Why Phuket Needs The Russians

[Beetlejuice]

Ask the golf courses if that is so........

Brief, but the most logical post yet.

Similar happened in Italy during the early 1990s after the Berlin wall came down and everything was opened up.

Italy became swamped with travelers from the Eastern block countries, especially Russia and Poland. These people were not the last of the big spenders, but mostly back packer type holidaymakers out for a cheap break. This drove the upmarket tourists away from the areas where the East Europeans most frequented and put many establishments such a restaurants, clubs, hotels, golf clubs and others out of business.

Eventually the Italian tourist board and other authorities took action and tightened up the rules as for letting them into the country.

Considering that over the last few years the TAT has been trying to attract the more upmarket tourists to give the country a better image and in the hope that they will spend more, then by promoting the industry towards Eastern Europe is certainly not a wise move in my opinion.

[TackyToo]

Why Phuket needs the Russians. Maybe they have not yet realised in what mess they landed...

[AloisAmrein]

I don't experience and see the Russian wealth the article is talking about, but also, nowhere in the article does it meet the headline: why Phuket needs the Russians. It does meet the stereotype of the Russians though: ill mannered, even those with money.

There is one more line in the article that is important: "This, of course, is by no means all Russians. Some, like many of the

Chinese, do come on zero-dollar packages, with flights, accommodation, meals and tours prepaid, and spend little in the local market."

I wonder how the writer reached the conclusion 'some', because in my experience and from what I see this is a vast, vast majority of the Russians, not just 'some'.

It seems you are a little racist. You forgot to mention all the Cheap Charlies from the US, who spend as little as US$ 20 per day...

[asiamaster]

If only the Russian chicks would come and leave the guys at home I would not mind them at all....

[stevenl]

I don't experience and see the Russian wealth the article is talking about, but also, nowhere in the article does it meet the headline: why Phuket needs the Russians. It does meet the stereotype of the Russians though: ill mannered, even those with money.

There is one more line in the article that is important: "This, of course, is by no means all Russians. Some, like many of the

Chinese, do come on zero-dollar packages, with flights, accommodation, meals and tours prepaid, and spend little in the local market."

I wonder how the writer reached the conclusion 'some', because in my experience and from what I see this is a vast, vast majority of the Russians, not just 'some'.

It seems you are a little racist. You forgot to mention all the Cheap Charlies from the US, who spend as little as US$ 20 per day...

In my experience people coming up with these accusations are the bigots themselves.

Do you live on Phuket and are you active in the tourism business?

[NamKangMan]

If only the Russian chicks would come and leave the guys at home I would not mind them at all....

It would be great if a Russian guy bought a beer bar and all the Russian girls looking for a western boyfriend drank there, just the way the Thai girls freelance from a nightclub.

[belg]

all in cash, must be the kind of russian with many girl employees working their asses of for their pimp bosses

[LALes]

This article might hold true for Phuket but its another story entirely in Pattaya.

You'd be hard pressed to find those rich Russians here. Just a bunch of

bargain basement types going to the weekend market on Thepprasit.

[phuketrichard]

walking down soi bangla the other night saw a few Russian girls with signs that said "Russian women" is this what Phuket needs/wants???

am sure a certain few are making a killing off of the under the table funds being transferred to allow them to stay open.

It would be great if a Russian guy bought a beer bar and all the Russian girls looking for a western boyfriend drank there, just the way the
Thai girls freelance from a nightclub

where do u think they work?? at a thai owned club??

as to this;

Aussies were the original 'backpackers

when i was "backpacking" around Europe an on to Asia in the 70's early 80's never met anyone from Australia until i hit Bali

worked for the "Magic bus" out of Amsterdam an we never had Australians.

Edited March 21, 2013 by phuketrichard

[NamKangMan]

walking down soi bangla the other night saw a few Russian girls with signs that said "Russian women" is this what Phuket needs/wants???

am sure a certain few are making a killing off of the under the table funds being transferred to allow them to stay open.

It would be great if a Russian guy bought a beer bar and all the Russian girls looking for a western boyfriend drank there, just the way the

Thai girls freelance from a nightclub

where do u think they work?? at a thai owned club??

as to this;

>

Aussies were the original 'backpackers

when i was "backpacking" around Europe an on to Asia in the 70's early 80's never met anyone from Australia until i hit Bali

worked for the "Magic bus" out of Amsterdam an we never had Australians.

So, it's ok to have, for example, The Koala Bar for Australians - The British Bulldog Bar for the British etc etc etc etc but it's not ok to have a "Russian Club" for the Russians????

