Moscow: 50,000 Russian tourists will not visit Croatia after new visa regime. Tourism experts confirm that the European Union has finished its expansion with reception of Croatia in the ranks at least until the end of a decade, reports Dispatch News Desk (DND) correspondent from Moscow.
The new member of EU at first should suffer strongly. After all on the near-term outlook of Croatia prophesy not only certain bonuses from membership in EU, but also losses in hundreds millions euros and one thousand workplaces because of need of Zagreb in connection with the accession to EU to leave the agreement of the countries Central and South Eastern Europe on free barter.
Even more joining of the country to the European Union has to upset citizens of Russia for whom this country was ideal option for family rest In previous years Croatia steadily cancelled visas for the summer period for tourists from Russia and some other the countries. According to Croats, introduction of visas to Russians won’t promote improvement of an economic situation. After all not less than 15 percent of gross domestic product of Croatia make the income from tourism where the most part was made by Russians. 50 thousand tourists from Russia will miss Croatia this year because of introduction of visas.
The Russian tour operators are sure that, despite considerable efforts of the government of Croatia on involvement of vacationers, a flow of Russians to Zagreb will significantly decrease this summer. That to lift it on due level, be required not only considerable time, but also efforts, including financial with which Croats soon, according to forecasts, will have some problems.
At the same time Croatia hopes not to frighten off tourists from the Russian Federation the visa requirements. The president of Croatia Ivo Josipoviç counts that need to receive entry visas won’t beat off at citizens of Russia of desire to visit its country: “Croatia took certain measures for simplification and acceleration of process of issue of visas to the Russian citizens, and I hope that need to receive visas since April 1 won’t reduce their desire and further to visit Croatia. To the Russian tourists we are always glad in Croatia, and I hope that them will come as much as possible”. The visa tariff will make 35 euros for usual and 69 euros — for the urgent visa.
