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Russian tourists to be warned about security threats in advance

Security threats are divided into four groups – emergency situations, man-made, natural and social calamities

MOSCOW, August 8 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian tourists will be informed about security threats they may encounter in a particular country, which will allow them to ask for a refund. The new rule of the Federal Tourism Service’s notification of tour operators, agents and tourists about security threats was published by the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper on Wednesday.

“The notification will be a ground for repealing the contract between a tour operator and a tourist or a tour agent and a tourist and getting a refund if the trip is not made,” Federal Tourism Agency deputy head Yevgeny Pisarevsky told the newspaper.

Security threats are divided into four groups – emergency situations, man-made, natural and social calamities. The notifications will be based on official documents. “It could be a travel alert issued by the Foreign Ministry, or a presidential ordinance of a counter-terrorism operation or a quarantine imposed by the Federal Consumer Rights and Healthcare Service,” Pisarevsky said.

The Federal Tourism Agency will post notifications on its website and state-run printed and online media, including Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Besides, notifications will be made to tour operators and agents.

Tourists must have no problems with refunds in such cases, he said. It would be sufficient to inform a tour operator about the Federal Tourism Agency’s notification of a security threat in a particular country. If the refund is denied, tourists should appeal to the Federal Tourism Agency. “We are always ready to open hotlines. Our staff members provide legal aid. Besides, we may send an information letter to the tour operator,” he said.

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