Tcurkan Iurii
Russia’s travel trade is sharpening its attention on China, reflecting the growing economic as well as tourism ties between the two giants.
The Russian-Chinese Tourism Promoting Association (RCTPA), which was established in May this year, has taken it upon itself to promote the message that Russia is a safe and friendly destination for visitors.
“More Chinese want to visit Russia and Russian businesses are putting their hands out (to welcome them),” said Tcurkan Iurii, chairman of RCTPA. “We are trying to show the world that Russians are friendly and we are doing our best to make visitors feel at home.”
In Russia, the association has set up a visitor helpline manned by English- and Chinese-speaking operators to offer immediate information and support to foreign tourists seeking assistance.
Already, the RCTPA has rendered assistance to more than 200 people in its six months of existence, Iurii said.
The Department of National Policy, Interregional Relations and Tourism of Moscow is currently developing a China-friendly programme in the city, with more than 30 enterprises having received conformity certificates in accordance with the programme, according to a statement.
Likewise, inbound travel agencies in Russia are also stepping up their game to woo Chinese tourists.
For Moscow-based Red October, one of two companies under the Fortuna Managing Company, the focus has since this year shifted to the Asian market, of which Chinese travellers form a large part, according to Laura Lazibnaya, general director of Red October and Fortuna.
This marks a significant change in Red October’s market focus since it began operations 15 years ago to specialise in the the cruise business and the US market.
Explaining its new focus, Lazibnaya said: “Europe is dying and European travellers have no money, while Americans are travelling less. Asia is rising and Asian travellers are now very strong.”
And alongside the growing affluence of the Chinese, Lazibnaya noted a rising number of moneyed Chinese travellers arriving in Russia in small groups.
Despite these encouraging developments, some outbound operators in China expressed concerns that visa application for Russia remains a hassle.
Although the Chinese authorities were reported to have sought a visa-free regime with Russia, for now only tour operators accredited by China and Russia are entitled to bring Chinese groups of between five to 50 pax into Russia without visas.
Iurii added: “We launched a programme that helps Chinese people coming in organised groups (to adhere to and access) the (conditional) visa-free policy between Russia and China. In order to implement this in the correct ways, we put our representatives in every airport of Moscow in very large numbers.”
On the other hand, Lazibnaya does not see visas as an issue for Chinese tourists to Russia. “Even with small groups, we are able to provide them the necessary papers in few days,” she remarked.
According to the Department of National Policy, Interregional Relations and Tourism of Moscow, the number of arrivals from China under visa-free exchange is rapidly growing.
Over 1.1 million Chinese visitors arrived in Russia in 2015, almost 90 thousand more than in 2014.