Not all cultures like the beer bar atmosphere. Not all cultures want to have sport on a big screen when they go to a bar.

For some tourist, those Russian Clubs on Bangla Road will be the closest thing they will ever get to being in Russia. For many tourists, the variety of cuisines in restaurants here will be the closest they will get to ever eating food from those particular countries.

This variety on Phuket is a tourist attraction unto itself.

[Locationthailand]

Ask the golf courses if that is so........

Golf has only been around in Russia about 15 years. They are not high on the sportsmans target market at this point as they have only a few courses (about 17 I have found), more than due to cost of construction and inclement weather. But that will improve for sure mainly in Southern Russia.

[phuketrichard]

walking down soi bangla the other night saw a few Russian girls with signs that said "Russian women" is this what Phuket needs/wants???

am sure a certain few are making a killing off of the under the table funds being transferred to allow them to stay open.

It would be great if a Russian guy bought a beer bar and all the Russian girls looking for a western boyfriend drank there, just the way the

Thai girls freelance from a nightclub

where do u think they work?? at a thai owned club??

as to this;

&gt

;

Aussies were the original 'backpackers

lockquote>

when i was "backpacking" around Europe an on to Asia in the 70's early 80's never met anyone from Australia until i hit Bali

worked for the "Magic bus" out of Amsterdam an we never had Austra

lians.

So, it's ok to have, for example, The Koala Bar for Australians - The British Bulldog Bar for the British etc etc etc etc but it's not ok to have a "Russian Club" for the Russians????

Not all cultures like the beer bar atmosphere. Not all cultures want to have sport on a big screen when they go to a bar.

For some tourist, those Russian Clubs on Bangla Road will be the closest thing they will ever get to being in Russia. For many tourists, the variety of cuisines in restaurants here will be the closest they will get to ever eating food from those particular countries.

This variety on Phuket is a tourist attraction unto itself.

Its not a question of having a Russian bar with food for Russians or the tourist BUT the Russian bar has RUSSIAN GIRLS working and available for taking home. Same as the ones in Pattaya beers 300 baht /st 4-5,000 baht

I have not seen the other nationality bars with anything but thai's working in them

Edited March 21, 2013 by phuketrichard

[NamKangMan]

walking down soi bangla the other night saw a few Russian girls with signs that said "Russian women" is this what Phuket needs/wants???

am sure a certain few are making a killing off of the under the table funds being transferred to allow them to stay open.

It would be great if a Russian guy bought a beer bar and all the Russian girls looking for a western boyfriend drank there, just the way the

Thai girls freelance from a nightclub

where do u think they work?? at a thai owned club??

as to this;

&gt

;

Aussies were the original 'backpackers

lockquote>

when i was "backpacking" around Europe an on to Asia in the 70's early 80's never met anyone from Australia until i hit Bali

worked for the "Magic bus" out of Amsterdam an we never had Austra

lians.

So, it's ok to have, for example, The Koala Bar for Australians - The British Bulldog Bar for the British etc etc etc etc but it's not ok to have a "Russian Club" for the Russians????

Not all cultures like the beer bar atmosphere. Not all cultures want to have sport on a big screen when they go to a bar.

For some tourist, those Russian Clubs on Bangla Road will be the closest thing they will ever get to being in Russia. For many tourists, the variety of cuisines in restaurants here will be the closest they will get to ever eating food from those particular countries.

This variety on Phuket is a tourist attraction unto itself.

Its not a question of having a Russian bar with food for Russians or the tourist BUT the Russian bar has RUSSIAN GIRLS working and available for taking home. Same as the ones in Pattaya beers 300 baht /st 4-5,000 baht

I have not seen the other nationality bars with anything but thai's working in them

Have you actually "taken home" a Russian girl from that club?

Someone posted on this forum that they have work permits as "actresses" - so, until a Thai girl can slide upside down on a dance pole, what's wrong with that?

I once met a Russian girl who worked on a reception desk at a dentist that advertised to Russians. I suppose her job was reserved for Thai's, so she was working illegally, but how many Thai's were employed, just because the Russian girl worked there? The practice was very busy with Russians - deport the Russian receptionist and a few Thai dental nurses lose their job because Russians no longer go to that dental practice for treatment.

There's another thread running about a Russian tour desk operator being deported. So now there are less Russians on Thai managed boats for island hopping, less Russians at shows like Fantasea and less Russians buying tickets for activities like elephant trekking etc.

