Russia will stop issuing short-term tourist visas to visit the Kaliningrad region beginning from January 1, 2015, the regional office of the Russian Foreign Ministry has reported on its website.
"The issuance of tourist visas for a period of 72 hours to visit the Kaliningrad region stops from January 1, 2015," the report says
Irina Litvinovich, director of the Kaliningrad tour agency Vremena Goda Plus, said the decision will have no effect on incoming tourism.
"Very many tourists entered the region on short-term visas. Those who visit us get regular tourist visas," Litvinovich told Interfax.
Short-term 72-hours visas had been effective on the territory of the region sine 2002. Citizens of the countries of the Schengen area, the UK and Japan were able to get short-term tourist visas on the Kaliningrad region border at the checkpoints Bagrationovsk, Mamonovo and at the airport Khrabrovo.
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