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Tourism in Turkey: problems and perspectives
Yury Barzykin, Vice-president of the Russian Union of Tourism
Tourism is a priority field, both for us and for our compatriots,
because we are only helping those who want to go on vacations.
We are just providing the possibility.
The numbers were announced - more than 3 million.
I need to say that this is a quarter of all trips that our compatriots make.
More than 12 million go abroad, out of which more than 3 million go to Turkey.
And I have to say that with the introduction of the visa-free regime
- of course 3 million of our neighbors didn't come to us -
but the incoming stream to Russia is about 2 million, our Turkish neighbors became more visible.
And it is not only in the South of Russia.
In Moscow and in St. Petersburg, where business events take place,
in the Golden Ring cities, in the North-West.
So our Turkish neighbors are also becoming tourists.
The market for incoming tourism sees this and connects certain hopes with it.
There are of course some problems.
They exist due to the mass tourism stream as anywhere else.
For today, our task is to prevent and solve these problems,
conflicts and security questions that appear from time to time.
This year indeed was hot in this sense - car accidents, poisoning, etc.
We believe that we have effective ways to resolve these questions.
It was discussed in the Trade Chamber, we interact with our colleagues in the Federation Council and in Rostourism.
The information concerning these cases is provided in time,
because many troubles come from lack of knowledge.
The specialists should comment. We have this possibility.
I believe that the negative background of the last season will change.
On the other hand, it is necessary to change the insurance system.
In our community, which unites more than 2000 tourist companies,
we have decided that life and health insurance for trips to Turkey should not be less than 30,000 USD,
so about one million rubles, the same as in Europe, to cover the risks and to ensure medical help.
This work is conducted together with the administration, both on the Russian and on the Turkish sides.
I believe that our synchronized actions will allow us to ensure safety and timely assistance,
even with an increase of the tourist stream.
I would like to say that the content of the tourist products in Turkey changes not only quantitavely, but qualitatively as well.
This means diversification and a switch from the mass beach tourism
that stays at about 37%, towards health treatment, cruises, historical and religious trips -
for instance, to the Christian relics in Cappadocia.
This allows us to attract different segments of consumers and use different seasons, not only summer.
Now, around New Year, we still have a high season, our year is not over.
Turkey also offers skiing opportunities, while we offer tours to Krasnaya Polyana, which is not far.
Transit tourism in the Turkish direction is also developing.
I sometimes joke that we will soon fly from Sochi to Moscow via Istanbul.
Because Turkish airlines offer good tariffs to Europe and South-East Asia.
So our tourist companies often choose flights via Istanbul and make stops there for 2-3 days due to the visa-free regime.
This direction is also developing.
I want to say that in 2012-2018 we have a program to develop internal tourism,
with financing of more than 360 billion rubles, 92 billion of which are invested by the state.
It means certain state guarantees and preferences and a wide geography from the South of Russia to Kaliningrad and Vladivostok.
In this respect the post-crisis time offers good opportunities,
both for residents and for subcontractors in these recreational areas.
I think we can return to this topic using the experience of other countries.
In our Olympic capital Sochi, all the 4 and 5 star hotels, such as Radisson or Grand-Hotel,
were built by Turkish developers on different conditions.
And this trend is supported by state finances.