7,600 Russian Tourists Seek Extension of Stay in Phuket Amid Tourism Boom

[webfact]

 

Krajangwit Johjit

PHUKET (NNT) - A local immigration chief in Phuket province has revealed that nearly 7,600 Russian nationals have sought to extend their stay in the province.

 

According to Pol Col Thanet Sukchai, Chief of the Phuket Immigration Office, many Russian tourists obtain visas to stay on the island for three months or not more than 90 days.

 

To escape the winter season in their home country, some have opted for temporary residency in the districts of Rawai and Chalong.

 

Pol Col Thanet added others are seeking to extend their stay in the capital district, followed by Thalang and Kathu.

 

Data on total arrivals showed an average of 300,000 foreign visitors entering the island per month, or 10,000 people per day.

 

The number continues to rise as tourism recovers after three lean pandemic years. Russia accounts for the most visitors by nationality, followed by India, Kazakhstan, England, and Australia.

 

As the number of foreign tourists on the island rises, immigration police have also launched a public service campaign to ensure the safety of foreign nationals and local residents.

 

Thanawat Ongcharoen, Vice-president of the Phuket Tourism Association, stated that most Russian visitors stay in hotels. Some rent houses with the owners reporting their stay to immigration officers, as required by law.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230302110859455

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-03-02

 

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[John Drake]

Another annexation. Southeast Crimea.

[MJCM]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

To escape the winter season in their home country, some have opted for temporary residency in the districts of Rawai and Chalong.

Shouldn't that read "escape the Conscription"?

[ozimoron]

Cue huge numbers of overstays.

[sammieuk1]

Sure there will be at least the same again disappearing ???? 

[transam]

"To escape the winter season"...................................................................

[Skallywag]

Sounds like they need to pay a Visa agent to sort it out or do a border run.  Isnt that what every other foreigner does?  What is the big deal? 

[bendejo]

If their prerogative is to avoid Russia they may just find another country, preferably one with a better visa deal and not buddies with Vlad.

 

 

[PMinThailand]

Send them home to take care of Putin!

[mikeymike100]

46 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

Sounds like they need to pay a Visa agent to sort it out or do a border run.  Isnt that what every other foreigner does?  What is the big deal? 

Many of the Russians have, or are, 'purchasing' ED visas?

[ezzra]

Do you blame them? i would too if i was a Russian right now.

[DUNROAMIN]

Gee, I thought they would all flock back to the motherland to help with the illegal  invasion of Ukraine to rid the place of all the Nazis. 

[DjSilver]

I'm split on this,

 

First, I don't think any country shouls allow Russians to go there now because of the war they started in Ukraine. The Russians needs to be tough and protest from within Russia.

 

Second, I also believe that Russians should be allowed asylum when refusing to participate in Russias invasion into Ukraine.

 

So, that would mean any Russian that are refusing to be a soldier and those who protest, should be welcomed with open arms as refugees.

 

So, just being a lazy Russian tourist, and not taking responsibility for their country is just bad.

[racket]

That's a whopping 14,44 million baht for thai immigration! 

[malibukid]

4 minutes ago, DjSilver said:

I'm split on this,

 

First, I don't think any country shouls allow Russians to go there now because of the war they started in Ukraine. The Russians needs to be tough and protest from within Russia.

 

Second, I also believe that Russians should be allowed asylum when refusing to participate in Russias invasion into Ukraine.

 

So, that would mean any Russian that are refusing to be a soldier and those who protest, should be welcomed with open arms as refugees.

 

So, just being a lazy Russian tourist, and not taking responsibility for their country is just bad.

snowflakes

[paulikens]

How are they getting 90 days then?   As far as i know an extension is 45 days these days

[IvorBiggun2]

5 minutes ago, paulikens said:

How are they getting 90 days then?   As far as i know an extension is 45 days these days

ED VISA CONDITIONS

2.1 ED Visa is valid for a single entry for education purposes only. 2.2 ED Visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. Travellers must enter Thailand within the said 90-day period. They will be allowed to stay in Thailand for a period of up to 90 days, counting from the date of entry.

[joloit]

16 minutes ago, DjSilver said:

I'm split on this,

 

First, I don't think any country shouls allow Russians to go there now because of the war they started in Ukraine. The Russians needs to be tough and protest from within Russia.

