Actuality August, 31, 2007.

The federal agency of tourism presented the results of statistical data analysis of tourism for

the period January – June, 2007.

The results of analysis showed that the preferences

of the Russians going abroad are broadening.

And if earlier most tourists went to warm countries with the purpose to bask in the sun or in sea foams, now people are more interested in the countries with rich history, where you find not only beach holiday but also gripping sightseeing.

It is also necessary to add that the countries where you can not only rest but also get some medical treatment.

In the whole the number of the Russians going abroad to rest grew by 31%. Such growth is easily explained: at first, tourist destinations offered by travel agencies exceed demand, and secondly, the prices for vouchers abroad are deflated due to the same reason.

From January till June, 2007 there is the tendency of diminution the Russians journeys abroad with official purposes.

According to the same research, many Russians began to go abroad more than two times a year.

And it is in spite of problems with obta

ining visas. So, for example, in spite of problems with obtaining visas to Czech Republic, Great Britain and France, the number of visits grew by 36,2, 31,3 and 14,5% respectively.

Some analysts consider that such growth is wrapped up in the increase of tourist season for example, in France — due to mountain-skier resorts, in Egypt — because it positions itself as all year round resort.

The general number of journeys of the Russians abroad in the first half-year of 2007 exceeds this index of the same period in 2006 by 14 %.

As for the foreigners, the number of their visiting Russia, as analysts assert, tends to increase.

If compared to a similar period of the last year it grew by 3%.
The number of tourists from Sweden grew by 27%,
from Norway – 26%
from Germany, Belgium and Israel – 23%
from Switzerland – 22%
from Austria – 18%
from France – 16%
from Korea – 11%
from Turkey – 10%
from Spain and Netherlands – 9%
from Italy – 7%
And these are only those tourists who came to Russia to have a rest.

So now it is possible to say that the measures taken in order to make Russia a more popular destination on the market of international tourism were fruitful. The analysts expect the growth of the number of foreign tourists in Russia.