The visits of Russian tourists to Spain could fall by up to 40% in 2014

The visits of Russian tourists to Spain could fall by up to 40% in 2014

Demand for Russian tourists in Spain could shrink by between 35% and 40% in 2014, having halved the reserves provided for the summer season. After experiencing the largest decline in May, the travel agencies specializing in this segment expect the decline to extend the months of September and October, with declines of around 15%, according to advanced commercial director Tez Tours Spain, Eugenio Basiliev, told Europa Press.

From NTincoming, however, point to a less pronounced fall between 15% and 20% of the Russian market, a reduction in the average stay and the average expenditure of these tourists.

The depreciation of the ruble and the growing conflicts in Ukraine have been the main causes of this prolonged decline. To this the recommendations of the Russian government officials join the country to spend their holidays at home in Sochi, and not travel abroad.

These factors coupled with high rates of growth in this segment in recent years, quadrupling the number of arrivals, "will make it very difficult to keep this market last dynamism," according to the General Department of Knowledge and Tourism Studies (IET).

In fact, global purchases of these tourists in duty free shops have fallen by 20%, as reflected in a study by Global Blue. In Spain, sales of tours to Russian tourists have been reduced by about 25%, at higher rates than purchases. In 2013 Spain reached 1.58 million Russian tourists, 31.6% more than in 2012, with a market share of 2.6%, according to the Survey of Tourist Movement Frontera (Frontur).

Favorite destinations were Catalonia (61.8%), Canary Islands (12.2%), Balearic Islands (8.4%) and Valencia (7.5%).

The average Russian tourist spending in Spain has grown steadily in recent years, reaching 1,487 euros in 2013, one of the highest figures among the main Spanish markets.

According to the Federal Tourism Agency of Russia, in 2013 Spain was sixth in the list of 50 popular destinations for Russian, with a market share of 6.2%.

Resetting the offer
So, budget cuts will also affect the choice of destination in Spain. In the case of Catalonia, chosen by 61.8% of Russians are expected to be busiest on the Costa Brava on the Costa Dorada, as a matter of "price," said the director of this area NTincoming Jordi Matas.

"Catalonia will surely autonomous community most affected in absolute despite being the favorite destination numbers, although there are still places remaining to be filled," he predicted.

And is that industry players have had to "make efforts" when launching offers and lower their prices to compete with other destinations such as Turkey and Egypt, with higher numbers of Russian tourism. In this line, the loss of Russian tourists can affect the hotel industry to not be compensated by the arrival of travelers from other markets.

However, while employers say they still offer to sell, tour operators and provide for reductions in the number of contracted seats tickets for next year.

According Basiliev, airlines will be forced to do the same, after already contracting capacity between 15% and 20% this season, not only in the Spanish market, but at a general level across Europe.

In fact, the estimates indicate a 6.3% decrease in seats in August compared to last year, from 10.6% in September and 11.4% in October, according to Aena.

New biometric visa
A complicated market situation implantation adds biometric visa from 2015, "a major problem" according to Matas, since Russian forces people to be physically present at the consulates and embassies.

This, far from expediting the issuance of visas, could hinder the process if it is not done "properly", resulting in a loss of "thousands of tourists" to Spain.

For this reason, agencies claim offices in each of the regions of Russia where there are operating flights to Spain. "The visa can be very positive in the medium term and much improve processes when work properly," he said Matas.

Finally, the Russian government bans on some flights could make tourism in this country to Spain "virtually disappear" next year. Otherwise, from Tez Tours predict possible growth although reduced in this market.

Source: BolsaManía