Most Promising Travel Destination in CIS

This conclusion made by the experts of RATE-news was based on the data of Rosstat (Russia’s state statistics committee) taking into account the results of the survey of Russian tour operators working in the travel market of CIS countries.

According to the Russian statistics service, at the first half of 2010 the tourist visit of CIS countries by Russian citizens in comparison with the similar period of last year has considerably increased. Surveyed tour operators confirmed this tendency as a whole.

All participants of the survey noted that they see serious prospects of development of tourism in CIS countries and the increase of tourist stream from Russia. Leading position in that is kept by Uzbekistan. According to Russian tour operators, first of all, it is reasoned with the state policy targeting the development of travel sector.

Director General of the Company “Jarkov-tour” Andrey Jarkov, Uzbekistan unlike other countries of the region has good hotels, lots of sightseeing places and reasonable prices of tour packages in this direction.

“Uzbekistan invests more for tourist sector and advertising in comparison with other countries of the region. From every new year, people willing to visit this country grow in number, and not only from Russia, but Europe,” considers Andrey Jarkov.

According to Marina Saushkina, Director General of the Tourist Corporation “In World of Imaginations”, who acts as the agent of the National Company “O’zbekturizm” in the Russian travel market, Uzbekistan is visited not only by Moscow residents, but also people from regions. Potential tourists often ask for excursions, ski resorts, adventure tours.

She says that Uzbekistan is the interesting and prospective direction for the Russian travel market whose basic advantages are safety, sincere goodwill, and unique culture.

The conclusions of experts of RATA-news are confirmed as a whole by the data of the State Committee on Statistics of Uzbekistan and NC “O’zbekturizm” about the objective growth of the entrance stream from Russia not less than on 10-15 percent for the last two years.