“Over 9,000 granted long-stay visas since the start of 2023.”

 

Phuket is experiencing a significant transformation due to an influx of Russian tourists, driving up property prices and sparking local resentment. While Western countries impose sanctions on Russia, Thailand continues to welcome Russian visitors in an effort to revive its tourism industry post-COVID.

 

The Thai government has even extended Russian tourist visas from 30 to 90 days, resulting in almost half a million Russians arriving in Phuket in the first half of the year. Over 9,000 granted long-stay visas.

 

The extension to 90 days for the Russian visa-waiver has not been offered to any other country leaving many westerners to wonder why Russian visitors are being give special preferential visa stays at the moment.

 

By Peter Roche

Caption: PHOTO: Russians operating in Phuket

 

Full story: Phuket GO 2023-11-13

 

- 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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Yes, all for money! No morals!

2 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Yes, all for money! No morals!

What did the Russians do? Civilians didnt start the war

4 minutes ago, bignok said:

What did the Russians do? Civilians didnt start the war

True, but if every country put pressure on the people, they might stop being lame and make a revolution. If not, it must been seen as they agree.

6 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

True, but if every country put pressure on the people, they might stop being lame and make a revolution. If not, it must been seen as they agree.

They are running away. I would too.

That's for sure "local resentment"  9000 long-stay visas issued and I would guess a high percentage under 50. Bulging brown bags for the select few............ 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand continues to welcome Russian visitors to revive its tourism industry post-COVID.

... thai people know money has no country! and besides what are the results of these sanctions against russia? the european economy is in unbelievably bad shape, nowadays.

12 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

True, but if every country put pressure on the people, they might stop being lame and make a revolution. If not, it must been seen as they agree.

I think Putin would feel more heat if Thailand did close their doors to Russian Federation Passports......

How do

20 minutes ago, bignok said:

They are running away. I would too.

Before running away and jump out of windows, destroy cars, being drunk and stupid as well as running naked and hitting people they should stay home and clean up their own country.

Apparently Phuket now has an abundance of taxi drivers, prostitutes, gangsters,hairdressers and drug dealers to bolster the economy 🤔  

Just now, Gottfrid said:

Before running away and jump out of windows, destroy cars, being drunk and stupid as well as running naked and hitting people they should stay home and clean up their own country.

They don't care what you think.

Just now, bignok said:

They don't care what you think.

No, and I don´t care what you think. 

Just now, Gottfrid said:

No, and I don´t care what you think. 

So what's the point of your whining then?

2 minutes ago, bignok said:

So what's the point of your whining then?

Let´s say like this. You are not the only reader and poster here. If you don´t like my "whining", just move on.

2 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Let´s say like this. You are not the only reader and poster here. If you don´t like my "whining", just move on.

1 hour ago, bignok said:

Is that you playing Symphony No.5 from Beethoven? Thinking about you faith as stuck on Asean Now, regarding 11200 posts in only nine month time. That´s about 42 posts per day. 

2 hours ago, bignok said:

What did the Russians do? Civilians didnt start the war

Putin ain’t shootin!

the civilians are!

1 minute ago, Northstar1 said:

Putin ain’t shootin!

the civilians are!

Army is. Guys in Phuket are eating Pad Thai.

are they tourists or asylum seekers - take your pick

 

lets see what happens when the money runs out for most of them

 

Phuket then becomes a huge headache for Thailand and a crime ridden geto 

When it comes to making a statement as where Thailand stands in relations to world's affairs, Thailand prefer to say and do nothing, all in the name of not alienating would be tourists, Thailand is all about the money and revenues from tourism, world affairs and wars don't means much to Thailand...

There's no bad money in Thailand just money and an army that doesn't fight wars or waste that money if you want morality in your economics I suggest you are probably in the wrong country.

10 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Apparently Phuket now has an abundance of taxi drivers, prostitutes, gangsters,hairdressers and drug dealers to bolster the economy 🤔  

FACT !

Chinese insurgents, Russian insurgents, who runs this country?

Soon as the threat of conscription disappears in Russia say goodbye to so many Russians.

"lucri bonus est odor ex re qualibet" (Juvenal)

The smell of money is good wherever it comes from.

On 11/13/2023 at 6:19 PM, snoop1130 said:

Phuket is experiencing a significant transformation due to an influx of Russian tourists, driving up property prices and sparking local resentment. While Western countries impose sanctions on Russia, Thailand continues to welcome Russian visitors in an effort to revive its tourism industry

They have to take what comes, the Chinese revival was a flop.

I recently visited Phuket after many years. The hotel I stayed in had about 70% Russians. They were so dour, so lifeless, so dull and as usual, they took themselves overly seriously. 

 

I have friends who know younger Russians. And they say they are kind, friendly and progressive. I have no idea what percentage of the population these younger people represent, nor how representative they are of the Russian population. Personally, I have met very few friendly Russians. Anywhere in the world. The vast majority of Russians I have met, seem to have very, very few redeeming qualities. It is no wonder.

 

I can only speak from my experience. Have run into alot of Russians both in the US, and on Phuket and Samui, 98% of them seem to be grumpy, unfriendly and gruff. Some of them are downright hostile. Likely a reflection of a very, very rough culture and environment. So, perhaps it is not a coincidence that the world is not standing up to support them and show them kindness? Just an observation.

 

I think it is a reflection of the culture. A once rich culture was destroyed over a century of callous and murderous leadership. Stalin, Lenin, Khruschev, now Putin. They have become somewhat savage and crude. No grace, no finesse, no courtesy. Rather uncivilized.

 

My family was from Russia a few generations back. I used to ask my great-grandmother when she was still around, why they didn't teach us anything about the old country. She would give me this look, and tell me "the reason we never teach you about the place we came from, is because the place we came from was the most horrific country on earth, it was the most destitute, horrible, oppressive place and we were thrilled to finally get out of there and leave it behind. That's why we don't teach you about the old country, the old country doesn't exist for us. 

 

As far as Phuket goes, no thanks. I never need to return to a place full of Russians. 

On 11/14/2023 at 9:14 AM, edwinchester said:

Soon as the threat of conscription disappears in Russia say goodbye to so many Russians.

 

I wouldn't be too sure of that - they have invested a lot of money into properties (from individual villas to huge condotel developments) and are here long time.

 

My neighbours are a Russian couple in their thirties and they told me that the war was just the tipping point for their plans to emigrate and they have no plans to ever return.

 

And by the way, she is as open and friendly as you could hope for but he is the archetypal miserable xxx and it is an effort for him to even acknowledge a "Hello".

 

I have no problems with them or any other Russians - if some of them want to be rude and miserable then that's a shame but I can understand why they have become that way.

 

On 11/13/2023 at 7:16 PM, Gottfrid said:

Yes, all for money! No morals!

Are we talking about the 'OnlyFans' participants? 👀