Phuket authorities dismiss concerns over rising Russian population and mafia claims

[webfact]

 

Yesterday, Phuket authorities refuted allegations that the island has been overrun by Russians, including members of the mafia. These claims were sparked by a report in Al Jazeera earlier this week, which highlighted concerns among locals.

 

The locals fear that Russian tourists are snatching jobs usually held by Thais, operating unlawful businesses, and causing a surge in property prices, making it increasingly challenging to rent on the island.

 

Official data reveals that over 400,000 Russians arrived in Phuket between January and July this year. This figure is double the number of visitors from Russia before the onset of the nation’s war against Ukraine in February 2022.

 

Many Russians have fled the after-effects of the war in Ukraine and found a sanctuary in Phuket. This influx has been facilitated by the introduction of Russian visitor bans by many other countries.

 

Several Russians have initiated businesses on the island, purchased properties, and secured long-term visas. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, inaugurated the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Phuket at the Royal Phuket Marina on July 15.

There has been an upsurge of Russian-only enterprises using exclusively Russian language. Instances of illegal workers have also been discovered, such as the arrest of three Russian women working unlawfully at a beauty salon in Cherng Talay on July 18 by Phuket Immigration.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Picture courtesy of PR Phuket

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-authorities-dismiss-concerns-over-rising-russian-population-and-mafia-claims

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-09-09

 

- 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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[jvs]

Of course,i did not expect any thing else.

Remember the Pattaya  Police could not find any evidence of

prostitution there?I just wonder what motivates this,no just kidding.

I find Al Jazeera one of the most honest and unbiased news channels,i tend to believe them.

Bring on the confused emojis!

 

 

 

[Harsh Jones]

This has almost nothing to do with Russians fleeing the war. And no. The Russian economy is not collapsing at all. If it was, you'd see all the Russians leaving. Just as the whole Anglo era slowly ended in Thailand after 2008 after the financial crisis. 

 

No. This is about Russians not wanting to travel or not being welcome in Nato countries. So they go to places like Thailand instead.

 

From Latvia to Spain: How the lack of Russian tourists has impacted countries across Europe

 

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/06/16/has-the-loss-of-russian-tourism-dealt-europe-a-crippling-blow

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Phuket authorities refuted allegations that the island has been overrun by Russians, including members of the mafia

The payoffs seem to be substantial then.

[Tarteso]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Many Russians found a sanctuary ???? in Phuket.

????

[Prometheus33]

31 minutes ago, Harsh Jones said:

This has almost nothing to do with Russians fleeing the war. And no. The Russian economy is not collapsing at all. If it was, you'd see all the Russians leaving. Just as the whole Anglo era slowly ended in Thailand after 2008 after the financial crisis. 

 

No. This is about Russians not wanting to travel or not being welcome in Nato countries. So they go to places like Thailand instead.

 

From Latvia to Spain: How the lack of Russian tourists has impacted countries across Europe

 

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/06/16/has-the-loss-of-russian-tourism-dealt-europe-a-crippling-blow

... true , a very pragmatic view ... 

[AAArdvark]

10 minutes ago, Prometheus33 said:

... true , a very pragmatic view ... 

But wrong 

[cjinchiangrai]

If there are Russians working illegally then report them. Immigration is waiting. The Russians have been there for years so they are very entrenched.

[Taboo2]

Of course they will say this....they have no choice  and everyone knows who run that island now.

[Sydebolle]

Proof again, that they want the money but not the work involved in getting it. 

You want tourism money, then you will have to accept, that tourists will come. 

If there is too little or no tourism (and there is plenty of whining going on all over Thailand) then you complain. Once you get, whatever is left of the previous perfect cake you had, you complain over too many Indians, Russians or Chinese. 

Well, you messed it up yourself; 35 years ago I remember quality tourism, then you went for quantity tourism and now you have not much else to choose.

You should have done it following the Bhutanese example, top quality tourism with top money; albeit Thailand would have had to be a little more "generous" but the tremendous greed all over your country brought you to the tourism abyss you're facing now and in the near future. 

So, shut up, start working, be polite and friendly and do not treat tourists like sheep on the way to the slaughterhouse - Nuff said! 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

57 minutes ago, Harsh Jones said:

The Russian economy is not collapsing at all.

Not sure what your idea of an economic collapse is, but the Ruble has lost roughly 25% of its value against the dollar since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.

[transam]

There's no hookers in Pattaya either...........????

[jvs]

16 minutes ago, transam said:

There's no hookers in Pattaya either...........????

Matthew 7:7-8

[transam]

7 minutes ago, jvs said:

Matthew 7:7-8

Who's he.......?  ????

[ujayujay]

3 Illegal russian workers they found

[spidermike007]

The authorities to the people: We realize the Russians are not well liked and lack basic social skills. But, the Russians, Chinese, Indians, Malaysians and Arabs are all we have now. Very few Europeans, Australians, Kiwis, Americans and Canadians  are visiting now. The high airfares must be a deterrent. Are there other reasons? We don't know.

 

You don't have to like them. We work with what we got. Right? 

[shackleton]

They would say this after encouraging Russians who are not welcome in most Countries to come to Thailand ????

Phuket  welcomed them with their money buying properties investing in Businesses ect ????

Now that the locals are moaning the government are making out there is not that  many Russians there ???? 

You reap what you sow 

 

 

[thesetat2013]

Isn't that what they are paid to do?

