Russian Prime Minister Mikhali Mishustin approved the extension of the cancellation of contributions to the reserve fund of the association of tour operators and a decrease in the amount of contributions to the personal liability fund. This was announced on Thursday, April 15, by the press service of the Russian Cabinet of Ministers.
It is noted that according to the federal law, tour operators in the field of outbound tourism must pay annual contributions to the reserve fund of the Tourpomposch association, and the amount of the contribution depends on the number of tourists in the previous year and can range from 50 thousand to 500 thousand rubles. In this case, funds are transferred no later than April 15 of the current year.
The press service recalled that last year, due to the coronavirus, the government exempted tour operators from such contributions as part of measures to support affected industries. This rule will now apply to 2021.
Also this year, for industry participants, the opportunity to use the funds of the personal responsibility fund of tour operators to return money to tourists for canceled foreign tours that were booked before March 31, 2020 inclusive is extended. In addition, tour operators will pay annual contributions to this fund in a reduced amount – 0.25% instead of 1% of the total price of a tourist product in the field of outbound tourism for 2020. It is allowed to transfer money until April 15, 2022.
The Cabinet also amended the rules for returning money to tourists from the personal responsibility fund. In particular, the deadline for submitting a notification of the return of funds to tourists, which the tour operator sends to the Turpomosch association, is extended from two weeks to one month. It is indicated that the adjustment of the deadline is due to the fact that tour operators need more time to carry out the necessary calculations.
In addition, the press service stressed that the decision will support industry participants and help continue to fulfill obligations to tourists, whose tours were canceled due to the pandemic.
Earlier, on February 17, it was reported that Rosturizm proposed in 2021 to reduce the amount of annual deductions to the Turpomoshch reserve fund to 1 ruble. Also in the draft government order, it was noted that the annual contribution of tour operators to the personal responsibility fund for 2021 will be 0.25% of the total price of a tourist product in the field of outbound tourism for 2020.
In addition, the document proposed from the same fund to pay funds to tourists for canceled foreign tours that were purchased before March 31, 2020.
On February 7, the head of Rostourism Zarina Doguzova said that tour operators have reduced debts to Russians for tours canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to her, tour operators were able to cut the debt in half and reduce it to 16 billion rubles. On the same day, she said that in 2021, an increase in domestic tourist flow in Russia is predicted by 15-20% compared to last year. It will be possible to achieve such indicators in the absence of a lockdown.