MOSCOW. July 4
Several Russian tour operators' demand of tours to Armenia has increased 45% over the past two weeks, however, that country cannot replace Georgia for tourists, the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR) told Interfax on Thursday.
"Russian tour operators have a higher demand of tours to Armenia in the last two weeks. The sales rose from 10% to 45% as compared with the previous season" that is linked to Russia's temporary ban on the flights to Georgia, according to the ATOR.
In general, Armenia and Georgia can be compared in terms of hotel booking prices and the prices of excursion programs, while tourists can travel to Armenia with Russian national passports that is convenient for tourists, the association said. "Another matter is that Armenia has no outreach to the sea, and, respectively, beach resorts. Lake Sevan is a highland and cold lake, the vacationing season lasts only about two or two-and-a-half months there, while the base of hotels is scarce there," it said.
"People were mainly travelling to Georgia for excursion tourism, but such changes as those in the beach tourism are impossible here. All beaches are alike, while all cities are different. Georgia has interesting churches, cities, fortresses, gorges, while the range of excursions is slightly less in Armenia, these are mainly ancient churches and monasteries," according to the association.
The tour operators had a 75-85% share of summer excursion and city tours to Georgia, while beach holidays were 15-20% of bookings, according to the ATOR.
"Some tourists, whose flights to Georgia should have taken place after July 7, rebooked their tours to Turkey, Tunisia, Bulgaria, the Dominican Republic, and Montenegro. Some of them changed Georgia for Armenia, but the majority of them cancelled their trips at all," the ATOR said.
Armenian hoteliers have also not been active in the Russian market due to Russia's temporary ban on the flights to Georgia. "It's noteworthy that Armenian partners demonstrate almost no special activity, namely, special offers and marketing campaigns. Abkhaz hoteliers are not active, too," it said.
Putin signed an executive order on June 21 to temporarily ban Russian airlines from performing flights to Georgia after July 7. The presidential decree included a recommendation for Russian tour operators and travel agents to refrain from selling Georgia holidays. The Transport Ministry also banned Georgian airlines from making flights to Russia after July 7.
Sb iz