Increase in the number of Russian tourist visits abroad during the first 9 months of 2007

 

According to statistics, the 2007 tourist year will end on a high. The amount of tourists holidaying abroad over the last 9 months increased by 21.7%, a rise of 7.3% compared to the same period last year.

 

Just two destinations recorded less impressive figures: Germany (-4.3%) and Estonia (-4.5%). According to Russian statistics, fewer and fewer tourists have been visiting Germany since 2004.

 

Other destinations, however, are witnessing a big increase in visits. The battle for tourists between Turkey (+26.6%) and Egypt (+50%) continues and is currently being won by Egypt.

 

Other sun-seeker destinations have also experienced growth, including India (+40%), Israel (+56.5% - largely due to an easier visa process) and Vietnam (+69.7%). The biggest increase was Thailand (+74.8%). Even countries with visa problems showed positive results – Great Britain (+40.1%), Czech Republic (+28%) and France (+20%).

 

As separate destinations, Serbia and Montenegro showed a total increase of 95%. The results cannot be compared with the previous year but statistics will be separate from now on.

 

Good results for European destinations included Spain (+28.7%), Italy (+34.7%), Greece (+20.6%), Cyprus (+32.2%), Croatia (+35%), Austria (+41.2%) and Netherlands (+39.3%).

 

The statistics clearly confirm the growing trend towards foreign travel in Russia.

 

The outbound tourism rate during the first 9 months of 2007 compared to previous years

(in thousands if trips made)

 

Country

2007

2006

2005

2004

Turkey +26.6%

1689.2

1333.8

1368.2

1285.9

China +24.5%

1155.7

928.3

827.6

658.5

Egypt +50%

789.4

526.0

423.3

399.5

Finland +10.7%

499.3

451.0

277.3

297.4

Spain +28.7%

275.0

213.7

186.2

166.5

Italy +34.7%

264.9

196.6

165.1

128.8

Greece +20.6%

215.2

178.4

123.5

83.08

Germany -4.3%

170.8

178.5

182.1

191.9

Bulgaria +17.5%

165.3

140.7

116.3

87.5

Thailand +74.8%

147.5

84.4

37.5

54.6

UAE +20%

130.0

108.3

108.5

119.4

France +20.5%

128.8

106.9

136.4

110.4

Czech Republic +28%

127.1

99.2

91.0

80.3

Cyprus +32.2%

124.0

93.8

87.4

89.6

Serbia and Montenegro +95%

50.2+59.0 (109.2)

56.0

29.7

15.3

Tunisia +35.3%

107.7

79.6

76.9

77.7

Croatia +35%

98.1

72.7

56.7

49.1

Poland -4.3%

95.1

99.4

135.7

257.6

Great Britain +40.1%

63.2

45.1

55.5

53.6

Austria +41.2%

59.3

42.0

40.5

36.8

Lithuania +61.8%

55.5

34.3

35.3

26.8

Swedzerland +30.2%

44.0

33.8

33.4

34.7

India +40%

33.6

24.0

22.3

17.9

Latvia -2.3%

25.8

26.4

22.0

14.7

Israel +56.5%

27.7

17.7

21.5

18.5

Netherlands +39.3%

24.8

17.8

19.3

17.2

South Korea +10.3%

24.7

22.4

22.9

18.6

USA +31.9%

24.4

18.5

16.3

15

Japan +16%

20.3

17.5

18.9

17.4

Estonia -14.5%

18.8

22.0

14.5

13.3

Hungary +7%

16.8

15.7

15.9

14

Vietnam +69.7%

16.8

9.9

10.5

7.1

Malta

15.6

*

12.0

13.8

Norway +1.4%

14.0

13.8

11.8

11.2

Denmark +22.8%

12.4

10.1

14.2

14.6

Sweden +8%

10.8

10.0

17.0

15.6

Total number of Russian tourists who travelled abroad

7211.3

5923.3

5178.7

5314.7

+21.7%

+14.4%

-2.6%

+16.3%

 

* no data