Russian tour agencies have canceled flights to Turkey and suspended sales of new tours a day after the downing of a Russian fighter-bomber by the Turkish military, Russian media reported Wednesday.
The move is a blow to Turkey's tourism industry, which hosts millions of Russians each year, and follows recommendations from Russia's Foreign Ministry and tourism regulator not to travel to the country for safety reasons.
Turkey is a hugely popular vacation spot for Russians, almost 3.3 million of whom holidayed there in 2014, according to official figures. According to Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman, they contributed nearly $4 billion to the Turkish economy last year.
The deputy head of the Russian Association of Tour Operators, Dmitry Gorin, said Wednesday, “all tour operators are canceling charter flights and have stopped sales of tours [to Turkey],” according to news agency RIA Novosti. He added that there were no plans to evacuate those already on vacation.
A groundswell of Russian anger followed the downing of a Russian Su-24 fighter-bomber by an air-to-air missile from a Turkish F-16 interceptor near the Turkish-Syrian border. Turkey said the jet had violated its airspace while Russia insisted that the plane was on the Syrian territory.
On Twitter, the hashtag #boycottTurkey was trending on Wednesday. Gennady Onishchenko, a popular former health official now advising the government, announced that: “Every Turkish tomato you buy … is your contribution to a rocket to shoot down our boys,” RIA Novosti reported.
Following the incident, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have played up Turkey's links with Islamist groups and suggested that the country is dangerous for Russians.
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.
