Thailand May Launch Payments with Mir Cards
Now, due to Western sanctions, Russian tourists in Thailand are faced with the problem of cashless payments, and the tourism department is negotiating with banks on the issue of payment channels.
Updated at 20:11
Payment by Mir cards may also become available in Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand representative Sulatda Saruttilavan told reporters. She praised the initiative, adding that it may "take some time."
The Tourism Authority noted that now, due to Western sanctions, Russian tourists in Thailand have encountered the problem of cashless payments. The Authority is negotiating with banks on the issue of payment channels. Banks, in turn, are looking for ways to make payments.
But is this possible under sanctions? Isn't local business afraid of secondary sanctions? Pavel Samiev, director of the analytical agency "BusinessDrom", comments:
— The statement that the Mir system might work in Thailand was made at a fairly high level. We were interested in this from the position that the Thais are not aware that the whole world is now offended for this, for working with the Russian Federation, that there will be secondary sanctions, what is the reason for such readiness — or is the concept changing now?
— It is difficult to comment, because so far nothing has changed much. Why did it arise in such a positive context now, that it can be done directly, there will be no consequences, everything will be fine, I do not know what has changed to look at it more optimistically. Previous attempts to intensify the implementation of "Mir" in other countries, including in the near abroad, were intensified, then it slowed down due to fears of secondary sanctions.
Thailand expects about 2 million Russian tourists by the end of this year. This is about 300 thousand more than the year before. At the same time, the Tourism Authority emphasized that the country is aimed at attracting quality tourists and is not chasing only their quantity.
Russians in Thailand on a tourist visa are not allowed to open accounts in local banks, and tourists use mostly cash. In May, TASS reported that Thailand's largest bank, Bangkok Bank, blocked the cards of some Russians living in the country.
Due to difficulties with payment, there are those who resort to illegal methods of opening accounts, says Alexander, a resident of Thailand:
The Mir card operates in 13 countries, in addition to Russia, but full functionality is available only in Abkhazia, Belarus, Cuba and South Ossetia. In the remaining nine countries, the payment system operates with restrictions.
bfm.ru
