Medvedev finds decline in Russian tourist flow to Thailand temporary
BANGKOK. April 8 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev thinks that the decline in the flow of Russian tourists to Thailand caused by the fall in the ruble will soon stop but advises Thai travel operators to think of cheaper products for Russian tourists in the mean time.
"Everything is not that dramatic but compared to 2014 the number of our tourists [in Thailand] has really gone down, according to our estimates, by 25-30%. But not everything is lost. It is quite possible that by the end of the year some parameters will be restored as the ruble strengthens," he said in an interview with Thailand's National media group in Bangkok.
He added that 2014 saw an unprecedentedly high number of Russians visiting Thailand.
"We believe that in any case Thailand will be very attractive for our people. Nevertheless, in order to overcome the current stage faster I would suggest that our Thai business partners look at cheaper products that could be offered at the present," he said voicing confidence that "later everything will be restored."
In reply Thai journalists advised Medvedev to visit Pattaya which is regarded as a Russian city and that "if a referendum were held there, it will join Russia."
