Russian President abolishes Russia's Federal Tourism Agency

21-10-22

Russian President Vladimir Putin has decreed the abolition of the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm) and the transfer of its functions to the Ministry of Economy.

The measure is aimed at "perfecting state management in the field of tourism, boosting the development of the tourism industry and optimising the structures of federal executive bodies", according to the decree, published on the government's official legal information portal.

The President ordered the government to take all necessary measures to ensure the uninterrupted performance of Rosturizm's functions during the procedure of its transfer to the Ministry of Economy.

The Federal Agency for Tourism was created in 2004 and was attached to the Economy between 2018 and 2020, when it became directly subordinate to the Cabinet of Ministers.

"The decision of the president of the Russian Federation will make it possible to raise efficiency in the implementation of the national project 'Tourism and the hospitality industry'," the economy ministry said in a statement.

Foreign tourist arrivals to the Russian Federation (already seriously affected since March 2020 as a result of the pandemic) were interrupted from many countries (European Union, United States, etc.) as of 24 February, as a result of the war launched by Putin against Ukraine and the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia (suspension of flights, visas, etc.).

The Economy Ministry said in a statement that the decision to dissolve Rostourism and hand over its responsibilities to the ministry would help Russia meet its tourism goals more effectively.

Rostourism has overseen the provision of tourism-related state services across Russia since it was established in 2004, overseeing major events such as the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The decision to abolish the agency comes at a time of turmoil for Russia's tourism industry, with strict Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and the suspension of flights from most European countries.

Over the past three years, the number of foreign tourists coming to Russia has continued to decline, according to Dmitry Gorin, vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, Izvestia reported in August.

"Over the past three years, due to pandemic restrictions, the absence of electronic visas and now the impossibility of making payments with foreign bank cards and the absence of direct flights, the overall percentage drop in the flow of tourists to the Russian Federation averaged 95-97%," Gorin said.