The number of Russian tourists going to Europe has decreased by almost a third this year due to the current political tensions between Moscow and the West, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday at a meeting on the legal regulation of outbound tourism.
The total number of Russians vacationing abroad dropped by 4 percent in the first half of this year, while the number going to Europe went down 30 percent during the same period, Medvedev said, according to a manuscript published on the government's website.
Several Russian tour operators went bankrupt this summer, partly due to the reduction in tourist numbers. At least five said they couldn't fulfill their obligations over the last two months, leaving more than 20,000 tourists stranded overseas.
The government had to organize 40 emergency flights to bring the tourists back to Russia, a measure that cost the budget more than 218 million rubles ($5.5 million), according to materials presented before the meeting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
