Tourists from the regions increased catering traffic in Moscow and St. Petersburg during the holidays
[ad_1]
The flow of tourists from the regions to Moscow and St. Petersburg during the New Year holidays increased by 25–30%, ensuring an increase in traffic to catering establishments. The number of orders during the holidays increased by an average of 4% year-on-year, and the overall rise in prices provided record revenue. The indicators for participants in the catering market could have been higher if not for the abnormal frosts. But the cold weather hit shopping centers hardest, as they failed to increase traffic over the long weekend.
The number of orders in catering establishments in Moscow and St. Petersburg on January 1–7 increased by 4% year-on-year, Focus Technologies calculated. The head of research and consulting of this company, Mikhail Vasiliev, attributes the increase to the increase in the number of tourists from the regions. In his opinion, the dynamics could have been higher, but severe frosts prevented it.
Vice-President of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia Sergei Romashkin adds that the tourist flow to Moscow and St. Petersburg during the New Year holidays increased by 25–30% year on year. In physical terms, we are talking about approximately 2 million and 500 thousand people, respectively, he clarified. Vice-President of the Russian Union of Tourism Industry Dmitry Gorin estimates the growth at 30%.
The positive trend is confirmed by restaurateurs. The founder of the Meat & Fish chain, Sergei Mironov, notes that attendance at his establishments during the holidays increased by 7–8% year-on-year due to an increase in tourist flow and a significant number of Muscovites staying in the city for the holidays. Restaurants showed record revenue, but this is due, in particular, to a general increase in prices on the market, he notes. StrEat founder Maxim Popov talks about stable revenue and attendance figures for the establishment in December – early January.
Development director of the company that owns the Yakitoria brand, Alexander Muratov, noticed an increase in the number of delivery orders during the holidays by 3% year-on-year. “The abnormal frosts forced Muscovites to order food at home more often,” he says.
New Year’s holidays play a significant role for retail real estate, catering and entertainment, says Evgenia Khakberdieva, regional director of the retail real estate department at NF Group. The expert explains that sales and traffic traditionally increase during the holidays: “This time is critical for the annual turnover of many types of businesses in the consumer market.” The past holidays, according to Ms. Khakberdieva, were generally successful for business due to a general recovery in consumer activity.
Although shopping centers failed to significantly increase traffic. According to Focus Technologies, the Mall Index (reflects the number of visitors per 1 thousand sq. m) in Moscow decreased by 0.2% year-on-year on January 1–7. In St. Petersburg the figure increased by 2%. Mikhail Vasiliev does not consider this dynamics negative, drawing attention to the general stabilization of the situation: “The flow does not rise or fall, experiencing standard seasonal fluctuations.”
Managing partner of RedStone Indira Shafikova says that in some shopping centers, contrary to forecasts, traffic decreased year-on-year during the holiday week in January, which negatively affected the turnover of tenants, including those from well-known fashion brands. The expert notes that due to frost, some shopping centers in St. Petersburg even suspended operations, and some facilities had heating difficulties, the expert points out.
Managing partner of Vanchugov and Partners, Alexey Vanchugov, notes that in shopping centers under his management, traffic during the New Year holidays increased by 3-4% year on year. The expert attributes the muted dynamics to the development of e-commerce and the desire of consumers to make holiday purchases in advance.
The main function in shopping centers during the holidays remains entertainment, so the largest increase in purchases is observed at catering outlets and entertainment centers, notes Mr. Vanchugov. According to Indira Shafikova, the next period of active traffic in shopping centers is expected by February 14, when electronics, cosmetics and perfume stores can count on an influx of demand, while clothing sellers are unlikely to see a revival until spring.
[ad_2]
Source link
