A total of 417 Russian tourists arrived on the island of Margarita, in northeastern Venezuela, on Saturday, after seven months of interruption of the connection due to the air restrictions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
The travelers arrived aboard a charter flight from the Russian airline Nordwind, which had been working for months to operate a “neutral” route avoiding the airspace of the United States and Europe, according to Touristik springin charge of offering tourist packages in Russia.
The route was prepared “carefully” by the tour operator and the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency. The company also had to process and coordinate a series of permits that lasted “throughout the summer,” the Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOR) reported in September.
Russians in Margarita! Venezuela stands out as one of the most desirable destinations for tourists from around the world. pic.twitter.com/sqHBWM3kav
— Michel Caballero Palma (@MichelCaballero) October 2, 2022
Russian tourists arrive in Venezuela
The flight with the Russian tourists was greeted with the ceremonial water salute, AFP found.
Most of the tourists got off the aircraft wearing fall coats.
Nordwind opened a direct route between Moscow and Margarita Island in August 2021, which made the destination popular among Russians thanks to the vacation packages that local tour operators began to offer.
But seven months ago the connection was interrupted due to international sanctions imposed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia and Venezuela maintained connection these months thanks to the direct route between Caracas and Moscow of the state company Conviasa.
The Venezuelan government expects to receive some 100,000 Russian tourists before December after the reopening of the connection between the island and Moscow, which it estimates will reach a frequency of five weekly flights.
Moscow has been a key ally of Venezuela since the government of the late President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013). The closeness continued with Maduro who, through this relationship, has been able to avoid sanctions against his government.