Cashback for tours in Russia increased tourist flow by 20 percent
The cashback promotion added to the total tourist flow more than 20 percent of those who had not previously planned to travel anywhere in Russia.
The executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, Maya Lomidze, stated this at a press conference, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Many hoteliers and tour operators say that the upper limit of 20 thousand rubles for return at the current cost of vacation is extremely irrelevant, this is no longer about the development of tourism, but a drop in the bucket. Are there any plans or proposals to raise this upper bar for the return of money?” – a question came from the audience.
“20 thousand is not enough? – Lomidze was surprised. “Our people quickly get used to good things. Let me remind you that until August 2020, no one even thought about cashback.”
“I’m not sure that the rules will change, this is not in our competence, this is being done by the Federal Agency for Tourism, together with NSPK Mir, and is regulated by a special government decree. Taking into account the fact that Putin said that the promotion should be extended for the whole year, I’m not sure that the bar will be raised, it will remain 20 percent, no more than 20 thousand rubles,” added a representative of Russian tour operators.
“I was a little confused by the phrase about what kind of support this is for domestic tourism - yes, this is simply amazing support. Even with these 20 percent and 20 thousand. We conducted a survey when the third cashback promotion just started on March 18, and approximately 24 percent of the one and a half thousand people who took part said that they did not plan to travel anywhere in Russia at all until they found out about the cashback promotion.
One and a half thousand people is a completely representative sample, we can make some extrapolation, that is, our regions, primarily the Black Sea ones, received definitely more than 20 percent of the additional flow thanks to cashback. In my opinion, this is one of the most effective measures to support not just domestic tourism, but also the consumer, because it is not the market participant who receives the money, but the tourist.
This, of course, stimulates the whole story, along the chain it is of great importance for the entire industry - both for hotels and for tour operators, but first of all, the measure is aimed at the traveler,” explained Maya Lomidze.
Cashback for tours in Russia increased tourist flow by 20 percent.