Russian tourism agency says ban of Booking.com out of question

MOSCOW, May 30 (PRIME) -- Russia has no plans to ban activities of Booking.com, a travel fare aggregator website and travel metasearch engine, Deputy Director of the Federal Tourism Agency Nikolai Korolyov said on Wednesday at a news conference.

“Our position and the one of the Culture Ministry on the matter of restrictions regarding online service Boobking.com are the same. It is out of the question to ban activities of this aggregator. First, the Federal Tourism Agency is not authorized to do so. Second, we do not want to,” Korolyov said.

“At present, the resource is very popular among Russian users who shape their trip plans with it. Bans are not on the agenda.”

Earlier in May, the ministry received a request from head of a group of travel companies, Mr. S.Voitovich, with a suggestion to restrict access to Booking.com in the country. Under the law, the ministry addressed the mentioned request to the Federal Tourism Agency in order for the authority to prepare a response.

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