BANGKOK — Starting next month, on November 1, Thailand will allow Russian tourists to stay visa-free for up to 90 days. The move comes as tourists from the country have had increasingly few options for travel, given Moscow's war on Ukraine, the impact of sanctions, travel restrictions, and a weakening ruble.

 

News that Thailand was extending visa-free stays from 30 to 90 days came late last week just before the country's Prime Minister Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing last week.

 

Thailand has already seen nearly one million tourists from Russia this year and tourism officials hope that the extension of visa free status will help boost the number coming to the sunny Southeast Asian country during peak season from November to March.

 

Few options

 

Igor Shchedrov is the general manager at Svoi Travel, a Thailand-based travel agency. More than half of his customers are from Russia.

 

"The rate for ruble, things are more expensive, like the flight tickets. They don't have a lot of choices for destinations when traveling because Europe closed [for Russian tourists]. They have some trouble with Visa and Mastercard, but now they can use UnionPay, a Chinese system, and a lot of customers pay by cash," he told VOA.

 

by Tommy Walker

FILE PHOTO - Russian tourists stay at the beach in Phuket, Thailand, March 12, 2022.

 

Full story: VOA 2023-10-24

 

- 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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Glad to read news about this every other day. Yes, Thailand loves the Russians, I get it! Hope, we get to to read more news and info about destinations that also welcome non-Russians for longer stays...

90 day visa-free stays for Russians “good for Thailand”

By Peter Roche

 

PHOTO: Russians in Phuket, leading the way in tourism

Starting from November 1, Thailand will grant Russian tourists visa-free stays for up to 90 days, a significant extension from the previous 30-day limit. This move is aimed at accommodating Russian travelers seeking alternative destinations amid Moscow’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, international sanctions, and travel restrictions, coupled with a devaluing ruble.

 

The decision to prolong the visa-free period was announced shortly before last week’s meeting between Thailand’s PM Srettha Thavisin and the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.

 

Thailand has already witnessed an influx of nearly one million Russian visitors this year, and the government hopes this extension will further boost their numbers during the peak season from November to March.

 

Full story: PhuketGO 2023-10-24

 

- 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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I'm surprised Putin is letting potential cannon fodder leave the country.

Lets see how they feel about this in a years time, go look at what is happening on Phuket already !!!

They should have restricted it to gender, females only 🙂 All the men will be busy doing the devils work.

O goody…. More Russians for longer

I don't disagree with this measure to promote long-stay tourism, I just don't understand why they chose not to make it available to other nationalities as well. It could have enticed quite a number of snowbirds to stay longer this upcoming winter. 

I live in Phuket. Can confirm it's little Moscow. What a surprise...number one nationality for overstay is....

 

War Dodgers , cowards.  

Just now, Karma80 said:

I live in Phuket. Can confirm it's little Moscow. What a surprise...number one nationality for overstay is....

 

I don't like Russians but to be fair statistically It's going be russians overstaying as they're more of them here. 

So, Are they going to let other countries follow or is that it?  just the Russians? 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 Starting next month, on November 1, Thailand will allow Russian tourists to stay visa-free for up to 90 days. The move comes as tourists from the country have had increasingly few options for travel, given Moscow's war on Ukraine, the impact of sanctions, travel restrictions, and a weakening ruble.

How humanitarian of Thailand... not a bad idea as it seems the Chinese rush has run out of steam...

 

It's hard to understand the reasons for extending visas to Russians and not most other visitors.

What is so "special" about Russian tourists?

13 minutes ago, Karma80 said:

I live in Phuket. Can confirm it's little Moscow. What a surprise...number one nationality for overstay is....

 

Russians and Chinese, who would have guessed  555

"Hi Ivan, welcome home, long time no see, how was your holiday in Thailand?"

 

"Horrible, the first few days were fine, but then my credit card stopped working

and I couldn't pay for drinks and the bar-girls kept ignoring me, said I was sticky"

 

"Sorry to hear that, well, I have good news about Ukraine. The army is winning

the fight against the neo-Nazis who were threatening to invade us and take over."

 

"Are you kidding? I've been watching the war, and it is a war, on Thai news and

other channels like CNN and Fox, and we are getting our butts kicked by every

man, woman and peasant who is taking up arms against us. I saw an English-

language newspaper that said tank commanders were deserting their vehicles

and surrendering."

 

"But I just saw the bulletin on State TV that the president of Ukraine had been 

killed, and the government had capitulated!"

 

"Not a bit of it, Igor! The western countries and US are rallying round Ukraine and

giving them arms, rockets and financial help. That's why I didn't have any money, they

are blocking our banks from doing business and we can't sell our goods abroad. Haven't 

you been watching the news?"

 

Igor suddenly realises he has been lied to and listens intently to what Ivan says...

 

The End...?

Now it's confirmed, we all know where Thailand loyalties are..... R's and Ch's 555

 

First Chinese and Indians, now Russians. Do the government really believe these are the saviours of the thai economy. 

Why so much fuzz about this? There must be a reason which we don't know - so good for them and good for Thai hospitality.

Every time when things get tough people tend to run. There's condo at Pinklao - somehow suddenly full of young Israelies within last week. There are Russians who can afford to relocate away - good for them, but seriously - don't care. 

 

1 hour ago, anfh said:

Lets see how they feel about this in a years time, go look at what is happening on Phuket already !!!

Even worse...go look at what's happened to Nha Trang in Vietnam in the past 8-10 years...Russkies totally run that town now.

51 minutes ago, cracker1 said:

It's hard to understand the reasons for extending visas to Russians and not most other visitors.

What is so "special" about Russian tourists?

They help stimulate manila envelope production in Thailand and grow the local economy.😋

We all know that Russian tourists are the best and they should have this benefit over others. Why would you give this same benefit for Baltic countries or scumbags from other EU countries. After Russia maybe North Korean tourists will get the next 90 day visa. 

This is certainly a good news for Russian mafia and Russian fugitives who have been finding a safe heaven in Thailand for many decades.

 

Sretha, this is a move in the wrong direction!

Will PLO/Hamas/Iran be next for visa-free visits? 

Thailand could duplicate Argentine's WW2 "prudent neutrality" to all international belligerents (aside from its decades own internal Muslim insurgengecy). 

They will reap what they sow

Invade a country and get free passes to paradise. Free bottle of vodka on landing?

 

This is really unbelievable! TIT! 

1 hour ago, cracker1 said:

It's hard to understand the reasons for extending visas to Russians and not most other visitors.

What is so "special" about Russian tourists?

whats so special nothing............ just russia and thai have a bilateral agreement on visas meaning thais can stay in russia too for 90 days ,  and in europe ?? not any agreement , cant even go to milan for 3 days with girlfriend  ..for all <deleted> need visa.. meaning if thai europe sign agreement ,yes you would get to 90 days , if europe does

would hope so ,,but stupid europe prefering illegals from africa and middle east 

Free bus to 

Phuketski

Pattayaski

Krabiski

Oh Dear things are a changing! 

Remember Thais have visa free travel to Russia, this cant be said for other European countries. 

90 days visa free for everyone would be better. Until its not.