Don’t be conned in to hating Russians or anyone else. It is all a political strategy to distract, divide and make a very small number of people even more wealthy.
In general, as humans our relationship with the Russian people has been very good. It is only when certain politicians… get involved that some are persuaded to hate…. Xenophobia and racism are used to serve a purpose and none of it is ever good for us.
Below is information regarding how Russian tourists have experienced the UK. We have a lot more in common with them than the sociopathic politicians and their geo political manipulating.
What Russians think about Britain:
- Russians have a broadly positive perception of the UK especially for contemporary culture, historic buildings, and vibrant cities
- Perceptions of ‘welcome’ and ‘scenic natural beauty’ are less favourable
- 59% associate the UK with museums, 51% with music and 49% with films in 2021
- 46% think that a trip to Britain would be ‘educational’
- France and Italy are the destinations that Russians most often deem to be the best place for delivering on the things that are most wanted for ensuring an enjoyable holiday experience
- Activities that appeal to potential Russian visitors include ‘taking a canal boat tour through the waterways of England‘, ‘staying the night in a fairy-tale castle‘, ‘enjoying a traditional afternoon tea‘, ‘visiting Madame Tussauds‘, and ‘shopping for quirky gifts in a seaside town‘
Caring for visitors
- The majority of travellers to Britain speak English and do not expect to be spoken to in Russian – however they prefer to have materials and information in Russian and Russian speaking guides for sightseeing tours and detailed itineraries and guides in Russian are highly appreciated
- Russians book very last-minute, 66% of Russian visitors booked within two months of their arrival in Britain
- The majority of Russian tourists (middle and lower middle class in particular) prefer to travel in groups
- By contrast more wealthy Russians prefer individual travel
- Russian tourists are adventurous – they are active, sociable, and seeking new experiences
- British pubs are generally loved and pub food usually goes down well
- They like the reassurance of branded hotels and all-inclusive trips
And the very rich Russians have a very close relationship with very rich people from the UK.
And please do not fall for it:
And remember those who support Vladimir Putin are no worse than those who support Boris Johnson.
James Finlayson
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I remember what was probably my last, and probably only, fairly lengthy connection with a group of Russian citizens; something I’ve written about on Facebook in the past but in other contexts, and did not occur, however, at any stage from very close range: I was serving in the Royal Navy near to the close of my nine-year contract of service. The ship I served on was the Tribal Class Frigate, HMS Mohawk. We had been visiting Londonderry right at the outset of the “troubles” in early 1968, when we were called to put to sea and “shadow” a group of ships of the USSR Navy alleged to be “spying” and heading south down the Atlantic just outside of the 12 mile limit. We picked them up about a 100 miles south of Iceland. The group of ships were – if I remember correctly – seven strong: A frigate leading six large deep-sea fishing boats, each bristling with radio whip aerials and radar scanners…not a fishing net in sight and moving much faster than any fishing vessel had a right to..!
At our approach the Russian frigate dropped to the stern of the group and we pulled up at a distance from, but level with the warship. Much signalling by signal lantern then occurred, as it did in the days that followed. Not all of the signalling could have been warnings about their being close to UK waters; probably some even being quite friendly greetings. In spite of this occurring during the height of the Cold War, many senior naval officers (our ship’s cammander was a four-ring full Captain in rank) remembered their comradeship with their Russian equals during WW2. The Russian matelots working on the Russian ship’s upper deck waved to our guys – and of course our guys waved back..! It was a quite friendly reaction in nature even without verbal communication taking place. THEY knew why we were there, WE knew why they were there – but the Cameraderie of the Sea took precedence over all..! During the daylight periods we occasionally steamed alongside the Russian frigate, after dark we pulled in behind and steered by their stern lights.
On about the fifth or sixth morning of our adventure and journey together, I awoke at “Call the Hands” and, after breakfast, went onto the upper deck for my morning constitutional and, of course, to see our Russian friends. They were gone..! A morning watchkeeper going off watch told me that they had “Downed arse”, steaming off at high speed, and left us way behind during the middle-watch. We had been “dropped off” by the Russians south of the Azores; getting low on fuel, short of spuds (a life staple of the British Tar) and having received no mail for several days because we had missed all of the likely transfer points by sea and air. Those two final items were the two issues most of concern to Jack, and drew the most complaint..! We could now, via Devonport for fuel, mail and supplies, return home to Rosyth on the east coast of Scotland, our base port..! In this instance a few days of friendliness trumped ALL that bristling weapons and hard faces could EVER have achieved..!