The Number of Russian Tourists in Argentina Increased by 38% in 2008

The statistics on the number of issued visas show that the number of [Russian] tourists who visited Argentina last year increased by 38%, Jose Maria Venere, Argentinean Charge D’affaires in the Russian Federation said in his interview to RIA Novotsi.

According to Mr Venere, the reports of the consular department of the Argentinean embassy in Moscow reveal that in 2008 “4910 visas were issued to the Russian citizens, which is 38% up on 2007”. Starting this Monday, the Russian tourists who wish to visit Argentina will not require a visa, since the bilateral visa-free agreement has entered into force.

The agreement will allow Russian tourists to enter, leave and be in transit in Argentina without having to apply for a visa for up to 90 days every 180 days from the date of the first entry.

The agreement scrapping bilateral visa requirements was reached during the visit of President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in December 2008, and was signed as part of the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State. At present Russian citizens can freely travel to such Latin American countries as Cuba, Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia and Venezuela. Work is underway to cancel visas with Brazil. In April, Presidents of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, and Chile, Michelle Bachelet, also discussed the agreement to cancel bilateral visa requirements.