Tour firms push vaccine-cum-leisure trips to Russia despite tough new norms

While Russia allows entry to Indians and doesn't have quarantine requirements, it has prohibited private clinics in Moscow from jabbing foreign tourists

Russia has made it harder for foreign tourists to get vaccinated in the country but this hasn't deterred travel companies to promote trips with a promise of Sputnik jab.

While wealthy Indians dashed to Dubai in private jets for a Pfizer jab, tour operators have been selling leisure trips to Russia complete with sight seeing  and two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.  

After one such travel advertisement caught attention of Russian authorities, rules were made strict to discourage vaccine tourism. From April 21, private clinics in Moscow have been prohibited from vaccinating foreign tourists.

Travel companies however are going ahead with