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EU’s sanctions against Crimea not to impact its travel sector - Russian deputy PM

Earlier, the European Union imposed a ban on investments to Crimea’s economy, on purchasing real estate, building infrastructure and offering tourist services

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The European Union’s sanctions banning European travel operators to offer tourist services in Crimea will have no adverse impacts on the development of the travel sector in the region, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets said on Thursday.

“As of today, the number of tourists in Crimea has reached the last year’s level. Now, mostly pensioners are holidaying in Crimean health resorts and sanatoriums, which are full despite the low season. That is why we are feeling on firm ground. So, I believe tourism in Crimea will develop despite everything,” she said.

Earlier, the European Union imposed a ban on investments to Crimea’s economy, on purchasing real estate, building infrastructure and offering tourist services. Moreover, it prohibited European cruise liners to all at Crimean ports.

From December 20, European and European-based companies will beprohibited to buy real estate and companies in Crimea, to finance Crimean companies and offer related services.

European travel operators will be banned to offer tourist services in Crimea. European cruise ships will be banned from calling at Crimean ports with an exception of emergency situations. The same ban is applicable to all ships owned by European companies or flying flags of the European Union countries. Current cruise contracts will stay in force till March 20, 2015.

These measures come into force from Saturday, December 20.

These sanctions have local character and are part of the European Union’s strategy towards non-recognition of Crimea’s accession to Russia. They are not part of the previous sanction packages of the European Union against Russia: a blacklist of politicians and businessmen and sectoral economic sanctions.