Thread: Where have all the Russian Tourists in Thailand Gone?

BANGKOK – With Thai Air having already cancelled direct flights to Moscow and analysts expecting 100,000 fewer Russians to Pattaya and secondary Thailand destinations, the future is looking challenging.

A crisis created by dramatic decrease in crude oil prices has plunged the Ruble into a 40% drop in value and still heading south. Many Russians are offloading recently purchased condos and that is placing an additional worry and strain on the area at this time.

Hotels and tourism businesses hoping to offset occupancy losses of upwards of 80% must avoid the possible terminal decision to fill beds with low spending Chinese tourists.
Bottom end Chinese tourists are lowering the bar and creating a serious situation affecting all other associated tourism.

This could bring down the future of Thailand tourism very quickly.

The money spend is not sufficient to recover refurbishment costs and increased maintenance. This leads to serious poor reviews, impacting future bookings due to the pace of the internet highlighting the trend.

Thailand’s tourism, like the national airline (TG), needs a wake-up call.

There is absolutely no future in double digit growth of bottom end Chinese tourism. It’s not a savior, it’s a nail in the coffin.

Losses to tourism and property businesses in Pattaya could reach 1 trillion baht spend reduction in Pattaya/Jomtien by May 2016

Where have all the Russian Tourists in Thailand Gone? | Chiang Rai Times English Language Newspaper

Originally Posted by misskit

This could bring down the future of Thailand tourism very quickly.

The authorities are doing a good enough job of this on their own

Fukk off Ruskies and stay off!

Now we've just gotta sort the Chinks, Arabs, French and Seppo's

Originally Posted by Kurgen

Fukk off Ruskies and stay off!

Now we've just gotta sort the Chinks, Arabs, French and Seppo's

You forgot the Limey's, OZ & Kiwi's...

There is absolutely no future in double digit growth of bottom end Chinese tourism. It’s not a savior, it’s a nail in the coffin.

Losses to tourism and property businesses in Pattaya could reach 1 trillion baht spend reduction in Pattaya/Jomtien by May 2016

Where have all the Russian Tourists in Thailand Gone? | Chiang Rai Times English Language Newspaper

I wonder what this prat of an author is actually advocating. That Chinese tourists should be turned away?

That Pattaya should transform itself to a paradise of high end tourism? Far more sensible to simply see this as a 'one door closes, another door opens' episode, which of course is what it is.

Nice 'here's a stat I pulled out of my arse earlier' finish too. Thai 'journalism' at its best.

The low-end Chinese tourist gives new meaning to the term "Cheap Charlie"

Originally Posted by cyrille

There is absolutely no future in double digit growth of bottom end Chinese tourism. It’s not a savior, it’s a nail in the coffin.

Losses to tourism and property businesses in Pattaya could reach 1 trillion baht spend reduction in Pattaya/Jomtien by May 2016

Where have all the Russian Tourists in Thailand Gone? | Chiang Rai Times English Language Newspaper

I wonder what this prat of an author is actually advocating. That Chinese tourists should be turned away?

That Pattaya should transform itself to a paradise of high end tourism? Far more sensible to simply see this as a 'one door closes, another door opens' episode, which of course is what it is.

Nice 'here's a stat I pulled out of my arse earlier' finish too. Thai 'journalism' at its best.

Farang journalism.....

Where have all the Thai tourists gone, for that matter. Sure, the hi-so's swan over to HK & Tokyo as always to do their shopping- but I'm told that regular, domestic Thai tourism is well down too, by a couple of resort operators.

Originally Posted by Lostandfound

Originally Posted by BobR

Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk

The money spend is not sufficient to recover refurbishment costs and increased maintenance. This leads to serious poor reviews, impacting future bookings due to the pace of the internet highlighting the trend.

This article seems more like an editorial than a news story; any revenue is better than an empty room for the night.


Had to go to Immigration last week, noticed many of the new condos in Jomtien now have "for rent" signs by the builder in place. Looks like they're trying to generate some revenue renting the ones they cannot sell. One quite nice building said from 8000 Baht a month.

The author is former GM of large Pattaya monstrosity hotel snd smother in Bangkok. He's also a landlord of several expat style condos in the fiefdom

He knows what he's talking about

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...ml#post2984150 (Concern rises as photos of jam packed Maya Bay with influx of Chinese tourists expose)

Originally Posted by sabang

Where have all the Thai tourists gone, for that matter. Sure, the hi-so's swan over to HK & Tokyo as always to do their shopping- but I'm told that regular, domestic Thai tourism is well down too, by a couple of resort operators.

Perhaps it might have something to do with the sheer numbers of tourists mobbing every slightly interesting venue for the past number of years?

Tourist Fatigue?

Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...ml#post2984150 (Concern rises as photos of jam packed Maya Bay with influx of Chinese tourists expose)

Worth a read and comment

It is indeed very quiet.

Excellent news.

Less shitty tourists (from wherever they might be) is a great thing.

Originally Posted by Dapper

It is indeed very quiet.

Excellent news.

Less shitty tourists (from wherever they might be) is a great thing.

Got that right...

Busy with Chinese in Chiang Mai - of all ages.
All other varieties definitely down.

Are you in Thailand now, Cyrille? Had enough of the ME excitement?

Get back to 100 baht bar fines. Where it should be.

Originally Posted by cyrille

I wonder what this prat of an author is actually advocating.

Originally Posted by cyrille

That Pattaya should transform itself to a paradise of high end tourism?

That is what an ex business partner of Mr Thaksin had plans of doing about 8 years ago as I recall.

This is my favorite tourism barometer, Agoda.com. This is for tonight.

"We found 1202 hotels with availability in Bangkok. Showing 1 – 30"
"We found 831 hotels with availability in Pattaya. Showing 1 – 30"

The TAT can lie all they want to, I believe the disinterested commercial source.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by Kurgen

Fukk off Ruskies and stay off!

Now we've just gotta sort the Chinks, Arabs, French and Seppo's

You forgot the Limey's, OZ & Kiwi's...

and the wogs

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by Dapper

It is indeed very quiet.

Excellent news.

Less shitty tourists (from wherever they might be) is a great thing.

Got that right...

Yeah...
That problem solved.

Now, we just have to get around to the shitty foreign residents issue.

Perhaps if the Thais stopped Fooking around with the visas and made things a tad less ardurous for those wishing to stay in country without having to do border/ visa runs instead of trying to woo the Chinese then things may improve, they have to realise the world economy is quite fucked at the moment, the chinaman are doing it tough to, won't be long before they and the russkies decide to give it a miss, They might have to think again about enticing these so called "Quality tourists" I'm sure the gent / seeking asylum would agree with me.

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

Perhaps if the Thais stopped Fooking around with the visas and made things a tad less ardurous for those wishing to stay in country without having to do border/ visa runs instead of trying to woo the Chinese then things may improve, they have to realise the world economy is quite fucked at the moment, the chinaman are doing it tough to, won't be long before they and the russkies decide to give it a miss, They might have to think again about enticing these so called "Quality tourists" I'm sure the gent / seeking asylum would agree with me.

For a bloke that drinks strange beer there's a lot of sense in what you said fella

Cuba looks a real bargain for Europeans at the moment.
Plenty of cheap holidays in balmy Crimea for the Russians this year, 25c summer average ?

I have just returned from Thailand and Cambodia and when in Thailand i find the Thai pleasant enough but if they talk about tourists, its as if they are unaware that people do have options other than Thailand.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

Now, we just have to get around to the shitty foreign residents issue.

Your neighbors referring to you as 'that farang kee nok' again?