Non-sporting legacy of 2018 World Cup

Russia's FIFA World Cup came to an end few days ago, and now they count losses and profits from the sports holiday. According to the executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia Maya Lomidze, 24 new hotels were built for the World Championship in 11 host cities: "If hotel occupancy in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Kaliningrad in subsequent periods is unquestionable, then such cities as Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod and Saransk should make serious efforts to ensure occupancy of new 'capacities'."

Nine new stadiums were built fir the Cup. "According to the experience of other countries, we can say that museums in stadiums, for example in Munich, Barcelona, are tourist facilities that work with the tourist business, accept tourists. They are in demand throughout the whole year. There you can make an attractive for tourism history, use facilities for not only sports, but also for the service of travel companies."

Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee said that 220 thousand new jobs were created thanks to the World Cup. The total contribution to GDP was about 1%, it is more than 850 billion rubles, which practically covers the costs. "We had the most expensive championship, many infrastructural changes were made in the cities, almost all the expenses for the fans' relocation were taken by the country. But the Cup's contribution practically - more than 860 billion rubles - covers these expenses," Lomidze said.

Speaking about assessments of Moody's and McKenzie analytical and consulting agencies, the executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia noted that they differ: "McKenzie believes that the country will receive additional 210 billion rubles until 2023. Moody's has a more pessimistic forecast - no more than 1% of GDP in a shorter period. Nevertheless, all agencies agree that there will be increase in contrast to, for example, Germany or Brazil. Germany hosted the World Cup in 2006, Brazil - in 2014. The share of the effect on GDP was estimated as negative there: Germany had -0.3% and Brazil had -0.6%."

Lomidze called the championship successful not only in terms of tourism, changing the country's image, but also from the economic point of view: "According to McKenzie's, the Cup's tourist component alone will bring an additional 40-70 billion rubles to the country's GDP. Social networks and the international press continue to glow with enthusiasm, people share their impressions, and it should be fixed. Mordovia, without waiting for the finals, has already formed a program of work with the tourist business in order to fill the hotels, offering the route most popular among fans, 'Call of Torama.' The fans 'reaction to the proposed program was positive. We hope that other cities will also be active. "