In connection with the death of a three-year-old girl in a hotel in Hurghada, Rostourism reminded tour operators of its position that air transportation of tourists from Russia to Egyptian cities with the exception of Cairo does not comply with the provisions of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation “On Certain Measures” to ensure national security of the Russian Federation and protect citizens of the Russian Federation from criminal and other unlawful acts."
As a reminder, on May 20, a girl born in 2014 died as a result of acute poisoning of Russian citizens at the Aladdin Beach Resort. "Due to the current situation, neither the staff of the Aladdin Beach Resort (Hurghada) nor its medical staff made any effort to call qualified specialists for the ailing Russians; they were not diagnosed, nor were the appropriate tests performed," Rostourism explained, noting that the Egyptian prosecutor's office is currently investigating.
"In this regard, and until the investigation is completed, the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Hurghada requests that tour operators be advised not to send tourists to the Aladdin Beach Resort (Hurghada)," Rostourism added.
The agency also noted that the sale of tourism products, which include air travel from Russia to Egyptian cities, with the exception of Cairo, does not comply with the provisions of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On Certain Measures to Ensure National Security of the Russian Federation and Protect Citizens of the Russian Federation from Criminal and Other Illegal Acts."
"Such actions by individual tour operators may pose a threat to the lives and health of Russian tourists, as they fail to protect Russian citizens from potential criminal and other illegal activities. Rostourism has sent corresponding appeals to the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation and Rospotrebnadzor," the agency emphasized.
According to experts, Rostourism didn't announce anything new in its statement. Moreover, the Presidential Decree itself isn't entirely clear whether tourists can travel to Egyptian resorts via third countries.
"Rostourism reiterated its previously stated position that any method of transporting tourists to Egypt other than direct service to Cairo, in their opinion, violates the provisions of the Decree establishing the restrictions," they explained to the TRN portal. Head of the legal agency "Persona Grata" Georgy Mokhov.
The expert emphasized that it is not entirely clear from Rostourism's statement what kind of appeal was sent to the prosecutor's office—regarding the deceased child or the transportation of tourists to Egypt not via Cairo.
"If the prosecutor's office combines these two facts and classifies the provision of services as not meeting safety requirements, they could be charged under Article 238 of the Criminal Code, 'provision of services that do not meet requirements for the safety of life or health of consumers.' As for Rostourism, they have the right, within their jurisdiction, to report threats to life and health in countries where tourists are visiting, but the Decree does not contain a clear wording, which leads to varying interpretations. If nothing happens, and everything goes on as usual, no one remembers the Decree when tourists are sent on flights via Istanbul or Israel. But if, God forbid, a tragedy occurs, one can be sure of Rostourism's position regarding tour operators," the expert emphasized.
Source: trn-news.ru