Before the sanctions and before COVID lock downs, around 1.3-1.5...

Before the sanctions and before COVID lock downs, around 1.3-1.5 millions Russian tourists visited Thailand every year. Out of those around a half (hundreds of thousands) went to Phuket.

1.47 million Russians visited Thailand in 2019, and 435 thousand in 2022. "Tour operators note that demand for the destination exceeded expectations all last year, and now Russians continue to actively book Thailand until the end of the winter season," the union noted.