‘Russian-only’ businesses in Thailand’s Phuket spark backlash

[webfact]

 

Locals complain about the large number of Russians fleeing the fallout of the war in Ukraine, claiming they are stealing Thai jobs.

Bangkok, Thailand – A huge influx of Russians in Phuket is producing a backlash from locals, amid complaints of a booming Russian-only economy that covers everything from hair salons to taxi firms.

 

More than 400,000 Russians arrived on the Thai tourist island between January and July this year, according to authorities, double the number of visitors before Russia’s war against Ukraine.

 

Many later secured long stay-visas, buying properties and establishing businesses to escape economic turmoil and the possibility of being conscripted following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

 

In July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Phuket to inaugurate a new consulate to handle the surging number of citizens seeking work and leisure on the island.

 

The growing Russian presence is bringing rapid change.

 

Property prices have surged, which, although a boon to Thai owners and realtors, has made it more difficult for renters to find an affordable place on the island.

 

Russian-only businesses have sprung up, often run through Russian language apps and staffed by people working illegally.

 

There have also been reports of Russian sex workers operating along the nightlife epicentre of Bangla Road, mainly for Russian clientele.

 

By Vijitra Duangdee

TOP: Many Russians come to Phuket to escape economic turmoil and the possibility of being conscripted after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine [File: Jorge Silva/Reuters]

 

Full story: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/9/6/russian-only-businesses-in-thailands-phuket-spark-backlash

 

-- AL JAZEERA 2023-09-06

 

- 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.

 

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[ChipButty]

It's like little Moscow down in Rawai 

[Dmitry2222]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Many later secured long stay-visas, buying properties and establishing businesses to escape economic turmoil and the possibility of being conscripted following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Actually Phuket and Turkey are just one of the cheapest directions for holidays. No need looking a political reasons.

[bobbin]

24 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

Actually Phuket and Turkey are just one of the cheapest directions for holidays. No need looking a political reasons.

That, and the fact that Russians are not welcome as tourists in most of the world..

 

Sucks to be a global troublemaker.

[damo1967]

27 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

Actually Phuket and Turkey are just one of the cheapest directions for holidays. No need looking a political reasons.

FOBS!  You would not be Russian would you 'Dmitry'?  ???? ????

 

[Scottie12]

You couldn't be more wrong Dimitry,Phuket is a very expensive destination these days.

[patongphil]

Just might head off to Bangla for a bit of blonde, blue eyed action!!!

[Tarteso]

Too many Russian in Phuket…

 

Same same in Ukraine ???????? 

[CANSIAM]

Well, when the majority of the population have no idea whats happening outside their country, it takes a while see the bigger picture here that began in late October 2022......

[sikishrory]

Oh they just noticed this?

[FarangJon]

43 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

Actually Phuket and Turkey are just one of the cheapest directions for holidays. No need looking a political reasons.

Phuket is cheap? Maye 20 years ago 

[ChasingTheSun]

Allot of them are actually ukranians fleeing the draft etc..

 

Most ukranians speak russian, so allot of people confuse the two.

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

It's like little Moscow down in Rawai 

The same in Villa Market at Chalong.

[dpeti73]

My favorite they are stilling the sex workers job

[TruthinThailand]

I am sorry but if Russian sex workers?* are operating to service Russian Clientele the prices will be almost out of reach for the general sexpat. One has only to remember the Russian Clubs on Walking Street to get an idea of increased costs.

 

* I was once told by a reliable Russian Film Official that we couldn't use Russian Girls as prostitutes as there are no Russian prostitutes, just Ukrainian ones. Apparently you can tell by their faces, round chubby and with small rodent like teeth, Russian, Long horse like face with big teeth Ukrainian. He was 100% serious on this I kid you not.

[itsari]

Thailand should sell Phuket to the Russians .

USA bought Alaska from the Russians so all is possible 

[Jumbo1968]

More coming as flights from are going to increased in the coming months, I thought Russians weren’t allowed to leave Russia ?

