WASHINGTON, August 14 (RIA Novosti) – During the daily US State Department briefing on Thursday, deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was the only Russian tourist in Crimea this summer.
“From what I hear, he is the only tourist who has actually gone there this summer,” Harf said commenting on Putin’s trip to Crimea.
“Tourism industry completely plummeted after Russian invasion, people are not going there,” the US State Department representative added.
At least two million tourists have come to Crimea in 2014, according to Crimean authorities. The number is expected to reach three million late August. Number of Russian tourists rose by one-third compared to previous years.
Crimea refused to recognize the legitimacy of the government in Kiev that seized power as a result of a coup in February and rejoined Russia after a referendum held in March, with 96 percent of voters in the region backing the motion.