The Thai tour desk operator CAN'T speak Russian - the Russian tourists CAN'T speak English - so nothing gets bought and/or sold from the Thai tour desk operator which effects profits and employment in other Thai run businesses.

There's been English language in the tourism industry since the Vietnam War and the American G.I's on leave in Pattaya, but Russian language is new to Thailand.

It's not rocket science.

Edited March 21, 2013 by NamKangMan

[mok199]

moscow has more billionairs than anywhere else in the world....im glad to hear they are leaving tips....

[jrincon17]

as i am sure they asked where are you from, how long you stay, everytime they went to the mall. lol

[Beetlejuice]

Have you actually "taken home" a Russian girl from that club?

Someone posted on this forum that they have work permits as "actresses" - so, until a Thai girl can slide upside down on a dance pole, what's wrong with that?

I once met a Russian girl who worked on a reception desk at a dentist that advertised to Russians. I suppose her job was reserved for Thai's, so she was working illegally, but how many Thai's were employed, just because the Russian girl worked there? The practice was very busy with Russians - deport the Russian receptionist and a few Thai dental nurses lose their job because Russians no longer go to that dental practice for treatment.

There's another thread running about a Russian tour desk operator being deported. So now there are less Russians on Thai managed boats for island hopping, less Russians at shows like Fantasea and less Russians buying tickets for activities like elephant trekking etc.

The Thai tour desk operator CAN'T speak Russian - the Russian tourists CAN'T speak English - so nothing gets bought and/or sold from the Thai tour desk operator which effects profits and employment in other Thai run businesses.

There's been English language in the tourism industry since the Vietnam War and the American G.I's on leave in Pattaya, but Russian language is new to Thailand.

It's not rocket science.

Only need to do a search on Google. You will find many Russian girls advertising their sexual services from within Thailand as escorts and so-called freelance hire a holiday girlfriend companions.

I am in no way degrading the Russians staying or working in Thailand, but this is fact and most of the foreign sex workers in Thailand are from Eastern Europe.

I will repeat my response to you from the other thread:

Most foreigners when traveling as tourists or on ED visas and so on, do not remain in the visiting countries and work as prostitutes, or need to become peddlers in order to support themselves.

I have nothing against East Europeans, my point is that many (not all) of these particular East Europeans are from the underclasses of their societies and I see no benefits in permitting them to live and work in Thailand on mass, or any other types of foreigners of that ilk. They are of no benefits to the country and will only create problems both for the authorities and the local populations of those areas.

The whole situation has to be placed under control and tighter restrictions imposed on the activities of these foreigners that remain here.

[Loptr]

Is being 'anti-Russian tourist' racism?

Not to be pedantic, but Russian is not a race. Being anti-Russian may be many things, including being a bigot, but it's not racism.

[bellboy]

If the label "Russian" were substituted for "black", as in "blacks are okay, we need them in Phuket" you would (one hopes) get people complaining about the racist comments. How can you publish such stereotype ideas that are so narrow-minded and bigoted? Cultural differences aside, they really have great European influence, are caucasian, and really have mostly the same type of cultural heritage as Europeans. In my opinion, if I may, it's just an attempt to bash a group of people who appear to be threatening the established EU stakeholders in Thailand. I am in no way defending Russians, I'm talking about the overt racism and bigotry that comes out in the open here in Thailand because many of the restrictions in Western countries are lifted. There are no legal bans on wearing swastikas, and Thai people wear them because they have essentially been inducted into Nazism through a carefully planned and strategic push to buy them out and turn them into puppets. The racism and bigotry in Thailand is so open and exposed, and this anti-Russian crusade is yet another example of this type of hate. But when it all comes down to the bottom line, it does just all end up with who gets to own what, who has the "power", and this issue really is about a power struggle for control, money and power in Thailand and Russians are an outside group to the EU members. If Russia were a member of the EU, I believe this open form of racism would not be expressed at all but they would instead be welcomed here. Since I'm American, I don't give a d*** about any of ya'll bigots here!!! (lol, just kidding, but not really). I hope to meet people here who can think independently and see people as human beings, part of the world and not as symbols of hate.

The reply I would expect from a left wing loony.

Criticize some one and out comes. the racist card..

