Tour operators call 2013 "pre-crisis"

By Vestnik Kavkaza

The previous year of 2013 appeared to tour operators similar to 2008. They have already called it "pre-crisis". The market noticed the first signs of crisis in April 2013, with drastic changes in consumer behaviour. Russian tourists have returned to spending their vacation money carefully.

The executive director of the Association of Russian Tour Operators, Maya Lomidze, talks about the developments in the tourism sector of 2013.

The first trend. If in 2012 tourists bought tours lasting on average 8-14 days, in 2013 they started to buy longer-lasting tours - up to 21 days. The tourists who chose long-lasting holidays in Thailand, Bulgaria and Cyprus were often the tourists who booked either a week of accommodation at a tour agency plus tickets or only tickets. That is, to some extent they can be considered independent.

The second trend. Tour operators consider the change in the average cost of the tour per person alarming. If in 2012 the average cost, as compared with 2011, had increased and amounted to about $1200 - $2000 per person, in 2013 it dropped sharply, and about 30 % of tourists attempted to buy tours that cost less than 500 euros per person. This can be explained by the pre-crisis phenomena. It has not been seen on the market since 2009. The number of customers who bought tours from the expensive price segment, which cost more than $2500 per person, has also decreased - although slightly. The mid-price segment has changed quite seriously, because the majority of tourists from the middle segment turned to budget tours.

The third trend. The decrease in sales and booking trending. If in 2012 we talked about the apparent trend of an increase in booking trending, and about the fact that last-minute was no longer in fashion, last-minute buying is something last minute, in 2013 last-minute was more popular than ever. It explains the increase in those directions that do not require visas. These are primarily Egypt, Turkey and Thailand. To some extent it is possible to include on the list the Arab Emirates as well, where visas are issued quite quickly.

The fourth trend. China is the only country among the top ten hits on our market which showed a negative trend. Demand for tours to China has fallen by 15%. Tour operators, including those working in the Urals, in Siberia and in the Far East, explain this trend by the increase in the cost of air travel in this direction.

Lomidze said that the data of Rosstat, despite the ambiguity of figures, reflects the real picture of the preferences made by tourists.

Turkey is the number one destination. The increase, which was expected in spring to reach about 5% earlier this year, reached in reality 20% thanks to Egypt.

Egypt, which promised a 40% increase, produced a 15% increase.

Thailand - about a 40% increase compared with last year.

The absolute champion is Greece, an almost 70% increase compared with the previous year.