MOSCOW, March 03. /ITAR-TASS/. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) has registered a rise in Russian tourists’ demand for tours to Thailand over Egypt’s unstable situation.

Travel operators say a great number of low-cost tours to Thailand incited Russian tourists’ interest.

“In January Russia ranked second after China by the influx of tourists to Thailand,” the analytical service of ATOR said, adding that last month almost 263,000 Russians visited Thailand, up by almost 25% year-on-year. “This is the biggest figure ever registered for one month in the history of Russian-Thai tourism relations.”

“Despite political protests in Bangkok, Russian travellers continue to arrive in Thailand through Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport,” the association said, noting that in January the airport’s Russian passenger traffic reached almost 150,000, up by 16% year-on-year.

On February 6, Russia’s Foreign Ministry reiterated recommendations for Russian citizens to refrain from visiting Bangkok. Russian tour operators, in turn, decided not to orgainize tours to Bangkok and send tourists arriving in the Thai capital directly to resort areas.