Thailand decided to get rid of poor winterers: what Russians need to know

Mid-October turned out to be rich in Thai records: on the night of October 16, the resort of Phuket was covered by a flood, called by the Phuket people themselves “the worst in 30 years.” On the same day, the domestic tourism industry set a record: tours to Tai for Russians became twice as expensive as a year ago. And on October 17, the Thai authorities suddenly announced that from now on a long-term Thai visa (for 6 months) will be received only by those whose account balance has not fallen below 7 thousand dollars over the past six months.

What are the pitfalls of such an unexpected decision, and what they threaten us with, we found out with the help of experts.

Information about the change in the conditions for issuing a multiple-entry tourist visa of Thailand appeared on the website of the country’s embassy: from now on, to obtain it, you need to provide a copy of a bank statement for the last six months with a minimum balance of $ 7,000 for each month (until that day, only a certificate from the bank was required, which is on the account currently at least $6,000). Meanwhile, according to Russian tour operators, in September the average price of a weekly tour to Tai for two was 240.9 thousand rubles, which is twice the price tag of September last year. Suspicion involuntarily creeps in: did the Kingdom of Thailand really plan to turn winterers who fill the resorts in the high season, but do not bring them such fabulous incomes, into “packaging golden eggs” at the same time.

– Judging by the additional requirements for a visa, – they answer the question about intent in the capital’s travel agency specializing in Southeast Asia, – this is really an action designed to reduce the flow of winterers. It is no secret that these are not rich people, and not only Russian, but also European and American. They have the so-called “backpackers” – people, mostly young, who come with one backpack over their shoulders. Their main expense is on the flight, and then many do without money at all. They hitchhike, spend the night in hostels or even in tents, eat the simplest food and really don’t bring much income to the tourist treasury. They are the main contingent applying for a six-month visa. And now, in addition to the $7,000 monthly account balance, which is already unrealistic for most winterers, a multi-visa requires a detailed travel plan, a certificate from the place of work indicating the position, length of service and duration of vacation, and from students – a certificate of full-time study. It is clear that people who receive such certificates, and real ones, and do not go to Tai for six months, they are tied to work and study.

– It is strange that the Thai authorities are not afraid to be left without tourists at all!

– Who knows Tai well, he is not only not scared, but not even surprised. Now there is still a rainy season and floods of varying degrees – a common thing. Ask anyone who has been in the country for a long time, catching October-November, and everyone will remember their story like “we spent three days without electricity, it was even funny.”

But, I think, it’s “funny” for unpretentious winterers, and not for those who paid 250 thousand for a week of beach holidays in the tropics, flew on difficult connecting flights – and ended up waist-deep in water without electricity. We check with the Russians who are in Phuket right now.

– No, it’s not scary, – tourists from the Moscow region answer the question, – but it’s a shame. We are in Thailand for the first time, and the seller of tours somehow bypassed the question of what rainfall is here at this time of the year. Of course, what to blame him, we could have looked on the Internet ourselves. Everyone here on the spot says that this is normal for October. Another thing is that this time they somehow reacted untimely, in the city center on the streets, water is waist-deep. But they eliminate it, they have it all debugged. There was a power outage in some areas, but we have everything – well, except for the sun. We probably won’t see him this time.

Alas, our tourists are right: they have three days left, and, according to meteorologists, showers in Phuket will not stop in the next week.

But you can’t intimidate winterers with anything – neither floods, nor certificates. Having practiced a lot in satire and humor under the post with the announcement of the Thai embassy, ​​experienced Russian long-steers immediately figured out that it was much more profitable to use the visa-free entry announced by Thailand for 45 days, and then take a taxi to the nearest border, cross it and return back, legalized for another 45 days.

– This is called a “border run” – to the border, crossed and immediately back. There is also a “visaran”, when you leave for a neighboring country for a few days with an eye to take a walk there. But this is an extra expense. And if the money is short – to the Cambodian border and back. Sometimes a Thai is asked to show cash of 20,000 baht, which is about 550 dollars. But there was a case when several people received a stamp with the same “patty”. On the plaque, it is not written whose it really is.