Russia opens up for yachting
Russia aims at drawing more sailing tourists and opens up Russian waters for sailing boats and yachts under foreign flag.
Russia has a well-developed network of canals and a myriad of navigable rivers, but so far few foreigners have explored the possibilities the country has to offer sailing tourists.
It normally takes about three months to get a permit to sail in Russian waters with a yacht or sailing boat under foreign flag. One has to apply to the Ministry of Transport and get approvals from nearly ten other organs like the Foreign Ministry, FSB and Ministry of Defense, Russian Business Consulting writes.
The Russian National Sailing Federation (VFPS), Ministry of Transport and the State Duma’s Committee for Transport all agree that the rules must change if Russia is to become more attractive for sailing tourists.
A draft bill on changes to the Law on Transport on Internal Waters is now being discussed by the Russian Government. The involved parties hope that the bill will be carried within the end of the State Duma’s spring session.
- A solution of this problem would give a boost to tourism both in coastal towns as well as in the inland. It will create new jobs and help develop the regions, says Head of the VFPS and Governor of Tver Oblast Dmitry Zelenin. He adds that the application procedure should take no more than a week.
The new law will concern boats under foreign flag with maximum 18 persons on board.
