"Thousands of Russian tourists have arrived at Pattaya's Dongtan and Jomtien beaches, seeking warmth and seaside recreation as a fierce winter grips their home regions. “The temperature is very comfortable for living. We enjoy doing sports here, running, cycling. We have many friends here, and we go on different activities together,” Sergey, a tourist, said. Tourists also emphasised the destination’s appeal for children. Ilia said he chose Thailand to spend time with his family, noting it was 'quite comfortable for a child.' Other tourists cited travel restrictions in Europe, making Thailand, Vietnam and Turkey preferred winter destinations. “Now we want to show our child the sea and other countries,” one visitor explained. “Currently, it’s quite hard to go to Europe, unfortunately, as we used to. But Thailand, Vietnam, and similar countries are a very good opportunity to have a vacation.” Tourists also noted Thailand’s open border policy and visa exemptions were key factors of the country’s popularity among Russians. Over recent years, Russian tourism to Thailand has climbed sharply. Latest tourism data show that Thailand welcomed a record 1.9 million Russian visitors in 2025, an increase of nearly 9% compared with the previous year and the highest number on record for the Russian market."