Tourism experts worry that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be a major obstacle to the fragile recovery of Southeast Asia’s tourism-dependent economy – just as the region begins to lift Covid-19 travel restrictions.
The Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand are now open to vaccinated travelers, albeit with expensive and cumbersome protocols.
Indonesia recently announced that it will restart quarantine-free travel to Bali, Batam and Bintan by March 14, Vietnam plans to reopen to tourists on March 15 and April 1, and Singapore has already served 32 countries and regions are vaccinated and said it aims to be open “at the earliest opportunity” to all travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
However, the war in Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and airspace restrictions have dented forecasts for the region, where Russians have become the largest and most generous group of tourists in many top destinations during the Covid-19 pandemic, replacing Chinese who are currently unable to travel to their country have strict border controls.
trouble in thailand
In Thailand, 17,599 Russians were the group with the most arrivals in February, accounting for 8.6% of the total 203,970 foreign tourists, according to official tourism data. Their numbers plummeted after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Meanwhile, Yuthasak Supasorn, head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that in addition to the 1,000 Ukrainians, about 6,500 Russian tourists were stranded in popular resorts such as Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi and Pattaya.
Russians face two main problems, Yuthasak said, the airlines that have stopped flying to Russia canceling their flights back home, and the suspension of financial services, especially credit card companies that have joined sanctions against Moscow. There are also some travelers who prefer to delay their return.
Thailand may have to lower its tourist numbers and revenue targets this year because of the knock-on effects of rising oil prices and inflation on global tourism, Yuthasak was quoted as saying Bangkok Post.
Cashless in Bali
In Bali, Indonesia, another popular holiday destination for Russians, Australia was overtaken by Russia in the first year of the pandemic as the largest source of tourists, with around 68,000 citizens flying to the country in 2020, according to Statistics Indonesia. island. Statistics show that Russians were also the first to return when borders partially reopened, with about 1,150 Russians entering Indonesia in January 2022.
But just like in Thailand, they are now scrambling for cash. Local hoteliers and co-working space providers said people who opted to stay longer to freelance or work remotely during the pandemic are also starting to leave.
In Vietnam, especially south-central Khanh Hoa province, which has been popular with Russian tourists since then, tourism businesses and hotels fear the absence of Russians due to the war in Ukraine.
Russia and China are traditionally the biggest tourist source markets in Khanh Hoa province, which is home to popular beach towns Nha Trang and Cam Ranh, as well as high-end resorts that stretch along the coast. With both markets drying up, many travel service providers say they will now focus on South Korean and Australian tourists.
Russian tourists in Southeast Asia: no cash and no flights Tourism experts worry that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be a major obstacle to the fragile recovery of Southeast Asia’s tourism-dependent economy – just as the region begins to lift Covid-19 travel restrictions. The Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand are now open to vaccinated travelers, albeit with expensive and cumbersome protocols. Indonesia recently announced that it will restart quarantine-free travel to Bali, Batam and Bintan until March 14, Vietnam plans to reopen to tourists on March 15, and Malaysia will…
Tourism experts worry that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be a major obstacle to the fragile recovery of Southeast Asia’s tourism-dependent economy – just as the region begins to lift Covid-19 travel restrictions.
The Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand are now open to vaccinated travelers, albeit with expensive and cumbersome protocols.
Indonesia recently announced that it will restart quarantine-free travel to Bali, Batam and Bintan by March 14, Vietnam plans to reopen to tourists on March 15 and April 1, and Singapore has already served 32 countries and regions are vaccinated and said it aims to be open “at the earliest opportunity” to all travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
However, the war in Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and airspace restrictions have dented forecasts for the region, where Russians have become the largest and most generous group of tourists in many top destinations during the Covid-19 pandemic, replacing Chinese who are currently unable to travel to their country have strict border controls.
trouble in thailand
In Thailand, 17,599 Russians were the group with the most arrivals in February, accounting for 8.6% of the total 203,970 foreign tourists, according to official tourism data. Their numbers plummeted after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Meanwhile, Yuthasak Supasorn, head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that in addition to the 1,000 Ukrainians, about 6,500 Russian tourists were stranded in popular resorts such as Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi and Pattaya.
Russians face two main problems, Yuthasak said, the airlines that have stopped flying to Russia canceling their flights back home, and the suspension of financial services, especially credit card companies that have joined sanctions against Moscow. There are also some travelers who prefer to delay their return.
Thailand may have to lower its tourist numbers and revenue targets this year because of the knock-on effects of rising oil prices and inflation on global tourism, Yuthasak was quoted as saying Bangkok Post.
Cashless in Bali
In Bali, Indonesia, another popular holiday destination for Russians, Australia was overtaken by Russia in the first year of the pandemic as the largest source of tourists, with around 68,000 citizens flying to the country in 2020, according to Statistics Indonesia. island. Statistics show that Russians were also the first to return when borders partially reopened, with about 1,150 Russians entering Indonesia in January 2022.
But just like in Thailand, they are now scrambling for cash. Local hoteliers and co-working space providers said people who opted to stay longer to freelance or work remotely during the pandemic are also starting to leave.
In Vietnam, especially south-central Khanh Hoa province, which has been popular with Russian tourists since then, tourism businesses and hotels fear the absence of Russians due to the war in Ukraine.
Russia and China are traditionally the biggest tourist source markets in Khanh Hoa province, which is home to popular beach towns Nha Trang and Cam Ranh, as well as high-end resorts that stretch along the coast. With both markets drying up, many travel service providers say they will now focus on South Korean and Australian tourists.
