Bangkok protests leave Russians’ demand for trips to Thailand unaffected

World January 13, 2014, 13:00

Most Russians spend holidays in the country’s resort areas, where the situation is calm

MOSCOW, January 13. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian tourists that are spending holidays in Thailand do not ask their travel agencies to carry them home ahead of time, as reported on Monday by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR). Representatives of the professional union say that Russians have not shown any reaction to the mass protests in Thailand as yet. ATOR representatives noted that the major part of Russian tourists was spending their holidays in the resort areas of the country, where the situation remains calm.

“As for tourists staying in Bangkok, their travel agencies inform them that some excursions would be changed with regard to the current situation,” the Association’s representative added.

ATOR stressed, “travel agencies are not receiving any requests on tour cancelling or on pre-term return to Russia”.

Meanwhile, Thai authorities pledge that tourists would not experience any problems regarding the protests and promise to provide to travelers any help they may need. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is setting up a center for helping travelers. Its offices will be opened at airports and metro stations, Volunteers and tourist police will be helping the country’s guests that need to cross areas where street protests are taking place.

Russian air carriers stated that they were not planning to cancel flights to Thailand scheduled for this week. Thai Airways also reported that the departures of the national air carrier would be timely.

January 9, Russia’s Foreign Ministry recommended the Russians to abstain from trips to Bangkok. The Ministry noted that Thai opposition announced a series of large-scale protest actions starting January 13 aimed at blocking the activity of state agencies and paralyzing traffic on main roads.

“Clashes between oppositionists and pro-governmental forces are not ruled out,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry noted. The ministry advises that Russian citizens arriving to Thai airports proceed to resorts without visiting the capital, and those planning to depart from Thailand to organize their transfers to Bangkok’s airports beforehand.

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