Russia eases border restrictions, discusses measures to develop tourism

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has announced steps to ease border restrictions, allowing its citizens to travel, amid the sustained rise in coronavirus cases.

During a televised meeting, Mishustin said that an order has been signed to allow Russian nationals to leave the country for work, study or take care of sick relatives. The main agenda of the meeting was to discuss the measures to develop tourism, the opening of the holiday season, and the finalisation of the national plan for economic recovery.

Highlighting the impact of coronavirus on the tourism industry, the Russian Prime Minister said that the industry is not only one of the most affected, but also one of the most promising. He asserted that its potential is extremely high and the government is confident about the demand for domestic tourism.

Mishustin said that the nationwide action presented to President Vladimir Putin on the restoration of employment and incomes, economic growth and long-term structural changes are being finalised. He emphasised that the first priority of the government is to restore employment, adding that it is necessary to start a new, full-fledged investment cycle for sustainable income growth.

Mishustin assured that the government will continue to support citizens who are unemployed due to the pandemic and said the minimum unemployment benefit from May 2020 to July 2020 will be tripled. He announced that individual entrepreneurs who were forced to stop their activities from March will receive unemployment benefits.