News Forum - Russian invasion takes Thailand’s tourism forces by surprise

[Thaiger]

The Russians are coming! The recent Russian mass invasion of Thailand has taken the country’s tourism forces completely by surprise. Unexpected numbers of tourists from the war-torn county have tourism operators scrambling to cope with an army of independent travellers, more than capable of looking after themselves, and left commentators scrambling to occupy the moral high ground. Despite the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian tourism market has returned much quicker than expected, said Association of Thai Travel Agents president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn. Tourism businesses and providers of guides and buses are remarkably poorly prepared for the influx, despite […]

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[Hugh]

"Unexpected numbers of tourists from the war-torn county have tourism operators scrambling to cope ....."

Russia - a 'worn-torn' country. You have to be kidding! 

Did you interview any Ukranians for this story?

[Soidog]

Poor choice of headlines at best and sick sense of humour at worst.

Men, women and children are being targeted and killed in horrific missile attacks by Russians and all the Thais can see is money money money. Utterly disgraceful. 

[ChrisS]

Why the surprise, there are fewer places in the world now that 'welcome' Russians due to their countries attempted annexation of Ukraine and the war crimes they have committed and continue to commit. Thailand as usual ONLY sees $$$$$$$$.

[palooka]

Went to popular tourist island last week, place was overrun with Russians, stopped at a restaurant and was handed a menu in Russian and Thai. 

Surprised at the youthful age of most of the Russians too, 20-50 age bracket and many couples too.

[Totoro]

 

Selling out morality, human values,decency...

"If you think money can have anything, it is easy to suspect that you are willing to do anything for money". 

( B. Franklin )

 

[Poolie]

Oh well, if Benjamin Franklin said so.........................

[Chatogaster]

 

There's "bemoaning!", there's "complete surprise!", there's "scrambling for moral high grounds!", "temples will be besieged!", ...

... It sounds like a pitch for a next block-buster (with 1000 elephants!)

I clicked on some links that seemed to be ridiculous, hoping that there actually was some relevant association with this story. 
How mistaken I was (to stubbornly allow the benefit of doubt, even after what went on before):

"an army of independent travellers" (link) = ordinary tourists coming for holidays.

"a group that has their own ideas" (link) = a multitude of exactly 1 person walking around in an upward state of mind and body.

This style of news reporting can be summarized succinctly by 1 word: "nauseating"

 

[ThaiFoodGuy]

3 hours ago, palooka said:

Went to popular tourist island last week, place was overrun with Russians, stopped at a restaurant and was handed a menu in Russian and Thai. 

Just left Phuket after a week. Russians absolutely everywhere, at least in Rawai. For the most part they were all minding their own business but holy SHIT there were a few experiences exclusively and repeatedly with Russians that were really off-putting. Might avoid Rawai in the future...

[Mandy]

10 hours ago, ThaiFoodGuy said:

Just left Phuket after a week. Russians absolutely everywhere, at least in Rawai. For the most part they were all minding their own business but holy SHIT there were a few experiences exclusively and repeatedly with Russians that were really off-putting. Might avoid Rawai in the future...

Might want to avoid bangtao too mate, we've been taken over!! Can't wait to get out. 51 days and counting 

[EdwardV]

12 hours ago, Poolie said:

Oh well, if Benjamin Franklin said so.........................

Wisdom has always aged well. 

[Vigo]

The Russians will stay in their own enclaves and traditional "safe zones". These are the Russians who are protected and/or who are profiting from the war like government personnel, bankers, propagandists etc.,   so they don't care about western sentiments.  I have a feeling many western intelligence agents will be on "vacation" in Thailand too spying on the Russians.

 

[Mikeoz]

18 minutes ago, Vigo said:

The Russians will stay in their own enclaves and traditional "safe zones". These are the Russians who are protected and/or who are profiting from the war like government personnel, bankers, propagandists etc.,   so they don't care about western sentiments.  I have a feeling many western intelligence agents will be on "vacation" in Thailand too spying on the Russians.

Odd that Sky news says every man  from Russia under 30 is fighting in Ukraine ? 
they should take a look at Phuket beaches all the men are here ! 
Or in 7/11 buying cheap booze & noodle in a pot 

[Guest1]

And it seems, lots of these "more as capable tourists to look after themselves" are here for the long stay. Seems they working over internet, some with all day all night phone calls. Understandable, with mandatory army service ahead, in Russia

[TWS60]

23 hours ago, Hugh said:

Did you interview any Ukranians for this story?

Exactly.  Might be classified as 'tourists' but in reality - refugees. 

