The ban for Russian citizens with Schengen visas to cross the borders of the Baltic countries will come into force in the next ten days.

The tour operator Intourist, two and a half months earlier than usual seasonal terms, announced the opening of sales of tours to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for the New Year and winter holidays 2020-2021.

On August 1, a visa center of Lithuania was opened in Kaliningrad, which is serviced by VFS Global, according to the the press service of the company. Another Lithuanian visa center in the region will be opened in Sovetsk at the end of August this year. Visa centres apply a service fee (15.9 euros) additionally to the cost of a visa (35 euros). 

There has been an increase in sales of Christmas tours in the Baltic countries. According to market participants, working on the destination, the number of bookings has increased by an average of 10%, compared with the same period of 2017. The depth of sales has also grown - it is already over 2.5 months.

“The number of visas issued by Lithuania to Russians tourists in 2017 reached the pre-crisis level of the same period of 2013-2014”, - said Lithuanian Ambassador Remigijus Motuzas. "Of course, it is very difficult to name exact figures how many Russians visited Lithuania. But taking into account the number of issued visas to Russians, now we have reached the same level as before the crisis - 2013-2014", - specified the diplomat.