ATOR: the number of foreign tourists in Russia could increase by 10% in 2017

“The foreign tourist flow to Russia could increase by 10% in 2017 against the number of this year”, - told the Executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) Maya Lomidze on Tuesday. "According to our forecasts, the positive trend for incoming tourist flow will continue in 2017, but its dynamics may slow down. We expect not such significant growth, which is noted in the previous years – only around 10% - and that is under certain conditions", - said M. Lomidze. So, she said, we need to develop inter-regional routes that will be able to unload the main tourist centers of the country. For Moscow it will be a Golden Ring, Tula region, Ryazan region. Karelia and Vologda regions may be prospective areas around St. Petersburg. "This year we have undertaken for the first time serious and systematic measures for the development of incoming tourism. We open offices abroad, increase the diversity of tourism products, for example - the popularity of Kazan and Sochi is stable growing”, said M. Lomidze.