Flying preparation: Thailand is ready to increase the number of direct flights from Russia
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- Flying preparation: Thailand is ready to increase the number of direct flights from Russia
Thailand is ready to increase the number of direct flights from Russia, the country's ambassador to Moscow, Sasivat Wongsinsawat, told Izvestia. The Russian Embassy in Thailand confirmed that Moscow and Bangkok regularly discuss the frequency of flights taking into account the demand for passenger air transportation from both sides. Russia ranks first among non-Asian countries in the number of tourists in Thailand, and it is growing year by year. By the end of 2024, the flow from the Russian Federation, according to the forecasts of the Russian side, will reach 1.8 million people. Should we expect more flights, as well as the opening of new tourist destinations - in the material "Izvestia".
How much tickets to Thailand cost
Thailand remains one of the most popular resort destinations for Russians. Moreover, the number of travelers from the Russian Federation is only growing. At the end of the year, up to 1.8 million Russian tourists are expected to visit the kingdom, the Russian Embassy in this country told Izvestia. Last year, the flow from our country amounted to only 1.48 million people, although even this is already more than in the pre-pandemic 2019 (1.47 million). Moreover, Russians then accounted for the largest share among all tourists from non-Asian countries: slightly less the state in Southeast Asia attracts the British, Germans, French and Swedes. Even though the season in Thailand is traditionally considered to be the period from October to April, the total volume of summer tourist traffic in 2023 made it the most successful in the history of Russian tourism in this Asian kingdom.
- From October to April, the intensity of flights is particularly high. For example, last year in November 200 thousand Russian tourists visited the country, in December - 250 thousand. This year, as of December 1, Thailand has already been visited by 1.5 million of our citizens. Full statistics will be available at the end of the year. We expect that this figure will reach 1.7-1.8 million people, - told "Izvestia" in the Russian diplomatic mission.
It is obvious that the demand for air transportation will grow. By the way, Thailand is ready to increase the number of direct flights from Russia, the ambassador of this country in Moscow Sasivat Wongsinsawat told "Izvestia". In this matter Bangkok will go along with it in case of initiative from the Russian side.
- Now there are already many direct flights between Thailand and Russia, which are carried out by Aeroflot. It is up to the company to decide: if it wants to increase the frequency of flights, we only welcome it," the diplomat said.
Given the popularity of the destination, the issue of flight frequency remains a key agenda of discussions between Moscow and Bangkok.
- Dialogue on the frequency of flights is conducted on a permanent basis, taking into account the demand for passenger air transportation from both sides, - emphasized "Izvestia" in the Russian Embassy in Thailand.
At the moment, direct flights between the countries are carried out mainly by Aeroflot airline: from Moscow to Bangkok and Phuket. There are several flights a day to the island: if you go on a trip right now, the ticket will cost about 50 thousand rubles, but as the New Year approaches, the price rises to 100 thousand rubles. Choosing a route with a transfer, for example, through New Delhi or Beijing, you can save a couple of tens of thousands of rubles. However, direct flights from Russia are also available for a more modest price (about 80 thousand rubles), but not from Moscow, but, for example, from Irkutsk - by S7.
Now among the most popular Thai destinations among Russians are Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, the islands of Samui and Phi Phi.
Cooperation between Russia and Thailand in the sphere of tourism
In many respects, the popularity of this tourist destination is due to the comfortable conditions and a variety of price parameters that the Thai side provides to tourists. According to Artur Muradyan, vice-president of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), it is quite possible to expect an increase in the number of direct flights from the Russian Federation - now Russian carriers are systematically putting into operation foreign airplanes from the dual register by concluding agreements on insurance payments and leasing.
Earlier, due to international sanctions imposed against the backdrop of the special operation in Ukraine, Russian airlines began to actively register airplanes in the national registry. But dual registration entails problems related to international recognition of the aircraft's license and airworthiness certificate. To solve this problem, the government has set aside about 300 billion rubles in the Federal National Bank of Russia to buy out foreign aircraft, Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said in March.
- With all this, new destinations may also open up. Now there are restrictions. Thai carrier does not fly to us, although earlier national carriers used to fly and allowed price competition to restrain the cost of transportation and fight for Russian tourists. In principle, the Russian Federation now has a task to build long-range wide-body airplanes in order to replace imported equipment. The development of long-haul destinations will largely depend on it," Muradyan noted.
At the same time, in early 2024 there was information that Thai Airways would start flying to Russia again. The company used to operate flights on the Bangkok-Moscow route, but suspended them back in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the resumption of flights is not expected not only in the outgoing year, but also next year. As a source told the portal TourDom.ru, Russia is in the preliminary schedule of new European destinations of the company, but representatives of the carrier refer to the shortage of airliners and pilots.
Air travel is far from the only area in which joint work between the Russian and Thai sides is being carried out. In July 2024, Thailand introduced a 60-day visa-free travel for tourists from Russia. It was before, but as an experiment - now such conditions are in effect for Russians on a permanent basis. Of course, to a large extent, this is done for relocants, but wintering in warm countries has recently become a well-established practice for many Russians working remotely.
In addition, as Izvestia found out in May, Russia and Thailand are negotiating the acceptance of the Russian payment system card "Mir", which will make it much easier for tourists to stay in the country. However, there are no specific terms yet. Most likely, this is due to the risk of secondary sanctions, which Bangkok fears, among others. So far in Thailand it is possible to pay with the Mir card only in some places, for example, through the acquiring system of third-party payment systems.
