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New Years Trips Will Have Fuel Surcharge
The Russian Union of Travel Industry issued a statement yesterday about price increases. Due to “the daily growth in the price” of airplane fuel, tour operators have been forced to take the extreme measure of demanding an additional payment, even from tourists who have already paid for their tours. The payment will be $100-200. “Never has the growth of prices for airplane fuel been so concentrated in such a short interval of time,” commented RUTI press secretary Irina Tyurina. She cited flights to Sharm-el-Sheikh and Hurgada, resorts on the Red Sea in Egypt popular with Russians, where fuel prices rise 10-15 percent every ten days.
The price of a ton of kerosene is now over $1000 and it continues to rise. Airlines are raising ticket prices as well. After December 15, the price of a Tansaero ticket to Thailand will rise $90, to Cuba $115, to Goa $65 and to Dubai $50. Tour packages to the United Arab Emirates have risen $60-80, to Europe ˆ30-40 and to Thailand $100-120.
Tyurina pointed out that, under the law “On the Bases of Tourist Activities,” tourists have the right to break their contracts over “unforeseen growth of transport expenses,” but she warns that the fines for breaking the contract will likely exceed the size of the surcharge. Tour operators also say that the price of New Years trips, which are extremely popular with Russians, will continue to grow.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 07, 2007
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