Travel cashback from October 1 will reach 40,000 rubles

In 2022, hotels and boarding houses in the Russian Federation have risen noticeably in price (according to Rosstat, from 10 to 17%, depending on the type of accommodation), and there are fewer and fewer opportunities to go abroad. EU countries propose to ban (or seriously restrict) the entry of Russians due to the ongoing special operation in Ukraine

Gorny Altai, which used to attract only extreme sports and wildlife lovers, began to turn into a tourist Mecca in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. And 2022, due to the partial closure of the southern direction due to hostilities in Ukraine, promises to be a record year.

Those who used to choose “sea and mountains” have shifted to the “mountains and lakes” format, which Gorny Altai is famous for. Not only ordinary workers, but also privileged tourists in the person of deputies, senators and ministerial employees came here.

There are indeed several upscale hotels and resorts in the region, but in general the state of the industry leaves much to be desired. “Tourism cannot develop with such networks and with such roads! Electricity is turned off every now and then, wherever you go – there are traffic jams everywhere, ”one of the “come in large numbers” officials loudly complained to the governor. The governor sympathized and agreed: indeed, “can’t.” But who knew?

The region turned out to be simply unprepared for the influx of mass tourists: there are problems not only with the infrastructure, but also with the service. But local residents have an opportunity to earn money: rooms with minimal amenities in guest houses are selling like hot cakes. Prices in cafes and restaurants “bite” even by Moscow standards: an ordinary vegetable salad in Gorno-Altaisk costs about 700 rubles on average, the second – 1000 rubles. Despite the fact that the average salary does not even reach 40 thousand rubles, and many receive 20-25 thousand. “But we never go to cafes! There are no such habits, and no opportunities either. Therefore, there are so few establishments, ”the maid in the hotel enlightened the MK correspondent.

However, the prospects for two Altai regions (the Republic of Altai and the neighboring Altai Territory. – “MK”) are grandiose. At an impromptu exhibition, Mikhail Mishustin was clearly shown how it is planned to develop their tourism opportunities.

Investors do not want to build ordinary hotels anymore. And they choose projects with a specialization – “detox”, “wellness”, “eco”, “aqua” and even “cryo”, which provides for the improvement of vacationers in the cold. Emanatoriums will replace the usual sanatoriums, where possible. There are only 5 such objects in the world now.

Mikhail Mishustin asked all speakers the same question: “How much will a room cost for a simple Russian family?” – and received answers indicating that business plans are clearly not yet calculated for a “simple Russian family”: 15-20 thousand rubles, and in most cases only with breakfast. And not only in the Altai Mountains! A similar price level was announced by representatives of all regions participating in the exhibition.

Rest “with minimal recovery” near Mount Mashuk in the Stavropol Territory – 25 thousand rubles. for two. Overnight stay overlooking the Golden Horn Bay in Vladivostok – 20 thousand rubles. Family hotel in Crimea – 15 thousand rubles. The head of the Federal Tourism Agency, Zarina Doguzova, showed surprising naivety for her position, suggesting that this is the price for a week. “Per day!” explained to her.

More human figures began to sound when Mikhail Mishustin approached projects that use temporary structures. Glamping, which has become fashionable in the conditions of the Altai Mountains, has successfully transformed into “yurting”. Tourists, as the prime minister was told, are accommodated “in yurts with all the achievements of civilization” and “wake up in a meadow among birds singing.” The issue price is 6 thousand rubles. for two per day with a lunch box. The load, despite the non-standard conditions, is large: 70%.

Now “yurting” is practiced only in summer. But in the future, it can become all-season: the owners are studying technologies that will allow them to use yurts the way nomads used them, those throughout the year.

“Come to us! I will inspire you in the same way that I myself am inspired, ”the hostess told Mishustin. However, the prime minister, as it turned out, was already “inspired” enough by the possibilities of glamping. “This is one of the most promising areas in tourism,” he stressed, noting that modular structures are not only quickly erected, but also do not harm nature, which is important for such unique places as Gorny Altai. To popularize glamping, in his opinion, it is necessary, first of all, among young people. And to make the rest more affordable, it is necessary to develop a mechanism that will allow young tourists to pay for part of the services using the Pushkin Card.

Such services, the prime minister said, could include exhibitions, open-air film screenings or excursions organized by glammings. (Recall that the Pushkin Card is available to all Russians aged 14 to 22. Its nominal value in 2022 is 5 thousand rubles.)

For all tourists, regardless of age, the resumption of the tourist cashback program will reduce the cost of vacation. Mishustin announced this at a meeting after visiting the exhibition. The autumn stage of discounts applies to trips from October 1 to December 25. And for river cruises – from the beginning of September until the end of navigation.

Sales of tours and hotel reservations with 20% cashback on cards of the national payment system will begin on August 25. Tourists will be able to return a maximum of 20 thousand rubles, and those who choose to travel to the Far East – 40 thousand rubles, since tours there are more expensive for obvious reasons. According to Mikhail Mishustin, the cashback program, first launched in 2020, is very popular among Russians. In the first two years, 4 million people used it, in 2022 (the cashback was valid for trips from January 18 to the end of April. – “MK”) 2.5 million people received discounts. In the autumn-winter period, according to officials, the demand will be less: it is assumed that 600 thousand people will use the cashback.

Mishustin noted that the tourism industry is showing one of the best rates of recovery after the coronavirus pandemic. The domestic tourist flow returned almost to the pre-Covid level last year. And this year it may exceed it.

According to Doguzova, 34 million people have already rested in the country, which is more than in the same period of the last year and 2019. At the same time, the turnover of the tourism industry is 1 trillion higher than two years ago. And the number of jobs returned to the level of 2.3 million people.

According to the prime minister, the government is counting on the further development of the hospitality infrastructure, including taking into account the current “geopolitical situation”. For business, various options for state support and investment incentives have already been developed, which will be of a long-term nature.

Mishustin urged investors to create “affordable” conditions for tourists so that, choosing between holidays abroad and at home, Russians “vote with the ruble” for their native country. Taking into account the prices announced by the participants of the exhibition (see above), the appeal is more than relevant. It just seems that business intends to take advantage of the “geopolitical situation” in its own interests, and in the absence of competition, prices for holidays in Russia will only grow.