Russian tourist on Phuket
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is hoping to see 500.000 Russian visitors to Thailand this year as the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) allows tourists vaccinated with Sputnik V to visit its various Sandbox destinations.
“Russians are important tourists for Thailand. Before the pandemic, 1,4 million visitors came from Russia. The recent influx of Russian tourists to countries such as Greece and Turkey proves that there is a demand for travel destinations,” said TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn.
The TAT predicted 1,2 million international tourists would visit Thailand earlier this year, but due to the Delta variant outbreak, the total number could drop to 1 million.
In addition to 20 million people in Russia who have been vaccinated with Sputnik V, more than 3,7 billion people in 69 countries worldwide have also received the same vaccine, including potential markets such as Vietnam.
Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, the TAT's deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, says Russians are not expected to visit the sandbox destinations until October at the earliest, as charter flights take a month to prepare. The TAT will also contact other airlines to arrange scheduled flights to Phuket, as 50% of Russians, mostly solo travellers, book their own tickets.
Now that the CCSA has given the green light for the 7+7 extension from Phuket to other destinations, the TAT will discuss with Bangkok Airways the possibility of resuming flights from Phuket to Samui.
The TAT also wants further travel bubbles with Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea, while looking for more potential areas in the eastern region to participate in the expansion scheme, such as Koh Lan in Chonburi (Pattaya) and Koh Chang and Koh Kut in Trat, which can be reached via U-tapao airport.
Source: Bangkok Post
More than 3,7 billion people in 69 countries have had the sputnik vaccine? That's half the world's population? Seems like a mistake from Bangkok Post to me.
In total, with all vaccines together, almost 1,9 billion people have now been fully vaccinated.
When it comes to numbers, Bangkok Post is highly unreliable. Calculating is often difficult for many Thai people anyway.
The TAT is also a master of "good news" (read: hyped, unrealistic).
They wish to receive 500.000 Russians before the end of this year. The number of tourists so far will not be much, so those half million Russians will have to come between today and the end of the year (134 days). 500.000/134 = 3731,34 Russians per day!!
There are about 300 passengers in an average plane. So as of today, about 12-13 full planes have to come from Russia every day to make it. Good luck! Will be busy on Phuket… 55555
You would almost think that at the TAT they multiply all numbers 10 to 100 before a news item goes out the door. Or the numbers may be set spiritually…
Where are they going to get it? 16% of Russians are only vaccinated because they don't want their own vaccine Sputnik.
This vaccine has not even been approved for Europe.
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Rob V. gives a gripping analysis of the TAT message. Furthermore, I cannot imagine that many Russians are eager to visit Thailand and take the “visit handicaps” including compulsory insurance for granted. What moves TAT to keep publishing these careless messages?
The “return” of the… “quality tourists” 🙂 🙂 🙂