Cyprus is not ready to open the border for Russian tourists

The authorities of the Mediterranean state announced their unwillingness to host Russian tourists from August 1. Experts are restrained in assessing the dates of resuming flights.

Today, July 3, the Government of Cyprus decided to refrain from receiving tourists from Russia. Despite the fact that for tourism in Cyprus the Russian market is the second most important, Russia will remain in the unapproved the “Group C”, and Russian tourists will still not be able to visit Cyprus from August 1.

At the same time, Great Britain, the market N1, will be moved from the “Group C” to the “Group B” from August 1: tourists from this country will be able to come to Cyprus only with a negative coronavirus test done 72 hours before departure. Entry to Cyprus remains actual for British travelers, if favorable epidemiological situation maintains in their country. Now, there are 14 countries in the “Group B”.

Tourists from the “Group A” (now 22 countries in this list) are allowed to enter without additional documents. Upon arrival, they may be asked to undergo coronavirus testing.

Updating the position of the Cypriot authorities regarding the entry of Russian citizens and shifting the country in the “Group B” is possible after improving the epidemiological situation in the Russian Federation.

According to EU standards, the decision can be revised if the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the Russian Federation reduces to 2 000 per day or less. For example, in the UK today, less than 1 000 new cases are reported. In Russia, about 6 000 cases are recorded daily. However, as of July 3, the flights to Larnaca from Moscow and St. Petersburg are still in the Aeroflot schedule.

As previously stated the Minister of Tourism of Cyprus Savvas Perdios, Russia will return to the tourist map of Cyprus later - most likely, by the end of the season. According to the minister, Russia and the UK remain the most significant markets.