The cabinet on Monday extended the period of stay for Russian nationals under the visa exemption scheme to 90 days, from 30 days, to drive the market during the high season. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he plans to hold discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin about other areas of cooperation in the future. However, tourism operators in Koh Samui and Phuket believe they can reap benefits from Russians staying in the country for longer. "The post-Covid trend has shown that tourists are keen to stay for longer at destinations," said Mr Thaneth. As of Oct 15, Russian tourists tallied over 1.03 million, while the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is hoping for 1.47 million this year.
