Dear Subscriber,
The practice of "price damping" continues to be the main way in which Russian tour operators conduct business, as a result more and more tour operators are finding it increasingly difficult to operate profitably. Inna Tour, previously one of the top 10 operators, along with Megapolus Tours, have both decided to leave the charter market and focus on FIT traffic, while other market leaders are in the process of merging eg. Astravel and Paks. All of this is taking place within the positive climate of an annual growth rate estimated to be from 10-15% in 2011.
Best regards,
Helene Lloyd
Director
TMI Consultancy
News Flash
Astravel and Paks Merger
Two well-known Russian tour operators Astravel and Paks announced a merger
Decrease for Egypt
Russian tour operators selling Egypt report a 20% decline in demand for the New Year holiday requests
Aviation News
Transaero
announced the increase of its regular flights
Aeroflot
has launched new flights
Market News
Closure of the VKO brand
TUI Russia & CIS announced the conclusion of its consolidation process and has decided to keep only 2 brands.
Inna Tour has decided to give up its allotments with Aeroflot for the winter season.
Pegas Touristik will be the first Russian tour operator to open its own incoming office in Hainan, China.
Tez Tour and Russian Express announced their expansion of SE Asia, especially Thailand.
Cyprus received 51,000 Russian guests in August 2011.
European Countries open more Visa Centres across Russia.
Hong Kong received almost 60% more Russian visitors.
Hotel News
InterContinental Hotels Group announced their plans.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will open a Sheraton property at Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow.
Economics News
Russian tourists took a record 60 million trips abroad in the first half of this year.
Russian tourists spent most of their money on retail items in Italy and the United States.