Russian pensioners have begun to travel more frequently, according to a study conducted by the Federal Tourism Agency in collaboration with industry participants.
According to data provided by the aggregator Biletix, the number of tickets sold to passengers over 60 years old The number of air tickets in 2018 increased by 2.3 times compared to the figures of three years ago, that is, 2015.
Ticket sales analysis for the first half of 2018 shows that the most popular domestic destinations among Russian tourists over 60 are Simferopol, Sochi, Mineralnye Vody, Anapa, and St. Petersburg. In previous years, Krasnodar and Kaliningrad also ranked among the top five.
The highest proportion of travelers of retirement age was recorded in the Kaliningrad, Omsk and Perm regions.
Among pensioners, the percentage of those traveling domestically is higher than among tourists from other age groups. In the first half of 2018, 711,300 pensioners flew domestically, while 291,300 flew internationally. When looking at all sales without age filtering, this ratio is 611,300 and 391,300, respectively.
The number of pensioners traveling by rail is also growing. According to data provided by the Federal Passenger Company, in the first half of 2018, 11.51% more passengers over 60 traveled by rail than in the same period last year.
"Tourism for senior Russians has a crucial social impact. It meets the strategic goal of increasing the average life expectancy of our population, strengthening the nation's health, and ensuring active longevity for Russians. It also supports the development of the Russian Federation's tourism industry, increasing year-round domestic tourism, and increasing tourism's share of the country's gross domestic product. To expand the range of tourism offerings tailored to the needs and interests of senior citizens, Rostourism has initiated the federal project 'Accessible Travel.' A priority is the involvement of health resort organizations," notes the director. Head of the Federal Tourism Agency Oleg Safonov.
In the Krasnodar Krai, as part of the "Affordable Travel" project, the "Southern Health Resort" marketing program was launched in the fall of 2017. Around 55 Krasnodar sanatoriums and spa resorts joined. From October to April, they offer discounts on their services ranging from 5 to 50%. Similar efforts are being implemented at the initiative of Rostourism in Crimea, which also has a well-developed spa and resort complex. Many resorts are already offering promotional programs, such as single occupancy for the price of a single room bed and 50% discounts on spa services.
Discount programs for those seeking winter vacations at health resorts are also available in other regions of Russia. For example, in the Irkutsk Region, health resorts offer discounts of up to 30% during the off-season, while in the Mari El Republic, they offer discounts of 10%. In the Tambov Region, health resorts offer special programs for the New Year holidays, and in the Altai Krai, they offer bonus programs and promotional discounts on accommodation and treatment.
Source: trn-news.ru