‘Getting all the papers needed for a trip to Germany is ever-hard in Yekaterinburg, this is why almost no local travel agents offer trips there,’ Fond Mira Travel Company said to UrBC representative.

‘The thing is, the German Consulate in Moscow is very reluctant to offer visas to Yekaterinburg companies as, theoretically, we have our own consulate; however, in practice, this consulate does not issue any visas. This has been going on for over two years now, which makes the performance of the local market player difficult,’ the company’s spokesperson said.

The German Consulate introduced some new tourist visa application requirements on December 18, 2006.