Spanish travel agencies have had problems with Russian visas

Tour Operator “Svoy TT” appealed to the Federal Agency for Tourism by the open letter with a request to assist in facilitating the work of Spanish tour operators in applying for Russian visas.

The CEO of the company, Sergey Voytovich noted in his letter that the situation with the issuance of the Russian visa to Spanish tourists became worse over recent years.

“Using openly its monopoly and support of officials, the company Twim inversiones 2008, serving as the visa center of Russia from April 1, 2012, that is, on the eve of the new tourist season, deprived all Spanish tour operators offering tours to Russia of privileges in the cost of service fee and the visa processing time,” – the agency “RIA Novosti” quotes the letter.

In particular, the letter says, the service fee for urgent issuing of travel visas to Russia is by 230% more than the same fee for Russians in Spanish visa application center.

Sergey Voytovich said that earlier the letter about the problems with Russian visas had already been handed over to Alexander Radkov.

“During the meeting, held in June 2011, you were handed the letter from the Russian Union of Travel Industry, the largest Spanish tour operators, the Honorary Consul of Russia in the Canary Islands, describing the establishment of the monopoly for the “help” in issuing Russian tourist visas by the intermediary company Twim inversions in 2008, registered on the private person,” – the agency “Interfax” quotes Voytovich.

“Svoy TT” emphasizes that the Russian and foreign tour operators do not need an intermediary for tourist visa to Russia.

“We believe that intermediaries standing between tour operators and Russian consulates in different countries make it difficult to obtain Russian visas, which contradicts the recent initiatives of the President Dmitry Medvedev. We ask you to intervene and help to solve the issue of restoration of the accreditation for Spanish tour operators in the Russian consulates in Spain,” – is noted in the letter.

In turn, the Federal Tourism Agency spokesman Oleg Moseev said that Alexander Radkov, the head of the department, has already met the director of consular department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrei Karlov to discuss this problem. Oleg Moseev expressed hope for favorable resolution of the Spanish tour operators arising problems.