"And this is not the limit": the number of Russian outbound tourism operators over the year decreased by 70%

The number of tour operators in the output tourism segment decreased by 70%this year. According to TASS, the Executive Director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) Maya Lomidze told Tuesdays about this, as reported at Tuesday.

According to the analytical service of the ATOR, this year the demand for out -of -day tourism was reduced, which led to a reduction in the number of tour operators in this segment.

"In 2014, our analysts gave cautious forecasts - it was predicted that the number of tour operators will be reduced in 2015 by 30%. But now, according to preliminary estimates, we can say that the number of tour operators in the segment of exit tourism has been reduced by 70%. And this is not the limit," said Lomidze.

According to her, the number of "visiting" tour operators can be reduced by another 20-25%. “But if the situation worsens, then the number of visiting tour operators can be halved,” Maya Lomidze explained.

According to the presented by the ATOR analysts, the fall of demand in 2015 in away areas amounted to 31.4%, the head of the ATOR said. “There are markets where at 50 and 60%,” she emphasized. According to her, "the main reason for reducing demand is economic: the euro and the dollar have risen in price, it is unprofitable for people to go abroad."

“In Turkey, we see minus 20% for organized tourism, Thailand is minus 50%,” added Lomidze. “Our tourists always chased for the cheapness, but as this year they were never so sensitive to the price,” she said. “In 2016, this trend will remain,” said the Executive Director of Ator.

According to ATOR, 685 tour operators operate on the visiting market in Russia. Some of the companies were reoriented to the domestic market, others concentrated on agent activities.

It is noteworthy that the closure for Russian tourists of Egypt and Turkey did not lead to excitement in the domestic market: demand grew by about 8%.

However, as Maya Lomidze assures, despite many difficulties, "the Russians will continue to travel, but the character, duration and direction of travel will change markedly."