Tour operators hold different views on USA 3-year visa’s significance to the tourist flow growth
Tour operators are not entirely confident that the issuing of a 3-year multi-visa to the Russians traveling to the USA will become a crucial factor for the tourist flow growth. Some experts believe that it all will depend on the price of the new visa.
Let us remind you that the agreement on simplification of visa application procedures between Russia and USA was already reached in July. Recently the Russian Government approved a draft of the note of agreement of the visa application facilitation between the two countries. The information on this matter can be found at the bank of regulatory and administrative enactments. Before that the agreement was due to be ratified by December 25, 2011.
The document facilitates the application arrangements for business, private and tourist visas for short-term travel from Russia. As per the project the Russians are granted multi-visas entitling them for a stay of up to six months starting from the date of every entry, the visas are valid within 36 months from the date of issue. As of today the American Embassy to Russia issues multi-visas valid from 12 to 14 months.
The tour operators, interviewed by RATA-news, report that the demand for USA-bound tours is presently quite high anyway. For the first six months of 2011 the number of Russian tourists in USA grew by 38% compared to the same period in 2010 and reached 105 thousand people. These are the figures provided by the USA Department of Commerce. Russian travel companies’ statistics confirms this growth tendency. Different data shows the increase in the first nine months of 2011 at 8 to 25%. The forecast for the upcoming winter season is positive too.
The experts see at least two reasons for that: American Authorities’ loyal visa policy towards Russian citizens and the difference in currency exchange rates between US dollar, euro and Russian rouble. “The introduction of the 3-year visa will be another motivation for travel to the USA, especially for frequent travelers” – assures Director General of America Travel Company Mrs. Margarita Babayan. She also reminded that a similar visa regime between Russia and USA was in place in late 1990s. “This background experience shows that the people try not to miss the opportunity to use their long-term visas and to visit USA at least once a year” – the expert points out.
Meanwhile, Director General of Valteks Travel Company Mr. Feliks Dubovitsky thinks that for the last several years the Russians haven’t had much problems with the American visas. The rejections are few, plus it has been quite easy for the Russians to obtain a multi-visa even before these new regulations have come into force. All an applicant needs is an American or Schengen entry stamp in his passport. And this means that the innovation won’t bring much change – assumes Mr. Dubovitsky. The soft spot in the application procedure is a requirement to undergo fingerprinting procedure and an interview in person, which makes non-Moscow residents come to the capital at least once.
Executive Director of Amerikanskaya Kompaniya Puteshestviy (American Travel Company) Mrs. Elena Goubareva doesn’t see a big difference between 2- and 3-year visas. “USA is quite a unique destination associated with a long-distance flight. Not everybody can afford to travel again in such a short time. A 5-year visa would be a perfect option. And in present situation everything will depend on the visa’s price. If it remains the same as for a 2-year visa or become only a bit more expensive, many people would wish to take the opportunity” – says Mrs. Goubareva.
As of today the applicant wishing to obtain a 2-year multi-visa has to pay $145 for a 1-year visa and an additional $100 fee. In late 1990s the cost of a 3-year visa was reaching $450.