News Flash

In December 2012, one Russia’s leading tour operators, Russian Express bought out Megapolus Tours, which was previously part of Kuoni. Megapolus is one of the leading companies in Russia for the FIT segment. Kuoni bought it in 2007, but after its withdrawal from the charter market in 2010, as it was seen as being too high risk, the company no longer appeared profitable. Megapolus is not the first Russian company to be bought back by Russians after it was purchased by a foreign travel company, this was also the case with Ascent Travel which was purchased by the Swiss holding, Hoteplan Group, but later sold it off to a Russian investor.

However this is not true of all Russian tour operators who were purchased by foreign companies, TUI Russia and Ukraine, is now the 2nd largest Tour operators in the Russian market and not in hurry to sell its shares back to anyway, perhaps the success is partly due to the fact that this is a joint venture rather than a full buy out.