[stix40]

Let them come ! More the merrier! 

Glad I don't live in Phuket ! 

Chokdeeski 

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The locals fear that Russian tourists are snatching jobs usually held by Thais, operating unlawful businesses, and causing a surge in property prices, making it increasingly challenging to rent on the island.

Reap what you sow...

Som nam na Phuket...

[BusyB]

2 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Proof again, that they want the money but not the work involved in getting it. 

You want tourism money, then you will have to accept, that tourists will come. 

If there is too little or no tourism (and there is plenty of whining going on all over Thailand) then you complain. Once you get, whatever is left of the previous perfect cake you had, you complain over too many Indians, Russians or Chinese. 

Well, you messed it up yourself; 35 years ago I remember quality tourism, then you went for quantity tourism and now you have not much else to choose.

You should have done it following the Bhutanese example, top quality tourism with top money; albeit Thailand would have had to be a little more "generous" but the tremendous greed all over your country brought you to the tourism abyss you're facing now and in the near future. 

So, shut up, start working, be polite and friendly and do not treat tourists like sheep on the way to the slaughterhouse - Nuff said! 

I don't know where you hang out but that's not the way I've experienced Thailand in over 20 years of snowbirds and long stays.

[BarraMarra]

Yep they welcomed them in their droves now the locals are moaning and complaining. Phuket was bad before all these draft dodgers started arriving. The yearly figures don't lie Since the barbarians started killing Ukrainians, thousands fleeing to Phuket They will not want to return to Russia once their holiday is over, same as the ilegals arriving in their hundreds crossing the channel daily to Scrounge off us in the UK. Our government was the same as the Thai Government we opened our arms to welcome them now we are regretting it.

[stupidfarang]

3 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

This has almost nothing to do with Russians fleeing the war. And no. The Russian economy is not collapsing at all. If it was, you'd see all the Russians leaving. Just as the whole Anglo era slowly ended in Thailand after 2008 after the financial crisis. 

 

No. This is about Russians not wanting to travel or not being welcome in Nato countries. So they go to places like Thailand instead.

 

From Latvia to Spain: How the lack of Russian tourists has impacted countries across Europe

 

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/06/16/has-the-loss-of-russian-tourism-dealt-europe-a-crippling-blow

This Euro news link is about Russian tourists and where they are holidaying now. As for Russians fleeing the war, that is another story. Many fled to Georgia, Turkey, Isreal etc with one way tickets. There are Russians here who are running from the war, you will find them in many countries. Figures range from 300,000 to one million fleeing in the past year, depends where you read and what you belive.  Check https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/where-have-russians-been-fleeing-since-mobilisation-began-2022-10-06/

[chang1]

3 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

This has almost nothing to do with Russians fleeing the war. And no. The Russian economy is not collapsing at all. If it was, you'd see all the Russians leaving. Just as the whole Anglo era slowly ended in Thailand after 2008 after the financial crisis. 

 

No. This is about Russians not wanting to travel or not being welcome in Nato countries. So they go to places like Thailand instead.

 

From Latvia to Spain: How the lack of Russian tourists has impacted countries across Europe

 

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/06/16/has-the-loss-of-russian-tourism-dealt-europe-a-crippling-blow

You watch too much RT. The more intelligent/wealthy Russians are getting out while they can. Putin is going to have to enlist hundreds of thousands as canon fodder over the next few months. The sanctions are really starting to hurt the economy which will suffer for decades to come.

Generally, the useful ones will settle in western countries, the decent ones left will go to ex soviet countries and the dregs will end up in Thailand.

[chang1]

5 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Yep they welcomed them in their droves now the locals are moaning and complaining. Phuket was bad before all these draft dodgers started arriving. The yearly figures don't lie Since the barbarians started killing Ukrainians, thousands fleeing to Phuket They will not want to return to Russia once their holiday is over, same as the ilegals arriving in their hundreds crossing the channel daily to Scrounge off us in the UK. Our government was the same as the Thai Government we opened our arms to welcome them now we are regretting it.

We never welcomed these economic migrants, we had no choice. France does all it can to enable them to get here. My town is full of them and they need sending to Rwanda.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Many Russians have fled the after-effects of the war in Ukraine

I don't think it's "after-effects" but "side-effects" of the war that is continuing.

Albeit, those side-effects are more sufferable for Ukrainians than for Russians whose military commits war crimes, genocide, kidnappings, executions, and targets it's own military in the battlefield. 

[BarraMarra]

6 minutes ago, stupidfarang said:

This Euro news link is about Russian tourists and where they are holidaying now. As for Russians fleeing the war, that is another story. Many fled to Georgia, Turkey, Isreal etc with one way tickets. There are Russians here who are running from the war, you will find them in many countries. Figures range from 300,000 to one million fleeing in the past year, depends where you read and what you belive.  Check https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/where-have-russians-been-fleeing-since-mobilisation-began-2022-10-06/

How would you feel stupidfarang if you decided to live in a nice area in Phuket and then within a few months many young Russians started arriving in your little piece of Heaven? Russian shops began opening and selling Russian food. strangers walking up and down your Soi some even living next to you.

[Ironmike]

Already to many of these rubbish people breaking the laws, send them back home to fight Putins war they voted for him

[MurakamiX]

To be fair, I'd rather live in any seedy, rundown, dingy and disgusting soi, than to live in Russia. 

[ChipButty]

Looks like they are here to stay so get used to it,