Russian Federation

Russian Federation

Tourism in the economy Tourism is of growing importance to the Russian economy. In 2008, direct tourism

revenues contributed 3.3% of GDP while overall tourism-related revenues, including the indirect effects, totalled 6.9%.

Domestic tourist trips in 2008 were recorded at 30.3 million, an increase of 6% on 2007. It is expected that this total will continue to increase due to the effects of the current economic crisis and the depreciation of the rouble.

International arrivals in 2008 were 4.5 million, a 15% increase on the previous year. Business travel has been the fastest-growing sector, exceeding that of holiday and leisure trips to the Russian Federation.

Tourism is estimated to employ 2.6 million people, and in mid-2009 there were

4 382 tourism companies active in the Russian Federation in both international and domestic tourism markets, according to the Federal Tour Operators’ Register.

Tourism organisation Government oversight of the tourism industry changed in the middle of 2008 with the

establishment of the new Ministry for Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy, which incorporated the Federal Agency for Tourism (Figure 4.41). The Ministry defines the general laws, regulations and policy lines for the industry while the Agency is responsible for operational issues.

Since neither the Ministry nor the Agency has a territorial structure, local and municipal administrations are responsible for tourism issues within their territories. In most of the (over

80) regional administrations in the Russian Federation, there are ministries, agencies, committees and departments that have responsibilities for tourism issues. Federal governing bodies – the Ministry and the Agency – co-ordinate efforts and co-operate with regional tourism authorities in the planning and administration of the industry.

Figure 4.41. Russian Federation: Organisational chart of tourism bodies

Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy

Federal level

Federal Agency for Tourism

Regional level

Regional Ministries

Regional Agencies

Regional Departments

Regional Committees

Source: OECD, adapted from the Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy, 2009.

OECD TOURISM TRENDS AND POLICIES 2010 © OECD 2010

Tourism budget Funding for tourism development comes from a number of sources. The country’s

promotional budget comes mostly from the national budget, and was worth RUB 160 million in 2008 (EUR 3.64 million). This was increased to RUB 185 million in 2009 (EUR 4.2 million).

There is some ad hoc funding also, such as federal target programmes and regional programmes. Federal programmes as a rule deal with regional infrastructure projects where tourism is only one beneficiary, such as the programme for the south of the Russian Federation for 2008-12. Regional programmes and projects are financed jointly with regional administrations and from corporate resources. The value of national investors’ interests in tourism-related projects was estimated at RUB 32 120 million (EUR 730 million) in 2008 before the crisis, based on data from regional administrations.

Tourism-related policies and programmes Only 20% of the Russian Federation’s tourism capacity is estimated to be utilised at

present. Effective government support is needed to close the gap in order that the Russian Federation can approach the European average of tourism’s share in national GDP.

The Russian Federation’s current national priorities in developing the tourism industry include: ● perfecting the current legislative and regulatory base;

● providing state support for both international and domestic tourism; ● enhancing the safety and security of tourism operations; and ● putting in place anti-crisis support measures.

Legislation and regulation In 2007, a new system of governing and regulating tourism activities was introduced,

replacing the former work licenses for tour operators with the introduction of financial guarantees that provide better insurance and safety to clients in case of emergency. This was supplemented by introducing a unified Tour Operator Register accessible to every tourist requiring information about a potential service supplier. In 2009, the federal law on tourism was amended to differentiate the magnitude of financial guarantees between those servicing international markets and those dealing with the domestic market.

The government also modified the rules for the provision of tourism, defining the division of responsibilities between tour operator and tour agent companies vis-à-vis the client.

Tourism Market

A fall in tourism demand was registered in the first half of 2009 (although, since evaluation and monitoring tools are not yet fully adequate, the only figures currently available are for border crossings). On that basis, inbound arrivals fell by 15.3% compared to the same period of 2008, registering total arrivals of 752 900 people, 136 200 fewer than in the previous year. Outbound travel also fell, by 22.6% to a total of 3 804 000.

However, in the high summer season, it became apparent that demand for some foreign destinations and for some specific tourism activities was being maintained broadly at the same level as in 2008.

OECD TOURISM TRENDS AND POLICIES 2010 © OECD 2010

Internal trips in the first half of 2009 increased, due to the fall in the value of the rouble. Outbound travel volumes recently have tended to stabilise as dollar and euro rates for accommodation and services also stabilised.

Statistical profile Table 4.240. Russian Federation: Domestic overnight tourism

2007 2008 Overnight stays in hotels and similar establishments

44 334 .. Source: World Tourism Organization, 2009.

12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/773688052760

Table 4.241. Russian Federation: Inbound tourism – International arrivals and receipts

2007 2008 Total international arrivals

22 909 23 676 Top 5 markets Finland

391 663 International travel receipts

9 607 11 944 International passenger transport receipts

Million USD

2 980 3 979 Source: World Tourism Organization, 2009.

Million USD

12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/773727130754

Table 4.242. Russian Federation: Outbound tourism – International departures and

34 285 36 538 International travel expenditure

22 133 24 890 International passenger transport expenditure

Million USD

2 031 3 232 Source: World Tourism Organization, 2009.

Million USD

12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/773731682042

Table 4.243. Russian Federation: Other economic indicators