Russian tourists flock to Isla de Margarita, a tropical island off the coast of Venezuela. For two months now, Russian Norwind Airlines has been operating direct flights between Moscow and Isla de Margarita. Income for Venezuelans, a godsend for tourists who have to deal with visas and flight restrictions due to the war in Ukraine.
Years of political and economic turbulence have not helped the Venezuelan tourism sector. That is why the government of President Nicolás Maduro is happy with the new tourist flow from Russia. Although Venezuela exports oil, the country is virtually bankrupt due to Maduro’s corrupt mismanagement and suffers from hyperinflation and a currency that regularly goes into free-fall.
Economy
Maduro sees tourism as a way to boost the economy and has therefore signed an agreement with Moscow to receive around 100,000 tourists by December 31st. Over the past two months, 3,000 holidaymakers have already used the new direct flight between Moscow and Isla de Margarita with the Russian company Norwind Airlines.
According to French media RFI, the route was reopened on 2 October after a 7-month break. The route has been diverted because some airspaces are closed to Russian airlines under sanctions. Isla de Margarita is a 14-hour flight from Moscow, a 12-day package costs a Russian about 3,500 euros.
Red carpet
According to RFI, the tourist infrastructure has been completely redesigned for Russians: at Isla de Margarita International Airport, Russians are greeted with a Cyrillic welcome sign, and fully organized island tours and translation services are available. According to the president of the Chamber of Tourism of the state of Nueva Esparta, which includes Isla de Margarita and two other islands, the Russians are providing an economic boost.
The local suppliers RFI has spoken to are decidedly less enthusiastic. According to them, Russians are bargain hunters and want to get a ringside seat for a penny.
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
