'Bounce back' in Russian tourism to Thailand forecast as rouble improves value

The Russian Federal Tourism Agency found that Thailand retains its popularity among people looking to book foreign holidays, reported sibnovosti.ru news website. 

The kingdom is known to be especially popular with Siberians and those living in the Far East of Russia.

Favourite destinations are Pattaya and Phuket.

Like Vietnam, it offers a shorted flying time from Siberian cities than other foreign destinations popular with Russians, namely Greece, Cyprus, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Spain, Montenegro and Italy.

This comes as Tourism Authority of Thailand forecast this month that Russian arrivals would 'bounce back' to 1 million this year, based on a surge in oil prices and an improving rouble.

The economic downturn led to Russian tourist numbers to Thailand dropping to 884,000 from 1.6 million. 

A sign of improvement is the decision by  Thai Airways International to restart flights between Bangkok and Moscow in October.

Thai premier Prayut Chan-o-cha told counterpart Dmitry Medvedev  on May 13 in St Petersburg that Russian tourists visiting Thailand would be safe.