EUROPE – The VP of the Association of National Tourist Office Representatives (ANTOR), Vladimir Kantorowich, has labelled the Russian inbound industry as the ‘Cinderella of the Russian tourism industry’ in a panel debate at the inaugural World Travel Market (WTM) Vision Conference held at the Moscow Marriot Grand Hotel.
Kantorowich claims the “government has done nothing to develop” Russia’s inbound industry despite the fact “global travel and tourism industry is one of the five top cash generators in the world”.
He told the conference’s 150 senior industry delegates: “In Russia we are addicted to oil and gas. In destinations where there is no oil and gas inbound tourism can be the driver for the local economy. After all, when people come into the country they bring in new money.”
Kantorowich criticised the Russian government for failing to keep accurate inbound tourism statistics and making it difficult for tourists to visit the country: “You can not objectively assess inbound tourism as the ‘stays’ are not trustworthy. Officials cheat and exaggerate tourism numbers to the extent that some regions apparently have more tourists than the whole country.”
Kantorowich also slammed Russia’s visa entry requirements that see it easier for business people to enter the country ont ourist visa than it is on business visas, while accusing the government of playing politics with the inbound industry. “We must have correct stays figures; business visas are much more difficult to achieve than tourism visas, which sees business people pretend to be tourists to get visas easier,” he said.
Research from Euromonitor International has found Russia is set to see a 20 per cent increase in inbound tourists over the next four years fuelled by the hosting of major sporting events.
Russian inbound visitors will increase to 28.3m in 2016 from 23.7m in 2012 due to the hosting of sporting events including the 2013 World Athletic Championships and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market Simon Press said: “Around 150 of the most senior executives in the Russian industry heard the latest statistics, research and opinion, which included a lively and frank panel debate. It was a great start to the WTM Vision Conference series which moves on to London on 19 April.”
WTM Vision Conference series was launched in 2009 in London expanding to Milan and Dubai (at the Reed Travel Exhibitions’ Arabian Travel Market) in 2011.
The full programme of WTM Vision conferences is:
• 4 April: Moscow
• 19 April: London
• 1 May: Dubai (at ATM)
• 10 May: Shanghai
• 18 May: Florence
Any conference-related news? Email sarah@mashmedia.net
