6,500 Russian Tourists Stranded in Thailand... Card Payments Blocked, Faces Full of Worry

On the 11th (local time), tourists relaxing at Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand.
[Photo by AP News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Sumi Hwang] Thousands of Russian tourists who traveled to Thailand have been stranded due to international sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On the 13th (local time), according to Fox News, Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), stated to the AP News on the 11th that about 6,500 Russian tourists are staying in popular Thai resorts such as Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Pattaya.

They have faced difficulties returning home since the Ukraine crisis. Due to international sanctions, flights returning to Russia have been suspended, the value of the ruble has plummeted, and card payments have been blocked.

Earlier, the United States and the European Union (EU) excluded major Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment network. Additionally, Visa and MasterCard announced they would cease operations in Russia, resulting in the suspension of overseas use of Visa and MasterCards issued by Russian banks since the 9th.

Because of this, Russians in Thailand are experiencing inconvenience as card payments are almost impossible, making it difficult to pay fees. Some of them are reportedly using the Chinese UnionPay system or cash they have on hand.

Given the situation, the Thai side is seeking alternative payment methods for Russian tourists. Governor Yuthasak mentioned that they are considering allowing the use of cryptocurrency for hotel and flight payments. The Phuket Tourism Association has requested local hotels to lower prices and extend stays.

Meanwhile, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is also reported to have impacted Thailand's tourism industry.

Thailand is a popular destination for Russian nationals, with 1.4 million Russians visiting Thailand in 2019 alone. According to the Thai Ministry of Public Health, 17,599 Russians entered Thailand last month, accounting for 8.6% of the total arrivals (203,970), the highest proportion.

However, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the 24th of last month, their numbers have sharply declined. According to the Phuket Tourism Association, Russian tourists entering Phuket have decreased by more than 75%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.