At risk - to the resort: what countries can Russians still go to for the New Year

The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that they will not rescue (take out) fellow citizens who are stuck outside their homeland. Nevertheless, many countries are still open to Russians. What do tour operators offer?

On November 30, the head of Rosportrebnadzor, Anna Popova, recommended that Russians spend the New Year's holidays at home and not travel abroad. The next day, December 1, a similar statement was made at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Official representative Maria Zakharova urged compatriots to take into account the restrictions on coronavirus when planning overseas trips.

“Due to the spread of the omicron strain, it is possible that the borders of some countries will be closed or air travel restricted, ” she said. In the language of unofficial diplomacy, this means that the Foreign Ministry strongly advises against hoping for special flights for tourists who stayed abroad, especially on New Year's holidays.

Today there are reports from South Africa: Russian tourists are stuck in this country due to the closure of air borders. Local authorities made this decision immediately after the identification and spread of a new strain of coronavirus - Omicron.

25 Russians who went to Africa on a fitness tour returned to Moscow on a commercial flight. In addition to its clients, the company organizing the fitness tour provided the opportunity to return on this flight to other Russians stuck in the country: a ticket cost 15 thousand euros. The Foreign Ministry did not intervene in the situation.

In total, according to the Federal Tourism Agency, in South Africa at the time of the closure of the borders there are about 500 Russian citizens who flew there on their own.

At the disposal of the Moscow Department of Rospotrebnadzor, it is reported: restrictive measures for Russians are being introduced in connection with the discovery of the circulation of a new strain of coronavirus in South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong and the high probability of its circulation in the states bordering these countries (Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, China) and having high traffic communications with them (Madagascar, Tanzania), in order to prevent the import of a new strain into Russia.

On November 28, the Operations Staff announced the restriction of the entry into the territory of Russia of foreign citizens residing in these countries or staying in these territories over the past 10 days.

Russians returning from these territories will be placed in 14-day quarantines - and not in apartments, but in observatories.

Earlier, Rosportrebnadzor reported that testing of citizens who come from "risky" countries has already been introduced at the border. These include all states that have announced the identification of the omicron strain.

The Indonesian authorities have completely closed their borders for entry to foreign citizens from December 24. On December 3, a transitional period begins, the restrictions on the entry and stay of foreign citizens in force in the country are tightened.

Israel has also completely closed its borders to foreigners due to the omicron strain. The restrictions were introduced until mid-December, but may be extended.

WHO has recognized the high risk of a new strain spreading throughout the planet. According to experts, omicron spreads faster than the strains already studied.

In general, with the arrival of "Omicron", the planet seems to be gradually closed for travelers again.

But we will tell you about the situation in still open countries and about tourist destinations where tickets are bought up by those who decided to celebrate the New Year 2022 outside their homeland.

Greece

When entering Greece, all Russian tourists are required to present a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours), regardless of whether they were vaccinated or not. The Greeks do not deny access to public and entertainment facilities to holders of the Sputnik V vaccination certificate.

To travel to Greece, you need a Schengen visa, and the Greek government also asks you to fill out an electronic form to receive a QR code. Airlines require this QR code at the time of boarding a plane in Russia.

Russia has direct flights with Greece. Tourists without vaccinations while in the country must take a PCR test every three days. Some places are accessible for visiting only for those who have been vaccinated.

Egypt

The Federation of Tourism Chambers of Egypt announced on the eve of the closure of 9 hotels in the country due to non-compliance with sanitary and epidemiological rules. Hotels are not allowed to host guests and travel companies are prohibited from making reservations at these facilities.

At the same time, the Egyptian aviation authorities informed Russian airlines about the reduction in the time for servicing passengers before departure from Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. Passenger check-in for the flight is now opened not 5 hours before, as before, but 3 hours before departure. This is done to reduce the time passengers spend in queues.

To enter Egypt, Russian citizens require a negative PCR test, or a certificate of vaccination (from domestic vaccines only "Sputnik V").

