- Vadim Grigorievich, your company is rightfully considered one of the oldest in the tourism market of Ukraine. Would you share the secret of how you manage to maintain your position for so many years?
- Indeed, we have been working since 1990. “Kievvneshtur” is one of the first private tourist companies in Ukraine. It so happened that tourism has always been my life’s work. My personal experience in tourism is 26 years, starting with my work as a guide-interpreter at the Bureau of International Youth Tourism “Sputnik” from my first year at university to this day. My professional experience also includes a year and a half of work as First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism of Ukraine. What is the secret of our stable position in the market? Let’s start with the fact that we have never followed beaten paths; we have always been interested in finding some new directions. We were the first to open Greece, Austria, and India to Ukrainian tourists, and were among the first to seriously work with America. But the main feature of our company can be considered that we always try to do what no one else does. As the country’s economy developed, we sought to do something more advanced, more interesting, and gradually defined our own path. We began making custom tours. There are very few such companies. If mass tourism companies can be conditionally compared to a department store, then we are a boutique. We never persuade a tourist to fly somewhere we need, because we have purchased tickets and need to fill the group. We simply ask the client: “What do you want? We can arrange your trip there, then, and in the way you wish.”
- But, probably, this is very expensive?
- The price difference from mass tours is small. But then a person gets what they want. Now there has formed a class of people who truly appreciate an individual approach to their needs. This is especially important for business tourism and individual recreation. Our clients are approximately 0.3% of the population, but they are loyal to us. They know what they get from us. Our agency’s specialization is working with corporate and VIP clients. These are large and medium-sized national companies, ministries and departments, sports federations, as well as international companies. Our clients’ specialization may also be the sale of apartments and consulting services in the business sphere. But we treat each of them with equal attention.
- And can your client really fly to any point on the globe?
- Of course! And moreover, to fly on the day he chooses and stay in the hotel he chooses. We can practically do everything in any country. Say, you want to live in Valencia on some street of your choosing. Please! Our partners are more than 20,000 hotels in 90 countries. We select a hotel for you online, that is, practically within a few minutes. Our office is equipped with its own airline and railway ticket offices; we issue medical insurance. A person leaves us with the entire package of documents necessary for his trip. We try to provide everything, down to the smallest details. For example, if a client does not have a photo, we will photograph him in our office. By the way, we can arrange a trip in a fairly short time. Many of our clients have multi-entry visas, so you can practically set off on a trip the very next day.
- You mentioned that your company has long been organizing trips to America. Could you elaborate on this line of work?
- We have been dealing with America for about seven years. The main problem is visas. There were periods of very warm relations, then severe “freezes” came when almost no one was given a visa. Now the situation is gradually improving. But the whole trouble is that the issuance of an American visa is very subjective. In other words, everything depends on the opinion of a particular visa officer. In 2002, the State Committee for Tourism of Ukraine formed a support group for the Olympics in Salt Lake City. Not a single person out of fifty received a visa! And among them were famous athletes, coaches, honored sports workers. Although, to tell the truth, there is a share of the blame on our, Ukrainian, side. Such refusals are sometimes justified, because often dealers of the “visa business” under the guise of respected institutions try, with the help of modern technical means, to fabricate a letter with visa support. Someone even told me that for such so-called “notes” from our organizations, a “Board of Laughter” hangs in the consulate.
Moreover, visa officers are guided by a law that requires them to see in every visa applicant a potential immigrant. This means that entry to America is practically closed to all low-income citizens. For example, here is a case that one employee of the consular department told me about. When she worked in Moscow, a man once came to her for a visa, and in his application form, in the “work” field, it said “unemployed.” Well, of course, he was immediately refused. And later it turned out that the refusal was received by... the former Prime Minister of Russia, Yegor Gaidar. This happened soon after his resignation, and he was indeed unemployed at that time. Of course, such an error was quickly corrected...
