11/08/2019 16:52

Will Mexico be simplified?

[IMG=18358-3947] This topic was discussed on the 16th of November in the Consulate of Mexico. As a BANKO correspondent found out from the tour operators of the destination who were present at the meeting, the central issue in the discussion with the Consul and its adviser were the long terms of processing visas. ‘If up till 2001 the permission to enter Mexico was given on site, within the borders of Russia, after acts of terrorism in New York now it is necessary to send an official query abroad to receive the green light. In the end the procedure takes a month or even longer. This undoubtedly restrains the demand of Russian tourists for Mexican resorts, which used to be higher before. With the simplification of the procedure, visa processing could be shortened by 2 weeks’, told us Dmitry Polyanskiy, head of the visa department of ‘Caribbean club’. In the Mexican embassy the problems of tour operators were aired and considered. ‘The ambassador promised to do everything possible if Mexico does not change its mind. The thing is the president of the country already promised to simplify the visa processing. At best permission for visa granting will be given again in Russia and its terms will be defined when submitting the documents’ – said Olga Tabakova, press-secretary of the consulate department. According to experts, the chances of positive action of the Mexican issue are good. In the aftermath of ‘Wilma’ hurricane which affected the renowned Cancun resort, there is a considerable drop pf interest of foreign tourists to holiday in Mexico. According to Tatiana Kim, manager of ‘Mexican club’, travel firms will now forward tourists to areas less affected by natural disaster: Rivierra Maya and Akapulco, which are inferior to Cancun in term of the number of hotels and the availability of nature and sightseeing. The decision of the Mexican embassy in Russia might be announced next week after a regular meeting. What is more, during the meeting another question of no small importance will be raised. Tour operator’s representatives insist that during processing visas to Mexico citizens of Russia should be saved from presenting copies of their bank statements. It confuses tourists and extra paperwork for the staff of the Mexican Consulate and travel firms.