 

Second, I also believe that Russians should be allowed asylum when refusing to participate in Russias invasion into Ukraine.

 

So, that would mean any Russian that are refusing to be a soldier and those who protest, should be welcomed with open arms as refugees.

 

So, just being a lazy Russian tourist, and not taking responsibility for their country is just bad.

Russians can not be recognized as refugees, since Thailand is acting neutral in condemning the war with Ukraine. LOS has put itself in a dilemma….

[Tropposurfer]

On a laterally related subject we watched an HBO documentary the other evening called 'Navalny' which mirrored my old friend Katyas experiences as a freelance journalist. Kat had to flee St Petersburg some years back and cannot return to Russia for fear of being killed or arrested and disappeared like so many others.

The doco. painted a pretty dark picture of Russia. Complete dismantlement of any sense of free speech. Social media platforms banned and replaced by State run entities. No free press, assassinations, beatings of opposition, dissidents voiced folks by non-uniformed thugs in the pay of the State, FSB spies and informants throughout society. People snatched off the streets in broad daylight.

Those who aren't all in with Putin are controlled with terror. Deportations to gulags and other prisons for years with no formal convictions under bizarre fascist/quasi old-communist block laws of detention. All this wrapped in an endless cycle of misinformation, and brainwashing of the populace.

Edited March 2, 2023 by Tropposurfer

[Tarteso]

Police Inmigration not happy .. They will be very busy this days, overworked and without tips ????

Edited March 2, 2023 by Tarteso

[Photoguy21]

No one ever consdiers who these Russians are. The average Russian is not in a position to come and buy a condo. Think about that. At the same time people are complaining that the Russians are taking over Thai businesses.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

Agents must be a doing a roaring trade?

ED visas going for 50,000 baht a pop?

[Hakuna Matata]

51 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Many of the Russians have, or are, 'purchasing' ED visas?

Yes, it has been quite easy to buy an ED visa in Phuket (more easy than in Pattaya).

 

This criminal practice should be stopped finally. No-one of those so called "students" are attending the classes.

 

This is a huge source of income for "visa agents" and corrupt immigration officers!

[ignore it]

I keep telling immigration to get busy on a special "Duration of Conflict" visa...

 

 

[mikeymike100]

4 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

Yes, it has been quite easy to buy an ED visa in Phuket (more easy than in Pattaya).

 

This criminal practice should be stopped finally. No-one of those so called "students" are attending the classes.

 

This is a huge source of income for "visa agents" and corrupt immigration officers!

Correct, but it doesn't look like its going to end soon, in fact quite the opposite? Maybe when their money runs out?

[Jonathan Swift]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

Another annexation. Southeast Crimea.

Perhaps you're not aware that the citizens of a country are not responsible for the deeds of its leaders? Perhaps you are also not aware that many Russians are fleeing persecution, arrest, and imprisonment for opposing the Ukraine war? As well as fleeing because they don't want to be conscripted and sent to their certain death there? Perhaps you are not even aware there is a war in Ukraine? I just recently met and had a nice chat with a Russian couple whose answer to my first question, why did they come here, was answered with "because our country wants to kill us". So, just askin', where's YOUR humanity in all this? How many ethnic minorities are you afraid might take over your nice safe territory, in a country that was never yours in the first place? 

[BigStar]

2 hours ago, ozimoron said:

Cue huge numbers of overstays.

Oh, we been cueing it for months. Yet here they are not overstaying but extending visas. WOT? But ah, that sweet anticipation . . . .

[Hamus Yaigh]

15 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

his is a huge source of income for "visa agents" and corrupt immigration officers!

Didn't that Tim at TNT news about Phuket always say that building a business based on a refugee crisis is not sustainable? There again sustainable is anathema for most of these bucket shop businesses.

[zzzzz]

enterprising Russians have set up language & Muay Thai schools for their countrymen and know friendly immigration officers>
same as the Chinese did ( and were caught out) 

90 days is also easy tourist visa plus 30 day extension, visa run an repeat

[Jonathan Swift]

2 hours ago, transam said:

"To escape the winter season"...................................................................

I guess SOMEONE has to 'splain this to you - many are seeking to escape persecution and death because of the Ukraine war, or do you not read anything besides aseannow? I'm sure that is not what they tell immigration or news writers. I've heard it straight from the Russians themselves. So I'd say they're entitled to a symphony orchestra full of violins.