Tour Operators Pledge Swift Refunds for Canceled Middle East Trips

MOSCOW, March 5 – Russian tour operators are moving to process refunds for canceled trips to the Middle East, though they caution that handling the volume of requests will take time. Maya Lomidze, head of the Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), stated the industry has no incentive to delay repayments to travelers.

The comments follow official government advisories labeling several Middle East nations as unsafe for travel. Operators are legally required to provide full refunds to clients who choose not to rebook to alternative destinations. Lomidze acknowledged that, strictly speaking, a full refund without penalty requires a court order. However, she emphasized that operators want to avoid litigation and the extra costs it entails.

"Tour operators are absolutely not interested in dragging this out or going to court," Lomidze said during a Thursday press conference. "All cancellation requests will be reviewed."

She explained that operators have published processing schedules on their websites to manage the significant number of affected bookings. According to market estimates Lomidze cited, only about 15% of travelers with paid trips to the region are opting for cash refunds, with the majority selecting other destinations. She noted that tens of thousands of tours to the UAE alone are booked through the end of the year.