Vladivostok traders hopeful of reaping benefits of Russia’s e-visa system

New e-visa system of Russia has so far seen Vladivostok welcoming close to 2,000 visitors in six weeks. Although it isn’t much, operators in the port city say the numbers were enough to cheer them.

The Ministry for Development of Far East Russia officials were quoted by Asia Times as telling it that applicants from China accounted for almost half of the visitors, followed by Japanese.

Roman Ivanishchev, the president of the Far Eastern Association of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers, said that it was a decent number and added that the simplified visa system’s introduction would result in the growth of tourist numbers.

He added that visiting their country is difficult because of the visa system. With these two thousand issues, it can be stated that the new system is becoming popular, said Ivanishchev.

The single-entry visa should be used within 30 days and visitors can stay for eight days with it in Vladivostok. It is issued free of charge for travellers at Vladivostok port or the Knevichi airport of the city. Its validity is restricted only to the Primorsky Krai region of Far East Russia.

Olga Gurevich, chairman of the public expert council for the development of tourism in Primorsky Krai, said that this visa’s benefits may become more visible when its validity is extended to Far East Russia’s other territories.

As of now, nationals of 18 countries can avail it. They are India, Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei, China, Iran, Kuwait, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and UAE.

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