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The incoming tourist flow to Russia is 8,5% lower in 2009

According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, 2,100.6 foreign citizens came to Russia with the purpose of tourism - on 8,5% less than in previous year year. Otherwise, our country was194.5 thousand tourists short.

The largest percentage decline (-25.6%) from the main incoming markets showed South Korea. Denmark occupies the second place (-23.4) and it is  followed by Italy (-21%). Fewer tourists came from Norway (-18.7%), Australia (-14%), Japan (-11.5%), Spain (-10%), Netherlands (-10%), China (-8.9%), France (-8.7%), Belgium (-8.5%).

The more or less stable incoming flow is from Germany, USA, Greece, Canada.

But there are markets that have shown positive dynamics. First and foremost, it is Israel (+42.2%). Let us note Austria (+26.6%) next, those followed by a large margin are Finland and the United Kingdom (both +6.3%).

 

Foreign tourists entering

Russia in 2009-2005 гг.

(thousands of trips)

Country

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Germany

333,9

332,8

345,7

328,6

313,5

China

115,9

127,2

129,7

157,4

204,2

Finland +6,3

149,9

141,0

153,1

148,2

175,6

USA

183,2

185,9

172,4

225,0

156,7

Italy

113,5

143,5

130,0

116,0

125,3

United Kingdom +6,3

150,9

142,0

130,6

124,2

119,0

France

94,2

103,2

112,8

102,5

109,3

Spain

95,1

105,7

79,5

53,9

60,2

Japan

39,3

44,4

45,1

59,6

50,8

Sweden

28,3

24,9

26,0

31,0

45,8

South Korea

35,2

47,3

48,8

43,0

43,3

Netherlands

31,9

35,4

33,7

29,0

32,7

Israel  +42,2

46,5

32,7

31,3

27,1

30,4

Austria +26,6

31,4

24,8

29,8

24,4

29,1

Switzerland

26,2

23,8

27,1

27,4

21,3

Norway -18,7

27,9

34,3

26,1

23,7

21,2

Belgium

17,2

18,8

22,7

19,3

19,9

Greece

23,4

23,0

21,7

16,9

17,6

Denmark -23,4

15,1

19,7

20,6

18,7

17,1

Australia -14%

22,4

26,1

26,2

19,5

14,7

Canada

43,6

44,2

26,7

23,5

13,5

Those entered for tourism, total

2100,6

-8,5%

2295,1

+3,7%

2213,6

-9%

2433,0

+2%

2384,6

-16,6%

 

 

The total of 21,338.7 thousand foreign citizens entered Russia - on 6,9% less than in 2008. Thus, only 9,8% of arrived foreigners marked tourism as the reason for their visit to Russia. Cf. in Georgia, which the Russian media did not say anything good about, the share of tourists in the total of those entered was 23% last winter.

At the past Moscow tourism exhibitions the representatives of various countries noted the impact of the crisis on the demand and reported an increase in advertising costs for the Russian market. To restore and to keep the tourist flow from Russia is the main, if not the principal goal of many international destinations. Bulgaria starts a massive advertising campaign in Russia and it allocates € 1,5 million from its state budget, Israel - $ 2.2 million. Having lost around 4% of the inbound tourist flow and about 6% of tourism revenue in 2009, Turkey increased its advertising budget for Russia. In the first half it allocated $ 8 million, although it totaled $ 10 million the whole last year. Torn by the economic difficulties, Greece intends to spend € 12 million on advertising in Russia. Egypt announced doubling spending on advertising in Russia without specifying the amount.

Since late 2008, nearly since the beginning of the economic crisis Madrid, Jurmala, Las Vegas opened its tourist offices in Moscow and Visit USA has increased its activities markedly. Monaco, the Netherlands have already opened their offices in 2010 while Indonesia and Oman have announced the imminent opening of their offices.

And what is Russia doing in such a situation? In 2010 Russia has cut its advertising budget on promoting tourism opportunities of the country on the 45%. For this purpose there were 101 million rubles allocated - less than € 3 million.

However, the experts believe that a simple increase in the budget will not work now. “Just advertising will not help us, even for big money, - said Vice President of the Russian Union of Travel Industry Yuri Barzykin. - It is necessary to begin the systematic creation of tourist, transport and engineering infrastructure. Moreover, the crisis showed the most viable areas of our country and leisure segments.” The President of a company "Intourist" Alexander Arutyunov also told the Interfax-Tourism th6at federal money should have been invested in infrastructure. “We must maintain the well established tourist centers that enjoy high demand - Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Black Sea coast - he said. - The money should go there in order to convert these centers to a level of higher quality, and then we can turn to massive advertising.”

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