With the rollout of Russia’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, a travel agency has reportedly jumped onto the vaccine tourism bandwagon to provide trips to the Eurasian nation—that includes two jabs—at INR 1.29 lakhs. By Bayar Jain
Keeping in mind the growing demand to get inoculated at the earliest, a travel company named Arabian Nights Tours has reportedly kickstarted vaccine tourism to Russia, states The Times of India. As per the report, the 24-day package includes two jabs of the Eurasian country’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, along with tours of the capital city Moscow between both the shots.
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Vaccine tourism to Russia – What you need to know
Priced at INR 1.29 lakhs, this vaccine tourism package reportedly includes Aeroflat flight tickets from New Delhi; breakfast and dinner; accommodation in a three-star hotel in St Petersburg and Moscow; return train tickets from Moscow to St Petersburg; and a few sightseeing spots. However, the INR 10,000 visa fee is not included.
Speaking to India Today about this package, the travel agency claims that the first Russia-bound batch will leave India on May 29 with 28 passengers. The following batches will reportedly depart on June 7 and June 15, respectively. However, Economic Times reports that this package is already sold out. A large reason for this instant surge in bookings, the report states, is due to the vaccine shortage in India.
Notably, many other countries—such as the Maldives and USA’s New York—kickstarted similar vaccine tourism packages in the first wave; while India, too, has started inoculation drives for all legal adults in the country.
Editor’s Note: Keeping the current situation of the pandemic in mind, T+L India recommends every reader to stay safe, and take all government-regulated precautions in case travel at this time is absolutely necessary. Please follow our stories on COVID-19 for all the latest travel guidelines.
Related: This Mumbai-Based Travel Firm Has Come Up With A COVID Vaccine Tourism Package
