Caravanning in Russia

Russia is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of tourist resources, variety of climatic zones, natural sites and ethnic cultures.

In the country with the largest forest cover (45% of the entire territory), pure air, the deepest and cleanest lake on the planet, rich history and a plethora of sights tourism can become one of the revenue sides of the budget.  The world practice proves that investments in tourist industry in terms of returns are comparable to oil extraction. At present time about 10% of export falls on tourist business, and at the international market its share counts up to 35%. Russian tourist market has huge potential but is used not to the full extent.

Current state of domestic and inbound tourism in Russia is not very optimistic.

Meanwhile, the World Tourism Organization has included Russia in the list of the largest importers of tourist services in the world.  The share of Russia equals to 3, 4% of the world import of tourist services (the figures describe the volume of outbound tourism), whereas its export share (inbound tourism) is less than 0,6%.

In case of Russia, tourism from a profitable industry turned into the most loss-making one.

One of the reasons for the current situation is reduction of accommodation sites for tourists. In the context of severe deficit of up-to-date hotels and lodging sites the cost of basic tourist services is increasing all the time. Here lies the second and, perhaps, basic reason of distressful situation with inbound and outbound tourism in Russia. This is the reason why more and more citizens of Russia choose foreign resorts. The transport costs to the most prospective tourist directions in Russia exceed all reasonable limits (at the moment a flight to Antalya, Turkey is cheaper than a flight to Sochi). Besides, there are no decent accommodation sites.

Undoubtedly, the problem solving requires a complex of measures to be taken at the government level. However, breaking into such new tourism trends as caravanning and trailering can change the present situation for the better. Development of such kind of tourism in Russia will make the domestic tourism more civilized and will increase the turnover of tourist industry. This will surely help Russia return a part of “draining” money spent by the Russians on travel abroad, and provide multiple employment opportunities. Upon availability of camping sites and related infrastructure such kind of tourist trend as “weekend travel” will be extensively promoted and become popular in the regions of Russia. The weekend tours minimize season fluctuations and increase the profitability of tourism in general.

Besides, development of caravanning can become the most important factor for improvement of touristic attractiveness in Russia. The unprecedented growth of popularity of this kind of tourism among the Europeans speaks in its favour. The number of people in Europe purchasing caravans and home trailers is increasing all the time. Motor tourism has proved its sustainability and is now bringing considerable revenues to economies of Europe and North America.

The advantages of caravanning and camping sites development are evident:

• Low-cost exploitation of touristic zones;
• Fast pay-back;
• Development of the road infrastructure/improvement of services;
• Extensive construction of hotels;
• Jobs;
• Possible use of lands inappropriate for building (sanitary zones, floating grounds, zones with high-laid lines, etc.);
• Development of inbound and domestic tourism. (weekend tourism)
  (low-cost proper rest);
• Profitable sport event and exhibition services;
• Improvement of tourist attractiveness of Russia.

Development of caravanning and construction of camping sites on the threshold of the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi is highly topical. As for Europe, the practice of camping construction for eventful tourism is in common use. Thus, during the Winter Olympic Games 2006 in Turin more than 70% of visitors arrived by trailers and lived at caravanning parking sites, recreation centres or campings. Turin lacked enough hotel accommodation sites, and the city didn’t build new hotels for it would have required extra expenditures from the state.

Since 2007 inbound and domestic travel are two basic tourist priorities of Russia. The domestic tourism activities in Russia have improved considerably. Their growth amounted to 10-15% per annum. Meanwhile, the rates of the infrastructure development don’t correspond to the rates of growth. In February 2007 the Government of the Russian Federation together with the Federal Agency for Management of Special Economic Zones agreed upon establishment of seven special economic zones of tourist and recreation type: “Altai valley” in the Republic of Altai; “Turquoise Katun” in Altai area; “Grand Spa Yutsa” in Stavropol area; “New Anapa” in Krasnodar area; “Baikal Harbor” in the Republic of Buryatia; “Gates of Baikal” in Irkutsk region and “Curonian Spit” in Kaliningrad region.

Caravanning is a kind of tourism capable of turning inbound and domestic tourism into revenue sides of the budget. According to the European statistics, development of caravanning in Russia is socially important and economically sound. According to different estimations, upon conditions of well-developed infrastructure tourism can bring Russia a return equal to 30 billion dollars annually. Promotion of caravanning is another logical step within framework of the Tourism Development Concept aimed at creation of legal, organizational and economic environment attractive for tourism development in Russia. Besides, building of campings is a cost-effective decision of the task set by the Federal Target-Oriented Program “Development of Sochi as a mountain climate resort (2006-2014)” and ecological problems related to reclaiming of tourist-recreation areas of Russia.
European experience of using temporary or stationary campings during large international events (exhibitions, football matches or sport events) proves the method efficiency. Camping is a good salvation for the accommodation problem of the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi. Moreover, camping sites for eventful tourism do not require considerable financial investments, they do not spoil the “face” of the city, as far as after the event is over they can be either left as they are and keep on bringing profit to the city or be “packed up”. 

Caravanning in the context of development of tourist recreation zones of Russia is a simple but efficient business decision.