ATOR has prepared an appeal on the prospects for group visa-free travel between the Russian Federation and China
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Travel agencies record an increase in demand for trips to Russia among Chinese citizens. However, the agreement on the mutual entry of tourist groups on the lists of tour operators is still not in effect, and the cost of a visa for Chinese citizens to Russia can reach $420. In this regard, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) prepared an appeal to the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Moscow Tourism Committee regarding the prospects and timing of the resumption of group visa-free tourist trips between Russia and China.
“Yes, we have applications from Chinese partners. But everyone is waiting for the resumption of the entry according to the group lists of tour operators. Tourists want to go as early as the end of April, but local companies are ready to start forming groups immediately after the visa-free exchange is opened,” said ATOR Vice President Alexander Kurnosov.
There are no exact dates for the start of the agreement and the formation of lists of tourist groups, ATOR noted. The Russian side has repeatedly reported that the process “is at the final stage”, but the dates for the renewal of the agreement have not been named.
ATOR stressed that China is the most promising market for inbound tourism in Russia. Citizens of other countries will not go to Russia now, in particular due to the lack of flights, the inability to pay for purchases with Visa and Mastercard cards of foreign banks, and the political situation in general.
On the renewal of the agreement on the mutual entry of tourist groups according to the lists of tour operators between Russia and China on February 20 reported Ministry of Economic Development. However, the process was suspended due to the update of the list of Chinese travel companies that plan to send group tours under the agreement.
In January, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui announced the resumption of the issuance of tourist visas to Russians. After that, all free slots for filing documents ended in two days. You can apply for a visa in Moscow no earlier than in two months, in St. Petersburg – in a month. Experts expect that in 2023 the tourist flow from Russia to China will be 30-40% of the pre-pandemic level.
More details – in the material “Kommersant” “Citizens were sharply drawn to the east”.
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