Representatives of the tourism industry reported a decrease in sales of tours by 50%

“The main problem is that people don’t understand whether they will be released or not”

Since October 1, Thailand has lifted all covid restrictions both for entry and inside, and also increased the period of stay in the country for vacationers without a visa to 45 days. It is Thailand and Sri Lanka that are now leading the top 5 in terms of prices for Russians in the direction of Southeast Asia. Although in the current conditions there is no need to wait for the flow there, despite the various bonuses. MK learned from representatives of the tourism industry how things are with outbound tourism in November to the hot countries of the South-East and other warm foreign resorts popular with Russians, which can now be counted on the fingers.

Despite the mobilization that changed the plans of many men and their families and forced them to cancel trips abroad, life goes on for other Russians, and the Association of Tour Operators of Russia ranked the top 5 countries in Southeast Asia for affordability in November: these are Sri Lanka and Thailand, followed by Indonesia (Bali), Vietnam and Malaysia.

So, for example, three leading Russian tour operators offer a direct flight to Sri Lanka – aircraft will fly to Colombo from November 1. The tour will cost 163.9 thousand rubles for two for 8 nights, these prices are quoted by ATOR. Thailand takes the second place in terms of affordability of rest – from 180 thousand rubles for two for the same 8 days. Two large travel agencies offer the most favorable prices for tours: one through their own charters from Moscow to Phuket (they will fly from October 29), the second bought blocks on direct flights of the leading Russian air carrier to Phuket and Bangkok.

– Now, already taking into account the winter season, tour operators have organized new programs, primarily in Thailand – Bangkok and Phuket, as well as in India (Goa), – a representative of the tourism industry management told MK. – If we take not Southeast Asia, then the program has been expanded to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, as well as to the United Arab Emirates – our major air carrier will fly there. The number of flights of Middle Eastern airlines has also increased – the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar. We hope that sales will go, but, it is clear that tourists have now taken a wait-and-see attitude. You can observe a 30-50% decrease in sales, there are some number of cancellations of tours. The main problem is that people do not understand whether they will be released or not, whether to wait for a summons or not.

“MK” asked a question about the situation with our tourists, a representative of the tourist industry in Thailand:

“We are not expected to receive an influx due to the aggravation of the situation with Ukraine,” the organizer of the tours in Pattaya, Suwanna Vonghorm, answered sadly. “But still, compared to last year, a lot more people have come now. The rental property market has revived. An influx of tourists from Russia is expected in the event of the resumption of charters and direct flights. But another, perhaps the main problem that discourages Russians from flying to us is non-working bank cards. This worries people a lot.