien is ridiculous.  I wanted to live in Thailand not bloomin Moscow.  So annoying.  Time to travel north.  I hope Chiang Ri is not so infested

[Guderian]

Well the guy on the right is military age and doesn't look like he's be very happy with Putin sending him off to serve in the Meat Grinder, so no prizes for guessing why he's here, lol.

 

[gerritkaew]

Those Russian just flee the country, scared to send to war and het killed. Man or women, Putin send them…

[ozimoron]

4 hours ago, Salerno said:

The FITs (free and independent travellers) I'd agree with, but the tour groups, not so much. I've had the pleasure of being on a river dinner cruise with them in Bangkok, sad to say I witnessed the "stereotypical" videos of mainlanders at various buffets played out live in front of me (the Thai crew actually took pity on us and brought meals to our table so we didn't have to wade in). I also screwed up once and booked an unknown, to me at the time, hotel in Pattaya while driving back on the last leg of a road trip, four coaches in the parking lot didn't bode well and it's the only time in my life I've actually lost it and gone into the corridor shouting at them to shut the F up (after three hours of them running from room to room, slamming the doors and "talking" at a ludicrous decibel level). A few months later I read a report the hotel had been raided, Chinese owned incorrect licences from memory.

 

They just need time to adjust to the social norms of the wider world. I have no doubt in a few years the stereotypes around them will fade into the history books as has, IMO, the "ugly American" stereotype.

 

I've also been lucky enough to have met some very pleasant Chinese travellers be it singles, couples or small family groups, and enjoyed the time I had with them discovering new things.

True, I only really see the FiTs around where I live. The groups used to live behind Soi Buakhao years ago.

[micmichd]

15 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

I expect most other nationalities are trying to avoid the ruskies.

I guess the Russians won't care. 

[Salerno]

7 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

The groups used to live behind Soi Buakhao years ago.

Just Googled, time flies it was back in 2018. The hotel I alluded to is just off of South Pattaya road, not far from Tukcom, was running late (hire car needed to be returned) after Google maps screwed me around, driving on fumes, and having pulled up for a second to figure out where the hell I was, decided to book a couple of nights before heading to Bkk and fell for it calling itself "Boutique Hotel" - the vision in my head of a cute little cosy joint in a fairly decent location was soon vanquished when I found it, a right <deleted> hole IMO not helped by the four coachloads.

[Stargeezr]

It is good to see the children of Rich Russians who have escaped the cold weather or Russia to

spend their Winter in Thailand. I feel sorry for the poor people of Russia who's children have been

sent to die in Ukraine. I believe there will be many young Russian guys who will be in Thailand for a very long vacation.

  

[Zack61]

Time to bring out my blue and yellow shirt

[Thaifish]

How do they exchange Russian Ruble for Thai Baht??? The exchange rate is 0.

[Hamus Yaigh]

6 hours ago, London Lowf said:

Do you really believe that significant numbers of tourists are scrapping their Thailand holiday plans in case they come across some Russians?

I expect some wouldn't want to sit at the same table as a nationality that has created so much horror in their neighboring country.