Eighty-seven percent of Russia travel agencies face bankruptcy due to recent amendments to the Tourist Business Fundamentals Act that came into effect on June 1.
Register or disappear
According to spokesmen of the RF Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm), the Russian Federal Register has issued licenses to just 1,300 of the existing 10,000 licensed tour operators.
From June 1, tour operators that wish to continue operating will be expected to provide a bond: 5 million roubles for international tour operators and half a million roubles for domestic ones. Companies must also be entered in the Federal Register.
Of the 2,135 applications, 1,333 have been accepted and 201 have been turned down, while 600 are still being processed.
First problems
Unregistered companies are already facing difficulties: the Italian and Bulgarian Consulates in Moscow refuse to accept visa applications submitted by them. Moreover, the Russian Transport Authorities intend to introduce a regulation prohibiting airlines to sign charter contracts with tour operators without a registration number.
