Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has presented a plan to the government to reduce the number of Russian tourists in the country. The plan is to issue fewer tourist visas in favor of visas for students and family members of residents in the country.
The tourism category may be limited in terms of how many visas can be applied for in one day, says Haavisto.
Since Russia lifted travel restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic this summer, the flow of Russian tourists to Finland has increased significantly. The fact that Russian tourists are shopping in Finland at the same time as Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine has upset both politicians and ordinary Finns.
Finland is also considered to have become a transit country for Russians who want to continue in Europe, as flights from Russia have been stopped by sanctions. However, Schengen rules and Finnish law do not allow Finland to completely stop issuing tourist visas to Russians.
The issue will also be raised at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers, to coordinate measures, Haavisto says.
Source:TT-Aftonbladet.se
