Krasnodar, 27 March. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, Krasnodar krai as one of the main national tourist destinations has found itself in suspense. On the one hand, closure of the borders of a number of foreign countries caused by the outbreak of the new dangerous disease will urge Russian holidaymakers to pay more attention to domestic resorts. On the other hand, the Kuban region has also become exposed to the pandemic and drown in the state of total quarantine, and it remains uncertain whether it would help reduce the infection, or the problem would be aggravating. What should the tourism industry, a breadwinner of a considerable part of the local population and a source of significant tax revenues, expect in this situation? The moods and the forecasts vary from expecting a deep crisis to being sure of an unheard-of rush.
In Sochi, restaurateurs and hoteliers are awaiting the further development with impatience, because if it would be decided to close the beaches, the resort would become deserted.
“If the beaches would be closed, like they did it in Portugal (now we can also assume what our government will be doing), why should the holidaymakers come here at all?” Anna Netiagina, President of the Sochi Association of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers asks rhetorically. “All major events have been cancelled, which already means a decline in the number of the guests.”
The national tourist industry has already got a mighty blow from the coronavirus, Pavel Sigal, Vice President of Opora Russia non-governmental association, states. He believes that the share of those who would prefer not going anywhere at the background of the infection spread would be rising. Presently their share equals to 20%.
“If Russia would introduce restrictions on the travels between regions, it would result in the falling passenger traffic and reduced revenues of the tourist industry in all regions, Krasnodar included,” he asserts. “I can say that the Black Sea resorts will for sure be feeling decline in the demand, and losses.”
On the other hand, there exists an opinion that closure of the international borders may attract unprecedented numbers of holidaymakers to Sochi and other seaside resorts of Krasnodar krai. Experts assure that if the restrictions would not be reinforced, nothing would keep our holidaymakers from coming to the Black Sea. If the air traffic would be suspended, they would be coming by cars. Mikhail Viniukov, founder of the Travels with Mikhail company, does not exclude any scenario of developments:
“Of course, some people who planned their holidays may remain at home relying on the principle ‘get well out of harm’s way’ and not go anywhere, but their absence may be compensated – at least partially – by those who intended but did not manage to spend their holidays outside Russia,” he says. “It is not time yet to blacken the picture: travel agencies will of course incur losses, but the situation is not critical to that extent yet, bearing in mind that the season has not yet begun,” Aleksandr Dzheus, Chair of the regional Legislative Assembly’s Committee on the use of natural resources, environmental safety, spa, resorts and tourism, commented.
Follow our news on Facebook
За всеми важными новостями следите в MAX, Telegram, во «ВКонтакте», «Одноклассниках», YouTube и на Rutube
