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On July 15th-17th 15–17 - in the height of the travel season – St. Petersburg will welcome G8 Summit. A BANKO correspondent contacted representatives of the Russian travel industry to learn about possible impact of the event on the travel market.
According to experts the G8 Summit will not affect travel companies, which specialize in inbound tourism. Thus, Mikhail Romanov, Director of Orpheus Travel Company, commented as follows: ‘such events are not considered to have serious consequences for the travel industry. There might be a drop in number of tourists visiting St. Petersburg while the Summit. However, the increased demand of the two following weeks will compensate for everything. In general, I believe, that the broadcasting from the event will stimulate the increase in tourist flow by 10-15%’. Sergey Romashkin, General Director of Dolphin Travel Company, also makes an optimistic forecast who considers the Summit in the city to have an effect of the global advertising campaign: ‘travel companies can also use the event to attract those tourists who hope to see famous politicians’.
Furthermore, travel companies will face the following problems: firstly, they will have to change excursion programs. ‘All excursion programs will involve only those routes to where the participants of G8 will not go. Besides, car gems will add to difficulties’, said Tamara Khaletskaya, Director of Solvex-tourne. Sergey Romashkin added: 'in case of forecasted force-majeure the company does not guarantee a planned excursion program upon the contract made with tourists'.
Meanwhile, travel companies, which specialize in outbound tourism, will face certain difficulties owing the G8 Summit. Thus, Pulkovo Airport has already announced that on July 15th, 17th and 18th all flights except for official flights will be cancelled.
