For the first time the
amount of Russian tourists travelling to Spain will exceed one million. The number
is impressing, as in 2010 it was twice as low. From January to September 2012 more
than 1 million 109 thousand Russians visited Spain which is 38% more than in the
same period of the previous year. 1 million arrivals have been made with the purpose
of tourism; it exceeds the indicator of the previous year by 40%.
Not even being in top ten
tourist markets for Spain few
years ago, Russia
is now in the seventh place. Although Russia
makes only 3% of the total international tourist flow to Spain, the Institute
for Tourism of Spain (Turespana) considers the results of the current year to be
very important for mutual ties between our countries. In relation to this and in
honor of the one millionth Russian tourist who went to Spain on October 31 with
Natalie Tours on Transaero's regular flight from Moscow to Malaga, a press conference
was held at the residence of Spainish Ambassador to Russia. The lucky one is a surgeon
from Vladimir Ms Olga Taganova.
As the General Secretary
for Tourism of Spain Isabel Maria Borrego Cortez said at the press conference, most
tourists go to Catalonia, which received 667.6 thousand Russians since the beginning
of the year, the Balearic Islands (a bit over 102 thousands), the Canary Islands
(91.3 thousands). Russian tourist flow is not only appreciated for its dynamics,
but for its generosity as well: ours compatriots spend twice as much than tourists
from other countries. Mrs. Borrego considers the flow from Russia might grow
by 30-40% in 2013.
The General Director of
Natalie Tours Natalya Vorobyeva believes Spain should thank its consulate for
the success: 10 years ago it introduced a visa-tour system, which made the visa
application procedure uninterrupted during these years. Besides, Spain was one of those first countries which started
simplifying the visa regime with Russia. Those two points along with
great travel opportunities of the country became the basis for the qualitative leap
of demand on the Russian market.
According to Natalya Vorobyeva,
almost all trips for seven and more days were booked through tour operators. Three-four
days trips as well as long-term bookings of villas and apartments are made by tourists
themselves. It’s interesting that both flows are increasing equally.
Natalie Tours now holds
over 40% of all organized tourist flow to Spain:
in 2012 it sent about 300 thousand tourists, and 80% of them flew with Transaero
– one on the key carriers between Russia
and Spain.
In 2012 the airline has been carrying passengers to eight main Spanish airports
from 14 Russian cities. According to the airline's Deputy Director General Mr. Dmitry
Stolyarov, it’s very important for the travel market that the carrier operates its
largest airplanes Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 777-300. Having started with Costa Brava and Costa Dorada, Natalie Tours now has direct
flights to Costa de Almeria sending tourists to Costa Tropical and Costa Calida.
Next year the tour operator promises to increase the amount of flights from Russian
provinces to Barcelona and Mallorca,
and organize a flight to one of the islands of the Canary archipelago. However,
the Director of Natalie Tours kept its name in secret.
According to the Spanish
Ambassador to Russia Mr. Jose
Ignacio Carbajala Garate, the growth of tourist flow from Russia to Spain is the result of government and
private businesses’ mutual effort: speaking about government I mean Spanish tourism
office and the consulate. It happened that I, being the head of the ambassadorial
office, was among those who started the Visa-Tour system in Russia. We faced
a strong resistance both from Spanish bureaucrats and Schengen colleagues most of
which later followed our lead. I’m glad we minimized the complicity of visa regime
with Russia, and Spain now receives
more Russians than any other Schengen country”.
Spain is
one of those Schengen countries, which stands for cancellation of visa regime with
Russia.
“Visas are useful when there’s a real danger or a possibility of immigration. Russia is not among
those countries. 13 out of 143 million Russian citizens travel abroad and at least
6 million of them travel to Europe. There’s no
need in visas with such indicators. We’ll continue easing visa formalities for Spain, but as a
party to the Schengen Agreement we can’t cancel visas in a one-way fashion”, – said
Jose Ignacio Carbajala Garate. As tour operators believe, next year Spain will increase
the validity of multi-entry visas. There’s a possibility of easing visa regime for
those who is buying real estate as well.
