A Russian official has criticized a recent decision of the Finnish authorities to abolish visa application facilitations for Russian citizens, asserting they may have a negative impact on the interest of Russian tourists to the country.

The Deputy Head of Federal Agency on tourism “Rosturizm” Sergey Korneev told Russian media that Russian citizens may lose the interest in applying for visas to Finland after the latter brought back EU Visa code criteria.

“Finland, because of the proximity was the first country of entry to obtain visa and travel to other countries. This interest first entry will partially leave,” he explained.

On August 1, the Russian authorities announced that the Finish authorities in Russia would no longer provide Russian citizens with facilities when applying for a short-term visa to the Schengen Area. The move as announced by a statement published in the official website of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“As of 1 September 2019, the Embassy of Finland in Moscow, Finland’s Consulate General in St Petersburg and the offices in Petrozavodsk and Murmansk will follow the common EU visa policy concerning supporting documents to visa applications,” the notice reads.

So far, Finland has required fewer supporting documents from Russian applicants, compared to the rest of the Schengen member countries. Detailed documents have been required only in specific cases.

However, starting from September and on Russians traveling for tourism and other private purposes, will need to submit a detailed travel itinerary, and evidence they have the required financial means to support their stay in Finland, and the other Schengen countries they plan to visit.

The decision was later criticized by the former interior minister of Finland Kai Mykkänen (NCP), who among others asked on social media whether “requiring pay slips and hotel forms create more security or bureaucracy?”