Kerala to deploy Russian-speaking guides

Russian tour operators seek reduction in visa fees

Update: 2015-09-25 01:53 GMT
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ALAPPUZHA: Kerala Tourism will ensure the  availability of ‘Russian -speaking guides’ for the benefit of Russian tourists.  The decision  follows a meeting held in  Russia when the   Russian backpackers expressed concerns over the lack of such guides.
 
The department  would maintain a special online facility giving the  details of all ‘Russian guides’ in the state.  It had  campaigned aggressively at OTDYKH Leisure, a leading international trade fair for travel and tourism, held in Moscow last week.
 
According to Mr P.I. Sheikh Pareeth, director, Kerala Tourism,  a list of Russian guides would be published on the  Russian language version website.  There are at least 59 official guides in the state.
 
The Russian tour operators had also sought reduction in the visa fees and the airport fee  on chartered flights from Russia. These would be taken up with the  authorities concerned.  
 
However, no chartered flights from Russia had come to the state last year though  in 2013, there were 17.
 
Tomi Pulickattil, a  houseboat owner here, points out that quality tourist guides were not available now.  
 
There were five chartered companies bringing in European tourists till 2009. But they  have currently diverted their services to lucrative destinations like  Goa.
 
Kerala’s  aggressive campaigns  could revive the  Russian chartered flights, he says.  According to the department data, the total number of Russians who visited the  state  last year was  35,010,  up from 32,000 in 2013.

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