Thailand welcomes increasing numbers of Russian tourists

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The Russians are coming

Tourist roubles - not military might - mark growing influence on the region

Published: 20 Mar 2013 at 15.56
Online news: Asia

Two decades after the end of the Soviet Union's military influence in Indochina, Russia has emerged as a country with growing potential for Thailand and its neighbours to reap the benefits of its rising spending power.

Russian tourists pet a new born baby elephant at an elephant camp in Phuket in February. (EPA photo)

Tourism has long since replaced military jostling for geo-political position as Russia's biggest infleunce on Southeast Asia.

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boons
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Discussion 10 : 26 Mar 2013 at 19.4510
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The Russians aren't coming to visit. They're coming to stay. And Thais will discover the hard way how Russians get what they want.

The Russian mafia is already here and they are already more powerful than the local police. Thailand is not prepared for this new kind of "tourist". Not everyone is like Europeans, Americans and Australians. Good luck Thailand. In the game of bribes and scams, you are suddenly facing a much better player -- and Thailand does not appear to be winning.
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falangsur
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Discussion 9 : 24 Mar 2013 at 10.379
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The money from tourism is great. But to ignore the influence of Russian mafia is foolish. They are brutal, and will make the Thai police cower. GO look at Little Odessa in Brooklyn, NY -- these people are rich and corrupt as all hell. I do not say all rusians are like this --- the tourists are welcome --- but Russians have taken advantage of Thai corruption, and soon we will see (as in Cyprus) the power they will exert......
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Tanami
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Discussion 8 : 21 Mar 2013 at 01.338
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The Russian tourist has no problem adapting to the land of corruption and scams, they live in one at home. The Russian Mafia love Thailand because there is no Rule of Law. I doubt Thailand will be the same in 10 years time.
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dao
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Discussion 7 : 21 Mar 2013 at 01.177
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Russians are a good tourist for Thailand .They deal with a lot living in Russia so scams double charging and trashiness will be a walk in the park for them .
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Cynical
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Discussion 6 : 20 Mar 2013 at 22.296
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The Ruskies spend plenty of money with me here. So far not a problem. The Thais give me far more hassle as they hate to part with dollar.
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oldexp
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Discussion 5 : 20 Mar 2013 at 20.585
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Pattaya already not being a nice city has sure took to the worse with the arrival of these low-level tourist bunch from Russia.
From Farangs still living there I heard the Russian-mafia took over land-deals and more already.
They will pose big problems there as they are completely ruthless in their dealings. The Thai-police - in case they wanted to do something apart from being bribed to look away - will be no match for them.
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sibley
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Discussion 4 : 20 Mar 2013 at 19.494
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Pattaya is already called little Russia, not many houses lift for the Thais to buy now the Russians have bought them all, ha ha ha. chok dee Thailand RIP.
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Cynical
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Discussion 3 : 20 Mar 2013 at 18.393
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D2

Correction yes....exemptions
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djjp
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Discussion 2 : 20 Mar 2013 at 18.052
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@ Disc 1 - Visa exemption, not extensions.
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Cynical
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Discussion 1 : 20 Mar 2013 at 17.501
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How about the same visa extensions for other farangs, hello we have money to burn too.
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Thailand welcomes increasing numbers of Russian tourists | Bangkok Post: news

The Russians are coming

Tourist roubles - not military might - mark growing influence on the region

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