As the Chairman of the Board of Association of lawyers of Russia Vladimir Gruzdev, in General, prepared a bill aimed at taking urgent measures to protect the economy and overcoming the consequences of the proliferation Covid-19.
“the Initiative envisages a range of measures to address a number of resulting practical questions, – said Vladimir Gruzdev. – Also envisages measures on the one hand, protecting tourists, on the other – mitigating the consequences for tour operators. The bill deals with the possibility to return the tourists paid for the tourism product funds as from the tour operator and travel agent. The government of Russia is empowered to establish the characteristics of cancellation or transfer of booking in the hotel, including the order, timing and conditions of return customers cash paid upon booking”.
According to him, the introduction of high alert or emergency, the Russian government may decide on the suspension of the obligations of tour operators to return the tourists paid their amounts. “It is completely the responsibility with the tour operators is not removed, – stressed Vladimir Gruzdev. – They will have to give the traveller an equivalent product for the prescribed period, that is, after the abolition of restrictive measures. Relevant obligations will be issued officially and be given to the person. The procedure and form of such obligations shall be established by the government.”
to Make appropriate changes to the contract and to give the tourist obligations, the tour operator will be able, subject to strict conditions, said Vladimir Gruzdev. “First of all, the program of stay, the route and conditions of travel, hotel category, meals, etc. must be equivalent to a previously acquired ticket, he says. While prices will rise, the tour operator has the right to demand from the tourist surcharge. If the tourist before the expiration of the commitments will not take advantage of the tourist product, the contract is terminated and the funds paid must be returned to the person within 10 days.”
As told in turn, a member of the Association of lawyers of Russia Asiya mukhamedshina, many tour operators and airlines to ignore the appeal to them of the Federal tourism Agency and the recent explanations of the Supreme court of Russia, and do not return money for the cancelled flight. “They often impose on the person a bonus program, or the rebooking of flights, threatening mass court appeals tourists for the realization of their legitimate right to return the money, – says Asiya mukhamedshina. – In March of this year a meeting of the Public Council of Rosturism, where on the agenda was the issue of the treatment Agency to a��aperiodical to return to the travel agencies money for tickets to countries that are not recommended”. Tourists, by law, have the right to require tour operators to return the money in case of trip cancellation. However, the current situation is an emergency, you can understand all of you, the citizens, wishing to get their money back, and tour operators with the airlines find themselves in an extremely difficult situation. The government initiative to develop measures to resolve difficulties.
“Another innovation is that the Russian government will have the right, with the introduction of high alert or emergency to determine the peculiarities of changes and termination of the contract of carriage of the passenger and refund the fares of the passenger and baggage, – says the Chairman of the Board of AYUR Vladimir Gruzdev. – Developed the initiative offers comprehensive system solutions to issues arising from the pandemic in many areas. The measures will help businesses to overcome complexity and along with other measures will contribute to the improvement of the economy after the pandemic.”
the Rules will provide for including airlines in an emergency to unilaterally change the terms of the contract with a passenger or to refuse to execute it (i.e. flight), and paid back for unused air carriage amount to the passenger in the manner and terms set by the government.
