The decline of Russian tourism around the world has affected major tourist destinations such as Spain, France, Mexico, the United States, Egypt and others. In the case of the Iberian Peninsula, in 2021 alone, despite the epidemic, travelers from the former Soviet Union left 229 million. And it should be remembered that the average cost of a Russian tourist is higher than the average cost of other international travelers.
In recent weeks, several EU member states have demanded restrictions on Russian tourism, including the denial of transit visas in the Schengen area. If this drastic measure comes to fruition, Spain will be one of the biggest losers, a decline it has already suffered. Below, we re-edit a Euro news report on this conflict that has just begun.
EU Countries Different in Russia’s Travel Limit
(Euro News) – The European Union’s foreign policy chief urged member states on Wednesday to resolve their differences over travel restrictions on Russian citizens, saying Europe must remain united against Moscow six months after Ukraine’s invasion.
Josep Borrell issued the warning during a second-day meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague, where they are expected to reach an agreement in principle on the suspension of visa facilitation for Russian citizens.
This measure will make Russians have to wait longer and pay more for visas to travel to European Union countries.
But the 27-nation bloc is divided on going further and imposing a blanket ban on Russian tourism, amid repeated calls from Ukraine for ordinary Russians to pay for the invasion.
Some EU countries have already restricted the entry of Russian citizens. Eastern and Northern European countries are calling for a complete ban, while Germany and France have warned their colleagues it would be counterproductive.
“We will have to come to an agreement and a political decision,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters as he arrived at the meeting in Prague.
“I will work for the unit We cannot allow ourselves to appear distant on something as important as relations between people, between Russian society and European peoples.”
Some Eastern European countries have said that if no agreement is reached, they will impose a visa ban themselves.
Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland drafted a joint statement urging the European Commission to propose measures to “decisively slow the flow of Russian citizens into the EU and the Schengen area”, the Financial Times reported.
“Until such measures are implemented at the EU level, we will consider implementing temporary measures at the national level,” the Financial Times said, quoting the Financial Times.
However, the general tone in Prague seems to be leaning towards trying to agree on a common position.