Now in Turkey there are about 50 thousand Russian tourists who have bought vouchers through tour operators. This was announced on April 15 by the head of Rostourism Zarina Doguzova.
Doguzova noted that about 4 thousand tourists from Russia are now in Tanzania.
“All of them are scheduled to return to Russia after the end of their vacation. As for the current situation with the return of our citizens from Turkey and Tanzania. Our key task is for people to return home calmly, as planned. We are in touch with all key tour operators, ”Doguzova said at a meeting with journalists.
According to the Federal Tourism Agency, about 50 thousand more Russians are now in Turkey, where they flew on their own, or in third countries.
“Also in Turkey and Tanzania are our independent tourists who flew to these countries on regular flights of Russian and international airlines. Moreover, a number of tourists went through Turkey and to third countries. According to our estimates, there are also about 50,000 such tourists, ”Doguzova said.
The head of Rostourism added that at first a number of difficulties arose with the return of tourists, as flights of foreign companies began to be canceled. However, now the situation has been resolved – return flights are already appearing in the schedules for departure from Turkey.
Earlier that day, the head of the legal commission of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT) Georgy Mokhov told Izvestia that about 60-65% of Russian tourists agreed to postpone trips to Turkey at a later date – it is beneficial for them and tour operators.
Since Thursday, April 15, Russia has limited air traffic with Turkey and Tanzania until June 1 due to the worsening situation with coronavirus infection in these countries.
According to the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova, Turkey has the highest incidence of coronavirus among the countries with which Russia has open air traffic. As Popova clarified on April 12, Russians bring a variety of COVID-19 strains from this country and 80% of COVID-19 cases come from the republic.
However, some flights to Turkey will be operated. Thus, the flights necessary for the participation of the Concern Titan-2 Joint Stock Company in the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, as well as for the export of Russian tourists staying in Turkish resorts, will remain. In addition, there will be two regular flights a week between Moscow and Istanbul.