Number of Russian visitors in Phuket instantly drops

[reader]

From Pattaya News

The number of Russian visitors in Phuket has instantly dropped due to two Russian airlines responsible for a majority of flights to the island stopping their services temporarily due to sanctions imposed by western countries on Russia due to the ongoing Russian invasion into Ukraine.

The President of the Phuket Tourism Association Mr. Bhummikitti Ruktaengam posted on his Facebook, “Two airlines from Russia have paused their services to other areas including Phuket which are S7 – Siberian Airlines and Aeroflot Airlines.”

“The reason that they have paused is because of European and American sanctions which caused airplane rental contracts to be paused too. Some ticket booking system companies have stopped their services. Airspace has been restricted and limited in conflict areas of Ukraine and Russia. So these make ticket bookings more difficult if not outright impossible for citizens of both countries, although there are still some routes in through the UAE.” Bhummikitti stated.

“The number of Russian visitors in Phuket used to be very high and since reopening Thailand to foreign tourists last year with Thailand Pass, Russians have been number one in terms of overall visitors. Most of them used direct flights from Russia and not flights through Dubai or some other Middle Eastern countries which, for now, are still operating although could also be forced to pause soon due to sanction-related issues. As a result, the numbers of Russian visitors have instantly dropped.” Bhummikitti added.

their services for now, including Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, American Express, Wise, Remitly, and bank-related sanctions with SWIFT it has become almost impossible for Russians to access their banks and funds in Russia, leaving a significant number of them stranded without the ability to pay for flights home to Russia or even for hotels or food. There are still some tourists who have managed to access funds through cryptocurrency or small banks not targeted by SWIFT but loopholes and grey areas continue to be closed by Western countries putting pressure on Russia to end the conflict,” Bhummikitti explained.

Bhummikitti did not state exactly how many Russians were “stranded” in Phuket as a result of the sanctions, TPN media notes, but both Samui and  Pattaya have reported similar issues with Samui stating hundreds of Russians and Ukrainians, who could not get flights home due to restricted airspace, were facing problems both in getting flights and for Russians financially due to sanctions.

Bhummikitti said that the tourism association and Phuket leaders were working closely with both Russians and Ukrainians on the island who were facing travel and finance problems, as well as working out deals with hotels and Immigration to allow those who could not leave or could not temporarily pay to stay longer. Bhummikitti also stated that the consulates of both countries were working with their citizens to provide solutions and support for those in need.

[vinapu]

Not being able to vacation in Thailand is still better option than being forced to run from home because Russian bombing. 

[Moses]

On 11/8/2024 at 7:09 AM, reader said:

due to two Russian airlines responsible for a majority of flights to the island stopping their services temporarily due to sanctions

You again don't do fact checking?

Pity, he forgot to tell it to Aeroflot and it continue to fly at least twice a day.

https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en

 

S7

[Moses]

In fact, number of Russians visiting Thailand doubled since summer and will grow few more times in December-January.

Russian artists already started concerts in Thailand for Russian tourists: about week ago in Pattaya was concert of quite famous Russian "Choir of Turetskiy" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turetsky_Choir_Art_Group

 

[Travelingguy]

I wonder how they manage to keep Boeing 777s flying for all this time.  They either have a lot of spare parts or they are getting them from China.  Same logistical issues with Airbus.  

Just one more concern.  

[Moses]

10 minutes ago, Travelingguy said:

They either have a lot of spare parts or they are getting them from China.

Why "China"? Best region for such deals is Middle East, I already told it here - Arabs are best middleman in World. 

[reader]

See post below 

[reader]

 

6 hours ago, Moses said:

You again don't do fact checking?

If you’re flying Aeroflot, neither are you

From Wikipedia

Founded in 1923, Aeroflot, the flag carrier and largest airline of Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), has had a high number of fatal crashes, with a total of 8,231 passengers dying in Aeroflot crashes according to the Aircraft Crashes Record Office, mostly during the Soviet era, about five times more than any other airline.^[1][2] From 1946 to 1989, the carrier was involved in 721 incidents. From 1995 to 2017, the carrier was involved in 10 incidents. In 2013, AirlineRatings.com reported that five of the ten aircraft models involved in the highest numbers of fatal accidents^[3] were old Soviet models.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroflot_accidents_and_incidents

 

[Moses]

 

6 hours ago, reader said:

From 1946 to 1989

6 hours ago, reader said:

were old Soviet models.

