Major Russian tour operator cancels all holiday packages to Turkey until end of December

Pegas Touristik, one of Russia’s largest tour operators, has cancelled all holiday packages to Turkey until December 29, its general director said on Wednesday. "We have currently suspended sales to the Turkish Republic. All tour packages sold until December 29 have been cancelled. Tourists who purchased these packages will be invited to rebook their tours to other destinations," Anna Podgornaya told Rossiya-24 TV channel. The move follows downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet on Tuesday morning. Ankara claims the Russian warplane had violated Turkey’s air space while the Russian Defence Ministry says the Su-24 was flying above Syria. Russia's Federal Tourism Agency has asked the country’s tour operators to suspend selling holiday packages to Turkey, one of the most popular holiday destinations for Russians. Some 10,000 Russian vacationers are currently there.