Last time on TV and on internet many people in Russia discpurse of the reasons why foreign tourists come to Russia not so often as they could and as the tour operators wanted. The state invests money into tour infrastructure to draw tourists from Europe, but the output leaves something to be desired. It is told much about bad infrastructure, lack of information at least in English about Russia, high hotel prices and high crime rate. But others, and among them is Larisa Zazulina chief operating officer of one large tour operator are sure, that the problem is the only one. It is called Russian visa.

Visa abolition is a topic discussed during each summit of heads of states of Russia and EU countries. Visa abolition for the Russians is good, but it should take place with Russian visa abolition for the EU citizens as well: it would increase the tourist flow considerably. Of course, visa regime is a problem both for the Russians and for the EU citizens, but the Russians have to apply for visa anyway and it doesn't stop them.

The Europeans, in their turn, have a choice: to decide and go the next day for a weekend to Paris, Berlin or London, or somewhere else, or to spend a lot of time and money getting Russian visa for a journey which could be even shorter than time for getting visa (if it is not a cruise to St. Petersburg). So, it is not lack of interest to Russia or lack of information about any places there except Moscow and St. Petersburg. Russia is not boring, it is hard-to-get. Some people would be glad to go to Moscow or St. Petersburg for a weekend, if it wasn't for visas.

What about lack of information, safety and prices as reasons for refuse to visit Russia, Zazulina called them amateurs' talks. Russia is not terra incognita for the Europeans. The information about country become useless if it is so uneasy to go there. What about safety, the tourist flow to Paris and Berlin does not decrease instead of danger of terroristic attacks, which is being discussed for last months. Moreover: the tourist groups from Europe came to Moscow just after last series of terroristic attacks in metro without refusing the tours. The hotels of Moscow and St. Petersburg supposed to provide accommodation at a fancy price aren't so expensive in comparison with ones in Europe. It is possible to create tours with accommodation in really good hotels on favourable price. But this possibility meets one difficulty: the potential clients will choose Berlin and Paris. Because they don't need a visa there.

Russia Visa is not the only one evil.

The main evil is called registration. Every foreigner must register in every city on her/his route. And this is a serious obstackle for them who wants to visit more that one city or even not the Golden Ring only, but other regions like Siberia and Far East. Some people come to Russia for events and particularize which cities they would like to visit. Sometimes the consulate has to recommend them to confine themselves to visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg, because if they want to distant regions like Urals or Siberia chances are high that visa would be denied.

We hope there are still many people who wants to visit Russia and will do it in spite of visa. You can compare hotel prices in Moscow, St. Petersburg and many other Russian cities with the European ones. You can reserve a hotel just now on our site in almost any Russian city.

As far as Russian visa is still necessary we recommend you our Russian visa online service.