Edited March 21, 2013 by bellboy

[iSabai]

If the label "Russian" were substituted for "black", as in "blacks are okay, we need them in Phuket" you would (one hopes) get people complaining about the racist comments. How can you publish such stereotype ideas that are so narrow-minded and bigoted? Cultural differences aside, they really have great European influence, are caucasian, and really have mostly the same type of cultural heritage as Europeans. In my opinion, if I may, it's just an attempt to bash a group of people who appear to be threatening the established EU stakeholders in Thailand. I am in no way defending Russians, I'm talking about the overt racism and bigotry that comes out in the open here in Thailand because many of the restrictions in Western countries are lifted. There are no legal bans on wearing swastikas, and Thai people wear them because they have essentially been inducted into Nazism through a carefully planned and strategic push to buy them out and turn them into puppets. The racism and bigotry in Thailand is so open and exposed, and this anti-Russian crusade is yet another example of this type of hate. But when it all comes down to the bottom line, it does just all end up with who gets to own what, who has the "power", and this issue really is about a power struggle for control, money and power in Thailand and Russians are an outside group to the EU members. If Russia were a member of the EU, I believe this open form of racism would not be expressed at all but they would instead be welcomed here. Since I'm American, I don't give a d*** about any of ya'll bigots here!!! (lol, just kidding, but not really). I hope to meet people here who can think independently and see people as human beings, part of the world and not as symbols of hate.

Great. Another "global village" idealist come to save us from our evil selves.

Edited March 21, 2013 by iSabai

[globaster]

I'm russian. I'm good russian dude. ))

At one of my six trips to thailand i spend 15.000$ apart from accomodation and flight. For two weeks.

But i've been kinda humble at my last trip to Thailand. I spend only 5000$ for two weeks.

Just for food and fun! I had many fellows there from all over the world - brits, australians, norwegians, japaneez, russians, thai and so on...

I don't care about nationality.

[I Like Thai]

Mayhem ensued as the waiters – to the complete disgust of the owner – scrambled for a share of the B20,000 littering the floor.

A crass gesture, perhaps, but one that gives the lie to a commonly held opinion on the island that the Russian tourists coming here these days are all cheap-Charlie, zero-dollar visitors.

Was this article written by a Russian by any chance ?

Ok point taken.............All Russians are rich. NEXT

American I would say. He continuously refers to American Dollars when writing the article about Russians in Thailand

A crass gesture, perhaps, but one that gives the lie to a commonly held opinion on the island that the Russian tourists coming here these days are all cheap-Charlie, zero-dollar visitors.

Christmas and New Year were the peak time for Russian tourists to rent villas on his books, with families paying up to US$10,000 (B300,000) a night for a five- or six-room villa.

The individual numbers are impressive: one Russian group of 10 people came over for 10 nights, and paid US$32,000 (B960,000) – in cash – to rent a five-bedroom villa from the agent.

“The Christmas just gone we had another Russian client who spent US$90,000 (B2.7 million) on a villa for six weeks.”

This, of course, is by no means all Russians. Some, like many of the Chinese, do come on zero-dollar packages, with flights, accommodation, meals and tours prepaid, and spend little in the local market

[asiamaster]

This article might hold true for Phuket but its another story entirely in Pattaya.

You'd be hard pressed to find those rich Russians here. Just a bunch of

bargain basement types going to the weekend market on Thepprasit.

In town yes indeed. However did you know that the majority of students at Regents International school are from Eastern Europe and many of their parents have bought fully staffed villas and chauffeur driven cars for them?

[doggie888888]

What phuket needs is more and more rude Russian tourists (ok, some of them are nice, but not more than 5, at best 10 percent of whole), yeah right.

I think you are getting your stats mixed up. That's the gay percentage.

[golgi1]

First, we have to delineate between Russian nationals and Russian immigrants who now live somewhere else, like in the USA and the UK. This article does not differ between the two, and so it must be assumed that "Russians" refers to Russian nationals. There is a large difference between the two when speaking about the politics of tourism, Visas, and immigration. The average GDP per capita in Russia is somewhere around $16,000 USD (possibly a bit less). These claims that the Russian nationals who come to Thailand are, on average, big spenders, aren't consistent with the economic reality of their homeland. Middle class people in the UK and USA (50-125k USD income annual) wouldn't be able to spend the money that is being attributed to Russian tourists. Therefore, there are several explanations for the inconsistency:

1. The Russian tourists that come to Thailand are the very wealthy, of legitimate means, upper crust of Russia and do not represent the average Russian. Okay, then make the Visa's income dependent.

2. The rich Russian tourists that come to Thailand are the very wealthy, of illegitimate means, upper crust of Russia. Thailand should not want or need criminals within it's borders to bolster tourism income.

3. The wealthy Russians who come to Russia are ethnic Russians who now hold other nationalities. Their stay in the country will be determined by the Visa rules that apply to their new home of residence, and they are therefore irrelevant to this conversation.

