Travellers from Belarus will soon be able to fly non-stop to Thailand on a scheduled basis. Belavia, the national carrier, is converting its charter programme into regular non-stop services between Minsk and both Bangkok and Phuket from late October 2026 — a shift that hotel groups are already moving to capitalise on.

ONYX Hospitality Group, which manages hotels and resorts across Asia-Pacific, recently completed a sales mission through Moscow, St Petersburg and, for the first time, Minsk. The trip included networking breakfasts and meetings with tour operators, and it put five Thai properties front and centre: Amari Phuket, OZO Chaweng Samui, Oriental Residence Bangkok, Amari Pattaya and OZO North Pattaya. Together they cover the beach-and-city mix that Russian-speaking holidaymakers tend to want — Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya and the Thai capital.

The numbers explain the push. Belarus sent more than 20,000 visitors to Thailand last year according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and officials expect that to top 36,000 as direct flights make the trip far easier. Russia, meanwhile, sits among ONYX's top five international source markets, with business from Russian travellers up roughly 13% year-on-year.

For holidaymakers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: getting from Belarus to Thailand's main resort hubs is about to get simpler, and the hotel sector is clearly courting this market, which usually means better package deals through tour operators. Belarusian travel agents who joined the ONYX meetings also floated fam trips to Thailand, so expect more product knowledge — and more options — on the ground in Minsk as well.

If you're travelling from Russia or elsewhere in the CIS, the wider message is that Thailand is doubling down on your region. The properties ONYX showcased span everything from beachfront resort stays at Amari Phuket to serviced-apartment style city living at Oriental Residence Bangkok, with the OZO brand offering a more mid-market option in Samui and Pattaya. Worth watching as schedules firm up.

Story via Breaking Travel News.