OVERPRICED TRIPS TO CRIMEA SCARED OFF RUSSIAN TOURISTS

As the restrictive measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic become a thing of the past, and the opportunity to leave the homeland still looks very vague, many Russians start thinking about the possibilities of domestic tourism.

However, as many experts note, the Crimean peninsula is far from being the first in the list of the places that might count on the tourists’ money. The reason is high costs, the industry experts say.

Despite the increased interest in the sights and hotel complexes of Crimea, most residents of Russia simply do not have money to buy the tours. As a result, having made the price inquiries about the Crimea, the majority of the travel agencies clients buy tickets to other regions. The most popular are still the Black Sea resorts of the Krasnodar Territory (76% of the tours sold).  

According to analysts, the average Russian is forced to spend from 37 to 60 thousand rubles to spend a vacation in Crimea.

Considering long quarantine and falling incomes of the significant part of the country's population, the sales of tours to Crimea remain extremely low. And this is despite the fact that since 1 July, the peninsula should officially open its doors to the citizens of the Russian Federation. And since 15 June, the sanatoriums and healthcare recreation centers of the peninsula have the right to settle Crimean residents in the rooms.

Swimming pools, sports facilities, cafes and restaurants of the peninsula begin to gradually open. Outdoor leisure facilities and solariums have already resumed their activities. The authorities of the peninsula plan to prepare the local swimming areas by July.   

Official statistics of the coronavirus infections in Crimea shows a relatively small number of dead and infected. Despite this, many tourists do not believe the statistics and are afraid to travel, while others prefer more budget-friendly recreation places of the country.  

The experts note that the problems of spending the vacation in the Crimea are associated not only with a drop in purchasing power and inflated prices of tour operators.

A significant number of factors (outdated infrastructure of the tourist areas, roads and accommodation conditions) have previously prevented Crimea from the successful competing with holidays in Turkey, Thailand and other countries. The abolition of commercial flights abroad, caused by the pandemic, could reorient the interests of Russians to the domestic tourism. However, whether the Crimea can become attractive for the repeated trips and recreation of citizens of the country is a big question.