🇷🇺 Russia · Travel & tourism
10 storiesCyprus visa centres in six Russian cities halt applications over technical problems
Cyprus visa centres in Moscow, St Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk temporarily stopped accepting visa applications on October 8 because of technical problems, visa operator BLS International said. Applicants with a…
Russian tourism bodies say Thailand's new tourist fee unlikely to cut demand
Russian tourism associations say Thailand's planned 450-baht tourist fee, about 1,200–1,300 rubles, is too small to reduce Russian demand for trips there. The industry says the main open question is how the fee will be collected, with the p…
Russian tourism body denies mass hotel refusals for single men in Turkey
The Russian Union of Tourism Industry said reports that Turkish hotels are mass-refusing single men and male groups are incorrect, though it confirmed some individual hotels do so. Its press chief, Artur Abdyukhanov, said the practice is lo…
Russian tourism union warns Schengen visa issuance may fall in 2027
The Russian Union of Tour Industry (RST) said the volume of Schengen visas issued to Russian tourists could decline in 2027, while adding that no new decisions changing visa issuance have been adopted. A review of visa requirements and visa…
Thailand plans 450-baht tourist fee for air arrivals in first quarter of 2027
Thailand intends to introduce a tourism fee of 450 baht (about $13.5, or 1,142 rubles) for foreign visitors arriving by air in the first quarter of 2027, with land and sea arrivals to follow a year later. A separate departure tax of 1,000 b…
Thailand's Finance Ministry floats 1,000-baht exit tax for air departures
Thailand's Finance Ministry has put a draft bill on an exit tax out for public consultation, Interfax and Meduza report, citing The Nation. The proposed levy starts at 1,000 baht (about $30) per departure and could rise to 5,000 baht, and w…
Maldives postpones 17% tourism tax for foreign tour companies to April 2027
The Maldives has postponed the introduction of a tourism tax for foreign tour operators, travel agencies and foreign booking platforms until April 1, 2027, according to the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST), as reported by RIA Novosti …
Russia’s MFA says Kazakhstan has not announced entry fee for Russians
Russia’s foreign ministry said Kazakhstan has not notified it or made any official statement about plans to charge Russians for an electronic entry permit, RIA Novosti reported. Kazakhstan’s QazETA electronic travel authorisation is current…
Gulf developers aim to turn Egypt’s Mediterranean coast into resort hub, FT reports
Developers and investors from Persian Gulf countries hope to turn Egypt’s Mediterranean coast into an international hub that draws foreign property buyers and tourists, according to Financial Times reporting relayed by Russian outlets. TASS…
Wildberries starts selling dynamic tour packages within Russia
Wildberries, part of the RWB group, has begun selling dynamic tours to destinations inside Russia through its WB Travel service, the company said. Each package is assembled in real time from available flights and accommodation, and includes…