Russian travel to EU countries drops more than tenfold Tour operators say

The number of Russian tourists travelling to European Union countries has fallen by more than tenfold compared with the pre-pandemic period, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

“According to ATOR, tourist traffic to Europe is currently extremely low in absolute terms. Compared with pre-pandemic levels, it has decreased by more than tenfold,” the association said in a statement to TASS.

Earlier, European Commission President Markus Lammert said the Commission would once again propose, as part of the 22nd package of sanctions, that EU member states limit the number of visas issued to Russian citizens and ban entry to participants in the “special military operation” — measures that EU countries rejected in June during discussions on the 21st package.

ATOR noted that reports of this kind have been appearing regularly in the media in recent months. However, as in previous cases, given the lack of specific details or any decisions, it is too early to assess the prospects for changes in tourist flows to Europe.

By Aghakazim Guliyev