Russian tourists will have the opportunity to fly directly to several African countries in the coming months, according to Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, as reported to TASS.
When asked if there are efforts being made to launch direct flights with specific African countries, the diplomat highlighted that progress is already being made in this regard. He stated, "We anticipate that in the coming months, our tourists will have the opportunity to travel directly from Russian cities to several countries on the continent."
Ozerov explained that the foreign ministry's stance is in favor of expediting efforts in this particular direction. However, he noted that there are certain technical requirements and a matter concerning the demand for these flights. He elaborated, "For instance, there are tourist destinations, but some of our tour operators haven't yet demonstrated sufficient interest or organized tours there for various reasons. This leads to a dilemma: which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Should there be tours first, or flights? We support the organization of direct flights, with Rosaviatsia working on this matter, and we encourage our travel agencies to arrange suitable tours to these countries."
New destinations
Ozerov highlighted that there are "numerous countries suitable for Russian tourists to explore." "These countries are not only secure and stable but also exceptionally captivating in terms of their history, culture, natural beauty, and the people who inhabit them. Like well-known destinations - Tanzania, Namibia, and South Africa, as well as lesser-explored options such as Botswana and Zimbabwe, which haven't received many Russian tourists in the past. Countries like Mauritius may not be widely recognized but are currently prepared to welcome our tourists. These destinations boast well-established tourist infrastructure for a comfortable travel experience," he noted.
Regarding the organization of direct flights to African countries, Ozerov emphasized that it requires a coordinated effort involving multiple Russian government bodies and agencies. This collaborative approach involves the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rosaviatsia, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, and domestic travel agencies working together to make these flights a reality.
"We are committed to vigorously promoting this effort because we've discovered, including during our contacts at the Russia-Africa summit, that there is significant interest from the African side in attracting Russian tourists. This interest goes beyond traditional destinations like Egypt, Tunisia, and Tanzania," he added.
Destination difficulties
Ozerov emphasized the importance of considering existing technical and political challenges, including the restrictive measures imposed by Western nations and unilateral sanctions, which Russia staunchly opposes. "This position is firmly articulated by all participants of the summit and is documented in the final declaration, affirming that all African states and Russia stand together against unilateral restrictive measures that undermine the development of relations between countries across economic, cultural, political, and other domains," - the diplomat continued. - "Therefore, the foreign ministry will actively advance the agenda of developing relations with African countries and promoting this tourist destination among Russian citizens."
"The question is - where will they fly faster? It's a matter of how quickly we can create the necessary conditions for these flights. There are various factors to consider, such as the risk of our aircraft being detained. Therefore, there are different aspects to address when working on the launch of new flights and tourist routes," he added.
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Based on materials from TASS