At least 2,000 Russian tourists are stranded after Lanta-Tur Voyage, one of the country's biggest tour operators, went bankrupt, Interfax reported.

Lanta-Tur, which has been in business since 1991, said on its website that it halted operations because of a lack of funds.

At least 1,500 clients are stranded in Thailand and 500 in Goa, India, Interfax reported Saturday, citing the Federal Tourism Agency.

Local Russian officials were working over the weekend to help them return to Russia, the report said.

The agency appealed to the UN World Tourism Organization to help assist the tourists get home, RIA-Novosti reported.

Lanta-Tur, which sold foreign tours to about 100,000 Russians last year, was working with more than 8,000 travelers when it went bankrupt, Interfax said.

(MT)