Deputy PM hopes no steps to reduce tourism to Crimea necessary

MOSCOW, Jun 23 (PRIME) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova hopes that Crimea will not have to impose emergency restrictions on tourism following the flood that hit the peninsula on June 17, she told President Vladimir Putin at a government meeting on Wednesday.

“We hope that the situation linked to (the flood) will be corrected, and we will not have to slap emergency measures to reduce the number of tourists to Crimea,” she said.

“The situation is being monitored closely, we watch the spread of infectious diseases including the COVID-19 infection,” she added.

Golikova also said that mass events throughout Russia should be limited or even canceled due to the current epidemiological situation.

“Moscow has already introduced most of the measures, but we are asking the other regions to take similar steps… (including) severe restrictions or even cancellation of mass events in case the new coronavirus infection spreads to the extent that we can see now,” she said.

The Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Oversight, the Healthcare Ministry and the Federal Agency for Tourism have had negotiations with their foreign colleagues before opening air connection with coastal countries, the deputy prime minister also said.

She added that most states that will soon open air connection with Russia are ready to negotiate mutual agreements on admission of Russian vaccines.

The decision to open air travel with Turkey was made after an inspection, and the Turkish side is ready to take necessary steps if Russians get sick during their holidays in the country, Golikova said.

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