Thai resort island locals tired of new Russian residents

Tensions are growing at a popular tourist destination in Thailand due to a massive increase in the number of Russians moving there to escape the military draft back home for the war in Ukraine.

As reported by Al Jazeera, local residents in Phuket are complaining about the growing number of Russian residents, who they say are creating an economy that caters exclusively to Russians, leading to fewer job opportunities for locals and driving up property prices, making it harder for renters.

Over 400,000 Russians arrived in Phuket between January and July this year, twice the number of visitors recorded before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Many have bought properties on the island, set up businesses, and acquired long-stay visas in order to avoid being conscripted at home.

The Thai Real Estate Association said Russians were the leading international buyers of property in Phuket last year, and that sales to Russians jumped 68% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022, the Guardian reports.

Many of the Russians who have escaped to the tropical resort island obtained long-stay visas, invested in properties, and established businesses, seeking refuge from economic turmoil and potential conscription following Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.

In response to this growing influx, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Phuket in July to inaugurate a new consulate to cater to the rising number of Russian citizens seeking opportunities on the island.

According to News Trek, an area significantly affected by the change in demographics is the transportation sector. Prayut Thongmusik, the president of the Phuket Van Drivers’ Club, reported that Russians have taken over the tourism business by offering tourists cheaper transportation services through unregistered vehicles and Russian apps, diverting revenue away from local drivers.

Residents have also been concerned and angered by criminality connected with the huge influx of Russians. Local laws dictate that certain occupations can only be carried out by Thai nationals, but these restrictions aren’t always observed.

“We arrested three Russian nationals who opened a hair salon after we got a complaint lodged by a Thai citizen”, Lieutenant Colonel Thongchai Matitam said. “We charged them with breaking the law by doing the jobs reserved for Thais only”.

More overt criminality has been reported too, including the shooting of a Russian businessman in June and the arrest of a Russian man allegedly linked to a phone scam gang running out of Cambodia. Local media reported that Russians accounted for most of the criminal charges applied to foreigners in Phuket in the first three months of 2023.