No one can influence the work of the consular service. Neither the ambassador, nor a senator - no one. The issue of establishing visa relations can be resolved only at the state level, and in no other way. Here's another case. One of our former ambassadors to America, while performing diplomatic duties, decided to invite his old university friend to visit and sent him an invitation. The friend came to the consular department to apply for a visa and was refused. Upon returning to Ukraine, our ambassador paid a visit to his colleague, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, and mentioned this case in conversation. The latter was indignant: that cannot be, we will fix this unfortunate misunderstanding! He immediately called the consular department and gave appropriate instructions. Our ambassador informed his friend that the visa issue was resolved. The friend came to the consulate again, stood in line, paid, and... received a second refusal.
- Is this kind of attitude only toward citizens of post-Soviet countries?
- Apparently, yes. But American visa officers generally try to behave tough and independent. They are almost never reprimanded if they refuse someone a visa. But if they issue a visa without justification, then...
Problems happen not only for citizens of Ukraine or countries of the former Soviet Union. My friend, an Austrian banker, told me about his trip to America. When he arrived in the USA and approached the visa officer at the airport, the officer asked him: “Why did you come here?” Such phrasing shocked the European. Apparently, the meaning of the question was: “What is the purpose of your visit?” But Americans are not used to being overly ceremonious. My friend was simply taken aback. Then he thought and answered: “Well, now I myself don't know why...”
- Is this attitude only toward individual citizens, or is the attitude toward Ukrainian firms not any better?
- It is very unpleasant that in every Ukrainian company, consular service employees see fraudsters. Someone somewhere did something wrong - and they “cross out” the whole country from the list of reliable ones! Here is a concrete example. As you know, the airline “Aerosvit” began operating regular direct flights Kyiv - New York - Kyiv and invited employees of leading Ukrainian airline ticket sales agencies on a three-day promotional tour. Our manager was also on the list of invitees. And unexpectedly, he was refused a visa. The reason given was: “We have no complaints against you, but you work for a bad company.” And why are we bad? Apparently because one of our company's offices is located next to the consulate and provides consulting to Ukrainian citizens on U.S. immigration law. You know, now to try to get an American visa, you have to pay $100 to enter the consulate. If refused, the money is not refunded. Previously, you could apply for a visa again only after a year. Now even tomorrow, please. Can you imagine how many people spend their often last money on such useless visits?
- And why did you get into consulting in this field?
- The fact is that we simply consider it our duty to help our citizens understand this issue. Many firms have appeared that promise work in the USA. At the same time, they allegedly guarantee obtaining an American visa. The cost of their “services” sometimes reaches $400-500, not counting the visa. I want to emphasize: no one can guarantee you an American visa, and you should not fall for such promises. Pay no attention to “impressive” stamps and loud words in advertisements. There are no guarantees either of obtaining a visa or of employment in America. All that a person gets for that money is, as a rule, a fictitious invitation, which visa officers immediately “see through.” Very often people pay fraudsters their last money, so sometimes situations become tragic.
Those who have been refused often come to us. We handle appeals, and here we have very good results. Apparently, in this case, consular service employees have time to more carefully read what is stated, reflect on it, and possibly change their decision. Generally, a refusal is bad. The fact is that when you apply again, you will definitely be asked: “What has changed in your case?” And these changes must be very significant, otherwise you pay another $100 and get a refusal again.
Many of our citizens are highly qualified specialists, the intellectual elite. That is why we consider it our duty to help them by explaining all the problems that may await them. This is especially important, I believe, for those who are not from Kyiv. Before giving away your last money to someone, it is better to come and get a consultation. We always explain the requirements for entering America and always warn if your chances of getting a visa are low. We, in fact, do not make money on this, since the cost of a consultation is ten times lower than the price of entering the embassy. Currently, we are actually the only firm in Ukraine that provides such consulting. And although our main activity is providing the widest range of travel services worldwide, we consider such consulting our civic and human duty. We work with everyone: both with businessmen planning a business trip, and with ordinary citizens who are going to visit relatives abroad. And in this, by the way, our main working principle is once again demonstrated - an individual approach to each client.