Named the most dangerous countries for the rest of Russians: “You should not relax”

The most dangerous for the inexperienced vacationer, accustomed to peaceful “all inclusive” in familiar resorts, is fraught with the most surprises in Latin America.

“In countries such as Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, with resorts available to Russians today, we are treated well,” says an expert on Latin America, who works in the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation in one of the countries in the region. “But crime there is high in itself, and the power structures of these countries cannot cope with it. Therefore, mentally be prepared for the fact that, having traveled at 14-16 hours, you will be at the hotel. Maximum – organized excursions. I would not recommend walking alone in any of these countries. Troubles, alas, happen even to those who have been working here for years, speak the language and know the situation.

Of course, travel agents who sell tours to exotic overseas countries assure that “nothing particularly terrible” can happen to a vacationer there – unless, of course, he begins to break the rules. And here is what Russians who have already visited Venezuela say.

“People are very nice, they are happy with foreigners,” says a couple of Muscovites who ventured on such a voyage as a honeymoon trip. – But they themselves live very poorly, so even the local guide told us himself: do not tempt! They may treat you well, but if you are walking with a girl in a deserted place and each has an expensive smartphone, the thirst for possession can exceed all other feelings.

In general, the newlyweds are satisfied with the trip, although they admit that, by and large, they did not see the country: they were sitting in a hotel. We went on a couple of not very distant excursions, and even from the window of the minibus we saw a showdown of local gangs. But for those who are ready not to show excessive curiosity and activity, they fully recommend the Venezuelan voyage: after all, it is exotic.

In the second group of the most dangerous countries, Muslim countries were recognized by the majority of expert votes. But not the usual Turkey and Egypt, but new ones for Russian vacationers – for example, Iran, Bahrain and Oman.

“The safety and tranquility of Russian tourists today depend on more factors than usual,” says Elchin Aliyev, a political scientist and specialist in the Middle East. – This is the geopolitical situation, the economic and epidemiological situation, the level of crime, terrorist threats, etc. But the countries of the Middle East that are friendly to us, where the local population has a stable standard of living, are now the most comfortable for Russians in all of the above senses. But all these countries have their own specifics and the resulting danger for tourists: for violating Sharia law, even guests can be ruthlessly punished there. Some tourists are sure that if they are not Muslims, then in a Muslim country they are not required to observe anything. It is, but not quite. In civilized countries, and tourism is developed precisely in such countries, no one forces you to perform religious rites – pray, observe Islamic fasts, etc. But you are obliged to respect the feelings of believers. And in these countries, everyone is a believer, even if Islam is not brought into the form of government, as, say, in Iran. By the way, usually newcomers from tourists are most afraid of Iranian customs, forgetting that the same caution is necessary in any Middle Eastern Muslim country.

“Everyone was glad to see us, even passers-by,” says 47-year-old Inga from Orel, who visited Iranian Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz with her husband. – Everyone strove to treat something, strangers called to visit, taxi drivers did not want to take money for travel – hospitality. But when at the domestic airport, waiting for a flight, I dozed off, laying my head on my husband’s shoulder, I was brought back to reality by a local man in uniform, saying something to us in Farsi. Translated into English by an Iranian sitting nearby. It turned out to be a vice police officer: very politely, without threats, but firmly, he asked us “not to show our relationship in public.” This is despite the fact that we are spouses. And if we were nobody to each other, they could have taken us to the zindan (prison – Persian) – so the Iranian woman who translated for us said.

Surprisingly, a survey of our tourists who have recently visited Muslim countries newly discovered for us shows that more often they received comments about “inappropriate behavior” by no means in the Muslim countries named by experts.

– I have been to Qatar and Iran, – says 51-year-old Muscovite Ivan, – and in many other Muslim countries – both for work and for leisure. But nowhere did he receive so many comments about his actions as in Dagestan. It seems that there is now such a fashion, and it is among young people. And do not walk in shorts on the street, and “wear human shoes” (I was in flip flops).

– Today it is not worth relaxing anywhere, – reminds Elchin Aliyev. – In countries where Russians are welcome and there are no strict religious restrictions, there may be problems with the local criminogenic and epidemiological situation. Or as in Egypt – an unpleasant surprise from the depths of the sea.

By the way, Russian vacationers on Egyptian beaches are horrified: starting from Father’s Day, celebrated in the Land of the Pyramids on June 21, locals with children poured into the resorts.

– Many now have a weekend until Eid al-Adha on June 28, the children have a vacation, – say Russians vacationing in Hurghada. – Locals arrive with their whole families, have picnics on the beach, eat, throw leftover food into the sea – “fish”. They don’t swim themselves, but we are afraid that they will lure sharks again.