Russian tourists stuck in Hainan return home

More than 360 Russian tourists stranded in Hainan since Nov 8 due to a debt dispute between Russian travel agencies and an airline left Haikou Meilan International Airport for home by Russia's IrAero Airlines on Tuesday at noon, according to a Xinhua report.

Relevant departments of Hainan provincial government and Sanya municipal government assisted in coordinating the tourists' return.

Russian media recently incorrectly reported that nearly 1,500 Russian tourists were stranded on Hainan Island.

Actually, more than 1,100 Russian tourists are enjoying their holidays in Hainan as normal, with only 369 tourists from Russian Kazan who were scheduled to leave Hainan for home on Saturday left stuck on the tropical island because IrAero Airlines refused to transport them due to a debt dispute between the airline and Russian travel agencies, said officials with Hainan's provincial tourism authorities.

To ensure the Russian tourists returned home as soon as possible, Hainan provincial and Sanya municipal governments actively contacted Russian national tourism authorities and led coordination between the Russian airline and travel agencies to fulfill their corresponding responsibilities.

Hainan local travel agencies provided free accommodation and scenic spot tour services for the stranded tourists during their stay in Hainan since Dec 8, the date when they had planned to return, said Tang Sixian, an official with Sanya tourism authorities.

Authorities have contacted other Russian tourists who planned to fly back by IrAero Airlines, providing them with flight information to ensure they continue their holiday at ease, said Tang. He added that most of the 1,100 Russian tourists who are traveling in Sanya will gradually return home, as scheduled, starting next week.