Oh, yeah, it is very important.

The most fatalities in any aviation accident in history occurred at the Tenerife North–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport (then Los Rodeos Airport) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, on 27 March 1977, when a KLM Boeing 747-206B and a Pan Am Boeing 747-121 collided on a runway, killing 583 people.

Do you still fly KLM?

It's not Aeroflot that had a door hatch fall out in flight.

It's not Aeroflot that had its entire fleet grounded for 2 years because, for unknown reasons, 2 flights suddenly crashed into the ground.

Oh, wait, it's Boeing, whose planes all the world's airlines fly on.

[reader]

I’ll take Wikipedia report over any other made up lists from doubious, uncited sources.

Hell, Aeroflot had long standing reputation for flying within Russia with SRO policy (Standing Room Only). Most crashes occurring within country never reported to outside world. 😃

Btw, cause of Tenerife incident had nothing to do with aircraft malfunction but was communications issue between controllers and pilots in low visibility conditions.

[Moses]

Just now, reader said:

I’ll take Wikipedia report over any other made up lists from doubious, uncited sources.

do you see grey buttons after each reply of GPT?

[Moses]

14 minutes ago, reader said:

Hell, Aeroflot had long standing reputation for flying within Russia with SRO policy (Standing Room Only)

So you prefer propaganda and urban legends? Well, now I know why you never do fact checking. By the way Chat GPT may do it for you just in 5 sec, and then every second post with "news" will not be your shame.

[reader]

Again, Aeroflot not in habit of reporting incidents that occur within its vast territory. 

https://www.airlineratings.com/airlines/aeroflot/safety

 

[Moses]

6 minutes ago, reader said:

Again, Aeroflot not in habit of reporting incidents that occur with its vast territory. 

It is not possible not to file reports: too many third parties are involved - passengers, insurance companies, ticket agents, international ticketing systems, airports, aircraft maintenance companies.

[reader]

Anything possible in Putin land. 🤫

[Moses]

1 minute ago, reader said:

Anything possible in Putin land.

Again urban legends? 

Then you don't even have to adhere to the bare minimum of truth. Just write something like "Yesterday a drunk Russian raped a policeman on Walking Street while leading a tame bear on a leash and playing a balalaika."

[reader]

4 minutes ago, Moses said:

Again urban legends? 

Then you don't even have to adhere to the bare minimum of truth. Just write something like "Yesterday a drunk Russian raped a policeman on Walking Street while leading a tame bear on a leash and playing a balalaika."

So you heard same rumor? 
 

[Moses]

4 minutes ago, reader said:

rumor

Why you call it "rumor" when it is "gossip"?

Rumors at least have a minimal basis for them. Gossip is just gossip and instead of a basis they have someone else's envy.

[reader]

These signs have just been posted along Walking Street. Only fair that you get full credit for breaking story first.

[Moses]

On 11/8/2024 at 7:09 AM, reader said:

From Pattaya News

 

The number of Russian visitors in Phuket has instantly dropped due to two Russian airlines responsible for a majority of flights to the island stopping their services temporarily due to sanctions imposed by western countries on Russia due to the ongoing Russian invasion into Ukraine.

Dear, are you sure what slightly changed text from 2022 is still "news"?

"Pattaya news" is famous for fakes. Even ChatGPT knows it:

[reader]

Well as much as I’ve enjoyed our little chat, I’m going to get a massage.

 I have no idea what you’ll do.

[Moses]

16 minutes ago, reader said:

I have no idea what you’ll do.

Generating pics for Siamroads advertising, so I have time while AI generates next bunch of pics. Marketing rule "Gays buy by eyes" always works.

Like these:

[reader]

Your artificial creations are good quality, Moses, but afraid I’ve become spoiled by real thing. 🙂

[Moses]

1 hour ago, reader said:

but afraid I’ve become spoiled by real thing

Tours are real  Guides also

By drawing style of pictures for advertising is visible what they aren't real  and I do not pretend in advertising what  they are. I make "photo like real life" only for entertainment.

 

Ads:

[reader]

Great way to generate business.