Sochi Games chill Russian tourism

Sochi Games chill Russian tourism
By admin


The Sochi Winter Olympics have left Russian tourism out in the cold, a survey has found.

The Games, held in February, cost an estimated STG30 billion ($A54.76 billion) but were overshadowed by security fears, criticism of Russia's anti-gay laws and reports of a wave of homophobic attacks.

Only 37 per cent of senior UK travel industry executives said they expected an increase in travel bookings to Russia on the back of the event, a poll by World Travel Market (WTM) found.

Just 11 per cent of the executives said they would commit "a lot more" extra capacity to Russian trips.

In contrast, 69 per cent of the executives said they expected an increase in bookings to Brazil following the football World Cup there, while 64 per cent anticipated a bookings boom to Glasgow after the recent staging of the Commonwealth Games in the Scottish city.

There was better news for Russian tourism in that 65 per cent of the executives think tourists will want to travel to Russia when it holds the football World Cup in 2018.

WTM senior director Simon Press said: "No amount of money could combat the negative publicity surrounding the Sochi Games and the Sochi experience clearly shows how closely linked sport, politics and tourism can be.

"It remains to be see whether Russia can move and present a much more positive image when it holds the World Cup in four years time."

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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