Official Russian tourism organisations denied claims of Maria Zakharova, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokeswoman, that Russian nationals planning to visit Montenegro should be careful since possibility to be exposed to provocations, arrests for doubtful reasons, even extraditions to third countries were not ruled out.
Irina Tyurina, Russian Tourism Organisation’s spokeswoman, told Interfax that Russian travelling agencies operating in Montenegro didn’t notice the anti-Russian trends Zakharova was mentioning. On the contrary, she said Montenegro was gladly waiting for Russian tourists.
“Today we have contacted the Russians, associates of travelling tourism companies located in Montenegro, in the context of preparations for the tourist season, as well as with the Russians who live and work in Montenegro. None of them has seen any negativity in relation to the citizens of Russia. No such a thing exists even at the level of conversation. On the contrary, everyone is awaiting the tourist season and looking forward to seeing Russian tourists in Montenegro,” Turina said.
According to her, tourism is an important sector contributing to the revenues of Montenegro, which is the reason why the country certainly won’t “cut off the branch it is sitting on”.
One of Russia’s leading travelling portals Tourdom said that, according to experts’ estimates, there are no true facts in Zakharova’s statement, so that tourists have no reason to fear.
“I am currently in Montenegro and there are no activities that may be characterised as hostile. Obviously, this is a deep policy and that will hardly affect tourism. I do not see any basis for the anti-Russian mood,” president of the PAKS company Maksim Lobanov said.
