Outbound tourism cannot yet boast large volumes. The leaders are the same: Thailand, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Egypt. Then China was added; In the second and third quarters, about 62.7 thousand people left Primorye for China.
Domestic tourism did not bring any special disappointment, but it also did not bring significant profits. In the context of growing tourist flows, there was an increase in prices for various goods and services, due to which the tourist product was formed. In order not to plummet, we had to spin like a squirrel in a wheel: new ideas, proposals and paths appeared in several companies.
Photo: Primorsky Krai
The trend of the season is geographical expansion. In addition to the inhabitants of the Far East, Siberians, Urals and tourists from the western regions of Russia also traveled to Primorye this summer. The tourism industry points out: guests understand where they fly and why, that is, Primorye is gradually ceasing to be Terra incognita. Tourists have heard about the sea, beaches, bridges, nature reserves, cuisine and neighborhood of China and try to see and try it all in one week. This is the average length of stay of guests in the region.
Last summer revealed a high demand for sea excursions (+12.5%). And if the weather had not let us down, the numbers would have been higher.
– In mid-September we had already fulfilled last year’s monthly plan. Among the novelties is a tourist visit to the Russian island, which was in demand from the first day. All summer long the “City Lights at Night” sea excursions were great. Sales on the website have increased,” shared Tatyana Stishkovskaya, director of the “Bridges of Vladivostok” company.
Against the background of the geopolitical situation, complex logistics, increases in the dollar and ruble and reductions in flights, travel companies had to switch from selling standard tour packages to more complex products. Experience and the ability to find a way out play an important role today.
– There were more requests when those who arrived in the region went on additional excursions as part of already prepared tourist packages: getting to know the coastal hinterland, visiting the islands. There are almost a third of them. There were those who came without any special plan, but already took full-service programs from our office. Those who had time managed to travel with us to China: the connection “Primorie – People’s Republic of China” is becoming more and more evident,” said Olga Alekseeva, director of the Fregat Aero company.
Photo: Primorsky Krai
Due to the reorientation of flows, the expansion of the events calendar and high business activity, hoteliers notice a fairly high hotel occupancy. In terms of income, although they are in positive numbers, expenses have not decreased: prices for cleaning, home care, garbage collection, etc., end up being the same. Hoteliers noticed an increase in requests for the concierge service: demand for events, links to websites, booking excursions, theater tickets. Foreigners have already left, both with visas and to live and work in Russia.
– Tourism is an effective tool of public diplomacy. You can watch a lot of television, read the news, social networks, but when a guest sees the real situation in Vladivostok, in Primorye, in the countryside, it is difficult to make him believe that everything is bad between us. That is why we are determined and set ourselves the task of attracting foreign tourists,” said Arseny Krepsky, head of the regional tourism agency.
Tourism in Primorye is not the only source of Vladivostok. Taking into account the requests of guests and partner companies, the regions of the region are included in this chain. They have enormous potential. The tourism and hospitality industries are trying to implement it.
– It is difficult for guests to perceive the peculiarities of our nature, especially when the tour is purchased in advance. That’s why they were psychologists and were looking for an alternative. A tandem has been formed with hotels and cafes in the districts. They understood our wishes and tried to fulfill everything. Everyone realized: it is the coordinated work that gives the final result, we are one team. Vladivostok impresses its guests with the Sea of Japan and its seafood. In summer we launch “Tasty Vladivostok” tours, which combine cuisine and attractions. It is a pity, but visitors are still indifferent to the Vladivostok fortress and do not see its value and uniqueness. The Ussuri taiga also resonates. Either there is a lot of them or they have not yet learned to show their uniqueness. Although the complex 12-day tours from the Khasansky district to Sikhote-Alin have found fans, says Oksana Zyablova, director of the Five Stars company.
Photo: Primorsky Krai
The demand for domestic destinations increases the region’s investment attractiveness. In this context, tourists highly demand the quality of services. And the industry must be sensitive to consumer demands. The consumer does not vote only with rubles. It’s also word of mouth. And often the impressions and photographs of ordinary tourists carry more weight than official information.
– We see how the tourist flow from the west of the country is growing, tourists show open interest in our region. The demand for quality service is also growing. Tourists are willing to purchase a high-quality product that is not cheap. We also notice the demand for services in the format of specialized author tours, there is a transition from mass groups to small and individual ones. This can be seen not only in domestic tourism, but also in inbound tourism, Krepsky added.
Last high season exceeded last year’s figures in terms of number of visits, number of RACs involved and list of new routes. The redistribution of the tourist flow from the usual Western destinations and the active promotion of tourist potential in different places played a role. This year the region will receive 3.5 million tourists and next year the bar will increase to four million visits.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS