Mikhail Mishustin: “In 2021, the domestic tourist flow grew by almost 90 percent to the pre-pandemic level of 2019 and amounted to 56.5 million people. This is 50 percent higher than in 2020. We expect the positive trend to continue. This is also true for the turnover of such an important economy sector, which is now one trillion roubles higher than two years ago. Employment in the industry has almost completely recovered: up to 2.3 million people. We expect employment growth to continue this year as well.”
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks:
Good afternoon, friends, colleagues.
Meeting on developing the tourism and hospitality industry
Meeting on developing the tourism and hospitality industry. With Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Inna Svyatenko and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov
Meeting on developing the tourism and hospitality industry. With Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Inna Svyatenko, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov, Head of the Altai Republic Oleg Khorokhordin, and Head of Rostourism Zarina Doguzova
Meeting on developing the tourism and hospitality industry
Today we, together with experts and businesses, will discuss the development of a very important industry, the tourism industry. The President has talked many times about how important it is to create attractive routes, open new destinations that are easy to access and, of course, to have a good time there.
Last spring, we together with the entrepreneurs raised these issues when we visited Altai. It is a unique region with great potential. Impressive nature, and significant historical and cultural heritage, which I believe would be interesting at any age.
Two Russian regions – the Republic of Altai and the Altai Territory – have more visitors every year than people living there. Tourism has long become a backbone sector of the economy for these regions. However, high-quality infrastructure for recreation, unfortunately, is still lacking. This is typical of many other regions of our vast country.
Greater Altai illustrates all the difficulties that both travellers and the industry are facing today, as well as the tasks that need to be addressed in order to make travel across Russia competitive and more comfortable for our people. This work requires coordinated actions of ministries, departments, industry participants, and regions.
Before getting down to the discussion, I would like to say a few words about the general developments in the Russian tourism industry. Last year, it had one of the best results for the recovery rate of key indicators after the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2021, the domestic tourist flow grew by almost 90 percent to the pre-pandemic level of 2019 and amounted to 56.5 million people. This is 50 percent higher than in 2020. We expect the positive trend to continue.
This is also true for the turnover of such an important economy sector, which is now one trillion roubles higher than two years ago.
Employment in the industry has almost completely recovered: up to 2.3 million people. We expect employment growth to continue this year as well.
The Government pays very serious attention to tourism, especially today, given the geopolitical situation. Its development contributes to the growth of regional economies, and helps create new jobs and transform cities, towns and rural areas. Affordable travel gives people an opportunity to get to know their country and to get acquainted with its rich history, traditions and diversity through their own, personal impressions.
Last year, the Tourism and Hospitality national project was launched following the President’s instruction. Most of the funds are intended for upgrading infrastructure. It should be modern and convenient for people across the country. And travelling should be interesting and safe, with good, high-quality service.
The national project involves a number of assistance measures for companies. Last year, we launched grants for small and medium-sized businesses. They can be used to create campsites and car campings, as well as to equip beaches and routes, create a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities, develop excursions and much more. To open new destinations that are in popular demand, which we saw at the exhibition.
Such subsidies amounting to 1.2 billion roubles were received by 467 projects. This practice continues to this day. By the end of the year, we will provide assistance to 800 initiatives of small and medium-sized businesses.
We have also launched a pilot project to support quickly-erectable prefabricated modular hotels. Today we saw some great examples. They are suitable for outdoor recreation in nature. For this, 4 billion roubles were allocated to 19 regions of our country. These hotels should add about 2,500 new rooms as soon as this year.
The project complements our work on building and renovating classic accommodation facilities – hotels with various star ratings. Such investment projects receive preferential loans, which investors talked about today.
Another important, key task that the Government prioritises is making travel more affordable for our people. Here, the domestic travel cashback programme is working very well. It supported the economy of the Russian regions, especially during the low season, when the infrastructure is less busy.
Over the past two years, more than 4 million people (including about 2.5 million people this year) received discounts on tours.
The spring phase of the programme is over. But the state will continue to compensate for part of the money that people pay for trips around Russia.
Today I would like to announce the start of the autumn phase. It was decided to launch it on 1 October. It will last until 25 December. It is during this period that tourists will need to take a trip. And as for cruises, the phase lasts from 1 September until the end of the navigation period.
Tour sales will begin on 25 August. All regions of the country participate in the programme. Tourists who purchase a tour will be able to get back up to 20 percent of its cost. We expect that about 600,000 people will take advantage of this opportunity. They will enjoy their holiday and save money with the support of the state.
And one more decision. Following the President’s instruction, the Government will increase the maximum refund to citizens when buying tours to the Russian Far East. Now it will amount up to 40,000 roubles, or 20 percent of the tour cost, compared to 20,000 roubles previously.
Colleagues,
Today we will discuss your proposals on what else is needed for the development of domestic tourism, what solutions will help create a competitive product and make travelling around the country comfortable and full of positive impressions.
