Electronic visas and a payment card for foreign tourists will be launched in 2023
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In 2023, tourists entering Russia will have the opportunity to apply for an electronic visa, as well as receive the Tourist Card payment instrument, said Tatyana Sharavitskaya, head of the tourism development department of the Ministry of Economic Development.
According to Ms. Sharavitskaya, the department has an understanding that electronic visas will start working this year. In addition, in order to solve the problem of the withdrawal of Mastercard and Visa payment instruments from Russia for foreign tourists, the so-called “Tourist Card” will soon be launched in the Russian Federation.
“A draft law on the remote identification of a citizen enters the spring session, and a foreign citizen, regardless of the country, friendly or unfriendly, will be able to receive a card at the place of his main residence. To book a room from your country and, arriving in Russia, use it as a payment instrument,” said Ms. Sharavitskaya, speaking at the Fifth Congress of Travel Agencies of the Russian Union of the Tourist Industry (quoted from “Interfax”).
She also said that the ministry is interested in attracting tourists from the Gulf countries and China. The flow of tourists from these countries, in her opinion, will allow deferred demand for Russia to be realized.
In July 2020, a law was adopted, according to which, from January 1, 2021, citizens of 52 countries, including EU states, should have the opportunity to apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia. According to the document, an electronic visa is valid for 60 days, issued in four days and allows you to enter with a guest, tourist and business visit. In January 2021, the government delayed e-visas due to the pandemic.
September 9, 2022 Zarina Doguzova, then head of Rostourism stated, which will invite Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to restart e-visas. September 19 MFA informed about plans to launch a resource for obtaining electronic visas. Create a “Tourist Card” of the Ministry of Economy suggested in December last year.
According to the FSB border service, in 2022, 200.1 thousand foreign citizens visited Russia on a tourist visit, which is almost 1.5 times less than in 2021 (288.3 thousand). Relative to the “pre-pandemic” 2019, foreign tourist flow to Russia decreased by 25.5 times. Then about 5 million tourists entered the country.
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