Tour packages for Russians have risen sharply in price: what will you have to overpay for

Favored by fellow citizens, Egypt has increased the tax on travel services in the amount of 5 to 15% of the previous rates, and at the same time taxed the exit from the country.

– What is it, the entrance is a ruble, the exit is three? – I’m interested in an Egyptian travel agency cooperating with the Russian Federation.

– This already exists in Thailand, the amount is included in the ticket, so you won’t even notice. Usually the exit tax does not exceed $3. And for the host side, this is a way to support the tourism infrastructure. But in our country it has not yet come into force, while it is being agreed with the president.

According to the Egyptian press, the country’s parliament has already approved the exit tax for tourists. The purpose of the action is to “repair the deficit of the tourist budget”. So far, the farewell tax, which every foreigner will pay when leaving the Land of the Pharaohs, is promised to be set at no more than 100 Egyptian pounds (about $3), depending on the region. Moreover, a hundred will be taken only at the exit from Cairo, and the resort provinces of the Red Sea (Hurghada), South Sinai (Sharm el-Sheikh), Luxor, Aswan will ask for only 50 local pounds at parting. But in all Egyptian international airports they will take 3% as a tax on the cost of a liter of alcohol purchased by foreigners in duty free. Moreover, we are talking only about the first liter, and everything that exceeds this volume will be subject to a 10% tax.

From 5 to 15% tax will be added to Egyptian entertainment for tourists: music and dance parties in hotels (+5%), safari and diving services, including prices for equipment and equipment (+10%), hot air ballooning (+ 15%).

“The tax must be paid to the treasury by the organizers of these services,” explains the Russian-speaking guide from Hurghada, “but they, of course, will include it in the ticket price. Rumor has it that 11% will be added to the tax on excursions, that is, not only trips to Cairo, Luxor and Nile cruises will rise in price, but also simple boat trips. It is said that the money will go towards additional security measures, as there are too many accidents with tour buses and boats.

The Egyptian press assures that if the president signs this bill, the Egyptian treasury will be replenished by 5 billion Egyptian pounds (more than 13 billion rubles). And just to be sure, Egyptian cultural heritage sites have been ordered to stop accepting entry fees in cash, only by bank cards. The Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian National Museum in Cairo, the Nubian Museum, the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan and some others have already been transferred to the digital payment system. The authorities plan to gradually stop the circulation of banknotes in all places of interest for tourists, so that they certainly get into the treasury.

“We are still solving the issue, but only if you book a tour with us,” the city tour bureau of Hurghada admits to the question, what about the Russians with non-working cards now. – You give us cash, and we’ll figure it out ourselves.

According to compatriots living in Germany, Egypt and Turkey are dear today even to middle-class German citizens:

“German tour operators have shifted their focus to Tunisia,” says a Russian woman living in Berlin. – The Germans, seeing the prices for Turkey and Egypt, only twist their fingers to their temples.

Meanwhile, not only holidaymakers, but also transit travelers, mainly Russians, for whom the main Turkish hub Istanbul created a “Russian transit zone” howled at Turkish prices.

“It’s just that there are more Russian transit workers,” the Turkish side explains. “And they often have uncomfortable long layovers where people want to lie down and eat and all that.

This is probably why the services of a transit VIP-lounge, where you can sleep during a long transfer, are already equal in price to air tickets.

– I have a ticket for 30 thousand rubles. in one direction, and it costs the same to carry out a transplant in human conditions! – the Russian woman who passed through Istanbul as a transit woman is indignant. – VIP corral especially for Russians, where you can lie down and eat – $ 325 per person. And packed full. At the same time, in the usual transit zone, which is not a VIP, there is terrible dirt, even the trash cans are not emptied. It’s scary to go to the toilet, the cleaners, they say, do not have time. But prices are rising.

Prices for other services at Turkish airports also increased right before the astonished eyes of transit workers: in Antalya, for example, a washed apple or banana for a child in an airport buffet costs 2 euros. A small bottle of mineral water is 4 euros, a glass of orange juice is 6 euros, and a cup of coffee is 8 euros.

It is no better in other directions accessible to Russians. In Bali, independently traveling Russians are now entitled to settle only hotels and the private sector that has passed special registration.

“In other words, only those who paid for this registration,” compatriots on the island explain. – So, rent for Russians will become more expensive anyway. And since June 1, Russians have been banned from excursions to “sacred” places for the Balinese. And everything here is sacred. Translated into Russian – they will put a caretaker, and you either give him a bribe, or sit at home.

Maybe stay on vacation within your native country? But so much has been said about the high cost of Sochi, and now they report that the “queen of Russian resorts” has been beaten by Dagestan. Hotels in Makhachkala and Derbent raised prices by 25% compared to last summer – and still there are no more places until the end of July.

Those who expect to save on the services of intermediaries represented by a tour operator are also not easier: according to experts, compared to last year, the average cost of air tickets in all directions has already increased by 38%, and by the end of the year it will increase by another 20-30%, especially in foreign directions.

– They go anyway! – the manager of the domestic tour operator answers. – The couple just bought a week in the Maldives for 300 thousand rubles. only for breakfast. They say that my husband lost his job, there is only darkness ahead, so at least go for a walk in the end.