Russian Tourists Down 30% In Pattaya

[Bernard Flint]

They dont bother me, so i dont give arat,s if they come or not. Maybe a big sale of condos that the russians have bought, in the past. Maybe visa problems are the reason, thank you khun Junta

[Strangebrew]

Good news more boiler rooms opening in the Ukraine Douche va dalyah or something to that effect.

[Yann55]

And they say that one never hears good news on the media !

As for the statement that they spend more money than any other tourists here, I find it hilarious. Yes, some Russians are massively rich and spend a lot but most of them are middle class, they spend little and when they do they bargain like crazy. Ask any Thai vendor, restaurant or shopkeeper and they'll tell you the same thing. So I don't know where that guy got his information from but he needs to check his sources !

[Pundi6446]

Halla _ucking New Ya hope it goes even lower, say around 100% stay out

[Bakeman]

If you google Russian pictures in Pattaya the above ladies pop up. So dont know if they are tourists or not.

[duanebigsby]

It would be nice to see this statistic in relationship of overall tourist numbers declining.

When immigration stops border runners the tourist numbers will decline as those people will leave or get long term visas.

I think Russian gangsters and mafia have destroyed the reputation of genuine decent Russian tourists.

[patricev]

Not only the Russians do shop, eat and drink more so than others, they do it in more places, with more smaller businesses benefiting. They are more individualistic than say Chinese tourists, so many more small merchants are affected. Most are indistinguishable from other western tourists, you don't notice them until they speak. The few hoodlums get noticed because they sure know how to turn up a town.

[Yann55]

The Russian tourists bring down the number of other western tourists, which is definitely not good,

This is a Myth, I'm sure no one does any sorts of researches on how many Russians are in Patts before coming there.

I personally find the Chinese x10 more annoying (Yanks come close 2nd by the way), but it's nothing to affect my decision to travel to any certain place or not.

I'm afraid it isn't a myth, Shurup. I've lived in Jomtien for 10 years already and I used to go to Koh Larn very often, but hardly any more because it's been massively taken over by low class Russians who have totally ruined the peaceful, relaxing atmosphere of these lovely beaches, the beauty of which can easily compare with Phuket or Krabi.

You're right about the fact that newcomers don't make a survey of who goes here or there before doing their bookings, but people who have come many times (or those who live here) are mostly put off by the overall Russian attitude and some of them simply stop coming. You can ask the restaurant owners on Samae and Thian Beach (in Koh Larn) for instance and they will ALL tell you the same things :

1/ Russians have indeed chased away other tourists,

2/ Russians never cease to bargain for everything and spend very little money on the whole (except for a few rich ones),

3/ Russians are rambunctious, aggressive, noisy and generally impolite with Thai people and other tourists (including other Russians).

4/ The number one Russian 'activity' once they are on a beach is getting drunk.

Yes, these are generalizations and again, some Russians are nice, well behaved etc but the majority are not and the effect on Pattaya tourism is both undeniable and easy to monitor.

[Bpuumike]

I misread the headline.

I thought it said "30% of Russian Tourists Drown in Pattaya".

[Hans Donnerborg]

there is a reson for not like russian tourists. as the matter of facts there are many :
here are a few:

http://www.travelvivi.com/russians-are-worlds-worst-tourists/

http://opentravel.com/blogs/worlds-most-annoying-tourists/

http://konstantin2005.blogspot.se/2005/10/russian-rudeness.html

Edited August 8, 2014 by Rimmer
Forbidden link

[Ve37]

I can hear the applause from up north.

Outstanding news..

I wonder if it has to do with the crackdown on the Russian mafia. Personally I'm fine with the sex, guns, drugs, and absence of Buddha in Pattaya,...as long as it stays in Pattaya. I haven't considered Pattaya to be part of Thailand. Maybe change is afoot. Sex, guns, drugs, and the absence of Buddha does not promote Happy. If it does, I may go back someday.

[Ve37]

1/ Russians have indeed chased away other tourists,

2/ Russians never cease to bargain for everything and spend very little money on the whole (except for a few rich ones),

3/ Russians are rambunctious, aggressive, noisy and generally impolite with Thai people and other tourists (including other Russians).

4/ The number one Russian 'activity' once they are on a beach is getting drunk.

Yes, these are generalizations and again, some Russians are nice, well behaved etc but the majority are not and the effect on Pattaya tourism is both undeniable and easy to monitor.

I agree with all 4 points. I sure hope those attitudes don't migrate up north.

[X pat]

I guess this means the crime rate will drop 20%.

