Russia to drop visa requirements for SA?

Russian president Vladimir Putin this week said he wanted to make Russia a visa-free destination for South Africans, according to a report by Bloomberg.

This would form part of a move to stimulate tourism from Russia’s Brics partners.



“Liberalising the visa regime almost always leads to an increase in tourist inflows and it’s worth considering an extension of the visa-free travel already enjoyed by tour groups from China to other Brics countries,” Bloomberg quoted Putin as saying. Visits from Israel doubled after visas were abolished, while those from Turkey grew 41 percent, he added.



The development comes in spite of the aggressive new visa regulations imposed on Russia by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs



In fact, it is closer for South Africans to fly to Europe than it is for east coast Russians to get to Moscow to apply in person for a visa at the South African embassy.



Source:  eTNW