Page 110 - RusRPTJun19

compiled in November 2017, having overtaken Paris,” Parabuchev told TASS.
9.1.9 Tourism sector news
The number of tourists from the United States to Russia has steadily increased since relations between the two countries began to deteriorate in 2014, according to the Federal Security Service (FSB). Almost 1.4mn American citizens have visited Russia for tourist, business, and private purposes in the past five years. In the first quarter of this year, nearly 9,000 US visitors entered Russia, which is more than the same period in the previous four years. Experts believe that if Moscow and Washington manage to normalize relations, the tourist flow will increase significantly. Currently, US authorities continue to warn their citizens against traveling to Russia. Traveling to the country for tourist purposes is the most attractive for Americans, FSB data shows. Over the past five years, the number of American travelers has increased by 40%. In 2014, 162,100 US citizens visited Russia, and in 2018, that number rose to 227,700. Official ties between Moscow and Washington differ from relations between ordinary citizens, according to Alexey Chepa, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.
9.1.10 Utilities & renewables sector news
EAEU agrees to common electricity market. The countries of the Eurasian Economic Union have agreed to institute a common, deregulated market for electricity. The deal is set to enter into effect on July 1st, although there are several regulatory agreements that need to be worked out before the market can begin operating. Deregulating the electricity market will end up hurting Russia, at least in the short run. The Energy Ministry anticipates that Russian electricity companies will lose RUB135.5bn ($2bn) a year because of lower prices and excess supply in the other EAEU countries. The agreement will give Russia a new source of influence over its neighbours, however, and the upcoming deal on a single natural gas market (which is tied to this agreement) should offset some of the cost. Consensus on the deal was reached on April 30. It has now been signed and will still need to be ratified. Initially, companies will have to receive approval from national regulators in order to enter the common market. Once the natural gas agreement is signed and the technical details of the electricity market are worked out, companies will no longer need approval. All Russia’s EAEU neighbours are electricity
110 RUSSIA Country Report June 2019 www.intellinews.com