BANGKOK (AP) — Thousands of Russian tourists are stranded in Thailand’s beach resorts because of the war in Ukraine, many unable to pay their bills or return home because of sanctions and canceled flights.

The crisis in Europe also put a crimp in recovery plans for the Southeast Asian nation’s tourism industry, which has hosted more visitors from Russia than any of its neighbors before the pandemic hit.

There are about 6,500 Russian tourists stuck in Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi and Pattaya, four provinces that are popular seaside resort destinations, in addition to 1,000 Ukrainians, Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, told The Associated Press on Friday.

Some 17,599 Russians accounted for the largest bloc of arrivals in February, representing 8.6% of a total of 203,970, according to the Public Health Ministry. After the Feb. 24 Russian invasion of Ukraine, their numbers drastically declined.

Yuthasak said the Russians face two main problems: cancellations of their flights home by airlines that have stopped flying to Russia, and suspension of financial services, particularly by credit card companies that have joined sanctions against Moscow. There are also some who prefer to delay their return.

“There are some airlines that still fly to Russia, but travelers have to transit in another country. We are trying to coordinate and search the flights for them,” Yuthasak said.

While almost all direct flights from Russia have been suspended, connections are still available through major carriers based in the Middle East.

He said efforts are also being made to find alternative methods of payments for Russian tourists.

Siwaporn Boonruang, a volunteer translator for Russians stranded in Krabi, said some cannot pay their bills because they can no longer use Visa or Mastercard credit cards.

Many have cash and those with UnionPay credit cards, which are issued by a Chinese financial services company, can still use them, but payment by cryptocurrency is not allowed, she said.

Many hotels have helped by offering discounted rates, she added.

Thailand’s government has offered 30-day visa extensions without payment, and is trying to find low-cost alternative accommodation for people forced to stay for an extended period.

The problems associated with the war in Ukraine have compounded Thailand’s hopes for economic recovery. Officials hope to see the threat from the COVID-19 pandemic ebbing by July, even though daily cases are currently at record highs, driven by the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Thai authorities later this year expect to drop most quarantine and testing regulations that have been in place to fight the spread of the virus, which would make entry easier for foreign travelers.

Thailand may have to lower its targets for tourist arrivals and revenues this year because of the knock-on effects of rising oil prices and inflation on global travel, Yuthasak was quoted saying by the Bangkok Post newspaper.

“Tourism is still a key engine to revive our economy, even though revenue was stymied by negative factors,” he said.

According to the report, Thailand had projected gaining a total of 1.28 trillion baht ($38.4 billion) in revenue this year from foreign and domestic tourists.

LINK: https://wgntv.com/news/cashles...s-stuck-in-thailand/

Well if you have to be stranded somewhere, there are worse places than Thailand.

Stuck in a foreign country and the currency you're based around, is worth nothing.

That sucks.

I'm sorry, but I can't give a fuck about these Russian tourists.

I have very little empathy towards the Russians, even the tourists stuck in Thailand, but it gives me food for thought after Afghanistan would Potatus help Americans stuck somewhere if our currency is not accepted? My guess is no.

at that point there is little that he could do

Maybe they should take it up with their dear leader.

I think it is important to distinguish between the Russian people and the dictatorship that runs the country. Should we deport all the Russians who are in the United States? Overchin is an avid Putin support maybe he needs to go? I posted this story more to show the wide ranging effects of this war, other than what we pay at the pump.

This situation these Russian tourists find themselves in is the perfect example of how carrying something like a Rolex when in a foreign country can save your ass when you find yourself in a jam, like your native currency is suddenly crap and all your credit cards are useless.

A Rolex watch is almost like a bank account on your wrist. It is a recognized, tradeable commodity.

***************

This travel expert says he never leaves home without a Rolex — but it's not just to tell time

Rolex watches are so valuable, they can be used as currency.

Philippe Cousteau told Bloomberg that he never travels without it, as everyone understands the value of a Rolex.

Still, the watch has to be something you can afford to lose.

Expensive wristwatches are invaluable traveling tools. They can tell time, don't need batteries to run, and are incredibly reliable.

Another bonus, according to Travel Channel host Philippe Cousteau, is that nearly everyone worldwide understands the value of a Rolex, and it can be traded in the event of an emergency. Cousteau, who is also the grandson of Jacques Cousteau, told Bloomberg that he wears an understated but "tradable" watch no matter where he goes, because of how useful it can be as emergency currency.

Cousteau is vague about the kind of "trouble" he describes, but we can imagine a few scenarios where a valuable watch would help you get to places on time.

Cousteau says an ex-British special force soldier gave him the advice. We're guessing the advice is a little more useful when you have years of military training and expertise — and look like you do, too.

After all, this advice seems a bit old-school. In all but the most remote corners of the world, access to money is only a phone call or click of the mouse away. Though there are usually fees involved, finding an ATM that will give you access to cash through a credit card advance or debit isn't difficult. And it doesn't involve giving away a prized possession.

Yeah, tell that to these Russian tourists.

https://www.businessinsider.co...ravel-expert-2017-11

and the moral of the story is not to go on holiday if your country is at war.

I do believe Russian citizens should be force to leave the US.

quote:

Originally posted by stuffgeek:
and the moral of the story is not to go on holiday if your country is at war.

The US had been at war for the past two decades. Or do we not count?

And anyway, I imagine many of these Russians left before they had any idea what Putin was even planning.

Or when your government, a normally upstanding and open government in a free cough cough country decides to lock your digital accessible account for whatever reason it deems, court order or not, I'm talking about you Canada...

Wearable items of value watch, jewelry, things that can be traded for currency to get you out of a bind.

All those folks talking how great it will be, eliminating hard or paper currency, maybe just learned how easy it will be for the world financial markets to be closed to them. Maybe because of their political beliefs, or because of some action their country takes that the powerful don't like..

Canada and Russia just exposed it.. of course, it could never happen here...

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
This situation these Russian tourists find themselves in is the perfect example of how carrying something like a Rolex when in a foreign country can save your ass when you find yourself in a jam, like your native currency is suddenly crap and all your credit cards are useless.

A Rolex watch is almost like a bank account on your wrist. It is a recognized, tradeable commodity.

Also a great way to get robbed, either by the locals or the customs.

quote:

Originally posted by darkest2000:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
This situation these Russian tourists find themselves in is the perfect example of how carrying something like a Rolex when in a foreign country can save your ass when you find yourself in a jam, like your native currency is suddenly crap and all your credit cards are useless.

A Rolex watch is almost like a bank account on your wrist. It is a recognized, tradeable commodity.

Also a great way to get robbed, either by the locals or the customs.

Yep, I swap mine out for a cheapie when I travel.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
Well if you have to be stranded somewhere, there are worse places than Thailand.

Phuket! Phuket all!!

The one’s stuck in Patpong are probably still having a good time. Heck, with the right skill-set there’s probably some money to be made.

Old Confucius joke -

“Man who walk through airport turnstile sideways going to BANGkok."

A man walk SIDEWAYS THROUGH TURNSTILE. BANGKOK.

Most of the Russians I've net have been in China. The N.E. port city of Dalian is a popular Russian vacation spot. It used to be part of Russia 100+ years ago and there is a Russian section of the city with Cyrillic signs and Russian looking architecture.

You see them at the tourist spots - there are lots of beaches. And Russia girls work in the bars as go-go dancers, or presumably, value-added-services.

The response to Covid ramped up the hate muscle. Now it is just being pointed in different directions

We could all pitch in and get them tickets to Kiev

Poutine can pick them up and take them the rest of the way