Phuket officials promote Thailand’s ‘friendly country’ status as a means to see Russian tourists return

PHUKET: Phuket officials have shared a news story promoting how Thailand has maintained its “Friendly Country” status with Russia and highlights how the status may soon see Russian tourists return to the island.

The notice published by the Phuket Info Center promoting how Thailand’s ‘friendly country’ status could see return flights to and from Russia resume after tomorrow (Apr 9). Image: Phuket Info Center

The Phuket Info Center, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, shared the news story posted by Thai media company WorkpointTODAY on the Phuket Info Center official Facebook page yesterday (Apr 7).

“Thailand is one of the 52 friendly countries that Russia is preparing to open to again after being closed since the COVID-19 outbreak,” the story begins.

Russian state news agency TASS on Tuesday (Apr 5) reported Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin saying that Russia will reopen air routes for the 52 friendly countries from tomorrow (April 9).

“Among the 52 countries that will open routes on April 9, it was found that Thailand was included,” said the report.

Other “friendly countries” were named as Algeria, Argentina, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Israel, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Kenya, China, North Korea, Costa Rica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Mozambique. Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Serbia, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Fiji, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, South Africa and Jamaica.

“From Mr Mishustin’s announcement, Russia will open round-trip flights to and from the countries listed above, which have been classified as a friendly country, meaning a country that does not cooperate with the United States and Western nations in enforcing sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine,” the report continued.

Mr Mishustin also said that Russia will also lift restrictions on cross-border land travel between Russia and China, the report added.

“However, Russia still does not open air routes for countries listed in the hostile nation that jointly announced sanctions against Russia,” the report continued.

The report said that Russia had chosen to close its airspace to flights from 36 countries, including 27 EU member states, in response to sanctions imposed by the West over Russia’s “military operations in Ukraine launched on Feb 24”

However, in line with a much more common understanding of the situation, the report did recognise that the Russian aviation industry faces heavy pressure from Western sanctions, with companies cancelling lease agreements with Russian airlines for more than 500 aircraft.

The Russian airlanes face having any previously leased aircraft seized on landing in a country enforcing the sanctions.

The airlines also are unable to purchase spare parts or receive maintenance services from American or European companies, the report noted.

But we may not forget, many russian people protest against the Russian invasion in Ukraine. More that 15,000 are arrested, locked up, waiting trial. Moral Russian soldiers is low, many thought they went Ukraine for exercises. The russians who rape, kill civilians, etc are 'special forces', like german SS murder squads in 2nd world war. The Ukraine civilian destruction is unbelieveble.

@Nasa12 Obviously living in a communist ruled country ( I strongly doubt you even can define "Communism") is still better than living in your own country. Otherwise you would not live here,or would you ?

I think you must mean Thailand's 'spineless country' status. If Russia ever invaded Thailand would just let them take over the country, just like they let the Japanese do. There are 195 countries in the world, try attracting others rather than think one vilified country will bring enough tourists to get the LOS out of deep doggie do.

How can Phuket Officials promote being friendly to Russia when Putins military are comitting murder of 100's of inocent woman and children in Ukraine! These Phuket Officials stupidly don't understand Russia is comitting war crimes!