MOSCOW, November 10. /TASS/ The introduction of the tax free service in Russia will increase the county’s attractiveness and thus entail growing tourist inflow, head of the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) Oleg Safonov told TASS.
He pointed out that the Agency earlier “suggested that the government review the opportunity of introducing a free trade system in Russia as it may facilitate the incoming tourism development.” “We very much appreciate the fact that this idea was supported. We believe it is very timely and important. This will have a positive impact on the incoming tourism development by encouraging tourists to shop in our country,” Safonov said.
“Shopping is a popular thing among tourists and if we prove that Russia has much to offer in this regard, and we really have a lot to offer so tourists could save some money shopping here, then we will see the growing tourist inflow. More Chinese tourists will visit Russia, as well as tourists from Europe and the US, which, by the way, doesn’t have a tax free system,” the Rostourism head added.
On Wednesday, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov instructed the Finance Ministry and other interested agencies to present a bill on the introduction of the tax free service in Russia to the government in December. As a source at the Deputy Prime Minister’s secretariat told TASS, during a meeting chaired by Shuvalov, he highlighted the need to take into consideration the relevant international experience.