Market News
A record 400,000 Russians are expected to visit Finland during the New Year and Christmas holidays, according to statistics provided the Finnish tourism board, an increase of 20%. According to Rosstat, 3.8 million Russians travelled to Finland this year, but only 390,000 for leisure purposes. This however, contradicts the Finnish statistics which notes that 80% of Russian visitors visit Finland for leisure purposes.
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From 2013, Russia and South Korea will introduce reciprocal visa free regime for visits of up to 30 days. During the first 9 months of 2012, 132,000 Russians visited South Korea, an 11% increase, 64,000 of them visited the country with leisure purposes.
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Tunisia aims to receive half a million Russian tourists by 2015, and one million by 2020, according to the latest statement from the Tunisian Embassy in Moscow. Russia is now the 4th largest source market for Tunisia, after France, Germany and the UK. Tunisia believes that Russia will be its 2nd largest source market in the future and it will invest 1.7 million EUR in a Russian advertising campaign and 400 000 EUR in Ukraine, to ensure that this growth happens.
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The variety of destinations during this year’s Winter season in St-Petersburg are more diverse than ever. In addition to existing flights from St Petersburg to the Dominican Republic, Hainan (China), Thailand and Goa (India), Transaero Airlines with Biblio Globus will offer new flights to Puerto Plana in the north of the Dominican Republic, and to Cancun in Mexico. Biblio Globus will compete with another large Tour Operator, Pegas Touristik, by offering Mexico, and Bangkok-Phuket programs, directly from St Petersburg. The local travel industry believes this may lead to price damping.
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Out of 3 million tourists that visited Israel during the first 10 months of 2012, almost half a million were Russians. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism expects a growth of 20% from the Russian market in 2012 with 600,000 Russians visiting in 2012. There are over 60 flights per week from Moscow to Tel Aviv and Ovda, and 20 from St-Petersburg and other regional Russian cities.
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