[Baerboxer]

Best news I have heard all week! Second wort tourists to the Chinese.

oh and what the specialist of Russian tourists you pretend to be has to add ? so Russian bashing , then chinese bashing ? I wonder from which country you are from . Russian represent a big amount of money for Hotels , resorts , boat trips , restaurants , supermarkets , massage etc ..... Maybe their lower turn over doesnt concern you ....

Russians and Chinese - have you been to Pattaya and watched how they behave? Acting with no manners when checking in/out, refusing to queue, trying to push in when the lifts come? At breakfast buffet they send their kids or mummy to go and grab all the fruit and toast for snacks later. In the evening they invade the 7-11 at dinner time looking for cheap meals and block the shops.

I've no idea how those on non-family "holidays" behave in the bars, go-go's and clubs but can imagine. The two Chinese who attacked an innocent Aussie and one's aggressive father are a good example.

Have you been to either country - I can assure you the rudeness, lack of manners and uncaring attitude starts at the airport and doesn't get better.

China has improved massively in the last 25 years but still as a long way to go. Russia, to be fair, is no worse than many other of the former Eastern bloc countries.

Communism doesn't do manners, culture, respect and the finer things in life. Recovering from communism takes time.

[makkam]

The tourist boss is clearly a Thaksin acolyte

Edited August 8, 2014 by makkam

[Tchooptip]

I have known 3 Russians in SAMUI (neighbours) The 3 of them working without work-permit !

So of course with Visa runs, so maybe "working-tourists" Russians will be down 30% in Samui too?

Please note I do not add any comment

[mercman24]

yep when i lived in Spain, lots of places i use to frequent went downhill when they moved into the area, never come across such a load of uncouth drunks as the ruskies,( and i wont get onto the women, ha ha) peace and quiet went out of the window, SPAIN has gone the same way in many resorts.

[ukrules]

They tighten up visa regulations specifically targeting Russians along with a couple of other nationalities and then complain when tourist numbers drop.

It's hilarious and it's just getting started, assuming they keep up this crackdown the real change will only be seen during the high season and it will of course be too late by then to do anything about it by then.

It's going to be an interesting to see what happens this high season.

[Jip66]

I misread the headline. I thought it said "30% of Russian Tourists Drown in Pattaya".

Wishful thinking....

[spidermike007]

It is good news if not one foreigner group dominates demographically. Now to find a replacement for the lost Russkies. I propose MEXICANS.

I like that. Mexicans are kind, courteous, friendly, warm, hard working, open, creative, and clever. And the women can be gorgeous. And they speak Spanish, which sounds like gorgeous music compared to the warlike sound of Russian. And that would encourage a proliferation of Mexican food. But, how do we get them here?

[andypatt]

At last, some good news to read

[Maroon Watcher]

so get booking in Pattaya and snap up that winter wardrobe you've always wanted.

Maybe the bar girls will be on discount too?

[Jingthing]

It is good news if not one foreigner group dominates demographically. Now to find a replacement for the lost Russkies. I propose MEXICANS.

I like that. Mexicans are kind, courteous, friendly, warm, hard working, open, creative, and clever. And the women can be gorgeous. And they speak Spanish, which sounds like gorgeous music compared to the warlike sound of Russian. And that would encourage a proliferation of Mexican food. But, how do we get them here?

Airplane?

Seriously, that would be a marketing challenge but I think TAT should at least try!

[HerbalEd]

They have absolutely no way of knowing how much tourism in Pattaya is down.

And you have "absolutely no way of knowing" if they do or do not.

[Lupatria]

...and the celebration is going on.

[khounteen]

Looking at the business perspective, this meant less income for the hotels and restaurants, less food, drinks, cleaning materials etc. Ultimately it affects the economy. Combine this with the drop in Chinese tourist due to the clampdown on zero dollar tours, and the damage done by all the travel advisories, many long suffering hotels and businesses will close down in the coming months if tourist numbers do not increase.

[SGD]

Now to get rid of the remaining 70%

[RedRoadRunner]

GREAT....another 60% and we are there.......

[RedRoadRunner]

Looking at the business perspective, this meant less income for the hotels and restaurants, less food, drinks, cleaning materials etc. Ultimately it affects the economy. Combine this with the drop in Chinese tourist due to the clampdown on zero dollar tours, and the damage done by all the travel advisories, many long suffering hotels and businesses will close down in the coming months if tourist numbers do not increase.

I wonder about 10 or so years ago............no Russians and the hotels were all full like they are today.......think again !!!

[TechnikaIII]

I can hear the applause from up north.

Dunno what it has to do with the North but certainly applause from Pattaya

... and elsewhere.