Russian Tourism Returns to Spain

2015 was a bad year for russian tourism in Spain , becouse a great fall (about 32%) in terms of Russian visitors to our country. 2016 has begun with optimism, and indeed there has been a slight rebound in the first three months of the year. External factors such as restrictions of the Russian government for its citizens to travel to destinations for them are traditional,  as Turkey and Egypt, because geopolitical problems of both countries, will favor the Spanish tourism.

It is remarkable that the average spending of Russian tourists is higher than the average of other countries, and especially are noted on duty free purchases. Only the Chinese do expend more than Russian ones. That fact can not only promote the tourism industry but also the one of luxury in Spain. One of the advantages presented destinations in Turkey and Egypt was not demanding to Russians visa, and although the EU if it requires, Spain is the most prepared countries with structures in several Russian cities to facilitate and expedite the processing of visas. This is one of the points to be discussed during the Spain Dual Year Russia and Tourism. 

The celebration of the Dual Year Spain-Russia Tourism of the Joint Declaration signed in December 2015 by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, and the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Vladimir R. Medinskiy, and provides for the strengthening of the links between tourism enterprises of both countries, encourage the promotion of destinations and investments. Thus, to achieve these objectives, during this period is expected to grant special importance to a series of lines of action. Among them, exchange experts who write about tourism, participate in major trade fairs and industry initiatives, increase tourism promotion and popularization of tourism products through the media and the Web and exchange information and cooperation on investments the tourism sector.

Another of these lines of action is contemplated simplify procedures for tourists, and in particular the issue of visas. In fact, within the objectives and purposes of the Dual Year it contemplated mutual effort in the maximum visa facilitation, both on holiday and longer duration. They are intended multitude of cultural events such as the Flamenco Festival to be held in St. Petersburg, a photographic exhibition on Galicia, the exhibition at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow of a work of Cranach loan from the Thyssen Museum Bornemitsza of Madrid, or a monographic exhibition on the Valencian painter Sorolla also in Moscow. Finally, one of the landmarks of the Dual Year for its symbolic and social value will be «bringing tourism to the classroom» through seminars on Tourism and Spain, at the University of Finance and Peoples, both in Moscow.

The stability of the ruble, essential for the Russian tourism rebound. Although not good times for the Russian economy, particularly for consumers whose salary has been frozen and even reduced, the Russian Central Bank has carried out an outstanding policy that has helped control the exchange rate against major currencies without reducing its international reserves. Both inflation and exchange rates are in the path of improvement after many months that exceeded 10%. A devaluated Ruble implies very high prices for Russian tourists.

A decisive for the stability of the ruble rebound factor is the oil price since early years has risen 35% so far this year. The end of sanctions would help the Russian economy, and indeed is something that several European parliaments are discussing. However, it seems that the very short term this is going to occur, given the few changes that have occurred in the conflict in Ukraine, which resulted in the implementation of bilateral economic sanctions between the EU and Russia.