The Ministry of Economic Development allowed the easing of requirements for tour operators of the Union State

The government will consider the initiative of participants in the tourism industry to reduce the amount of insurance remuneration and financial support for Russian tour operators that are engaged in outbound tourism to Belarus. About it on Saturday informed Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Reshetnikov.

“We have very warm relations between the states, the tourist flow is growing, in connection with which we consider it possible to make an indulgence for Russian tour operators and make an exception for the Republic of Belarus and amend the federal law,” the minister’s press service reports (quote from TASS).

According to Reshetnikov, the authorities are working on the implementation of the union program to synchronize legislation in the field of tourism. We are talking about the harmonization of state sectoral development strategies and state programs of the two countries, the unification of the norms on the activities of guides and guide-interpreters, on the effectiveness and scope of protection of the rights of tourists, as well as the norms on the access of tourism entities to the market of tourist services.

Issues related to the development of domestic tourism were discussed on January 24 at a meeting of President Vladimir Putin with members of the government. Reshetnikov, in particular, proposed zeroing VAT for tour operators for domestic and inbound tourism in order to synchronize this support measure with the benefit for hotels. This measure is proposed to be issued “retroactively” – from January 1, 2023 to July 2027.

On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Minsk for the first time since 2019 on a working visit and met with Belarusian head of state Alexander Lukashenko. During the talks, the parties discussed issues of further development of Russian-Belarusian relations, strategic partnership and alliance with an emphasis on integration cooperation within the framework of the Union State, as well as current topics on the international and regional agenda. At the end of the year, trade between Russia and Belarus could reach a new record – $40 billion, Putin said at the time. At the same time, the republic is an ally of Russia “in the literal sense,” he said.