Russian Federation strikes off India from safe travel destinations list

Although the number of Russian tourists visiting Goa has reduced since last year primarily due to a weakening Russian economy, Mr. Albuquerque said he was confident that this year the inflow of tourists would be more or less same, pegging the number at around one lakh or more.

The incidents of a Russian passenger airline being blown up over Egypt and a Russian fighter jet being shot down by Turkey have resulted in a revised list of safe countries to travel to by Russian authorities, but India, and Goa, particularly, has been hit hard by the new regulations.

The decision to struck off India from its recommended travel list of safe destination by the Russian government comes after the devaluation of rouble. “Our statement did not have any information regarding removal of India from the list of “safe” countries” or including India in the list of “unsafe countries’ as was mentioned in several reports in Indian media”.

In its latest travel advisory, Russian Federation as asked its citizens to avoid traveling to India and Goa due to security reasons.

Belyakova quoting her previous statement said, “We have noted that Russian authorities did not discuss including Goa or India in the list of “safe” destinations recommended by Russian government to Russian tourists”.

The destinations now identified as safe include Cuba, South Vietnam and southern China – all thanks to the excellent infrastructure, friendly atmosphere and warm weather in winter.

It stated the primary goal was to showcase Goa as a attainable various destination to the extra now-troubled locations of Egypt and Turkey, which have been widespread with Russian vacationers.

INTERFAX reported, “Unfortunately, both India and Goa, were not discussed as a promising direction for Russian travellers”.

In 2013, the number of Russian tourists visiting Goa was 250,000.