Hungary from Tuesday to open for vaccinated Russian tourists

The Hungarian authorities will allow Russian tourists with a coronavirus vaccine to freely come to the country from July 27, no additional testing will be required. informs Portfolio newspaper with reference to the country’s Foreign Minister Peter Siyarto. The Minister noted that Russia and Hungary have resumed flights on the basis of reciprocity. The same goes for the reception of citizens.

“Several weeks ago, the Russian Federation resumed issuing business and tourist visas to Hungarians. They need a PCR test to visit the country. We, in turn, allow a visit to Hungary, provided that tourists are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, ”he explained.

Hungary became the first EU country to approve the use of the Sputnik V vaccine, and also purchased the drug from Russia.

Tourists without vaccinations will need a PCR test done no earlier than three days before the trip. You will also have to go through a ten-day quarantine, which can be completed ahead of schedule if the tests done during self-isolation are negative, transfers Interfax.

Tourism has been hit harder than other sectors of the Hungarian economy due to the coronavirus pandemic and country-imposed restrictions, Portfolio reports. In addition, the authorities are counting on an active demand for travel from Russian tourists, since in the dock times the country was a popular holiday destination among citizens of the Russian Federation.

Russia resumed flights with Hungary on June 10. Flights on the Moscow – Budapest route are operated by Aeroflot and Wizz Air.

The second EU country to approve the Sputnik V vaccine is Slovakia. However, this decision, taken in March, caused a political scandal. Prime Minister of Slovakia Igor Matovic decided to buy the Russian vaccine, although the drug has not yet been approved by the Slovak or European regulator. This move angered the country’s president, Zuzana Chaputova, and a split occurred in the ruling coalition.

Vaccination with Sputnik V in Slovakia began in June, but the authorities soon announced the curtailment of the program by the end of the month. Slovakia purchased a Russian drug for vaccination of 100 thousand people, and only 10 thousand people signed up for vaccination.