Denis Kalinkin: “The hotels' booking rate in August is near 65%, encouraging hope that the situation will gradually improve”

Denis Kalinkin: “The hotels' booking rate in August is near 65%, encouraging hope that the situation will gradually improve”

<p> The tourism industry, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, began its gradual recovery this summer. Daria Sannikova, director of the Committee for tourism development, announced this today at the Business Monday at the Executive Committee of Kazan. </p> <p> “Since June 5, the obligation of citizens coming from other Russian regions to observe two-week self-isolation, as well as to provide COVID-19 tests, has been canceled. The elimination of these restrictions allowed us to start the tourist season in the city”, - noted Daria Sannikova. </p> <p> Traditionally, the most attractive tourist sites are the Kazan Kremlin, Bauman street, Kremlin embankment, Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda and the family center Kazan. </p> <p> The director of the Committee for tourism development noted that mostly foreign tourists came from neighboring countries, from China, Turkey, USA and France. Speaking of domestic tourism, among visitors were mostly residents of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, the Mosco and Vladimir regions, the Urals and cities of the Volga Federal district. In addition, according to the Tvil.ru booking portal, Kazan entered the top three most popular tourist cities. </p> <p> The resumption of railway transportation has helped to increase passenger traffic, now 30 destinations are available from Kazan. There are new international flights. Kazan citizens can fly to 37 Russian destinations. “During the summer period, the passenger traffic of Kazan airport amounted to 540,396 people – twice lower than last summer”, - the speaker noted. </p> <p> “It is obvious that in the current circumstances, it is possible to gain rates lost by the industry only with the help of special incentives. So, Tatarstan was included in the list of regions where the Federal program for stimulating domestic tourism was in effect: Kazan citizens and residents of other cities could receive cashback for purchased tours in the amount of up to 20%”, - D.Sannikova said. </p> <p> It is also noteworthy that the offer will be resumed in October and will last until January 2021. </p> <p> Unfortunately, the tourism industry could not avoid losses. Three hotels and 11 hostels have completely stopped working in Kazan. </p> <p> Daria Sannikova noted that, despite the difficult economic situation, thanks to the Federal 2% loan program to support the affected industries, the tourist business managed to maintain its working staff. </p> <p> “The pandemic has dealt the most serious blow to the tourism industry. If in other industries it was possible to continue working either remotely or in compliance with security requirements, then here “no tourist – no business”,- said Denis Kalinkin, first Deputy Head of the Kazan municipality. </p> <p> He noted that the closing of three hotels and 11 hostels can be estimated for the industry as small in this case. “109 hotels and 131 hostels stayed afloat. The booking rate at the level of 65% in August is encouraging hope that the situation will gradually improve”, - said the first Vice-mayor of Kazan. </p> <p> According to Denis Kalinkin, incentives taken at the Federal and republican levels played a role in reviving the tourist flow. “The main thing is to comply with security measures. It is important that tourists do not bring an extra portion of viruses to us, and would not get sick here”, - D.Kalinkin summed up. </p>

2020-09-28T12:54:01+0300