Russia plans to legally restrict the return of foreign accommodation booking platforms to its market due to concerns about monopoly and unlimited access to user data. The president of the Association of Travel Agencies, Aleksandr Bragin, warns that the return of large foreign companies like Booking.com could lead to a renewed monopoly and privacy risks for users. Russian companies have replaced foreign platforms over the past three years and invested significant resources in developing competition. The proposal is to legally prevent the return of foreign players to preserve the success of the domestic market. This position was presented before the Russian parliamentary committee and at the International Tourism Forum “Let’s Travel”.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the protection of domestic businesses and privacy rights of users, highlighting the risks of monopolies by large foreign corporations and the importance of supporting local companies that have invested in the market.
Center: Centrist sources report the facts of the Russian government’s intention to legally restrict foreign booking platforms, noting the balance between market competition and national security concerns, and the economic impact of foreign companies’ dominance.
Right: Right-leaning sources focus on national sovereignty and security, stressing the need to protect Russian data and market from foreign influence and control, framing the move as a defense against Western economic dominance and potential espionage.
