Tourism chats and news

🐪 Russian tourists continue to choose Paris and Milan. In France, they often even issue five-year Schengen visas, while refusals for Italy are rare when the application is complete. Spain and Hungary are also popular destinations. Processing times depend on the season: in autumn and February, they are sometimes reduced to less than three weeks. At the same time, on October 14 the European Union will discuss restrictions for Russian citizens. These include visas with territorial restrictions, Germany's proposal to harmonize the rules, and measures in a new sanctions package. This could complicate bus tours, cruises and trips across several countries. Tour operators are especially watching decisions by Italy, France, Spain and Greece. A complete ban is not considered likely for now, but tighter rules could make visas less accessible and increase processing times. • chats for 150+ countries worldwide • tourism news