Russians seek asylum from Thailand’s sanctions and military draft

Over the years, China’s tourism industry has driven the economy of this island paradise, known for its tropical weather, amazing sunsets and foreign-friendly accommodation.

But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Thailand’s Phuket island is transforming into another holiday: a refuge for Russians who evade the economic impact of military constitution, political oppression and Western sanctions.

Phuket businesses – many still recovering from the pandemic – have responded quickly and enthusiastically.

The restaurant now serves sweet porridge. Sauerkraut, Borscht and Blinis are sold in grocery stores and are sold in cheese. The gym offers an ice bath and a sauna, while Russian language signs pop up in the busy areas of the town.

An entertainment lounge opened two years ago promoted trivia nights, film performances and live performers – all in Russian.

Phuket is becoming the joke of Yongsakul, the vice chairman of the Phuket Real Estate Association.

Some of the island’s attractions, such as international schools and long-term visa options, have been an attraction for foreigners.

But as Western sanctions make bank transactions and bank transactions across Europe more difficult, Phuket’s cash-friendly real estate market and direct flights from the Middle East have increased its appeal.

According to Phuket Tourism Police, Russia has been the largest source of foreign arrivals in Phuket as of 2022. Since then, the number of visitors tripled to 1.03 million per year.

Thailand is eager for more tourists and encourages the trend to continue. The Thailand Tourism Board aims to attract 2.2 million Russian tourists this year, up to about 1.7 million in 2024. In 2023, Moscow opened a consulate in Phuket to serve an increasing number of Russian citizens.

“As more and more people realize the safety here, the community has become bigger,” said Yangsakur. “They have their own church, their own business, their own food.”

Bogdan Martianov, a 25-year-old technician from St. Petersburg, Russia, hopes to avoid fighting in the Ukrainian war. So he flew to Argentina to seek political asylum. For two years, he has lived and worked in La Plata, a one-hour drive from Buenos Aires.

In November, the economic impact of austerity measures under new Argentina President Javier Milei flew to Phuket to join some friends who fled Russia.

Martianov initially planned a two-month trip. But the ease of use of life and the existing Russian community convinced him to stay at least in the spring.

“It’s like the preferred area we can meet together,” he said. “That’s why I’m here and why I’m staying here.”

Many new Russians gathered on the west side near Bang Tao Beach, Yongsakul owns several luxury properties.

He estimates that apartment prices have almost doubled since 2020, while land prices have risen by about 50%, partly due to demand from Russian buyers.

Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks, a hotel and real estate consulting firm in Phuket, said Russian tourists began visiting larger numbers 10 years ago because the improved economic situation made them more capable of spending. Warm climates are a welcome change in Eastern Europe’s winter.

Thailand also makes it easy for foreigners to buy real estate, a boon for Russians to seek to park cash, Barnett said. “Phuket real estate has become a bank for Russian investors,” he said.

Their arrival provides a much-needed impetus for the island’s tourism-dependent economy. However, this has also sparked controversy among locals as to how Russian transplants reshape Phuket’s tourism industry and daily life.

“It’s a positive thing for real estate, but not a positive thing for the entire community,” said Yangsakur.

Thinakorn Jommoung, president of the Padong Public Transport Association, said Russians are building their own tourism institutions and businesses, which will cut Thais like him.

Although Jommoung said his income was more or less the same despite the increase in travelers.

“They brought a lot of money, but the money wasn’t there for someone like me. In the end, all the money went back to Russia, China or South Korea,” Qiao Mengmeng said. “Small entrepreneurs are dying one by one because they can’t attract any customers.”

He said that while the number of visitors is increasing now, bookings for the 25,000 local drivers he represented have dropped by about a third compared to the pre-pandemic business.

He also fears that Russians are enacting laws aimed at protecting local employment, such as those prohibiting non-Thai citizens from serving as tour guides or majority owners in private businesses.

Krit Thepbumrung, president of the Andaman Tour Guide Association, said that five years ago, most of the hundreds of unlicensed tour guides in Phuket were Chinese.

Thepbumrung said that most of them are Russians today, and he led a police voluntary task force to track illegal tour guides.

Thepbumrung said he also received more reports about Russians’ expiration visas, but it is impossible to estimate the scope of the problem.

At the same time, the government provided local police with funding to address these issues, as well as pressures on transportation, waste disposal and other infrastructure, neglecting to consider all those arriving from abroad, especially those who reside in visa allowances.

Police arrested dozens of Russians last year in response to residents’ complaints, according to Asia Radio. Other local media reports that Russians engage in scams or robberies have also heightened concerns about the recent arrivals.

Perhaps no surprise, the migration of Russians and the cultural conflicts that have led to have raised objections from many locals who welcome tourists but fear the loss of work and quality of life.

“Phaei wasn’t as messy as it was,” Pabumlun said. “I don’t want to say we don’t want them. But we want quality,” Pabumlun said. [tourists]. It must be balanced. ”

Phuket is the first Thailand to reopen in Thailand after its pandemic international travel to reopen in 2021.

Seeing the rapid growth of Russian tourists, Sergei Skorupa, 34, decided to open a motorcycle rental service in Phuket with his Thai partner two years ago.

Originally from Moscow, Skorupa moved to Phuket in 2021 with greater economic opportunities by the sun, the ocean and the greater economic opportunities than he saw in Russia.

Realizing that foreign-run businesses have become a sensitive issue, Skorupa pointed out that under local law, his Thai girlfriend owns most of the business. He said he only hired Thai workers even though this led to conflicts in their work styles.

But he said he saw a greater outlook in Thailand and planned to stay.

“In Russia, we live in the system of government,” Scorupa said.

“But here we have freedom. We can grow our own business. … I feel safe here; it’s important.”