[HolyCowCm]

17 hours ago, palooka said:

Surprised at the youthful age of most of the Russians too, 20-50 age bracket and many couples too.

For me happy to hear it. It could mean that these young Russian kids to the older 50-is are not buying Putin's BS and are running from being shackled into uniform and put out ot die or kill innocent civilians or people protecting their country. There are lots of Russians who are good people who would love to see Putin's head in a guillotine and are here escaping his sick minded crusade of murder. I hope if this is the case then Thailand accomodates them and lets them stay until this BS blows over. That is if they have the funds Thailand would base it on.

[palooka]

21 hours ago, Poolie said:

Oh well, if Benjamin Franklin said so.........................

You on the lemon juice diet again?  

[Soidog]

15 minutes ago, palooka said:

You on the lemon juice diet again?  

I think it’s lockdown frustration setting in. 

[palooka]

6 hours ago, HolyCowCm said:

For me happy to hear it. It could mean that these young Russian kids to the older 50-is are not buying Putin's BS and are running from being shackled into uniform and put out ot die or kill innocent civilians or people protecting their country. There are lots of Russians who are good people who would love to see Putin's head in a guillotine and are here escaping his sick minded crusade of murder. I hope if this is the case then Thailand accomodates them and lets them stay until this BS blows over. That is if they have the funds Thailand would base it on.

Did notice that a lot are staying at what most tourists would consider the cheap end of town.

The longer they stay, then maybe they will learn that if they want to stretch their money, you get out of the tourist areas. Tourist areas are like sheering sheds they take everything and leave you bare.

I know they feel secure there and have the trappings of home, but, if they are happy to immerse themselves in Thailand and go to country areas, they'll find that the bottle of beer (or 2) they have every day is only 60 baht, chilled, at the village store and not 120+ baht they pay now.

The rent they pay can go from 2,000 baht a day at a hotel to 3,000-5,000 baht a month for a one-bedroom unit.

That lunch of noodles with pork goes from 150 baht to 40 baht. etc.

Yeah, it ain't the Savoy and doesn't have the ocean/beach views, but neither does a ditch in Ukraine.  

[Rookiescot]

5 minutes ago, palooka said:

Did notice that a lot are staying at what most tourists would consider the cheap end of town.

The longer they stay, then maybe they will learn that if they want to stretch their money, you get out of the tourist areas. Tourist areas are like sheering sheds they take everything and leave you bare.

I know they feel secure there and have the trappings of home, but, if they are happy to immerse themselves in Thailand and go to country areas, they'll find that the bottle of beer (or 2) they have every day is only 60 baht, chilled, at the village store and not 120+ baht they pay now.

The rent they pay can go from 2,000 baht a day at a hotel to 3,000-5,000 baht a month for a one-bedroom unit.

That lunch of noodles with pork goes from 150 baht to 40 baht. etc.

Yeah, it ain't the Savoy and doesn't have the ocean/beach views, but neither does a ditch in Ukraine.  

You also need to factor in the..... cough.... physical needs of these young Russian men.

Out here in the sticks you can hire a GILF for around 300 baht per day. 

[Guest1]

22 minutes ago, palooka said:

they'll find that the bottle of beer (or 2) they have every day is only 60 baht, chilled, at the village store and not 120+ baht they pay now.

Most of them buy in 7/11s, anyway.

I can only "speak" for Phuket, but even the tourist areas (westcoast) have their cheapcheap food and drink, even long term hotel staying is available from 8-10k/month. And many of the tourist people are driving around in more local areas, trying to rent for 6- 10 or such, but a house.

And, as I wrote earlier, it seems a lot are working "phone jobs", homeoffice, so to speak. And have full family with them, hubby, wife, kid/s

[Guest1]

20 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

You also need to factor in the..... cough.... physical needs of these young Russian men.

Out here in the sticks you can hire a GILF for around 300 baht per day. 

Haven't seen too many bachelors from russia, lately. Mostly they seem to have a russian speaking female companion

[Poolie]

1 hour ago, palooka said:

You on the lemon juice diet again?  

No, orange juice.  I dont see how what some old bloke might have said two hundred years ago can possibly be relevant now is all. I know a lot of this forum is manned by old blokes but you dont have to quote them and call it wisdom, do you?

[Rookiescot]

34 minutes ago, Poolie said:

No, orange juice.  I dont see how what some old bloke might have said two hundred years ago can possibly be relevant now is all. I know a lot of this forum is manned by old blokes but you dont have to quote them and call it wisdom, do you?

Chairman Mao is a great bloke though. 

[Poolie]

19 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

Chairman Mao is a great bloke though. 

Was a great bloke. He died around 50 years ago.