Russian tourists who have already paid for trips to Egypt, Thailand, and Vietnam are in for an unpleasant surprise. Due to the increase in fuel surcharges, airlines have begun issuing additional invoices to tour operators for flights on the nearest dates. As a result, the cost of already purchased tours may increase.
According to ATOR, citing tour operators, the average surcharge per person ranges from $57 to $161, depending on the destination. On some routes, it exceeds $200. At the same time, new invoices are coming for tickets that have already been fully paid for and issued to tourists.
Tour operators explain this by the terms of the contract, which stipulate the right to change the cost of the tourism product in the event of an unforeseen increase in transport tariffs. They also refer to the industry law (132-FZ), which allows for price adjustments in the event of a significant change in circumstances.
Tourists are offered three options: pay extra and go, get a refund (without penalties), or transfer the paid funds to a new application. Experts note that this is a direct consequence of the Middle East crisis, which has already begun to affect the Russian tourism industry.