Visa is not needed for those who spend their holidays in the resorts of South Sinai (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba). To visit other regions, you need a visa, which can be obtained at the embassy in the Russian Federation or upon arrival at the country's international airports (cost $ 25 per person). All tourists also fill out a health questionnaire.

Russia now has many flights to Egypt, both direct flights from large cities and with transfers in Turkey. Many flights are carried out only to Cairo, from where tourists independently get to the resort areas.

Upon returning from Egypt, it is necessary to pass a PCR test (in the absence of a valid vaccination certificate).

Turkey

The Turkish authorities require a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 from tourists. Of the domestic vaccines, only Sputnik V is suitable, and at least two weeks should have passed from the moment of the second injection by the beginning of the trip. All others must present a negative PCR test.

A visa to Turkey is not required, but no earlier than 72 hours before the flight, tourists are required to fill out an electronic form to receive the HES code required to board the flight.

Air service between Russia and Turkey is still open. You can fly to Istanbul, Antalya and other cities.

In Turkey, holidaymakers must wear masks even on the streets. Violators face a fine. Those who entered the country using a PCR test (without a vaccination certificate) will have to take new ones every three days.

The Department of Culture and Tourism of Antalya province announced the arrival of 8 896 985 tourists from outside Turkey to its resorts in 11 months of 2021. The first place in terms of tourist flow is expected among Russians, their share is almost 40% of all foreigners.

For 11 months of 2021, 143% more Russians left for Turkish resorts than in the same period of 2020. The share of Russians among all foreign tourists in Antalya in 2021 exceeded pre-pandemic values. And it would have been even greater if tour operators had not curtailed their regional charter programs, starting from the second decade of November

Cyprus

Cyprus on the eve toughened the entry for foreigners. From December 6, the PCR test on arrival will be required for all tourists arriving on the island over 12 years old, regardless of vaccination status and country of departure.

To visit Cyprus, you need a Schengen visa or a Bulgarian, Romanian, Croatian multivisa.

Russia has direct communication with Cyprus, with flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In the last 48 hours before departure, tourists need to issue a Cyprus Flight Pass; without it, those arriving on the island will face a fine of 300 euros. The pass will be required to move around the country for the first 7 days. On the eighth day, in pharmacies or medical institutions in Cyprus, tourists are vaccinated or tested to receive a Safe Pass (certificate of vaccination, negative PCR test or negative rapid test).

United Arab Emirates

To land in Abu Dhabi, a negative PCR test is required (not older than 48 hours), regardless of whether you have a Sputnik-V vaccination certificate.

Russians traveling to Dubai will also need a negative PCR test. Upon arrival in the country, the test will need to be taken again and remain in self-isolation until the results are obtained. A visa is not required for Russians.

Direct flights from several cities of Russia fly to the UAE. Different regions of the country have different requirements for tourists. Five days before departure to Abu Dhabi, tourists must register for ICA UAE Smart, as well as install the Al Hosn App to track movements.

Before leaving for Dubai, you need to fill out and print out a questionnaire where you indicate the place for serving self-isolation in anticipation of the result of a repeated PCR test. In addition, the DXB Smart App must be installed on your phone.

Cuba

Cuba receives tourists vaccinated with both Sputnik V and Sputnik Light. Vaccinated tourists are exempt from taking the PCR test. No visa required. Air service is still open between Russia and Cuba, with flights from Moscow.

Since November 15, the program of excursions and visits by tourists to various cities of the country, including Havana, has been restored.

Seychelles

To visit the state, a negative PCR test is required (not older than 72 hours), and even children must take it. The results must be independently uploaded to the embassy website. No visa is required for Russians. Flights to the islands from Moscow are direct and with transfers.

Mexico

To date, there is no information that anyone entering Mexico requires a negative PCR test or vaccination certificate. A visa is required to enter - it is issued electronically, free of charge, with the correct completion of the electronic entry permit form.

Flights with Mexico have been open since December 1. But flights are infrequent.

Thailand

Only Russians vaccinated with Sputnik V can enter the country through one of the provinces participating in the government's Sandbox program. After passing a seven-day quarantine in one of the prepaid SandBox hotels and passing two PCR tests (if the results of both are negative), the Russians can go on a free trip around the country.

