MOSCOW (Realist English). Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed a government decree allowing tourists who planned trips to the Middle East to receive compensation for losses caused by airspace closures and canceled tours.
Speaking at a government meeting, Mishustin said the measure would enable travelers to recover funds through tour operators, including payments from operators’ personal responsibility funds, if their trips were scheduled between February 28 and March 31.
“A decision has been signed that will allow people to receive compensation for their losses, including through the personal responsibility funds of tour operators, if the trip was booked with a travel company and was scheduled during this period,” Mishustin said.
The prime minister noted that airspace over ten countries in the Middle East had been closed since late February because of the regional conflict. The affected states include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Syria.
As a result, many travelers were unable to leave these countries, while airlines organized evacuation and repatriation flights to bring stranded passengers home.
Under the new government decision, tour operators will be responsible for preparing the documentation required for compensation payments.
Mishustin also announced temporary relief measures for the tourism industry. The deadline for tour operators to make mandatory contributions to the industry’s compensation fund for the first quarter has been postponed by two months — from April 15 to June 15.
The prime minister said the government expects the measure to support the tourism sector and assist tens of thousands of citizens whose travel plans were disrupted by the crisis in the Middle East.
