As the experts of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) found out, as of July 14, eight countries of the world from among the popular travel destinations are ready to receive Russian tourists "on certain, rather not burdensome conditions." The Executive Director of ATOR Maya Lomidze stated this during a press conference.

“These are Turkey, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the Maldives, Croatia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are unconditional tourist destinations and are in high demand in the Russian market. In the vast majority of these countries, you need to have a certificate confirming the absence of COVID, ”said Lomidze.

At the same time, she noted that the readiness of other states to open a tourist flow does not mean the actual launch of air travel between countries. According to her, in the near future, the Russian authorities with the participation of competent authorities will form a list of directions in which the message will be opened.

“It should be formed by the Ministry of Transport on the basis of those recommendations issued by Rospotrebnadzor. It is immediately clear that this does not mean that flights will fly there on July 16. The situation, the conditions of reciprocity will be evaluated, and gradually, the opening of the international message will begin in stages, ”she emphasized.

The head of the ATOR also said that in the near future Italy and Spain will update the lists of states whose tourists are ready to receive.

“According to preliminary unconfirmed information, Russia may enter the list of those countries (citizens. - RT ) which Italy and Spain will be ready to accept from a certain point. And not the fact that this moment will come on July 17 or August 1, ”she explained.

  • Reuters
  • © Eduardo Munoz

In turn, the vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry Yuri Barzykin expressed the hope that Turkey will open its borders for Russian tourists from August 1 - "there are no obstacles to this."

“Vietnam is likely to open closer to the fall for the Russians. Single foreign destinations will open for Russian tourists in August. Tunisia may open in August, Mediterranean destinations are unlikely, ”Moscow City News Agency quoted him as saying.

Recall that in early July, the Federal Air Transport Agency extended the ban on international flights, introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, until the end of the month. Later, the federal agency announced the development of a "matrix for the phased resumption of flights with foreign countries." It was noted that in the first phase, flights will resume with the states in which the most favorable sanitary and epidemiological conditions have developed.

“Work on the resumption of international air travel will be based on reciprocity,” the Federal Air Transport Agency said.

In addition, according to the decree of the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova, from July 15, mandatory two-week isolation for those arriving in the country is canceled. Arriving will be required to show a document in Russian or English, confirming the negative result of the test for coronavirus, taken no earlier than three days before arrival in Russia. Those who do not have such a certificate will be required to take a test within three days to confirm the absence of COVID-19.

“The tourist season has already been successful”

During the press conference, Maya Lomidze also said that the tourist season 2020 is already "can be called held." According to her, back in May there were "very sad forecasts" on this subject.

“But now we see almost a full house at our resorts and the paradoxically appearing opportunity this season to go there on charter flights. Including those regions that until now were perceived exclusively as directions of individual expensive tourism. I mean Altai and Buryatia, ”she said.

At the same time, the head of the ATOR disagreed with the statements about the allegedly full loading of hotels and resorts in southern Russia. According to her, there are places for recreation both on the Black Sea coast and on the Crimean peninsula.

“First of all, the most expensive and most comfortable accommodation facilities are sold. Yes, they are sold out until September inclusive, according to our data. Nevertheless, there are places in the Crimea and in the Krasnodar Territory. Another question is what is the price category. This is the average bar, as a rule, ”said Lomidze.

  • Vacationers on the beach in the Adler district of Sochi
  • RIA News
  • © Arthur Lebedev

Earlier, the head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, in an interview with RT, noted that regional authorities did not record a rise in vacation prices, stressing that the republic has a large selection of different price offers for tourists.

“For example, motorists who travel across the Crimea and are free in their choice of a place of rest go to us. Today, such a guest can stay at a five-star world-class hotel, and tomorrow - spend the night in a tent on the beach or in a car camp. In any case, there is a choice among price offers. Our main task is not so much to increase the number of tourists as to ensure conditions under which people's expectations from the rest will be fully satisfied and they will want to return to the Crimea again, ”Aksyonov explained.