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PHUKET’S tourism industry can look forward to a stronger high season, as Russian travelers prepare to swap their cold winter weather for a sun-soaked Sandbox escape. Russian outbound tour operators expressed their belief that many of their clients are longing to return to Phuket. They warned however, that some key factors were still restricting the destination’s full potential.
Prior to the global pandemic, Russia was one of Phuket’s biggest source markets. In 2019, over 700,000 visitors arrived direct from Russia, and while that level is unlikely to be matched in the near future, hoteliers and tour operators are confident that the coming months will see the start of a recovery.
This belief is driven by the fact that, effective 1st September 2021, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health added Russia’s Sputnik to its list of approved vaccines, which will enable thousands of Russian citizens to take part in the Phuket Sandbox program.
According to Ravi Chandran, CEO of Laguna Resorts & Hotels, called this move a “huge boost to the Sandbox”. It adds stability and continuity to the Sandbox concept and it will give a lot of the other European countries – and other countries around the world – confidence in the concept, when they see a big player like Russia participating.
He added that arrival numbers would probably start slowly, before “building up in November and December, once more airlines launch flights”. The first Aeroflot flight is due to depart on 4th October 2021.
To drive Phuket’s rebound, Khanittha Phanworawat, Director of the TAT’s Moscow Office, revealed that her team is now ramping up its promotional efforts in Russia.
“The Phuket Sandbox is our main agenda for the travel trade. We explained the concept to Russian tour operators at an event in Moscow in September. B2B online workshops have also connected Thai hoteliers and suppliers with Russian agents, and we have set up a dedicated Russian language website to provide the latest information for travel to Thailand,” Ms. Khanittha stated.
Thailand Tour operators said they were hopeful that Russian ‘snow birds’ would flock back to Phuket this winter. Salim Akbas, Product Purchasing Manager (Southern Thailand) for ODEON Tourism, said that Russia was a “really good fit for the Sandbox” due to the 14-day length-of-stay requirement, which is similar to the usual vacation duration preferred by Russian travelers, and their strong appetite for Thailand’s beaches and food.
“The “7+7” extension of the Sandbox will also enable visitors to experience more parts of the Kingdom, with the option of combining Phuket with destinations such as Khao Lak, Koh Samui and Koh Phi Phi,” he added.
With the launch of the Phuket Sandbox 7+7 program and the acceptance of the Sputnik vaccine as a condition of entry, it seems that Phuket is taking the right steps to regaining the Russian market. What also seems clear however, is that a price-led return will be critical to restoring confidence, and that some travel restrictions may have to be lifted in order to entice travelers away from rival destinations.
Launched on 1st July 2021, the Phuket Sandbox allows fully-vaccinated international travelers from 60+ countries and territories worldwide to enjoy quarantine-free stays in the “Pearl of the Andaman”, if they fly direct to the island, stay in approved accommodation, and take regular PCR tests during the stay. [sources/photo special]
