Thailand vacation: Thousands of tourists are stuck without money – the reason is the Ukraine war
Created: 03/09/2022, 05:30
By: Michelle Brey
A number of Ukrainians and Russians are stranded in Thai holiday regions such as Phuket.
(Iconic image) © Carola Frentzen/dpa
The effects of the Ukraine war are immense.
The sanctions imposed on Putin's Russia are working.
Thousands of tourists have been stranded in Thailand.
Bangkok/Munich - War has been raging in Ukraine since February 24.
"Today we woke up in a different world," said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Explosions, deaths, bitter fighting: Since the invasion of Russian troops, one horror story has followed the next.
The sanctions imposed on Putin's Russia are having a full impact.
Numerous Western countries had taken measures in response to Vladimir Putin's actions, which hit hard, for example, in the auto industry, the energy and financial sectors, trade and technology.
The consequences of the Ukraine conflict and its sanctions can also be felt in Thailand.
Thousands of stranded tourists from Ukraine and Russia are stuck there.
You don't have the money.
War in Ukraine: Tourists no longer have access to their money
Ukrainian and Russian tourists in Thailand are given the opportunity to extend their visas free of charge.
At a meeting on Tuesday (March 8), the responsible authorities wanted to discuss how tourists affected by the Ukraine war who cannot or do not want to return home can be helped.
The
Bangkok Post
newspaper quoted Yuthasak Supasorn, head of the tourism authority TAT.
Around 7,000 Ukrainians and Russians stayed, mainly in the holiday regions of Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Krabi.
Numerous return flights to their home countries have now been suspended.
Many travelers can no longer get their money because transactions via Russian banks are blocked.
For example, major US credit card companies took action in response to Russia's invasion.
Due to the international sanctions, Visa, Mastercard and American Express excluded Russian banks from their payment networks.
The affected banks and their customers can no longer carry out transactions via the providers' networks.
Sanctions against Russia in the Ukraine war: an overview
Ukraine War: Thailand offers shelter to Ukrainian and Russian tourists
The government in Bangkok therefore wants to offer stranded people tourist accommodation as shelter, it said, citing the authorities.
Moscow may organize repatriation flights for citizens - but Thailand will not force tourists to return home if they don't want to.
Fighting continues in Ukraine.
Ukraine raised serious allegations on Tuesday.
Allegedly, an evacuation bus was shot at by Russian soldiers.
(mbr with dpa)