MOSCOW, January 31 (Itar-Tass) — More than 4040 Lanta-Tur Voyage clients have already filed damages statements at the Moscow and regional branches of the Ingosstrakh insurance company, Ingosstrakh spokesman Vladimir Kleimyonov told Itar-Tass.
"We've just generalized the data that came from Moscow and regional offices of Ingosstrakh, according to which more than 400 Lanta-Tur clients have filed statements for compensations in these past two days," Kleimyonov said, underlining that the figure might increase by the end of the workday.
"There have been no problems at our offices; people behave calmly, they ask questions, in short, the atmosphere is normal and business-like," the spokesman stressed.
"Each tourist must write a statement asking for compensation, and produce a copy and original of the passport or any other ID. Also, the tourists must show a certificate from Lanta-Tur Voyage that the travel agency is unable to meet its commitments in accordance with the contract concluded with the tourist. Those who were abroad and had problems when returning to Russia, should show the documents confirming the expenses they carried /payment for hotel accommodation and bills/," the Ingosstrakh representative went on to say.
Meanwhile, tour operator Lanta-Tur Voyage has officially notified Ingosstrakh about is insolvency, according to Kleimyonov.
Late on Monday, the Lanta-Tur company, which we insured for 100 million roubles, notified Ingosstrakh that it was insolvent. At present, the insurer is awaiting a list of tourists staying abroad.
Kleimyonov underlined that "it is a very important document for the insurance company, essential for taking the whole picture of the situation."
Meanwhile, lawmakers at the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament promised to expedite the passage of the amendments to the law on tourism, which are expected to prevent the situation such as the Lanta-Tur Crisis.
Lanta-Tur Voyage, one of Russia's largest travel agencies, unexpectedly suspended its operation on January 27. The company announced bankruptcy as Master Bank denied it a credit line.
It has operated for more than 12 years and mostly serviced such areas as Thailand, Vietnam and India.
Executive director of the association of Russia's travel agencies /ATOR/ Maya Lomidze said earlier on Tuesday that just Lanta-Tur 1,000 clients -- who had been unable to fly to their vacationing places, were entitled to full compensation. The rest of the tourists stranded abroad can only have their additional expenses compensated.