Tourist rubles ensure warm welcome for Russians in Thailand

[webfact]

 

Ask any Russian person which country in Southeast Asia they have heard about and you’d probably hear “Thailand.” Russian tourists are crowding its beaches, bars and even its Orthodox churches.

 

FEATURE

 

That’s not just a sign of Thailand’s legendary reputation for hospitality and knack for catering to foreign visitors that has earned the country the moniker “Land of Smiles.” Thailand welcomed 11.4 million foreign tourists in 2022. But with Russians increasingly limited on where they can visit because of international restrictions imposed on Moscow relating to the war in Ukraine, Thailand has kept its doors open.

 

From Russia with love

 

On the southern island of Phuket, some areas have turned into something resembling a resort town on the Black Sea, with Russian men and women lounging on the beach, trying to soak up as much sun as possible. 

 

There are signboards in Cyrillic, Russian mothers pushing strollers around and new Russian restaurants that offer a taste of home. Russian real estate agents, tour companies and even Russian tour guides cater to the visitors – which rankles locals in the tourist trade, who say they are losing business.

 

“Russian people love Thailand, the people, the climate, the nature and the delicious food,” gushed Olesya, a young Russian businesswoman. She and her husband, Denis, have been to Phuket five times. 

 

Tourists take photos on Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, June 20, 2023. [Tran Viet Duc/RFA]

Olesya said they felt welcome here and “have not sensed any negative vibes” against Russians – although they were shy about speaking to a journalist and requested to be identified by their first names only.

 

Thailand is America’s oldest ally in Asia and was for decades a bulwark against Soviet influence in Southeast Asia during the Cold War, but it’s also a nation with a storied past with Russia. 

 

Diplomatic relations date back 126 years, when the then-Kingdom of Siam’s modernizing monarch, Chulalongkorn, also known as King Rama V, traveled to St. Petersburg in 1897.

 

Despite the international maelstrom over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Thailand has not condemned Moscow and has abstained from several votes against Russia at the United Nations.

 

But perhaps more significantly, there are still ways for Russians to spend their money in Thailand, which relies heavily on tourism earnings.

 

Due to U.S. and U.K. sanctions, Russians can’t conduct transactions via the global SWIFT electronic payment system. But they can still use China’s UnionPay – the world’s largest card payment network – or use cash or cryptocurrencies. 

 

Luna Pham for RFA

Top picture: Shops catering to Russian tourists in Pattaya, Thailand, June 22, 2023. Tran Viet Duc/RFA

 

Full story: BENAR NEWS 2023-12-07

 

- 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.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[ChrisY1]

“Russian people love Thailand, the people, the climate, the nature and the delicious food".....they missed, the ease of corruption and simple ways to avoid police issues!

[JoePai]

Beats Crimea !

[lopburi3]

Why the star before the topic title?  For 20 years a star has been used to indicate we have posted on subject and probably should not be used as part of title.

[bob smith]

I long for the day when the Ruble crashes. 

 

The Yuan too.

 

Life is much simpler without this lot running around ruining everyone's peace and quiet.

[Emdog]

 

"Thailand is America’s oldest ally in Asia..." Sorry, but any earlier streak Thailand may have had went out the window with WW2.  Only allies since Thailand's ally Japan lost, if even then.

[StayinThailand2much]

Russian tour guides? - Are they even allowed to work in Thailand?

[JackSinclair]

A marriage made in heaven. Thais and Russians. They deserve each other.

[beautifulthailand99]

.

[mokwit]

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

“Russian people love Thailand, the people, the climate, the nature and the delicious food".....they missed, the ease of corruption and simple ways to avoid police issues!

Missed the Ed visas too.

[Seppius]

Wait till after the March re-election of Putin, and a general mobilization of fighting age men, tourist numbers will fall from Russia, they need to replace the 300,000 odd dead, and as many wounded

[Irish star]

Hospitable , my gf had a Russian Lady yell at her for touching her child’s shoulder, Racist is what is is , she had mask and gloves on , she was just promoting heat patches , they re here cause it’s cheap but racism exists with them 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

That’s not just a sign of Thailand’s legendary reputation for hospitality and knack for catering to foreign visitors that has earned the country the moniker “Land of Smiles.” Thailand welcomed 11.4 million foreign tourists in 2022. But with Russians increasingly limited on where they can visit because of international restrictions imposed on Moscow relating to the war in Ukraine, Thailand has kept its doors open.

Open all hours, and that's not just the bars... 

[Purdey]

I wonder how many Thais speak Russian? Maybe the poor English scores have been outbalanced by the ability to speak other languages.

[DJ54]

Shouldn’t dislike persons you’ve never met….

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, DJ54 said:

Shouldn’t dislike persons you’ve never met….

 

Why not?

[747man]

On 12/7/2023 at 9:42 AM, bob smith said:

I long for the day when the Ruble crashes. 

 

The Yuan too.

 

Life is much simpler without this lot running around ruining everyone's peace and quiet.

I long for the day when the Ruble crashes. ....I Thought it Already Had !!!!!!