[malibukid]

30 minutes ago, patongphil said:

Just might head off to Bangla for a bit of blonde, blue eyed action!!!

are they turning  tricks?  i could see the local girls being upset

[PMinThailand]

Send them all back to their miserable country and take care of their criminal boss in the Kremlin

 

[Modern Coding]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

[...] Russian-only economy that covers everything from hair salons to taxi firms.

[...]

Russian-only businesses have sprung up, often run through Russian language apps and staffed by people working illegally.

Ugh... wait... foreigner owning business here in Thailand: hair salons, taxi firms,... aren't they supposed to be restricted to the Thais only??

 

I thought only Thais would be allowed to run these sorts of business, so how could Russian get the permits to run Thai-only businesses??

And please don't come with the common brown envelop explanation: the Labor Department has become very strict with this!

 

Regarding people working illegally: in that case, the Russians would have gotten their visa and work permits removed by the authorities. I mean, every foreign business owner knows that you need to have at least 4 Thais registered per foreign owner or employee, declare them every month for the Social Security and so on, yearly audit, half-year financial statement and so on... everything getting stricter...

 

So if the Russians in Phuket are running business illegally, how come they have not been kicked out yet?? I must have missed something...

[tgw]

Quote

Russian-only businesses have sprung up, often run through Russian language apps and staffed by people working illegally.

 

There have also been reports of Russian sex workers operating along the nightlife epicentre of Bangla Road, mainly for Russian clientele.

the illegal work would be for immigration police to tackle ? what are they doing ?

 

regarding the sex work, Asians in general are unattractive to a vast majority of Russians, so that would be "specialty work" that can't be done by Thais and where foreign labor clearly is required.

[malibukid]

6 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

More coming as flights from are going to increased in the coming months, I thought Russians weren’t allowed to leave Russia ?

it is now getting more difficult.  Putin desperate for cannon fodder.  now telling the cuban to come to Russia for good construction jobs.  upon arrival they get gun and uniform instead.

[SuperSaiyan]

The reality is... the "Russians" are probably Ukrainians as well. No local and no White foreigner will be ever be able to distinguish between them.

[sammieuk1]

With so many draft dodgers and deserters now there Dmitry Medvedev will be threatening to nuke it ASAP????

[malibukid]

cowards and creeps. send them back to the super creep.  he needs them for American F16 practice

[Trip Hop]

8 minutes ago, Modern Coding said:

 

I thought only Thais would be allowed to run these sorts of business, so how could Russian get the permits to run Thai-only businesses??

And please don't come with the common brown envelop explanation: the Labor Department has become very strict with this!

 

 

I stand to be corrected but I'm pretty sure that the occupations reserved for Thais only apply to employees.  When I briefly looked into it years ago regarding my industry, I couldn't work unless it was for a foreign company carrying out a major contract in Thailand and I was classed as a key worker, which they would only allow a few.  I could on the other hand though, open up a company in my industry as long as I only employed Thais and a minimum of 4 in order to get a work permit for myself?

[Jackbenimble]

1 hour ago, Dmitry2222 said:

Actually Phuket and Turkey are just one of the cheapest directions for holidays. No need looking a political reasons.

Thailand is also one of the few countries that issues VOA to Russians. Once here the TV can be switched to something more permanent. 

[Harveyboy]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

It's like little Moscow down in Rawai 

Good ..whilst they are there they ain't in Jomtien eh !!

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A huge influx of Russians in Phuket is producing a backlash from locals, amid complaints of a booming Russian-only economy that covers everything from hair salons to taxi firms.

TAT couldn't welcome them in fast enough... now live with the fall-out.

[Purdey]

Things are getting confusing.

"Not enough tourists, economic growth slow." "Too many Russians* spending money."

"Sex workers for Russians only." "We don't have sex workers in Thailand."

"Russians cause prices to rise." "Chinese don't?"

"Russians taking Thai jobs." "How many Thais speak Russian?"

Either Thailand wants tourists or doesn't. Inevitably, there will be tourists who do something illegal, so arrest and deport them.

*Substitute for Ukrainians to taste.