Russia, and the USA and UK, are rife with Russian mob activity. The poster a few pages back who held up Brighton Beach (New York, New York, USA) as an enclave of Russian immigrant life to be admired must either be willfully deceptive, ignorant, or delusional. Brighton Beach is the geographic center of Russian mob operation in the USA. The Russian mob is the most powerful and dangerous mob in the USA, although they don't get nearly as much press as other organized crime elements.

When evaluating tourism dollar value from a country with such economic disparity as Russia, whose criminal element is both international and brutal within it's own borders at the expense of Russia and it's non-criminal citizenry, there is a measure of ethics that has to be taken into account when heralding the unlikely wealthy who throw money around like is being claimed that they do in Thailand. Beyond that, keeping out Russians is a way of making sure that the mob does not take further hold in Thailand as it has in every other country where Russians immigrate in large enough numbers. Thailand is taking note of the state of their immigrant communities in the rest of the world, and protecting itself. This is both easy to see, and understandable when one does the math of the average income of the average Russian.

Edited March 22, 2013 by golgi1

[NamKangMan]

Have you actually "taken home" a Russian girl from that club?

Someone posted on this forum that they have work permits as "actresses" - so, until a Thai girl can slide upside down on a dance pole, what's wrong with that?

I once met a Russian girl who worked on a reception desk at a dentist that advertised to Russians. I suppose her job was reserved for Thai's, so she was working illegally, but how many Thai's were employed, just because the Russian girl worked there? The practice was very busy with Russians - deport the Russian receptionist and a few Thai dental nurses lose their job because Russians no longer go to that dental practice for treatment.

There's another thread running about a Russian tour desk operator being deported. So now there are less Russians on Thai managed boats for island hopping, less Russians at shows like Fantasea and less Russians buying tickets for activities like elephant trekking etc.

The Thai tour desk operator CAN'T speak Russian - the Russian tourists CAN'T speak English - so nothing gets bought and/or sold from the Thai tour desk operator which effects profits and employment in other Thai run businesses.

There's been English language in the tourism industry since the Vietnam War and the American G.I's on leave in Pattaya, but Russian language is new to Thailand.

It's not rocket science.

Only need to do a search on Google. You will find many Russian girls advertising their sexual services from within Thailand as escorts and so-called freelance hire a holiday girlfriend companions.

I am in no way degrading the Russians staying or working in Thailand, but this is fact and most of the foreign sex workers in Thailand are from Eastern Europe.

I will repeat my response to you from the other thread:

Most foreigners when traveling as tourists or on ED visas and so on, do not remain in the visiting countries and work as prostitutes, or need to become peddlers in order to support themselves.

I have nothing against East Europeans, my point is that many (not all) of these particular East Europeans are from the underclasses of their societies and I see no benefits in permitting them to live and work in Thailand on mass, or any other types of foreigners of that ilk. They are of no benefits to the country and will only create problems both for the authorities and the local populations of those areas.

The whole situation has to be placed under control and tighter restrictions imposed on the activities of these foreigners that remain here.

Please supply some links to said websites. I would consider "exploring" this option sometime.

[epicstuff]

"making it rain" maybe ok for a strip bar,

but in a restaurant? Come On Man!

That completely lacks class.

A tasteless, albeit, financially nice gesture.

One nice upside,

at least the patron knew who was getting the money.

If i leave tip with the bill, i don't always know who is getting the money

so In TL,i tip the server, discretely, directly when possible.

yer I agree It is way more cool, leaving someone who gave service a folded up wad of cash tucked into their top pocket or discretly in their palm on a hand shake or even just plain left in with the bill.. What a twattish gesture it is throwing money around. makes me sick. It will disrupt the whole restautrant and create problems amongst staff. only acheives one thing, public awareness that the thrower is a prick of the highest order.

[happyfish88]

Quote " The cheapest tourists we get are Singaporean, Hong Kong-Chinese, and Indian. You cannot compare the Russians with them in terms of spending."

Simply put thailand don provide e place we chinese love to spend on.Try building casinos, race course track in phuket...........you will see billions of sgd,hkd,ringgit,rmb gushing into thailand yearly.

Take a trip to casinos in singapore, macau ,malaysia, observe what is the total stake on e baccarat table per game.

20,000thb is alot??...........to me is an insult to e thai waiters.

I would rather e thai waiters dump back e money into his face.................and ask him to get lost.

I donated easily 8 times tad amt buying rice, cooking oil, biscuits, pampers....etc to old folks home, orphanage in my home country yearly.