MOSCOW: In a second blow to Indian tourism industry which was already reeling from a reduction in arrivals due to the devaluation of the Ruble, India has been struck off the list of safe travel destinations recommended for Russian tourists.
In a statement, the Russian information centre in Goa stated that a revised travel advisory had been issued following the blacklisting of Egypt and Turkey. President Vladimir Putin had canceled all flights to Egypt after the October 31 explosion of a Russian passenger plane over the Sinai peninsula, and then called on its citizens to cancel vacations in Turkey after Turkish missiles shot down a Russian fighter jet in Syria.
Amongst the destinations now identified as ‘safe’ are Cuba, south Vietnam and southern China. “Both India and Goa were not considered as good destinations for Russian travelers.