Business programme

‘Tourism and the Hospitality Industry’: New Investment and Technological Opportunities for the Sector

05 Jun , 10:00–11:15
Delivering on National Development Targets
Congress Centre, conference hall D1

In the years to come, Russia faces the rather ambitious task of developing a high-quality tourist product. As part of a new national project entitled ‘Tourism and the Hospitality Industry’, as well as the national project to develop the country’s export potential, Russia is developing measures to increase the flow of tourists with the aim of increasing the proportion of exports from tourist services from USD 8.9 billion (2017) to USD 15.5 billion (by 2024). On the one hand, Russia has enormous potential to develop this sector, given that the country boasts unique natural resources and sites of global cultural and historical significance. The government is actively supporting the development of domestic tourism, not only by funding and improving infrastructure but by working directly with citizens through innovative financial solutions with the help of modern technologies. Moreover, according to estimates by the Central Bank of Russia, the economy lost 2 trillion roubles last year due to closed borders and travel limitations during the pandemic. On the other hand, according to official data, domestic tourism did not take off either. On the contrary, the overall stream of domestic tourists in Russia over 2020 decreased by 35–40%. What key challenges is the sector currently facing? What will the new state support measures to develop infrastructure and spaces look like? How can we make the tourism industry more attractive to investors?

Moderator
Pavel Titov, President, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia)

Panellists
Zarina Doguzova, Head, Russian Federal Agency for Tourism
Alexander Klyachin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, AZIMUT Hotels Company
Andrey Kolesnikov, Special Correspondent, Kommersant
Vladimir Komlev, Chief Executive Officer, National Payment Card System
Boris Paikin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs
Vladimir Solodov, Governor of Kamchatka Territory
Alexey Tsydenov, Head of the Republic of Buryatia
Alexey Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Front row participants
Tatiana Veller, Investment Director for the Hotel Industry, Industrial Financial Group Safmar
Taras Demura, General Director, TUI Russia
Sergey Korneev, Chairman, Saint Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development
Tatiana Veller, General Director, Koshelev Corporation
Alexander Ruppel, Deputy Head of Administration of Krasnodar Region
Olga Surikova, Director, Tax and legal, KPMG in the CIS
Olga Suslova, Director for Strategic Partnerships, Google Russia
Sergey Sukhanov, General Director, Corporation Tourism.RF
Khasan Timizhev, General Director, Northern Caucasus Resorts
Andrei Umansky, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Arbat Hotel Management
Ilya Umansky, General Director, National Tour Operator "Alean"

Broadcast