Putin orders support for tourism industry

President of Russia Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to work out measures to support the domestic tourism industry.

"As part of the decree, the government was also ordered to work out mechanisms on how to support the Russian tourism industry," Gazeta.ru cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Professor of the Department of Business Process Management in Production and Service of RANEPA, Galina Dekhtyar, told Vestnik Kavkaza that there are basic steps which could help the domestic tourism industry, including financial support: to reach agreement with the representatives of the hospitality industry in Egypt so that the money sent by Russian tourists is either returned or frozen.

"It's possible to help only with money, international agreements between the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Egypt, which somehow make  Egypt at least freeze the funds," Dekhtyar noted.

Otherwise, it will be difficult for the tour operators to survive because of the situation, they have to return 100% of the cost of the tour. "And the insurance companies and the association 'Turpomosch' were absolutely excluded from the work with clients, but the amounts spent by tourists on vacations during the New Year holidays are high enough to fully compensate them," the expert said.

Some tour operators can redirect their charters to other destinations, but it requires a serious supplement. "A tour to Egypt costs $1000, a tour to Turkey is worth $1000, there is a surcharge of $100. The travel agencies will not be able to pay the difference. If a tourist cannot take on these costs, he would have to give up the rest, then he will return the amount, except for expenses actually incurred. And the closer the tour, the higher the actual costs and, accordingly, it's virtually impossible to recover the money spent on booking," the expert stressed.

The President of the Association of Domestic Tourism of Russia, Vladimir Sharov, said that the Russian president has already given instructions to the Government regarding support for the tourism industry, in the first place, they relate to the development of infrastructure, which is based on the cluster approach. "Today's order also develops previous orders, with a focus on youth tourism," he said.

According to the expert, measures related to the safety of tourist traffic will be taken in the first place. "This applies to aviation, rail transport and especially bus transportation. From July 1st 2015 new rules for transportation of children on tourist routes should already have been identified, but it was delayed until January 1," the President of the Association of Domestic Tourism of Russia said.

"In addition, in September 2016, educational programs for children will be held in conjunction with the Ministry of Education," Vladimir Sharov added.