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Finnish travel agency denies arranging tours to Crimea

Xinhua, January 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

Finnish travel agency Lahialuematkat on Wednesday denied it has plans to bring tourists to Crimea in contravention of EU sanctions.

Russian media earlier in the day reported that the company would be "finding ways to bypass EU sanctions" together with Crimean tourist officials.

Finnish national broadcaster Yle quoted Russian news agency Ria Novosti as saying that the tours could begin as early as next autumn.

Peter Holst, CEO of the travel agency, later told Yle that the Russian media reports were unfounded and incorrect.

Holst said he had attended a business seminar at Yalta, Crimea last week. He had been the only businessman from Finland.

Holst said he had been invited because he has a record of 25 years of tourism co-operation with Russia and he went to see what was being offered in the Crimean area.

Holst said his presence there did not indicate any support to the Russian authority.

Latest sanctions forbid EU operators to arrange commercial tours to Crimea. However, there are no restrictions in Finland that block a Finnish citizen from traveling to Crimea as an individual. Endit