The vaccination certificate must be uploaded to ThaiPass in advance. In addition, you need to get an entry permit in advance, and before leaving for Russia to pass the first of three PCR tests.

The easiest way is to take a direct flight from Moscow. But there are routes with transfers in other countries, for example, Finland, for example, you just need to carefully monitor that these are countries that are open for Russians for transit.

Bulgaria

When entering the country, tourists from Russia present a negative PCR test or a certificate of Sputnik V vaccination. You need a Bulgarian visa. Tourists holding a valid Turkish or Romanian visa can stay in Bulgaria in transit for up to 5 days. There are flights from Russia to Varna and Sofia, but without transfers, only from Moscow.

To visit attractions, public and entertainment venues, you must carry your vaccination certificate or negative PCR test with you. The PCR test needs to be updated every three days.

Croatia

Croatia recognizes only one Russian vaccine - Sputnik V. If there is no vaccination certificate, a negative PCR test can be presented. To visit the country you need a Croatian visa, Bulgarian, Romanian, Cypriot or Schengen visas are also suitable.

Direct flights - only from Moscow, departing from the regions make a transfer in the Russian capital or in other countries.

To cross the border, tourists are advised to fill out a form from the Croatian Ministry of Transport and Tourism.

Serbia

To enter the country, you must provide a negative PCR test, regardless of whether you have a Sputnik V vaccination certificate. No visa required. There are many direct flights between Russia and Serbia. Serbia has recently been one of the most popular countries among Russians for the so-called. "Vaccine pilgrimage". Here tourists can freely get the vaccine approved in the EU. But for this you need to check into a hotel approved by the government for this purpose.

Hungary

Unlike most countries in the Schengen area, Hungary has recognized the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, so tourists vaccinated with this drug are exempted from taking PCR tests. To enter, you need a Schengen visa or a single-entry Hungarian tourist visa (35 euros).

There are direct flights between Russia and Hungary. In Hungary, you can also get vaccinated with an EU-approved vaccine.

Slovenia

To enter the country, you will need to choose one of three documents: a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours), a certificate of the transferred COVID-19 (issued no more than six months ago) or a document confirming the complete completion of vaccination ("Sputnik V" is also suitable ). You need a Schengen visa or Slovenian visa.

There are direct flights between Russia and Slovenia, but you can also fly with a transfer in a third country.

V shops, restaurants, entertainment establishments are allowed on the principle of PPT - recovered, vaccinated, tested. Those who enter the PCR test must renew it every three days.

Armenia

To cross the border with Armenia, Russians will need a vaccination certificate (the country has approved not only Sputnik V, but Sputnik Light as well). However, after the second vaccination, at least 14 days must elapse before travel. For those who do not have a certificate, they take a PCR test. A visa is not required to enter Armenia. Numerous flights fly to Yerevan from Russia.

Belarus

It is allowed to enter the country both according to the PCR test (not older than 72 hours) and according to the vaccination certificate. But from the moment of the second vaccination, you need to wait at least a month. Russians do not need a visa to Belarus. Russians who do not have a permanent or temporary residence permit in Belarus are allowed to enter only through airports and train stations.

You can stay in Belarus for a day without a PCR test if you are traveling through the country in transit.

Kyrgyzstan

For entry, a certificate of vaccination "Sputnik V" and "Sputnik Light" or a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours) is suitable. A visa is not required for Russians. Direct flights from Russian cities fly to Bishkek.

Also for Russians, in theory, Georgia, Dominican Republic, Maldives, Brazil, Costa Rica, Azerbaijan, India, Morocco, Tunisia are available. But most of them can only be reached with transfers, often with more than one. There are countries open only to organized groups arriving on charter flights.

Russians are not allowed to enter most European countries even with a valid Schengen visa and a Sputnik vaccination certificate. Estonia, for example, issues tourist visas to Russians, but it is impossible to get there. The entrance for cars and trains is closed, air traffic between Russia and Estonia has not been restored.