Russian tourists are returning en masse to Thailand. During the two-year “absence” of Thailand on the Russian market, some tourists forgot the conditions for entering the kingdom. On the eve of this, this led to the disruption of the vacation of a family from Russia, which, of its own free will, was left without the sea and without money.

In connection with the massive return of Russians to the resorts of Thailand, Vestnik ATOR once again wants to remind travelers about the rules for entering this country.

Thailand in its “full version” has not been on the Russian market for more than two years, and, as the practice of tour operators shows, there are tourists who, during this time, have forgotten the border crossing conditions in force in the country, which are in no way related to covid. Especially the rules that were introduced shortly before the pandemic.

FOR ENTRY TO THAILAND FROM 2019, YOU NEED TO HAVE FINGERPRINTS

From October 1, Thailand returned the conditions of entry to pre-pandemic. That is, for entry, tourists only need a passport (without a visa – up to 45 days), it is also recommended to take out insurance. The validity of the passport is at least 6 months from the end date of the tour. It is possible to come with a passport and a shorter period of validity, but it is better not to risk it. We studied this issue for you – here.

The entry rules are not limited to this.

Upon arrival at the checkpoint, the border guards will ask tourists to pass their fingerprints. This rule has been in effect at all border checkpoints in the kingdom since 2019(it was used at some checkpoints before, the system began to be deployed since 2014).

The procedure is simple, not unpleasant (no one smears fingers with paint, they just scan a finger)and does not take even minutes. And understandable: when an officer takes a tourist's passport, an instruction in the language of his country turns on on the device that reads the fingerprints.

RUSSIANS REFUSED TO HAVE FINGERPRINTS IN THAILAND AND LOST REST

However, it was the need to undergo this procedure the day before that deprived Russian tourists of rest. More precisely, not even the procedure itself, but the unwillingness to undergo it. Probably, the tourists did not study the rules for entering the country before the trip.

The situation happened with the tourists of the Intourist tour operator. According to the company, tourists from Russia (2 adults and a child), who recently arrived in Thailand, did not want to be fingerprinted.

In response to the words of the officer about the obligation of every tourist arriving in Thailand to comply with the entry rules in force in the country, the tourists in a scandalous manner and shoutingly declared that they were “not ready for their convictions” to be fingerprinted. According to eyewitnesses, the tourists made a grandiose scandal at the airport, refusing to go through passport control on the conditions in force in the country.

As a result, after the remarks of the border guards, the tourists nevertheless handed over their fingerprints. But this also happened through screams, scandal, squabbles with border guards. As a result, Thai border guards nevertheless decided to deport the family.

Today the Russians flew back to Russia. According to one of the telegram channels, where the tourists wrote, their trip cost them 260 thousand rubles for three. They actually lost that money.

“The contracts and memos of tour operators indicate that the final decision on the possibility of crossing the border is made by an employee of the border service of a foreign state. In this case, the decision to deport was made because of the behavior of specific tourists who did not want to follow the rules of the country and the instructions of the border guards. In this case, the tour operator, according to the letter of the law, has the right to return the money for the tour minus the actual expenses incurred, which, on the day the tour starts, as we understand, will amount to almost 100% or all 100% of the cost of the tour package. We urge tourists, no matter what country they are talking about, to follow the rules in force in it,” emphasizes Nadezhda Efremova, Head ATOR Legal Service.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK THE RULES OF CROSSING THE BORDER OF FOREIGN STATES AND SCANDAL WITH THE BORDER GUARDS

The situation that happened with tourists in Thailand is, of course, instructive. Violating the rules established in a particular country for the entry of foreigners is always fraught with (at least) deportation. Border guard scandals carry the same risk.

In addition, Thailand is one of the most loyal countries in relation to tourists. The kingdom always goes to meet tourists. Among the latest examples is the extension of the visa-free stay to 45 days.

As for the fingerprint scanning procedure, this is practiced not only in Thailand. This measure is mainly aimed at identifying persons suspected of crimes, and in principle does not pose any danger to law-abiding tourists.

We urge travelers to always study the entry rules and holiday conditions in the country where they are going. Don't ruin your vacation with your own hands.

Alexandra Polyanskaya