Anti-Crimean campaign

(Photo: Max Novikov )

Before the passions surrounding charter flights in the Spanish direction had subsided, another popular resort became the subject of a scandal. Last week, some media reported that the rules for staying in Crimea for Russian citizens were being tightened. The Ukrainian authorities were accused of three circumstances. Firstly, the introduction of VAT on vouchers purchased in Russia (the tax had to be paid upon arrival at a sanatorium or boarding house). Secondly, mandatory registration for “savages”, accompanied by an impressive fee (in case of evasion of registration - a mind-boggling fine). Thirdly, a ban on Ukrainian banks buying and selling “soft currency” at exchange offices, that is, primarily Russian rubles.

There was no need to wait long for refutations. Officials of the Crimean Autonomy stated that there were no changes in resort policy compared to last year. The mayor of Yevpatoria, Andrei Danilenko, added that he expected such publications and that the media were “carrying out someone’s order,” as in previous years (according to the mayor, last year journalists wrote that anthrax was rampant in Crimea, and the year before - cholera ). A familiar resident of Simferopol, to whom I turned for clarification, said that Sochi residents and Turks are considered the “customers” in Crimea. They say they use “black PR” techniques to discredit a competing resort.

Crimeans, however, forget that their peninsula can only partially be called a resort. Disgusting service, interruptions in water and electricity make holidays in Crimea truly extreme. The main declared advantage - the ability to come to Crimea without a foreign passport - is negated by the outrages of Ukrainian customs officers. Vacationers in Crimea are not at all immune from unpleasant surprises. Last year, gasoline prices unexpectedly rose to $1.5 per liter. They say that some tourist motorists sold spare tires just to make it to the Russian border.

There are problems with registration and currency in Crimea. Registration for “savages” was already mandatory (the price is set by district authorities), and its absence was fraught with a fine, albeit a small one. Some banks really do not have the right to work with “soft currencies”. Increases in registration fees and fines may occur at any time. As well as the general ban on working with rubles in “exchange offices”, caused by political considerations (to avoid getting into trouble, tourists have long preferred to take dollars with them).

However, such measures are unlikely to radically affect the number of Russian citizens traveling to Crimea. Some are unable to overcome nostalgia for Soviet health resorts, others are attracted by the opportunity to relax for really little money, and they are ready to put up with a complete lack of service. How many times have I asked lovers of Crimea: what do you find in it? And I heard similar answers: the climate there is mild, the landscapes are beautiful, we went there since childhood...
A tourist who chooses resorts in the post-Soviet space is unusually stable in his preferences.