The opening up of Eastern Europe means more and more business men want
to travel to new markets. Raymond Duncan reports on a new venture
designed to smooth their path.
A''WHOLE new ball game'': that is how Chris Topliss of London-based
business travel specialists Multitours describes travelling to Russia
and Eastern Europe today.
And his Scots-born colleague Stuart MacPherson maintains: ''It's not
quite so much cloak and dagger; it's all about pounds and pennies now.''
The two men may have phrased it differently but the sentiment is the
same.
The obstacles and red tape that might have been encountered some years
ago in making a trip to the former Soviet Union have diminished, and the
opportunities for trade links between companies, like those for the
leisure traveller, have greatly increased.
The rise in the number of inquiries from UK businesses for visas and
travel to Russia and Eastern Europe has led to more and more links being
forged.
Because of an expansion in interest from companies north of the
border, Multitours has opened its first Scottish office to provide a
comprehensive visa service for the country's business community.
MacPherson, who worked in the company's office in the South for three
years, has returned to Scotland to head the new facility, whose official
opening was carried out by G N Lazutkin, newly appointed Consul-General
for the Russian Federation in Edinburgh.
Multitours Scotland, located only minutes from the Consulate in the
city's Rutland Square, is offering a visa procurement service; visa
support from a Russian company for those without established
partnerships in Russia; advice and support on obtaining multi-entry
visas, and support for extension applications.
Although primarily a visa office, the premises also have the full
back-up facilities of the London HQ, where a new specialist business
travel team was formed less than a year ago.
Multitours has recently signed an exclusive accommodation deal with
Moscow's International Trade Centre on the banks of the River Moskva.
The Mezhdunarodnaya Centre, known by many in the business world as
''the Mezh'', is one of Moscow's key business venues. Many Western firms
are based in its skyscraper office block, which also houses a modern
four-star hotel.
With that kind of back-up, MacPherson, who comes from Bishopbriggs, is
confident of success in the Scottish venture, especially with a growing
demand from businesses for trade links with Russia and the involvement
of organisations such the various Chambers of Commerce and Scottish
Enterprise.
''Until now the only place you could get a visa was through the
Russian Consulate in London or a company similar to ourselves in London
providing that service,'' he says.
''We have had a good working and trading relationship with the
consulate in London and it is a natural progression for us to come up to
Scotland.''
Initially, the task facing him is to make businesses aware of the
Scottish service and that will make it easier and faster to obtain
visas.
''I always think it is nicer to deal with someone locally rather than
speaking to someone on the other end of a phone in London. Having a
service that is local, efficient, and easy to deal with is a bonus for
both parties.''
Topliss, who is Multitours Russia General Manager, is surprised but
delighted at the initial reaction to the Scottish operation.
While it opened primarily as a visa office, the company now plans to
expand it into a full travel office. ''It has been an eye-opener,'' he
adds.
He believes Scotland has been neglected as far as companies
specialising in travel to Russia and Eastern Europe are concerned.
''There is a lot of business coming from Scotland,'' he says, with
particular reference to the oil and whisky industries.
''There is also great interest in Scottish knitwear, which is regarded
very highly. It's not unusual to see a well-dressed Russian walking down
Gorky Street wearing a Pringle sweater.''
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