It became known when the Russians will be able to fly to Georgia: it’s too early to rejoice

“We need to get slots for flights, and most importantly, the approval of the Georgian aviation authorities”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lifted a ban on flights by Russian airlines and the sale of tours to Georgia. In addition, since May 15, the visa regime for short-term trips has been canceled for Georgian citizens. They will be able to enter Russia through checkpoints open for international traffic without visas for up to 90 days. What this means for tourists, we asked Dmitry Gorin, vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, to explain.

“We have had a ban on regular and charter flights to Georgia since July 2019,” says Gorin. (The ban was introduced in response to protests in Tbilisi due to the appearance of State Duma deputy Sergei Gavrilov in the Georgian parliament. In turn, the Russian Ministry of Transport imposed a ban on flights to Russia for Georgian airlines. — Auth.) – And travel companies could not send organized tourists to Georgia.

At the same time, as Dmitry Lvovich recalls, the borders of Georgia were open for the Russians, both land and transit. Our tourists traveled independently.

At the same time, the expert warned the Russians against premature euphoria.

– Airlines, in order to deliver these flights to Georgia, need to obtain special permits, receive slots for flights, and most importantly, the approval of the Georgian aviation authorities. On average, this can take 2-3 weeks, again, I repeat – with the approval of the Georgian aviation authorities.

But travel agencies, in theory, can lay out proposals for the Russians for the summer now.

– From May 15, travel companies can form tourist trips for organized tourists for transit transportation through Yerevan, and if flights appear, directly to Georgia. The cost of tours will depend on the cost of transportation. Now air tickets through Yerevan in both directions cost about 30 thousand rubles. Russians do not need a visa, a passport is enough to enter Georgia.

Dmitry Gorin emphasizes that Georgia has always been a popular destination for Russian tourists, and all year round. In winter, you could go skiing in the mountains, in summer – to the sea, in Batumi. Excursion and health trips to Georgia are also popular.

– It is good that now it will be possible for Georgian citizens to travel around Russia without visas. Previously, this was not possible, — said the expert.

Meanwhile, pro-American President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili called Vladimir Putin’s decree on the resumption of direct flights and the abolition of the visa regime a “provocation”, noting that this is unacceptable in connection with the events in Ukraine. At the same time, the chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, said earlier that if Moscow decides to resume flights with Georgia, Tbilisi will support this decision.