The gradual recovery of the strained diplomatic relations between Turkey and Russia following the downing of the Russian fighter jet over Syrian airspace in 2015 could have a negative impact on the Greek tourism industry, analysts believe. After Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to lift the ban on tour packages to Turkey, market pundits predict a drop in the Greek market from Russian tourists. An indication of this is that in only the first two days of July the volume of tour package bookings to Greece from Russia dropped by 30%, according to CEO of tour operator Ambotis, Vitaly Stamatov. However, Stamatov noted that bookings were back to normal on Monday. Analysts in the tourism industry believe that Russians will adopt a cautious stance regarding their holiday destination. ‘I believe that there will be a shift by Russians from Greece to Turkey, but it will not be on mass scale, as most have already planned their holidays’, Stamatov predicted. Before Russia had lifted the organised travel package ban to Turkey, pundits estimated a 30% rise in tour packages to Greece from Russia. According to Mouzenidis Travel general manager, Alexander Tsantekidis, the drop of Russian arrivals to Greece compared to the initial projections prior the lifting of the ban is estimated around 10%.