RUSSIANS MAY BE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE UNTIL AUTUMN 2021

At a press conference last Wednesday, the head of the RUTI (Russian Union of Travel Industry) Andrei Ignatiev reported information unpleasant for many Russians: there is no use in waiting for summer holidays in Europe. According to Ignatiev, many European countries, which previously were popular summer vacation spots, can leave their borders closed at least until early September next year.

The President of the RUTI clarified that the same situation can occur with some other countries, but, first of all, we are talking about the European community. According to the data announced by the TASS Ural Information Center, the Russian market has lost up to 97% of foreign clients who could not visit Russia due to the decision of the authorities to close the borders with European countries.

Although passenger air transportation between the Russian Federation and some European countries resumed from August-September 2020, it will be possible to fully restore regular and charter flights no earlier than in autumn 2021.

Today, communications with a number of countries are possible, but with serious restrictions. In particular, the Russians have been able to visit the UK, Turkey and Tanzania since August. A little later, the borders of Switzerland, as well as Egypt, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the Maldives were opened.

According to experts, the domestic tourism business will not be able to fully cover the losses that are inevitable next year. Previously, travel agencies sold about 80% of travel vouchers in Russia to Russians, but given the poor infrastructure and quality deficiencies, they brought much less profit than travel abroad.

Russians, who got used to the comfortable conditions of foreign resorts, are unlikely to travel anywhere in the country, according to industry experts.

Representatives of the tourism industry believe that taking into account, among other things, climatic features, there is not a sufficient number of hotels and recreation places within Russia.

According to a number of sources, Germany may become one of the tourist destinations in the nearest future. For example, there were reports in the media about the possible resumption of flights to Cologne and Berlin during the Christmas holidays. However, most Russian citizens are still afraid to book flights in an unstable situation.