Letters to the Editor

To the Editors:

In your last issue of Russian Life, in the Facts and Figures section, you mention that the number of foreign tourists in Russia fell in the last few years by 300,000.  I am surprised that the tourism fell ONLY by 300,000!!!!

...I recently returned from a cruise to Scandinavia which included St. Petersburg... If one takes the tours offered by the cruise line, there is no requirement for a visa and no problems to get out of port once you have the tour ticket... If one wants to explore the city on one’s own, one has to get a visa ($196.00), the Russian government DEMANDS that one has to have contact with a local accredited tourist agency in order to get out of the port.  When all the documentation is presented, then one is allowed to leave....