The increase in the flow of European tourists is expected in Russia in 2016

According to the deputy head of the Federal Agency for Tourism Sergey Korneev, in 2016 Russia can expect the increase in the flow of European tourists: the country may be visited by 25% more Spanish tourists and an increased number of tourists from Italy and France.

Despite the fact that at present, tourists from Asia constitute the basis of tourist flow into the country, an «increase in the number of European tourists who begin to realize that it is very interesting to visit Russia can be expected», – said Mr. Korneev at a meeting with journalists on Friday.

According to Mr. Korneev, experts expect a significant growth in the number of tourists from Spain which can be up to 20–25% compared to last year. One reason for this growth may be the opening of a national marketing centre for tourism Visit Russia which will start working in test mode in Madrid at the end of this summer. The official opening of the office is planned for January 2017. This centre is created to promote the Russian tourist product in the European market that should be achieved by means of different joint marketing and information campaigns carried out by Spanish and Russian business representatives.

In addition to Spanish tourists, the Federal Agency for Tourism also expects the increase in the flow of tourists from France, Italy and Germany. «The flow of Chinese tourists visiting Sochi will definitely increase: they are now actively developing winter sports as China is preparing to take the Winter Olympics», – said S. Korneev.

Besides, S. Korneev stressed the fact that regions which have long and consistently lined up the infrastructure and have formed their own special image will attract the greatest tourists flow in 2016. Thus, such tourism leaders as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Tatarstan, Astrakhan region, Kamchatka, Baikal, Altai region, the Crimea and southern regions of Russia can get about 10–15% of the tourist traffic growth.