VISA-FREE REGIME FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

St. Petersburg authorities together with their colleagues from the federal level are discussing an opportunity to extend a visa-free period for tourists that arrive at St. Petersburg by ferry and cruise ship. The period is now 72 hours. Besides, there are proposals to extend the three-day visa-free quota to the yachtsmen. Inna Shalyto, head of St. Petersburg Committee on Tourism Development, believes that this measure will make this group of travellers larger.

Another proposal is about the visa-free stay in the Northern Capital for those foreigners that arrive by other means of transport: by rail, air or road. The estimated period for doing sightseeing in St. Petersburg without a special permission might be the same old 72 hours. And the last eventual innovation might allow the a visa-free entry for up to 15 days for river cruise travellers departing from St. Petersburg and give them the opportunity to leave the Russian Federation by any mode of transport convenient for them.

Now, the package of proposals made by the Committee on Tourism Development is under consideration, at the stage of negotiation and agreement. Inna Shalyto hopes that in case of the positive outcome the taken steps would help to expand significantly the tourist flow and make a visit to St. Petersburg more accessible and attractive to the international tourist population.