The Russian Federation has introduced a visa-free regime for tourists arriving entering the country by ferries. The package of documents has been signed RF Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, press center of RF Government states.
“I have signed documents concerning the stay of foreign citizens entering Russia as tourists by ferries,” Putin said at the meeting with Anatoli Yarochkin, head of Rostourism.
It is supposed that foreigners coming to Russia by ferries are allowed to stay in the country without visas for a certain period. Rostourism head thinks this decision will have a positive impact on inbound tourism in Russia.
According to Yarochin, it is possible in the cities which have a corresponding infrastructure — St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. He said in 2008 St. Petersburg was visited by almost 500,000 tourists arriving as ferry passengers. Rostourism head thinks visa-free regime for ferry passengers will make it possible to double the amount of tourists arriving in St. Petersburg. “By autumn, when busy exhibition season starts advertising materials will be issued in both paper and electronic form,” Anatoli Yarochkin said.
Amendments into the Law on exit and entry procedures in the Russian Federation allowing for visa-free regime for ferry passengers adopted in autumn 2008 came into effect on March 3, 2009.