BANGKOK, November 24. /TASS/. Thailand is interested in starting acceptance of payments with Russian Mir cards amid extension of the period of visa-free stay in the country for Russian citizens to 90 days, Deputy Governor for International Marketing of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Americas Markets at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Siripakorn Cheawsamoot who is responsible for issues of European countries’ tourism markets, said in an interview with TASS.
"As far as I know the negotiations between Russian and Thai financial organizations are still in the process. The Thai side is interested in solving this problem, but we don’t know the exact date of decision making," he said.
"Now Russian tourists can exchange cash in euro and US dollars for Thai baht, while some exchange offices can also change Russian rubles to Thai baht. Department stores, hotels and resorts also accept Visa and MasterCard issued by non-Russian banks for Russians and UnionPay cards issued by several Russian banks," the official added.
Russian citizens have been allowed to stay in Thailand without visa for 90 days since November 1. The decision taken by the country’s government unilaterally on October 16, will be in force until April 30, 2024. Russia has been the fifth-largest tourist market for Thailand this year, with 1.2 mln Russians having visited the country year-to-date. In 2019, Russia was the seventh-biggest tourist market for Thailand (1.5 mln). That same year, a record 40 mln foreign tourists visited the country, with the tourism sector accounting for 12% of GDP.