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Some Russian tourists have reversed plans to travel to Turkey after Monday's blasts in Anatlya, Russian Tourist Industry Union spokesperson Irina Tyurina told Interfax on Tuesday morning.
"Several vouchers have been given back to travel agencies after reports arrived about the Antalya blasts," she said.
Antalya is the most popular Turkish holiday resort among Russian tourists, followed by Marmaris, Kusadasi and Bodrum, she added.
"The Russia tourist market seemed unstirred by reports about the Marmaris blasts. But no reservations were made yesterday and first tourists returned their vouchers after reports arrived about the blasts in Antalya," she said.
Tyurina announced that players on the Russia tourism market are split over how demand will be affected for this destination. "Some think the situation will get back to usual in a few days, while others fear that the blasts will disrupt the season," Tyurina said.
Concerning Russian travel agencies' likely financial losses, she said, "travel operators are under no obligation to refund the entire value of the tour." "Judging by the experience, travel agencies which cherish their reputation will refund the tours partially over 'the worsened circumstances of the tour,' but legally they are not obliged to do so," she said
"In any case, the court will side with the client as the more vulnerable party and will rule against the travel agency," she added.
Russia's Consul General in Antalya Sergei Alifanov reported on Monday evening that Russian citizens Dmitry Maximov and Olga Perevezentseva had been injured in the blasts. "Dmitry Maximov, born in Khimki near Moscow in 1976, suffered an arm injury and Olga Perevezentseva, born in Balashikha in 1980, was hit by the shockwave," Alifanov told Interfax. Turkish media reported that four had been killed in the blasts and dozens wounded.
Earlier on Monday three blasts hit the Turkish holiday resort of Marmaris and another - Istanbul, in which 27 people suffered injuries, among them ten British tourists.
The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, an offshoot of the Workers' Party of Kurdistan, banned in Turkey, has claimed responsibility for the blasts. sd
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