Krasnodar, 9 December. Our guest in this number is a true son of the Kuban, minister for Tourism, Resorts and Olympic Heritage in the period from 2016 to 2018, then a member of the staff of the President of the Russian Federation and the Federal Government, always in charges related with the affairs and development of Tourism, at present chairman of the special State Duma Commission for the Development of Tourism, Christofor A. Konstantinidi.
At present, an important task is to create a positive image of Russia as a tourism destination, isn’t it difficult in our present COVID reality?
-Before we speak of development, we need to make an evaluation of the present state of the tourism industry. On the one hand, it is important to ensure the safety of our tourists from an epidemiological point of view, but on the other hand we have to preserve the industry and ensure its sustainable development.
That is why pondered decisions are so necessary now. Imposing restrictions, it is necessary to simultaneously run compensatory mechanisms to minimize the damage to the industry. Now, for example, the most important task is to extend the delay of obligations of tour operators to travelers, because they were not able to take them on holiday during the pandemic of 2020 and 2021.
According to the governmental decree, until December 31, it is possible to provide either an analogue tour product, or to pay a monetary compensation. A number of outbound destinations, however, were never opened, which means that it is impossible to provide a tour product.
At present, many people are upset for the overall introduction of QR codes in resorts and food dealers. What do you think on this subject?
By introducing QR codes, it is necessary to give an opportunity to get them both to those who have had the disease and to those who have a negative PCR test. There is a lot of talk about this subject now.
The duplication of norms greatly complicates everything and limits the functionality of the business. We could make an alternative move - one document to choose from either a QR-code, or a “fresh” PCR test.
That is necessary to simplify the system so that no one would feel left out. In the low season, in autumn, the resorts of the south of Russia really have lost part of the tourist flow. Many people then refused to travel because of restrictions imposed abruptly, because they did not immediately understand the innovations.
Explanatory work planned in advance can reduce eventual losses.
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