Italy will issue half a million visas for Russians in 2016

“The number of Italian visas issued for Russians will amount about half a million by the end of 2016”, - said on Wednesday the Italian Ambassador to Russia Cesare Maria Ragalini. "This is less than in previous years, but 95% of Italy visas issued to Russians are multiple, and reducing of the number of new visas – is a consequence of this policy" , - said C.Ragalini at the opening of the second Italian visa center in Moscow. As reported, the new visa center was opened on Wednesday, where only organized tourists are served – the tour operators’ clients. Now two visa centers are in Moscow, but in Russia in whole their number has grown to 30 (or four times) for three years. According to Rosstat, in 2015 Italy was visited by 481.4 thousand Russian tourists. Earlier the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported that tour operators have noted the record growth in demand by 20-25% for tours to Italy, against the last year.