Russian Elites Are Transforming Thailand’s Biggest Island as They Become More Unwelcome in the West

[webfact]

 

An influx of Russian expats is buying up property in Phuket.

Thailand has long been a top destination for tourists. But one group in particular is now flocking to Phuket, the country’s largest island: Russian elites.

 

While many Russians are getting turned away from Western countries, thanks to Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, they’re finding a friendly welcome in Thailand, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. From January to June of this year, more than 790,000 Russian nationals arrived in the country, a whopping 1,000 percent increase from the same time last year, according to the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports. More than half of those people flew into Phuket, with Russians being the No. 1 group of tourists to the island, the Phuket Tourist Association said.

 

“The atmosphere for everybody is wonderful and peaceful,” Yuri Vorona, a restaurant manager in Phuket, told Bloomberg. “We have everyday Russians, who just want to rest and not fight.”

 

An influx of Russian expats is buying up property in Phuket.
By TORI LATHAM 

 

Picture: Unsplash

Full story: https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/russian-elites-phuket-thailand-1234873360/

 

-- © Copyright Robb Report 2023-07-28

 

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[proton]

Another reason not to go there

[Shop mak]

Not only in Phuket.

Real estate companies in Pattaya told me the same. High increase in russians who want to rent and buy property also in Pattaya

[phetphet]

What makes them all so elite?

[ezzra]

34 minutes ago, webfact said:

“We have everyday Russians, who just want to rest and not fight.”

Tell that to Putin who's hell's bent on destroying and killing other nations.

[ChipButty]

I suspect the Russians have something to do with the new project just coming up out of the ground in Rawai they flattened half the property along the beach front, looks like a huge project for Rawai, 

[ChipButty]

13 minutes ago, phetphet said:

What makes them all so elite?

They have money and loads of it

[Hamus Yaigh]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

thanks to Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, they’re finding a friendly welcome in Thailand, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

The true face of Thailand. An utter disgrace.

[bob smith]

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

An influx of Russian expats is buying up property in Phuket.

yet another reason to never set foot in that god forsaken place again!

Edited July 28, 2023 by bob smith

[steven100]

imagine what the place will be like in 1-2 yrs from now .... It'll be a dump ..... a little Moscow.

It'll put tourists off going there.   

[stevenl]

I don't trust those numbers. A year ago or so there was a major influx, but many if them seem to have left. I see far less Russians around atm then half a year or so ago 

[swerve]

Many not to have left. There are still plenty of Russians in Phuket.  My neighbourhood in Chalong is full of them.

[KhunLA]

Can someone explain to me how you can tell they are Russian, or any nationality unless in conversation with them.

 

We were on Phuket this year, and I saw/met one couple.  Only knew they was Russian, as the Aussie at the pool asked him where he was from.  

 

Although, with that observation, I can honestly say, more than 33% of the int'l tourist I met on Phuket were Russian.

 

Talked with 1 Iranian, 1 Aussie couple, and 1 Russian couple.

 

Since I'm an expat, wife/Thai, we don't count as int'l tourist.

 

So I can honestly say Phuket is being overrun with Iranians, Aussies & Russians ????

Edited July 28, 2023 by KhunLA

[visarunner]

39 minutes ago, steven100 said:

imagine what the place will be like in 1-2 yrs from now .... It'll be a dump ..... a little Moscow.

It'll put tourists off going there.   

The Russians don't interfere with other Tourist's, they just stay within their community, at least this is what I observed.

[StayinThailand2much]

55 minutes ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

The true face of Thailand. An utter disgrace.

It's all about $$$$...

[ChipButty]

37 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Can someone explain to me how you can tell they are Russian, or any nationality unless in conversation with them.

 

I can tell just by looking at them, 

[ChipButty]

55 minutes ago, steven100 said:

imagine what the place will be like in 1-2 yrs from now .... It'll be a dump ..... a little Moscow.

It'll put tourists off going there.   

most tourist dont even know they are Russians  

[harada]

The Thais might have a different opinion of them if they read up on what the Bolsheviks got up to, but I guess a baht’s a baht.  ????

[ChrisY1]

Phuket will be sorry soon.....once they get control of the taxis!

[zzzzz]

2 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

The true face of Thailand. An utter disgrace.

WHY:
do you think Canada did wrong by allowing Americans, fleeing the draft in the 60's, to set up their homes there?
I have nothing against Russians fleeing Russia>
Just dont want them trying to change Thailand for the rest of us

Edited July 28, 2023 by zzzzz

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

What makes them all so elite?

If they can afford to move to Phuket and drive up housing prices without working, that's a sign. 

[phetphet]

14 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

If they can afford to move to Phuket and drive up housing prices without working, that's a sign. 

That doesn't make them elite, just cashed up.

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, phetphet said:

That doesn't make them elite, just cashed up.

Elite enough for Thailand. 

[phetphet]

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Elite enough for Thailand. 

True. Money rules.

[zhaffsky]

2 hours ago, visarunner said:

The Russians don't interfere with other Tourist's,

As a Russian, I'm surprised that you expect them to interfere with people who think of them as subhumans. This topic clearly shows what kind of people they try to avoid.

 

And by the way, Thailand only opened on October 1st, 2022. Comparing numbers to year before us ridiculous.

 

So, relax, people, things are only getting back to pre-covid normal. 

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, zhaffsky said:

As a Russian, I'm surprised that you expect them to interfere with people who think of them as subhumans. This topic clearly shows what kind of people they try to avoid.

 

And by the way, Thailand only opened on October 1st, 2022. Comparing numbers to year before us ridiculous.

 

So, relax, people, things are only getting back to pre-covid normal. 

Greetings.

As you're Russian I would like to ask your opinion about the demographics of the Russians coming here now.

What percentage of the people coming would you classify as "fleeing" the war / avoiding conscription, etc. as opposed to "normal" tourists or expats in times of peace? 

[stoner]

3 hours ago, bob smith said:

yet another reason to never set foot in that god forsaken place again!

i'm about to move to phuket. 

Edited July 28, 2023 by stoner

[sammieuk1]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Can someone explain to me how you can tell they are Russian, or any nationality unless in conversation with them.

 

We were on Phuket this year, and I saw/met one couple.  Only knew they was Russian, as the Aussie at the pool asked him where he was from.  

 

Although, with that observation, I can honestly say, more than 33% of the int'l tourist I met on Phuket were Russian.

 

Talked with 1 Iranian, 1 Aussie couple, and 1 Russian couple.

 

Since I'm an expat, wife/Thai, we don't count as int'l tourist.

 

So I can honestly say Phuket is being overrun with Iranians, Aussies & Russians ????

The "Z" is a giveaway ????

[KhunLA]

39 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

What percentage of the people coming would you classify as "fleeing" the war / avoiding conscription, etc. as opposed to "normal" tourists or expats in times of peace? 

0% / 0% & 100%

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

0% / 0% & 100%

Why post such obviously false garbage?