Russian tourists are once again traveling in large numbers to Thailand via charter flights and using credit cards issued outside the country to get around payment difficulties, which is helping a gradual tourism recovery.
More than 44,000 Russians visited Thailand in October, compared with less than 10,000 each in the months preceding the start of the war in Ukraine. Thai officials say the return of direct flights between Moscow and Phuket at the end of the month will bring more tourists to the country.
People from Russia and other countries have been coming to Thailand on flights operated by airlines such as Azur Air.
According to the association's advisory chairman, Russian tourists are ranked first in the island. The gap of arrivals between Russians and Indians has grown.
Russians make up 20% of the foreign visitors who take direct flights to Phuket. The island's beaches and national parks are well-known.
It was almost complete absence of Russians for about six months after airlines were forced to halt flights and tourists were unable to make payments due to the ruble's plunge and the suspension of most Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system.
The return of Russian tourists is expected to accelerate a recovery in Thailand's tourism industry. That is crucial to keeping the economic recovery on track.
Credit cards issued in other countries are being used by Russians in order to pay for trips and shopping. Most financial transactions are done in the Middle East, according to the president of the Tourism Council of chon buri.
There will be a rush of tourists in the coming months based on advance booking, according to Thanet.
In the first 10 months of the year, more than 147,000 Russians arrived in Thailand. According to official data, about a tenth of the 1.5 million people who traveled to the country last year spent more than $3 billion.
More than 20 million visitors are expected to come to Thailand next year, double the number this year, but only about half of pre-pandemic arrivals.
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