Pattaya opens hotline to support stranded Ukrainian and Russian tourists

The Pattaya Tourist Police have launched a hotline to help Ukrainians and Russians facing financial issues or cancelled flights due to the conflict in Ukraine. Tourists and expats in Pattaya can call the hotline number at 1155 or use the application Tourist Police i lert u.

Thousands of Russian tourists are stranded in Thailand due to flight cancellations and sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. A tourism official says there are currently around 3,100 Russian tourists stranded in Phuket and more than 2,000 on Koh Samui.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Cabinet have been working to find the solution and offering support to tourists from Ukraine and Russia. Those tourists can now extend their 30-day visas for free and the government is working to set up temporary accommodation for those who a stuck in Thailand. With financial transactions through Russian banks blocked, the government is looking at alternative methods of payment.

Phuket has also announced a hotline for Ukrainian and Russian tourists to contact. The call centre can be reached at 0939372086 or 0948191124 (Russian speakers are available).

SOURCE: Khaosod | Pattaya Tourist Police