Tourism law splits travel industry

The bill on the introduction of financial guarantees for tour operator activities, currently being discussed by the State Duma, has provoked a split in the largest professional association in the industry - the Russian Union of Tourism Industry (RST). Several large PCT member companies have announced their desire to split off and form a new public organization. If this intention comes true, the PCT will split into two clubs: more than 1,000 small and medium-sized travel agencies will remain in the old union, and several dozen “heavy weight” companies will unite in the new structure. True, the current leadership of the PCT claims that it has not yet received a single official statement about leaving the union. RST believes that the “split” was orchestrated by the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm), which developed a bill on financial guarantees. RST President Sergei Shpilko is one of the most active opponents of the adoption of the law in the form proposed by Rostourism.

Consideration of the controversial bill in the second (and possibly even in the third) reading in the State Duma is scheduled for December 15. The main controversial point is the size of financial guarantees for international tourism activities. According to the project, each operator of international tourism (which refers to both the reception of foreigners in Russia and the organization of vacations for Russians abroad) must insure its liability for 10 million rubles. per year or provide a bank guarantee for this amount. For operators operating only within Russia, more modest guarantees are provided - 1 million rubles.

Sergei Shpilko repeatedly mentioned the amount of 10 million rubles. unaffordable for small travel companies, and the guarantee mechanism itself is legally unworkable. The head of Rostourism, Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, holds the opposite opinion, and his point of view has found understanding among the heads of some large firms - members of the RST. On November 30, representatives of these firms held a meeting with the participation of Mr. Strzhalkovsky. As a result of this meeting, a press release was issued on December 5, signed by the “Organizing Committee of the National Association of Tour Operators.” The document states that “the amount specified in the draft is necessary to ensure the financial responsibility of tour operators to consumers and the creation of a civilized market for tourism services.” It also condemns the position of the PCT and reports the adopted “decision to create a national association of tour operators.”

The next day, RCT President Sergei Shpilko published his own statement - polemically sharp, replete with rhetorical questions: “A number of large tour operators want the RCT to support without modifications the bill, which does not explain at all what risks are guaranteed. What exactly should travel agencies pay for? To remove competitors from the market? Then it really doesn’t matter in what cases the tourist will be able to receive compensation through financial guarantees.” The President also did not rule out the possibility of convening an extraordinary congress of the PCT to analyze the current situation.

As the coordinator of the organizing committee of the national association of tour operators, Vladimir Kantorovich, told Vremya Novostei yesterday, this body included the heads of the travel companies Natalie Tour, Neva, Spectrum, PAK Travel, DSBV Tours, BSI and UTS. They, like the KMP Group company headed by Mr. Kantorovich, are among the largest players in the Russian tourism market. In total, according to Mr. Kantorovich, 43 travel agencies were represented at the meeting on November 30.

Not all of these firms are members of the PCT. Those that do are divided into three groups. The first intends to maintain its membership in the PCT, the second intends to suspend its membership, and the third considers it necessary to decisively leave the old union. Mr. Kantorovich takes the latter view. “Since there are about 50 large operators, and there are more than a thousand PCT members in total, we will always be in the minority,” he explained the futility of further being in the union. True, practically steps towards organizing an alternative association or union can, according to him, be taken only after the adoption of amendments to the law “On Tourism Activities”.

Mikhail KUKUSHKIN