The 19th package of sanctions approved by the European Union on 23 October against Russia is the cause of the latest disruption in the travel sector. For the first time, these sanctions include restrictions specifically targeting the travel services sector.
According to the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association (ECTAA)—of which the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA), a member of FedHATTA, is also a member—among the new measures is a restriction on the provision of services directly linked to tourism activities in Russia.
This affects travel companies based in the European Union, including airlines, travel agencies, and tour operators, that sell or bundle travel services involving:
- Transport to and/or within Russia,
- Accommodation in hotels, and
Organized tours and other tourism services provided in Russian territory.
According to a related legal opinion obtained by ECTAA, travel intermediaries face a high risk of violating the prohibition if they sell trips or individual services related to Russia, as the ban is immediately enforceable.
As a result, European—and Greek—travel agencies are compelled to halt services to Russia, entering yet another period of uncertainty regarding their viability.
The regulation states that these new sanctions are imposed “to reduce the revenue that Russia derives from such services and to prevent the promotion of non-essential travel and leisure activities in Russia, particularly in a context where EU nationals face an increased risk of arbitrary detention and where consular protection for dual citizens is limited.”
Lysandros Tsilidis, President of FedHATTA, commented:
*"Each time new prohibitive directives are issued, they automatically create another exclusion for businesses operating in the affected markets. Consequently, the risk of many Greek travel agencies closing is real. Once again, the Greek travel agency sector is confronted with an extremely strict measure that it is obliged to follow.
However, the authorities must finally recognize that, since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine—which caused significant losses for organized tourism—many of the sector’s substantive requests remain unaddressed."*
According to Council Regulation 2025/2033, services considered directly linked to tourism activities include:
- Travel agency and tour operator services
- Travel information, consulting, and planning services
- Organization of tours, accommodation, and passenger and luggage transport
- Ticket issuance
- Guiding services
- Advertising services related to the above
