International Tourism in Thailand: Trends and Recovery of the Flow of Russian Tourists after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Tourism is the most important sector of the economy of the Kingdom of Thailand. Russian citizens have traditionally occupied an important place in the flow of tourists, but the COVID-19 pandemic has almost destroyed tourism in Thailand and, as a result, the number of Russian tourists has also significantly decreased. The gradual lifting of restrictions in Thailand on the reception of tourists began in 2022, and gradually the Russians have already taken a leading position among foreign tourists, bypassing the once significantly higher number of citizens from China, the flow of which has decreased due to a zero-tolerance policy and a new wave of the pandemic. Most Russian travelers began to consider Thailand due to their friendly attitude towards Russia, the resumption of regular direct flights, as well as profitable "package tours" through travel agencies, but they faced several difficulties, for example, in making payments through bank cards.